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Order of James Rollins Books
Born on August 20, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois, James Rollins began life in a way that almost no one would predict would end in global book tours, secret societies, and underground catacombs laced with conspiracy. Long before he became a household name in the world of thriller fiction, Rollins was just a young boy fascinated by science, storytelling, and the beating heart of mystery that pulsed beneath the mundane.
Raised in the Midwest, Rollins—whose real name is James Paul Czajkowski—grew up with a passion for science fiction and fantasy, devouring books by H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and Arthur Conan Doyle. But instead of immediately diving into the literary world, he took a more… furry path.
That’s right. James Rollins trained as a veterinarian. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) from the University of Missouri in Columbia and ran a successful practice in Sacramento, California. There, surrounded by howling dogs and curious cats, he stitched wounds, calmed anxious pet parents, and secretly nursed a burning desire to write. Not just any writing—but the kind that kicks the door off the hinges and tosses you headfirst into an ancient temple while a countdown to a viral apocalypse ticks in the background.
Because James Rollins wasn’t meant to just heal animals—he was destined to unleash chaos through words.
By day, he healed paws. By night, he conjured worlds. His early foray into writing under the pen name James Clemens focused on fantasy novels like The Banned and the Banished series. But as his imagination tugged harder toward the intersection of cutting-edge science and ancient secrets, Rollins transformed—no longer just a vet, but a master of the scientific thriller.
He finally broke into the thriller scene with "Subterranean" in 1999—a novel that plunged readers deep into Earth’s hidden realms. Since then, there’s been no looking back. With a scalpel-sharp writing style and the precision of someone who knows anatomy (literally), Rollins stitched together action, science, history, and imagination in ways that redefined the genre.
His books often involve Sigma Force, a secret government organization where soldiers are also scientists—because, why not mix brains with brawn? It’s like if Indiana Jones, Jason Bourne, and Elon Musk decided to form a task force. And Rollins is the puppet master behind every explosive scene, decoding lost languages, unearthing forgotten civilizations, and dangling the fate of humanity over readers’ heads.
What makes his work even more addictive? Every book is rooted in real science. Rollins includes author notes at the end of each novel separating fact from fiction, and yet even the facts feel like fiction—because yes, viruses have disappeared overnight, and yes, ancient maps have hinted at impossible truths.
Still alive and very much thriving, James Rollins is not just writing books—he’s running literary marathons at the edge of reason. With over 20+ novels, international bestsellers, film rights snapped up, and a devoted fanbase, he remains a literary force of nature.
Oh—and death? That hasn’t even tried knocking on Rollins' door yet. Because with the kind of secrets he’s uncovered, death might just be too afraid.
And here’s the irony: A man who once saved pets now regularly kills off characters, cities, and sometimes… civilizations.
But every time he does, he leaves behind breadcrumbs of truth, daring you to follow them. Daring you to question what you know. Daring you to pick up the next book.
Because Rollins doesn’t just write stories.
He sets fuses.
And the explosion? That’s entirely on you.
Publication Order of Series Books
Publication Order of Jake Ransom Series
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow | 2009 | Amazon |
| Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx | 2010 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Order of the Sanguines Trilogy
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| City of Screams | 2012 | Amazon |
| The Blood Gospel | 2013 | Amazon |
| Blood Brothers | 2013 | Amazon |
| Innocent Blood | 2013 | Amazon |
| Blood Infernal | 2015 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Sigma Force Series
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Sandstorm | 2004 | Amazon |
| Map of Bones | 2005 | Amazon |
| Black Order | 2006 | Amazon |
| Kowalski's in Love (Short Story) | 2006 | Amazon |
| Kowalski's in Love (Short Story) | 2006 | Amazon |
| The Judas Strain | 2007 | Amazon |
| The Last Oracle | 2008 | Amazon |
| The Doomsday Key | 2009 | Amazon |
| The Devil Colony | 2010 | Amazon |
| The Skeleton Key (Short Story) | 2011 | Amazon |
| Bloodline | 2012 | Amazon |
| Tracker (Short Story) | 2012 | Amazon |
| The Eye of God | 2013 | Amazon |
| The 6th Extinction | 2014 | Amazon |
| The Devil's Bones (with Steve Berry) | 2014 | Amazon |
| The Bone Labyrinth | 2015 | Amazon |
| The Midnight Watch (Short Story) | 2015 | Amazon |
| The Seventh Plague | 2016 | Amazon |
| Crash and Burn (Short Story) | 2016 | Amazon |
| The Demon Crown | 2017 | Amazon |
| Ghost Ship (Short Story) | 2017 | Amazon |
| Crucible | 2018 | Amazon |
| The Last Odyssey | 2020 | Amazon |
| Kingdom of Bones | 2022 | Amazon |
| Tides of Fire | 2023 | Amazon |
| Arkangel | 2024 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Tucker Wayne
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| The Kill Switch (with Grant Blackwood) | 2014 | Amazon |
| War Hawk (with Grant Blackwood) | 2016 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Access (Short Story) | 2020 | Amazon |
| Altar of Eden | 2009 | Amazon |
| Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | 2008 | Amazon |
| Ice Hunt | 2003 | Amazon |
| Amazonia | 2002 | Amazon |
| Deep Fathom | 2001 | Amazon |
| Excavation | 2000 | Amazon |
| Subterranean | 1999 | Amazon |