10 Best Robert McCammon Books (2024)

King of horror.

American author Robert McCammon is one of the most influential names to come out of the horror literature boom from the 1970s to the 1990s. He has had three books on the New York Times best-sellers list and won multiple literary awards for his work. But let me backtrack a little and give you a background on this prolific author.

McCammon was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and still resides there to this day with his family. He studied Journalism at the University of Alabama, and so began his career in writing. McCammon is one of those rare authors that actually retired some of his earlier works. He said he did it not because he disliked them, but rather because he feels they don’t meet the standards of his later works.

Changing It Up

While McCammon is most well-known for his works in the horror fiction genre, he has since moved away from it. In 1991, he decided to try his hand at fantasy and historical fiction novels. He produced the book, Boy’s Life, which won an award and was highly praised. McCammon wanted to try out historical fiction, because it is something he was always interested in.

This is how one of Richard McCammon’s most popular series of books was born. The Matthew Corbett series is set in the early 1700s and follows the magistrate’s clerk as he unravels the mysteries surrounding colonial America. This is only one of many best books by Robert McCammon, so stick around!

Best Robert McCammon Books

Of course, the first book I review of McCammon’s has to be one of his famous horrors! This one is about an ancient evil that roams America’s landscape, now desolate after it was ravaged during a nuclear war. This evil is known as the Man with the Scarlet Eye, and he feeds on the dark desires of his followers.

His only purpose is to find a child named Swan, for she is special, and a threat to His existence. He must destroy her. But there are those that protect the girl getting in the way, determined to fight for what is left of their destroyed world. It is now a wasteland of survivors, filled with rage, monstrous creatures, pillaging armies, and those that are fighting for their souls.

Good VS Evil

There is a battle between good and evil in this story, the outcome of which will decide the fate of humanity. It’s a single girl against the world, but luckily, there are people who are willing to fight with her. This is a dark post-apocalyptic novel with scenes that will scare the life out of you.

There were so many elements to this top Robert McCammon book that I loved! The characters were amazing and I especially loved Swan and Josh. There was also a bit of a fantasy aspect in this novel with the manifestations of good and evil, which was a cool twist. But make no mistake, this is definitely a horror; some scenes had me sleeping with the bedside light on!

Child’s Mind

In 1964, the people of Zephyr, Alabama either work for the local dairy or the paper mill. Life may be simple, but the imagination of twelve-year-old Cory Mackenson, an aspiring writer, is very impressionable. He swears he’s heard whispering spirits in the churchyard and seen bootleggers lurking outside of town. Cory finds it all exciting, as only one of his age can.

While accompanying his father on his milk route one morning, Cory sees a car ramp off the road and land in the lake. Cory’s father dives into the lake to rescue the driver, only to find a naked corpse, beaten and handcuffed to the steering wheel. Over time, the townsfolk seem to forget all about it, but Cory can’t, and neither can his father.

A Chaotic Journey

This father and son go on a journey searching for the truth, and they end up right in the middle of where good and evil collide. As Cory learns more about the town of Zephyr and the mysteries surrounding it, he discovers that childish things quickly lose their shine, but growing up is a beautiful and chaotic ride.

This is one of the best books by Robert McCammon EVER, and absolutely one that you should be hastily adding to your list. It’s difficult to put into words what this book made me feel, but it was so many things. On the surface, it is a murder mystery, but it’s actually so much more. Five-hundred-star rating from me!

Matthew Corbett Series

At the stake.

This is the best book series of Robert McCammon that I mentioned at the beginning of this article. There are eight books so far (I can only hope there will be more), but I will just review my two favorites. Of course, I have to start with the first book, Speak the Nightbird, because that’s where the whole story starts.

In 1699, the citizens of Fount Royal believe that a young witch, Rachel Howarth, is the cause of all their tragedies, and demand that she be executed for witchcraft. Presiding over the matter is magistrate Woodward, along with his young clerk, Matthew Corbett. Corbett is convinced of Rachel’s innocence and begins his own investigation.

Book three is called Mister Slaughter and sees Corbett in Colonial America in 1702. He is now a “problem solver” for an agency and has just accepted the most unusual commission. He and his colleague have to escort a notorious mass murderer to the docks of New York. What Corbett doesn’t expect, is for the killer to make a surprisingly tempting offer.

I would recommend that you read the books in this Robert McCammon series in order, as they follow a continuous timeline. Any fan of historical fiction and mystery novels will absolutely love this series! I don’t have enough words to explain how good it is. It has everything: romance, mystery, horror, and adventure.

They Thirst

Vampire army.

Here we have a classic vampire story dripping in 80s horror. And no, these vampires are nothing like the ones we are familiar with today (I’m looking at you, Twilight). The vampires in this story are scary and evil and want to kill all of humanity. These vampires are definitely leaning more toward Dracula than Edward Cullen.

Prince Vulcan, the ancient leader of the vampires, and his followers have invaded Los Angeles; the first step in their plan to conquer the world. These vampires are on a mission, trying to turn every human into a vampire so they can build an army. On top of this, a serial killer known only as The Roach is strangling prostitutes.

Evil Awaits

Homicide detective Andy Palatazin is losing sleep over The Roach. He is working day and night to catch the person committing these murders all across the city. But what Andy doesn’t realize, is that The Roach may be the least of his problems. There is something more sinister and evil hiding in the shadows.

Robert McCammon did the best job at bringing us a good old, scary vampire novel. It was so clever how he blended the modern (at that time) city of L.A. with the ancient twist of a dark castle. The story is so crazy and colorful that it almost reads like a movie. I highly recommend this one to any horror fans!

Michael Gallatin Series

Another one of the best series by Robert McCammon, and this one has such a cool concept that totally caught my interest when I read the synopsis and reviews for this book. Michael Gallatin is a master spy – but he is also so much more. You see, Gallatin is also a werewolf. Crazy, right?

He is able to change shape in the blink of an eye, kill silently, and snarl with fury. He has faced many dangerous missions throughout his life, but he is about to face the most dangerous one of all: Gallatin has to uncover the secret Nazi plan known as Iron Fist. You can find out how he does it in The Wolf’s Hour.

Background Stories

The second book in this best-selling Robert McCammon series is called The Hunter from the Woods. This one is a collection of stories about Michael Gallatin’s life and fills any holes or questions you may have from the first novel. You will learn about Gallatin’s early life in Russia and how he was recruited for the British Secret Service.

These collections have a little bit of everything, but more than anything else, it gives us a fantastic and imaginative story. It’s erotic and tragic and horrifying and warm. I really enjoyed getting a bit more of an inside look into the life of our hero in this story. I adored the character because he is so complex.

This highly-ranked Robert McCammon book is the perfect road trip read. The story is told from two perspectives. The first is Dan, a Vietnam war veteran who is suffering from the lingering effects of Agent Orange. He has lost everything: his home, his son, his wife, and his life. On his way to the loan bank as a last-ditch effort, Dan gets into a scuffle with a loan officer, who is killed.

Dan flees the scene, on the run from the law with a price on his head for murder. Heading towards the Louisiana bayou, Dan meets Arden, a woman with a purple birthmark on her face. Arden is looking for a legendary faith healer and Dan is the perfect person to help her find The Bright Girl.

Hot on Dan and Arden’s tails are bounty hunter Flint Murtaugh, a Siamese twin, and his hunter in training, Pelvis Eisley, an Elvis impersonator. These two are like chalk and cheese, but they provide a lot of comic relief for the book, although not in a silly way. Their characters are also so well developed that at times I couldn’t decide who to root for.

