Best Adventure Books Series of All Time in 2021

The first adventure novel you've ever read is hard to forget: After all, we all remember the first time our imaginations were lit by whispers of buried treasures, lost worlds, and distant jungles. As Jane Eyre says, “It is in vain to say that people should be content with rest: they should take action; and they will save it if they cannot find it.

"Fortunately,we seek action to make it easy! We have 100 best adventure books for you in this post, ranging from rolling travel overland to stories about surviving at sea with high stakes. Who knows where the next book you go? Let's find out.

Classic Books of Adventure

Or: the books that started it all. From novels Don Quixote to Treasure Island, they invented many of the figures of speech that we still see in adventure today.

1. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Considered one of the greatest works in literature, Don Quixote narrates the adventures of Alonso Quixano: a middle-aged man so obsessed with chivalric books that he decides to imitate them and become a knight-errant. find a loyal squire, rescue damsels in distress and fight windmills

READ ALSO : Best Adventure Books Non Fiction Library: 50 Non-Fiction Adventure

2. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

In this classic by Dum as a young man named d'Artagnan joins the musketeers of the guard. In doing so, he befriends Athos, Porthos and Aramis - the king's most celebrated musketeers - and embarks on a journey of his own.

3. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

This tale of “buccaneers and buried gold,” written by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, released millions of treasure maps, sea chests, black spots and deserted islands.

4. King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard and AC Michael

This 1885 book, the first English adventure novel set in Africa, is considered the origin of the Lost World literary genre. It features six adaptations, including a 1937 British film and a 2004 American television miniseries.

5. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne A

Journey to the Center of the Earththe Earth. is just that: a journey to the inside of the world, where German professor Otto Lidenbrock theorizes that volcanic tubes will lead. Another magnum opus by Jules Verne - and one of the most famous examples of underground fiction.

6. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Part adventure story and part revenge thriller. The Count of Monte Cristo is the story of Edmond Dantès, a man who is unjustly imprisoned without trial in an island fortress near France. That is, until one day he escapes and finds the men who conspired against him. You will find yourself coming for the adventure, but staying for the vindication.

7. Ivanhoe by Walter Scott

 

First published in 1819, Ivanhoe is a story of heroism set in 12th century England after the failure of the Third Crusade. Looking for jousting tournaments, romance, kidnappings and witch trials? Then you have come to the right book.

Adventures in the Jungle

There is more to the jungle than just The Jungle Book. From boa constrictors to alligators, danger lurks behind every tree in these classics.

8. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Immortalized by the Disney adaptation, Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs launched the legend of an orphan boy adopted by monkeys in the African jungle. With the name Tarzan, the boy must ultimately prove himself on two fronts: the animal kingdom and the even more menacing human world.

9. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

One of the most famous and acclaimed English novels in history is a grim adventure tale. This 1899 novella by Joseph Conrad tells the doomed story of Charles Marlow, who wants to leave the civilized world behind and sail through the Congo in Africa. But he did not meet what he expected on his journey to the metaphorical - and very literal - heart of darkness in the middle of the jungle.

10. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Brian Robeson is only 13 years old when his bush plane crashes in the woods. Now he has to survive - with nothing but an ax. This book won the 1987 Newberry Award and has spawned four sequels since then.

Congo by Michael Crichton

Another of Michael Crichton's famous adventure and science fiction, Congo book tells the poignant story of an expedition's desire to find the lost city of Zinj in Africa - despite the horrors of the jungle and previous deaths.

12. The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling published this book in 1894 as a collection of stories about a "human cub" Mowgli growing up with wolves in the forest. This is your chance to discover for yourself the original conceptions of these beloved characters, from Baloo the bear to Bagheera the black panther and the evil tiger Shere Khan.

13. The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

An expedition to an Amazon basin in South America to find prehistoric dinosaurs goes awry in Sir Arthur Doyle's 1912 novel. Sherlock Holmes is nowhere to be found, but this book does introduce the infamous character of Professor Challenger, the founder of the mission.

 

Adventures of the Sea

The world is 71% sea, which could explain why so many adventure novels take place on these wild, unknown waters. From Moby-Dick to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, they dive beneath the surface to find the heart of adventure.

14. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

 

Hop aboard Captain Nemo's Nautilus to explore the Red Sea, Atlantis, Vigo Bay and more - all taking place in (from 1870) a wild new frontier: the sea.

15. The Cruel Sea Nicholas Monsarrat

Before The Perfect Storm was The CruelSea. Set during World War II, this 1951 novel is considered one of the most important portrayals of the Royal Navy's struggle against both the sea and the Germans.

16. Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling

Fifteen-year-old Harvey Cheyne Jr. is the privileged, arrogant son of a powerful businessman. That is, until he almost drowns in the Atlantic Sea. Fortunately, he was saved from certain death by Portuguese fishermen. Thus begins his life aboard a ship that doesn't care about his wealth - and his eventual journey back to America.

17. The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson

Written by the Swedish writer Frans G. Bengtsson, The Long Ships is still one of the most widely read books in Sweden today. In it, a kidnapped boy grows up as the son of a Swedish tribal chief before embarking on a long adventure to find the promised treasure.

18. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Call me Ishmael, this epic story begins. Hailed as one of the sea's greatest books ever written, Moby-Dick tells the timeless tale of a journey to hunt and kill the great white whale that rules the ocean and pursues the cruel Captain Ahab.

19. Jaws by Peter Benchley

The 1974 book that inspired Steven Spielberg's blockbuster hit - which dramatically reduced beach visits in 1975. Jaws is the story of three men who set out to kill a man-eating great white shark. It's a high-stakes adventure at sea, with more dangers than anyone could have ever imagined.

20. The Odyssey by Homer

You won't get a story closer to a purer definition of an adventure than The Odyssey. Homer tells the famous story of Odysseus in this Greek epic poem: from the moment Troy falls to the journey he must take to get home in ten years.

21. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe,

famous for his short stories, has written only one real novel: The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. But what an exciting adventure it is as we follow the life of a young stowaway on a whaling ship who encounters shipwreck, cannibalism and the South Pole along the way.

22. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Piscine Patel, nicknamed Pi, tells the story of how he lived 227 days on a small lifeboat with a spotted hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a tiger. But is Pi telling the whole truth? This revealing book has sold more than ten million copies worldwide and has been adapted into a Hollywood blockbuster.

23. Eric Brighteyesfiction by Henry Rider Haggard

There is one thing we don't see enough in adventure, and that's Vikings. Eric Brighteyes solves this for us. In this epic Viking saga, a young Eric Thorgrimursson (nicknamed "Brighteyes") is confronted with drama, love and thrilling adventure as he grows up in 10th-century Iceland.

 

Adventures in the Desert

Remote, isolated and desolate: what better setting for an adventure than a desert? Meet scorpions, nomadic tribes and golden sands in the desert adventure books below.

24. Dune by Frank Herbert

The first installment of the Dune series, Dune is an interstellar adventure that revolves around several noble houses battling to the desert island of Arrakis, on which the coveted spice check. melange resides

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey

An autobiographical work, Desert Solitaire is American writer Edward Abbey's account of his experiences in the Southwestern United States - a region that remains largely shrouded in desert.

26. The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers

An adventure novel that features in the guise of spy fiction, the Riddle of the Sands is a fantastic example of how an ordinary yachting voyage quickly becomes a maddening investigation of the German's plan to enter Britain. to fall. Plus, it may be one of the first modern thrillers ever written.

 

Adventures in space and the sky

It is the X factor in our knowledge of the world that has yet to be mapped: space and everything that it entails. These books break that boundary and boldly go where no one has gone before.

27. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

The British phenomenon of Douglas Adams that is still widely cited. When Earth is destroyed, only one man survives: Arthur Dent. He is picked up by Ford Prefect, an alien writer working on an electronic book called The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. What follows is an adventure through the greatest landscape of all: the Milky Way.

28. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

If you had 80 days to spare, what would you do with it? Phileas Fogg and his servant Passepartout decided to use the time to travel the world. The £ 20,000 bet helps, of course, but so does the adventure ahead. Another wonderful adventure story that Jules Verne (him again!) Published.

29. The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe

 

The Right Stuff directly confronts the unknown as a group of American pilots compete in the space race against Russia. Inspired by the launch of Apollo 17, Tom Wolfe wrote this book to discover the courage that drives an astronaut to take to the skies.

30. Children of the Comet by Donald Moffitt

In the distant future, a small community lives in space harvesting frozen air to make a living. But what happens when hunters from neighboring comets - and humans on spaceships - appear on the scene? This is a cosmic adventure in a very literal sense as our young hero, Torris, is trying to survive on a comet made entirely of ice.

31. The Long Road to a Small, Wicked Planet by Becky Chambers

Becky Chambers funded this adventure through a successful Kickstarter campaign. It has been re-published by Hodder & Stroughton and tells the story of a human named Rosemary Harper who joins the crew Wayfarer as a file manager. Accidents and adventures follow!

The Martian by Andy Weir

In the year 2035, a surprising dust storm traps botanist Mark Watney alone on the planet Mars. Find out how Mark survives alone on this unexplored frontier in this book that took the literary world by storm when it was self-published in 2011.

Adventures with animals

What could be better than a plain old adventure story, you might ask? Well, an adventure with animals. These books take readers on a journey to another world: where nature reigns and a blade of grass can be the height of the Empire State Building

33. Call of the Wild Jack London's

in Canada during the Klondike Gold Rush in 1890, this The story tells the adventures of a dog named Buck, who must survive other dogs, nature and the cruelty of humans in order to answer the call of the wild.

34. White Fang by Jack London

considered a thematic level of The Call of the WildJack London's White Fang is about a titular wolf dog being dragged from the wild to domestication - and everything that comes with it.

35. Watership Down by Richard Adams

Rabbits? What on earth could be exciting or adventurous about rabbits? It turns out there are many things. As Hazel, Fiver and the party escape their habitat and make their way to Watership Down in this classic book of courage, you'll find yourself rooting hard for this brave, resourceful band of hoppy adventurers.

36. Raptor Red by Robert T. Bakker

Unlike any other book out there, Raptor Red is told entirely from the third person perspective of Raptor Red, a female Utahraptor. Robert T. Bakker, the author, expertly draws on genuine research into the Cretaceous Period to bring a prehistoric Earth to life as Raptor Red struggles to survive in a dinosaur-eating dinosaur world.

 

Adventures of Identity

By day, you might be another unnamed clerk at an unnamed company. But when you put on the mask, the Earth opens up to you - along with a whole world of adventures.

Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore: A Novel by Robin Sloan

The American book cover of Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore lights up in the dark. Not enough adventure for you yet? Then you can dive into the story to follow Clay Jannon's stay as an employee for Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour bookshop - which isn't, as you'd expect, all that it seems.

38. The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulle

Originally published as The Curse of Capistrano. This is the first book featuring Señor Zorro, a mysterious, masked vigilante who defends the people of 19th-century California from villains like Captain Ramon and Sergeant Gonzales.

39. Scar amouche by Rafael Sabatini

A romantic adventure set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. Scar amouche is named after its hero, a lawyer turned revolutionary and an actor who plays "Scar amouche," or a stock clown character in the comedy theater.

 

Ship wrecked Island Adventures

You might think you are lucky to have survived a plane crash or shipwreck ... until you realize you have a completely different problem: you must now survive on an inaccessible island with no rescue in sight.

40. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A group of stranded schoolboys. An island. Limited resources. The adventure of a lifetime. What can go wrong? As it turns out, many things, as William Golding's classic novel brilliantly and darkly illustrates.

41. The Swiss Robinson Family by Johann Wyss

This book, written by Swiss pastor Johann David Wyss, about a family shipwrecked in the East Indies, sparked the imagination of Europe in 1812. Read it if you like adventurous stories with a dose of family values ​​and moral lessons.

42. The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne

Another Jules Vernes adventure story, The Mysterious Island is actually a crossover sequel to Verne's famous Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and In Search of the Castaways. Five prisoners of war escape by balloon, but crash on an unknown island off the coast of New Zealand. There they try to survive, not knowing that they will soon have visitors: because they stay at (spoiler alert) the home of Captain Nemo in front of the Nautilus.

43. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

The full title of this acclaimed 1886 book by Robert Louis Stevenson is (take a deep breath): Kidnapped: Being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: How he was Kidnapped and Cast away; his suffering on a desert island; his journey in the wild highlands; his acquaintance with Alan Breck Stewart and other infamous Highland Jacobites; with all that he suffered at the hands of his uncle, Ebenezer Balfour of Shaws, wrongly called so: written by himself and now expounded by Robert Louis Stevenson. That tells you almost everything you need to know about this book, except that every page of it is a great adventure.

Robinson Crusoe (Signet Classics) by Daniel Defoe

The full title of this book is (take another deep breath): The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Of York, Mariner: Who Live Eight and Twenty Years, all alone in one uninhabited island on the coast of America, near the mouth of the great river Oroonoque; Cast to Shore by Shipwreck, where all men perished except himself. With An Account how he was finally delivered just as strangely by Pyrates. Again, we think this tells you just about everything you need to know about the novel before you start reading it. However, as a side note, it is worth noting that this may be the first English work of realistic fiction ever written.

Adventure on foot

When people didn't have planes, trains, or cars to travel, they still had their feet. These novels contain adventures, all undertaken by one foot in front of the other

putting. The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

The second installment in James Fenimore Cooper The Leatherstocking Tales of, and perhaps the most famous, The Last of the Mohicans chronicles Alice and Cora Munro's journey to Fort William Henry. Mark Twain once wrote a scathing review of Cooper's questionable writing skills, but the spirit of adventure in this book remains true.

46. True Grit: A Novel by Charles Portis You

 

may have seen the Academy Award-winning movie, but as always, the book is better! 14-year-old Mattie Ross's quest to avenge her father's death takes her from one end of Arkansas to the other.

47. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

If you like grim adventures, The Road may be the book for you. In this 2006 novel by Cormac McCarthy, an unnamed father and his son walk through a bleak and desolate post-apocalyptic landscape. What will happen to them along the way is a mystery.

48. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn may be a cutting satire of society and racism, but it's essentially just that: a young boy's adventure along the Mississippi River. Often referred to as one of the Great American Novels, it's one you don't want to miss.

49. The Man Who Would Be King by Rudyard Kipling

The look at this 1888 story written by Rudyard Kipling says it all. Two British explorers venture into India, unaware that they could one day become kings in Afghanistan.

Adventures Abroad

If you dream of escaping to another country, look no further than these adventure books, which can transport you anywhere from Transylvania to India.

50. A Transit to India by EM Forster

Adela Quested and Mrs. Moore travel to India in the 1920s, where Adela will be engaged to Ronny Moore in Chandrapore. Against the background of the Indian independence movement, this is a formative text that is not only about adventure, but also about post-colonial discourse.

51. Kim by Rudyard Kipling

Kimball O'Hara, or Kim for short, is a white orphaned boy who wanders the streets of Lahore, India. But his life changes the day he befriends a Tibetan lama - and he embarks on an adventure of espionage and enlightenment in the Himalayas.

52. Shanta ram by Gregory David Roberts

One of Australia's most wanted men escapes from Victoria's Pentridge Prison and flees to India - where a dramatic adventure awaits him. Featuring Bollywood, Mumbai's underworld and travels to Afghanistan, this book is so realistically well drawn that many wondered if it was an autobiography when it was first published.

53. Dracula by Bram Stoker

If you love the traditional historical adventures, we have an answer for you: vampires. More specifically, Dracula. Written by Bram Stoker, this novel is the archetypal vampire fantasy in which the forces of good must fight against Dracula and the undead. Go here if you like scary, thrilling adventures in Transylvania. 

Fantastic Adventures

Sometimes the best adventures are those that come out of our minds - and these fantasy adventure novels are sure to bring us worlds we couldn't have imagined ourselves.

54. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

One day, while reviewing essays, JRR Tolkien wrote, "A hobbit lived in a hole in the ground," on the back of a student's paper. That single sentence launched this beloved childhood tale of a reluctant hobbit who is dragged there (and back) on an adventure to the Misty Mountains

55. The Phoenix on the Sword by Robert Ervin Howard

One of the first stories to launch the legend of Conan. Cimmerian. Conceived by the American writer Robert E. Howard, this tale of sword and wizardry follows the adventures of his hero in the pseudo-historical Hyborian era.

56. The Books of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Considered by many to be one of the most influential series in fantasy, Earthsea is also an adventure that takes readers through the mountains and plains of - where else? - Earth Sea. A Wizard of Earthsea is the first book published in the series and introduces us to Ged, a young boy who will become Archmage.

57. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

A classic adventure for all young adults. When Alanna van Trebond changes places with her twin brother to train as a page at King Roald's castle, she gets more than she bargained for. Thus begins her epic journey to become a legend in her country.

58. Stardust Neil Gaiman's

One of Neil Gaiman's earlier works, yet one of the most charming coming-of-age adventures you will encounter. Growing up in the village of Wall, young Tristan Thorn never steps into the magical land of Faerie just across the border. That is, until a star falls in the distance and he tells his lover that he will do anything to make it for her ...

59. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

Humorist Jonathan Swift describes the travels of Lemuel Gulliver in this satirical masterpiece from 1726 Read it if you like a healthy touch of satire with your adventure.

 

Arthurian Adventures

Camelot was the birthplace of many of the most famous adventures, from Gawain and the Green Knight to the eternal hunt for the Holy Grail. Here are some of the most classic novels that faithfully portray King Arthur's adventures.

60. Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory

Is there an adventure more iconic than that of King Arthur and his round table? Sir Thomas Malory's rendition of Camelot is arguably the best compilation of this beloved story, from Arthur's birth to his eventual death in Avalon.

61. The Once and Future King by TH White

Based on Le Morte d'Arthur, TH White's The Once and Future King may be a softer reinterpretation of Arthur's journey to become king - but it is no less iconic or rich in adventure, danger , and intrigue.

 

Adventures in a Series

If one self-contained book isn't enough to support your thirst for adventure, check out this acclaimed adventure series.

62. Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian

An exciting nautical adventure set during the Napoleonic Wars, English author Patrick O'Brian's epic Master and Commander series is based on the friendship between Jack Aubrey, the Master and Commander of his ship, and Stephen Maturin, his naval surgeon.

63. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past two decades, you've probably heard of this story. In 1989, billionaire John Hammond contacts paleontologist Alan Grant and paleobotanist Ellie Sattler and invites them on an adventure into the past - and the darkest parts of human ambition.

64. Sharpe's Tiger by Bernard Cornwell Bernard Cornwell

's Richard Sharpe series is known for its exciting depictions of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars - and Sharpe's Tiger is no exception. As a chronological first installment, it introduces readers to the 'brilliant yet quirky' hero and offers an exciting tour of India during the 1799 Siege of Seringapatam to boot.

 

Non-fiction adventures

Nowhere is the phrase “Truth is stranger than fiction” more accurate than in the context of adventure non-fiction. These authors tell true stories of some of the most daring, dangerous and tragic journeys humanity has ever taken. 

65. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Bestselling author Jon Krakauer talks about his own experience climbing Everest. And it's a traumatizing story: Krakauer was part of the doomed Mount Everest expedition in 1996, in which eight climbers were lost and many stranded by an errant storm.

66. The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux

Paul Theroux is one of America's foremost travel writers, and he shows why in this groundbreaking travelogue of his train journey through Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. He returns with - what else? - the Trans-Siberian Railway.

67. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The international bestseller adapted into a Hollywood blockbuster with Julia Roberts, Eat, Pray, Love is the true story of a woman's search for the truth. That quest takes her all over the world, from India to Indonesia.

68. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

In 1990 Christopher Johnson McCandless gave away all his money and left the house, never to return. Two years later, he entered the Alaskan forest where his body would eventually be found. This is his story, told by adventureJon Krakauer

69. A Cook's Tour writer by Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain The exuberant, witty voice is still alive in this bestselling book. Like other travel reports, A Cook's Tour's documents Bourdain Travels around the world. But there is a twist in this fun travelogue: he is looking for the perfect meal.

70. The Sea Runners by Ivan Doig

Based on a true story, The Sea Runners is a riveting account of four indentured servants' plot to escape their Russian labor camp in Alaska. But their plans hit a snag when they encounter their worst enemy: the Pacific Northwest Coast. Masterfully written, this book contrasts man with all the elements that nature can throw at him.

71. Into The Heart Of Borneo by Redmond O'hanlon

If you've never read a travelogue, start with this. In 1983 a group of three friends went on an expedition to the center of Borneo. Written with humor and honesty, writer Redmond O'Hanlon brings the jungles and wilderness of Borneo to life in this treasure of a book.

72. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson is synonymous with humor when it comes to travel writing - and this is arguably one of his most famous episodes. In the 1990s, Bryson took on the challenge of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail with his friend Stephen Katz. Accidents are expected to occur during this adventure. But of course it is the journey and not the destination that counts.

73. A Journey for Madmen by Peter Nichols

In 1968, nine men set out to race around the world on a boat. Only one would eventually cross the finish line. This is the true story of that fateful race, its "sad, heroic characters," and how one decision can life or death.

mean74. Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl Strayed's account of her journey along the 1100-mile Pacific Crest Trail became an instant New York Times Bestseller from the moment it was published. Fans of Eat, Pray, Love Especially will fall in love with this book.

75. Green Hills of Africa by Ernest Hemingway

One of Ernest Hemingway's rare non-fiction books, Green Hills of Africa documents the month that he and his wife spent on a safari in East Africa. It is a sparse, tightly written book about the hunt he pursued there, with a few exquisite nuggets of writing in between.

76. Traveling with Charley by John Steinbeck

In 1960 John Steinbeck took a road trip across the United States with his poodle (named Charley). From New York to California and back, Travels with Charley is a thoughtful reflection of America and all that the land Steinbeck loved stood for.

85. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Ready for an adventure that's the darling of the children's book world? Lewis Carroll wrote this book in 1865 but Alice's journey through Wonderland (which she enters by falling through a rabbit hole) remains one of the most cherished — and extraordinary — stories in English literature.

86. The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis

This children's classic all began with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, in which the four Pevensie siblings step into a wardrobe… and into Narnia, where an entirely magical journey begins. Complete with talking animals, evil queens, and Turkish Delights

87. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

When fifth grader Jesse Aarons befriends his new neighbor, Leslie Burke, a beautiful friendship — and kingdom — is born. Terabithia is the imaginary sanctuary of their minds, but the consequences of building it might be more tragic than they anticipated in this children's book

88. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Lyman Frank Baum

Does The Wizard of Oz even need an introduction? This whimsical story by Frank L. Baum turned into one of the most treasured children's books in history, spawning spin-offs, sequels, movies, and even musicals. Follow Dorothy as she travels along the Yellow Brick Road in the magical Land of Oz, meeting a Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion in her quest to return back to Kansas.

89. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Edward Tulane is a china rabbit. Bet you didn't expect that twist, did you? But life can get hard for china rabbits, as Edward falls into the sea and spends 297 days on the bottom of the ocean. One thing's for certain: it's a long way back to the surface.

90. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

You haven't really read an adventure unless you've read Diana Wynne Jones' timeless Howl's Moving Castle! This is the story about Sophie Hatter, the oldest of three sisters, and how she becomes an old crone and meets the powerful Wizard Howl. Delightful, charming, and twisty.

91. The BFG by Roald Dahl

Did you know that Big Friendly Giants provide the best adventures of all? That's because of all the land they can cover with one stride — and you get an even better view if you're sitting on their shoulders as they do so. Follow Sophie and the BFG as they go into a world of frobscottle and snozzcumbers to battle the Fleshlumpeater.

92. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

You've probably never met a hero like Despereaux Tilling: a young but noble mouse. Now he is on a quest to rescue Princess Pea, a human girl, from evil rats. Beware of underestimating Despereaux: he might be small, but he's as brave as the biggest adventurers.

93. Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques

Though Redwall is the first book that Brian Jacques published in the celebrated Redwall series Martin the Warrior is one of the first books chronologically — and it's one of the more adventurous installments overall. A young heroic mouse named Martin escapes enslavement under the maniacal stout, Badrang the Tyrant. But then he must journey across the land to build an army that will be able to defeat Badrang once and for all

94. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The book that spawned the line, “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” By turn brilliant, witty, romantic, and thrilling, The Princess Bride (along with Buttercup, Westley, and company) have enchanted hearts across the world. A rollicking adventure through a fantastical world that was later immortalized in film.

95. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman came up with the idea for this book when he miswrote “Caroline” as “Coraline” one day. In this dark fantasy novella, Coraline Jones moves into an old house with a mysterious door. A neighbor tells her: “Don't go through the door.” Of course, Coraline goes through the door — only to find a world that she could never have imagined.

 

Adventurous Short Stories

You don't necessarily need 50,000 words to bring the thrill of adventure to life! If you only have 30 minutes on hand, the below short stories will be able to whet your appetite.

96. “The Sea Raiders” by HG Wells

Squid monsters. Need we say more? HG Wells wrote this short story in the fashion of Moby-Dick and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but the tentacle-y thrills of this short story are all his own.

97. “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury

Time travel has become a reality in 2055 — and a company called Time Safari Inc is advertising a chance to travel back in time to hunt dinosaurs. A lot of things can go wrong — and they do, in this masterful short story by Ray Bradbury about the butterfly effect.

98. “To Build a Fire” by Jack London

As you might be able to tell already, Jack London had a thirst for adventure and the wild. His famous short story, “To Build a Fire,” deals with one man's struggle against the arctic winter in the Yukon Territory.

99. “Sandkings” by George RR Martin

Before A Song of Ice and Fire, George RR Martin wrote this fantastically dark novelette that won the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, and the Locus Award in 1980. Set on the fictional planet of Baldur, it's about a playboy named Simon Kress who doubles as an exotic animal collector and one day comes across a terrarium filled with creatures called sandkings… and what happens next becomes the kind of dark adventure that only GRRM can write.

100. “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway was a big-game hunter, and he drew from his own experiences to write “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.” In it, Francis Macomber, his wife, and a friend are in Africa hunting buffalo, which does not turn out as they wanted.

50 Adventure Novels You Have to Read Before You Die

by Jeff Somers/

September 28, 2017 at 11:00 am

Share

Some might argue that the adventure novel has been undermined by the modern age: since you can fly just about anywhere for a relatively reasonable price, or experience on the internet for free, the allure of a story that takes you to far-away places and unfamiliar cultures for the sake of adventure has been lost. In reality, the spirit lives on—if only because so many fantastic adventure stories have already been written. The 50 novels listed here are the sort of old-school romps designed to inspire you to dig out your hiking gear, quit your job, and go seeking your fortune before it's too late.

Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott

It all starts here. One of the first true examples of a “historical novel” in Western literature, Ivanhoe is set in the 12th century and focuses on one of the few Saxon noble families still intact after the Norman Conquest. Wilfred of Ivanhoe supports King Richard and is disinherited for his trouble, joining the king on the crusades. The story includes jousts, kidnappings, and plain old-fashioned adventure, and was thrillingly unlike anything that came before it.

The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas

You can't really discuss adventure stories without bringing Dumas into the conversation. His novels are still the gold standard when it comes to stories centered on a sense of esprit de corps and the origin of the idea people with a particular set of skills should not be mistreated. The story begins with aspiring Musketeer d'Artagnan offending legendary Musketeers Porthos, Athos, and Aramis and preparing—to their astonishment—to duel each of them in turn; when the illegal duel is interrupted by arresting soldiers, the four fight together and win the day—and that's just the introductory chapter.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne

Sea monsters and the first steampunk submarine: it doesn't get more adventurous than that. Verne's classic work of adventure and sci-fi isn't exactly scientifically rigorous—at one point Captain Nemo exits his submarine and strolls about on the floor of the ocean without difficulty—but its spirit of discovery, as Nemo and companions travel to various incredible places (including the lost city of Atlantis), is unparalleled.

Treasure Island (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson

Every kid (and everyone who has ever been a kid) should read Treasure Island at least once, just as every kid should spend at least one summer pretending to be a pirate hunting for secret treasure. At some point in every life, people dream of adventure finding them and forcing them into the world—just like the Old Buccaneer comes to Jim Hawkins, setting the boy on a path to (what else?) adventure.

King Solomon's Mines (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

King Solomon's Mines, by H. Rider Haggard

Written in a time when Africa seemed infinite and largely unexplored, at least from a Western point of view, Haggard's classic adventure novel created a template still followed today—the Indiana Jones films owe a huge debt to Haggard, for example. Adventurer Allan Quatermain agrees to search for a man who went missing while seeking the titular mines in exchange for a share of any treasure found, and encounters hidden kingdoms and terrible dangers—the latter being more or less a requirement of the genre.

Kim, by Rudyard Kipling

Kipling's story of an orphaned Irish boy who grows up more or less as a native in British India has influenced generations of storytellers. Kim learns the “Great Game” of espionage and secret politics in the heat of India before being identified as English and sent back to England where he's schooled and trained in spycraft. No one combines religious and philosophical concepts with a tense spy story like Kipling did.

The Call of the Wild and White Fang (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

The Call of the Wild, by Jack London

Buck is a dog, kidnapped from his home and forced into slavery as a sled dog. As Buck slowly loses his “civilization” (that is, his domestication) and becomes wild and feral, he has a series of adventures that are heartbreaking in their constant cruelty, but his final fate as a member of a wild pack of wolves isn't a tragedy. London's powerful story is iconic for a reason, of course, and is required reading for anyone wondering who they would be if stripped of the modern conveniences.

The Scarlet Pimpernel (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Orczy

So much of the DNA of this book remains threaded throughout modern fiction it's become almost invisible. Sir Percy Blakeney is a cultured, ostensibly weak English nobleman during The Terror, a time in revolutionary France when the government allowed and encouraged mob violence against the aristocrats of the ancien régime. Hiding behind a mask, Blakeney becomes the Scarlet Pimpernel, using his fighting skills and quick wit to rescue his fellow nobles—with style.

Tarzan of the Apes (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

Tarzan of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Burroughs' adventure in the jungle remains one of the most famous and most-adapted (and imitated) stories ever written. Who hasn't imagined what it might be like to step outside of civilization and become as one with nature as possible? Tarzan, orphaned in the jungle of Africa and literally raised by Apes, rises to become king of the beasts while learning about his English heritage—a story brimming with blood, violence, and the thrilling idea that a hidden world awaits.

