The Tripods books in order

Q: "How many books are in the The Tripods series?"

"There are six books in the The Tripods series, published between 1967 and 1968."

Q: "What is the first book in the The Tripods series?"

"The first book in the The Tripods series is When the Tripods Came, published in 1967."

Q: "In what order should The Tripods books be read?"

"The original trilogy should be read in publication order: The White Mountains (1967), The City of Gold and Lead (1967), and The Pool of Fire (1968). The prequel, When the Tripods Came, was published much later in 1988 and describes how the Tripods first conquered Earth. Most readers start with The White Mountains and save the prequel for after finishing the trilogy. Note that some entries in the reading list above are foreign-language editions of the same books."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	When the Tripods Came	1967	John Christopher	Buy
2	Tripodien aika	1967	John Christopher	N/A
3	La ciudad de oro y plomo	1967	John Christopher	N/A
4	The White Mountains	1967	John Christopher	Buy
5	The City of Gold and Lead	1967	John Christopher	Buy
6	The Pool of Fire	1968	John Christopher	Buy

The Tripods is John Christopher’s best-known work, a young adult science fiction series first published in the late 1960s. It is set in a future where giant three-legged alien machines called Tripods rule the Earth. Humans live in pre-industrial villages and are “capped” at age 14 with a metal mesh implanted on their skulls that makes them docile and obedient. The story follows Will Parker, a boy who decides to escape capping by fleeing to a community of free humans in the White Mountains of Switzerland.

The White Mountains (1967) covers Will’s journey across England and France to reach the free colony. The City of Gold and Lead (1967) sends Will and two companions on a mission to infiltrate one of the Tripods’ domed cities and learn about the alien Masters who control them. The Pool of Fire (1968) brings the resistance’s fight to its climax as they launch an attack to liberate humanity. The prequel, When the Tripods Came (1988), was written two decades later and tells the story of how the Tripods first arrived on Earth and gradually took control through a television show that hypnotized viewers. The BBC adapted the first two books into a television series in 1984 and 1985, which was popular in the UK but was cancelled before the third book could be filmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the The Tripods series?

There are six books in the The Tripods series, published between 1967 and 1968.

What is the first book in the The Tripods series?

The first book in the The Tripods series is When the Tripods Came, published in 1967.

In what order should The Tripods books be read?

The original trilogy should be read in publication order: The White Mountains (1967), The City of Gold and Lead (1967), and The Pool of Fire (1968). The prequel, When the Tripods Came, was published much later in 1988 and describes how the Tripods first conquered Earth. Most readers start with The White Mountains and save the prequel for after finishing the trilogy. Note that some entries in the reading list above are foreign-language editions of the same books.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order