A very enjoyable book, this one has a super weird synopsis, but I think that’s why it is so good. Robert McCammon did what he does best with this novel, and I promise you that when you finish it, you will never forget it!

A Mother’s Love

When you finish reading this Robert McCammon book, you’re going to be like, “what the hell did I just read?” – and that’s why it is one of his best! Any parent will tell you that their worst fear is losing their child – and that can potentially happen in many ways. In this story, a child is kidnapped.

It’s the 1980s and a heavily armed radical kidnaps a baby with the deluded hope that it will take her back to the simpler times in life. Of course, no mother is just going to take that lying down. The baby’s mother teams up with a tracker and they begin a chase across the country, determined to get the child back.

Action And Horror In One

Prepare yourself, because this one is packed to the brim with action! Out of control violence, sex, drugs, you name it, this book has got it! You will be on the edge of your seat for this thrill ride. The reason why this story works so well, though, is because it’s fairly believable.

Robert McCammon made this one of his top books by seamlessly weaving elements of horror into the story, which just makes it all the more terrifying (but in a good way). Any horror fans would definitely enjoy this book too, so do yourself a favor and give it a read!

This entire story takes place within a twenty-four-hour period. The setting: Inferno, Texas. It’s a town that’s in a bad way; they have been driven to their ending by gang violence, racial tensions, and the economy collapsing. You would think things can’t get much worse – except they can.

Robert McCammon does what he is best known for in this book and throws in an element that is completely unexpected: an unidentified spacecraft crash lands just outside of Inferno, in the desert. Didn’t see that one coming, did you? A second spacecraft lands, and in it is the alien they come to know as Stinger.

It’s The End Of The World

Stinger is on Earth because he has a mission to complete, and he will do so no matter the cost. But what he brings with him is the fascinating part. There’s an endless amount of technology that the human race has never seen before. The kind of technology that could cause mass destruction and threaten the existence of Inferno.

But it’s not just Inferno that is at risk; the whole world is too. This best-rated book by Robert McCammon is like a blend of all your favorite extraterrestrial movies or TV shows. It was honestly such a good read; I couldn’t put it down! Make no mistake, it’s definitely a horror, but you’ll still have fun reading it.

Short Stories

If you are looking for the perfect Halloween read, then look no further than this book containing a collection of Robert McCammon’s top stories! It contains some of his shorter works that he wrote in the 80s, plus the novella Blue World, which comes right at the end. You’ll love them all.

There were some stories I loved more than others, but my favorites were: Yellowjacket Summer, which is a wrong turn kind of story; Makeup, about a thief stealing the make-up kit of a horror film star; and Chico, about a special child who gets revenge on his mother’s boyfriend.

The Novella

Blue World is a highlight of this collection. It is about a Catholic priest who falls in love with a porn star. But the porn star is being stalked by a serial killer. I know the concept sounds crazy, but the story is really good! It’s an interesting “will he or won’t he” type of book.

The nice thing about this book being all short stories is that you don’t have to read the whole thing in one go. You can read one or two in between some of your other books if you feel like shaking things up a bit. This might actually be the best book to introduce you to McCammon’s writing, as it gives you a taste of what his other works are like!

Rounding up this article of the best novels by Robert McCammon we have The Border, which is actually one of his latest books, having been released in 2015. It’s very much a post-apocalyptic tale, where two alien civilizations at war have destroyed the Earth.

But it is more than the Gorgons and the Cyphers that are endangering the last surviving group of humans; it seems as though the world itself has turned against them. Many survivors surrender to suicide and despair, but the worst off become cannibalistic creatures, called Gray Men, due to the alien pollution.

Last Of The Survivors

These mutant humans are driven by insatiable hunger, and a boy named Ethan may be the world’s last hope. Ethan has powers that could be the salvation of the human race, but he must first learn to hone and control them. Having these powers makes Ethan a threat to the aliens, and they won’t let one pesky human stop them.

You have to marvel at McCammon’s imagination – I sometimes wonder how he comes up with these ideas for his books because I’ve never read anything like them. I especially loved the sci-fi aspects of this book, and it mixed in so well with the survival story theme. A truly phenomenal read!

Final Thoughts

There are so many great books to pick from when it comes to this author. My personal recommendation would be to read all of them because each story is so unique and exciting. Of course, these are just a few of many of his best works, so make sure to check some of the others out!

Robert McCammon has an imagination like no other, and he has brought us some new books this year, which I cannot wait to get my hands on! The King of Shadows is one, and I Travel by Night and Last Train from Perdition is the other – and the reviews are looking good!

robert mccammon books ranked

Robert Hazley

Robert is a science fiction and fantasy geek. (He is also the best looking Ereads writer!) Besides reading and writing, he enjoys sports, cosplay, and good food (don't we all?). Currently works as an accountant (would you believe that?)

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13 Creepy Robert McCammon Books That Will Keep You Awake At Night

The award-winning author writes tales of supernatural and occult horror with a Southern Gothic flair.

robert_mccammon_books

One of the most successful and enduring writers of the “horror boom” that occurred between the 1970s and the early 1990s, Robert R. McCammon may be best known for his novel Boy’s Life . But throughout his career, he has written three other New York Times bestsellers, received a multitude of accolades—including several Bram Stoker and World Fantasy Awards—and drawn countless comparisons to Stephen King .

Born in 1952 and raised by his grandparents in Birmingham, Alabama, McCammon followed his own path when he studied journalism at the University of Alabama instead of taking over the family furniture store. He wrote advertising copy for Birmingham businesses and newspapers until the publication of his second novel, Bethany's Sin , in 1980. After the publication of Gone South , his 11th novel, McCammon retired from writing for 10 years, citing the changing publishing industry and a desire to spend more time with his family. However, he eventually returned to writing in 2002, bringing us the Matthew Corbett series and other novels that blend horror with historical fiction, mystery, and more.

Related: The Scariest Books You've Ever Read   

Today, McCammon still lives in his hometown of Birmingham. Many of his books are colored by his experiences in the American South, often charged with the atmosphere of the eeriest Southern Gothics . It's a quality of his storytelling that has helped him develop a unique brand of horror—one that showcases the frightening aspects of the supernatural and the occult, but does not forget the nightmares of everyday life.

Want to see what all the fuss is about? Look below to see the 13 essential Robert McCammon books that will haunt your dreams.

The King of Shadows

The King of Shadows

By Robert McCammon

The latest in the adventures of Matthew Corbett takes place in 1704, as he searches for a mirror that can shatter one's mind. Matthew and Hudson Greathouse travel to Italy in search of Brazio Valerani, the son of the sorcerer who created this dangerous object. But their quest for answers finds them stranded on an island called Golgotha—a place as dangerous as it is beautiful.

The men receive a warm welcome from the islanders, but the more they settle in, the looser their grip on reality gets. And as reality slips away, so too does their identity. Matthew struggles to keep his wits and focus on the mystery awaiting him on the other side of the island. But the other side of the island also houses an active volcano and an elusive creature.

robert mccammon books

Cardinal Black

By Robert M. McCammon

McCammon continued his terrifying streak with the seventh installment in the Matthew Corbett series. This novel sees Matthew Corbett, the “Early American James Bond,” volunteer to help a woman whose mind is deteriorating under the influence of a forced drug experiment. 

Corbett enlists an unlikely ally to help him track down a stolen potion book containing the antidote that will save her. McCammon's novel is a riveting read for both die-hard fans of the series and newcomers alike. 

