Author In memoriam

Peter Straub

Q: What should I read first by Peter Straub?

Start with the The Talisman series, since it is the first on file, then read it in publication order.

Peter Straub has 18 known credited books (18 published) across 2 series. Start with The Talisman. Peter Straub contributes to The Talisman (created by Stephen King).

Peter Straub was an American author widely regarded as one of the most literary voices in modern horror fiction, known for novels including Ghost Story and Julia, and for his close friendship and creative partnership with Stephen King. The two collaborated on two novels, The Talisman and its sequel Black House, sprawling dark-fantasy epics following a boy's journey across parallel versions of America to save his dying mother, blending King's narrative drive with Straub's denser, more atmospheric prose style. Straub's independent body of work was distinguished by its literary ambition within the horror genre, often exploring trauma, memory, and psychological horror with a stylistic complexity that earned him comparisons to literary fiction writers as much as genre peers. His partnership with King, sustained across decades and two major novels released nearly twenty years apart, remains one of the most significant author collaborations in modern horror and fantasy publishing. Straub received numerous genre honors over his career, including recognition from the Horror Writers Association, and remained an influential figure in American horror fiction until his death in 2022.

Series: 2
Credited books: 18
Published: 18
Latest published book: Other Worlds Than These 6 October 2026
Active: 1973–2026
Best known for: The Talisman

Key facts about Peter Straub

Our list holds 18 books by Peter Straub. 6 of them belong to a series, while 12 stand alone. Since all 18 are out now, every book here is ready to read. Their series sit on our fantasy horror and horror shelves.

Peter Straub has 2 series on file. The Talisman has 3 books, while Blue Rose Trilogy has 3 books. In particular, Blue Rose Trilogy is the longest series on file.

The Talisman began with Stephen King, while Peter Straub has books in it too. The Talisman starts with The Talisman, while Blue Rose Trilogy starts with Koko.

Since The Talisman is the first series on file, it is the place to start. Their first published book on file came out in 1973. Meanwhile, Other Worlds Than These is the latest published book, out on 6 October 2026.

There are also 12 standalone books. You can read them in any order, since each one stands alone. The newest one that is out is A Dark Matter, from 2010. The oldest on file is Marriages, from 1973.