3 Answers2026-08-04 23:08:35
Man, figuring out the internal chronology for the 'Redwall' books can be a project. Brian Jacques jumped around the timeline a lot. If you want the story order, it goes like this: 'Lord Brocktree' is the absolute earliest, then 'Martin the Warrior', 'Mossflower', 'The Legend of Luke', 'Outcast of Redwall', and 'Mariel of Redwall' all happen pretty close together. After that, it's 'The Bellmaker', 'Salamandastron', 'Redwall' (the first published, but set way later!), 'Mattimeo', 'The Pearls of Lutra', 'The Long Patrol', 'Marlfox', 'The Taggerung', 'Triss', 'Loamhedge', 'Rakkety Tam', 'High Rhulain', 'Eulalia!', and finally 'The Sable Quean'.
I tried reading them this way once, and it's a different experience. You see the abbey's history unfold, but you miss the charm of discovering the lore backwards, the way most of us did. Honestly, for a first-time reader, publication order still wins. You get the foundational mysteries of 'Redwall' first, which makes the prequels more rewarding later.
The biggest gap in the timeline is between the early founding era and the 'Redwall' novel. So many generations pass, it’s almost a reset.
7 Answers2026-08-02 18:18:23
I don't think the difference matters much unless you're a completionist. Most people read whatever's available at the airport bookstore and still enjoy it. Connelly is good at giving you enough context in each book to not feel lost. The ongoing drama with Maddie or his relationships with other cops is richer if you've read others, but not essential.
That said, seeing someone try to map it all out is impressive. There are blog posts with detailed timelines that track Bosch's age, major cases, and real-world events. It's a testament to how solid Connelly's world-building is that fans even bother.
8 Answers2026-07-24 21:33:40
Here's a practical tip: look up the publication list online and stick to it. The chronological list is a headache to assemble because some books have dual timelines, with past and present storylines. 'Piece of My Heart' is a great example—it alternates between 1969 and the modern day. Where does that even go in a chronological read? It's designed for the publication context. Trying to force everything into a timeline order sucks the life out of the series. Just read them as Peter Robinson intended you to.
3 Answers2026-08-04 14:26:14
The chronological order starts with 'Lord Brocktree', but that might not be the ideal entry point. That book was written later and assumes you're already familiar with the series' tone and world. I started with 'Mossflower' myself, because that's where a lot of people recommend beginning, and I found it a much stronger narrative hook than 'Lord Brocktree', which can feel a bit more formulaic if it's your first taste of Redwall.
For a true chronological run, you'd go 'Lord Brocktree', then 'Martin the Warrior', 'Mossflower', 'The Legend of Luke', 'Outcast of Redwall', 'Mariel of Redwall', 'The Bellmaker', 'Salamandastron', 'Redwall', and so on. It's a fun project for a re-read, but for a first-timer, publication order—starting with the original 'Redwall'—just works better. You get introduced to the abbey and its traditions naturally. The prequels often have more weight when you know the legends the characters are talking about.
4 Answers2026-07-29 12:08:56
Meh, I tried chronological once. It made the middle books feel repetitive. Move, struggle, move again. The published order has more variety because it breaks up the Ingalls narrative with 'Farmer Boy'. That book is like a breath of fresh air—different family, different setting, different challenges. It provides contrast. Chronological order is kind of a grind. I appreciate the intention, but for enjoyment, I'll take the varied pacing of the original publication.