Wilderness books in order

Reading order

The Wilderness series is David Robbins’ longest-running original creation, spanning 71 novels published between 1990 and 2020. The books follow Nate King, who leaves the East Coast behind to become a mountain man in the Rocky Mountains during the early 19th century. Over the course of the series, Nate builds a life on the frontier, marries a Shoshone woman, raises a family, and faces threats from hostile tribes, wildlife, outlaws, and the encroaching forces of westward expansion.

The series distinguishes itself through its long timeline. Readers follow Nate from young manhood through old age, watching the American frontier change around him. Robbins uses the episodic format to explore different aspects of frontier life, from fur trapping and Native American relations to the arrival of settlers and the conflicts that followed. The books are action-driven but grounded in a specific historical period, giving them more depth than a typical Western adventure series.