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Clive Cussler Books in Order
Below is the complete list of Clive Cussler books in order of publication. This is the recommended reading sequence for the series.
Jump to a Series:
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Dirk Pitt Series
- The Mediterranean Caper / Mayday! (1973)
Buy on Amazon - Iceberg (1974)
Buy on Amazon - Raise the Titanic! (1976)
Buy on Amazon - Vixen 03 (1978)
Buy on Amazon - Night Probe! (1981)
Buy on Amazon - Pacific Vortex (1983)
Buy on Amazon - Deep Six (1984)
Buy on Amazon - Cyclops (1986)
Buy on Amazon - Treasure (1988)
Buy on Amazon - Dragon (1990)
Buy on Amazon - Sahara (1992)
Buy on Amazon - Inca Gold (1994)
Buy on Amazon - Shock Wave (1996)
Buy on Amazon - Flood Tide (1997)
Buy on Amazon - Atlantis Found (1999)
Buy on Amazon - Valhalla Rising (2001)
Buy on Amazon - Trojan Odyssey (2003)
Buy on Amazon - Black Wind (2004)
(With: Dirk Cussler)
Buy on Amazon - Treasure of Khan (2006)
(With: Dirk Cussler)
Buy on Amazon - Arctic Drift (2008)
(With: Dirk Cussler)
Buy on Amazon - Crescent Dawn (2010)
(With: Dirk Cussler)
Buy on Amazon - Poseidon’s Arrow (2012)
(With: Dirk Cussler)
Buy on Amazon - Havana Storm (2014)
(With: Dirk Cussler)
Buy on Amazon - Odessa Sea (2016)
(With: Dirk Cussler)
Buy on Amazon - Celtic Empire (2018)
(With: Dirk Cussler)
Buy on Amazon - The Devil’s Sea (2021)
(By: Dirk Cussler)
Buy on Amazon - The Corsican Shadow (2023)
(By: Dirk Cussler)
Buy on Amazon
NUMA Files Series
- Serpent (1999)
(With: Paul Kemprecos)
Buy on Amazon - Blue Gold (2000)
(With: Paul Kemprecos)
Buy on Amazon - Fire Ice (2002)
(With: Paul Kemprecos)
Buy on Amazon - White Death (2003)
(With: Paul Kemprecos)
Buy on Amazon - Lost City (2004)
(With: Paul Kemprecos)
Buy on Amazon - Polar Shift (2005)
(With: Paul Kemprecos)
Buy on Amazon - The Navigator (2007)
(With: Paul Kemprecos)
Buy on Amazon - Medusa (2009)
(With: Paul Kemprecos)
Buy on Amazon - Devil’s Gate (2011)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - The Storm (2012)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - Zero Hour (2013)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - Ghost Ship (2014)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - The Pharaoh’s Secret (2015)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - Nighthawk (2017)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - The Rising Sea (2018)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - Sea of Greed (2019)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - Journey of the Pharaohs (2020)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - Fast Ice (2021)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - Dark Vector (2022)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - Condor’s Fury (2023)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - Desolation Code (2024)
(With: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon - Cold Fire (2026)
(By: Graham Brown)
Buy on Amazon
Oregon Files Series
- Golden Buddha (2003)
(With: Craig Dirgo)
Buy on Amazon - Sacred Stone (2004)
(With: Craig Dirgo)
Buy on Amazon - Dark Watch (2005)
(With: Jack Du Brul)
Buy on Amazon - Skeleton Coast (2006)
(With: Jack Du Brul)
Buy on Amazon - Plague Ship (2008)
(With: Jack Du Brul)
Buy on Amazon - Corsair (2009)
(With: Jack Du Brul)
Buy on Amazon - The Silent Sea (2010)
(With: Jack Du Brul)
Buy on Amazon - The Jungle (2011)
(With: Jack Du Brul)
Buy on Amazon - Mirage (2013)
(With: Jack Du Brul)
Buy on Amazon - Piranha (2015)
(With: Boyd Morrison)
Buy on Amazon - The Emperor’s Revenge (2017)
(With: Boyd Morrison)
Buy on Amazon - Typhoon Fury (2017)
(With: Boyd Morrison)
Buy on Amazon - Shadow Tyrants (2018)
(With: Boyd Morrison)
Buy on Amazon - Final Option (2019)
(With: Boyd Morrison)
Buy on Amazon - Marauder (2020)
(With: Boyd Morrison)
Buy on Amazon - Hellburner (2022)
(By: Mike Maden)
Buy on Amazon - Fire Strike (2023)
(By: Mike Maden)
Buy on Amazon - Ghost Soldier (2024)
(By: Mike Maden)
Buy on Amazon - Quantum Tempest (2025)
(By: Mike Maden)
Buy on Amazon
Isaac Bell Adventures Series
- The Chase (2007)
Buy on Amazon - The Wrecker (2009)
(With: Justin Scott)
Buy on Amazon - The Spy (2010)
(With: Justin Scott)
Buy on Amazon - The Race (2011)
(With: Justin Scott)
Buy on Amazon - The Thief (2012)
(With: Justin Scott)
Buy on Amazon - The Striker (2013)
(With: Justin Scott)
Buy on Amazon - The Bootlegger (2014)
(With: Justin Scott)
Buy on Amazon - The Assassin (2015)
(With: Justin Scott)
Buy on Amazon - The Gangster (2016)
(With: Justin Scott)
Buy on Amazon - The Cutthroat (2017)
(With: Justin Scott)
Buy on Amazon - The Titanic Secret (2019)
(With: Jack Du Brul)
Buy on Amazon - The Saboteurs (2021)
(With: Jack Du Brul)
Buy on Amazon - The Sea Wolves (2022)
(By: Jack Du Brul)
Buy on Amazon - The Heist (2024)
(By: Jack Du Brul)
Buy on Amazon - The Iron Storm (2025)
(By: Jack Du Brul)
Buy on Amazon
Fargo Adventures Series
- Spartan Gold (2009)
(With: Grant Blackwood)
Buy on Amazon - Lost Empire (2010)
(With: Grant Blackwood)
Buy on Amazon - The Kingdom (2011)
(With: Grant Blackwood)
Buy on Amazon - The Tombs (2012)
(With: Thomas Perry)
Buy on Amazon - The Mayan Secrets (2013)
(With: Thomas Perry)
Buy on Amazon - The Eye of Heaven (2014)
(With: Russell Blake)
Buy on Amazon - The Solomon Curse (2015)
(With: Russell Blake)
