Jo Clayton books

Jo Clayton (1939-1998) was an American science fiction and fantasy author known for the Diadem, Drinker of Souls, and Duel of Sorcery series. She published 35 novels with strong female protagonists.

Anthologies

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Isaac Asimov’s Marvels of Science Fiction 1979 Buy
Moonsinger’s Friends: An Anthology in Honor of Andre Norton 1985 Buy
In the Shadow of the Gargoyle 1998 Buy

Diadem Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Diadem from the Stars 1977 Buy
Lamarchos 1978 Buy
Irsud 1978 Buy
Maeve 1979 Buy
Star Hunters 1980 Buy
The Nowhere Hunt 1981 Buy
Ghosthunt 1983 Buy
The Snares of Ibex 1984 Buy
Quester’s Endgame 1986 Buy
Shadow of the Warmaster 1988 Buy

Diadem: Shadith’s Quest Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Shadowplay 1990 Buy
Shadowspeer 1990 Buy
Shadowkill 1991 Buy

Diadem: Shadowsong Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Fire in the Sky 1995 Buy
The Burning Ground 1995 Buy
Crystal Heat 1996 Buy

Drinker of Souls Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Drinker of Souls 1986 Buy
Blue Magic 1988 Buy
A Gathering of Stones 1989 Buy

Drinker of Souls: Wild Magic Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Wild Magic 1991 Buy
Wildfire 1992 Buy
The Magic Wars 1993 Buy

Drums of Chaos Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Drum Warning 1996 Buy
Drum Calls 1997 Buy
Drum Into Silence 2002 Buy

Duel of Sorcery Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Moongather 1982 Buy
Moonscatter 1983 Buy
Changer’s Moon 1985 Buy

Duel of Sorcery: Dancer Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Dancer’s Rise 1993 Buy
Serpent Waltz 1994 Buy
Dance Down the Stars 1994 Buy

Skeen Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Skeen’s Leap 1986 Buy
Skeen’s Return 1987 Buy
Skeen’s Search 1987 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
A Bait of Dreams 1985 Buy

Jo Clayton (1939-1998) was an American science fiction and fantasy author born in Modesto, California. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California in 1963, taught school, and spent three years as a novice in the Sisters of Mount Carmel teaching order before leaving to pursue writing. She moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1983 and published 35 novels over her career.

Clayton was known for series featuring strong female protagonists, often equipped with unusual powers or artifacts. Her longest-running work was the Diadem series, following the half-alien outcast Aleytys across ten novels. She also wrote the Drinker of Souls trilogy, the Duel of Sorcery series, and the Skeen trilogy. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1996 and died in February 1998. Her work is often compared to Andre Norton, C.J. Cherryh, and Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Jo Clayton written?

Jo Clayton has written 57 books across 12 series.

What was Jo Clayton's first book?

Jo Clayton’s first book is Diadem from the Stars, published in 1977.

How many books did Jo Clayton write?

Jo Clayton has written 57 books across 12 series.

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