Here’s a (slightly comprehensive) list of the best libertarian fiction. Below you will find libertarian, agorist, anarcho-capitalist, and objectivist novels, short stories, children’s books, and graphic novels.
We’ve selected these specific libertarian stories because they are explicitly libertarian, meaning they explicitly identify and promote or defend at least one major tenant of political libertarianism (free markets, private property, individual rights etc.).
While many fictional works can read as implicitly libertarian (for instance, any anti-authoritarian narrative such as, say, The Hunger Games) we chose to be a little more selective in what we include here, in the hope that these works will be both more interesting and more instructive for those learning about, or already fans of, political libertarianism.
This list of pro-freedom stories is organized by type (novel, short story, graphic novel, YA, children’s), genre (like libertarian science fiction, based on popularity), and then alphabetical by author. Use the table of contents to find what interests you the most!
And if you’re looking for just the free stuff, we’ve also curated a list of the top free libertarian novels you can check out.
Table of Contents
- Libertarian Novels
- Libertarian Short Stories and Short Story Collections
- Libertarian Graphic Novels
- Libertarian Young Adult Novels
- Libertarian Children’s Books
- Other Notable Lists of Libertarian Fiction
Libertarian Novels
Libertarian Sci-Fi and Fantasy
- The Preferred Observer by Matthew Alexander
- Withur We by Matthew Alexander (Read AFL’s “Withur We” review)
- Harvest of Stars by Poul Anderson
- Orbit Unlimited by Poul Anderson
- New America by Poul Anderson
- Prador Moon: A Novel of the Polity by Neal Asher
- Gridlinked (Agent Cormac Book 1) by Neal Asher
- Welcome to Free America by David Barker (cheaper eBook version here)
- Outland Exile: Old Men and Infidels 1 by W. Clark Boutwell
- Exile’s Escape: Old Men and Infidels 2 by W. Clark Boutwell
- Malila of the Scorch: Old Men and Infidels 3 by W. Clark Boutwell
- The Aetherverse by Eugene Bryan and Joseph D’Urso
- Net Assets by Carl Bussjaeger (Read “Net Assets” for free)
- Bargaining Position by Carl Bussjaeger (Read “Bargaining Position” for free)
- The Light of Day by James Byrd
- Family Law by Mackey Chandler
- Looking Backward: 2162-2012 A View from a Future Libertarian Republic by Beth Cody
- The Powers of the Earth (Aristillus Book 1) by Travis J. I. Corcoran
- Causes of Separation (Aristillus Book 2) by Travis J. I. Corcoran
- Equal by W.J. Costello
- First Contract by Greg Costikyan
- A Vision of Liberty by Jim Davies (Read “A Vision of Liberty” for free)
- The Good Walk Alone by Wolf DeVoon
- Mars Shall Thunder by Wolf DeVoon
- Drone Pilot 2061 by Thomas Diogenes
- Rapid Transit: A Novel of Teleportation and Entrepreneurship by James Rolph Edwards
- Stewards of the Flame by Sylvia Engdahl
- Fallen Angels by Michael Flynn, Larry Niven, and Jerry Pournelle
- Band of Visionaries by Steven Franssen
- Harald by David D. Friedman
- Salamander by David D. Friedman
- Torchship by Karl K. Gallagher
- Revenge of the Rare Birds by Joshua Garmond
- Interest: Final State Series by Kevin Gaughen
- Freestate California by Wayne C. Grantham
- Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind
- Gaiastan by Troy Grice (Read “Gaiastan” for free here)
- Goldstein by Troy Grice
- Recognition (Liberty First) by Dan Hargrove and Marc Moore
- The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks
- Time Will Run Back by Harry Hazlitt
- The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein
- The Mirror Maze by James P. Hogan
- Darkship Thieves: Darkship 1 by Sarah A. Hoyt
- Darkship Renegades: Darkship 2 by Sarah A. Hoyt
- A Few Good Men: Darkship 3 by Sarah A. Hoyt
- Through Fire: Darkship 4 by Sarah A. Hoyt
- Floating Worlds by Cecilia Hollands