Related: Check Out the New Covers for Robert McCammon's Matthew Corbett Series

robert mccammon books

By Robert R. McCammon

McCammon’s first New York Times bestseller and co-winner (along with Stephen King’s Misery ) of the 1987 Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel, Swan Song is a “long, satisfying look at hell and salvation” ( Publishers Weekly ). Set after the nuclear apocalypse, it tells the story of several seemingly unrelated characters as they trek across the decimated American landscape. Only the eponymous Swan—a young psychic haunted by a bleak vision of the future—knows how they all tie together. She is the key to their survival, but can a 9-year-old girl truly stop the force of pure malevolence threatening to destroy all of civilization? 

Related: 7 Enduring Cult Horror Books   

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They Thirst

They Thirst transplants the macabre trappings of Hammer Film's Horror of Dracula from Eastern Europe to the City of Angels. Master vampire Prince Vulkan has established his base of operations in Kronsteen Castle, the former home of a murdered movie star. His plan of action? To transform all of L.A. into an army of the undead. As his bloodsucking henchmen take to the city streets, an eccentric cast of characters—including a vengeful orphan, a dying priest, a TV actor, and a tortured homicide detective—must fight for their humanity and their survival.  

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Mystery Walk

Mystery Walk

McCammon's first novel published in hardcover, Mystery Walk follows two psychics from different worlds: Billy Creekmore, a young Native American from Alabama schooled in his tribe's ancient mysticism, and Wayne Falconer, son of a fervent southern tent evangelist. Linking the pair is an ominous dream. Soon, this shared vision takes shape, and Billy and Wayne must face the nightmarish darkness. 

Usher's Passing

Usher's Passing

What if Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” was based on true events? That’s the premise of McCammon's 1984 novel, which introduces us to the latter-day descendants of the Usher dynasty. It has been years since horror novelist Rix has stepped foot in his family’s sprawling ancestral home. But when his father dies unexpectedly, the prodigal son must return once again, and confront the cursed Usher legacy: His family is hiding a terrible secret, and Rix suspects it involves the children who have vanished from the surrounding North Carolina mountains.

Related: 10 Horror Books Too Terrifying to Handle    

Stinger

Nominated for the Bram Stoker Award (it lost to The Silence of the Lambs ; hard to fault it there), The Philadelphia Inquirer called Stinger “the ultimate horror novel.” After a UFO crash lands in West Texas, an otherworldly stranger arrives shortly thereafter, bringing news of an evil alien bounty hunter named Stinger. When Stinger encloses the area within an impenetrable dome, the residents are left at the mercy of his predatory search—and band together to protect his prey. Stinger marked McCammon’s second stop on the New York Times bestseller list.

The Wolf's Hour

The Wolf's Hour

A Russian ex-pat working for the British Secret Service, Michael Gallatin has been tasked with uncovering a Nazi plan designed to thwart the D-Day invasion. The fate of the world is at stake, but luckily Michael has a secret weapon: he’s a werewolf. With mere hours before the Normandy landing, Michael must unleash the beast within him onto the Third Reich, and in doing so, face his true nature. The Wolf’s Hour is an example of McCammon’s ability to masterfully blend genres, combining horror, fantasy, historical fiction, and mystery into one thrilling novel.

Related: 9 Underrated Horror Books That Have Been Waiting to Fuel Your Nightmares   

Mine

Called a “page-whipping thriller” by Kirkus Reviews , Mine won Robert McCammon his second Bram Stoker Award. A novel of motherhood and madness, it centers around two very different women: Mary “Terror” Terrell, a psychopathic radical wanted by the FBI, and new mother Laura Clayborne. Their divergent lives collide when Mary, compelled by an obsessive delusion, kidnaps Laura’s baby—sending them both on a deadly chase that will take them to the brink of insanity. And maybe even beyond. 

Blue World

This collection of short stories and one novella is an emotional rollercoaster that is sure to chill you to the bone. Among the creepy tales packed within these pages is the eponymous novella, featuring a priest who finds he has difficulty sticking to his vows when he meets a beautiful adult film star who has come to pray for her murdered friend. There’s also the story of a psychotic boy who can control bees with his mind (“Yellowjacket Summer”), the town that takes Halloween a little too seriously (“Strange Candy”), and “Nightcrawlers,” which was adapted into a 1985 episode of The Twilight Zone .

Related: 9 Horror Short Story Collections to Keep You up at Night   

Boy's Life

Set in a fictionalized version of 1960s Alabama, Boy’s Life is a Southern coming-of-age horror story as only Robert R. McCammon can tell it. Complete with murder mysteries , ghost cars, possibly-magical bikes, river monsters, and even a dinosaur, the novel mixes sharp observations about day-to-day life with deep meditations on magic and growing up. It not only won McCammon his third Bram Stoker Award, but also the World Fantasy Award, and ensured his position in the pantheon of great horror novelists.

Related: 17 Award-Winning Horror Books You Need to Read Now 

Gone South

The last novel McCammon published before his hiatus from writing, this book is about a Vietnam War veteran on the run. Suffering from his exposure to Agent Orange and desperate when his car is repossessed, Dan Lambert kills a loan officer in a moment of rage and flees to the Louisiana bayou. On his trail are two unlikely bounty hunters: an Elvis impersonator and a Siamese twin. This is a thrilling tale of outsiders and a broken man.

Speaks the Nightbird

Speaks the Nightbird

The first book in the Matthew Corbett series, we find the protagonist investigating charges of witchcraft in the Carolinas in 1699. Matthew has serious doubts that Rachel Howarth is guilty of the murder and deviltry of which she’s been accused in the small settlement of Fount Royal. Racing to uncover the truth before Rachel is hanged for her crimes, Matthew unearths village conspiracies, the discovery of which put his own life in danger. What does this tiny, devout village have to hide? And is it too late to push back the tide of evil? 

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11 Thrilling Robert McCammon Books 

Ready to get lost in a good story? 

boys life

Since 1978, Robert McCammon has published books that can't be easily labeled as fantasy, sci-fi, horror, or historical fiction. Regardless of genre, McCammon is a storyteller—with a capital 'S.' Like Ray Bradbury and Stephen King , two giants to whom McCammon's often compared, he has an uncanny ability to invite readers into his worlds. 

These 11 Robert McCammon books span his career, defy categorization, and will draw you in immediately. Happy reading!

the-king-of-shadows_robert-mccammon

The King of Shadows

By Robert McCammon

McCammon’s latest release, The King of Shadows is the eighth novel in his historical Matthew Corbett series. Set in the early eighteenth-century, the Corbett novels aren’t as horror-focused as McCammon’s most well-known works, but they’re just as gripping.

The year is 1704. Matthew has journeyed to Italy to learn more about his father, and comes under the thrall of the mysterious, enticing Golgotha island.

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speaks-the-nightbird_robert-mccammon

Speaks the Nightbird

In this first novel in the Matthew Corbett series, Matthew—a young clerk with little influence in the Carolinas—finds himself drawn to a woman condemned for witchcraft . Matthew doesn’t doubt that Satan is at work in Fount Royal. But can the compelling Rachel really be the devil's servant?

the-border-robert-mccammon

In this 2015 novel, Earth has become a battleground for competing alien races. The few remaining humans must fend off not only alien invaders , but the mutated ‘Gray Men.’ 

A group of survivors has found refuge in an abandoned Colorado apartment complex. The group faces a difficult decision when a young man with no memory but extraordinary abilities arrives at their refuge.

SF Signal praised The Border as “a prime example of a master storyteller/writer returning to the type of novel that made him a master and an excellent addition to the alien invasion flavor of the Apocalyptic Novel canon.”

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The Night Boat

This classic McCammon novel—the second book he ever wrote, but the third to be published—is an entertaining addition to the zombie genre . 

