Odyssey One Books in Order

How to Read the Odyssey One Universe: The Recommended Reading Path

If you are ready to venture into the high-stakes, action-packed military science fiction universe created by Evan Currie, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by the multiple prequels, sequel series, and spin-offs. Fortunately, the path through the stars is straightforward if you know where to look. While chronological purists might want to start at the very beginning of the timeline, we strongly recommend reading the series in publication order, starting with the book that launched it all: Into the Black.

Starting with the main series allows you to experience the universe exactly as the author built it. You will be introduced to the technology, the alien factions, and the crew of the NAC Odyssey first, which makes diving into the prequels and spin-offs far more rewarding. Here is our recommended reading roadmap:

• The Core Foundation: Start with the first four books of the main series (Into the Black through Out of the Black). This establishes the Drasin War arc and the core lore of the North American Confederation (NAC).
• The Rogue Detour: Read the spin-off novel King of Thieves (Star Rogue Book 1) after Book 4. It takes place in the same universe and bridges the gap before the main fleet action resumes.
• The Continuing Main Arc: Return to the main series for Books 5 through 8 (Warrior King to King's Fall), which follows the escalation of the conflict and the changing status of Captain Eric Weston.
• Stealth and Covert Ops: Read the Archangel One spin-off trilogy (Archangel One, Archangel Rising, and Imperial Gambit). This series is set after the events of Odysseus Ascendant (Book 7) and focuses on the high-risk scout operations that occur in the background of the main conflict.
• The Prequels (Optional Flashback): Dive into the Before the Odyssey prequel duology (Holy Ground and Infamy) to learn about the terrestrial World War III and Eric Weston's early fighter pilot career.
• The Sequel Saga: Complete your journey with the After the Odyssey series (beginning with The Seeds that were Sown and Harvest), which directly continues the story after the main series concludes.

The Core Saga: The Odyssey One Main Series

The main series focuses on Earth's first faster-than-light (FTL) exploration vessel, the NAC Odyssey, commanded by Captain Eric Weston. These books are the heart of the universe, featuring massive fleet engagements, tactical maneuvering, and the first contact scenarios that shape humanity's destiny.

• Into the Black (2011): The shakedown cruise of the Odyssey turns into a battle for survival when they discover the Priminae, a peaceful humanoid race, being attacked by a mysterious and aggressive biomechanical alien swarm known as the Drasin.
• The Heart of Matter (2012): The crew returns to Priminae space with reinforcements to help their new allies build defenses, only to realize the Drasin threat is far larger and more coordinated than they initially feared.
• Homeworld (2013): The war reaches Earth's doorstep. The NAC must defend the solar system against an onslaught, pushing human military capabilities and resolve to their absolute limits.
• Out of the Black (2014): The thrilling conclusion to the initial Drasin War. Humanity and their allies launch a counter-offensive to put an end to the Drasin threat, but victory comes with a heavy cost.
• Warrior King (2016): As the dust settles, new political and military realities emerge. The focus shifts to rebuilding, diplomatic tension, and preparing for the next inevitable conflict in a hostile galaxy.
• Odysseus Awakening (2017): Captain Weston and his crew are called back to duty as old threats mutate and new adversaries emerge from the shadows of deep space.
• Odysseus Ascendant (2018): The tactical stakes are raised as the NAC faces an empire that views humanity as a minor obstacle to be crushed. Weston must use every trick in his playbook to keep his crew and home planet safe.
• King's Fall: Odyssey One (2022): The dramatic climax of the main sequence. Weston's journey comes to a head as the empire launches a massive campaign to neutralize the Terran threat once and for all.

The Prequels: Before the Odyssey

For readers who want to know how the world of the North American Confederation came to be, the Before the Odyssey series offers a grounded, near-future look at the geopolitics and warfare that shaped Captain Weston long before he ever set foot on a starship.

