Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Devil Is Dead | 1971 | R.A. Lafferty | Buy |
| 2 | Archipelago | 1979 | R.A. Lafferty | Buy |
| 3 | More Than Melchisedech | 1984 | R.A. Lafferty | Buy |
The Devil Is Dead Trilogy is among R.A. Lafferty’s most ambitious works, spanning three books from 1971 to 1984. The Devil Is Dead introduces Finnegan and a cast of characters who may be human, may be something else entirely. Archipelago (1979) and More Than Melchisedech (1984) continue the story into increasingly mythic territory.
The trilogy resists easy summary. Lafferty weaves together mythology, theology, and folklore into a narrative that operates on its own logic. Readers who appreciate fiction that refuses to explain itself will find these books rewarding, though they demand patience and a tolerance for ambiguity.