How to Read The Survivalist Series
For readers diving into the post-apocalyptic world of A. American (the pen name of Chris Weatherman), the best approach is to follow the publication order. The main storyline follows the protagonist, Morgan Carter, in a strictly linear chronological path that begins immediately after an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) collapse. Reading the books out of order will spoil major plot points, family developments, and shifting survival dynamics.
The Main Survivalist Series (Morgan Carter's Story)
- Going Home (2012) - Morgan Carter's car breaks down 250 miles from home just as an EMP-like event cripples the U.S. power grid, forcing him to trek home on foot with his bug-out bag.
- Surviving Home (2013) - Back with his family, Morgan must protect his home and coordinate with his neighbors as local resources dwindle.
- Escaping Home (2013) - Under the pressure of martial law and rising government overreach, Morgan is forced to make a choice between staying or fleeing.
- Forsaking Home (2014) - Morgan clashes with a corrupt refugee camp run by authoritarian forces.
- Resurrecting Home (2014) - Morgan and his community establish a new normal while defending themselves against external threats.
- Enforcing Home (2015) - Tensions escalate as local militias, military remnants, and desperate survivors fight for control.
- Avenging Home (2016) - Personal losses and rising stakes force Morgan and his allies to take the fight directly to their oppressors.
- Home Invasion (2017) - The community faces internal betrayals and external raids in their fight for safety.
- Conflicted Home (2017) - Loyalties are tested as different factions vie to rebuild society on their own terms.
- Home Coming (2018) - The community begins establishing long-term stability, though the challenges of a lawless world remain ever-present.
- Engineering Home (2022) - Focuses on the technological and logistical challenges of restoring infrastructure and security in a post-collapse America.
- Exploring Home (2023) - The most recent installment, which sees Morgan and his companions venturing further outward to scout resources and establish alliances.
A thirteenth book in the main series has been highly anticipated by fans and remains in development. However, as of mid-2026, no official title or release date has been finalized by the author or publisher.
The Expanded "Going Home" Fictional Universe
Chris Weatherman has collaborated with other prominent post-apocalyptic writers to expand the fictional universe of the series. These books share the same timeline and EMP setting but follow different characters, offering a wider view of how the collapse impacted other areas of the United States.
The Standalone Companion Novel
- Hope (2016) - Co-authored with G. Michael Hopf, this standalone novel is set in the same post-EMP world and follows Neal, a survivor struggling to find purpose and stay alive on a desolate highway after a devastating personal tragedy. It is best read after Avenging Home to match its publication timeline.
The Charlie's Requiem Spin-Off Series
Co-authored with Walt Browning, this six-part spin-off series follows Charlie, a different survivor navigating the breakdown of society and the rise of authoritarian threats in the wake of the national collapse. While it can be read independently, it is highly recommended to read it after getting familiar with the first few books of the main series (around Book 7 or 8) to appreciate the shared world-building.
- Charlie's Requiem (2019)
- Democide (2019)
- Resistance (2020)
- Retribution (2020)
- Contagion (2021)
- Resurgence (2022)
What to Know Before You Start
Before embarking on Morgan Carter's long journey, there are a few key details that can enrich your reading experience:
- Authentic Prepper Details: Chris Weatherman writes under the pen name A. American (often stylized as Angery American). He is a real-life survival expert with over 30 years of prepping experience and was a contestant on the History Channel's survival reality show, Alone (Season 2). The detailed steps for foraging, perimeter defense, water purification, and gear selection in the novels are based on real-world survival techniques.
- The Jerry Ahern Confusion: Be careful when searching for books under "The Survivalist." There is an entirely unrelated, 27-plus-book pulp action series titled The Survivalist written by Jerry Ahern in the 1980s featuring the protagonist John Rourke. Make sure you are looking for A. American or Chris Weatherman to get the correct modern series.
- Other Standalone Works: A. American has written other standalone projects, including the fiction novels Cry Havoc and Ramblin' Man, as well as a non-fiction instructional guide titled Decline and Decay: Strategies for Surviving the Coming Unpleasantness (co-authored with Alan Kay). These do not feature Morgan Carter and are not part of the main narrative continuity.