Captain Blood

Captain Blood, by Rafael Sabatini

Based very closely on actual historic events, this story of a physician sentenced to slavery in the Caribbean of the 17th century only to escape and become one of the most successful pirates of the time is a classic celebration of man's ability to make his own fate, no matter the obstacles. While Sabatini certainly took the story further than reality, much of the bones of the novel actually happened to various people, giving it an air of verisimilitude.

The Mark of Zorro, by Johnston McCulley

McCulley's Mexican nobleman who dons a mask and a dashing persona to fight injustice and tyranny has had a profound influence on fiction since his first appearance in the early 20th century. As Don Diego de la Vega, the character feigned disinterest in swordplay, romance, or adventure, but this is all in service of protecting his secret identity. This sort of dual life has become a staple of many adventure stories, of course, but few have been done with such style and panache.

Beau Geste

Beau Geste, by Percival Christopher Wren

Set in the years before World War I, Wren's novel depicts life in the French Foreign Legion fairly accurately. The Geste brothers, led by eldest Michael (known by his nickname Beau), enlist in the Foreign Legion as a way of following their old-fashioned ideals of “doing the right thing,” and this act is the ultimate beau geste of the story—a fine act that leads to nothing. Desert battles, cruel commanders, and plenty of adventure follow, however, so maybe it's not all for nothing.

Lost Horizon: A Novel

Lost Horizon, by James Hilton

The origin of the term “Shangri-La,” this story of a hidden monastery in the mountains of Tibet where the aging process slows and a lifetime of study and contemplation offers hope to a world ruined by war is still a gripping tale nearly a century later. That there was a time when it wasn't that hard to imagine secret, hidden kingdoms in the world is thrilling enough, but the story is compelling, detailing the terrors of warfare at a time when it seemed the world might just end at any moment.

Conan the conqueror

Conan the Conqueror, by Robert E. Howard

The only novel-length Conan story Howard published, this was originally titled The Hour of the Dragon and begins with a middle-aged Conan defeated on the battlefield and imprisoned in a dungeon filled with monstrous threats. His defeat secured via dark magic, Conan must seek unlikely allies and fight (and fight, and fight) his way back to his people in order to reclaim his throne. It's a good old-fashioned gory adventure and well worth reading.

The Long Ships

The Long Ships, by Frans Gunnar Bengtsson

Set in the late Viking age in the 10th century, this surprisingly complex story can be read as a rollicking adventure following Viking Röde Orm Tosteson from his abduction and enslavement, his return home and his participation in attacks on England, at the time a fractured country in turmoil. As the story progresses, Christianity asserts itself, supplanting the traditional pagan religions of the Vikings, coloring and influencing everything that happens. If you like the TV show Vikings and wish there was more Viking-related entertainment, this book is for you.

Cruel Sea / Edition 1

The Cruel Sea, by Nicholas Monsarrat

Set during World War II, Monsarrat manages somehow to capture a thoroughly realistic view of the monotony and boredom of military service while spinning an exciting story of inexperienced sailors serving in the North Atlantic over the seven years of the war. The bond between the men and the tension of war on the sea offer plenty of nail-biting and emotional beats in this classic novel that remains the gold standard for stories of modern-day naval exploits.

Lieutenant Hornblower

Lieutenant Hornblower, by CS Forester

Forester's classic Napoleonic-Era adventure is the first of eleven novels that follow the socially awkward, musically inept, but heroic and strategically brilliant Horatio Hornblower. Beginning with Hornblower as a freshly-minted officer and ending with an aged Baron Hornblower appointed Admiral of the Fleet, each novel details classic adventures where Hornblower must think on his feet, risk his life, and always protect the men under his command.

The Guns of Navarone

The Guns of Navarone, by Alistair Maclean

The Nazis have built a nearly-impregnable fortress on the Greek island of Navaronne, and it's preventing the rescue of more than a thousand British troops. A team of ultra-competent, experienced soldiers must come together and find a way to destroy the guns so the rescue can be attempted. This no-nonsense plot is based on actual events, and established a template for the team of experts working together in grim determination, with plenty of danger, violence, and surprise betrayals for any fan of adventure stories.

The Warriors

The Warriors, by Sol Yurick

You might not think of this trailblazing 1965 novel (the inspiration for the famous 1979 film) as an adventure story, but that's exactly what it is. The Coney Island Warriors are a street gang who find themselves stranded in enemy territory one night after a chaotic meeting of New York Gangs. Yurick brilliantly offers the idea of unfamiliar neighborhoods as alien planets the gang must fight their way through. If all you know is the movie, read the book—it's deeper, less silly, and much more interesting.

Master and Commander (Aubrey-Maturin Series #1)

Master and Commander, by Patrick O'Brian

Another absolute classic set during the Napoleonic Wars, O'Brian follows the careers of Captain Jack Aubrey and physician-slash-spy Stephen Maturin as they battle the French in progressively larger ships of the line. O'Brian's detailed and accurate depiction of the misery of life in the British navy at the time is fascinating, and the battle sequences are some of the best ever committed to the page.

Congo

Congo, by Michael Crichton

Although described as science fiction, Crichton himself name-checked King Solomon's Mines as inspiration for this story. A lost city in the jungle of Africa, a legendary diamond mine, and a heretofore unknown breed of gorilla resulting from ancient experiments all come together to challenge a team seeking to claim a fortune that has already killed a lot of people.

Sahara (Dirk Pitt Series #11)

Sahara, by Clive Cussler

Cussler is probably the king of the modern adventure novel, and Sahara remains his best effort. Combining Abraham Lincoln and a Civil War-era ironside ship, the crash and disappearance of an Amelia Earhart-like pilot in 1933, a secret gold mine and a terrifying pollutant that threatens the entire world's ecosystem, Cussler doesn't let you have even a moment to breathe, but you won't notice because it's all so much fun.

Le Morte d'Arthur (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions)

Le Morte d'Arthur, by Sir Thomas Malory

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are cultural icons—which means they're often treated as cultural furniture, always there but not terribly interesting. This book, the original compilation and rewriting of the existing stories, will remind you that at their heart these are adventure stories—there are kingdoms to be carved out of the ground with your swords, there are dangers in the shadows, and there is a Holy Grail out there to be claimed.

