Laird Barron Books In Order

Publication Order of Isaiah Coleridge Books

Publication Order of Nanashi Novellas

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Come Join Us By The Fire II Books

Publication Order of The Heroic Legends Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

An American poet and author, Laird Barron is well known for his mystery and horror novels, as he has reached a large audience worldwide. Masterfully creating both tension and suspense with his stories, he really engages the reader, allowing them to feel truly invested in the action. This has allowed him to discover his unique style and niche over the years, really coming into his own as a writer with something to say. Setting up a rich and evocative atmosphere with each and every story, he is also adept at building fantasy worlds too, allowing the reader to ultimately lose themselves within them. The characters also resonate with his readers too, as they bring the stories to life with their grounded appeal that provides his books with a sense of authenticity.

Bringing out a number of series over the years too, he’s also adept at establishing long-running arcs, with many strong protagonists too. This has led to him being regarded as one of the foremost voices currently working within his genre and field to this very day. With plenty more ideas and stories to come, he definitely isn’t stopping anytime soon in the near future, as his writing career grows from strength-to-strength.

Early and Personal Life

Born in 1970 in Palmer, Alaska, Laird Barron would experience a fairly isolated upbringing, one that saw financial difficulties over the years. This would come to greatly influence his work over time, as he would turn to writing, with a strong passion for all things literature. During the early nineties he would race in the Idatrod Trail Sled Dog Race, which see him become a sled dog racer for a period of time. Later he would go on to work as a fisherman on the Bering Sea, all of which he would later feed back into his work as an author. Now living in Olympia, Washington, in the United States, he’s a full-time author, as he continues to work on a variety of different projects and novels.

Writing Career

Moving to Washington in 1994, Barron would quickly become a regular fixture on the poetry scene there, making a strong name for himself. This would later lead to him writing his first story titled ‘Shiva, Open Your Eye’, which would be published in 2001 in ‘The Magazine of Fantasy and Science-Fiction. Later in 2007 he would go on to publish ‘The Imago Sequence and Other Short Stories, his debut literary collection through the ‘Night Shade Books’ outlet. This would also be the label that he would release his second novel through titled ‘The Croning’, which would come out in 2012. Winning various awards for his work, such as the ‘Shirley Jackson Award’ in both 2007 and 2010, he has fast become one of the biggest names in the industry, along with a film being produced of his work ‘They Remain’ in 2017, as he continues to make a name for himself to this day.

The Croning

First released through the ‘Night Shade’ publishing label, this would be the second novel from Lair Barron. Working as a stand-alone title, it would be a horror novel with strong elements of the occult, giving it a moody and foreboding ambiance. Maintaining the terror throughout, Barron really grabs the reader and never once lets them go, right until the very end.

Dark and mysterious, this book delves into the darker recesses of the human psyche, dealing with the occult and magic on the way. Conjuring up a terrifying and all encroaching atmosphere, it really does well at leaving the reader well and truly unsettled reading it. It also manages to incorporate some deeper ideas as well, asking some fundamental questions about the nature of existence itself. Getting to the heart of the matter, it definitely plays with the imagination of the reader, constantly keeping them guessing on what awaits them round the corner.

With strange phenomena taking place just beyond the peripheral of reality, it is difficult to know what exists beyond the boundaries if existence. Looking at black magic and dark and dangerous cults, evil lurks within the shadows waiting to consume and all who happen to fall into them. Both and academic and a geologist, Donald Miller has existed on the edges of these boundaries for a long time now. Learning some uncomfortable home truths about his own wife and their adult twins, he must deal with the uncomfortable nature of his new reality he finds himself in. Will he be able to cope with it all? What is the truth to be discovered behind it all? Who, or what, is behind the croning?

Blood Standard

This time published through the ‘G.P. Putnam’s Sons’, this would first come out on the 29th of May in 2018. Marking the first title in the ‘Isaiah Coleridge’ series, it’s a thriller franchise that looks at the life of the eponymous mob enforcer protagonist. Featuring different stories with each instalment, this first entry establishes the premise overall, introducing him for the very first time.

Creating a thriller series this time, Barron sets about establishing a new franchise, whilst setting up the overall tone and atmosphere. Developing a whole new world, he focuses on his lead protagonist of Isaiah Coleridge, setting about introducing him as a fun and engaging character. Keeping it real and gritty at the same time too, Barron doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of the story either. Keeping the overall mood dark and moody, he really manages to draw the reader in, as they’re held on the edge-of-their-seats right until the very end.

Working as a mob enforcer in Alaska, it would seem that Isaiah Coleridge really has seen it all when it comes to the darker side of life. Whilst he’s tough and ready, it would seem that he may have bitten off more than he can chew, as he finds himself in over his head after preventing a made man’s moneymaking scheme. That’s when his boss exiles him to New York to begin a new life, as he seeks to turn over a new leaf, essentially living in peace and quiet. This is soon disturbed, though, after a teenage girl goes missing, leaving him to find her before it’s too late, all whilst attempting to avoid any unwanted attention. Can he find her time and bring her to safety? Who would kidnap her and why? What will be the given blood standard?