• Holy Ground (2021): Set on Earth during the final terrestrial global conflict (World War III), this book follows a coalition of American and allied forces defending a strategic stronghold against the aggressive Eastern Alliance bloc. It establishes the harsh realities that forged the military culture of the NAC.
• Infamy (2024): This prequel centers on a younger Eric Weston stationed in Hawaii. As the Bloc war rages across the Pacific, Weston and his team must secure critical flight data for advanced fighter aircraft, showing his early leadership and tactical brilliance under pressure.

The Spin-Offs: Archangel One and Star Rogue

To fully appreciate the scope of Currie's universe, the spin-off series are highly recommended. They shift focus away from the massive fleet battles of the main line to explore different aspects of the interstellar conflict.

Archangel One Series

This trilogy is set after the events of Odysseus Ascendant (Book 7) and follows the elite scouts of the Archangel Squadron. Operating behind enemy lines, they engage in stealth reconnaissance, black ops, and asymmetrical warfare to give the NAC fleet a fighting chance.

• Archangel One (2019): The squadron is deployed deep into empire-controlled territory to gather intelligence on the enemy's next move, operating without any hope of rescue if they are captured.
• Archangel Rising (2020): Commander Connor Burke and his team must navigate internal political schemes within alien factions to secure allies and keep the squadron alive.
• Imperial Gambit (2022): The high-stakes finale of the Archangel arc, where the scouts' gathered intelligence is put to the test in a desperate attempt to disrupt the enemy's strategic plans.

Star Rogue Series

Currently consisting of a single novel, this spin-off introduces a more rogue-like element to the universe.

• King of Thieves (2015): Set after the events of Out of the Black (Book 4), this story follows a crew of space-faring rogues and thieves operating in the gray areas of the galaxy. It offers a fresh, street-level perspective on the universe, away from the rigid military structure of the NAC Navy.

The Next Era: After the Odyssey

The story does not end with King's Fall. Evan Currie launched a direct sequel series to continue the narrative and show the long-term consequences of the galactic war.

• The Seeds that were Sown (2023): This book picks up after the events of the main series, exploring the fragile peace and the new generation of officers tasked with maintaining order in a scarred galaxy.
• Harvest (2025): The tension escalates as the remnants of the Empire return to claim what they believe is theirs, forcing the Terran survivors and their allies to prepare for another desperate defensive stand.

Chronological Order vs. Publication Order

If you prefer to read the events in the order they occur in the timeline, the chronological reading order is as follows:

1. Holy Ground (Before the Odyssey Book 1)
2. Infamy (Before the Odyssey Book 2)
3. Into the Black (Odyssey One Book 1)
4. The Heart of Matter (Odyssey One Book 2)
5. Homeworld (Odyssey One Book 3)
6. Out of the Black (Odyssey One Book 4)
7. King of Thieves (Star Rogue Book 1)
8. Warrior King (Odyssey One Book 5)
9. Odysseus Awakening (Odyssey One Book 6)
10. Odysseus Ascendant (Odyssey One Book 7)
11. Archangel One (Archangel One Book 1)
12. Archangel Rising (Archangel One Book 2)
13. Imperial Gambit (Archangel One Book 3)
14. King's Fall: Odyssey One (Odyssey One Book 8)
15. The Seeds that were Sown (After the Odyssey Book 1)
16. Harvest (After the Odyssey Book 2)

A Quick Caveat: While the chronological order is clean on paper, reading the prequels (Before the Odyssey) first can be jarring due to the shift in tone and technology. The prequels are near-future terrestrial military techno-thrillers, whereas the main series is grand space opera with faster-than-light travel. Starting with Into the Black remains the safest and most engaging entry point for new readers.

What to Know Before You Start

Evan Currie's writing is heavily influenced by classic military science fiction. Expect a strong focus on technical detail, tactical setups, and realistic physics constraints (such as the limitations of acceleration and thermal dynamics in vacuum). The series is known for its fast pacing and high-action sequences, often drawing comparisons to Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet or David Weber’s Honor Harrington. While the character development is straightforward and action-oriented rather than deeply introspective, the sheer scale of the space battles and the strategic creativity of Captain Weston keep readers turning the pages.