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Series · adventure fiction
Dirk Pitt
The Dirk Pitt series by Clive Cussler has 28 known books (27 published; 1 announced) and is best read in publication order, starting with The Mediterranean Caper (1973). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is Clive Cussler's The Devil's Sea. The next announced book, Clive Cussler Obsidian Sky, is due 10 November 2026.
- Books
- 28 known books (28 novels)
- Published
- 27
- Announced
- 1
- First published
- 1973
- Status
- ongoing
- Shelved under
- Adventure
- Last checked
Start here: The Mediterranean Caper (1973) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series. Announced future books are marked below.
- Book 1:
The Mediterranean Caper
The Mediterranean Caper is the book that opens Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, published in 1973 at 256 pages. It's the natural place to begin the 28-book series, and is followed here by Iceberg.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Mediterranean Caper - Book 2:
Iceberg
Iceberg is Clive Cussler's 2nd Dirk Pitt novel, published in 1975 at 296 pages. It follows The Mediterranean Caper and precedes Raise the Titanic! in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Iceberg - Book 3:
Raise the Titanic!
Raise the Titanic! continues Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series as the 3rd book, published in 1976 at 373 pages. It follows Iceberg and precedes Vixen 03 in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Raise the Titanic! - Book 4:
Vixen 03
Vixen 03 is the 4th book in the Dirk Pitt series, written by Clive Cussler, published in 1978 at 362 pages. It follows Raise the Titanic! and precedes Night Probe! in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Vixen 03 - Book 5:
Night Probe!
Night Probe! sits as the 5th book in Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, published in 1981 at 384 pages. It follows Vixen 03 and precedes Pacific Vortex! in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Night Probe! - Book 6:
Pacific Vortex!
Pacific Vortex! is the 6th book in Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, published in 1983 at 270 pages. It follows Night Probe! and precedes Deep Six in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Pacific Vortex! - Book 7:
Deep Six
Deep Six is Clive Cussler's 7th Dirk Pitt novel, published in 1984 at 470 pages. It follows Pacific Vortex! and precedes Cyclops in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Deep Six - Book 8:
Cyclops
Cyclops continues Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series as the 8th book, published in 1986 at 480 pages. It follows Deep Six and precedes Treasure in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Cyclops - Book 9:
Treasure
Treasure is the 9th book in the Dirk Pitt series, written by Clive Cussler, published in 1988 at 608 pages. It follows Cyclops and precedes Dragon in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Treasure - Book 10:
Dragon
Dragon sits as the 10th book in Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, published in 1990 at 547 pages. It follows Treasure and precedes Sahara in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragon - Book 11:
Sahara
Sahara is the 11th book in Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, published in 1992 at 576 pages. It follows Dragon and precedes Inca Gold in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sahara - Book 12:
Inca Gold
Inca Gold is Clive Cussler's twelfth Dirk Pitt novel, published in 1994 at 601 pages, sending the NUMA marine engineer and his partner Al Giordino after a historical mystery tied to a lost artifact -- the formula Cussler built the series and the men's-adventure subgenre around since 1973's The Mediterranean Caper.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Inca Gold - Book 13:
Shock Wave
Shock Wave continues Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series as the 13th book, published in 1996 at 572 pages. It follows Inca Gold and precedes Flood Tide in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Shock Wave - Book 14:
Flood Tide
Flood Tide is the 14th book in the Dirk Pitt series, written by Clive Cussler, published in 1997 at 560 pages. It follows Shock Wave and precedes Atlantis Found in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Flood Tide - Book 15:
Atlantis Found
Atlantis Found sits as the 15th book in Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, published in 1999 at 544 pages. It follows Flood Tide and precedes Valhalla Rising in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Atlantis Found - Book 16:
Valhalla Rising
Valhalla Rising is the 16th book in Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, published in August 2001 at 544 pages. It follows Atlantis Found and precedes Trojan Odyssey in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Valhalla Rising - Book 17:
Trojan Odyssey
Trojan Odyssey is Clive Cussler's 17th Dirk Pitt novel, published in 2003 at 492 pages. It follows Valhalla Rising and precedes Black Wind in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Trojan Odyssey - Book 18:
Black Wind
Black Wind is co-written by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler, the 18th book in the Dirk Pitt series. Published in 2004 at 530 pages, it follows Trojan Odyssey and precedes Treasure of Khan in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Black Wind - Book 19:
Treasure of Khan
