BookBingeJohn Dies at the End Books in Order
The short answer
Jason Pargin · 4 books
- How many books?
- There are 4 books in the John Dies at the End series, published 2009–2022.
- Is it finished?
- No — it's ongoing, with book 5 on the way.
- Next book
- There Are No Giant Crabs in This Novel, due 3 November 2026.See all upcoming releases →
- Where to start
- Start with John Dies at the End (2009).
About 1,600 pages — roughly 30 hours of reading
A comic cosmic-horror series about two aimless Midwestern friends who, after taking a street drug called Soy Sauce, can perceive an invisible world of monsters and are drafted into fighting it. Early volumes were published under the pen name David Wong.
Here is the complete John Dies at the End reading order — all 4 books by Jason Pargin, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- John Dies at the EndTwo slacker friends take a drug called Soy Sauce and begin seeing things from other dimensions that would very much prefer not to be seen.2009384 pages
- This Book Is Full of SpidersA parasite outbreak turns Dave's hometown into a military quarantine zone where almost nobody can tell who is still human.2012416 pages
- What the Hell Did I Just ReadDave, John and Amy investigate a rash of child abductions in a case where no witness can be trusted, including the three of them.2017375 pages
- If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong UniverseA cursed children's toy and a doomsday cult drag the trio into a crisis that starts spilling across realities.2022384 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
Upcoming: the next book, There Are No Giant Crabs in This Novel, releases on 3 November 2026. BookBinge Pro can notify you the day it drops.
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many John Dies at the End books are there?
There are 4 books in the John Dies at the End series by Jason Pargin, from John Dies at the End (2009) to If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong Universe (2022). Book 5, There Are No Giant Crabs in This Novel, is due 3 November 2026. Together they run to about 1,600 pages.
Is the John Dies at the End series finished?
No. Jason Pargin is still writing it: book 5, There Are No Giant Crabs in This Novel, is due 3 November 2026, following If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong Universe (2022).
What is the first John Dies at the End book?
John Dies at the End (2009) is book one, at 384 pages. Two slacker friends take a drug called Soy Sauce and begin seeing things from other dimensions that would very much prefer not to be seen.
Should I read the John Dies at the End series in publication order?
Yes. For the John Dies at the End series, reading order and publication order are the same — John Dies at the End (2009) through If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong Universe (2022).
How long does it take to read all John Dies at the End books?
About 1,600 pages across 4 books — roughly 30 hours at a page a minute. The longest is This Book Is Full of Spiders (416 pages); the shortest is What the Hell Did I Just Read (375 pages).