The Bourne Series

Q: "What order should I read the Bourne books?"

"Read in publication order starting with The Bourne Identity (1980). Robert Ludlum wrote the original trilogy, Eric Van Lustbader continued with books 4-14, and Brian Freeman now writes the series."

Q: "How many Bourne books are there?"

"There are 19 Jason Bourne novels as of 2024. Robert Ludlum wrote 3, Eric Van Lustbader wrote 11, and Brian Freeman has written 5 so far."

Q: "Are the Bourne movies based on the books?"

"The films take significant liberties with the source material. While the amnesia premise remains, the plots, characters, and tone differ considerably from Ludlum's novels."

Q: "Who writes the Bourne books now?"

"Brian Freeman has been writing the Bourne series since 2020, starting with The Bourne Evolution. He took over from Eric Van Lustbader."

The Bourne series follows Jason Bourne, a CIA assassin who is pulled from the Mediterranean Sea with no memory of his identity. Created by Robert Ludlum, the series became a cultural phenomenon through both the books and the Matt Damon film franchise.

The original trilogy by Ludlum established Bourne as a man searching for his past while evading the agency that created him. After Ludlum’s death, Eric Van Lustbader continued the series, and Brian Freeman now carries the torch, keeping Bourne relevant in the modern era.

Reading order

#	Title	Year	Author	Kindle	Paperback	Audiobook
1	The Bourne Identity	1980	Robert Ludlum	UK	US	US
2	The Bourne Supremacy	1986	Robert Ludlum	UK	US	US
3	The Bourne Ultimatum	1990	Robert Ludlum	UK	US	US
4	The Bourne Legacy	2004	Eric Van Lustbader	UK	US	US
5	The Bourne Betrayal	2007	Eric Van Lustbader	UK	US	US
6	The Bourne Sanction	2008	Eric Van Lustbader	UK	US	US
7	The Bourne Deception	2009	Eric Van Lustbader	UK	US	US
8	The Bourne Objective	2010	Eric Van Lustbader	UK	US	US
9	The Bourne Dominion	2011	Eric Van Lustbader	UK	US	US
10	The Bourne Imperative	2012	Eric Van Lustbader	UK	US	US
11	The Bourne Retribution	2013	Eric Van Lustbader	UK	US	US
12	The Bourne Ascendancy	2014	Eric Van Lustbader	UK	US	US
13	The Bourne Enigma	2016	Eric Van Lustbader	UK	US	US
14	The Bourne Initiative	2017	Eric Van Lustbader	UK	US	US
15	The Bourne Evolution	2020	Brian Freeman	UK	US	US
16	The Bourne Treachery	2021	Brian Freeman	UK	US	US
17	The Bourne Sacrifice	2022	Brian Freeman	UK	US	US
18	The Bourne Defiance	2023	Brian Freeman	UK	US	US
19	The Bourne Shadow	2024	Brian Freeman	UK	US	US

Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read the Bourne books?

Read in publication order starting with The Bourne Identity (1980). Robert Ludlum wrote the original trilogy, Eric Van Lustbader continued with books 4-14, and Brian Freeman now writes the series.

How many Bourne books are there?

There are 19 Jason Bourne novels as of 2024. Robert Ludlum wrote 3, Eric Van Lustbader wrote 11, and Brian Freeman has written 5 so far.

Are the Bourne movies based on the books?

The films take significant liberties with the source material. While the amnesia premise remains, the plots, characters, and tone differ considerably from Ludlum’s novels.

Who writes the Bourne books now?

Brian Freeman has been writing the Bourne series since 2020, starting with The Bourne Evolution. He took over from Eric Van Lustbader.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order