Mercedes Lackey
Mercedes Ritchie Lackey (born 1950) is an American writer of fantasy novels. Many of her novels and trilogies are interlinked and set in the world of Velgarth, mostly in and around the country of Valdemar. Her Valdemar novels form a complex tapestry of interaction between human and non-human protagonists with many different cultures and social mores.
Her other main world is one much like our own, but it includes clandestine populations of elves, mages, vampires, and other mythical beings. The Bedlam's Bard books describe a young man with the power to work magic through music; the SERRAted Edge books are about racecar driving elves; and the Diana Tregarde thrillers center on a Wiccan who combats evil.
She has also published several novels re-working well-known fairy tales set in a mid-19th to early 20th century setting in which magic is real, although hidden from the mundane world. These novels explore issues of ecology, social class, and gender roles.
Lackey has published over 140 books and writes novels at a rate of 5.5 per year on average. She has been called one of the "most prolific science fiction and fantasy writers of all time."
Speculative Fiction Novels (138)
The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley (Elemental Masters #16) 2022 | fantasy |
Beyond (The Founding of Valdemar #1) 2021 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Jolene (Elemental Masters #15) 2020 | fantasy |
Spy, Spy Again (Valdemar: Family Spies #3) 2020 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Breaking Silence (The Serrated Edge) 2020 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
The Case of the Spellbound Child (Elemental Masters #14) 2019 | fantasy |
The Waters and the Wild 2019 | fantasy |
Eye Spy (Valdemar: Family Spies #2) 2019 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Bartered Brides (Elemental Masters #13) 2018 | fantasy |
The Hills Have Spies (Valdemar: Family Spies #1) 2018 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Blade of Empire (The Dragon Prophecy #2) 2017 | fantasy > high fantasy |
A Scandal in Battersea (Elemental Masters #12) 2017 | fantasy |
Apex (Hunter #3) 2017 | fantasy, young adult |
Closer to the Chest (The Herald Spy #3) 2016 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Elite (Hunter #2) 2016 | fantasy, young adult |
A Study in Sable (Elemental Masters #11) 2016 | fantasy |
Silence (The Serrated Edge) 2016 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
Closer to the Heart (The Herald Spy #2) 2015 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Hunter (Hunter #1) 2015 | fantasy, young adult |
From a High Tower (Elemental Masters #10) 2015 | fantasy |
Closer to Home (The Herald Spy #1) 2014 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The House of the Four Winds (One Dozen Daughters #1) 2014 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Blood Red (Elemental Masters #9) 2014 | fantasy |
Victories (Shadow Grail #4) 2014 | fantasy, young adult |
Dragon's Teeth 2013 | science fiction, fantasy, collection |
Bastion (The Collegium Chronicles #5) 2013 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Steadfast (Elemental Masters #8) 2013 | fantasy |
Sacrifices (Shadow Grail #3) 2013 | fantasy, young adult |
Crown of Vengeance (The Dragon Prophecy #1) 2012 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Redoubt (The Collegium Chronicles #4) 2012 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Home from the Sea (Elemental Masters #7) 2012 | fantasy |
Dead Reckoning 2012 | horror |
Reboots (The Stellar Guild Series) 2011 | science fiction |
Beauty and the Werewolf (Five Hundred Kingdoms #6) 2011 | fantasy, romance |
Changes (The Collegium Chronicles #3) 2011 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Unnatural Issue (Elemental Masters #6) 2011 | fantasy |
Conspiracies (Shadow Grail #2) 2011 | fantasy, young adult |
Intrigues (The Collegium Chronicles #2) 2010 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Sleeping Beauty (Five Hundred Kingdoms #5) 2010 | fantasy, romance |
Much Fall of Blood (Heirs of Alexandria #4) 2010 | fantasy, alternate history |
Legacies (Shadow Grail #1) 2010 | fantasy, young adult |
Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit 2009 | fantasy > historical fantasy |
The Phoenix Transformed (The Enduring Flame #3) 2009 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Foundation (The Collegium Chronicles #1) 2008 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Phoenix Endangered (The Enduring Flame #2) 2008 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Snow Queen (Five Hundred Kingdoms #4) 2008 | fantasy, romance |