- The Transhumanist Wager by Zoltan Istvan
- Anarchy in New England by Joe Jarvis
- I: A Sequel to Ayn Rand’s “Anthem” by R. Scot Johns
- Red Queen: The Substrate Wars 1 by Jeb Kinnison
- Nemo’s World: The Substrate Wars 2 by Jeb Kinnison
- Shrivers: The Substrate Wars 3 by Jeb Kinnison
- The Unincorporated Man by Dani Kollin and Eytan Kollin
- Kings of the High Frontier by Victor Koman
- The Syndic by C. M. Kornbluth
- Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress
- Anti Life by Allen Kuzara
- The Price of Freedom by J.L. Leclerc
- The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin
- The Spear of the Hunt by Tom Liberman
- Moon of Ice by Brad Linaweaver
- Infinity Hold Trilogy by Barry B. Longyear
- The Corporation Wars Trilogy by Ken MacLeod
- The Star Fraction by Ken MaCleod
- The Last Trumpet Project by Kevin MacArdry (Read “The Last Trumpet Project” for free)
- A Perfect America by Peter Meredith
- Minerva by Bob Murphy (Read “Minerva” for free: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6)
- Oath of Fealty by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
- Which Art in Hope: Spooner Federation 1 by Francis W. Porretto
- Freedom’s Scion: Spooner Federation 2 by Francis W. Porretto
- Freedom’s Fury: Spooner Federation 3 by Francis W. Porretto
- Anthem by Ayn Rand (Graphic novel versions: here and here) (Read “Anthem” for free)
- Live Free or Die by John Ringo
- And Then There Were None by Eric Frank Russel (Read “And Then There Were None” for free with alternate version here)
- The Great Explosion by Eric Frank Russell (Read “The Great Explosion” for free)
- Alongside Night by J. Neil Schulman (Read “Alongside Night” for free)
- Escape From Heaven by J. Neil Schulman
- The Fractal Man by J. Neil Schulman
- The Rainbow Cadenza by J. Neil Schulman
- Vampire Nation by Thomas M. Sipos
- Blade of p’Na by L. Neil Smith
- Forge of the Elders by L. Neil Smith
- Ceres by L. Neil Smith
- Hope by L. Neil Smith and Aaron Zelman
- Pallas by L. Neil Smith
- The Probability Broach by L. Neil Smith (Graphic novel version: here)
- The American Zone by L. Neil Smith
- Tom Paine Maru by L. Neil Smith
- The Venus Belt by L. Neil Smith
- The Untethered by S.W. Southwick
- Fe Fi FOE Comes by William C. Staples
- The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson
- Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
- Eden Against the Colossus by G. Stolyarov II (Read “Eden Against the Colossus” for free)
- The Miskatonic Manuscript by Vin Suprynowicz
- The Hostile Takeover Trilogy by S. Andrew Swann
- The Great Destroyer by Jack Thorlin
- Zero Point (The Union Chronicles Book 1) by Abraham Thornton
- Emphyrio by Jack Vance
- Vestiges of Freedom by William Venator
- The Peace War by Vernor Vinge
- Marooned in Realtime (Peace War) by Vernor Vinge
- The Empire of Isher: The Weapon Makers / The Weapon Shops of Isher by A.E. Van Vogt
- Freehold (The Freehold Series) by Michael Z. Wiliamson (Read “Freehold” for free)
- The Complete Lanague (The Lanague Federation Series) by F. Paul Wilson
- Freedom Engineering by Ben Woods (Read “Freedom Engineering” for free)
- Eupocalypse Trilogy by Peri Worrell
- The Golden Age Trilogy by John C. Wright
- We by Yevgeny Zamyatin (Read “We” for free)
Libertarian Mystery and Thriller
- Cra$hmaker: A Federal Affaire: A Novel by Alvaro Almeida and Victor Sperandeo
- #agora by Anonymous/”Danny”/Max Musterman (Read “#agora” for free)
- Crown of Creation by Robert Arias
- The Enemies Trilogy by Matthew Bracken
- State of Terror by John Brown
- The Overton Window by Glenn Beck
- Hunter: A Thriller by Robert Bidinotto
- Castigo Cay by Matthew Bracken
- Speculator: High Ground 1 by Doug Casey and John F. Hunt
- Drug Lord: High Ground 2 by Doug Casey and John F. Hunt
- Crashed: The Death of the Dollar by William Cooper
- Dear Madman by John Cooley
