Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murder in the Gunroom | 1953 | Henry H. Beam Piper | Buy |
| 2 | A Planet for Texans | 1957 | Henry H. Beam Piper | Buy |
| 3 | First Cycle | 1982 | Henry H. Beam Piper | Buy |
| 4 | Crisis in 2140 | 2021 | Henry H. Beam Piper | Buy |
| 5 | The Cosmic Computer | 2022 | Henry H. Beam Piper | Buy |
H. Beam Piper’s standalone works show his range beyond the connected series that made him famous. Murder in the Gunroom (1953) was his first published novel and his only mystery. It centers on Jeff Rand, a private detective and gun collector who investigates a suspicious death while cataloging an antique firearms collection. Piper drew heavily on his own knowledge as a firearms collector, and the novel is packed with detailed descriptions of revolvers, pistols, and their histories.
His science fiction standalones include works published both during his lifetime and after his death. These books share Piper’s characteristic interest in how societies organize themselves and how technology shapes political power, though they are not connected to his Paratime or Terro-Human timelines.