Buy on Amazon - Pirate (2016)
(With: Robin Burcell)
Buy on Amazon - The Romanov Ransom (2017)
(With: Robin Burcell)
Buy on Amazon - The Gray Ghost (2018)
(With: Robin Burcell)
Buy on Amazon - The Oracle (2019)
(With: Robin Burcell)
Buy on Amazon - Wrath of Poseidon (2020)
(With: Robin Burcell)
Buy on Amazon - The Serpent’s Eye (2026)
(With: Robin Burcell)
Buy on Amazon
Non-Fiction Series
- Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed (1998)
Buy on Amazon - Built for Adventure: The Classic Automobiles of Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt (2011)
Buy on Amazon - Built to Thrill (2016)
Buy on Amazon
The Sea Hunters Series
- The Sea Hunters (1994)
Buy on Amazon - The Sea Hunters II (2002)
Buy on Amazon
Children’s Series
- The Adventures of Vin Fiz (2006)
Buy on Amazon - The Adventures of Hotsy Totsy (2010)
Buy on Amazon
About Clive Cussler
Clive Cussler was an American adventure novelist best known for creating fast-paced stories that blend historical mysteries, underwater exploration, and high-stakes action. Over several decades, his novels introduced readers to daring protagonists, hidden treasures, and global conspiracies, making him one of the most recognizable figures in modern adventure fiction.
Cussler was born on July 15, 1931, in Aurora, Illinois, and later grew up in Southern California. After attending Pasadena City College, he served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. His early professional life did not begin in publishing but in advertising, where he worked as a copywriter and creative director. During this period he developed the storytelling skills that would eventually lead him toward writing novels.
His first book, The Mediterranean Caper (1973), introduced the character Dirk Pitt, a marine engineer and adventurer working for the fictional National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA). Although the novel initially received modest attention, it established the foundation for the Dirk Pitt series, which would later become the centerpiece of Cussler’s career.
Cussler’s breakthrough came with Raise the Titanic! (1976), a novel that combines maritime history, Cold War intrigue, and an ambitious attempt to recover the legendary ocean liner from the ocean floor. The book became a major bestseller and helped establish Cussler as a leading voice in the adventure thriller genre.
Reading Clive Cussler’s books in publication order reveals the steady expansion of his fictional universe. The early Dirk Pitt novels focus on ocean exploration and underwater discoveries, often involving lost ships, ancient artifacts, or hidden technologies. As the series progressed, the scale of the adventures grew to include global conspiracies, international espionage, and elaborate historical mysteries.
One distinctive feature of Cussler’s novels is the blend of historical research and imaginative storytelling. Many of his plots begin with real historical events or legends—such as lost civilizations, sunken ships, or unexplained disappearances—and then build fictional narratives around them. This approach gives the stories a sense of realism while allowing for dramatic adventure.
In addition to the Dirk Pitt novels, Cussler created several other series featuring different protagonists. Among these are the NUMA Files series, the Oregon Files series, and the Isaac Bell series. Each explores a different style of adventure, from modern technological missions to historical detective stories set in the early twentieth century.
The NUMA Files series focuses on Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala, two engineers working for the same fictional marine agency that employs Dirk Pitt. Their stories often revolve around scientific discoveries and environmental threats connected to the world’s oceans.
The Oregon Files series follows a covert team operating from a ship disguised as a cargo vessel. Led by Juan Cabrillo, the group undertakes secret missions that often involve international espionage and political intrigue.
Cussler also wrote the Isaac Bell series, which shifts the focus to historical adventure. Set in the early 1900s, these novels follow a detective working for the Van Dorn Detective Agency as he investigates crimes during the era of railroads, early aviation, and industrial expansion.
Another interesting element of Cussler’s books is his occasional appearance as a fictional character within the stories. In several Dirk Pitt novels, a character named Clive Cussler briefly appears, often offering assistance or sharing historical knowledge. These cameo appearances became a playful signature within the series.
Beyond writing, Cussler had a strong interest in maritime history and shipwreck exploration. He founded the National Underwater and Marine Agency in real life as a nonprofit organization dedicated to discovering and documenting historic shipwrecks. His involvement in these projects reflected the same sense of adventure that defines his novels.
Across multiple series and dozens of novels, Clive Cussler created a body of work defined by exploration, historical intrigue, and large-scale adventure. Following his books in publication order reveals how his storytelling evolved while expanding a fictional universe filled with daring missions, hidden histories, and unforgettable characters.
Series: Clive Cussler