Sheltering Sky

The Sheltering Sky, by Paul Bowles

An adventure novel or a dark tale of psychological breakdown and ennui? Why not both—Bowles' 1949 novel remains confounding, but exciting in a dangerous, corrosive way. A drifting New York couple flee the modern world and head into the desert of Northern Africa, along with a friend. They hope that casting aside their lives they'll find each other again—but what they find is madness, disease, death, and sexual assault. It's good sometimes to remember that not all adventures end well.

Sharpe's Tiger (Sharpe Series #1)

Sharpe's Tiger, by Bernard Cornwell

Cornwell's Sharpe novels explore the land war against Napoleon from the point of view of Richard Sharpe, the low-born soldier who slowly rises through the ranks of the British Army. This sort of rise wasn't impossible at the time—but it was pretty unlikely, and only Sharpe's wit and skill with violence makes it possible. Set in British India, this novel is first in the chronology and includes pitched battles, torture, and espionage in equal measure, taking place during a time when all a man needed was determination and bravery to get ahead.

Shantaram

Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts

Based on Roberts' own experiences as a criminal, escaped convict, and foreigner living in the slums of Mumbai (then known as Bombay), Shantaram is the story of a city, the rich mixture of cultures and ethnicities living there, and the moral journey of a single man. Above everything else, it has the classic structure of the adventure novel as Lindsay Ford travels to an unfamiliar place, loses everything, and learns to survive and flourish in a variety of scenarios most of us wouldn't dream of coming near.

The Walking Drum

The Walking Drum, by Louis L'Amour

L'Amour is best known for his Westerns, but this is a departure, telling a story set in the 12th century. Mathurin Kerbouchard sets off to seek news of his lost father, is captured by slavers, leads a rebellion and takes the slave ship, sells his kidnappers into slavery instead—and that's all in the first sections of the story! Kerbouchard's journey takes him all over the known world at the time, and provides ample evidence that L'Amour should have stepped out of his comfort zone more often.

The Beach

The Beach, by Alex Garland

One reason classic adventure stories have dried up in the modern world is the sense that there are no more mysteries out there, but Garland solves this problem by keeping things small-scale: an American backpacker is given a map to a hidden beach in Thailand, so well secluded tourists have never found it. Making his way there with some like-minded souls, he discovers a thriving community of backpackers living a simple, communal life in a spot unknown to most of the world. From that premise Garland explores a universal truth: the biggest threats to any society come from within

Flashman: A Novel

Flashman, by George MacDonald Fraser

Taking a minor character from Tom Brown's School Days, Fraser imagines a coward, a scoundrel, and a debauched bully, then places him at almost every major historical event of the 19th century over the course of several novels. At their core, however, the stories of Harry Flashman's exploits are adventures, as Harry travels the world and relies on his wits and his ability to foist consequences onto others to survive while fighting, seducing, and gambling his way through life.

The Swiss Family Robinson

Swiss Family Robinson, by Johann David Wyss

Wyss' intended his story of a shipwrecked family surviving on a remote island to be a textbook of sorts, offering lessons on subjects ranging from morality to science, often containing plenty of practical survival advice. The family lives for a decade on the island, learning much and becoming comfortable in their new existence, and the ultimate lesson is that adventure isn't always something that you seek out—sometimes it comes to you, unbidden.

Captains Courageous

Captains Courageous, by Rudyard Kipling

Speaking of adventure finding you, Kipling's 1897 novel is the story of a spoiled rich American teenager named Harvey who is washed overboard in a storm and rescued by a fishing boat. The crew doesn't believe his stories of wealth, but the Captain takes him on as a crew member. Harvey slowly accepts his fate and becomes a valuable member of the crew until they finally put into port and he contacts his parents. Celebrated as a testimonial to the American spirit, the book remains thrilling to anyone who has ever sat in a boring lecture or meeting and wished fate would intervene with a dose of adventure.

Kidnapped

Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson

On the downside of unbidden adventure, this is the story of David Balfour. After the death of his parents, he visits his miserly, paranoid uncle at the family estate known as the House of Shaws. Learning that he might be the rightful heir, David confronts his uncle—who tricks him onto a ship, where he is knocked unconscious and taken to sea. To say that “adventure ensues” in this classic novel is an understatement.

The Mysterious Island

The Mysterious Island, by Jules Verne

Five men escape from a Confederate prison during the Civil War in a hot air balloon, and crash onto an uncharted island. They survive through a combination of their skill, intelligence, and mysterious assistance from some entity on the island they initially can't identify. A sequel to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the mystery of the island is directly linked to that earlier novel, which just makes it all the more awesome.

Assegai

Assegai, by Wilbur Smith

Smith's one of the most prolific and productive modern novelists, and Assegai links directly to several other of his novels. Set in the early 19th century, it tells the story of young Leon Courtney who joins the army in the midst of an early-life crisis. He is eventually recruited as a spy, apprenticed to a master hunter in Africa as a cover, and slowly evolves into an effective and enthusiastic agent as World War I slowly revs up around him.

The Count of Monte Cristo (abridged) (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas

Dumas' classic revenge story is also the ultimate adventure story, centered on a man who is wrongly imprisoned, escapes, makes a fortune, and seeks to get back at his enemies. All of this is set against the backdrop of one of the most politically and militarily unsettled periods of European history—a moment when it seemed literally anything might happen, lending the story an urgency that still pops off the page today.

The Sea-Wolf

The Sea Wolf, by Jack London

Another story of a civilized, complacent man—Humphrey van Weyden—caught in a shipwreck, London's great achievement here is the antagonist Wolf Larsen. Self-taught, imposingly strong, and bitterly intelligent, Wolf sees no value in existence beyond survival and sensory pleasure. Seeing in Humphrey the chance at a conversational partner, he makes Humphrey part of the crew. Humphrey has to learn to be savage and aggressive in order to survive—but it is Wolf who dominates the story, and rightfully so.

