Reading order · 16 books · 1984 to 2013 · Set in Washington, D.C.
Jack Ryan universe Books in Order
The Jack Ryan books are techno-thrillers about Jack Ryan, a historian and former Marine who becomes a CIA analyst and rises to President of the United States, alongside the paramilitary officer John Clark and his partner Ding Chavez. Later books follow Ryan’s son, Jack Jr., and a secret intelligence organisation called The Campus.
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Series facts
- Books
- 16
- Published
- 1984 to 2013
- First book
- The Hunt for Red October
- Latest
- Command Authority (2013)
- Setting
- Set in Washington, D.C.
- Order
- Story order differs from publication order
The reading order
Every Jack Ryan universe book in publication order, with the story order a switch away. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
16 books · Set in Washington, D.C.
- 1The Hunt for Red October1984With Jack RyanCaptain Marko Ramius, a Soviet submarine commander, sets out across the Atlantic in the Red October, a new missile submarine with a silent drive.Buy on Amazon
- 2Patriot Games1987With Jack RyanOn holiday in London, Jack Ryan foils an attack by Irish terrorists on members of the royal family, and the surviving terrorists decide to take revenge on Ryan and his family in America.Buy on Amazon
- 3The Cardinal of the Kremlin1988With Jack RyanThe CIA’s most valuable agent in the Kremlin, codenamed Cardinal, is in danger as the Soviets race to develop a laser defence system, and Jack Ryan must get him out.Buy on Amazon
- 4Clear and Present Danger1989With Jack RyanThe United States starts a secret war against Colombian drug cartels after a friend of the President is murdered, and Jack Ryan finds the operation is being run without proper oversight.Buy on Amazon
- 5The Sum of All Fears1991With Jack RyanTerrorists find a lost Israeli nuclear bomb and plan to set it off at the Super Bowl in Denver, while Jack Ryan works to prevent a war between the superpowers.Buy on Amazon
- 6Without Remorse1993With John ClarkIn 1970, John Kelly, a former Navy SEAL, goes after the drug ring in Baltimore that killed the young woman he loved, while also being recruited for a mission to rescue American prisoners in North Vietnam.Buy on Amazon
- 7Debt of Honor1994With Jack RyanA group of Japanese industrialists starts a war with the United States, first through the stock market and then at sea, and Jack Ryan, now National Security Adviser, has to stop it.Buy on Amazon
- 8Executive Orders1996With Jack RyanAfter an attack on the Capitol wipes out most of the government, Jack Ryan finds himself President of the United States, rebuilding the country while enemies abroad see a chance.Buy on Amazon
- 9Rainbow Six1998With John ClarkJohn Clark leads Rainbow, a new international counter-terrorism unit based in Britain, which faces a wave of attacks and uncovers a plan by an eco-terrorist group.Buy on Amazon
- 10The Bear and the Dragon2000With Jack RyanPresident Jack Ryan faces a crisis when China, short of resources, decides to seize the oil and gold of eastern Siberia, drawing Russia and the United States into war.Buy on Amazon
- 11Red Rabbit2002With Jack RyanIn 1982, Jack Ryan is a young CIA analyst in London when a KGB officer wants to defect, bringing news of a plot to assassinate the Pope.Buy on Amazon
- 12The Teeth of the Tiger2003With Jack Ryan Jr.Jack Ryan Jr., the son of the former President, joins The Campus, a secret intelligence organisation set up outside the government, as it hunts terrorists.Buy on Amazon
- 13Dead or Alive2010With Jack Ryan and Jack Ryan Jr.The operatives of the Campus hunt the Emir, a terrorist mastermind, while Jack Ryan Sr.Buy on Amazon
- 14Locked On2011With Jack Ryan and Jack Ryan Jr.Jack Ryan Sr.Buy on Amazon
- 15Threat Vector2012With Jack Ryan and Jack Ryan Jr.China launches a cyber war against the United States, and Jack Ryan Jr.Buy on Amazon
- 16Command Authority2013With Jack Ryan and Jack Ryan Jr.A new strongman in Russia sets his sights on Ukraine, and President Jack Ryan finds the key to the crisis in a case from his own past.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Many readers follow publication order, starting with The Hunt for Red October. For Ryan’s life in story order, begin with Without Remorse (Clark’s backstory), then Patriot Games, Red Rabbit and The Hunt for Red October.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Jack Ryan | Jack Ryan Jr. | John Clark | Cathy Ryan | Domingo Chavez | Robby Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The Hunt for Red October | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 2 Patriot Games | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | |||
| 3 The Cardinal of the Kremlin | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | |||
| 4 Clear and Present Danger | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 5 The Sum of All Fears | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 6 Without Remorse | LLead | |||||
| 7 Debt of Honor | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 8 Executive Orders | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 9 Rainbow Six | ·Minor | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 10 The Bear and the Dragon | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 11 Red Rabbit | LLead | ·Minor | ||||
| 12 The Teeth of the Tiger | ·Minor | LLead | ·Minor | |||
| 13 Dead or Alive | LLead | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 14 Locked On | LLead | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 15 Threat Vector | LLead | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 16 Command Authority | LLead | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor |
Characters in the Jack Ryan universe books
7 characters from Tom Clancy’s chart, with the number of Jack Ryan universe books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Jack RyanCIA analyst who becomes President | 15 | The Hunt for Red October 1984 |
| Jack Ryan Jr.Ryan's son, an analyst for The Campus | 5 | The Teeth of the Tiger 2003 |
| John ClarkCIA paramilitary officer, born John Kelly | 12 | The Cardinal of the Kremlin 1988 |
| Cathy RyanRyan's wife, an eye surgeon | 15 | The Hunt for Red October 1984 |
| Domingo ChavezSoldier turned CIA officer, Clark's partner | 10 | Clear and Present Danger 1989 |
| Robby JacksonNavy pilot and Ryan's friend | 5 | The Hunt for Red October 1984 |
| Marko RamiusSoviet submarine captain who defects | 1 | The Hunt for Red October 1984 |