- Inherit the Sea (Danglers: Book 1) by Studio Dongo
- The City that Traveled the World (Danglers: Book 2) by Studio Dongo
- Rounding the Horn (Danglers: Book 3) by Studio Dongo
- Homecoming (Danglers: Book 4) by Studio Dongo
- Lando Cruz and the Coup Conspiracy by George Donnelly
- Old Nick’s Guide to Happiness: A Philosophical Novel by Nicholas Dykes
- Escaping America by Warren Fahy
- Blueseed Prodigy by Frederick Ford
- Liberty Gulch by A.G. Fredericks
- Liberty Rekindled by A.G. Fredericks
- The Troy Standard by A.G. Fredericks
- Indivisible: With Justice for Some Vol. 1 by Troy Grice (Read “Indivisible: With Justice for Some” for free)
- Indivisible: Come and Take It Vol. 2 by Troy Grice (Read “Indivisible: Come and Take It” for free)
- Oathkeeper by Troy Grice (Read “Oathkeeper” for free)
- Pendulum of Justice (Hank Ragnar series book 1) by D.K. Halling
- Trails of Injustice (Hank Ragnar series book 2) by D.K. Halling
- Thieves Emporium by Max Hernandez
- Higher Cause by John F. Hunt
- Free Dakota by William Irwin
- The Few Who Count by Aya Katz
- Atlantis: A Novel about Economic Government by Robert Klassen
- The Chimera Collusion by D.J. Knedgen
- The Frankenstein Candidate by Vinay Kolhatkar
- Noble Vision by Gen LaGreca (Read AFL’s “Noble Vision” review)
- Resurrection Blues by Josh Langston
- The Last Bartender by Anthony F. Lewis
- The Third Revolution by Anthony F. Lewis
- Middle America by Anthony F. Lewis
- An Act of Self-Defense by Erne Lewis
- A Most Sacred Right by Robert Lukens (Read “A Most Sacred Right” for free)
- The Place to Stand by Robert Lukens (Read “The Place to Stand” for free)
- The Secret American Revolution by Robert Lukens (Read “The Secret American Revolution” for free)
- One Nation Under Blood by Tarrin P. Lupo
- The Justice Cooperative by Joe Martino
- The Dragonslayers, Volume 1: The Righteous and the Lawless by Matthew Maynard
- The Dragonslayers, Volume 2: The Hand of Justice by Matthew Maynard
- Publicani by Zak Maymin
- Justice, Inc. by J.P. Medved
- Chaos and Kingdom by J.S.B. Morse
- Gods of Ruin by J.S.B. Morse
- The Declaration by Evan F. Nappen
- Essential Liberty by Rob Olive (Read AFL’s “Essential Liberty” review)
- The Island by J.L. Pattison
- Nine-Tenths by Meira Pentermann
- Island by Thomas Perry
- White Continent: A Novel of War in Antarctica by David Poyer
- Universal Coverage by Daniel Putkowski
- Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
- The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
- Ideal by Ayn Rand
- The Night of January 16th by Ayn Rand
- Patriots of Treason (Series) by David Thomas Roberts
- The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protection by Russell Roberts
- The Invisible Heart: An Economic Romance by Russell Roberts
- The Price of Everything: A Parable of Possibility and Prosperity by Russell Roberts
- The Iron Web by Larken Rose
- A Lodging of Wayfaring Men by Paul Rosenberg (Read “A Lodging of Wayfaring Men” for free)
- The Breaking Dawn by Paul Rosenberg
- Return Engagements by Paul Rosenberg
- Unintended Consequences by John Ross
- Molon Labe! by Kenneth W. Royce
- Liberty Street by James Rushing
- Fiat by Jeffrey Schlaman
- Subprime Factor by Jeffrey Schlaman
- People’s Republic by Kurt Schlichter
- Everyone’s Island by Kris Schnee
- Sharper Security by Thomas Sewell
- Flashback by Dan Simmons
- The Mitzvah by L. Neil Smith and Aaron Zelman
- Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
- On the Steppes of Central Asia by Matt Stone/Richard D. Fuerle (Read On the Steppes of Central Asia for free)
- The Black Arrow: A Tale of the Resistance by Vin Suprynowicz
- The Planner (W series book 1) by Alexandra Swann
- The Chosen (W series book 2) by Alexandra Swann
- Patriots Versus Bureaucrats by Thomas Temple
- Trust Your Enemies by Mark Tier
- Knights of the Revolution by Jack Thorlin (Read the first few chapters on AFL free!)
