Reading order · 28 books · 1973 to 2026 · Set around the world
Dirk Pitt Books in Order
Dirk Pitt is the special projects director of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, a ship salvager, diver and adventurer who finds lost ships and treasures and foils plots against the world, with his friend Al Giordino at his side. The later books are co-written with, and then by, Clive Cussler’s son Dirk.
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Series facts
- Books
- 28
- Published
- 1973 to 2026
- First book
- The Mediterranean Caper
- Latest
- Obsidian Sky (2026)
- Setting
- Set around the world
- Order
- Story order differs from publication order
The reading order
Every Dirk Pitt book in publication order, with the story order a switch away. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
28 books · Set around the world
- 1The Mediterranean Caper1973With Dirk PittMajor Dirk Pitt, on assignment to a research ship in the Aegean, is drawn into a mystery when an old fighter plane attacks an American air base on a Greek island.Buy on Amazon
- 2Iceberg1975With Dirk PittA ship is found frozen inside an iceberg off Iceland, and Dirk Pitt investigates the plot behind it.Buy on Amazon
- 3Raise the Titanic!1976With Dirk PittA rare element needed for a new American defence system was lost with the Titanic in 1912, and Dirk Pitt leads an operation to raise the wreck from the bottom of the Atlantic.Buy on Amazon
- 4Vixen 031978With Dirk PittA bomber carrying a deadly biological weapon disappeared over the Rocky Mountains in 1954.Buy on Amazon
- 5Night Probe!1981With Dirk PittA secret treaty between the United States and Britain, lost with a train in 1914, could change the relationship between the US and Canada, and Dirk Pitt goes looking for it.Buy on Amazon
- 6Pacific Vortex!1983With Dirk PittA nuclear submarine disappears in a stretch of the Pacific near Hawaii where ships have vanished for years, and Dirk Pitt is sent to find it.Buy on Amazon
- 7Deep Six1984With Dirk PittA deadly red tide off Alaska, a ghost ship and the disappearance of the President’s yacht draw Dirk Pitt into a conspiracy that reaches high places.Buy on Amazon
- 8Cyclops1986With Dirk PittA luxury airship, the Cyclops, disappears with its millionaire passenger on a treasure hunt, and Dirk Pitt is drawn into a plot involving Cuba.Buy on Amazon
- 9Treasure1988With Dirk PittDirk Pitt is drawn into the search for treasures of the ancient Library of Alexandria, believed lost for centuries.Buy on Amazon
- 10Dragon1990With Dirk PittPitt discovers that a Japanese industrialist has hidden nuclear bombs in cars around the world, and races to stop him.Buy on Amazon
- 11Sahara1992With Dirk PittDirk Pitt and Al Giordino investigate a mysterious red tide spreading through the oceans off West Africa, and the trail leads into the Sahara desert, where a Confederate ironclad is said to have disappeared.Buy on Amazon
- 12Inca Gold1994With Dirk PittDirk Pitt rescues archaeologists in the Andes and becomes involved in the search for Inca gold, hidden centuries ago from the Spanish.Buy on Amazon
- 13Shock Wave1996With Dirk PittMysterious mass deaths of people and animals at sea lead Pitt to a ruthless diamond mining family.Buy on Amazon
- 14Flood Tide1997With Dirk PittDirk Pitt investigates a Chinese shipping magnate who is smuggling people into the United States, leading to a plot against the Mississippi River.Buy on Amazon
- 15Atlantis Found1999With Dirk PittA mining crew finds a chamber with ancient writings, and Dirk Pitt discovers clues to a lost civilisation, while a modern group with dangerous plans tries to destroy the evidence.Buy on Amazon
- 16Valhalla Rising2001With Dirk PittDirk Pitt rescues passengers from a burning cruise ship and uncovers a conspiracy, and meets two young adults who turn out to be his own children.Buy on Amazon
- 17Trojan Odyssey2003With Dirk PittPitt and his grown children investigate a strange brown tide in the Caribbean, which leads to a powerful corporation with a sinister plan.Buy on Amazon
- 18Black Wind2004With Dirk PittPitt’s children are drawn into the hunt for a deadly weapon lost aboard a Japanese submarine in the Second World War.Buy on Amazon
- 19Treasure of Khan2006With Dirk PittDirk Pitt and Al Giordino are caught up in a plot linked to the lost tomb of Genghis Khan.Buy on Amazon
- 20Arctic Drift2008With Dirk PittDirk Pitt is drawn into a hunt for the lost ships of the Franklin expedition in the Canadian Arctic, linked to a modern climate crisis.Buy on Amazon