Robert lives an idyllic life in the Caribbean, enjoying adventures endorsed by his family’s wealth. When he discovers a sunken U-boat on one of his dives, Robert accidentally brings the artifact to the surface. And something is inside, pounding to be let out….

RELATED: Dark Fantasy Books You Won't Be Able to Put Down

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Usher's Passing

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s classic horror story “The Fall of the House of Usher,” Usher’s Passing asks how a modern-day Usher family might contend with the legacy bequeathed to them by Poe. 

Rix Usher escaped the crumbling family home long ago to become a successful horror author. But now Rix’s father is dying. Rix returns home to the estate among the mysterious Briartop Mountains, and realizes that his family’s curse has only grown stronger since the days of Poe.

the-wolfs-hour-robert-mccammon

The Wolf's Hour

A werewolf who kills Nazis! What more do you need to know about this New York Times bestseller? 

McCammon’s 1989 novel follows Michael, a lycanthropic spy undercover in Nazi-occupied France. The novel was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award, and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a werewolf classic that deserves to be unearthed and rediscovered.”

RELATED: Scary-Good Fantasy Horror Books

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Swan Song was a New York Times bestseller, the winner of the Bram Stoker Award, a finalist for the World Fantasy Award, and was named a PBS Great American Read in 2018. Arguably, it’s McCammon’s greatest novel. 

From Manhattan to Nebraska and beyond, Swan Song envisions an America transformed by nuclear devastation. Only Swan, a nine-year-old girl with visions she doesn’t understand, knows what terrors the survivors must prepare to face.

RELATED: Swan Song Is Unparalleled Post-Apocalyptic Horror

blue-world-robert-mccammon

A World Fantasy Award finalist, Blue World is a compelling collection of McCammon’s short stories and his novella “Blue World.” The anthology was nominated for both a Bram Stoker and World Fantasy Award. 

stinger-robert-mccammon

The Texas communities of Inferno and Bordertown have been dying for a long time. The UFO only speeds up their demise.

When an extraterrestrial ship crashes into the harsh terrain, the alien Daufin disguises herself among the locals. Unfortunately, this puts the small community under the laser-focus of Stinger, a bounty hunter who encases the town under an impenetrable dome, determined to burn anyone who stands between him and his alien bounty.

they-thirst_robert-mccammon

They Thirst

They Thirst is McCammon’s “suspenseful, exciting, and visceral” Los Angeles vampire novel ( Kirkus Reviews ). 

Under the undead eye of Prince Conrad Vulkan of Hungary, the city’s most vulnerable residents have been devoured and recruited into a legion of the damned. It’s up to a starlet, a young orphan, and a Hungarian immigrant to stand up for the soul of the city.

boys-life-robert-mccammon

One of The Portalist ’s picks for the 50 best horror novels ever written , Boy’s Life is a beautiful and brutal coming-of-age story. 

From Alabama-born McCammon comes the story of Cory, a young boy awakening to the evil in his small town of Zephyr, Alabama. 

Praised by Kirkus Reviews for “strongly echoing the childhood-elegies of King and Bradbury, and every bit their equal,” Boy’s Life won the 1991 Bram Stoker and World Fantasy Award.

RELATED: A Vision in the Night Sky Changes Everything in Boy's Life

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Robert McCammon Books in Order (38 Book Series)

Bethany's Sin

Robert McCammon is a series of 38 books written by 2 authors. 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

  • Robert McCammon Books in Order

Baal

Robert McCammon

Bethany's Sin

Bethany's Sin

Robert R McCammon

The Night Boat

The Night Boat

They Thirst

They Thirst

Mystery Walk

Mystery Walk

Usher's Passing

Usher's Passing

Stinger

The Wolf's Hour

Michael gallatin, book 1.

Mine

Boy's Life

Under the Fang

Under the Fang

Gone South

Speaks the Nightbird

Matthew corbett, book 1.

The Queen of Bedlam

The Queen of Bedlam

Matthew corbett, book 2.

Mister Slaughter

Mister Slaughter

Matthew corbett, book 3.

The Five

The Hunter from the Woods

Michael gallatin, book 2.

The Providence Rider

The Providence Rider

Matthew corbett, book 4.

I Travel by Night

I Travel by Night

I travel by night, book 1.

Death of a Hunter

Death of a Hunter

Michael gallatin, book 3.

Makeup

Night Calls the Green Falcon

Night Crawlers

Night Crawlers

The Great White Way

The Great White Way

Michael gallatin, book 4.

The Man from London

The Man from London

Michael gallatin, book 5.

The River of Souls

The River of Souls

Matthew corbett, book 5.

The Room at the Bottom of the Stairs

The Room at the Bottom of the Stairs

Michael gallatin, book 6.

Sea Chase

Michael Gallatin, Book 7

The Wolf and the Eagle

The Wolf and the Eagle

Michael gallatin, book 8.

The Border

Last Train from Perdition

I travel by night, book 2.

Freedom of the Mask

Freedom of the Mask

Matthew corbett, book 6.

Tales from Greystone Bay

Tales from Greystone Bay

The Listener

The Listener

Cardinal Black

Cardinal Black

Matthew corbett, book 7.

The King of Shadows

The King of Shadows

Matthew corbett, book 8, who is the author of robert mccammon series.

Navigating the literary seas of the Robert McCammon series is Robert McCammon. 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 Robert McCammon books are there?

To answer a question as vital as the number of coffee cups consumed while reading, there are exactly 38 books in the Robert McCammon 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 1978, and the ink dried on the latest page in 2022. 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 Robert McCammon 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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Robert R. McCammon

Robert R. McCammon is an American author of horror novels, historical fiction, and suspense. He was born on July 17, 1952, in Birmingham, Alabama. McCammon was a prominent figure in the horror genre during the 1980s and early 1990s, with popular books such as 'Swan Song' and 'Boy's Life'. After a hiatus in the late 1990s, he returned to writing with works that often blend genres, including the Matthew Corbett historical fiction series.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

1. Swan Song

Cover of 'Swan Song' by Robert R. McCammon

In the aftermath of a nuclear war that devastates the United States, a group of survivors, including a professional wrestler, a young girl with mystical powers, and a bag lady, embark on a journey across a ravaged America. They must navigate the horrors of a post-apocalyptic world and battle a malevolent force known as the Man with the Scarlet Eye, who seeks to claim the wasteland as his own. Throughout their journey, they discover the power of hope, community, and resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship.

2. Boy's Life

Cover of 'Boy's Life' by Robert R. McCammon

Set in the 1960s in the fictional town of Zephyr, Alabama, the novel follows the life of 12-year-old Cory Mackenson, whose life takes a mysterious turn when he witnesses his father attempt to save a man from a sinking car. The man is already handcuffed to the steering wheel, dead by strangulation. This event triggers a series of adventures and mysteries that Cory must unravel, all the while dealing with the challenges and joys of growing up. The book is a rich blend of nostalgia, magic realism, and the dark undercurrents of life in the American South.

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robert mccammon books ranked

Robert McCammon Books In Order

Publication order of matthew corbett books, publication order of i travel by night books, publication order of michael gallatin books, publication order of standalone novels, publication order of short stories/novellas, publication order of short story collections, publication order of night visions books, publication order of anthologies.

Robert McCammon is arguably the most accomplished writer of historical fiction and modern horror. He is the author of fourteen horror and fantasy novels and short stories- and nearly all of them were published in the period between 1978 and 1998.

