Ambergris books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Ambergris series?"

"There are five books in the Ambergris series, published between 2001 and 2009."

Q: "What is the first book in the Ambergris series?"

"The first book in the Ambergris series is City of Saints and Madmen, published in 2001."

Q: "In what order should the Ambergris books be read?"

"The Ambergris books should be read in publication order: City of Saints and Madmen (2001) first, then Shriek: An Afterword (2006), and finally Finch (2009). Each book uses a different narrative style and time period within the city's history, so reading in order gives the fullest experience of VanderMeer's world-building."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	City of Saints and Madmen	2001	Jeff VanderMeer	Buy
2	Ambergris	2002	Jeff VanderMeer	N/A
3	Shriek	2006	Jeff VanderMeer	Buy
4	Shriek: An Afterword	2006	Jeff VanderMeer	N/A
5	Finch	2009	Jeff VanderMeer	Buy

The Ambergris series by Jeff VanderMeer is set in a fictional city shaped by its relationship with fungal organisms called the gray caps, who were the original inhabitants before being driven underground by human colonizers. City of Saints and Madmen (2001) introduces the setting through interconnected stories, fake histories, and literary experiments. Shriek: An Afterword (2006) follows two siblings in a more traditional narrative as the gray caps return to the surface.

Finch (2009) completes the sequence as a noir detective story set in an Ambergris fully occupied by the gray caps. Each book takes a different approach to storytelling, moving from mosaic fiction to memoir to hard-boiled detective novel. The series is considered one of the defining works of the New Weird genre.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Ambergris series?

There are five books in the Ambergris series, published between 2001 and 2009.

What is the first book in the Ambergris series?

The first book in the Ambergris series is City of Saints and Madmen, published in 2001.

In what order should the Ambergris books be read?

The Ambergris books should be read in publication order: City of Saints and Madmen (2001) first, then Shriek: An Afterword (2006), and finally Finch (2009). Each book uses a different narrative style and time period within the city’s history, so reading in order gives the fullest experience of VanderMeer’s world-building.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order