Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Reading Order

Tad Williams's Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is the epic that reshaped modern fantasy — a kitchen boy caught up in a war over three magic swords and an undead king. George R.R. Martin has cited it as a direct inspiration for A Song of Ice and Fire.

Our Recommendation: Publication Order Read the three volumes in order. Note that the final book, To Green Angel Tower, is so long it's often split into two paperback volumes (Part 1 and Part 2).

Reading Order

The Dragonbone ChairBuy Now Audible1988
Stone of FarewellBuy Now Audible1990
To Green Angel TowerBuy Now Audible1993

Own the Complete Series Buying the whole series at once is usually cheaper than individual books, and box sets make a great gift. See Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn box set options on Amazon ›

The Sequel Series

Williams returned to this world decades later with The Last King of Osten Ard (starting with The Witchwood Crown, 2017) and the bridging novella The Heart of What Was Lost. Read the original trilogy first — the sequels assume it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Memory Sorrow and Thorn sometimes four books?

The final volume, To Green Angel Tower, is enormous and was split into two paperbacks (Part 1: Siege, and Part 2: Storm). It's one book in three-volume terms, but four physical paperbacks.

Should I read this before A Song of Ice and Fire?

There's no required order, but Memory Sorrow and Thorn predates and influenced George R.R. Martin's series — reading it first shows you where a lot of modern epic fantasy conventions came from.

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