Treasure of Khan is co-written by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler, the 19th book in the Dirk Pitt series. Published in November 2006 at 562 pages, it follows Black Wind and precedes Arctic Drift in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Treasure of Khan - Book 20:
Arctic Drift
Arctic Drift is co-written by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler, the 20th book in the Dirk Pitt series. Published in 2008 at 592 pages, it follows Treasure of Khan and precedes Crescent Dawn in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Arctic Drift - Book 21:
Crescent Dawn
Crescent Dawn is co-written by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler, the 21st book in the Dirk Pitt series. Published in 2010 at 548 pages, it follows Arctic Drift and precedes Poseidon's Arrow in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Crescent Dawn - Book 22:
Poseidon's Arrow
Poseidon's Arrow is co-written by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler, the 22nd book in the Dirk Pitt series. Published in November 2012, it follows Crescent Dawn and precedes Havana Storm in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Poseidon's Arrow - Book 23:
Havana Storm
Havana Storm is co-written by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler, the 23rd book in the Dirk Pitt series. Published in 2014 at 464 pages, it follows Poseidon's Arrow and precedes Odessa Sea in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Havana Storm - Book 24:
Odessa Sea
Odessa Sea is co-written by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler, the 24th book in the Dirk Pitt series. Published in November 2016 at 486 pages, it follows Havana Storm and precedes Celtic Empire in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Odessa Sea - Book 25:
Celtic Empire
Celtic Empire is co-written by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler, the 25th book in the Dirk Pitt series. Published in March 2019 at 464 pages, it follows Odessa Sea and precedes Clive Cussler's The Devil's Sea in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Celtic Empire - Book 26:
Clive Cussler's The Devil's Sea
Clive Cussler's The Devil's Sea is the 26th book in Dirk Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, published in November 2021 at 400 pages. It follows Celtic Empire and precedes Clive Cussler's The Corsican Shadow in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Clive Cussler's The Devil's Sea - Book 27:
Clive Cussler's The Corsican Shadow
Clive Cussler's The Corsican Shadow is Dirk Cussler's 27th Dirk Pitt novel, published in 2023. It follows Clive Cussler's The Devil's Sea and precedes Clive Cussler Obsidian Sky in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Clive Cussler's The Corsican Shadow - Book 28:
Clive Cussler Obsidian Sky
Clive Cussler Obsidian Sky is currently the newest book in Dirk Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, published in November 2026 at 496 pages. It follows Clive Cussler's The Corsican Shadow, the 28th of 28 books published in the series so far.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Clive Cussler Obsidian Sky
About the Dirk Pitt series
Dirk Pitt is the Special Projects Director for the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA), a marine engineer and adventurer who spends every novel diving on shipwrecks, raising sunken relics, and stumbling into conspiracies that only he and his oldest friend Al Giordino can untangle. Clive Cussler built the series (and the men's-adventure subgenre it helped define) around a simple formula that has powered it since 1973: a historical mystery tied to a real or plausible sunken ship or lost artifact, a present-day villain trying to exploit it, and Pitt diving, driving, and improvising his way through elaborate action set pieces to stop them. Cussler was himself a real maritime historian and founded the real-world NUMA organization that has located dozens of historic shipwrecks, which gives the technical diving and salvage detail in the books unusual authenticity.
After Cussler's death in 2020, his son Dirk Cussler — who had co-written the series since 2004's Black Wind — has continued it solo, keeping Pitt's now-adult twins Dirk Jr. and Summer active in the NUMA world alongside their father. It's a great fit for readers who want globe-trotting, gadget-heavy adventure in the vein of Indiana Jones, with a heavy dose of nautical history and actual shipwreck lore mixed in.
Frequently asked questions
How many Dirk Pitt books are there?
There are 28 Dirk Pitt novels, most recently Obsidian Sky (November 10, 2026).
What order should I read the Dirk Pitt books in?
Publication order, starting with The Mediterranean Caper (1973). Most mysteries are self-contained, but Pitt's career and family develop across the series in sequence.
Who writes Dirk Pitt now that Clive Cussler has died?
Clive Cussler's son Dirk Cussler, who co-wrote the series with his father starting with Black Wind (2004), has continued it solo since Clive Cussler's death in 2020.
Is Pacific Vortex! really the first Dirk Pitt book?
No — it's the 6th published (1983), even though it was the first Dirk Pitt manuscript Cussler wrote. Publication order places it 6th, not 1st.
When is the next Dirk Pitt book coming out?
Obsidian Sky (November 10, 2026), written solely by Dirk Cussler, is the newest entry -- no 29th book has been announced as of this writing.
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Reading order last verified .