Larry McMurtry Books in Order: The Complete Masterwork Guide

Larry McMurtry is widely regarded as one of America’s greatest storytellers. Whether writing about 19th-century Texas Rangers carving out a life on the brutal frontier or 20th-century small-town Texans navigating love, loss, and boredom, McMurtry brought unmatched authenticity, tragicomedy, and emotional depth to every page.

Here is your ultimate, fully fleshed-out guide to every Larry McMurtry book series and standalone novel in the ideal reading order.

About the Author

Larry McMurtry (1936–2021) was an iconic American novelist, essayist, bookseller, and Oscar-winning screenwriter (Brokeback Mountain). Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, McMurtry grew up watching the old cattle-ranching era fade into modernity—a transition that deeply shaped his literary obsession with demythologizing the American West.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, McMurtry penned over 30 novels, several essay collections, and numerous screenplays. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1986 for Lonesome Dove, cementing his status as a titan of American literature.

1. The Lonesome Dove Series

McMurtry’s most famous work follows the legendary, lifelong friendship of two retired Texas Rangers, Augustus “Gus” McCrae and Woodrow F. Call. While Lonesome Dove was published first, McMurtry later wrote a sequel and two prequels.

Recommended Reading Order (Chronological Story Order):

1. Dead Man’s Walk (1995)
   Time Period: 1840s — Young, inexperienced Texas Rangers Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call join a ill-fated expedition across Santa Fe, encountering brutal wilderness and fierce Comanche resistance.
2. Comanche Moon (1997)
   Time Period: 1850s–1860s — Gus and Call come into their prime as Texas Rangers, hunting famed Comanche leaders Buffalo Hump and Kicking Wolf while navigating complex romantic lives back home.
3. Lonesome Dove (1985)
   Time Period: Late 1870s — The Pulitzer Prize–winning epic. Gus and Call run a dusty cattle outfit on the Rio Grande before deciding to drive a herd 1,500 miles north to the virgin wilderness of Montana.
4. Streets of Laredo (1993)
   Time Period: 1890s — An aging Woodrow Call, now a bitter bounty hunter in the dying days of the West, is hired to track down a ruthless young train robber along the Mexican border.

(Note: If you prefer to experience the saga the way the world first read it, you can follow Publication Order: Lonesome Dove → Streets of Laredo → Dead Man’s Walk → Comanche Moon).

2. The Houston Series

This series tracks connected generations of characters across several decades as they navigate love, marriage, and family dynamics in middle-class Texas and Houston.

1. Moving On (1970)
   Follows a young married couple, Patsy and Jim Carpenter, as their marriage slowly unravels amidst the Texas rodeo circuit and academic life.
2. All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers (1972)
   Focuses on Danny Deck, a talented young novelist who flees his crumbling life in Texas for Hollywood, grappling with romance and instant success.
3. Terms of Endearment (1975)
   The iconic novel detailing the fierce, loving, and deeply complicated bond between matriarch Aurora Greenway and her headstrong daughter, Emma.
4. Somebody’s Darling (1978)
   Danny Deck’s journey continues as a ambitious female director tries to make her mark in the cutthroat movie industry of Los Angeles.
5. Some Can Whistle (1989)
   An aging, reclusive Danny Deck receives a sudden phone call from the adult daughter he never knew he had, sparking an emotional reunion.
6. The Evening Star (1992)
   The moving sequel to Terms of Endearment, following an aging Aurora Greenway as she tries to guide her troubled grandchildren into adulthood.

3. The Thalia / Last Picture Show Series

Set in the fictional, dying West Texas town of Thalia, this series captures the ache of growing up, changing times, and small-town loneliness.

1. Horseman, Pass By (1961) (Adapted into the film ‘Hud’)
   A 17-year-old boy grows up on his grandfather’s cattle ranch during a devastating hoof-and-mouth disease outbreak, caught between his honorable grandfather and his ruthless step-uncle, Hud.
2. The Last Picture Show (1966)
   High school seniors Sonny and Duane navigate teenage angst, football, and longing in a depressing 1950s Texas town where the local theater is closing down.
3. Texasville (1987)
   Set 30 years after The Last Picture Show, Sonny and Duane are now middle-aged men dealing with midlife crises, economic oil busts, and eccentric families.
4. Duane’s Depressed (1999)
   An aging Duane Moore decides to park his pickup truck and walk everywhere, stepping back from his chaotic life to confront deep-seated grief and depression.
5. When the Light Goes (2007)
   An elderly Duane reflects on mortality, waning physical vitality, and lost loves in a rapidly changing world.
6. Rhino Ranch (2009)
   The final chapter in Duane’s life, as he becomes involved with an eccentric sanctuary for endangered rhinoceroses in West Texas.

4. The Berrybender Narratives

A satirical, sprawling four-part historical saga detailing the hilarious, chaotic adventures of an aristocratic English family traveling through the wild American frontier in the 1830s.

