4HU Primer
An Outline of the Four Horseman Universe
This page outlines all of the Four Horsemen universe (4HU) books. For a suggested reading order, look here. Take your VOWS and join us on Facebook here.
Five years from now, Earth was first contacted by representatives of the Trade Guild of the Galactic Union. Sol had been scouted for some time by a hyperspace shunt-equipped scout ship of the Cartography Guild and classified as “Pre-Industrial.” By the date of first contact, the Buma were looking for an untapped source of revenue and one of their scout ships detected a deep space probe and guessed Humanity was ripe for a profitable first contact. They rolled the dice and paid for the Cartography Guild to install a stargate and initiated contact. What they got…wasn’t what they expected.
The first series of books in the 4HU, the Revelations Cycle, is complete and has twelve books out–four main story line novels, three standalone books that have been tied in (Peacemaker, Assassin, and Honor The Threat), a fourth standalone book (CASPer Alamo), a back story novel (Alpha Contracts), and three anthologies to help expand the universe. The Revelations Cycle stories are:
- “Cartwright’s Cavaliers” main story line novel by Mark (available here)
- “Asbaran Solutions” main story line novel by Chris (available here)
- “Winged Hussars” main story line novel by Mark (available here)
- “The Golden Horde” main story line novel by Chris (available here)
- “A Fistful of Credits” anthology edited by Chris and Mark (available here)
- “Peacemaker” main story line tie-in novel by Kevin Ikenberry (available here)
- “For a Few Credits More” anthology edited by Chris and Mark (available here)
- “The Good, The Bad, And The Merc” anthology edited by Chris and Mark (available here)
- “CASPer Alamo” standalone novel by Eric S. Brown and Jason Brannon (available here)
- “Alpha Contracts” the 4HU origin stories by Chris and Mark (available here)
- “Assassin” main story line tie-in novel by Kacey Ezell and Marisa Wolf (available here)
- “Honor The Threat” main story line tie-in novel by Kevin (available here)
Although these books are generally “stand-alone,” there is some crossover between them, and there is a story line building in the background, which the anthologies contribute to, as well. Generally, the first four books should be read in order, although the others can be read in whatever order you’d like. The anthologies give additional insight into events that are happening and background on some of the characters. Also, the Peacemaker stories (Peacemaker and Honor the Threat) and the Depik story (Assassin) are being tied into the next series (so you don’t want to skip them).
The main story line for the Revelations Cycle ends with The Golden Horde and resumes with the next series, the “The Omega War.” Earth has been invaded and the Horsemen have fled! Find out what happens next in The Omega War novels:
- “A Fiery Sunset” main story line novel by Chris and Mark (available here)
- “The Midnight Sun” main story line novel by Tim C. Taylor (available here)
- “Dark Moon Arisen” main story line novel by Chris and Mark (available here)
- “Stand or Fall” main story line novel by Kevin Ikenberry (available here)
- “Sinclair’s Scorpions” main story line novel by PP Corcoran (available here)
- “Dirty Deeds” main story line novel by Mark Wandrey (available here)
- “When the Axe Falls” main story line novel by Jon R. Osborne (available here)
- “A Pale Dawn” main story line novel by Chris and Mark (available here)
- “Do No Harm” main story line novel by Robert E. Hampson and Chris (available here)
- “Deathangel” main story line novel by Kevin Ikenberry (available here)
- “Sons of the Lion” main story line novel by Jason Cordova (available here)
- “Alabaster Noon” main story line novel by Chris and Mark (available here)
If that isn’t enough, there is more we have mapped out to follow The Omega War (so settle in and enjoy; you will continue to get your fill!)
Want to know what happens to Jim Cartwright between “Cartwright’s Cavaliers” and “A Fiery Sunset?” Check out the “Jim Cartwright at Large” series of short stories. You can either read the serials (#1-5), or read “Jim Cartwright: Raknar Quest,” which is an omnibus edition of all five serials, plus two short stories from the anthologies, plus 8,000 new words. Better yet, read both!
- Karma Upsilon 4
- Valley of Loss
- Empire of Machines
- Eye of Minerva
- Hunted
AND/OR
Jim Cartwright: Raknar Quest
Additionally, there are two prequel short stories that are available for joining the mailing on this site (on the left side of the page) and on Mark’s website.
