Demon Princes books in order

The Demon Princes series by Jack Vance follows Kirth Gersen's quest to avenge his family by hunting down five master criminals across the galaxy.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Demon Princes 1964 Jack Vance N/A
2 The Star King 1964 Jack Vance Buy
3 De Moordmachine 1964 Jack Vance N/A
4 The Killing Machine 1964 Jack Vance Buy
5 The Palace of Love 1967 Jack Vance Buy
6 The Face 1979 Jack Vance Buy
7 The Book of Dreams 1981 Jack Vance Buy
8 Barbarians of the Beyond 2021 Jack Vance Buy
9 Teehalt’s Planet 2024 Jack Vance Buy

The Demon Princes is a five-novel science fiction series by Jack Vance, published between 1964 and 1981. The series follows Kirth Gersen, a man trained from childhood to hunt down and kill the five “Demon Princes” who destroyed his community in a slave raid.

Each novel focuses on one Prince, and each Prince has built a different kind of criminal empire reflecting his particular psychology. The Star King, The Killing Machine, The Palace of Love, The Face, and The Book of Dreams are connected by Gersen’s quest but each works as a standalone adventure. The series is widely considered one of Vance’s finest achievements in science fiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Demon Princes series?

There are nine books in the Demon Princes series, published between 1964 and 2024.

What is the first book in the Demon Princes series?

The first book in the Demon Princes series is The Demon Princes, published in 1964.

Who are the Demon Princes?

The five Demon Princes are master criminals who led a devastating slave raid on Gersen’s home colony when he was a child. Each novel focuses on one Prince: The Star King, The Killing Machine, The Palace of Love, The Face, and The Book of Dreams each present a different villain with a different criminal empire.

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