david zindell books

David Zindell Books In Order

Publication order of the ea cycle books, publication order of the neverness cycle books, publication order of standalone novels, publication order of non-fiction books, publication order of collections.

David Zindell

David Zindell is an American author of science fiction. He was born in Toledo, Ohio. He was awarded a BA degree in mathematics and anthropology at the University of Colorado. He currently lives in Seattle, Washington.

His first book, ”Neverness”, won the Crawford Award for best first fantasy novel in 1988 and is the first book in a series known as The Ea Cycle. His early story’Shanidar’ was awarded the first prize in the Writers of the Future contest. Zindell’s most recent books are ”The Broken God” and its sequels, ”War in Heaven” (2006), and ”The Wild” (2008). Both of those titles were New York Times notable books for 2007.

Neverness, his bestselling novel, was shortlisted for the Arthur C.Clark award for being the best in science fiction stories. David Zindell is known for his beautiful and imaginative writing style. His stories are often concerned with themes such as the nature of belief and transcendence and whether we can obtain absolution from our past actions or not. His work also contains many impressive descriptions of space travel and aliens.

His writing style is romantic, poetic, heroic, or about philosophical issues in human life. Zindell was nominated for the John W. Campell after being the Best upcoming writer in 1986.

The story follows the life of Mallory Ringess at ”the Academy” as a trainee. The academy was started by a pseudo-monastic order of truth-seekers called ”the Order of Mystic Mathematicians and other ineffable flame seekers hoping to be a pilot.

In the present day, a pilot is a special beast with a combination of the aspects of theoretical mathematician and a questing knight. With advanced mathematics, the pilots can navigate within the manifold, a kind of hyperspace linking all parts of the universe. Its dangers can cause the untrained or the unwary to get lost in the tangled threads space-time.

The book takes the reader through a life journey on a planet named ‘Neverness’ – a place where all civilized life within this world exists in one large metropolis. The main protagonist is a man named Mallory Ringess, born into an aristocratic family he seems to despise until his family is killed, and he is placed in a near-death state.

He accepts a mission from a person named ‘The Angel of Death to become one of the pilots of a form of faster-than-light spacecraft which are known as ‘Moths.’ This takes him through an adventurous journey throughout Neverness itself, as well as outside of worlds known as ‘farthest’ and ‘Further.’ As Mallory comes closer to a religious sect called the Transcendence, he realizes that he must complete his mission before transcending himself. The protagonist Mallory Ringess is shown in both positive and negative lights; at times, he seems to be earnest in his attempts to complete specific missions given to him, but on the other hand, he also appears like someone who tends to take unnecessary risks when it comes to showing off or simply for his own entertainment.

The tone of this novel changes between that of a personal account and that of a splendid view of the universe, with the protagonist Mallory Ringess taking on both positive and negative lights; at times, he seems earnest in his attempts to complete specific missions given to him, but on the other hand, he also appears like someone who tends to take unnecessary risks when it comes to showing off or simply for his own entertainment. The worlds that Ringess travels through are beautifully written, portraying the worlds in a way where the reader understands what they look like based on how Ringess describes them but leaves enough room for interpretation that they could be anything.

The novel Neverness is philosophical in its approach, with Ringess often having deep conversations with both his crew members and various other characters throughout the story. Though they can seem repetitive at times, it may feel that this is intentional as the reader begins to understand how important these conversations are for Ringess as he begins to question himself and his purpose.

The Broken God

The Broken God is the debut novel in A Requiem for Homo Sapiens. The book is a story of Danlo’s brilliant mentor, a mathematician, who believes that knowledge can save all humankind. But when he invents something so dangerous it could destroy Neverness forever, his project wrenches the entire city and its inhabitants far into the future and reveals how they will become their own gods.

Zindell’s writing and storytelling style are magnificent to read, and the world he created was wonderful. It follows Danlo as he leaves his home of Neverness and begins a journey to find out who has caused the plague that wiped out his entire race. He becomes a member of the Order of Mystic Mathematicians and Other Seekers of the Ineffable Flame.

The novel follows him as he goes through his life learning, meeting new people, and growing into a man. It offers a lot of insight into how people lived in the far future. There are many other characters that are introduced throughout the story, all of them just as intriguing and well-developed as Danlo is. Even minor characters were given depth to them for the reader to comprehend fully. Danlo’s story isn’t the only one that is focused on in this book. There is an entire cast of characters that is enjoyable to learn about. The book shows what happens to Zolar, the leader of the Order, and what happened about Peter’s past. Danlo becomes a member of the community in which he lives, allowing the reader to learn about them as well. One of the great things was the mathematics and scientific theories that were included in the book – for the reader to feel like they are learning something new, which is not common for most novels.