- War of Knights Series by Jack Thorlin
- Centrifugal Force by Vaughn L. Treude
- The Last of the Freemen by Carl Trotz
- High Desert Barbecue by J.D. Tuccille (Read AFL’s “High Desert Barbecue” review)
- The Libertarian by Jaroslav Tucek
- Dominatus: Liberty. Freedom. Family. by D.W. Ulsterman
- Patriot Dawn: The Resistance Rises by Max Velocity
- Patriot Rising: The Unbroken by Max Velocity
- Wither This Land by William Venator
- The Bull by Matthew Weber
- Liberty and the Thin Blue Line by Derek Williams
Libertarian Historical Fiction
- Halestorm: A Novel of the American Revolution by Becky Akers
- Abducting Arnold: A Novel of the American Revolution by Becky Akers
- The Sparrowhawk Series by Ed Cline
- Genesis (Idolatry: Book 1) by Quent Cordair
- A New Eden (Idolatry: Book 2) by Quent Cordair
- The Way the Wind Blew by Walter Donway
- The Golden Pinnacle by Robert Gore
- The Break by Sean Gabb
- The Churchill Memorandum by Sean Gabb
- The Driver by Garet Garrett (Read “The Driver” for free)
- Theodosia and the Pirates: The Battle Against Britain by Aya Katz
- Theodosia and the Pirates: The War Against Spain by Aya Katz
- A Dream of Daring by Gen LaGreca
- Pirates of Savannah: The Birth of Freedom in the Low Country by Tarrin P. Lupo
- Anarquia by Brad Linaweaver and J. Kent Hastings
- We the Living by Ayn Rand
- Pictures of a Socialistic Future by Eugen Richter
- Red Plenty by Francis Spufford
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
Libertarian Satire
- Trulbert! by Mitch Berg
- Liberty Awash by J.W. Bruns and Ryan Incandenza
- Assume the Physician by John F. Hunt
- Full Asylum by Michael Isenberg
- Atlas Snubbed by Ken V. Krawchuk
- Snowflake Buddies by Lewis Liberman
- Olsen’s Nation by Randy Quarles
- A Canadian Christmas Carol by Justin Robinson
- The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson
- Schrodinger’s Cat Trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson
- Hardyville Tales: When “Don’t Tread On Me” meets “For Your Own Good” by Claire Wolfe
- Good Intentions by Bob Zeidman
Libertarian Short Stories and Short Story Collections
- Imagining Liberty: Volume 1 (Short Story Collection) Edited by Matthew Alexander, J.P. Medved, and Geoffrey Allan Plauché (Read “Imagining Liberty” for free)
- Visit Port Watson! by Anonymous (Read “Visit Port Watson!” for free)
- A Capitalist Christmas Carol (Short Story) by Donald Burleson
- The Anarchy Belt (Short Story Collection) by Carl Bussjaeger (Read “The Anarchy Belt” for free)
- Survival of Freedom (Short Story Collection) Edited by John Carr and Jerry Pournelle
- The Children’s Story (Short Story) by James Clavell (Read “The Children’s Story” for free)
- Disarming by Andrew Cleary
- Lunch Break (Short Story Collection) by Quent Cordair
- The Match (Short Story) by Quent Cordair
- Mujahid (Screenplay) by Quent Cordair
- The Executive Branch (Short Story) by Wolf Devoon
- House of Refuge (Short Story) by Michael DiBaggio (Read “House of Refuge” for free)
- Salamander Six (Short Story) by Michael DiBaggio (Read “Salamander Six” for free)
- Lawful Interception (Short Story) by Cory Doctorow (Read “Lawful Interception” for free)
- Defiant, She Advanced: Legends of Future Resistance (Short Story Collection) Edited by George Donnelly (Read “Defiant, She Advanced” for free)
- Valiant, He Endured: 17 Sci-Fi Myths of Insolent Grit (Short Story Collection) Edited by George Donnelly
- Nothing But a Gun (Short Story) by Walter Donway
- Tower of Horses (Short Story) by Leslie Fish
- Anarchy Rising: The Clarion Call Volume 1 (Short Story Collection) Edited by Jon Garett
