First Wave Recommended Reading Order
If you love fast-paced, high-stakes survival thrillers, J.T. Sawyer's post-apocalyptic universe is the perfect escape. Fortunately, navigating the reading order for this series is highly straightforward. The First Wave series follows a strict chronological timeline, meaning the publication order and chronological order are identical. For the best reading experience, you should read the trilogy in this sequence:
- First Wave (2014)
- The Longest Day (2014)
- No Place to Hide (2014)
For readers who prefer to grab everything at once, all three books are available in a single omnibus titled First Wave: The Complete Set (sometimes listed as First Wave: A Zombie-Apocalypse Series Boxed Set). There are no side stories, short novellas, or split perspective novels to worry about, making this one of the most accessible zombie series to dive into.
What to Know Before You Start
What sets the First Wave series apart from standard zombie fiction is its deep commitment to realistic survival tactics. The author, J.T. Sawyer, is actually the pen name of Tony Nester, a world-renowned wilderness survival instructor. As the founder of the Ancient Pathways survival school in 1989, Nester has spent decades training elite military units, including Special Operations forces, as well as personnel from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He also served as a consultant for Hollywood productions, most notably helping prepare actors for the film Into the Wild.
This extensive real-world expertise directly translates onto the page. When protagonist Travis Combs navigates the harsh Arizona desert, builds water-collection systems, sets tactical traps, or treks through rugged canyons, the descriptions are grounded in genuine survival science. Readers who enjoy learning actual survival tips alongside a gripping fictional narrative will find this trilogy especially rewarding.
The Main First Wave Books
First Wave (Book 1)
The journey begins with First Wave. The story introduces Travis Combs, a Special Forces veteran who has spent the last 22 days completely cut off from the world on a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. Upon emerging, he discovers that a devastating viral pandemic has swept across the globe, transforming the infected into bloodthirsty zombies. Drawing on his military training, Travis assumes leadership of a mismatched group of survivors—including Kate, a resilient ER nurse, a school principal, and a helicopter pilot. Together, they must navigate the unforgiving Arizona desert while avoiding infected hordes, hostile cartels, and rogue biker gangs.
The Longest Day (Book 2)
The survival struggle continues in The Longest Day. The group leaves the dry Arizona desert behind and sets a course for Denver, Colorado, where Travis hopes to reunite with his son. However, their journey forces them through the rugged mountains surrounding Flagstaff, Arizona. Here, they must adapt to high-altitude cold and mountainous terrain while facing smarter zombified predators and desperate bands of human survivors who will stop at nothing to steal their gear.
No Place to Hide (Book 3)
The stakes reach their peak in the final installment, No Place to Hide. The virus has mutated, spawning faster and more aggressive zombified creatures that push Travis's tactical skills to their absolute limit. To make matters worse, internal betrayal threatens to tear the group apart from the inside. The survivors must race against time to reach a hidden research facility that houses the potential cure for the virus, culminating in a high-octane climax that decides the fate of their group.
Are There Spin-Offs or Crossovers?
Readers often wonder if the First Wave trilogy connects to J.T. Sawyer’s other post-apocalyptic books. Sawyer is the author of another highly popular zombie-themed series, the Carlie Simmons Series, which begins with Until Morning Comes. Although both series take place in a zombie-ravaged American Southwest (with the Carlie Simmons books heavily featuring Tucson, Arizona), they do not cross over. Carlie Simmons is an ex-Secret Service agent whose survival journey remains independent of Travis Combs' story. While they are sometimes bundled together in digital author promotions, they are separate stories that can be read independently.
If you finish the First Wave series and want more of Sawyer’s signature tactical realism, we recommend exploring his action-thriller series. The Mitch Kearns Combat Tracker Series and the Nate Hendrix Survival Thriller Series are excellent choices that place heavy emphasis on professional tracking, military tactics, and high-intensity survival encounters.