Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Day Dali Died | 2003 | Jeff VanderMeer | Buy |
| 2 | Secret Life | 2004 | Jeff VanderMeer | Buy |
| 3 | The Third Bear | 2007 | Jeff VanderMeer | Buy |
| 4 | Strange Tales of Secret Lives | 2007 | Jeff VanderMeer | Buy |
| 5 | The Surgeon’s Tale and Other Stories | 2007 | Jeff VanderMeer | Buy |
| 6 | The Steampunk Bible: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Imaginary Airships, Corsets and Goggles, Mad Scientists, and Strange Literature | 2011 | Jeff VanderMeer | Buy |
| 7 | Monstrous Creatures: Explorations of Fantasy Through Essays, Articles and Reviews | 2011 | Jeff VanderMeer | Buy |
Jeff VanderMeer’s short story collections document his growth as a writer from early experimental work to mature literary fiction. The Day Dali Died (2003) and Secret Life (2004) collect early stories, while The Third Bear (2007) is often regarded as his best collection, featuring stories that range from haunting fairy tale reimaginings to surreal comedy.
His nonfiction collections include The Steampunk Bible (2011), co-authored with S.J. Chambers, which surveys the steampunk movement in literature, art, fashion, and culture. Monstrous Creatures (2011) gathers his essays and reviews about speculative fiction. These collections complement his fiction by showing his critical thinking about the genres he works in.