Order of Book Series
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Wilbur Smith Books in Order

Wilbur Smith has written 66 books, published between 1964 and 2026. The first book is When the Lion Feeds (1964) and the newest is Flashpoint (2026). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
66
Published
1964–2026
Confirmed
63 of 66 titles
Pages on record
21,888 in 43 of 66 books
Reading time
365–547 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 21,888 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 43 of 66 titles with a page count on record.

See all 66 books in order Printable Wilbur Smith checklist

Wilbur Smith was a British-South African novelist born in Northern Rhodesia. Smith's historical fiction covers four centuries of international involvement in Southern Africa. The catalogue lists 66 books, from When the Lion Feeds (1964) to Flashpoint (2026). Series include Courtney, Jack Courtney, Ancient Egypt, Hector Cross and Prey Zone. Recurring character listings include the Courtney family, Ballantyne and Hector Cross. David Churchill and Tom Harper each share the credit on 1 book. Subjects include Africa, Egypt, revenge, espionage and terrorism.

The Hector Cross series follows a former SAS operative who runs a private security company. Cross is drawn into confrontations with powerful enemies that threaten his life and the people close to him, ranging from personal vendettas to international conflicts, and uses his military background on these missions.

How many Wilbur Smith books are there?

Wilbur Smith has 66 books, released between 1964 and 2026. They include 6 series and 3 titles listed outside any series.

Wilbur Smith Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 66 Wilbur Smith books in the order they were released, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of When the Lion Feeds by Wilbur Smith, book 1 of the Courtney series (1964)
  2. Cover of The Dark of the Sun / The Train from Katanga by Wilbur Smith, book 1 of the Wilbur Smith Standalone Novels series
  3. Cover of The Sound of Thunder / The Roar of Thunder by Wilbur Smith, book 2 of the Courtney series (1966)
  4. Cover of Shout at the Devil by Wilbur Smith, book 2 of the Wilbur Smith Standalone Novels series (1968)
  5. Cover of Gold Mine by Wilbur Smith, book 3 of the Wilbur Smith Standalone Novels series (1970)
  6. Cover of The Diamond Hunters by Wilbur Smith, book 4 of the Wilbur Smith Standalone Novels series (1971)
  7. Cover of The Sunbird by Wilbur Smith, book 5 of the Wilbur Smith Standalone Novels series (1972)
  8. Cover of The Eye of the Tiger by Wilbur Smith, book 6 of the Wilbur Smith Standalone Novels series (1974)
  9. Cover of Cry Wolf by Wilbur Smith, book 7 of the Wilbur Smith Standalone Novels series (1976)
  10. Cover of A Sparrow Falls by Wilbur Smith, book 3 of the Courtney series (1977)
  11. Cover of Hungry as the Sea by Wilbur Smith, book 8 of the Wilbur Smith Standalone Novels series (1978)
  12. Cover of Wild Justice / The Delta Decision by Wilbur Smith, book 9 of the Wilbur Smith Standalone Novels series (1979)
  13. Cover of A Falcon Flies / Flight of the Falcon by Wilbur Smith, book 1 of the Ballantyne series (1980)
  14. Cover of Eagle in the Sky by Wilbur Smith, book 10 of the Wilbur Smith Standalone Novels series (1980)
  15. Cover of Men of Men by Wilbur Smith, book 2 of the Ballantyne series (1981)
  16. Cover of The Angels Weep by Wilbur Smith, book 3 of the Ballantyne series (1982)
  17. Cover of The Leopard Hunts in Darkness by Wilbur Smith, book 4 of the Ballantyne series (1984)
  18. Cover of The Burning Shore by Wilbur Smith, book 4 of the Courtney series (1985)
  19. Cover of Rage by Wilbur Smith, book 6 of the Courtney series (1987)
  20. Cover of A Time to Die by Wilbur Smith, book 7 of the Courtney series (1989)
  21. Cover of Elephant Song by Wilbur Smith, book 11 of the Wilbur Smith Standalone Novels series (1991)
  22. Cover of Call of the Raven by Wilbur Smith, book 7 of the Ballantyne series (1992)
  23. Cover of The Triumph of the Sun by Wilbur Smith, book 9 of the Courtney series (1992)
  24. Cover of River God by Wilbur Smith, book 1 of the Ancient Egypt series (1994)
  1. 1
    When the Lion FeedsCourtney #11964 · 544 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1964544
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    The Dark of the Sun / The Train from KatangaWilbur Smith Standalone Novels #11965 · 288 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1965288
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    The Sound of Thunder / The Roar of ThunderCourtney #21966 · 600 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1966600
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Shout at the DevilWilbur Smith Standalone Novels #21968 · 391 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1968391
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Gold MineWilbur Smith Standalone Novels #31970 · 272 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1970272
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    The Diamond HuntersWilbur Smith Standalone Novels #41971 · 352 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1971352
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    The SunbirdWilbur Smith Standalone Novels #51972 · 615 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1972615
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    The Eye of the TigerWilbur Smith Standalone Novels #61974 · 403 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1974403
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    Cry WolfWilbur Smith Standalone Novels #71976 · 416 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1976416
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    A Sparrow FallsCourtney #31977 · 640 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1977640
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    Hungry as the SeaWilbur Smith Standalone Novels #81978 · 512 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1978512
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    Wild Justice / The Delta DecisionWilbur Smith Standalone Novels #91979 · confirmed 4/4
    1979–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    A Falcon Flies / Flight of the FalconBallantyne #11980 · confirmed 4/4
    1980–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    Eagle in the SkyWilbur Smith Standalone Novels #101980 · 400 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1980400
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    Men of MenBallantyne #21981 · 720 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1981720
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    The Angels WeepBallantyne #31982 · 468 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1982468
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    The Leopard Hunts in DarknessBallantyne #41984 · 576 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1984576
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    The Burning ShoreCourtney #41985 · 496 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1985496
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Power of the SwordCourtney #51986 · 618 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1986618
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    RageCourtney #61987 · 896 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1987896
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    A Time to DieCourtney #71989 · 480 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1989480
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Golden FoxCourtney #81990 · 576 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1990576
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Elephant SongWilbur Smith Standalone Novels #111991 · 472 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1991472
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Call of the RavenBallantyne #71992 · 448 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1992448
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    The Triumph of the SunCourtney #91992 · 512 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1992512
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    River GodAncient Egypt #11994 · 664 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1994664
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    The Seventh ScrollAncient Egypt #21995 · 634 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1995634
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    WarlockAncient Egypt #31995 · 642 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1995642
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Birds of PreyCourtney #101997 · 664 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1997664
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    MonsoonCourtney #111999 · 822 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1999822
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Wilbur Smith series and characters in order

