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Series · fantasy

Kelvin of Rud

by Piers Anthony

The Kelvin of Rud series by Piers Anthony has 5 books and is best read in publication order, starting with Dragon's Gold (1987).

Books
5 books
First published
1987
Status
completed
Last checked

Start here: Dragon's Gold (1987) — then read straight through in publication order.

Cover of Dragon's Gold, the first book in Kelvin of Rud

Reading order

The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.

  1. Dragon's Gold

    Novel

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  2. Serpent's Silver

    Novel

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  3. Chimaera's Copper

    Novel

    View book

  4. Orc's Opal

    Novel

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  5. Mouvar's Magic

    Novel

    View book

About the Kelvin of Rud series

Kelvin Knight Hackleberry is an ordinary young man on the magical world of Rud who discovers he's destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy tied to a set of powerful magical artifacts — starting with a hoard of enchanted dragon's gold — that draws him into political conflict, sorcery, and a series of escalating quests to unite or save his fractured homeland. Co-written by Piers Anthony and Robert E. Margroff, the series builds a classic coming-of-age fantasy structure: an unassuming protagonist, a chosen-one prophecy, and a widening cast of allies and magical creatures, delivered in a lighter, more straightforwardly adventurous register than Anthony's more idea-driven solo work.

Published between 1987 and 1992, the five novels follow Kelvin's growth from a naive young man into a genuinely capable hero and leader, with each book adding a new artifact, threat, or piece of Rud's political landscape to the overall quest.

How to read this series

Publication order, starting with Dragon's Gold. The five novels tell one continuous story of Kelvin's rise and the quest for Rud's magical artifacts, with each book picking up directly where the previous one ended, so they should be read in sequence.

Frequently asked questions

How many books are in the Kelvin of Rud series?

Five novels, published between 1987 and 1992: Dragon's Gold, Serpent's Silver, Chimaera's Copper, Orc's Opal, and Mouvar's Magic.

Who wrote the Kelvin of Rud series?

Piers Anthony co-wrote it with Robert E. Margroff, with whom he also collaborated on earlier standalone novels.

What order should I read Kelvin of Rud in?

Publication order, starting with Dragon's Gold. It's one continuous quest story, with each book continuing directly from the last.

What is the premise of the Kelvin of Rud series?

An ordinary young man on the world of Rud discovers he's destined to fulfill a prophecy tied to a series of powerful magical artifacts, drawing him into political conflict and quests to save his homeland.

Is the Kelvin of Rud series finished?

The five novels verified here were published between 1987 and 1992. Some retailer listings reference further Kelvinverse material, but it wasn't independently confirmed across two verification sources, so it isn't catalogued here.

Reading order last verified .