Books On Board
series Reading Order

Academy Books in Order

8 Books
1994 – 2018 Published
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Reading order
01
The Engines of God
The Engines of God
1994
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02
Deepsix
Deepsix
2000
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03
Chindi
Chindi
2002
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04
Omega
2003
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05
Odyssey
Odyssey
2006
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06
Cauldron
Cauldron
2007
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07
Starhawk
Starhawk
2013
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08
The Long Sunset
The Long Sunset
2018
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Where to Start: The Engines of God vs. Starhawk

When diving into Jack McDevitt’s acclaimed Academy series (often referred to as the Priscilla Hutchins or Hutch series), readers face a classic sci-fi dilemma: should you start with the first book published or the prequel?

We highly recommend starting with the original release, The Engines of God. Although Starhawk was published seventh, it functions as a prequel depicting Hutch's early pilot training. However, beginning with Starhawk can lessen the impact of the grand, overarching mystery of the Monument-Makers introduced in the early books. Starting with The Engines of God allows you to discover the secrets of the cosmos alongside Hutch as the author originally intended.

The Academy Books in Publication Order

Reading the series in publication order tracks the evolution of both McDevitt’s writing and Hutch’s progression from a talented young pilot to a seasoned interstellar leader. Here is the publication order:

  • The Engines of God (1994)
  • Deepsix (2000/2001)
  • Chindi (2002)
  • Omega (2003)
  • Odyssey (2006)
  • Cauldron (2007)
  • Starhawk (2013) – Prequel
  • The Long Sunset (2018)

The Chronological Storyline Order

If you prefer to follow Hutch's career chronologically from her very first flights, you can read the prequel first. Under this path, the order is:

  1. Starhawk (2013)
  2. The Engines of God (1994)
  3. Deepsix (2000/2001)
  4. Chindi (2002)
  5. Omega (2003)
  6. Odyssey (2006)
  7. Cauldron (2007)
  8. The Long Sunset (2018)

Short Stories and Thematic Spin-offs

While there are no official novel-length spin-offs in the Academy universe, McDevitt has written a handful of short story prequels featuring Hutch, such as "Maiden Voyage" and "Waiting at the Altar". These stories, which cover her early training and license tests, are collected in his anthology Cryptic: The Best Short Fiction of Jack McDevitt.

If you finish the Academy series and crave more of McDevitt’s signature blend of space archaeology, cosmic mysteries, and human resilience, you should pick up his Alex Benedict series, which explores similar themes in a separate universe set thousands of years further in the future.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended starting book for the Academy series?

We recommend starting with The Engines of God (1994). It introduces the core mystery of the Monument-Makers and sets the perfect tone for the rest of the series.

QIs Starhawk a prequel, and should I read it first?

Yes, Starhawk (2013) is a prequel detailing Priscilla Hutchins' early career. While you can read it first chronologically, reading it in publication order (after Cauldron) is recommended to avoid spoiling mysteries in the earlier novels.

QHow many novels are in the Academy series?

There are eight novels in the main Academy series, beginning with The Engines of God and concluding with The Long Sunset.

QAre there any short stories featuring Priscilla Hutchins?

Yes, prequels like "Maiden Voyage" and "Waiting at the Altar" follow Hutch during her pilot training and are collected in Cryptic: The Best Short Fiction of Jack McDevitt.

QIs Jack McDevitt's Alex Benedict series connected to the Academy books?

No, they are not directly connected. The Alex Benedict books take place in a different sci-fi universe, but they share the same beloved "space archaeology" and mystery themes as the Academy series.