Humanx Commonwealth Books In Order

Publication Order of Pip & Flinx Books

Chronological Order of Pip & Flinx Books

Publication Order of Icerigger Books

Publication Order of Founding of the Commonwealth Books

Publication Order of Humanx Commonwealth Books

Chronological Order of Humanx Commonwealth Books

The Humanx Commonwealth is the name given to a collection of science fiction novels, both series and standalones, written by Alan Dean Foster.

+The Story

The Tar-Aiym Krang was Alan Dean Foster’s debut novel. Published in 1972, the book introduces readers to Flinx, a 17-year-old boy with incredible psychic abilities. The book also introduced readers to the world of the Humanx Commonwealth.

The term ‘Humanx Commonwealth’ is used to refer to the universe in which many of Alan Dean Foster’s standalone novels, series and trilogies take pace. Within the context of the books, the Humanx Commonwealth is an alliance of alien species.

The primary components of the alliance are the humans who live on Earth and the Thranx, insectoid creatures who live on Hivehorm.

The Humans and the Thranx govern all political and religious matters on the planets that the alliance encompasses. The Humanx Commonwealth was designed to be a liberal democracy that not only spanned multiple star systems but which also worked to establish symbiotic relationships between humans and their alien partners, allowing for an amalgamation of sorts to take place.

The Humans and the Thranx are joined in this alliance by a litany of alien species that include Minidrags and Ulry-Ujurrians. The Humanx Commonwealth operates in tandem with the United Church, a council that amalgamates all the religions of the Universe under a single roof in its attempts to foster tolerance.

When the Humanx Commonwealth isn’t administering the planets within its borders, its leaders are doing battle against a xenophobic species called the AAnn who desire to see the humans destroyed.

When ‘The Tar-Aiym Krang’ was first written and published, Alan Dean Foster’s world was a relatively small place. The book was a fast-paced thrill ride written with young readers in mind.

Over time, the world surrounding the characters introduced in ‘The Tar-Aiym Krang’ began to grow. The author used new books and series down the line to fill out his universe.

He took readers billions of years into the past. There he introduced them to a race called the Xunca who the ruled the Galaxy for eons. He explored their eventual conflict against an enemy known as the Great Evil and the events that not only brought two powerful races called the Tar-Aiym and Hur’rikku to the forefront but also saw them engage in a mutually destructive battle.

From these tumultuous periods in the life of the galaxy, Alan Dean Foster mined the many powerful artifacts and technologies that became the driving factor of many of the more popular stories in the Commonwealth series.

There are a lot of debates as to the order in which these books should be read. When it comes to chronological order, though, the ‘Founding of the Commonwealth’ series usually goes first.

This series, which began publication in 1999, expounds upon the formation of the Commonwealth. During those early days, the Humans and the Thranx hated one another, driven in their opposition to cooperation by their xenophobic attitudes.

The series looks at the events that drove a human chaplain and a Thranx spiritual advisor to form the United Church, this, in turn, paving the way for a political union between humans and Thranx.

The events of the ‘Founding of the Commonwealth’ series are chronologically followed by a litany of standalone novels that begin with ‘Nor Crystal Tears’ in 1982 and continue through the likes of ‘Midworld’, ‘Sentenced to Prism’, and, ‘Drowning World’ in 2003.

Though, fans of the Humanx Commonwealth series might encourage you to read ‘Nor Crystal Tears’ before the ‘Founding’ novels because it explains the importance of the United Church.

The Pip and Flinx novels are the most popular of the Commonwealth series. They began publication in the 1970s and follow the exploits of a young man with incredible powers and his pet minidrag, Pip as they attempt to save the Universe from the Great Evil.

The Pip and Flinx books were not published in the order that their story actually takes place. For instance, the first Pip and Flinx novel was ‘The Tar-Aiym Krang’, published in 1972.

However, ‘For Love of Mother-Not’ which came out in 1983 is the first chronological novel in the series. ‘The Tar-Aiym Krang’ marked the first appearance of Flinx. However, ‘For Love of Mother-Not’ takes readers to Flinx’s childhood.

The Pip and Flinx books are followed by the Icerigger trilogy, the Taken Trilogy, and the Damned Trilogy.

+The Author

Alan Dean Foster was born in 1946 in New York City. A former student of UCLA from where he acquired a degree in Political Science, Alan’s literary career kicked off when he wrote ‘The Tar-Aiym Krang’.

Whether he intended it to be a standalone novel or he actually set out to write a series, the novel paved the way for the creation of the Humanx Commonwealth universe which proceeded to dominate Alan’s career.

Alan has written novels for franchises like Star Trek and Star Wars.

+The Tar-Aiym Krang

Flinx is an orphan living on the winged planet of Moth. Joined on his adventures by his pet, Pip, Flinx steals a starmap from a corpse. He sets out on a hunt for treasure unaware that his journey to find his parents and discover his destiny has just begun.

The Tar-Aiym Krang is the first novel Alan Dean Foster ever wrote. The book introduces Flinx, a 17-year-old orphan with special powers. Flinx is a thief. However, he tries to restrict his thieving ways to jobs that are unlikely to attract unwanted attention.

With his psychic powers, Flinx runs a mind-reading act that gets him a decent wage. So he only ever steals to meet those needs that his legally-attained income cannot supply him.

Flinx and his pet dragon are roped into undertaking a grand adventure.

+Bloodhype

Boodhype was eradicated from the humanx galaxies a long time ago. The drug could cause instant addiction that inevitably led to death, and there was no antidote for it.

Alarms are raised when Bloodhype shows up on Repler and begins to spread. Someone is making the poison but no one knows who.

Boodhype was the second book published in the Humanx Commonwealth series. However, chronologically it takes place further down the line. The book initially introduces a nasty drug that the United Church struggles to contain.

Over time, the plot switches gears and focuses on an ancient evil that could destroy the entire galaxy.

While Flinx and Pip appear in Bloodhype, they are only minor characters. The author brings three new characters to the fro. Alan Dean Foster did not intend to include Flinx and Pip in Bloodhype. His publisher forced the issue.