And Less Than Kind (Scepter'd Isle #4) 2008 | fantasy > historical fantasy |
Reserved for the Cat (Elemental Masters #5) 2007 | fantasy |
The Phoenix Unchained (The Enduring Flame #1) 2007 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Fortune's Fool (Five Hundred Kingdoms #3) 2007 | fantasy, romance |
By Slanderous Tongues (Scepter'd Isle #3) 2007 | fantasy > historical fantasy |
Aerie (The Dragon Jousters #4) 2006 | fantasy > high fantasy |
When Darkness Falls (The Obsidian Trilogy #3) 2006 | fantasy > high fantasy |
One Good Knight (Five Hundred Kingdoms #2) 2006 | fantasy, romance |
Music to My Sorrow (Bedlam's Bard #6) 2005 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
The Wizard of London (Elemental Masters #4) 2005 | fantasy |
Sanctuary (The Dragon Jousters #3) 2005 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Ill Met by Moonlight (Scepter'd Isle #2) 2005 | fantasy > historical fantasy |
Phoenix and Ashes (Elemental Masters #3) 2004 | fantasy |
The Wizard of Karres (The Witches of Karres #2) 2004 | science fiction |
Alta (The Dragon Jousters #2) 2004 | fantasy > high fantasy |
To Light a Candle (The Obsidian Trilogy #2) 2004 | fantasy > high fantasy |
This Scepter'd Isle (Scepter'd Isle #1) 2004 | fantasy > historical fantasy |
The Fairy Godmother (Five Hundred Kingdoms #1) 2004 | fantasy, romance |
Mad Maudlin (Bedlam's Bard #5) 2003 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
Exile's Valor (The Heralds of Valdemar Prequels #3) 2003 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Joust (The Dragon Jousters #1) 2003 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Outstretched Shadow (The Obsidian Trilogy #1) 2003 | fantasy > high fantasy |
This Rough Magic (Heirs of Alexandria #2) 2003 | fantasy, alternate history |
Elvenborn (Halfblood Chronicles #3) 2002 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Exile's Honor (The Heralds of Valdemar Prequels #2) 2002 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Gates of Sleep (Elemental Masters #2) 2002 | fantasy |
The Shadow of the Lion (Heirs of Alexandria #1) 2002 | fantasy, alternate history |
Spirits White as Lightning (Bedlam's Bard #4) 2001 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
Take a Thief (The Heralds of Valdemar Prequels #1) 2001 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Serpent's Shadow (Elemental Masters #1) 2001 | fantasy |
The Valdemar Companion (Valdemar) 2001 | fantasy > high fantasy, non-fiction, short stories |
Beyond World's End (Bedlam's Bard #3) 2000 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
The Otherworld (The Serrated Edge) 2000 | fantasy > urban fantasy, collection |
Brightly Burning (The Heralds of Valdemar) 2000 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Owlknight (Darian's Tale #3) 1999 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Chrome Borne (The Serrated Edge) 1999 | fantasy > urban fantasy, collection |
The Black Swan (Fairy Tale Stories) 1999 | fantasy |
The River's Gift 1999 | fantasy |
Oathblood (Vows and Honor #3) 1998 | fantasy > high fantasy, short stories |
Owlsight (Darian's Tale #2) 1998 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Fiddler Fair 1998 | science fiction, fantasy, short stories |
Werehunter 1998 | science fiction, fantasy, short stories |
Four and Twenty Blackbirds (Bardic Voices #4) 1997 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Owlflight (Darian's Tale #1) 1997 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Free Bards (Bardic Voices) 1997 | fantasy > high fantasy, collection |
Storm Breaking (The Mage Storms #3) 1996 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Silver Gryphon (The Mage Wars #3) 1996 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Firebird (Fairy Tale Stories) 1996 | fantasy |
Storm Rising (The Mage Storms #2) 1995 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The White Gryphon (The Mage Wars #2) 1995 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Tiger Burning Bright 1995 | fantasy |
The Fire Rose (Elemental Masters) 1995 | fantasy |
The Sword of Knowledge (The Sword of Knowledge) 1995 | fantasy |
Chrome Circle (The Serrated Edge #4) 1994 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
The Eagle and the Nightingales (Bardic Voices #3) 1994 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Storm Warning (The Mage Storms #1) 1994 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Black Gryphon (The Mage Wars #1) 1994 | fantasy > high fantasy |
