Order of Wilbur Smith Books
Wilbur Smith was an Anglo-African novelist of historical adventure novels. Having been born in what is now Zambia (and was once Northern Rhodesia), he largely writes about his former home continent. He is the author of three series – the Courtney Family series, the Ballatyne Family series and the Egyptian series. Smith lived in London, but his passion and concern for his native continent remains.
Wilbur sadly passed away on November 13th, 2021.
Smith’s father was not supportive of his love for reading and writing and told him to “get a real job.” However, after a career in accounting and divorce left him destitute, he decided to make a career change. Smith’s first novel was When the Lion Feeds in 1964. Since then, Smith has written over 30 novels. Below is a list of Wilbur Smith’s books in order of when they were originally published and also in their chronological order:
Publication Order of Courtney Books
| When the Lion Feeds | (1964) |    |
| The Sound of Thunder / The Roar of Thunder | (1966) | |
| A Sparrow Falls | (1977) | |
| The Burning Shore | (1985) | |
| Power of the Sword | (1986) | |
| Rage | (1987) | |
| A Time to Die | (1989) | |
| Golden Fox | (1990) | |
| The Triumph of the Sun | (1992) | |
| Birds of Prey | (1997) | |
| Monsoon | (1999) | |
| Blue Horizon | (2003) | |
| Assegai | (2009) | |
| Golden Lion | (2015) | |
| War Cry | (2017) | |
| The Tiger's Prey | (2017) | |
| Courtney's War | (2018) | |
| King of Kings | (2019) | |
| Ghost Fire | (2019) | |
| Legacy of War | (2021) | |
| Storm Tide | (2022) | |
| Nemesis | (2023) | |
Chronological Order of Courtney Books
| Birds of Prey | (1997) | |
| Golden Lion | (2015) | |
| Monsoon | (1999) | |
| The Tiger's Prey | (2017) | |
| Blue Horizon | (2003) | |
| Ghost Fire | (2019) | |
| Storm Tide | (2022) | |
| Nemesis | (2023) | |
| When the Lion Feeds | (1964) | |
| The Triumph of the Sun | (1992) | |
| King of Kings | (2019) | |
| The Sound of Thunder / The Roar of Thunder | (1966) | |
| Assegai | (2009) | |
| The Burning Shore | (1985) | |
| A Sparrow Falls | (1977) | |
| War Cry | (2017) | |
| Courtney's War | (2018) | |
| Legacy of War | (2021) | |
| Power of the Sword | (1986) | |
| Rage | (1987) | |
| Golden Fox | (1990) | |
| A Time to Die | (1989) | |
Publication Order of Jack Courtney Books
| Cloudburst | (2020) | |
| Thunderbolt | (2021) | |
| Shockwave | (2022) | |
Publication Order of Ballantyne Books
| A Falcon Flies / Flight of the Falcon | (1980) | |
| Men of Men | (1981) | |
| The Angels Weep | (1982) | |
| The Leopard Hunts in Darkness | (1984) | |
| The Triumph of the Sun | (1992) | |
| King of Kings | (2019) | |
| Call of the Raven | (2020) | |
Chronological Order of Ballantyne Books
| Call of the Raven | (2020) | |
| A Falcon Flies / Flight of the Falcon | (1980) | |
| Men of Men | (1981) | |
| The Triumph of the Sun | (1992) | |
| The Triumph of the Sun | (1992) | |
| King of Kings | (2019) | |
| King of Kings | (2019) | |
| The Angels Weep | (1982) | |
| The Leopard Hunts in Darkness | (1984) | |
Publication Order of Ancient Egypt Books
| River God | (1994) | |
| The Seventh Scroll | (1995) | |
| Warlock | (1995) | |
| The Quest | (2007) | |
| Desert God | (2014) | |
| Pharaoh | (2016) | |
| The New Kingdom | (2021) | |
| Titans of War | (2022) | |
| Testament | (2023) | |
Chronological Order of Ancient Egypt Books
| River God | (1994) | |
| Desert God | (2014) | |
| Pharaoh | (2016) | |
| Warlock | (1995) | |
| The Quest | (2007) | |
| The Seventh Scroll | (1995) | |
| The New Kingdom | (2021) | |
| Titans of War | (2022) | |
| Testament | (2023) | |
Publication Order of Hector Cross Books
| Those in Peril | (2011) | |
| Vicious Circle | (2013) | |
| Predator | (2016) | |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
| The Dark of the Sun / The Train from Katanga | (1965) | |
| Shout at the Devil | (1968) | |
| Gold Mine | (1970) | |
| The Diamond Hunters | (1971) | |
| The Sunbird | (1972) | |
| The Eye of the Tiger | (1974) | |
| Cry Wolf | (1976) | |
| Hungry as the Sea | (1978) | |
| Wild Justice / The Delta Decision | (1979) | |
| Eagle in the Sky | (1980) | |
| Elephant Song | (1991) | |
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
| On Leopard Rock | (2018) | |
Note: Wild Justice was also published as The Delta Decision in the USA. Predator was co-authored by Tom Cain. The Jack Courtney series is co-authored by Christopher Wakling. Call of the Raven was written with Corban Addison.
