⚔️ Adventure · United States
Best Adventure Books from United States
Adventure fiction is driven by action, danger, and the romance of going somewhere — into the unknown, into the past, into the wild. United States has produced some of the most internationally recognised works in adventure, with titles that have appeared on major prize lists and critical surveys worldwide. This page ranks the best adventure from United States by editorial consensus.
#1
literary-fiction
The Road
Cormac McCarthy· 2007
★Pulitzer Prize★Hugo Award
Editorial Score100/100
#2
science-fiction
Startide Rising
David Brin· 1984
★Hugo Award★Nebula Award
Editorial Score78/100
#3
science-fiction
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir· 2021
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score76/100
#4
young-adult
Holes
Louis Sachar· 1999
★Newbery Medal
Editorial Score69/100
#5
young-adult
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
E.L. Konigsburg· 1968
★Newbery Medal
Editorial Score69/100
#6
young-adult
Divergent
Veronica Roth· 2011
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score68/100
#7
literary-fiction
The Old Man and the Sea
Ernest Hemingway· 1954
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score67/100
#8
young-adult
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins· 2008
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score67/100
#9
fantasy
Paladin of Souls
Lois McMaster Bujold· 2004
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score66/100
#10
literary-fiction
All the Pretty Horses
Cormac McCarthy· 1993
★National Book Award
Editorial Score65/100
#11
adventure
Lonesome Dove
Larry McMurtry· 1986
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score64/100
#12
historical-fiction
Cold Mountain
Charles Frazier· 1997
★National Book Award
Editorial Score62/100
#13
science-fiction
Mirror Dance
Lois McMaster Bujold· 1995
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score62/100
#14
adventure
My Side of the Mountain
Jean Craighead George· 1960
★Newbery Medal
Editorial Score62/100
#15
science-fiction
A Fire Upon the Deep
Vernor Vinge· 1993
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score62/100
#16
science-fiction
Dune
Frank Herbert· 1966
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score60/100
#17
science-fiction
The Vor Game
Lois McMaster Bujold· 1991
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score59/100
#18
science-fiction
Barrayar
Lois McMaster Bujold· 1992
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score58/100
#19
science-fiction
Falling Free
Lois McMaster Bujold· 1989
★Nebula Award
Editorial Score57/100
#20
science-fiction
The Uplift War
David Brin· 1988
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score57/100
#21
science-fiction
Ringworld
Larry Niven· 1971
★Nebula Award
Editorial Score56/100
#22
literary-fiction
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain· 1876
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score55/100
#23
literary-fiction
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Mark Twain· 1817
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
#24
literary-fiction
The Prince and the Pauper
Mark Twain· 1881
Library Journal
Editorial Score55/100
#25
literary-fiction
The Gunslinger
Stephen King· 1976
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
#26
science-fiction
Gateway
Frederik Pohl· 1978
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score54/100
#27
literary-fiction
The Four Just Men
Edgar Wallace· 1905
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#28
literary-fiction
Different Seasons
Stephen King· 1982
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#29
horror
The Ruins
Scott Smith· 2006
★Bram Stoker Award
Editorial Score49/100
#30
adventure
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Scott O'Dell· 1961
★Newbery Medal
Editorial Score48/100
#31
fantasy
Words of Radiance
Brandon Sanderson· 2014
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score48/100
#32
fantasy
The Way of Kings
Brandon Sanderson· 2010
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score47/100
#33
fantasy
The Name of the Wind
Patrick Rothfuss· 2007
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score45/100
#34
literary-fiction
Tom Sawyer, Detective
Mark Twain· 1897
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score45/100
#35
literary-fiction
Novels (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn / Adventures of Tom Sawyer)
Mark Twain· 1922
Library Journal
Editorial Score45/100
#36
literary-fiction
Wolves of the Calla
Stephen King· 2003
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score45/100
#37
mystery-thriller
Mr. Mercedes
Stephen King· 2013
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score45/100
#38
literary-fiction
Blood Meridian
Cormac McCarthy· 1985
TIME 100 Best Novels
Editorial Score44/100
#39
adventure
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain· 1884
Guardian 100 Best Novels
Editorial Score44/100
#40
biography-memoir
Into Thin Air
Jon Krakauer· 1997
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score44/100
#41
fantasy
A Game of Thrones
George R.R. Martin· 1996
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score43/100
#42
science-fiction
Dreamsnake
Viper McIntyre· 1979
★Nebula Award
Editorial Score42/100
#43
biography-memoir
Wild
Cheryl Strayed· 2012
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score42/100
#44
mystery-thriller
The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown· 2003
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score41/100
#45
mystery-thriller
Inferno
Dan Brown· 2013
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score40/100
#46
biography-memoir
Into the Wild
Jon Krakauer· 1996
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score40/100
#47
literary-fiction
Room 13
Edgar Wallace· 1920
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score40/100
#48
literary-fiction
The door with seven locks
Edgar Wallace· 1926
Library Journal
Editorial Score40/100
#49
literary-fiction
The avenger
Edgar Wallace· 1924
Library Journal
Editorial Score40/100
#50
literary-fiction
The Council of Justice
Edgar Wallace· 1920
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score40/100
