Author guide
Jack McDevitt Books in Order
Born in Philadelphia in 1935, Jack McDevitt served in the U.S. Navy, taught English and literature, and worked for the U.S. Customs Service before becoming a full-time writer. He began publishing fiction in 1981 and is best known for the Academy series featuring Priscilla Hutchins and the Alex Benedict series. His honors include the Nebula Award for Seeker, the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Omega, and the Robert A. Heinlein Award.
Jack McDevitt's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
The Hercules Text
A standalone debut novel and an accessible introduction to McDevitt's first-contact fiction.
A Talent for War
The first Alex Benedict novel.
The Engines of God
The first Academy novel in the recommended sequence.
Ancient Shores
The first work in the Ancient Shores sequence.
Read in order
Books by series
novel-series · ongoing
Academy
The Academy/Priscilla Hutchins sequence follows pilots and archaeologists investigating vanished civilizations, alien artifacts, and deep-space mysteries.
- 1 StarhawkAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 2013
- 2 The Engines of GodAmazon ↗
Book 2 · novel · 1994
- 3 DeepsixAmazon ↗
Book 3 · novel · 2001
- 4 ChindiAmazon ↗
Book 4 · novel · 2002
- 5 OmegaAmazon ↗
Book 5 · novel · 2003
- 6 OdysseyAmazon ↗
Book 6 · novel · 2006
- 7 CauldronAmazon ↗
Book 7 · novel · 2007
- 8 The Long SunsetAmazon ↗
Book 8 · novel · 2018
novel-series · ongoing
Alex Benedict
A far-future science-fiction mystery series featuring antiquities dealer Alex Benedict and pilot Chase Kolpath as they investigate lost civilizations and historical mysteries.
- 1 A Talent for WarAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 1989
- 2 PolarisAmazon ↗
Book 2 · novel · 2004
- 3 SeekerAmazon ↗
Book 3 · novel · 2005
- 4 The Devil's EyeAmazon ↗
Book 4 · novel · 2008
- 5 EchoAmazon ↗
Book 5 · novel · 2010
- 6 FirebirdAmazon ↗
Book 6 · novel · 2011
- 7 Coming HomeAmazon ↗
Book 7 · novel · 2014
- 8 Octavia GoneAmazon ↗
Book 8 · novel · 2019
- 9 Village in the SkyAmazon ↗
Book 9 · novel · 2023
connected-novels · ongoing
Ancient Shores
A connected sequence about an ancient extraterrestrial stargate discovered in North Dakota and humanity's encounters with the worlds beyond it.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (6)
Short fiction (6)
- Standard CandlesAmazon ↗
short-story-collection · 1996
- Ships in the NightAmazon ↗
short-story-collection · 2005
- OutboundAmazon ↗
short-story-collection · 2006
- Cryptic: The Best Short Fiction of Jack McDevittAmazon ↗
short-story-collection · 2009
- A Voice in the NightAmazon ↗
short-story-collection · 2018
- Return to GloryAmazon ↗
short-story-collection · 2022
Other (1)
- The Law of Gravity Isn't Working on Rainbow BridgeAmazon ↗
chapbook · 2003