If you’ve ever laughed out loud at a line about Canadian politeness hiding razor-sharp commentary—then promptly felt guilty for laughing—you’ve probably already discovered Thomas King, one of North America’s most beloved and important Indigenous writers. Part Cherokee, part Greek, and 100% brilliant, King blends humor, history, heartbreak, and hope in a way that makes you forget you’re being brilliantly educated while you read.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or you just finished The Back of the Turtle and thought, “Wait… what else has this man written?”, this is the ultimate, up-to-date guide to Thomas King books in order—both publication and recommended reading order.
Why Read Thomas King in Order?
King’s works are loosely connected by recurring characters (especially the unforgettable Coyote) and by ever-present themes of Indigenous identity, colonialism, and the absurdity of bureaucracy. Starting from the beginning, lets you watch his style evolve from satirical short stories to sweeping novels that have won the Governor General’s Literary Award and made countless “best of the century” lists. Let’s dive in.
Thomas King Books: Complete Series List in Order
Thomas King’s literary works span novels, short stories, children’s books, non-fiction, and the acclaimed DreadfulWater Mystery series. Below is a comprehensive breakdown organized by series (where applicable) and standalone works. All lists are in publication order. Note: The DreadfulWater series was initially published under the pseudonym Hartley GoodWeather for the first two books but has since been reissued and continued under King’s name.
DreadfulWater Mystery Series
This humorous crime series follows ex-cop Thumps DreadfulWater as he solves mysteries in the fictional town of Chinook, blending satire with Indigenous perspectives.
| # | Title | Publication Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DreadfulWater | 2002 (reissued 2017) |
| 2 | The Red Power Murders | 2006 (reissued 2017) |
| 3 | Cold Skies | 2018 |
| 4 | A Matter of Malice | 2019 |
| 5 | Obsidian | 2020 |
| 6 | Deep House | 2021 |
| 7 | Double Eagle | 2023 |
| 8 | Black Ice | 2024 |
| 9 | StarBright | 2026 (forthcoming) |
Standalone Novels
King’s standalone novels often explore themes of identity, colonialism, and resilience through wry humor and myth.
| # | Title | Publication Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medicine River | 1989 |
| 2 | Green Grass, Running Water | 1993 |
| 3 | Truth and Bright Water | 1999 |
| 4 | The Back of the Turtle | 2014 |
| 5 | Indians on Vacation | 2020 |
| 6 | Sufferance | 2021 |
| 7 | Aliens on the Moon | 2025 |
Short Story Collections
These collections feature trickster tales, satire, and vignettes drawing on Indigenous oral traditions.
| # | Title | Publication Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One Good Story, That One | 1993 |
| 2 | A Short History of Indians in Canada | 2005 |
Non-Fiction
King’s non-fiction works offer incisive, humorous critiques of history and culture.
| # | Title | Publication Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Truth About Stories | 2003 |
| 2 | The Inconvenient Indian | 2012 |
| 3 | 77 Fragments of a Familiar Ruin | 2020 |
Children’s Books
Whimsical stories often starring Coyote, perfect for young readers but enjoyed by all ages.
| # | Title | Publication Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Coyote Columbus Story | 1992 | Illustrated by Kent Monkman |
| 2 | Borders | 1993 | Illustrated by Kent Monkman |
| 3 | Coyote Sings to the Moon | 1997 | |
| 4 | Coyote’s New Suit | 2004 | |
| 5 | A Coyote Solstice Tale | 2009 | Illustrated by Gary Clement |
| 6 | Coyote Tales | 2015 | Collection |
Thomas King Books in Publication Order
1. Medicine River (1989) – Novel
King’s debut novel and still a masterclass in gentle, devastating humor. Will Sampson, a photographer, returns to his hometown on the reserve and gets pulled back into community life. (Later adapted into a beloved CBC film starring Graham Greene.)