- 21Crescent Dawn2010With Dirk PittA series of attacks in Turkey and the discovery of an ancient Roman ship send Pitt and his children on the trail of a conspiracy.Buy on Amazon
- 22Poseidon’s Arrow2012With Dirk PittA secret new navy weapon is stolen, and Pitt, now head of NUMA, returns to the field as his children pursue answers of their own.Buy on Amazon
- 23Havana Storm2014With Dirk PittA deadly toxin in the Caribbean and an ancient Aztec stone lead Pitt and his children to Cuba.Buy on Amazon
- 24Odessa Sea2016With Dirk PittClues from a deadly incident at sea lead Pitt into the Black Sea, where a long-buried secret is suddenly worth killing for.Buy on Amazon
- 25Celtic Empire2019With Dirk PittA deadly outbreak in Central America and a discovery in Egypt draw Pitt and his children into a plot with roots in ancient history.Buy on Amazon
- 26The Devil’s Sea2021With Dirk PittA forgotten plane crash in the Philippine Sea offers clues to a lost Tibetan artefact, while a rogue military team seizes a ship that could start a war.Buy on Amazon
- 27The Corsican Shadow2023With Dirk PittPitt finds uncut diamonds on a shipwreck in the English Channel, and when they are stolen, he uncovers a plot with roots in 1940.Buy on Amazon
- 28Obsidian Sky2026With Dirk PittBuy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Each adventure stands alone, but Pitt’s life moves on through the series, including meeting his grown-up children in Valhalla Rising, so publication order is best.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Dirk Pitt | Al Giordino | James Sandecker | Rudi Gunn | Loren Smith | St. Julien Perlmutter | Hiram Yaeger | Dirk and Summer Pitt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The Mediterranean Caper | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 2 Iceberg | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 3 Raise the Titanic! | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 4 Vixen 03 | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 5 Night Probe! | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 6 Pacific Vortex! | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 7 Deep Six | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 8 Cyclops | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 9 Treasure | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 10 Dragon | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 11 Sahara | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 12 Inca Gold | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 13 Shock Wave | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 14 Flood Tide | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 15 Atlantis Found | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 16 Valhalla Rising | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 17 Trojan Odyssey | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 18 Black Wind | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 19 Treasure of Khan | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 20 Arctic Drift | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 21 Crescent Dawn | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 22 Poseidon’s Arrow | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 23 Havana Storm | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 24 Odessa Sea | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 25 Celtic Empire | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 26 The Devil’s Sea | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 27 The Corsican Shadow | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 28 Obsidian Sky | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
Characters in the Dirk Pitt books
9 characters from Clive Cussler’s chart, with the number of Dirk Pitt books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Dirk PittNUMA special projects director, later its head | 28 | The Mediterranean Caper 1973 |
| Al GiordinoPitt’s best friend and partner | 28 | The Mediterranean Caper 1973 |
| James SandeckerAdmiral heading NUMA, later Vice President | 28 | The Mediterranean Caper 1973 |
| Rudi GunnNUMA deputy director | 28 | The Mediterranean Caper 1973 |
| Loren SmithCongresswoman, later Pitt’s wife | 25 | Vixen 03 1978 |
| St. Julien PerlmutterMaritime historian and gourmand | 24 | Night Probe! 1981 |
| Hiram YaegerNUMA’s computer genius | 18 | Sahara 1992 |
| Dirk and Summer PittPitt’s adult twins | 13 | Valhalla Rising 2001 |
| Juan CabrilloCaptain of the Oregon, a covert ship for hire | 1 | Flood Tide 1997 |