- Echoes of Liberty: The Clarion Call Volume 2 (Short Story Collection) Edited by Jon Garett and Genesis Mickel
- Unbound: The Clarion Call Volume 3 (Short Story Collection) Edited by Jon Garett and Genesis Mickel
- Fairy Tale Riot: The Clarion Call Volume 4 (Short Story Collection) Edited by Jon Garett
- Libertarian Home Writing Competition (Online Short Story Collection) Edited by Simon Gibbs
- Visions of Liberty (Short Story Collection) Edited by Martin Greenberg
- Give Me Liberty (Short Story Collection) Edited by Martin Greenberg
- Freedom! (Short Story Collection) Edited by Martin Greenberg
- Freedom’s Light (Short Story Collection) Edited by Kia Heavey
- Swarm of Flies (Short Story) by Max Hernandez (Read “Swarm of Flies” for free)
- Live Free or Die (Short Story) by Dave Ives
- A New Utopia (Short Story) by Jerome K. Jerome (Read “A New Utopia” for free)
- The Conscience of Abe’s Turn Episodes 1-4 (Short Story Collection) by J. Timothy King
- Free Space (Short Story Collection) Edited by Edward E. Kramer and Brad Linaweaver
- Spark: Careen’s Prequel to the Resistance Series (Young Adult Short Story) by Tracy Lawson (Read “Spark” for free)
- The Prisoner’s Hat (Short Story) by Tarrin P. Lupo
- Granite Republic (Novella) by J.P. Medved
- The Gun Grabbers (Short Story) by J.P. Medved (Read for “The Gun Grabbers” for free)
- The Contractors (Short Story) by J.P. Medved (Read “The Contractors” for free)
- Under the Heel of the Aether Imperium (Novella) by J.P. Medved
- Saving Kennedy (Short Story Collection) by J.L. Pattison
- Gaoler (Short Story) by Francis W. Porretto (Read “Gaoler” for free)
- The Last Ambassadors (Short Story) by Francis W. Porretto (Read “The Last Ambassadors” for free)
- Villeins (Short Story) by Francis W. Porretto (Read “Villeins” for free)
- The Early Ayn Rand (Short Story Collection) by Ayn Rand
- Adventures in Human Space: The Belt and Beyond (Short Story Collection) by Sandy Sandfort
- Nasty, Brutish and Short Stories (Short Story Collection) by J. Neil Schulman
- Hitchhiking Killer for Hire (Short Story) by Thomas Sewell
- The Great Simoleon Caper (Short Story) by Neal Stephenson (Read “The Great Simoleon Caper” for free)
- Prometheus Unbound (Short Story) by Mark Sulkowski (Read “Prometheus Unbound” for free)
- Renegade (Short Story) by Mark Tier
- The Ungoverned (Short Story) by Vernor Vinge (Read “The Ungoverned” for free and read AFL’s “The Ungoverned” review)
- Lipidleggin’ (Short Story) by F. Paul Wilson (Read “Lippidleggin'” for free)
- The Dinner Roll Parable (Short Story) by Richard Gleaves (Read “The Dinner Roll Parable” for free)
Libertarian Graphic Novels
- A Drug War Carol by Susan W. Wells and Scott Bieser
- Escape from Terra Volume 1 by Sandy Sandfort, Scott Bieser and Lee Oaks (Read “Escape From Terra” for free)
- Escape from Terra Volume 2 by Sandy Sandfort, Scott Bieser and Lee Oaks
- Escape from Terra Volume 3 by Sandy Sandfort, Scott Bieser and Lee Oaks
- The Probability Broach: The Graphic Novel by Scott Bieser and L. Neil Smith
- Roswell, Texas by L Neil Smith, Rex F. May, Scott Bieser and Jen Zach
- Quantum Vibe (Ongoing) by Scott Bieser (Read “Quantum Vibe” for free)
- Female Force: Ayn Rand by John Blundell and Todd Tennant
- The Infidel #1 by Bosch Fawstin
- Table for One by Bosch Fawstin
- Batman: Anarky by Alan Grant
- V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
- Silver Circle (Incomplete) by Jackie Musto
- Ayn Rand’s Anthem: The Graphic Novel by Ayn Rand, Charles Santino and Joe Staton
- Anthem: The Graphic Novel by Ayn Rand, Jennifer Grossman, and Daniel Parsons