Neverness itself is a place filled with people who are fascinating to learn about as well. Everyone has their own beliefs, from those who are devoted to the Messiah who will save them to those who despise other religions. It is interesting to learn about all of these people and how they come together despite their differences. The book is filled with action, mystery, and science fiction.

David Zindell Books in Order (12 Book Series)

David Zindell has written a series of 12 books. Here, you can see them all in order! (plus the year each book was published)

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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

• David Zindell Books in Order

The Neverness Cycle, Book 1

David Zindell

The Broken God

The neverness cycle, book 2.

The Neverness Cycle, Book 3

War in Heaven

The neverness cycle, book 4.

The Lightstone

The ea cycle, book 1.

The Silver Sword

The ea cycle, book 2.

Lord of Lies

The ea cycle, book 3.

The Ea Cycle, Book 4

The Diamond Warriors

The ea cycle, book 5.

The Idiot Gods

The Orca's Song

Who is the author of david zindell series.

Navigating the literary seas of the David Zindell series is David Zindell. This author, whether a rising star or a seasoned veteran, has crafted the pages that whisk readers away on this series' journey. Their background, style, and influences often shine through in their writing, making each book a unique experience. Fans of the series might find it intriguing to delve into other works by {author name} to see how their writing has evolved or how different themes are explored across their body of work.

How many David Zindell books are there?

To answer a question as vital as the number of coffee cups consumed while reading, there are exactly 12 books in the David Zindell series. Each book represents a chapter in the broader narrative, introducing new twists, turns, and perhaps the occasional talking dragon (disclaimer: dragons depend on the genre). The series might take you on a rollercoaster of emotions or provide a steady companion on lazy Sunday afternoons. Remember, the journey through a book series is not just about reaching the end but also about the memories created along the way.

In what order should I read these books?

The first page of this saga was turned in 1988, and the ink dried on the latest page in 2021. While each book might be a world in itself, reading them in the order they were published helps maintain the storyline's natural progression. Think of it like baking a cake; you could add the ingredients in any order, but following the recipe usually results in a tastier treat. Of course, for the adventurous souls, mixing up the order might offer a new perspective – just be prepared for unexpected plot revelations!

Where can I find more information about each book?

Each book in the David Zindell series comes with its own little treasure trove of information, nestled snugly above the "View on Amazon" button. Here, you'll discover not just the publication year, which is essential for understanding the context and evolution of the series, but also a succinct summary that teases the story without spoiling any surprises. It's the perfect spot for readers to get a glimpse of what lies within the pages, helping them decide which book to dive into next. Additionally, we occasionally include insights into the writing process, thematic elements, or how each book fits into the larger tapestry of the series.

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The Wild Paperback – July 1, 1996

• Book 3 of 4 The Neverness Cycle
• Print length 560 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Spectra
• Publication date July 1, 1996
• Dimensions 5.5 x 1.5 x 8.5 inches
• ISBN-10 0553762192
• ISBN-13 978-0553762198
• See all details

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Editorial Reviews

From the inside flap, excerpt. © reprinted by permission. all rights reserved., product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Spectra (July 1, 1996)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 560 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0553762192
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0553762198
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.55 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.5 x 8.5 inches

About the author

David zindell.

Internationally bestselling author David Zindell moved to the Rocky Mountains to devote himself to skiing, rock climbing, and writing, pretty much in that order. Writing eventually won out, and has become the passion of his life.

After majoring in, at various times, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics, and physics, David graduated in 1984 from the University of Colorado with a degree in mathematics. An early story, “Shanidar,” won first prize in the Writers of the Future contest, and he was nominated for a Hugo award for best new writer of the year. His bestselling Neverness was shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clark award for the best science fiction novel published in the United Kingdom. A successor trilogy, A Requiem For Homo Sapiens, came next, followed by the four book Ea Cycle, which is a Grail quest to end all Grail quests. His memoir Splendor describes how his experience of surviving near-nuclear war and the revolutions of the 1960s led to the idea of how the world might be changed through the mysterious evolutionary force he calls splendor. This force plays out in his most recent novel, The Idiot Gods, which tells of the orca Arjuna’s quest to communicate with the human race about the future of life on earth.

David’s work has been translated into German, French, Italian, Russian, Japanese, and many other languages including Serbo-Croatian. He lives in colorful Colorado, close to his two talented and amazing daughters.

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