The Lonesome Dove series refers to a series of four western novels written by Larry McMurtry

Larry McMurtry

Larry Jeff McMurtry is an American novelist, essayist, bookseller and screenwriter whose work is predominantly set in either the old West or in contemporary Texas...

 and the four television mini-series based upon them.

Novels

In order of publication:

1. Lonesome Dove
   Lonesome Dove
   Lonesome Dove is a 1985 Pulitzer Prize–winning western novel written by Larry McMurtry. It is the first published book of the Lonesome Dove series, but the third installment in the series chronologically...
   
   (1985
   1985 in literature
   The year 1985 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Isaac Asimov - Robots and Empire*Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale*Jean M. Auel - The Mammoth Hunters*Iain Banks - Walking on Glass...
   
   )
2. Streets of Laredo
   Streets of Laredo
   Streets of Laredo is a 1993 western novel by Larry McMurtry. It is the second book published in the Lonesome Dove series, but the fourth and final book chronologically. It was adaptated into a television miniseries in 1995.-Plot introduction:...
   
   (1993
   1993 in literature
   The year 1993 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Professor Stephen Hawking's book, A Brief History of Time, becomes the longest running book on the bestseller list of The Sunday Times....
   
   )
3. Dead Man's Walk
   Dead Man's Walk
   Dead Man's Walk is a 1995 novel by Larry McMurtry. It is the third book published in the Lonesome Dove series, but the first installment in terms of chronology. McMurtry wrote a fourth segment to the Lonesome Dove chronicle, Comanche Moon, which describes the events of the central characters' lives...
   
   (1995
   1995 in literature
   The year 1995 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*The Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea is opened by Jimmy Carter....
   
   )
4. Comanche Moon
   Comanche Moon
   Comanche Moon is a 1997 western novel by Larry McMurtry. It is the fourth and final book published in the Lonesome Dove series, but the second installment in terms the chronology of the narrative.-Plot introduction:...
   
   (1997
   1997 in literature
   The year 1997 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Tom Clancy signs a book deal with Pearson Custom Publishing and Penguin Putnam Inc. , giving him US$50 million for the world-English rights to two new books . A second agreement gives him another US$25 million for a...
   
   )

In order of internal chronology:

1. Dead Man's Walk - set in the early 1840s
2. Comanche Moon - set in the 1850-60s
3. Lonesome Dove - set in mid-to-late 1870s
4. Streets of Laredo - set in the early 1890s

Television miniseries

1. Lonesome Dove (1989
   1989 in television
   For the American TV schedule, see: 1989–90 United States network television schedule.The year 1989 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1989.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
   
   )
2. Streets of Laredo (1995
   1995 in television
   The year 1995 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1995.For the American TV schedule, see: 1995-96 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
   
   )
3. Dead Man's Walk (1996
   1996 in television
   The year 1996 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1996.For the American TV schedule, see: 1996-97 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
   
   )
4. Comanche Moon
   Comanche Moon (TV miniseries)
   Comanche Moon is a television miniseries that is an adaptation of the novel of the same name. It aired on CBS beginning Sunday, January 13, and continuing Tuesday, January 15, and Wednesday, January 16, 2008.-Cast:* Val Kilmer as Inish Scull...
   
   (2008
   2008 in television
   The following is a list of events affecting American television in 2008. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and new channel launches.-January:-February:-March:-April:-May:-June:-July:-August:...
   
   )

NB: Return to Lonesome Dove

Return to Lonesome Dove

Return to Lonesome Dove, written by John Wilder, is a TV Miniseries involving characters created in the Pulitzer Prize-winning western novel Lonesome Dove. The story focuses on a retired Texas Ranger and his adventures driving mustangs from Texas to Montana...

(1993), set a year after the events of Lonesome Dove, isn't affiliated with McMurtry in any way. He does not condone the movie nor approve of it.

Television series

1. Lonesome Dove: The Series (1994-95)
2. Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years (1995-96)

Content

The novels and films follow the exploits of several members of the Texas Ranger Division

Texas Ranger Division

The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...

, from the time of the Republic of Texas

Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...

 up until the beginning of the 20th century. Recurring characters include Augustus "Gus" McCrae, Woodrow F. Call

Woodrow F. Call

Woodrow F. Call is a fictional, Scottish-born Texas Ranger who appears in all four books of Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series. Much of the books revolve around his relationship with his Ranger partner Augustus McCrae...

, Joshua Deets

Joshua Deets

Joshua Deets is a fictional Texas Ranger appearing in two novels in the Lonesome Dove series by Larry McMurtry. In the films, he is played by Keith Robinson and Danny Glover.- Comanche Moon :...

, Pea Eye Parker

Pea Eye Parker

Pea Eye Parker is a fictional Texas Ranger appearing in three books in Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series.-Comanche Moon:Pea Eye is played by Troy Baker in the film version of Comanche Moon. In this volume, he, Gus McCrae, Woodrow F...

, Jake Spoon

Jake Spoon

Jake Spoon is a fictional Texas Ranger appearing in two books of the Lonesome Dove series.-Comanche Moon:Jake's first chronological appearance in the books is in Comanche Moon, which was actually the last book published. Though Jake is a member of the Rangers as the book begins, he is not on the...

, Clara Forsythe Allen

Clara Forsythe Allen

Clara Forsythe Allen is a fictional character who appears in the Lonesome Dove series. The novels were written in a different order than the chronology of the narratives: Lonesome Dove , Streets of Laredo , Dead Man's Walk , and Comanche Moon .-Dead Man's Walk:Clara makes her first chronological...

, Maggie Tilton

Maggie Tilton

Maggie Tilton is a fictional character appearing in two books in the Lonesome Dove series. She is a prostitute and the lover of Captain Woodrow F...

, Lorena Wood Parker

Lorena Wood Parker

Lorena Wood Parker is a fictional character who appears in two of the novels and films in the Lonesome Dove series-Lonesome Dove:She first appears in Lonesome Dove, the first book published, but the third chronologically....

, Blue Duck

Blue Duck (Lonesome Dove series)

Blue Duck is a fictional character, a biracial Indian appearing in two books in the Lonesome Dove series. He is the son of Buffalo Hump and a kidnapped Mexican woman. The fictionalized character of Blue Duck was partially based on the life and death of the Kiowa war chief Satanta...

, and Buffalo Hump

Buffalo Hump (Lonesome Dove series)

Buffalo Hump is a Comanche Indian who appears in two books in the Lonesome Dove series. His son, Blue Duck is also a major character.The character Buffalo Hump was likely inspired by the historic Comanche war chief of that name.-Dead Man's Walk:...

.