- Urban Yogini: A Superhero Who Can’t Use Violence by Bretigne Shaffer
- Voluntaryist: Humanity’s Last Stand Against Government (Ongoing) by Jaime Sherman (Free issue here) (Full issue list here)
- Alongside Night: The Graphic Novel by J. Neil Schulman and Lee Oaks
- TimePeeper by L. Neil Smith and Sherard Jackson
Libertarian Young Adult Novels
- Survivor Max: Too Smart to Die by Davi Barker
- Survivor Max II: School Bites by Davi Barker
- In the Shadow of Ares: Amber’s Mars 1 by Carl C. Carlsson and Thomas L. James
- Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (Read “Little Brother” for free)
- Homeland by Cory Doctorow (Read “Homeland” for free)
- Stealing Liberty by Jennifer Froelich
- Save the Enemy by Arin Greenwood
- Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert Heinlein
- Annabel Pickering and the Sky Pirates: The Fantastical Contraption by Bretigne Shaffer
- Counteract: The Resistance Series 1 by Tracy Lawson
- Resist: The Resistance Series 2 by Tracy Lawson
- Ignite: The Resistance Series 3 by Tracy Lawson
- Revolt: The Resistance Series 4 by Tracy Lawson
- The Walton Street Tycoons by Jim Lesczynski
- Pirates of Savannah Series: Young Adult Version by Tarrin P. Lupo
- The Children’s War by Harding McFadden
- The Girl Who Owned a City by O. T. Nelson
- The Hidden Truth by Hans Schantz
- A Rambling Wreck by Hans Schantz
- The Brave and the Bold by Hans Schantz
- Queen and Commander: Hive Queen Saga 1 by Janine A. Southard
- Hive and Heist: Hive Queen Saga 2 by Janine A. Southard
- Reign and Revolution: Hive Queen Saga 3 by Janine A. Southard
- The Pirate of Panther Bay Series by SR Staley
- RebelFire: Out of the Gray Zone by Claire Wolf and Aaron Zelman
Libertarian Children’s Books
- Trouble in Ippy-Tippy Town by Katie Berdan and Monica Bruenjes
- Nobody Knows How to Make a Pizza by Julie Borowski and Tetiana Kopytova
- The Tuttle Twins and the Golden Rule by Connor Boyack and Elijah Stanfield
- The Tuttle Twins Learn About the Law by Connor Boyack and Elijah Stanfield
- The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil by Connor Boyack and Elijah Stanfield
- The Tuttle Twins and the Search for Atlas by Connor Boyack and Elijah Stanfield
- The Tuttle Twins and the Fate of the Future by Connor Boyack and Elijah Stanfield
- The Tuttle Twins and the Road to Surfdom by Connor Boyack and Elijah Stanfield
- The Tuttle Twins and the Creature from Jekyll Island by Connor Boyack and Elijah Stanfield
- The Tuttle Twins and their Spectacular Show Business by Connor Boyack and Elijah Stanfield
- The Tuttle Twins and the Food Truck Fiasco by Connor Boyack and Elijah Stanfield
- Founders’ Fables by Laurie Cockerell and Travis Dougherty
- Melontown Gets a New Mayor by Sarah Durand
- The Colossal Club by Nya and Fay
- The Collective Coffin by Nya and Fay
- A Muddy Mess by Nya and Fay
- A Hazardous Holiday by Nya and Fay
- Don’t Hurt People and Don’t Take Their Toys by Dori Goikhman
- The Happy Porcupine by Dori Goikhman
- A is A: An ABC for Little Objectivists by Chelsey Groton
- Ella’s Sand Castle: All Her Own! by Chelsey Groton
- Freedom Bee by Nicole Haas
- Starboortz Fish by Barbara Hughes
- The Legend of Anarcho Claus by Samuel Edward Konkin III and Victor Koman
- The Secret Under the Staircase: An Economic Adventure Series for Kids by I.M. Lerner and Catherine L. Osornio
- Libertania: The Liberation of Conformia by Brian Lobb and Chet Taylor
- The Scary Story of the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Box of Free Money by Martin McCannell
- Cannon the Brown Bear by Kyle McGrath and Michaela McGrath
- The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill and Ronni Solbert