1. Sin Killer (2002)
   The eccentric Berrybender family charters a steamboat up the Missouri River, encountering wildlife, native tribes, and mountain men.
2. The Wandering Hill (2003)
   The family pushes further into the harsh Western wilderness, facing brutal winter snows and rising tribal tensions.
3. By Sorrow’s River (2003)
   The expedition journeys into the dangerous Santa Fe trail, suffering tragic losses along the way.
4. Folly and Glory (2004)
   The climax of the Berrybender saga, as the remaining family members face the consequences of their wild trek across Mexico and Texas.

5. Standalone Novels & Historical Fiction

In addition to his famous series, McMurtry wrote several brilliant standalone novels celebrating historical figures and quirky contemporary lives.

• Leaving Cheyenne (1963) — A sweeping, decades-spanning love triangle between two lifelong friends and the independent woman they both love.
• Anything for Billy (1988) — A fictionalized, revisionist retelling of the legendary outlaw Billy the Kid.
• Buffalo Girls (1990) — A poignant look at the twilight of the Old West, focusing on Calamity Jane and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.
• Pretty Boy Floyd (1994) (Co-written with Diana Ossana) — A gripping narrative following the famous Depression-era outlaw.
• Zeke and Ned (1997) (Co-written with Diana Ossana) — The story of two Cherokee nation lawmen fighting for survival in Indian Territory.
• Boone’s Lick (2000) — A family treks across the Western plains during the Indian Wars to track down their unreliable father.
• Telegraph Days (2006) — A witty, fast-paced tale narrated by Nellie Courtright, a young woman who witnesses famous shootouts and Western legends.
• The Last Kind Words Saloon (2014) — A stripped-down, gritty look at the legendary partnership of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday leading up to the O.K. Corral.

Short Reading Guide: Where Should You Start?

Because McMurtry wrote in distinct genres (epic Westerns, modern relationship dramas, and small-town coming-of-age stories), pick your entry point based on what you love most:

• For the Ultimate Epic Western Experience: Start with Lonesome Dove (or start chronologically with Dead Man’s Walk). It is widely considered one of the greatest American novels ever written.
• For Small-Town Nostalgia & Coming-of-Age: Start with The Last Picture Show. It is short, poignant, and brilliantly captures the atmosphere of 1950s Texas.
• For Sharp Family Drama & Wit: Start with Terms of Endearment. Aurora Greenway is one of the most memorable, fiercely funny maternal figures in modern literature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I read Lonesome Dove in publication order or chronological order?

Both approaches are valid, but chronological story order (Dead Man’s Walk → Comanche Moon → Lonesome Dove → Streets of Laredo) is generally recommended for first-time readers today. Reading chronologically lets you watch Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call grow from young, reckless Texas Rangers into old, hardened legends. However, if you want to experience his absolute best book right away, starting with Lonesome Dove first is completely fine—the prequels were designed to work seamlessly even if you already know how the story turns out.

Why did Larry McMurtry write the prequels and sequels to Lonesome Dove?

McMurtry originally wrote Lonesome Dove to dismantle the romantic myth of the Old West, illustrating how harsh, brutal, and tragic frontier life truly was. However, readers fell so deeply in love with the heroics of Gus and Call that McMurtry felt he hadn’t fully conveyed the grim realities of the era. He wrote Streets of Laredo, Dead Man’s Walk, and Comanche Moon to further explore the tragic cost of westward expansion and flesh out the earlier years of the Texas Rangers.

Are all of Larry McMurtry’s books set in Texas?

While Texas is the central heartland of his body of work, many of his books venture far beyond its borders. The Lonesome Dove saga spans from Mexico all the way to Montana; the Berrybender Narratives cover the entire Missouri River territory; and books like All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers and Terms of Endearment spend significant time in Hollywood, Washington D.C., and New York.

Which Larry McMurtry books were made into movies or TV shows?

McMurtry’s work has had enormous success on screen. The most famous adaptations include:

• Lonesome Dove (1989): The legendary, Emmy Award–winning TV miniseries starring Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones.
• The Last Picture Show (1971): The critically acclaimed, Oscar-winning film directed by Peter Bogdanovich.
• Terms of Endearment (1983): The blockbuster film that won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
• Hud (1963): Based on his debut novel Horseman, Pass By, starring Paul Newman.

Final Verdict

Larry McMurtry was a master at crafting complex, deeply human characters who stay with you long after the final page is turned. He took the dusty, mythologized West and filled it with heartbeat, heartbreak, flaw, and humor.

If you have never experienced his work before, grab a copy of Lonesome Dove or The Last Picture Show, settle into a comfortable chair, and prepare to read some of the finest dialogue in American fiction. Happy reading!

Written by

Emon Anam

Hi, I’m Emon. I’m the voice and heart behind Whimsy Read. After nine years in the world of banking, I followed my passion for storytelling into the world of SEO and content strategy. Now, I blend that analytical eye with a deep love for literature to bring you book reviews that are thoughtful, honest, and always focused on the stories that stay with you. When I’m not reading or writing, you’ll find me enjoying joyful chaos with my wife and three kids, getting lost in a new series, or revisiting my old loves: theater, music, and gaming. At the end of the day, I believe great books are meant to be shared, and I’m so glad you’re here to share them with me.