Clive Cussler's novels, brimming with thrilling adventures and intricate plots, offer a literary escapade like no other. Known for their rich historical insights and exhilarating action, Cussler's works span several series, each featuring charismatic protagonists and high-stakes missions. For new readers and long-time fans alike, reading Clive Cussler’s books in order can greatly enhance the experience, allowing you to follow the chronological development of characters and overarching plot lines seamlessly. In this guide, we’ll navigate through the recommended reading order of Clive Cussler's expansive bibliography, from the iconic Dirk Pitt series to the captivating NUMA Files and beyond, ensuring you catch every twist and turn in these gripping narratives.
Should you Read Clive Cussler’s Books in Order?
As with the majority of books, there are no rules. You can read them in any way you want. But it is often best to read them in chronological order. And the same thing applies to Clive Cussler’s books. Naturally, books that are not a part of the series can be read in any order you want.
Dirk Pitt Adventure Series
This leads to the first series, the Dirk Pitt series. There are two ways you can approach this collection. You can either read them in chronological order as they were published or start with Pacific Vortex. Cussler mentioned that this is the best option since the events are happening before the first published book, The Mediterranean Caper or Mayday.
- Pacific Vortex! (1983)
- The Mediterranean Caper (1973)
- Iceberg (1975)
- Raise the Titanic! (1976)
- Vixen 03 (1978)
- Night Probe! (1981)
- Deep Six (1984)
- Cyclops (1986)
- Treasure (1988)
- Dragon (1990)
- Sahara (1992)
- Inca Gold (1994)
- Shock Wave (1996)
- Flood Tide (1997)
- Atlantis Found (1999)
- Valhalla Rising (2001)
- Trojan Odyssey (2003)
- Black Wind (2004)
- Treasure of Khan (2006)
- Arctic Drift (2008)
- Crescent Dawn (2010)
- Poseidon’s Arrow (2012)
- Havana Storm (2014)
- Odessa Sea (2016)
- Celtic Empire (2019)
- Clive Cussler’s The Devil’s Sea (2021)
The last published novel in the series was authorized by Dirk Cussler, and it was published after Clive Cussler died.
The NUMA Files
The NUMA Files is a series focused on Kurt Austin, who is the leader of NUMA’s team (National Underwater and Marine Agency), as well as his adventures. There are nineteen books in the series.
- Serpent (1999)
- Blue Gold (2000)
- Fire Ice (2002)
- White Death (2003)
- Lost City (2004)
- Polar Shift (2005)
- The Navigator (2007)
- Medusa (2009)
- Devil’s Gate (2011)
- The Storm (2012)
- Zero Hour (2013)
- Ghost Ship (2014)
- The Pharaoh’s Secret (2015)
- Nighthawk (2017)
- The Rising Sea (2018)
- Sea of Greed (2018)
- Journey of the Pharaohs (2020)
- Fast Ice (2021)
- Clive Cussler’s Dark Vector (2022)
The first eight books were written with Paul Kemprecos, the next ten with Graham Brown, and the last of the Dirk Pitt books was fully written by Graham Brown.
The Oregon Files
The Oregon Files is a collection of sixteen books that started in 2003. These books are about a ship named Oregon, which first appeared in the Dirk Pitt novels.
- Golden Buddha (2003)
- Sacred Stone (2004)
- Dark Watch (2005)
- Skeleton Coast (2006)
- Plague Ship (2008)
- Corsair (2009)
- The Silent Sea (2010)
- The Jungle (2011)
- Mirage (2013)
- Piranha (2015)
- The Emperor’s Revenge (2016)
- Typhoon Fury (2017)
- Shadow Tyrants (2018)
- Final Option (2019)
- Marauder (2020)
- Clive Cussler’s Hellburner (2022)
The first two books were written with Craig Dirgo, the next seven with Jack Du Brul, the following six with Boyd Morrison, and the last one was fully written by Mike Maden.
Isaac Bell Adventures
The Isaac Bell Adventures series is set in the U.S. in the 20th century. Isaac Bell is a detective, and the story follows his adventures. These books have elements of techno-thrillers, and they can be quite exciting to read.
- The Chase (2007)
- The Wrecker (2009)
- The Spy (2010)
- The Race (2011)
- The Thief (2012)
- The Striker (2013)
- The Bootlegger (2014)
- The Assassin (2015)
- The Gangster (2016)
- The Cutthroat (2017)
- The Titanic Secret (2019)
- The Saboteurs (2021)
- Clive Cussler’s The Sea Wolves (2022)
- Marine One (2024)
The first book in the series was fully written by Clive Cussler, the next nine entries were written with Justin Scott, the next two with Jack Du Brul, and the last two were fully written by Jack Du Brul.
Fargo Adventures
Fargo Adventures follows Sam and Remi Fargo, who are treasure hunters. The story of this married couple has thirteen entries, and the first one was published in 2009.
- Spartan Gold (2009)
- Lost Empire (2010)
- The Kingdom (2011)
- The Tombs (2012)
- The Mayan Secrets (2013)
- The Eye of Heaven (2014)
- The Solomon Curse (2015)
- Pirate (2016)
- The Romanov Ransom (2017)
- The Gray Ghost (2018)
- The Oracle (2019)
- Wrath of Poseidon (2020)
- Clive Cussler's The Serpent’s Eye (2023)
The first three entries were written with Grant Blackwood, the next two with Thomas Perry, the following two entries with Russell Blake, Robin Burcell co-wrote the next five books, and Burcell fully wrote the last one.
Non-fiction Books
Clive Cussler also wrote several non-fiction books, and the stories were based on his own adventures.
- The Sea Hunters: True Adventures With Famous Shipwrecks (1996)
- Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed (1998)
- The Sea Hunters II: Diving the World’s Seas for Famous Shipwrecks (2002)
- Built for Adventure: The Classic Automobiles of Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt (2011)
- Built to Thrill: More Classic Automobiles from Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt (2016)
The first three books were co-written with Craig Dirgo.
Clive Cussler Children’s Books
Clive Cussler also wrote two books for children, and they are:
- The Adventures of Vin Fiz (2006)
- The Adventures of Hotsy Totsy (2010)
Both stories continue to explore Cussler’s passion for adventures, ships, airplanes, and cars. But they are set in a different setting, with interesting adventures.
Listen to Clive Cussler’s Stories on Speechify
One of the easiest ways to explore the full bibliography of Clive Cussler is by listening to audiobooks. Audiobooks are perfect for improving accessibility, and you can also go on your own adventure while listening to them.
Speechify
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FAQ
What's the latest Clive Cussler novel?
The latest Clive Cussler novel is The Serpent's Eye, and it is a part of the Fargo Adventures series. The book will be released on March 16, 2023.
What are the new Cussler books 2022?
There were three Cussler books in 2022. These are Clive Cussler’s Dark Vector, Hellburner, and The Sea Wolves.
Is Clive Cussler dead?
Yes, Clive Cussler died in 2020.