2. Green Grass, Running Water (1993) – Novel
Arguably his masterpiece. Four ancient Indigenous spirits escape from a psychiatric hospital, Coyote causes chaos, and the world almost ends—four times. A glorious, sprawling satire that weaves Blackfoot creation stories with John Wayne movies. If you only read one Thomas King book, many fans say make it this one.
3. One Good Story, That One (1993) – Short Story Collection
Hilarious and biting retellings of traditional stories featuring Coyote as the ultimate trickster. The title story alone is worth the price of admission.
4. Borders (1993) – Picture Book (illustrated by William Kent Monk)
A short but powerful children’s story about a Blackfoot woman and her son caught between the U.S. and Canadian border—because she refuses to claim anything but “Blackfoot” citizenship.
5. Coyote Columbus Story (1993) – Picture Book
Coyote “discovers” Christopher Columbus… and immediately regrets it. A children’s book that adults quote constantly.
6. Truth & Bright Water (1999) – Novel
A coming-of-age story set on the border of a reserve and a small American town. Gorgeous prose, mystery, family secrets, and one of the best last lines in Canadian literature.
7. A Coyote Solstice Tale (2009) – Picture Book
Coyote crashes a Christmas shopping trip. Perfect holiday reading for people who love mischief.
8. The Back of the Turtle (2014) – Novel
Winner of the 2014 Governor General’s Literary Award. A scientist returns to a devastated reserve after his company’s ecological disaster. Heart-wrenching, hopeful, and surprisingly funny.
9. The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America (2012) – Non-Fiction
Not a novel, but a modern classic. Part history, part memoir, part stand-up routine—this is the book people press into your hands, sayin, “You HAVE to read this.” (Now updated with a new chapter in the illustrated edition.)
10. DreadfulWater Mystery Series (written as Hartley GoodWeather)
King’s delightful foray into crime fiction featuring Cherokee ex-cop turned photographer Thumps DreadfulWater.
- DreadfulWater (2002) – reissued as DreadfulWater Shows Up (2017)
- The Red Power Murders (2006)
- Cold Skies (2018)
- Deep House (2021)
- A Matter of Malice (2023, technically by “Hartley GoodWeather” but now acknowledged as King)
- Obsidian (2024) – the latest!
11. Indians on Vacation (2020) – Novel
Bird and Mimi—familiar faces from earlier short stories—travel to Europe chasing a lost family heirloom. Laugh-out-loud funny and quietly profound.
12. Sufferance (2021) – Novel
A darkly comic dystopian (or is it?) novel about an Indigenous man who tries to disappear from the world… until the world shows up on his doorstep.
13. Deep Learning (2023) – Novel (not yet released at time of writing, but forthcoming)
Announced for 2025—watch this space!
Recommended Reading Orders
New to Thomas King? Start Here (The “Welcome” Path)
- Medicine River (warm, funny, accessible)
- The Inconvenient Indian (non-fiction, eye-opening)
- Green Grass, Running Water (the big one!)
- The Back of the Turtle
- Indians on Vacation
Mystery Lovers? The DreadfulWater Series Order
Read them in publication order (starting with DreadfulWater Shows Up)T. hump’ss’ coffee addiction and dry humor get better with every book.
Short on Time? The Must-Reads Only
- Green Grass, Running Water
- The Inconvenient Indian
- The Back of the Turtle
- Indians on Vacation
Final Thoughts: Why Thomas King Matters in 2025
In an era of reconciliation debates and Truth and Reconciliation calls to action, Thomas King has been telling the truth—beautifully, hilariously, and unapologetically for over three decades. His books don’t just entertain; they reframe how we see history, borders, identity, and each other.
So grab a coffee (Thumps DreadfulWater would approve), start with Medicine River or jump straight into Green Grass, Running Water, and let one of Canada’s greatest living writers remind you why stories still matter.
Happy reading—and watch out for Coyote. He’s probably right behind you.
Which Thomas King book are you picking up first? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to know! 🪶
