Stephen Baxter Collections books in order

Stephen Baxter's short fiction collections gather stories published across decades in science fiction magazines and anthologies, covering the full range of his themes from the Xeelee universe to standalone speculative pieces.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Traces 1998 Stephen Baxter Buy
2 Evolution 2002 Stephen Baxter N/A
3 The Hunters of Pangaea 2004 Stephen Baxter Buy
4 Universes 2013 Stephen Baxter Buy
5 Project Clio 2016 Stephen Baxter Buy
6 The Spacetime Pit Plus Two 2018 Stephen Baxter Buy

Baxter has been a prolific short fiction writer throughout his career, publishing regularly in Interzone, Analog, and other major science fiction magazines. The collections gather this work in accessible form, often organizing pieces thematically or by the universe they inhabit.

Vacuum Diagrams was the first major collection, covering the early Xeelee Sequence stories. Later collections branch out further, including alternate history pieces and stories outside any of his major series. For readers who have worked through his novels, the collections offer material that did not fit the book format, often including ideas Baxter explored in shorter form that he later developed or abandoned.


Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Stephen Baxter Collections series?

There are six books in the Stephen Baxter Collections series, published between 1998 and 2018.

What is the first book in the Stephen Baxter Collections series?

The first book in the Stephen Baxter Collections series is Traces, published in 1998.

What is the most essential Baxter short fiction collection?

Vacuum Diagrams is often cited as the best starting point, as it collects Xeelee Sequence stories in a structured way that builds the universe systematically.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive commissions for purchases made through links on this site.

Privacy Policy