Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wave of Infection | 2013 | Jason M. Hough | N/A |
| 2 | The Dire Earth | 2014 | Jason M. Hough | Buy |
| 3 | Darwinský výtah | 2013 | Jason M. Hough | N/A |
| 4 | The Darwin Elevator | 2013 | Jason M. Hough | Buy |
| 5 | The Exodus Towers | 2013 | Jason M. Hough | Buy |
| 6 | The Plague Forge | 2013 | Jason M. Hough | Buy |
| 7 | Injection Burn | 2017 | Jason M. Hough | Buy |
| 8 | Escape Velocity | 2017 | Jason M. Hough | Buy |
The Dire Earth Cycle takes place in a near-future setting where a mysterious alien structure, a space elevator, has appeared in Darwin, Australia. A plague called the Builder Plague has turned most of humanity into mindless subhumans, and the elevator’s aura is the only thing that keeps people safe. The main trilogy follows Skyler Luiken, a Dutch pilot who scavenges the plague-ravaged world outside Darwin’s protective zone, and Tania Sharma, a scientist studying the alien technology.
The series expanded with prequel novellas that fill in the history leading up to the events of The Darwin Elevator, as well as a second duology (Injection Burn and Escape Velocity) that takes the story in a new direction. Readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic settings with alien mysteries and a focus on survival will find a lot to like here.