Valerian and Laureline Reading Order: How to read this classic French Sci-Fi series?

Written by Pierre Christin and drawn by Jean-Claude Mézières (RIP), the Valerian and Laureline series is a highly influential Franco-Belgian sci-fi comic book series that takes us to Galaxity, the capital of the Terran Galactic Empire in the 28th century.

There, we met Valerian and Laureline who are two agents of the Service Spatio-Temporel (SST) who protect mankind as they travel the universe through space and time.

Galaxity is an Earth megalopolis and the capital in the XXVIIIth century of a galactic empire. Earth has become, following a dark age, one of the great cosmic powers. The agents of the SST move in time and space to preserve the interests of Galaxity. The rules of the EST forbid them to modify the events of the past. Valerian and Laureline explore new planets, take part in historical experiments, help unknown peoples, settle planetary conflicts, represent Galaxity, etc. They do not intervene to prevent the death of the planet.

They do not intervene to prevent the nuclear explosion of 1986 which transforms the aspect and the organization of the Earth. But it is the future of Galaxity that they rewrite by helping the superintendent of the EST to prevent this cataclysm later. Unfortunately, in this high-risk temporal manipulation, they also cancel the future of their planet.

Valerian and Laureline Reading Order:

At the end of this article, you will find the publication order, but we begin here with a recommended reading order. In France, we divided the series into two cycles. The Temporal Cycle and The Spatial Cycle. Let’s begin with…

I. The Temporal Cycle

Those books are all connected to the story of Galaxity. You need to read them in order.

• Bad Dreams (collected in Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 1)
• The City of Shifting Waters
• Empire of a Thousand Planets
• Ambassador of the Shadows

This is a two-part story, you really need to read them together.

• Châtelet Station, Destination Cassiopeia
• Brooklyn Line, Terminus Cosmos

Again, this is another two-part story, you really need to read them together.

• The Ghosts of Inverloch
• The Wrath of Hypsis

At that point, the story takes a new turn for Valerian and Loreline. Something is lost and they have to find their way home.

• On the Frontiers
• The Circles of Power
• In Uncertain Times
• At the Edge of the Great Void
• The Order of the Stones
• The Time Opener

II. The Spatial Cycle

Those books can be read independently from one another, in the order you want.

• The Land Without Stars
• Welcome to Alflolol
• Birds of the Master
• On the False Earths
• Heroes of the Equinox
• The Living Weapons
• Hostages of the Ultralum
• Orphan of the Stars

As part of the Spatial Cycle, 7 short stories have been collected in Across the Pathways of Space (Par Les Chemins De l’Espace) in France, but not yet collected in English.

• The Great Collector
• The Cogs of Uxgloa
• Tsirillitis the Asteroid
• The Sad Planet
• Funny Specimens
• The Fflumgluff of Friendship
• Triumph of Technology

III. Hors-Series

The story ended in The Time Opener, and Memories from the futures and The Future is Waiting are not regular books, but a homage to the series. It’s a way to add to the Valerian and Loreline. A bonus for the fans containing short stories and post-scripts to Valerian and Laureline’s earlier adventures.

• Memories from the Futures
• The Future is Waiting

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Valerian and Laureline Publication Order:

And now, for those who want to read Valerian and Loreline in the order of publication, here we go:

• The City of Shifting Waters
• Empire of a Thousand Planets
• The Land Without Stars
• Welcome to Alflolol
• Birds of the Master
• Ambassador of the Shadows
• On the False Earths
• Heroes of the Equinox
• Châtelet Station, Destination Cassiopeia
• Brooklyn Line, Terminus Cosmos
• The Ghosts of Inverloch
• The Wrath of Hypsis

• On the Frontiers
• The Living Weapons
• The Circles of Power
• Hostages of the Ultralum
• Orphan of the Stars
• In Uncertain Times
• At the Edge of the Great Void
• The Order of the Stones
• The Time Opener
• Memories from the Futures
• The Future is Waiting

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Valerian and Laureline Hardcover collection

During 2017 and 2018 the British publisher Cinebook Limited published a hardcover collection of the series titled; Valerian: The Complete Collection, spread over seven volumes, with three to four stories in each book. These volumes are in full original color, printed on glossy paper, and measure 220 mm × 290 mm

• Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 1
  Collects Bad dreams, The City of Shifting Waters, Empire of a Thousand Planets
• Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 2
  Collects The Land Without Stars, Welcome to Alflolol, Birds of the Master
• Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 3
  Collects Ambassador of the Shadows, On False Earths, Heroes of the Equinox
• Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 4
  Collects Chatelet Station – Destination Cassiopeia, Brooklyn line – Terminus Cosmos, The Ghost of Inverloch, The Wrath of Hypsis
• Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 5
  Collects On the Frontiers, The Living Weapons, The Circles of Power
• Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 6
  Collects Hostages of Ultralum, Orphan of the Stars, In Uncertain Times
• Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 7
  Collects At the Edge of the Great Void, The Order of the Stones, The Time Opener