Each link below opens a reading-order page with every book in publication order.

Wilbur Smith books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. A group whose heading is a link has its own reading-order page; the other groups have no page of their own on this site.

Wilbur Smith Standalone Novels

11 books

11 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Ballantyne books in order

6 books by Wilbur Smith
  1. 1. A Falcon Flies / Flight of the Falcon
  2. 2. Men of Men
  3. 3. The Angels Weep
  4. 4. The Leopard Hunts in Darkness
  5. 7. Call of the Raven
  6. 8. Fire on the Horizon

Hector Cross in order

3 books
  1. 1. Those in Peril
  2. 2. Vicious Circle
  3. 3. Predator

Jack Courtney Series in order

3 books
  1. 1. Cloudburst
  2. 2. Thunderbolt
  3. 3. Shockwave

Prey Zone Series in order

3 books
  1. 1. Prey Zone
  2. 2. The Serpent's Lair
  3. 3. The Scorpion's Sting

Wilbur Smith Non-Fiction

1 book

1 title published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Standalone books

3 books

3 Wilbur Smith titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Wilbur Smith Books in Chronological Order

By publication date, the Wilbur Smith books run from When the Lion Feeds (1964) to Flashpoint (2026), the sequence in the table above. Courtney, Ancient Egypt and Ballantyne also have separate in-universe orders on record: Courtney books in chronological order, Ancient Egypt books in chronological order and Ballantyne books in chronological order. No other Wilbur Smith story order is on record.

Do you have to read Wilbur Smith books in order?

You only need to read Wilbur Smith books in order within each series: the books listed here span 6 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

What order should you read Wilbur Smith books in?

Read Wilbur Smith one series at a time, each in its own publication order: Courtney starts with When the Lion Feeds (1964), Ancient Egypt starts with River God (1994) and Egyptian starts with River God (1994). The earliest catalogued title overall is When the Lion Feeds (1964).

What is the newest Wilbur Smith book?

Flashpoint (2026) is the newest Wilbur Smith book released so far.

Is there a new Wilbur Smith book coming?

No next Wilbur Smith book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.

Printable Wilbur Smith Books in Order Checklist

A printable checklist of all 66 books in publication order is on the Wilbur Smith reading checklist, with a tick box beside each title.

Wilbur Smith at a glance

Still publishing
Wilbur Smith published a book as recently as 2026.
Release pace
Wilbur Smith books have appeared about one a year on average.
Length
21,888 pages across the 43 of 66 books with a recorded length, a median of 472 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Wilbur Smith books, 20 of 66, were published in the 2020s.
Corroboration
60 of the 66 titles appear in all four independent book listings, and 63 in at least three.

What the Wilbur Smith books are about

45 of the 66 Wilbur Smith books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: action & adventure is tagged on 28 of 45. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.

Other Action / Thriller authors

Each link below opens a reading-order page with every book in publication order.