List of Valérian and Laureline books explained

This is a list of all of the official Valérian and Laureline books. Each story was written by Pierre Christin, drawn by Jean-Claude Mézières and coloured by Evelyn Tran-Lé.

Albums

Every Valérian adventure from Bad Dreams to The Wrath of Hypsis was first serialised in the Franco-Belgian comics magazine Pilote. The first story to be collected in comic album format was The City of Shifting Waters which was numbered "1" in the series. When Bad Dreams was eventually collected as an album, it was given the number "0" to reflect its position as the debut adventure in the series. The dates given in the following list are the year of first publication of each story in album format:

OrderEnglish titleFrench titleSerialised in PiloteAlbum publishedFrench edition ISBNEnglish edition ISBN
0Bad DreamsLes Mauvais RêvesIssues 420 (9 November 1967) to 434 (15 February 1968)1983 -
When a rogue technocrat called Xombul sabotages Galaxity's Dream Service and flees into the Middle Ages, spatio-temporal agent Valérian is ordered to follow and apprehend him.
1The City of Shifting WatersLa Cité des eaux mouvantesSerialised in two parts. Part 1: La Cité des Eaux Mouvantes (The City of the Moving Waters), Issues 455 (25 July 1968) to 468 (24 October 1968). Part 2: Terre en Flammes (Earth In Flames) in Issues 492 (10 April 1969) to 505 (10 July 1969)1970
Xombul escapes from prison and flees into the past to 1986, a time when a great catastrophe has caused the polar ice cap to melt. Searching the flooded streets of New York for Xombul, Valérian encounters sinister robots ransacking the archives of the United Nations.
2Empire of a Thousand PlanetsL'Empire des mille planètesIssues 520 (23 October 1969) to 541 (19 March 1970)1971
Valérian and Laureline are ordered to investigate Syrte-the-Magnificent, capital of the Empire of a Thousand Planets. Who are the mysterious Authorities and what is the dark secret at the heart of the empire?
3World Without StarsLe Pays sans étoileIssues 570 (8 October 1970) to 592 (11 March 1971)1972
A rogue planet, Zahir, threatens the newly formed Earth colonies on Uxbar. Travelling to Zahir, Valérian and Laureline discover a hollow planet ravaged by a never ending war of the sexes. Both sides must be reunited if catastrophe is to be averted.
4Welcome to AlflololBienvenue sur AlflololIssues 632 (16 December 1971) to 653 (11 May 1972)1972
Earth's industrial colony Technorog is thrown into chaos when the planet's indigenous population suddenly turns up and claim their home, which they call Alflolol, back. Valérian and Laureline must find a way to enable the natives and the colonists to live together in harmony.
5Birds of the MasterLes Oiseaux du MaîtreIssues 710 (14 June 1973) to 722 (6 September 1973)1973
Crash landing on a strange planet, Valérian and Laureline are enslaved by the minions of the mysterious Master and his terrifying Birds-of-Madness.
6Ambassador of the ShadowsL'Ambassadeur des OmbresIssues M14 (1 July 1975) to M17 (1 October 1975)1975
While on a diplomatic protection mission, Earth's ambassador to Point Central, the vast space-station that acts as a meeting place for all the races of the cosmos, is abducted along with Valerian. Laureline travels from section to section of Point Central in search of the kidnappers.
7On the False EarthsSur les terres truquéesIssues M31 (30 November 1976) to M34 (1 March 1977)1977
India, the 19th century, Valérian, acting as a soldier in the French Company of the Indies is part of a force attacking a Jain fort. Entering the temple inside the fort, Valérian finds an alien communications device. Reporting back to Laureline, he is surprised and shot, he plunges into a river and then straight out into space. Laureline looks on in horror – this is the 206th time she has watched Valérian die...
8Heroes of the EquinoxLes Héros de l’équinoxeIssues M47 (21 March 1978) to M50 (27 June 1978)1978
Valérian competes, as Earth's representative, with three other champions from other worlds to find out who is the most suitable to repopulate the sterile planet of Simlane.
9Métro Châtelet, Direction CassiopeiaMétro Châtelet, direction CassiopéeIssues M70 (1 March 1980) to M73 (1 June 1980)1980
Valérian is in Paris, 1980 investigating mysterious apparitions in the metro. Laureline has been dispatched to the Constellation of Cassiopeia to find the source of the apparitions. What connection to they have to the two powerful multinationals Bellson & Gambler and W.A.A.M.?
