Red Dwarf books in order

The Red Dwarf series is a collection of science fiction comedy novels and companion books based on the British TV show, following the misadventures of the last human alive and his bizarre crewmates.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers 1989 Grant Naylor Buy
2 Red Dwarf 1989 Grant Naylor N/A
3 Better than Life 1990 Grant Naylor Buy
4 Enano Rojo: Mejor que la Vida 1990 Grant Naylor N/A
5 The Official Red Dwarf Companion 1992 Grant Naylor Buy
6 Last Human 1995 Grant Naylor Buy
7 Backwards 1996 Grant Naylor Buy
8 Scenes From The Dwarf 1996 Grant Naylor Buy
9 Better Than Life 2024 Grant Naylor Buy

The Red Dwarf novel series grew out of the beloved British TV comedy about Dave Lister, the last surviving human, stranded on a mining ship three million years into deep space with a hologram of his annoying bunkmate, an evolved cat, and an elderly computer. The novels, starting with Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers (1989), retell and expand the TV stories with more depth and detail than the half-hour episodes allowed.

Better than Life (1990) continued the story, and after Grant and Naylor split, each wrote their own sequel: Naylor’s Last Human (1995) and Grant’s Backwards (1996). The Official Red Dwarf Companion (1992) and Scenes From The Dwarf (1996) round out the collection with behind-the-scenes material. The series remains a favorite among British comedy and science fiction fans.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Red Dwarf series?

There are nine books in the Red Dwarf series, published between 1989 and 2024.

What is the first book in the Red Dwarf series?

The first book in the Red Dwarf series is Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers, published in 1989.

Do I need to watch the Red Dwarf TV show before reading the novels?

No. The Red Dwarf novels stand on their own and actually expand on the TV storylines significantly. Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers covers roughly the first two TV series but adds much more backstory and detail. You can enjoy the books without having seen the show.

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