i found the sunbird and the seventh scroll to be totally engrossing. mr smiths scope and knowledge of what he writes is obvious; which begs the question of was he ever in the military or just had an advisor? his description of a fire fight was familiar for this two tour vietnam vet.
I only found out on this site that my favourite author Wilbur Smith had passed away, such a loss to the many readers of his books. I first read ‘When The Lion Feeds’ while I was still at school in 1965, and have been an avid reader ever since!!
One point I would like to make is that he should never have collaborated with other authors because unfortunately their influence detracted from the original style of the trilogy of the Courtney saga!! If I wanted romance I would have read Mills and Boon!! His later work was far too mushy for my taste due to these other ‘so called’ hacks, shame on them!!
Thank you for thrilling me over the years. Every book has taken me on a thrilling journey keeping me awake well into the early hours of the morning. We will miss you Wilbur Smith.
16 November 2021
I’m now 73 years of age and beginning to grasp new technology. I started reading Wilbur from the first of his books back in 1964 and have read every one of his books with avid attention.Long may it continue.
Many Thanks Wilbur.
I stated reading w s in the 1070s stopped when I finished working 2001 and restored about 4 years ago so not sure if have read them all ithi k so on time to die Ballantine series so latest one still nor read
I HAVE READ ALL OF HIS BOOKS EXCEPT LEGACY OF WAR AND CALL OF THE RAVEN ALWAYS A RIVETTING READ I HAVE TO TURN JUST ONE MORE PAGE BEFORE I PUT THEM DOWN PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORLDS GREATEST STORY TELLERS
No “probably” about it, he is hands down the greatest writer ever!! I would be very interested to know who you may think is just as good so I can find another good line of books to read.
Try Robert Ludlum. You won’t regret
I’m never sure when a new book is released as we no longer have a book shop only rely on Variety stores getting them in I’d love some sort of prompt or flag when a new book is released
That’s something we are working on 🙂
I have 37 of Wilbur Smiths book and have just read them for the second time. I enjoy his books more than any other writer..
Im looking for 9 more and I will find them..
I have them in a box marked for my grandson and will give them to him when I think he is age appropriate..
He turns 13 next month and loves to read….
Hi James
I get you. I read my favorite books more than once, and I have just started River God for the third time. Wilbur is one of my all time favorite authors. I’ve read all his books at least once.
I have read all books except King of Kings and the final one (memoir). Wonderful reading.
Hi, I have been trying to find a WS book for years. I read it a long time ago, and I can not find it.
Its about a young guy who goes out in the bush, along the way he meets an old guy. They are looking for either Gold or Diamonds. They look in Rivers, Creeks.
I am rereading WS books and this one is the only one I cannot find.
Can you help me find it? Cheers Danny Roberts.
in chronological order is great even though I didn’t. Fab!
Did Wilbur Smith write a book by the name of Witwatersrand?
Hi Sylvia, I hope you still visit this site and find my answer. The book called Witwatersrand is the Afrikaans version of When the Lion Feeds, his first book
On Wilbur Smith’s Bibliography here:
http://www.wilbursmithbooks.com/books
he answers the question from fans as to what order he believes his books should be read: just wanted to mention it in case anyone was interested.
I love this site and use it at least once a week. I share the link every chance I get, post it on Amazon and am very grateful you are here.