Robert McCammon was born on the 17th of July, 1952, in Birmingham, Jefferson County, to Jack and Barbara Bundy McCammon. Most of his early years were spent in Birmingham’s East Lake Community. He began the art of writing when he was only ten years old. His childhood stories focused on aliens, cowboys and fantastic monsters. He wasn’t athletic and had very few friends, so, he decided to write stories where he portrayed himself as popular and excellent in sports.

Upon graduating from Banks High School, McCammon intended to be a journalist. He enrolled in the University of Alabama to study journalism. He graduated in 1974.

Soon after graduation, the course of his life veered off from the field of journalism. He spent the early post-college years as an advertiser. He once worked in the back room of a department store.

Writing Career

As already indicated, after his graduation, McCammon wrote advertising copy for Birmingham newspapers and businesses. He began writing short stories. He couldn’t get the short stories into print. This failure prompted him to write his first novel, Baal. Baal is Revelation-inspired. It talks of a conflict between limitless evil and limited good. In the 1988 edition of Baal afterword, McCammon states that the book, Baal, is about power, and that it was written when he had none. He also reveals that since editors always advise budding writers to write about what they know, he chose to write about what he didn’t know; therefore, he set Baal in faraway locations that he didn’t know to give his stories a global flavor.

The book Baal begins in New York City. A character called Mary Kate Raines is raped by an entity that leaves burns wherever it touches her. She conceives and delivers a baby called Jeffrey Harper. Jeffrey Harpers destroys the lives of Raines. Mary Kaite kills her husband and the bou, Jeffrey, is sent off to an orphanage where she grows unusually fast. He develops unusual powers and he calls himself Baal.

He has a slew of followers in the orphanage. He flees with is followers to Kuwait where he encounters a theology professor called Professor James Virga. This theology professor, who is a resident of Boston, is here in Kuwait to know the whereabouts and fate of his younger colleague, Donald Naughton, who had come to Kuwait to study Baal’s sect.

The theology professor realizes quite uncanny and unsettling: that though Baal is human in form and shape, he is very evil in intent and is bent on dominating and destroying the world. Virga doesn’t have the wherewithal to stop Baal. He is helpless and powerless. Thankfully, another laconic stranger by the name Michael wades into the situation. The laconic stranger has unusual powers of his own.

Michael, together with Virga, follow Baal around across the wastes of Greenland. A vicious fight ensues. Baal and Michael vanish. Virga is left alone, but he is about to be rescued. But who are rescuing him? Are they genuine or they are Baal’s disciples?

The book, Baal, was published by Avon Books.

McCammon continued to write horror fiction and in the 1980, he published two novels- The Night Boat and Bethany’s Sin. After the successful publication of the two novels, McCammn decided to write horror full-time. It is thought that his penchant for horror stories was instigated by his desire to escape from his own uncommon reality.

Also, during this time, McCammon came up with another splendid idea: forming the Horror Writers Association (HWA). This is an organization of published writers who offer support and mentorship to aspiring writers. The association also connects with other writers in the horror genre, thus, creating a horror writer’s community. He collaborated with other writers such as Dean Koontz to establish the group as a non-profit organization in 1987. Dean Koontz was elected as the group’s first president. As of 2016, the Horror Writers Association boasts of 426 members, and each year, it rewards deserving horror writers with a Bram Stoker Award.

McCammon continued to grow as a writing, especially in the horror genre, after plunging into full-time horror fiction writing. He went on to be feted with the 1985 Alabama Library Associations coveted Alabama Author Award for his novel, Usher’s Passing. His nest novel was the Swan Song. This is a post-apocalyptic story that is inspired by Stephen King’s novel, The Stand. Both the Swan Song and King’s novel, Misery, tied for the 1988 Bram Stoker Award in the genre of Horror and Dark Fiction. In 1987, Swan Song became a New York Times bestseller.

His short story, The Deep End, his novels, Mine and Boy’s Life, also won him the Bram Stoker award. Boy’s Life is essentially a return to McCammon’s southern roots. It is set in the fictional small town of Zephyr, Alabama. It chronicles the fictitious and horrific events of a southern boy’s childhood in the 1960s. McCammon wrote some more fiction set in the south. In 1992 he wrote Gone South. Gone South is set in Louisiana and tells of dark exploits of Arden Halliday, who is a Vietnam Veteran.

Break From Writing

After authoring Gone South, McCammon took a long break from writing to concentrate his energies on being a good father to his daughter, Skye, and his wife, Sally. When he resumed writing, he had a penchant for historical fiction. The debut novel upon resumption is Speaks the Nightbird. The novel is set in the Carolina Colony in 1699. The novel is about a woman called Racheal who is accused of witchcraft in a new and struggling town called Fount Royal. The Magistrate’s assistant, one Mathew, doubts the charges of witchcraft. The magistrate’s assistant defies the magistrates’ wishes and does an investigation of his own. He learns unnerving truths. McCammon spent over a year researching for the book.

His next novel, Queen of Bedlam, is a sequel to his previous novel, speaks the nightbird. McCammon was feted in 2009 with the Phoenix award. It is undeniable he was a great writer.

4 Responses to “Robert McCammon”

So many Dark niches, corners rounded in R.R.M stories of darkest turns.A delight in every tale, spilling out its lives in unknown amounts wich always leaves A thirst for more.And more again( second reads…)Its A mysterious world he creates. A dangerous one.Thrilling is bareley worthy of these tales. Just A word to describe A depth of entertainment. But it’s all I may convey in so small an opinion.These stories last,and remind me personally to keep my wits about me. One never knows….

Am a avid reader of your books thanks for the time to lose myself in them

Read a lot of your books in the 80s. Now I’m starting over again and looking forward to reading your other works.

Love your work. You have a unique mind and the gift of sharing it. Thank you.

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Elitist Book Reviews

Book Author :: Robert McCammon

Freedom of the mask.

Freedom of the Mask

Matthew Corbett is missing. Following the events in the 5th Matthew Corbett novel, THE RIVER OF SOULS ( EBR Review ), our favorite problem-solver finds himself without memories of who he really is. So begins the 6th Matthew Corbett novel, FREEDOM OF THE MASK ( Amazon ).

Robert McCammon is in top form in this meaty novel. Yes, you heard that right. Meaty. As much as I loved the prior novel in the series, I felt like it was a quick adventure meant to set up the next several books in the series. A transitional novel. It was an excellent read, but with this 6th novel I hoped we would get something closer in scope to SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD ( EBR Review ) and THE QUEEN OF BEDLAM ( Amazon ). Turns out, this is exactly what we got. Read the rest of this review »

Speaks the Nightbird

Speaks the Nightbird

I recently went back to do a re-read of Robert McCammon’s SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD ( Amazon ). Though, I suppose, a “re-listen” is more accurate as I bought the audiobook. It’s been a long time since I read this novel, and with the sixth Matthew Corbett novel, FREEDOM OF THE MASK coming in just a few short months, I wanted to go back to Matthew’s origins as a refresher.

It is incredible how well this novel stands up to multiple reads.

SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD follows a young Matthew Corbett as he participates in the trial of Rachel Howarth, who is accused of murder and witchcraft. Th novel channels the fear, suspicion, and paranoia of the Salem witch trials which occurred just six years before the events of this novel. This is before Matthew’s days as a “problem-solver” that we see in QUEEN OF BEDLAM ( Amazon ) and beyond, and seeing the near-innocent (in adult matters) attitude and world-view Matthew has in NIGHTBIRD is so interesting. Read the rest of this post »

Boy’s Life

Boy’s Life

Have you ever finished a novel and thought to yourself, “My goodness… that was… special .” Not just good. Not great. Better than that. A book that you immediately know will stay in your top five until the day you die? For me, that book was BOY’S LIFE by Robert McCammon ( Amazon ).