- The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill
- Gino Badino by Diana Engel Morrow
- Foundering Fathers: What Jefferson, Franklin, and Abigail Adams Saw in Modern D.C.! by Edward P. Moser and Andy C. Ellis
- Animal Colony: A Cautionary Tale for Today by Thomas Allen Rexroth and Mark Andrew Olsen
- Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
- Patriot and Friends: Fair and Square by Michelle A. Peacock and Christy Beckwith
- The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible: A Free Market Odyssey (illustrated version here) by Ken Schoolland (Read “The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible” for free)
- With My Rifle by My Side: A Second Amendment Lesson by Kimberly Jo Simac
- An Island Called Liberty by Joseph Specht
- Araboolies of Liberty Street by Sam Swope
- The Fisherman’s Catch by Thomas Wright and Heather Dixon
Other notable lists of liberty-themed fiction:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140101154346/http://www.nuketown.com/features/libertariansf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-capitalism#Fiction
https://io9.gizmodo.com/10-greatest-libertarian-science-fiction-stories-5254742
Great list! I am going to order several of these books. And I appreciate whoever thought highly enough of my novel, Rapid Transit, to put it on this list. Since it is a new novel (out 2010) I hope that libertarian readers will go to lulu.com (the publisher) or any of the online book seller sites and post reviews. I badly need them. Also, email me your comments.
Hi James,
Thanks for stopping by. I haven’t yet read Rapid Transit (this list is meant to be comprehensive, rather than pieces we at AGL have personally experienced) but I’m looking to order it and when I put a review up for it on this site I’ll make sure to cross-post to Lulu.
At soverindi.com you will find information about two, soon to be three, libertarian oriented novels. One is “The Place to Stand.” The other is “A Most Sacred Right.” You can read a portion of each online to see if they appeal to you. Soverindi is a word coined in the first book. It is composed of the first two syllables of each of the words “sovereign” and “individual.”
Hi Robert,
Those two books have been added to the list; look forward to reading them!
Many thanks for including my Churchill Memorandum in your list. I’ve added a link to this site on my own site. By the way, you might care to look at the historical novels of my friend Richard Blake. These have been translated in Spanish, Italian, Slovak, Chinese, Hungarian and Greek, and are explicitly libertarian.
Hi Sean,
Thanks for writing it! I’ll look into Richard Blake. Any suggested starting point?
A good list, and thanks for putting my Alongside Night on it.
A few additional recommendations:
Novels:
Moon of Ice by Brad Linaweaver
Anarquia by Brad Linaweaver and J. Kent Hastings
The Rainbow Cadenza by me
Escape from Heaven by me
Short Stories and Short Story Collections
Free Space, edited by Brad Linaweaver and Ed Kramer
Nasty, Brutish, and Short Stories by me
All of the above can be found on Amazon.com
“The Laughskeller” by me
on the web at http://jneilschulman.rationalreview.com/2009/11/and-now-for-something-completely-different-the-laughskeller/
Neil,
Awesome suggestions. Those will be added post haste!
To the children’s list, you might want to add: “The Girl Who Owned a City,” by O.T. Nelson; “Rebelfire: Out of the Gray Zone,” by Claire Wolfe, and “Lawn Boy,” by Gary Paulsen. All of Paulsen’s books have individualist themes. You have to catch the kids early!
