Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Pedant and the Shuffly | 1968 | John Bellairs | Buy |
| 2 | The Face in the Frost | 1969 | John Bellairs | Buy |
John Bellairs’ standalone novels predate his children’s series and show a different side of his talent. “The Pedant and the Shuffly” (1968) is a short satirical work, while “The Face in the Frost” (1969) is an adult fantasy novel that has earned a devoted following over the decades. The latter follows two wizards, Dorian and Doyle, as they investigate a growing supernatural threat to their world.
“The Face in the Frost” starts with the light, humorous tone that would characterize Bellairs’ children’s books but gradually shifts into genuine darkness and dread. The book has been cited as an influence by other fantasy writers and praised by Ursula K. Le Guin. These early works show Bellairs finding his voice before he discovered his true audience in children’s gothic fiction.