Time Master (World of Chaos and Order)
#4454.03 adjusted 4.02 for sample size in the official ranking · full ranking
Books 12 books Status Unfinished 1985–1998 Reading commitment High Louise Cooper Last reviewed 2026-11-02
Overview
British author Louise Cooper wrote a linked group of fantasy novels set in one world, ruled by the seven gods of Order and the seven Lords of Chaos. The Time Master trilogy (1985-1987) follows the sorcerer Tarod, an adept of the Circle who serves Order, as a power from beyond time wakes in him. The Chaos Gate trilogy (1990-1992) continues the story years later around the demon sorceress Ygorla, the troubadour Strann and Karuth. The Star Shadow trilogy (1994-1995) is a prequel centred on the Chaos Rider Benetan Liss and the tyrant Vordegh. The Daughter of Storms trilogy (1996-1998), aimed at younger readers, follows Shar. The last book appeared in 1998.
Epic fantasy · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (12 works) counts toward ranking
Time Master Louise Cooper
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | The Initiate | 1985 | 1 | core | 4.02 (2,365 ratings) |
 | The Outcast | 1986 | 2 | core | 4.07 (1,855 ratings) |
 | The Master | 1987 | 3 | core | 4.16 (1,902 ratings) |
The sorcerer Tarod, an adept of the Circle, is drawn to a power from beyond time.
Chaos Gate Louise Cooper
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | The Deceiver; Published as part of the Chaos Gate trilogy, set after the Time Master trilogy. | 1990 | 1 | core | 3.64 (364 ratings) |
 | The Pretender | 1991 | 2 | core | 3.74 (332 ratings) |
 | The Avenger | 1992 | 3 | core | 3.80 (320 ratings) |
Sequel trilogy in which the demon sorceress Ygorla seeks to rule the world.
Star Shadow Louise Cooper
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Star Ascendant; Prequel to the Time Master trilogy. | 1994 | 1 | core | 3.98 (106 ratings) |
 | Eclipse | 1994 | 2 | core | 4.12 (60 ratings) |
 | Moonset | 1995 | 3 | core | 4.18 (60 ratings) |
Prequel trilogy about the Chaos Rider Benetan Liss under the tyrant Vordegh.
Daughter of Storms Louise Cooper
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Daughter of Storms; Written for a younger readership than the other trilogies in this world. | 1996 | 1 | core | 4.07 (141 ratings) |
 | The Dark Caller | 1997 | 2 | core | 4.00 (105 ratings) |
 | Keepers of Light | 1998 | 3 | core | 3.88 (90 ratings) |
Younger-reader trilogy about Shar, a girl born in a storm with a unique power.
Quick answers
- How many books are in Time Master (World of Chaos and Order)? Time Master (World of Chaos and Order)'s Core Canon is 12 books.
- What is the reading order for Time Master (World of Chaos and Order)? Publication order, starting with The Initiate. Full list and years in the Core Canon table above.
- Is Time Master (World of Chaos and Order) finished? Unfinished (1985–1998).
- How much reading does Time Master (World of Chaos and Order) take? High reading commitment (estimated from 12 Core Canon books).
- How is Time Master (World of Chaos and Order) ranked? #445 in this site's official ranking, based on 7,700 reader ratings across 12 Core Canon books. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #445?
Ranked #445 in the official ranking.
- Average reader rating of 4.03 across 12 core books.
- A smaller readership (7,700 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- Uneven reception: its books range from 3.64 to 4.18.
- Less than 0.01 behind #444, The Dark Is Rising (a finer tie-break level decides the order).
- Below the top-10 average of 4.46.
Why explore this universe?
Well rated · 12 books · Unfinished · 8k ratings · Ranks #445 overall
Good choice if you want a long-running epic fantasy universe.
Reading order
Publication order (12 Core Canon books)
- The Initiate (1985)
- The Outcast (1986)
- The Master (1987)
- The Deceiver (1990)
- The Pretender (1991)
- The Avenger (1992)
- Eclipse (1994)
- Star Ascendant (1994)
- Moonset (1995)
- Daughter of Storms (1996)
- The Dark Caller (1997)
- Keepers of Light (1998)
Documented internal/story order
- The Initiate (1985)
- The Deceiver (1990)
- Star Ascendant (1994)
- Daughter of Storms (1996)
- The Outcast (1986)
- The Pretender (1991)
- Eclipse (1994)
- The Dark Caller (1997)
- The Master (1987)
- The Avenger (1992)
- Moonset (1995)
- Keepers of Light (1998)
Awards (verified)
- No awards found for this universe.
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Suggestions computed from what Time Master (World of Chaos and Order) and each of these worlds have in common on record (subgenre, audience, shape, reading commitment and score), not a documented narrative connection.
- Riftwar Cycle Epic fantasy · Complete · High commitment · 4.16
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- The Witches of Eileanan Epic fantasy · Complete · High commitment · 4.14
- The Paksenarrion Universe Epic fantasy · Ongoing · High commitment · 4.14
Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 4.03 across 7,700 ratings on 12 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: 28 universes; 3 candidates ruled out accepted 2026-11-02
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
- Wikipedia: Louise Cooper Tier 2
- Encyclopedia.com: Cooper, Louise Tier 2
- Locus Index to Science Fiction 1984-1998 Tier 2
Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
Rule: Core Canon = the twelve novels of the Time Master, Chaos Gate, Star Shadow and Daughter of Storms trilogies (1985-1998). Excluded: Lord of No Time (1977), the earlier version that became the Time Master trilogy, and the unconfirmed Bad Seed.