J.D.,
Awesome! Hadn’t heard of Paulsen yet; I’ll look into him and get those added shortly!
Whoops! You already have “The Girl Who Owned a City” listed. That’ll teach me to read more carefully! Take a look at the other suggestions, too, though.
A great book I read recently from an Agorist/Crypto-Anarchist perspective is A Lodging of Wayfaring Men by Paul A. Rosenberg.
Matt,
I mentioned “Lodging” in a post on free libertarian novels, but forgot to add it to this list. Will do so shortly, thanks!
Hi,
Thank you for posting my books alongside all these excellent, liberty-oriented works. I’m very flattered.
If I may… I actually have a third libertarian-themed novella out called Gaiastan which is a Messianic tale set in a future ‘green’ totalitarianism.
Thanks again!
Troy,
It will be added shortly; I hadn’t realized you’d finished it already!
Many, many thanks for the great exposure here.
I’d definitely say the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins should be suggested libertarian fiction. It’s well written, engaging, and hard to put down, making it perfect for young libertarians and adults alike.
And A Song of Ice and Fire… Martin is not a libertarian, and the novels are not overtly libertarian, but there are themes found within the novels that are arguably of a rather libertarian nature. The entire concept of the wildlings/ free folk and the economic Freeholds across the Narrow Sea are examples of such.
Cody,
Those are both great series with libertarian themes. Another similar one is Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkein even wrote to his son that he considered himself an anarchist), but this list is focused on explicit libertarian fiction (where the authors specifically meant for libertarian themes to be found/portrayed) so I don’t think fiction which is only incidentally libertarian is a good fit here.
Thanks again for the suggestions however!
Perhaps consider changing the style of these lists so as not to include numbers. I initially assumed it was some form of ranking. Bullets or an unstyled list might be better suited for this purpose.
Looking Backward: 2162-2012 A View from a Future Libertarian Republic, by Beth Cody.
The title says it all. Check out the reviews on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Looking-Backward-2162-2012-Libertarian-Republic-ebook/dp/B007ITA0C4/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407269394&sr=1-1&keywords=looking+backward%2C+beth
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Good choice in including “The Untethered” by SW Southwick. I just read it.
Awesome, glad you enjoyed it!
Check out The War Whisperer by Barry B. Longyear: a 7 volume series. The first four are good stories — in the 5th (The Hook) it becomes explicitly libertarian. A satisfying saga with a happy ending.
You have a REALLY great list here. One tiny gripe: Neal Asher’s book, Prador Moon, is in no way whatsoever liberty-oriented. Crappy “military sci-fi.”
Thanks! Will look into adding that by Longyear (we’ve already got his Infinity Hold trilogy listed).
Prador Moon was added mainly because of this “Wired” profile of the Polity series as “libertarian space opera”: https://www.wired.com/2018/07/geeks-guide-neal-asher/
But I, admittedly, have not read it myself.
Orbit Unlimited, I seriously do not understand why this work is in the list. I am slowly going through the list. Withur We was wonderful, Preferred Observer was already slipping but at least had the ideas of unwavering freedom.
Orbit Unlimited? The whole story can be summed up as “we need compulsory services, we need tax funded services, oh and people are too selfish so we must push them.” In my view, this is not a description of freedom or free society, this is a clear description of how and why every society eventually becomes despotic or totalitarian by simply living by the rules that this story proposes.
I will keep on going down the list, but “Orbit Unlimited,” I would not recommend.
Perhaps you will enjoy “The Freezer’s Last Move,” short story about some who just wants to be left alone but isn’t. Published at The Libertarian Enterprise.
The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks really has zero to do with Libertarianism, moreover, and I dont think that I will be spoiling much, the author even states in the story that they are fighting for democracy. Democracy, I do not need to tell you is not Libertarian!!! Why is it on the list?
Soverindi.com is giving me trouble. Everything is in Asain characters.
Ah shoot, yeah looks like it’s gone down. I’ll have to update that with a Wayback Machine link.
Nicholas Dykes, “Old Nick’s Guide to Happiness” is a novel with a great plot and discussion of philosophical ideas of an individualistic nature.
Thank you! It’s number 18 in the Mystery and Thriller section 🙂