The Tales of Dunk and Egg books must be read in chronological order, which matches their publication order, by following this sequence:[8-14]
| Order | Cover | Title | First published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prose books | ||||
| 1 |
|
The Hedge Knight | 1998[8] | Introduces Dunk, Egg, and their partnership. |
| 2 |
|
The Sworn Sword | 2004[10] | Continues their travels after Dunk has taken Egg as his squire. |
| 3 |
|
The Mystery Knight | 2010[11] | Builds on Egg’s identity and events established earlier. |
| Graphic novels | ||||
| 1 |
|
The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel | 2013[12] | Optional adaptation of The Hedge Knight. |
| 2 |
|
The Hedge Knight II: Sworn Sword | 2014[13] | Option adaptation of The Sworn Sword. |
| 3 |
|
The Mystery Knight: The Graphic Novel | 2017[14] | Optional adaptation of The Mystery Knight. |
Works in sequence
The core reading experience comprises the three prose tales that advance Dunk and Egg’s traveling partnership. These are the works a first-time reader should follow for the main sequence.[2-4]
The graphic novels are supplementary adaptations of the prose stories. They retell existing entries rather than adding new steps to the main reading order, so they can be left aside until after the corresponding prose tale. These adaptations will mainly interest readers who want visual versions of stories already covered by the prose sequence.[5-7]
Prose books
1. The Hedge Knight
The Hedge Knight, first published in Legends: Stories By The Masters of Modern Fantasy (1998),[8] establishes the series by placing Dunk at the beginning of his independent life as a hedge knight. After the death of Ser Arlan of Pennytree, Dunk takes up the old knight’s arms and enters the tourney at Ashford, where he meets Egg.[2]
This story introduces their knight-and-squire relationship, Dunk’s uncertain status, and the dangers created when ordinary chivalric ideals meet royal power.[2]
2. The Sworn Sword
The Sworn Sword, first published in Legends II: Shadows, Gods and Demons (2004)[10] follows Dunk and Egg after their partnership has been formed. This story moves them into service under Ser Eustace Osgrey, where a dispute over water, land, honor, and past loyalties draws them into a local conflict.[3]
It works as a separate episode, but it is clearer after The Hedge Knight because Dunk and Egg’s roles, habits, and relationship are already in place.[3]
3. The Mystery Knight
The Mystery Knight, first published in Warriors (2010),[11] continues Dunk and Egg’s travels into a more politically charged setting. A wedding tourney at Whitewalls draws them into plots involving former Blackfyre supporters, hidden identities, and suspicion around a dragon’s egg.[4]
This story relies on the earlier books, especially Egg’s identity and Dunk’s connection to the Trial of Seven, so it belongs after the first two prose tales.[4]
Graphic novels
1. The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel (2013)[12] is a supplementary adaptation of The Hedge Knight. It belongs after the prose story it adapts, because it retells the same opening episode in another form.[5]
Readers following the core sequence can skip it at first, while readers seeking fuller coverage can place it immediately after the first tale.[5]
2. The Hedge Knight II: Sworn Sword
The Hedge Knight II: Sworn Sword (2014)[13] is a supplementary adaptation of The Sworn Sword. It does not add a new stage to the prose chronology, but gives readers a visual version of the second main tale.[6]
It fits most clearly after The Sworn Sword, especially for readers who want to read the adaptations.[6]
3. The Mystery Knight: The Graphic Novel
The Mystery Knight: The Graphic Novel (2017)[14] is a supplementary adaptation of The Mystery Knight. It should be placed after the prose version because it follows the same story rather than introducing a separate continuation.[7]
For a first reading, the prose tale remains the main entry; the graphic novel is best treated as an optional companion for fuller coverage.[7]
References
- Dunk and Egg. George R. R. Martin.
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Bantam. The Hedge Knight. ISBN: 9780345533487.
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Bantam. The Sworn Sword. ISBN: 9780345533487.
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Bantam. The Mystery Knight. ISBN: 9780345533487.
- The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel. Jet City Comics. ISBN: 9781477849101.
- The Hedge Knight II: Sworn Sword. Jet City Comics. ISBN: 9781477849293.
- The Mystery Knight: A Graphic Novel. Bantam Books. ISBN: 9780345549396.
- Legends: short novels by the masters of modern fantasy / edited by Robert Silverberg. – Record details. Library of Congress.
- The hedge knight. Colorado Mountain College. Archived.
- Legends II: new short novels by the masters of modern fantasy / edited by Robert Silverberg. – Record details. Library of Congress.
- Warriors / edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois. – Record details. Library of Congress.
- The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel. Jet City Comics. Copyright page. ISBN: 9781477849101.
- The Hedge Knight II: Sworn Sword. Jet City Comics. Copyright page. ISBN: 9781477849293.
- The Mystery Knight: A Graphic Novel by George R. R. Martin: 9780345549396. Penguin Random House.