Start Here: The Recommended Reading Path
Unlike many traditional Westerns that feature episodic, static characters who never age or change, the Wilderness series is a sprawling, generational saga. Written by prolific author David Robbins under the pen name David Thompson, the series follows the life, family, and legacy of Nathaniel King. Because of this deep continuity, you should read the Wilderness books in publication order, starting with the very first book, King of the Mountain.
Reading the series in order is crucial because Nate King begins his journey in 1828 as a green, naive New York accountant lured to the frontier by promises of family treasure. Over the course of the novels, Nate transforms into a seasoned mountain man, marries a Shoshone woman named Winona, builds a homestead in the Colorado Rockies, and raises children (Zach and Evelyn). The characters grow, suffer tragic losses, age in real-time, and pass the torch to the next generation. Skipping around will spoil major character deaths, family marriages, and the natural evolution of the frontier setting.
The Main Wilderness Publication Order
The main series consists of over 70 volumes. In the mid-2010s, digital publishers began releasing these books as two-in-one digital omnibus editions (for example, pairing Book 1 and Book 2 together). If you are buying ebooks, pay close attention to whether you are purchasing a single novel or a double edition. Below is the chronological publication sequence of the main novels, along with clarifications on how the double editions and late-series author name changes fit into the order:
- Book 1: King of the Mountain (1990) – Nate King leaves New York for the Rocky Mountains.
- Book 2: Lure of the Wild (1991) – Nate meets Winona and establishes his homestead.
- Book 3: Savage Rendezvous (1991)
- Book 4: Blood Fury (1991)
- Book 5: Tomahawk Revenge (1991)
- Book 6: Vengeance Trail (1991)
- Book 7: Black Powder Justice (1991) – Introduces Nate's son, Zach, and new family dynamics.
- Book 8: Death Hunt (1992)
- Book 9: Mountain Devil (1992)
- Book 10: Blackfoot Massacre (1992)
- ...[Series continues through Dorchester Publishing up to Book 68]...
- Book 68: Savage Hearts (2014) – The final book published under the original run before publishing shake-ups.
The Transition to David Robbins and Indie Reissues
Following the closure of the original publisher, Dorchester Publishing, the series faced transition. Piccadilly Publishing began re-releasing the early books in double-novel packages (e.g., King of the Mountain / Lure of the Wild in 2015). David Robbins eventually chose to continue the narrative timeline under his own real name rather than the David Thompson pseudonym. These later books continue the main numbering narrative:
- Book 69: The Avenger (2016) – Published under the name David Robbins.
- Book 70: Love and Cold Steel (2018) – Continues the saga under David Robbins.
- Book 71: Stalked (2020) – The most recent installment following Nate King's family.
The "Giant Wilderness" Special Editions
Between 1992 and 1997, Robbins released seven longer, standalone historical novels known as the Giant Wilderness books. While they are formatted as separate, self-contained adventures, they feature the same characters and fit directly into the timeline of the main series. The publication order for the Giant editions is:
- Hawken Fury (1992) – Fits chronologically between Book 9 and Book 10 of the main series.
- Season Of The Warrior (1993)
- Prairie Blood (1994)
- Ordeal (1995)
- The Trail West (1996)
- Frontier Strike (1996)
- Spanish Slaughter (1997)
If you want a seamless chronological experience, read these Giant editions in the years they were published alongside the main books. However, because they are written as standalone epics, you can also read the main series first and return to the Giant editions as extended flashback adventures.
The Endworld Connection: A Surprising Crossover
One of the most fascinating aspects of David Robbins' work is the creation of the "Endworld Universe." Though Wilderness reads as a realistic, gritty historical Western, Robbins has established that Nathaniel King is the direct ancestor of the post-apocalyptic warriors featured in his sci-fi action series, Endworld.
This connection culminated in a direct crossover novel, Frontier Strike (the 6th Giant Wilderness book, published in 1996). In this genre-bending tale, characters from the post-apocalyptic future travel back in time to the 1840s, teaming up with Nate King to prevent a villain from altering history. While purist Western fans can skip this crossover without losing track of the main historical story, it is a fun easter egg for readers who enjoy Robbins' broader speculative fiction catalog.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into this massive catalog, keep these practical reading tips in mind:
- Pseudonym Clarification: Do not confuse the author "David Thompson" with the famous 18th-century Canadian cartographer and fur trader of the same name. The books are written entirely by modern author David Robbins.
- Respectful Depictions: Unlike many older Western paperbacks, Robbins' Wilderness series is frequently praised by genre fans for portraying Native American tribes, particularly the Shoshone, with cultural nuance, dignity, and historical research rather than as simple caricatures.
- Spin-offs & Companion Series: If you finish the Wilderness saga and want similar reads, check out Robbins' Davy Crockett series (also written under the David Thompson pen name) or his White Apache series (written as Jake McMasters). They share the same historical grit and outdoorsman survival themes.