Books On Board
series Reading Order

Cap Fog Books in Order

6 Books
1977 – 1990 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start: The Recommended Chronological Order

While the Cap Fog series began publishing out of order, the best way to experience the narrative is chronologically. This reading path follows Alvin 'Cap' Fog—the grandson of the legendary Dusty Fog—from his very first day joining the unconventional Company Z unit of the Texas Rangers as he seeks to earn his reputation under his family's massive legacy. Reading in this order allows you to see the growth of the characters and the unit's evolution:

  1. You're a Texas Ranger, Alvin Fog (1979) – Start here to see Alvin Fog's entry into the elite Company Z unit. As the only member without Ranger status initially, he must prove himself.
  2. The Justice of Company Z (1980) – Follows the unit as they tackle powerful crime syndicates and bend the rules to clean up the border.
  3. Cap. Fog, Texas Ranger, Meet Mr. J. G. Reeder (1977) – The first published book, but chronologically third. This book crosses over with Edgar Wallace's famous British detective.
  4. Rapido Clint (1980) – A high-stakes adventure where Alvin and his companions face a lethal outlaw duo in a Mexican hacienda.
  5. The Return of Rapido Clint and Mr. J.G. Reeder (1984) – Another crossover linking Edson's characters with Edgar Wallace's creations.
  6. Rapido Clint Strikes Back (1990) – The action-packed final installment of the Cap Fog series.

Publication Order

If you prefer to read the series exactly as it hit bookshelves between 1977 and 1990, follow the publication order. Reading this way means you start with a crossover event before learning how Alvin Fog actually joined the Rangers:

  • Cap. Fog, Texas Ranger, Meet Mr. J. G. Reeder (1977)
  • You're a Texas Ranger, Alvin Fog (1979)
  • The Justice of Company Z (1980)
  • Rapido Clint (1980)
  • The Return of Rapido Clint and Mr J.G. Reeder (1984)
  • Rapido Clint Strikes Back (1990)

Connecting to the Floating Outfit Universe

The Cap Fog series serves as a later-era spin-off of J.T. Edson's massive Floating Outfit series. While the Floating Outfit books are set in the 1870s and 1880s following the legendary Dusty Fog, the Cap Fog books jump forward to the Prohibition era of the 1920s and 1930s. The protagonist, Alvin Dustine 'Cap' Fog, is Dusty Fog's grandson, carrying the family's legacy of quick draws and sharp wits into an era of motorcars, Tommy guns, and bootleggers.

The Edgar Wallace Crossovers

J.T. Edson was famous for integrating characters from other literary universes into his books. For the Cap Fog series, he secured permission from Penelope Wallace (daughter of the renowned British crime novelist Edgar Wallace) to feature Wallace's eccentric detective, Mr. J.G. Reeder. Edson put his own spin on the character, depicting him as the head of a secret intelligence network disguised as a poultry farm in Kent, adding a unique pulp mystery flavor to these Western adventures.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the Cap Fog series about?

The series follows Alvin 'Cap' Fog, the grandson of the legendary Dusty Fog, as he leads Company Z—an elite, rule-bending unit of Texas Rangers fighting bootleggers and outlaws during the Prohibition era.

QWhich book should I start with in the Cap Fog series?

We recommend starting with You're a Texas Ranger, Alvin Fog (1979). Although it was published second, it functions as the chronological origin story of how Alvin joins the Rangers and establishes himself under his grandfather's legacy.

QHow does Cap Fog relate to J.T. Edson's Floating Outfit series?

It is a generational spin-off. Cap Fog is the grandson of Dusty Fog, the famous protagonist of the Floating Outfit books. The setting shifts from the post-Civil War Wild West to the 1920s Prohibition era.

QWho is Mr. J.G. Reeder in these books?

Mr. J.G. Reeder is a classic detective character originally created by British writer Edgar Wallace. J.T. Edson obtained official permission to cross him over into the Cap Fog books, where he acts as an ally to the Rangers.

QHow many books are in the Cap Fog series?

The series consists of six books published between 1977 and 1990, beginning with Cap. Fog, Texas Ranger, Meet Mr. J. G. Reeder and concluding with Rapido Clint Strikes Back.

QDo I need to read the Floating Outfit books before starting Cap Fog?

No, you can read Cap Fog as a standalone series. Knowing the Floating Outfit history adds extra flavor, but Company Z's adventures are fully self-contained.