Deathlands

"Pilgrimage to Hell", the first novel in the series

Deathlands is a series of novels published by Gold Eagle Publishing. The first novel Pilgrimage to Hell was first published in 1986. This series of novels was first written by Christopher Lowder, under the pen name Jack Adrian. Mr. Lowder became ill after developing the plot and writing most of the book. Laurence James, under the pen name James Axler then finished the story.[1]

The series exists in both an episodic style and a series format. Some of the novels can be read out of order yet others are dependent on the previous release. There are also a few trilogy sets within the series.

Plot

On the morning of January 20, 2001 the climax of the Cold War set the post-apocalyptic stage for the series. The end game began with a pre-emptive strike on Washington. Underground nuclear bombs were detonated from within the basement of the Soviet embassy, by an elite group of Spetsnaz operatives, destroying the central command structure and political system of the United States. For an indefinite period of time a nuclear exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union devastated both countries and subsequently the entire planet (but little details are known outside both countries). All manner of genetic contagions were released infecting the survivors of the firestorm with horrible illnesses. The remaining survivors lived harshly during a time of prolonged nuclear winter known as 'Skydark'. The geography, climate, and ecosystems of the world had changed dramatically. What was left of the United States came to be known as the Deathlands.

100 years later civilization begins again: brutal, short lived, morally confused and crazed from mutation. Between the many hot spots are small plague pits ruled by power hungry individuals who have no limits in order to establish their rule and expand their influence. These individuals are known as the Barons. Their rabble pits are known as Villes and Baronies. Civilization unknowingly resembles the Dark Ages. Trading resumes between the villes: Jack (a regional currency), Jolt (a hallucinogenic mixture of Mescaline and Heroin) and slaves are the primary forms of currency. Life is a strange mixture of ancient history and limited technology that is scrapped from the 20th century. Military technology is the most prized possession of all; success is often measured by the number of bullets he or she possesses. A man named Ryan Cawdor leads a group of companions across the deathlands. Ryan has extremely secret knowledge of the 20th century. The understanding of hidden underground complexes, known as redoubts, that contains Teleportation technology. He and his companions guard this knowledge with their lives. The technology is called MAT-TRANS.

Each novel usually begins with the companions arriving at a frequently unknown redoubt by MAT-TRANS. If the situation is impossible or hostile the companions can use the "last destination" feature of the transporter to return to the sending location. If the redoubt is unknown then the companions usually explore, looking for weapons and supplies which they rarely find. Sometimes they are lucky and find a working shower or stored food which they always utilize or take. The story picks up speed once the characters leave the redoubt and explore the surrounding countryside. Frequently the companions are captured or forced into a confrontation with the local barons. Each novel reveals a little of the characters' history, motivations and the regional location where they arrived.

Main characters

Enemies

Over the course of the series, Ryan Cawdor and his band have fought and defeated countless power-mad villains, and most died within one book. Many villains were Barons- rulers of small dictatorships scattered across The Deathlands (notably, Barons are also the primary antagonists of the sequel series Outlanders, except there are now only a small number of technologically adept superhuman barons instead of the hundreds of lesser kingpins). Another notable group are the mutants- humanoid beings that have adapted and gained inhuman powers, psionic and otherwise, due to radiation exposure and natural selection. There are a few notable villains in this list, which include:

Series History

The series was begun as a joint project by Christopher Lowder (pen name "Jack Adrian") and Laurence James (pen name "James Axler"), with the first book called Pilgrimage To Hell. Laurence James then solely wrote the Deathlands series up to and including Eclipse at Noon. However, due to failing health he was forced to leave the series in 1995. Prior to his death in February 2000, James wrote one last novel, Crucible of Time, which was released in 1998. All other Deathlands novels have been written by a number of other authors, including Mark Ellis who produced the first post-Laurence James entry, Stoneface. Gold Eagle is owned by Harlequin. In 2014, Harlequin was purchased by HarperCollins. It was decided that Gold Eagle would be shut down. After 2015, Deathlands series will be no more. Below is a list of the books in the Deathlands series.

