4 答案2026-07-25 12:50:02
The short story collections are key if you want the full picture. 'The Long and Short of It' and 'What Could Possibly Go Wrong?' contain many of the bridging stories. Publishers really should include a recommended reading order in the front of each book; it would save new readers so much confusion.
Until they do, we have to rely on fan knowledge. My advice is to get those two collections and slot the stories in as per the author's website list. It's extra effort, but the short stories are often hilarious and heartfelt, adding depth to both series. They're not throwaways.
7 答案2026-07-24 21:01:44
Look at your bookshelf or e-reader. What do you already own? Start there. The barrier to starting is often just starting. Don’t buy a whole new set based on an online debate. Read what you have access to. The path of least resistance is often the one that gets you actually turning pages. You can always fill in gaps later.
7 答案2026-07-25 01:06:15
For a series about time travel, it's pretty important to experience it in the right order. Don't be a time criminal. Read 'Doing Time', then 'Lies, Damned Lies, and History', then 'The Good, the Bad, and the History'. The Time Police would approve.
7 答案2026-07-25 22:50:48
The juxtaposition is genius. St. Mary's historians observe; the Time Police intervene. One series is about preserving history by witnessing it, the other is about preserving history by controlling it. The conflict between these philosophies is the heart of the universe. So, the 'complete' order is philosophical. Read a few St. Mary's books, then jump to 'Doing Time' to see the other side. It enriches both. Reading them isolated means you only get half the argument.
5 答案2026-06-08 04:07:57
The Horus Heresy series is this massive, sprawling saga set in the Warhammer 40K universe, and yeah, it does follow a rough timeline—but it’s not strictly linear. The early books, like 'Horus Rising' and 'False Gods,' set up the rebellion, but later installments jump around, filling in gaps or exploring side stories. Some novels run parallel, showing different perspectives of the same events, like 'Fulgrim' and 'The First Heretic,' which dive into different Legions’ falls.
What’s wild is how the series expands. You’ve got anthologies like 'The Primarchs' that flesh out backstories, and later arcs like the Siege of Terra novels that bring everything to a head. If you’re a completionist, reading in publication order works, but some fans cherry-pick Legion-specific arcs. Personally, I bounced around after the first five books—it’s like a mosaic, and piecing it together is half the fun.
7 答案2026-07-25 13:31:05
I borrowed 'Doing Time' from a friend who never mentioned St. Mary's. I read it, loved it, and only later discovered it was a spin-off. I then read all of St. Mary's and had a blast spotting the connections. It was like a fun prequel series. So, my lived experience says starting with Time Police worked just fine. It was a cool way to do it, actually—seeing the 'future' of the world first, then learning its past.
5 答案2026-07-25 09:39:28
Three novels, but an expansive feeling world. Taylor packs so much detail, humor, and character into each one. You finish feeling like you've consumed more than three books' worth of story. It's a testament to her efficient, engaging writing style. No filler, just brilliant storytelling.