Land and Overland books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Land and Overland series?"

"There are 3 books in the Land and Overland series, published between 1986 and 1989."

Q: "What is the first book in the Land and Overland series?"

"The first book in the Land and Overland series is The Ragged Astronauts, published in 1986."

Q: "What is the Land and Overland series about?"

"The Land and Overland series is set on twin planets, Land and Overland, that orbit so closely they share a common atmosphere. The civilization on Land developed without metals, and when a deadly threat forces migration, people cross between worlds by hot-air balloon."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	The Ragged Astronauts	1986	Bob Shaw	Buy
2	The Wooden Spaceships	1988	Bob Shaw	Buy
3	The Fugitive Worlds	1989	Bob Shaw	Buy

The Land and Overland trilogy is one of Bob Shaw’s most ambitious works. Set on twin planets that orbit close enough to share an atmosphere, the series imagines a civilization that evolved entirely without metals. When a biological threat called the ptertha begins killing people on Land, the population must flee to its sister world by hot-air balloon.

The Ragged Astronauts (1986) introduces this premise and won the BSFA Award. The Wooden Spaceships (1988) and The Fugitive Worlds (1989) continue the story as refugees adapt to Overland and eventually confront the source of the ptertha threat. The trilogy stands out for its inventive world-building and the way Shaw grounds fantastical concepts in practical, physical detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Land and Overland series?

There are 3 books in the Land and Overland series, published between 1986 and 1989.

What is the first book in the Land and Overland series?

The first book in the Land and Overland series is The Ragged Astronauts, published in 1986.

What is the Land and Overland series about?

The Land and Overland series is set on twin planets, Land and Overland, that orbit so closely they share a common atmosphere. The civilization on Land developed without metals, and when a deadly threat forces migration, people cross between worlds by hot-air balloon.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order