Now, I’m a pretty big McCammon fan. I’ve loved everything I’ve read of his. THE WOLF’S HOUR ( EBR Review ) remains one of my favorite novels ever. But even that novel is beat out by BOY’S LIFE. In fact… nearly every novel by every other author I’ve ever read gets beat out by BOY’S LIFE. How do you even review a novel like this? Read the rest of this review »

The Border

Robert McCammon has never let me down. When I sit down with one of his novels, I can kick back and enjoy it because I know it’s going to be solid. THE BORDER ( Amazon ) was no different. I loved every page.

If you’ve followed McCammon’s career, or if you’ve just recently discovered him, you’ll notice that he stepped away from traditional Horror for a while. Recently he’s been writing the incredible Matthew Corbett series, which has some Horror elements, but they probably aren’t considered pure Horror novels. THE BORDER is Horror, pure and simple. For this reason it has been on people’s radars since announced. McCammon? Doing traditional Horror? Take all my money!

Actually, that isn’t quite right. THE BORDER isn’t just pure Horror. It’s Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Horror. That description should have McCammon fans salivating. Read the rest of this review »

The Five

I’ve heard a lot about Robert McCammon’s novel, THE FIVE ( Amazon ). Mostly, I heard that it was “different”. I finally got around to reading it, and everyone was right. THE FIVE is different. But it was still easily recognizable as a McCammon novel. It was still Horror, though in a different way than we are used to seeing from the author. And it was still awesome.

So yeah. Business as usual for McCammon. Read the rest of this review »

The River of Souls

The River of Souls

I’ve been waiting for this book for two years. You see, once you read a novel by Robert McCammon, you want the next one. Then the next. And the next. McCammon’s writing has an intoxicating nature about it, and since the day I first read his work, I’ve wanted to read every single word he writes. Thankfully, Subterranean Press was kind enough to send me a review copy of McCammon’s THE RIVER OF SOULS ( Amazon ). Read the rest of this review »

The Hunter from the Woods

The Hunter from the Woods

When I first read Robert McCammon’s THE WOLF’S HOUR ( EBR Review ), I was blown away. It was a Horror novel mixed with a Spy Thriller, and all I wanted was to read more about McCammon’s signature character, Michael Gallatin. In THE WOLF’S HOUR, we learned about his mission into Germany during the height of WWII, while at the same time learning how Gallatin became a werewolf. It was all fascinating stuff, but I knew there had to be more. It wasn’t unlike reading THE BOURNE IDENTITY ( Amazon ) and knowing that there were countless stories untold. Read the rest of this review »

I Travel By Night

I Travel By Night

If you don’t know by now, let me be clear: I love Subterranean Press . Simply put, the quality of the books they put out are nothing short of amazing. From the art to the actual materials used to make the book, the production quality never fails to impress. Additionally, Subterranean Press is the publisher for all of Robert McCammon ‘s novels these days. Every McCammon story I have read thus far has been terrific, and he has easily become one of my favorite authors. So when Subterranean Press announced new novella from McCammon, I begged and pleaded for an ARC of it. Read the rest of this review »

The Wolf’s Hour

The Wolf’s Hour

This review is going to be a bit different. Why? Because it isn’t a review of the actual, physical book. You see, I drive a lot. More than is healthy, even. On average, I spend nearly two hours per day in a car. That’s ten whole hours a week being dedicated to something other than reading awesome books…

… unless I use…… wait for it……. AUDIOBOOKS!!!!!!!! Read the rest of this review »

Swan Song

Believe it or not, a lot of thought goes into our selection of Elitist Classics.  Our selection of Classics goes beyond our personal likes and dislikes. The funny thing is how, many times, each member of the EBR crew will say, “This is totally a Classic!”… and none of the others have read it. And by others I usually mean me. Especially in the realms of Science Fiction.  The reason? Heck if I know. I think I tend to focus on new releases, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Read the rest of this post »

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Books by Robert McCammon and Complete Book Reviews

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Order of Books

Order of Robert R. McCammon Books

robert mccammon books ranked

Robert McCammon would have his first novel, Baal , published in 1978, although his first four novels remain out of print. Below is a list of Robert R. McCammon’s books in order of when they were originally released:

Get notified when Robert R. McCammon releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Matthew Corbett Books

(by robert r. mccammon), publication order of i travel by night books, (with robert r. mccammon), publication order of michael gallatin books, publication order of standalone novels, publication order of short stories/novellas, publication order of short story collections, publication order of night visions books, (with joe r. lansdale, george r.r. martin, john farris, stephen gallagher, tanith lee, lucius shepard, richard t. chizmar, ramsey campbell, charles l. grant, p.d. cacek, steve tem, mark morris, simon clark, f. paul wilson, gregory manchess, kealan patrick burke, alan ryan), publication order of anthologies, if you like robert r. mccammon books, you’ll love….

  • Stephen King
  • Dean Koontz
  • F. Paul Wilson

6 Responses to “Order of Robert R. McCammon Books”

My favorite is They Thirst. Think it would make a great movie if the cast was right!

I’ve been re-reading SWAN SONG since it came out! When I feel like reading a great book, to my bookcase and McCammon I head. STINGER, another fine creepy novel, has kept me entertained for decades. As I’ve been forced to downsize, I’ve kept all my McCammon, Heinlein, King, and many Koontz paperbacks. Hard to find them all in eBook format, sadly. My beloved and worn books work fine for my needs.

Hope to read other of Robert R. McCammon’s books now and in the future.

I love all books by Robert McCammon but the one I read each and every year, as do a lot of his fans is Boy’s Life. There are so many life lessons to be found in this book. I’m 62, been reading it annually since it was released & it never fails to teach me something new. Also if you go to his website, you’ll find some free short reads and info about his upcoming releases. He’s a very friendly author, funny and personable.

Read Swan Song a long time ago and re-bought it for my daughter at Christmas. Was there ever a sequel to it???

I don’t know, but if you have not read the Matthew Corbett series–run today to buy them.

I agree with you 1000 percent. I listen to them on Audio due to vision problems and the narrator is spot on. Recently it was announced there will be a total of 9 in the series. Looking forward to see how this turns out.

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Robert McCammon Books In Order – How To Read Robert McCammon’s Books?

Robert McCammon

Are you a very recent addict to Robert McCammon’s books and looking for what to read next? Don’t worry, we are here to help you with a complete list of Robert McCammon books in order!

Robert McCammon is an award-winning and the New York Times bestselling author of more than fifteen novels. He is best known for his award-winning books Boy’s Life, The Listener, and Speaks The Nightbird.

Robert McCammon is one of the influential names in the late 1970s and the early 1990s American horror literature boom for his bestsellers The Wolf’s Hour, Stinger, and Swan Song. There are more than five million copies of his books have been sold worldwide.

We looked at all of the books authored by Robert McCammon and bring a list of Robert McCammon’s books in order for you to minimize your hassle at the time of choosing the best reading order.

Hope this article about Robert McCammon books in order will help you when choosing the reading order for his books and make your book selection process easier and faster.

Happy reading!

Robert McCammon Books In Order

You have seven options when choosing the reading order for Robert McCammon’s books:

Click here to check the latest price, readers reviews and offers of all Robert McCammon’s books on Amazon #ad

  • Matthew Corbett Books
  • I Travel By Night Books
  • Michael Gallatin Books
  • Standalone Novels
  • Short Stories/Novellas
  • Short Story Collections
  • Anthologies

You can get all the books listed for free with Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans (First Month FREE). Click here to subscribe to Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans #ad.

