The Alchemy Wars books in order

The Alchemy Wars trilogy by Ian Tregillis is an alternate history fantasy set in a world where the Dutch empire built mechanical servants called Clakkers.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction March/April 2020 2020 Ian Tregillis N/A
2 L’Obbligo 2015 Ian Tregillis N/A
3 The Mechanical 2015 Ian Tregillis Buy
4 The Rising 2015 Ian Tregillis Buy
5 The Liberation 2016 Ian Tregillis Buy

The Alchemy Wars imagines a world where 17th-century Dutch alchemists created mechanical servants, and by the 20th century, the Dutch empire dominates the globe through this technology. The trilogy follows multiple characters — both human and mechanical — as cracks appear in this system of technological slavery.

Beginning with The Mechanical and continuing through The Rising and The Liberation, the series explores questions of consciousness and freedom through an adventure plot full of espionage, war, and rebellion. Tregillis’s physics background shows in the detailed mechanics of the Clakkers themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the The Alchemy Wars series?

There are five books in the The Alchemy Wars series, published between 2015 and 2020.

What is the first book in the The Alchemy Wars series?

The first book in the The Alchemy Wars series is The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction March/April 2020, published in 2020.

What is the Alchemy Wars trilogy about?

The trilogy is set in an alternate world where the Dutch created mechanical beings called Clakkers through alchemy, using them to build a global empire. The story follows Clakkers who develop free will and the humans caught up in the resulting conflict.

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