A Cast of Corbies (Bardic Choices) 1994 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Sacred Ground 1994 | fantasy |
Prison of Souls (The Bard's Tale #4) 1993 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Winds of Fury (The Mage Winds #3) 1993 | fantasy > high fantasy |
When the Bough Breaks (The Serrated Edge #3) 1993 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
Elvenblood (Halfblood Chronicles #2) 1993 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Fortress of Frost and Fire (The Bard's Tale #2) 1993 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Robin and the Kestrel (Bardic Voices #2) 1993 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Rediscovery (Darkover) 1993 | science fiction |
If I Pay Thee Not in Gold 1993 | fantasy |
The Ship Who Searched (Brain & Brawn Ship Series #3) 1992 | science fiction |
Winds of Change (The Mage Winds #2) 1992 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Summoned to Tourney (Bedlam's Bard #2) 1992 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
Wheels of Fire (The Serrated Edge #2) 1992 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
Castle of Deception (The Bard's Tale #1) 1992 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Born to Run (The Serrated Edge #1) 1992 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
Jinx High (Diana Tregarde #3) 1991 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
The Elvenbane (Halfblood Chronicles #1) 1991 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Winds of Fate (The Mage Winds #1) 1991 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Lark and the Wren (Bardic Voices #1) 1991 | fantasy > high fantasy |
By the Sword (Kerowyn's Tale) 1991 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Bedlam's Bard (Bedlam's Bard) 1991 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
Magic's Price (The Last Herald-Mage #3) 1990 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Children of the Night (Diana Tregarde #2) 1990 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
Knight of Ghosts and Shadows (Bedlam's Bard #1) 1990 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
The Last Herald-Mage (The Last Herald-Mage) 1990 | fantasy > high fantasy, collection |
Magic's Promise (The Last Herald-Mage #2) 1989 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Oathbreakers (Vows and Honor #2) 1989 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Magic's Pawn (The Last Herald-Mage #1) 1989 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Burning Water (Diana Tregarde #1) 1989 | fantasy > urban fantasy |
Reap the Whirlwind (The Sword of Knowledge #3) 1989 | fantasy |
Arrow's Fall (The Heralds of Valdemar #3) 1988 | fantasy > high fantasy |
The Oathbound (Vows and Honor #1) 1988 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Arrow's Flight (The Heralds of Valdemar #2) 1987 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Arrows of the Queen (The Heralds of Valdemar #1) 1987 | fantasy > high fantasy |
Comics and Anthology (16)
Boundaries (Valdemar) 2021 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
Passages (Valdemar) 2020 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
Seasons: All-New Tales of Valdemar (Valdemar) 2019 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
Pathways (Valdemar) 2017 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
Tempest: All-New Tales of Valdemar (Valdemar) 2016 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
Crucible: All-New Tales of Valdemar (Valdemar) 2015 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
No True Way: All New Tales of Valdemar (Valdemar) 2014 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
Under the Vale and Other Tales of Valdemar (Valdemar) 2011 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
Finding the Way and Other Tales of Valdemar (Valdemar) 2010 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
Changing the World: All-New Tales of Valdemar (Valdemar) 2009 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
Moving Targets and Other Tales of Valdemar (Valdemar) 2008 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar (Valdemar) 2005 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
Winter Moon 2005 | fantasy, anthology |
Sun in Glory and Other Tales of Valdemar (Valdemar) 2003 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |
Charmed Destinies 2003 | fantasy, anthology |
Sword of Ice and Other Tales of Valdemar (Valdemar) 1997 | fantasy > high fantasy, anthology |