Cover of Cities of the Red Night
Cover of The Place of Dead Roads
Series

Red Night Trilogy

2 books

The Red Night Trilogy series by William S. Burroughs has 2 books. Start with Cities of the Red Night (1981), then read the rest in the order below.

Red Night Trilogy reading order

1
Cover of Cities of the Red Night

Cities of the Red Night

William S. Burroughs

Dive into a sprawling, hallucinatory epic that defies conventional narrative, weaving together tales of pirates, addicts, and future wars across time and space. This groundbreaking work explores themes of liberation, control, and the very nature of reality, challenging societal norms and the limits of human experience. Burroughs' signature cut-up technique and visceral prose create a disorienting yet profound journey through a landscape of desire, addiction, and rebellion. Prepare for a mind-bending odyssey where the boundaries of identity and existence are constantly in flux.

Science FictionCyberpunkLiterary Fiction
2
Cover of The Place of Dead Roads

The Place of Dead Roads

William S. Burroughs

In this hyperkinetic adventure set in the American frontier West, a charismatic young gunslinger arrives in town and quickly assembles a devoted gang of followers drawn to his magnetic presence and dangerous allure. What begins as a classic shoot-out escalates into a wild, transgressive narrative that explores themes of power, desire, and the destruction of dreams—reflecting Burroughs' characteristic examination of how societies systematically eliminate the visions and magic of those they seek to control. The novel showcases Burroughs' distinctive nonlinear style and provocative approach to storytelling, blending Western mythology with his signature surrealist sensibility. Filled with action, eroticism, and philosophical undercurrents, this work challenges conventional narratives of the Old West while interrogating deeper questions about freedom, identity, and cultural domination.

Literary FictionExperimental FictionScience Fiction