10Brooklyn Station, Terminus CosmosBrooklyn Station, terminus cosmosIssues M82 (1 March 1981) to M85 (1 June 1981)1981
Continued from Métro Châtelet, Direction Cassiopeia . Valérian attempts to discover where the fourth apparition will manifest. Laureline continues her search in Cassiopeia. All sides come together in Brooklyn, New York.
11The Ghosts of InverlochLes Spectres d'InverlochIssues M110 (1 July 1983) to M117 (1 February 1984)1984
Laureline is in Scotland, the guest of Lady Seal. Valérian is hunting for a native of Glapum't. Albert is in London, en route to Scotland. The Shingouz are on Rubanis seeking information from Colonel Tloc, the chief of police. Lord Seal is in the United States being updated on sabotage of the world's military hierarchy. The Chief of the Spatio-Temporal Service watches Galaxity fade into the mists of time. Who is the ghost of Inverloch Castle and why has he called this disparate group of people together?
12The Wrath of HypsisLes Foudres d’HypsisIssues M128 (1 January 1985) to M135 (1 September 1985)1985
Continued from The Ghosts of Inverloch. The team sets out from Inverloch in search of Hypsis. What consequences will Valérian and Laureline's intervention have for the future of Galaxity?
13On the FrontiersSur les frontièresNot serialised1988
A series of unexplained accidents at nuclear power stations alerts Valérian, Laureline and Albert that someone may be attempting to return Earth's history back onto the course they derailed in The Wrath of Hypsis. Following the trail across the borders of many countries, Valérian comes face to face with a rogue spatio-temporal agent they knew from the past.
14The Living WeaponsLes armes vivantesNot serialised1990
Running short of money and with an astroship in need of a service, Valérian takes Laureline to the planet Blopik with a mysterious special delivery.
15The Circles of PowerLes cercles du pouvoirNot serialised1994
Valérian and Laureline are on Rubanis, their astroship is desperate need of repair but they have no money. Reluctantly, they accept a job from Colonel Tloc, the chief of police – to find out who is controlling Rubanis from the Circle of Power.
16Hostages of the UltralumOtages de l'UltralumNot serialised1996
Valérian and Laureline are enjoying a luxurious cruise when the Caliphon, the son of the Grand Caliph of Iksaladam, is kidnapped, and Laureline with him, by the mercenary group the Mortis Quartet. Allying himself with some old acquaintances, Valérian attempts to rescue them.
17Orphan of the StarsL'Orphelin des astresNot serialised1998
Continued from Hostages of the Ultralum. Still pursued by the Mortis Quartet, Valérian and Laureline reach the Asteroids of Shimballil with the Brylian. Can they find a safe haven for him there?
18In Uncertain TimesPar des temps incertainsNot serialised2001
The trinity of Hypsis attempt to prevent the multinational Vivaxis from pursuing a line of genetic research. Valérian and Laureline move closer to learning the mystery behind the disappearance of Galaxity.
19At the Edge of the Great VoidAu bord du Grand RienNot serialised2004
The first part of a trilogy titled "In Search of the Lost Earth". Valérian and Laureline are acting as shopkeepers while trying to discover information about the disappearance of Earth. At the same time an expedition is about to leave for the Great Void, the unknown region at the edge of the universe.
20The Order of the StonesL'Ordre des PierresNot serialised2007
Part two of "In Search of the Lost Earth". The expedition enters the Great Void where Valérian and Laureline encounter the sinister Wolochs.
21The Time OpenerL'Ouvre TempsNot serialised2010
Part three of "In Search of the Lost Earth". Valérian and Laureline, with help of their friends from all previous albums, are searching for the Time Opener, an object that can help them defeat the Wolochs and restore the lost Earth in its place. The final volume of the trilogy and the series.
22Memories from the FuturesSouvenirs de futursNot serialised2013
First of two volumes containing short stories and post-scripts to Valerian and Laureline's earlier adventures.
23The Future is WaitingL'Avenir est avancéNot serialised2019
Second of two volumes containing short stories and post-scripts to Valerian and Laureline's earlier adventures.