The Riddle of the Sands: A Record of Secret Service (Penguin Classics Series)

The Riddle of the Sands, by Erskine Childers

What if you suspected an unfriendly nation were up to no good on a remote island, and you couldn't get your government to pay attention? You'd grab a friend and hop on your small sailboat to investigate on your own. That's the premise of this proto-spy novel, which sees a minor official named Carruthers recruited by his friend Davies to puzzle out just what the Germans are up to shortly before World War I breaks out.

Empire of the Sun

Empire of the Sun, by JG Ballard

Ballard's tale of a boy taken prisoner by the Japanese after the fall of Shanghai in World War II is a story of survival and the complexity of war. After becoming separated from his parents in the chaos, Jamie Graham survives in feral fashion scrounging for food, and eventually surrenders to the Japanese for the relative safety of a prison camp. Jim admires his captors, somewhat—but his adventure leads him into some very dark places.

Sandokan: The Tigers of Mompracem

The Tigers of Mompracem, by Emilio Salgari

Sandokan was once the most famous fictional pirate in literature, and this novel finds him at the heights of his career—feared and legendary, leading a band of rebels against two empires. A Malay prince whose family was killed and the throne stolen by the British, Sandokan defends a group of smaller kingdoms against the British and the Dutch. Hearing of a woman of matchless beauty living nearby, however, Sandokan finds his priorities shifting—and the call of adventure is irresistible.

Night Flight

Night Flight, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

You might not think a story centered on delivering the mail could possibly be fraught with adventure—which is why you must read this book. Celebrating the idea that some things are bigger than individual needs, the story of some of the first commercial pilots and the airmail they deliver overnight in order to keep lines of communication open, and the sacrifice they must all contemplate in the service of a noble goal.

Around the World in Eighty Days (Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading)

Around the World in Eighty Days, by Jules Verne

Verne's famous classic has an irresistible premise: wealthy but eccentric Phineas Fogg of London makes a bet that he can travel around the world in 80 days; considering this is set in 1872, that's quite a challenge. The ensuing adventure is essentially a 19th century The Amazing Race, literally taking the reader on a madcap dash across the entire globe, while simultaneously being a commentary on the advancing pace of technology, and the changing world it was inspiring.

The White Company and Sir Nigel (Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading)

The White Company, by Arthur Conan Doyle

Although not as well known today as his Sherlock Holmes stories, Doyle himself preferred this adventure set during the Hundred Years War in the 14th century. Focused on the titular company of freelance archers, the story involves the three main characters—archer Aylward, squire (and later knight) Alleyne, and John of Hordle as they find love, taste victory and defeat, and interact with the lordly and powerful. It's as old-school as an adventure novel can get, elevated by Doyle's deft grasp of pacing, plot, and deep research into the historical period

Mutiny on the Bounty

Mutiny on the Bounty, by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall

A straightforward fictionalization of the famous mutiny that occurred in 1789, in which Lieutenant William Bligh faced a rebellious crew and was set adrift in a small boat with the only loyal crew members. Told from the point of view of a non-mutineer, Midshipman Roger Byam, who remains with the Bounty because there isn't any more room on the boats Bligh and the others are forced onto, the story has everything: near-death experiences, tropical paradises, and eventual prosecution.

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre: A Novel

Treasure of the Sierra Madre, by B. Traven

There's nothing more Adventure Novel than three down-on-their-luck Americans prospecting for gold in the unsettled mountains of Mexico shortly after the revolution there. Curtin, Dobbs, and Howard meet in Tampico and figure their luck can't get any worse. Led by the older and competent Howard, the men in fact discover gold. Greed, paranoia, and the lawless Mexican wilderness all conspire to bring misfortune on their heads before they can profit from their find.

Journey to the Center of the Earth (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

Journey to the Center of the Earth, by Jules Verne

Verne once again offers one of the all-time classic adventure stories, taking the reader under the surface of the earth as Professor Otto Lidenbrock leads an expedition into a volcano in Iceland, descending deep underground where they find a whole other world lit by electrically-charged gas and filled with monsters. All three almost die several times before they finally emerge from a volcano in Italy—but imminent death is a key feature of most adventure fiction.

A Farewell to Arms: The Hemingway Library Edition

A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway

Set during World War I and based on Hemingway's own experiences as an ambulance driver in Italy during the fighting, A Farewell to Arms is usually thought of as “literature,” but it's really an adventure novel. Frederic Henry is an American serving in the Italian Army as a paramedic; when he meets nurse Catherine Barkley he initially wants nothing more than a diversion, but slowly falls in love. Their relationship is troubled by war, injuries, court martials, and death itself—all told in Hemingway's bold, signature style

Scaramouche (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

Scaramouche, by Rafael Sabatini

A young lawyer nimbly shifts sides, learns new skills, and plays whatever role he needs to in order to survive the chaos of the French Revolution. Sabatini understood one of the key ingredients to the classic adventure story: adaptability. Adventure novels always assume a world based on chaos, and offer protagonists who can navigate those choppy waters to a happy ending. Moreau, Sabatini's main character, slowly develops a sense of idealism as he makes his way through a changing world.

Johnny Tremain

Johnny Tremain, by Esther Hoskins Forbes

Adventures are hard to come by when society is stable and peaceful—which makes the American Revolution a perfect backdrop for it. Johnny starts off as a hard-working apprentice in Boston, and slowly grows politically and emotionally, eventually taking part in the Boston Tea Party and becoming a spy for the Sons of Liberty—and preparing to take up arms against the tyranny of the British.

The Eiger Sanction (Jonathan Hemlock Series #1)

The Eiger Sanction, by Trevanian

Dr. Jonathan Hemlock is an art collector and mountaineer with a secret side-job as an assassin who takes contracts targeting other assassins who have killed American agents. To kill his latest target, he must join a group of mountain climbers tackling one of the most dangerous climbs in the world, figure out which one of the men is the subject of the sanction—and survive.

The Odyssey (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

The Odyssey, by Homer

It's not strictly speaking a novel, of course, but you can't discuss adventure literature without name-checking one of the oldest and most-celebrated adventure stories. Ten years after the Trojan War and the events of The Iliad, Odysseus still hasn't found his way home. When some of the gods relent and try to help, he finally has his chance—but of course must go through a new series of adventures beforehand. This is where adventure starts, and every other work on this list owes a debt to this ancient poem.