There will be some additional books added to this series, typically standalone books and anthologies to further expand the universe. So far there are fourteen books in the new “Four Horsemen Tales” series:
- “Legend” standalone novel by Christopher Woods (available here)
- “Weaver” standalone novel by Kacey Ezell and Mark Wandrey (available here)
- “The Colchis Job” standalone novel by Kal Spriggs (available here)
- “Tales from the Lyon’s Den” anthology edited by Chris Kennedy and Mark Wandrey (available here)
- “When Eagles Dare” standalone novel by Doug Dandridge (available here)
- “Luck is Not a Factor” anthology edited by Chris Kennedy and Mark Wandrey (available here)
- “Free Bird Rising” standalone novel by Ian J. Malone (available here)
- “Hope is Not a Strategy” anthology edited by Chris Kennedy and Mark Wandrey (available here)
- “Hunter” standalone novel by Kacey Ezell and Marisa Wolf (available here)
- “With Your Shield” standalone novel by Chris Kennedy and Alex Rath (available here)
- “The Feeding of Sorrows” standalone novel by Rob Howell (available here)
- “Spartan’s Specialists” standalone novel by Alex Rath (available here)
- “Negotiation” Depik anthology edited by Kacey Ezell and Marisa Wolf (available here)
- “Jim Cartwright: Raknar Quest” omnibus version of the Mark Wandrey serials (available here)
The main story line picks up with “Storm Clouds,” the first book in the “Guild Wars” series. The Guild Wars currently is nine books (but will have more):
- “Storm Clouds” main story line novel by Chris Kennedy and Mark Wandrey (available here)
- “Between Two Worlds” main story line novel by Chris Kennedy and Alex Rath (available here)
- “Endless Night” main story line novel by Tim C. Taylor (available here)
- “An Axe To Grind” main story line novel by Jon R. Osborne (available here)
- “The Dark Before the Light” main story line novel by Tim C. Taylor (available here)
- “Daughter of the Pride” main story line novel by Jason Cordova (available here)
- “Gale Force” main story line novel by Chris Kennedy and Mark Wandrey (available here)
- “One Minute to Midnight” main story line novel by Tim C. Taylor and Chris Kennedy (available here)
- “Night Song” main story line novel by Mark Wandrey and Marisa Wolf (available here)
- “Sword of Minerva” main story line novel by Mark Wandrey (available here)
In parallel with the “Guild Wars” books (and what else is to come), is the new series, “Rise of the Peacemakers.” This series broadens the visibility of the Peacemaker Guild by exploring its capabilities and limitations through a connected story line that follows the events that occur after the first four Peacemaker novels. Several authors will be writing in this line.
- “Redacted Affairs” RotP novel by Kevin Ikenberry and Kevin Steverson (available here)
- “Fields of Fire” RotP novel by Kevin Ikenberry (available here)
- “Set the Terms” RotP anthology edited by Mia Kleve and Kevin Ikenberry (available here)
- “These Things We Do” RotP novel by Casey Moores (available here)
- “Prodigal Son” RotP novel by Matt Novotny and Mark Stallings (available here)
- “Redacted Vice” RotP novel by Kevin Ikenberry and Kevin Steverson (available here)
There will also be more novels that provide background information and help expand the universe. This series is the Four Horsemen Sagas. The first five books are available now!
- “Gunboat Diplomacy” standalone novel by Jason Cordova and Jamie Ibson (available here)
- “Enforcer” standalone novel by Kevin Ikenberry and Quincy J. Allen (available here)
- “Daskada, The Legend” standalone novel by Christopher Woods (available here)
- “The Gates of Hell: More Tales from the Lyon’s Den” anthology edited by Kennedy/Wandrey (available here)
- “High Mountain Hunters” standalone novel by William Alan Webb (available here)
Finally, there is the new YA series, “The Frontiers.” You won’t want to miss them, as there’s some good info in them! They are:
- “Black and White” standalone novel by Mark Wandrey (available here)
- “Scholarship” standalone novel by David Alan Jones (available here)
- “Bjorn” standalone novel by Jon R. Osborne (available here)