Robert McCammon’s Matthew Corbett Books In Order

We propose the following publication order when reading Robert McCammon’s Matthew Corbett books:

You can get any two books from list for free with your Audible Free Trial Subscription. Click here to subscribe Audible Free Trial #ad.

  • Speaks the Nightbird (2002)
  • The Queen of Bedlam (2007)
  • Mister Slaughter (2010)
  • The Providence Rider (2012)
  • The River of Souls (2014)
  • Freedom of the Mask (2016)
  • Cardinal Black (2019)

Robert McCammon’s I Travel By Night Books In Order

We propose the following publication order when reading Robert McCammon’s I Travel By Night books:

  • I Travel by Night (2013)
  • Last Train from Perdition (2016)

Robert McCammon’s Michael Gallatin Books In Order

We propose the following publication order when reading Robert McCammon’s Michael Gallatin books:

  • The Wolf’s Hour (1989)
  • The Hunter from the Woods (2011)
  • Death of a Hunter (2014)
  • The Great White Way (2014)
  • The Man from London (2014)
  • The Room at the Bottom of the Stairs (2014)
  • Sea Chase (2014)
  • The Wolf and the Eagle (2014)

Robert McCammon’s Standalone Novels In Order

We propose the following publication order when reading Robert McCammon’s Standalone Novels:

  • Baal (1978)
  • Bethany’s Sin (1980)
  • The Night Boat (1980)
  • They Thirst (1981)
  • Mystery Walk (1982)
  • Usher’s Passing (1984)
  • Swan Song (1987)
  • Stinger (1987)
  • Mine (1990)
  • Boy’s Life (1991)
  • Gone South (1992)
  • The Five (2011)
  • The Border (2015)
  • The Listener (2018)

Robert McCammon’s Short Stories/Novellas In Order

We propose the following publication order when reading Robert McCammon’s Short Stories/Novellas books:

  • The Red House (1985)
  • Yellowjacket Summer (1986)
  • Doom City (1987)
  • Chico (1989)
  • Something Passed By (1989)
  • Yellachile’s Cage (1989)
  • Night Crawlers (2014)
  • Makeup (2014)
  • Night Calls the Green Falcon (2014)
  • Children of the Bedtime Machine (2015)
  • White (2015)
  • He’ll Come Knocking at Your Door (2015)
  • I Scream Man (2015)
  • Strange Candy (2015)

Robert McCammon’s Short Story Collections In Order

We propose the following publication order when reading Robert McCammon’s Short Story Collections books:

  • Blue World (1989)
  • Tales from Greystone Bay (2017)

Robert McCammon’s Anthologies In Order

We propose the following publication order when reading Robert McCammon’s Anthologies books:

  • The Year’s Best Fantasy Stories 12 (1986)
  • Under the Fang (1991)
  • Creatures: Thirty Years of Monsters (2011)
  • Demons: Encounters with the Devil and His Minions, Fallen Angels, and the Possessed (2011)
  • Shadow Show: All-New Stories in Celebration of Ray Bradbury (2012)

Your Thoughts About Robert McCammon Reading Guide

Are you a huge fan of Robert McCammon’s books like us?

Do you disagree with this list about Robert McCammon books in order?

Have you just begun reading the books?

What’s your plan for the reading order?

Do we miss any books to add to our list?

Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Boy's Life

Boy's Life

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About The Book

About the author.

Robert McCammon

Robert McCammon is the  New York Times  bestselling author of  Boy’s Life  and  Gone South , among many critically acclaimed works of fiction, with millions of copies of his novels in print. He is a recipient of the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award, the Grand Master Award from the World Horror Convention, and is a World Fantasy Award winner. He lives in Alabama. Visit the author at RobertMcCammon.com.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Gallery Books (July 1, 2008)
  • Length: 624 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781416577782

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Raves and Reviews

"Wonderful...filled with enough adventures, joy, discovery, and heartache for a dozen boys' lifetimes." -- Houston Chronicle

"No one can paint word pictures as vividly as Robert McCammon." -- Sandra Brown

"It's McCammon's The Prince of Tides .... Incredibly moving." -- Peter Straub

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The King of Shadows (Matthew Corbett Novels)

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Robert R. McCammon

The King of Shadows (Matthew Corbett Novels) Hardcover – December 6, 2022

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It's January of 1704, and Matthew Corbett continues his mission to Italy, accompanied by Hudson Greathouse and former enemy Professor Fell. They seek Brazio Valeriani and information about the mirror created by his father, the sorcerer Ciro. Legend claims the mirror can be used to summon demons from beyond.

But fate has other plans for Matthew as their ship is disabled by a pod of whales, and they seek refuge on a secluded island. The islanders welcome them with a massive feast, but all is not what it seems. As the island pulls them deeper into its influence, the castaways struggle to maintain their grip on reality, even their very identity. Matthew must keep his wits about him and solve the mystery enshrouding the other side of the island, where an active volcano looms and a secretive creature lurks.

The King of Shadows is the eighth installment in bestselling author Robert McCammon's acclaimed series of historical thrillers featuring Matthew Corbett, a brave "problem-solver" who now faces a challenging foe that threatens to take over his most valuable resource: his own mind.

  • Book 8 of 9 The Matthew Corbett Novels
  • Print length 474 pages
  • Language English
  • Publisher Lividian Publications
  • Publication date December 6, 2022
  • Dimensions 6 x 1.19 x 9 inches
  • ISBN-10 1941971091
  • ISBN-13 978-1941971093
  • See all details

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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lividian Publications; First Edition (December 6, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 474 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1941971091
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1941971093
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.87 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.19 x 9 inches
  • #9,671 in Historical Mystery
  • #30,179 in Horror Literature & Fiction

About the author

Robert r. mccammon.

Robert McCammon is the New York Times bestselling author of nineteen novels, including the award-winning BOY'S LIFE and SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD. There are more than four million copies of his books in print. His 2018 novel, THE LISTENER, is set in the 1930s and is available now from Cemetery Dance Publications.

His newest novel, CARDINAL BLACK, was published by Cemetery Dance in 2019. It is the seventh novel in the Matthew Corbett series, which started with SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD.

Mr. McCammon is currently writing THE KING OF SHADOWS, the eighth novel in the Matthew Corbett series.

Visit his websites: www.robertmccammon.com and www.matthewcorbettsworld.com

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New story: “The Old Man and The Hill”

Here’s a new story by Robert McCammon, written exclusively for this website! Click on the title or the link to read the story.

robert mccammon books ranked

“The Old Man and The Hill”

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Proposed cover for Polish Swan Song translation

Polish publisher Vesper has revealed the proposed cover for their upcoming Polish translation of Swan Song . The art is by Maciej Kamuda . Vesper plans to publish three or four Robert McCammon translations in the second half of 2024. In recent years, they’ve published translations of Speaks the Nightbird , The Queen of Bedlam , Boy’s Life , The Listener , and Usher’s Passing .

robert mccammon books ranked

New interview in Unnerving Magazine

Eddie Generous of Unnerving Books has published the latest issue of Unnerving Magazine as a free PDF magazine. Issue 19 includes a brand new Q&A with Robert McCammon, in addition to fiction from other writers.

To read the interview, simply go to the Unnerving Books website and click on the cover of Issue 19.

robert mccammon books ranked

Still more Teacup casting news

Variety : Peacock Horror Thriller Series ‘Teacup’ Rounds Out Main Cast

robert mccammon books ranked

More Teacup casting announcements

From Variety :

Scott Speedman Joins Yvonne Strahovski in Peacock Horror Thriller Series ‘Teacup’

robert mccammon books ranked

From The Cinemaholic :

Chaske Spencer to Star in James Wan’s Peacock Series Teacup

robert mccammon books ranked

First casting announcement for the Stinger -inspired series Teacup

From Deadline

Yvonne Strahovski Joins Peacock’s Ian McCulloch/James Wan Horror Drama ‘Teacup’

robert mccammon books ranked

The Listener ebook from Open Road Media

A new ebook edition of Robert McCammon’s 2018 novel The Listener will be released by Open Road Media on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. The new cover is by Mauricio Diaz.