With Jean-Claude Mezieres and Pierre Christin having retired from writing further Valerian & Laureline adventures in 2010, other writers and illustrators were later commissioned to create new stories.

English titleFrench titleAuthorIllustratorAlbum publishedFrench edition ISBNEnglish edition ISBN
-L'Armure du JakolassManu LarcenetManu Larcenet2011-
Valérian switches bodies and goes AWOL.
Shingouzlooz Inc.Shingouzlooz Inc.Wilfrid LupanoMathieu Lauffray2017
The Shingouz lose Earth in a game of cards.
Where Stories Are BornLà où naissent les histoiresPierre ChristinVirginie Augustin2022
Valérian and Laurelin go to high school.

Short stories

Seven short stories were also published in the quarterly, digest-sized Super Pocket Pilote between 1969 and 1970 and later collected in Across the Pathways of Space (Par Les Chemins De l’Espace) (1997):

English titleFrench titlePublished in Super Pocket Pilote
The Great CollectorLe Grand CollectionneurIssue 3 (3 April 1969)
The Cogs of UxgloaLes Engrenages d'UxgloaIssue 4 (12 June 1969)
Tsirillitis the AsteroidTsirillitis l'asteroideIssue 5 (23 October 1969)
The Sad PlanetLa Planete tristeIssue 6 (25 December 1969)
Funny SpecimensDrôles de spécimensIssue 7 (19 March 1970)
The Fflumgluff of FriendshipLe Fflumgluff de l'amitiéIssue 8 (25 June 1970)
Triumph of TechnologyTriomphe de la techniqueIssue 9 (29 October 1970)

English translations

The American graphic magazine Heavy Metal serialized the first English translations of Valerian and Laureline with Ambassador of the Shadows in 1981. Several attempts were subsequently made to translate the series into English in book form, starting with Ambassador of the Shadows, World Without Stars, Welcome to Alflolol and Heroes of the Equinox by Dargaud imprints[1] in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1985.

"On the Frontiers," "The Living Weapons," and "The Circles of Power", translated by Timothy Ryan Smith, were collected in a single volume under the title Valerian: the New Future Trilogy, published by iBooks in 2004.

Hardcover collection

During 2017 and 2018 the British publisher Cinebook Limited published a hardcover collection of the series titled; Valerian: The Complete Collection, spread over seven volumes, with three to four stories in each book. These volumes are in full original color, printed on glossy paper and measure 220 mm × 290 mm.[2] [3]

Volumes
Vol.TitleIncluded storiesRelease dateISBN
1Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 10-2: (Bad dreams, The City of Shifting Waters, Empire of a Thousand Planets)May 2017
2Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 23-5: (The Land Without Stars, Welcome to Alflolol, Birds of the Master)July 2017
3Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 36-8: (Ambassador of the Shadows, On False Earths, Heroes of the Equinox)July 2017
4Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 49-12: (Chatelet Station - Destination Cassiopeia, Brooklyn line - Terminus Cosmos, The Ghost of Inverloch, The Wrath of Hypsis)April 2018
5Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 513-15: (On the Frontiers, The Living Weapons, The Circles of Power)June 2018
6Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 616-18: (Hostages of Ultralum, Orphan of the Stars, In Uncertain Times)August 2018
7Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 719-21: (At the Edge of the Great Void, The Order of the Stones, The Time Opener)October 2018

Other publications

References

  1. Thompson, Kim. "Introduction," Valerian: the New Future Trilogy, pp. 1-2, iBooks, second edition, November 2016.
  2. https://www.comicsreview.co.uk/nowreadthis/2017/08/08/valerian-the-complete-collection-volume-2/ Valerian: The Complete Collection, Volume 2 (review)
  3. https://www.retrozap.com/valerian-the-complete-collection-volume-1-review/ Retro Zap - Review - Retrieved 2018-09-29
  4. Web site: Les habitants du ciel: Atlas cosmique de Valérian et Laureline. Stripinfo.be. nl. 16 June 2019.
    Also lists international editions.