The Christian Trilogy
#5543.90 adjusted 3.92 for sample size in the official ranking · full ranking
Books 3 books Status Complete 1988–1995 Reading commitment Medium James P. Blaylock Last reviewed 2026-10-27
Overview
James P. Blaylock's Christian Trilogy is a set of three contemporary fantasies set in California, each built around a relic or legend of Christian tradition and peopled by eccentric, ordinary characters drawn into a hidden struggle: the thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas in The Last Coin (1988), a folded sketch sought as a grail on the Mendocino coast in The Paper Grail (1991), and a deal with the devil in the town of Orange in All the Bells on Earth (1995). The books share a mode and a place rather than a cast.
Urban fantasy, Mythic fantasy · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (3 works) counts toward ranking
The Christian Trilogy James P. Blaylock
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | The Last Coin; A signed limited edition from Mark V. Ziesing also appeared in 1988; the Ace trade hardcover (November 1988) is recorded. | 1988 | 1 | core | 3.86 (1,021 ratings) |
 | The Paper Grail | 1991 | 2 | core | 3.94 (557 ratings) |
 | All the Bells on Earth | 1995 | 3 | core | 3.94 (413 ratings) |
Three linked contemporary fantasies.
Quick answers
- How many books are in The Christian Trilogy? The Christian Trilogy's Core Canon is 3 books.
- What is the reading order for The Christian Trilogy? Publication order, starting with The Last Coin. Full list and years in the Core Canon table above.
- Is The Christian Trilogy finished? Complete (1988–1995).
- How much reading does The Christian Trilogy take? Medium reading commitment (estimated from 3 Core Canon books).
- How is The Christian Trilogy ranked? #554 in this site's official ranking, based on 1,991 reader ratings across 3 Core Canon books. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #554?
Ranked #554 in the official ranking.
- Average reader rating of 3.90 across 3 core books.
- A smaller readership (1,991 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- Remarkably consistent across the whole series: all 3 rated core books rate within 0.08 of each other.
- 0.02 behind #553, Sun Wolf and Starhawk.
- Below the top-10 average of 4.46.
Why explore this universe?
Rated · 3 books · Complete · 2k ratings · Ranks #554 overall
Good choice if you want a moderate-length urban fantasy universe that's already finished, so there's no wait for the next book.
Reading order
Publication order (3 Core Canon books)
- The Last Coin (1988)
- The Paper Grail (1991)
- All the Bells on Earth (1995)
Documented internal/story chronology is recorded for every Core Canon book here, and matches publication order exactly, with no divergence to show separately.
Awards (verified)
- No awards found for this universe.
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Suggestions computed from what The Christian Trilogy and each of these worlds have in common on record (subgenre, audience, shape, reading commitment and score), not a documented narrative connection.
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- Pendragon Cycle Epic fantasy / Mythic fantasy · Complete · Medium commitment · 4.03
- Dark Heavens Urban fantasy / Mythic fantasy · Complete · Medium commitment · 4.02
Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 3.90 across 1,991 ratings on 3 Core Canon books. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Canon Extension: The Christian Trilogy (James P. Blaylock, 3 books) accepted 2026-10-27
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
- Worlds Without End: All the Bells on Earth (The Christian Trilogy: Book 3) Tier 2
- Most Recommended Books: The Christian Trilogy books in publication order Tier 2
Last reviewed: 2026-10-27
Rule: Core Canon = the three novels of the trilogy: The Last Coin (1988), The Paper Grail (1991) and All the Bells on Earth (1995).