The ebook can be pre-ordered from Amazon US and Barnes & Noble .

robert mccammon books ranked

IMAGES

  1. Thrilling Robert McCammon Books

    robert mccammon books ranked

  2. BOY'S LIFE (SIGNED & NUMBERED LIMITED EDITION) by Robert McCammon

    robert mccammon books ranked

  3. Robert McCammon Books Checklist: Reading Order of Matthew Corbett

    robert mccammon books ranked

  4. What Is The Best Robert Mccammon Book On The Market Today

    robert mccammon books ranked

  5. 14 Unbelievable Robert Mccammon Kindle Books for 2023

    robert mccammon books ranked

  6. Robert McCammon Books in Order (38 Book Series)

    robert mccammon books ranked

VIDEO

  1. Swan Song by Robert McCammon Book Review Vintage Horror Books Brooklyn Attic Books

  2. The Stand by Stephen King Halfway Review: Similarities to Swan Song by McCammon

  3. Robert McCammon signs SEVEN SHADES OF EVIL before our 10/28/23 Launch Party!

  4. November 2023 TBR!

  5. A Must read Masterpiece! #book #recommendation #great #novel #fantasy #Love #emotions #booklovers

  6. Il canto di Swan (Libro 1) Audiolibro

COMMENTS

  1. Best of Robert McCammon (31 books)

    post a comment ». 31 books based on 75 votes: Swan Song by Robert McCammon, Boy's Life by Robert McCammon, The Wolf's Hour by Robert McCammon, Speaks the Nightbird by Robe...

  2. 10 Best Robert McCammon Books (2024)

    American author Robert McCammon is one of the most influential names to come out of the horror literature boom from the 1970s to the 1990s. He has had three books on the New York Times best-sellers list and won multiple literary awards for his work. ... This highly-ranked Robert McCammon book is the perfect road trip read. The story is told ...

  3. Creepy Robert McCammon Books That Will Keep You Awake At Night

    One of the most successful and enduring writers of the "horror boom" that occurred between the 1970s and the early 1990s, Robert R. McCammon may be best known for his novel Boy's Life.But throughout his career, he has written three other New York Times bestsellers, received a multitude of accolades—including several Bram Stoker and World Fantasy Awards—and drawn countless comparisons ...

  4. Thrilling Robert McCammon Books

    Since 1978, Robert McCammon has published books that can't be easily labeled as fantasy, sci-fi, horror, or historical fiction. Regardless of genre, McCammon is a storyteller—with a capital 'S.' Like Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, two giants to whom McCammon's often compared, he has an uncanny ability to invite readers into his worlds.

  5. Books by Robert McCammon (Author of Swan Song)

    Books by Robert McCammon Robert McCammon Average rating 4.13 · 245,111 ratings · 20,103 reviews · shelved 564,246 times Showing 30 distinct works.

  6. Robert McCammon Books in Order (38 Book Series)

    To answer a question as vital as the number of coffee cups consumed while reading, there are exactly 38 books in the Robert McCammon 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).

  7. Robert R. McCammon

    Robert R. McCammon is an American author of horror novels, historical fiction, and suspense. He was born on July 17, 1952, in Birmingham, Alabama. McCammon was a prominent figure in the horror genre during the 1980s and early 1990s, with popular books such as 'Swan Song' and 'Boy's Life'.

  8. Robert McCammon

    He is the author of fourteen horror and fantasy novels and short stories- and nearly all of them were published in the period between 1978 and 1998. Early Life. Robert McCammon was born on the 17th of July, 1952, in Birmingham, Jefferson County, to Jack and Barbara Bundy McCammon.

  9. The King of Shadows by Robert McCammon

    Robert McCammon. 4.19. 877ratings104reviews. Shop this series. Rate this book. It's January of 1704, and Matthew Corbett continues his mission to Italy, accompanied by Hudson Greathouse and former enemy Professor Fell. They seek Brazio Valeriani and information about the mirror created by his father, the sorcerer Ciro.

  10. Robert McCammon Novels

    Click here to see the awards McCammon's work has received. Seven Shades of Evil. (October 24, 2023) Matthew Corbett Series - #9. The King of Shadows. (December 6, 2022) Matthew Corbett Series - #8. A Little Amber Book of Wicked Shots. (May 7, 2020)

  11. Robert McCammon Book Reviews

    Following the events in the 5th Matthew Corbett novel, THE RIVER OF SOULS ( EBR Review ), our favorite problem-solver finds himself without memories of who he really is. So begins the 6th Matthew Corbett novel, FREEDOM OF THE MASK ( Amazon ). Robert McCammon is in top form in this meaty novel. Yes, you heard that right.

  12. Robert R. McCammon

    Robert Rick McCammon (born July 17, 1952) is an American novelist from Birmingham, Alabama.One of the influential names in the late 1970s-early 1990s American horror literature boom, by 1991 McCammon had three New York Times bestsellers (The Wolf's Hour, Stinger, and Swan Song) and around 5 million books in print. Since 2002 he's written several books in a historical mystery series featuring ...

  13. Books by Robert Mccammon and Complete Book Reviews

    Robert McCammon, Author. Pocket $16 (645p) ISBN 978-1-4165-5111-9. Set in Manhattan in 1703, this spellbinding sequel to Speaks the Nightbird (2002) from bestseller McCammon finds Matthew Corbett ...

  14. Order of Robert R. McCammon Books

    Robert R. McCammon is an American novelist of horror novels. McCammon was a major name in horror fiction during its boom period, but went into a depression following the novel Gone South and would not come out with another novel until Speaks the Nightbird in 2002. Robert McCammon would have his first novel, Baal, published in 1978, although his ...

  15. Top 5 Robert McCammon Books

    Robert McCammon writes contemporary, mass market horror. But unlike most writers in that genre, he's actually good. Here are my top five favorites.If you enj...

  16. How To Read Robert McCammon's Books?

    Robert McCammon's Standalone Novels In Order. We propose the following publication order when reading Robert McCammon's Standalone Novels: Baal (1978) Bethany's Sin (1980) The Night Boat (1980) They Thirst (1981) Mystery Walk (1982) Usher's Passing (1984) Swan Song (1987)

  17. Boy's Life

    Robert McCammon delivers "a tour de force of storytelling" (BookPage) in this award-winning masterpiece, a novel of Southern boyhood, growing up in the 1960s, that reaches far beyond that evocative landscape to touch readers universally.Boy's Life is a richly imagined, spellbinding portrait of the magical worldview of the young—and of innocence lost.

  18. The King of Shadows (Matthew Corbett Novels): McCammon, Robert

    Robert McCammon is the New York Times bestselling author of nineteen novels, including the award-winning BOY'S LIFE and SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD. There are more than four million copies of his books in print. His 2018 novel, THE LISTENER, is set in the 1930s and is available now from Cemetery Dance Publications.

  19. Robert McCammon

    Mar 122024. Eddie Generous of Unnerving Books has published the latest issue of Unnerving Magazine as a free PDF magazine. Issue 19 includes a brand new Q&A with Robert McCammon, in addition to fiction from other writers. To read the interview, simply go to the Unnerving Books website and click on the cover of Issue 19.