Series # Title Author(s) First Edition ISBN Date Released
000 Encounter Alan Philipson (Primary Story), Mark Ellis,

Christopher Lowder, Laurence James

0-373-81197-7 January 1988
001 Pilgrimage to Hell Christopher Lowder (First ¾ of book),

Laurence James (Last ¼ of book)

0-373-62501-4 June 1986
002 Red Holocaust Laurence James 0-373-62502-2 September 1986
003 Neutron Solstice Laurence James 0-373-62503-0 March 1987
004 Crater Lake Laurence James 0-373-62504-9 August 1987
005 Homeward Bound Laurence James 0-373-62505-7 January 1988
006 Pony Soldiers Laurence James 0-373-62506-5 May 1988
007 Dectra Chain Laurence James 0-373-62507-3 September 1988
008 Ice and Fire Laurence James 0-373-62508-1 December 1988
009 Red Equinox Laurence James 0-373-62509-X June 1989
010 Northstar Rising Laurence James 0-373-62510-3 December 1989
011 Time Nomads Laurence James 0-373-62511-1 June 1990
012 Latitude Zero Laurence James 0-373-62512-X April 1991
013 Seedling Laurence James 0-373-62513-8 September 1991
014 Dark Carnival Laurence James 0-373-62514-6 January 1992
015 Chill Factor Laurence James 0-373-62515-4 May 1992
016 Moon Fate Laurence James 0-373-62516-2 September 1992
017 Fury's Pilgrims Laurence James 0-373-62517-0 January 1993
018 Shockscape Laurence James 0-373-62518-9 June 1993
019 Deep Empire Laurence James 0-373-62519-7 January 1994
020 Cold Asylum Laurence James 0-373-62520-0 April 1994
021 Twilight Children Laurence James 0-373-62521-9 June 1994
022 Rider, Reaper Laurence James 0-373-62522-7 August 1994
023 Road Wars Laurence James 0-373-62523-5 October 1994
024 Trader Redux Laurence James 0-373-62524-3 December 1994
025 Genesis Echo Laurence James 0-373-62525-1 March 1995
026 Shadowfall Laurence James 0-373-62526-X May 1995
027 Ground Zero Laurence James 0-373-62527-8 July 1995
028 Emerald Fire Laurence James 0-373-62528-6 October 1995
029 Bloodlines Laurence James 0-373-62529-4 December 1995
030 Crossways Laurence James 0-373-62530-8 February 1996
031 Keepers of the Sun Laurence James 0-373-62531-6 April 1996
032 Circle Thrice Laurence James 0-373-62532-4 June 1996
033 Eclipse at Noon Laurence James 0-373-62533-2 September 1996
034 Stoneface Mark Ellis 0-373-62534-0 November 1996
035 Bitter Fruit Mel Odom 0-373-62535-9 January 1997
036 Skydark Alan Philipson 0-373-62536-7 March 1997
037 Demons of Eden Mark Ellis 0-373-62537-5 May 1997
038 The Mars Arena Mel Odom 0-373-62538-3 August 1997
039 Watersleep Terry Collins 0-373-62539-1 November 1997
040 Nightmare Passage Mark Ellis 0-373-62540-5 January 1998
041 Freedom Lost Terry Collins 0-373-62541-3 March 1998
042 Way of the Wolf Mel Odom 0-373-62542-1 July 1998
043 Dark Emblem Terry Collins 0-373-62543-X October 1998
044 Crucible of Time Laurence James 0-373-62544-8 January 1999
045 Starfall Mel Odom 0-373-62545-6 April 1999
046 Gemini Rising

The Baronies Trilogy - Book 1

Nick Pollotta 0-373-62546-4 July 1999
047 Gaia's Demise

The Baronies Trilogy - Book 2

Nick Pollotta 0-373-62547-2 October 1999
048 Dark Reckoning

The Baronies Trilogy - Book 3

Nick Pollotta 0-373-62548-0 January 2000
049 Shadow World Alan Philipson 0-373-62559-6 March 2000
050 Pandora's Redoubt Nick Pollotta 0-373-62560-X June 2000
051 Rat King Andy Boot 0-373-62561-8 September 2000
052 Zero City Nick Pollotta 0-373-62562-6 December 2000
053 Savage Armada

The Skydark Chronicles - Book 1

Nick Pollotta 0-373-62563-4 March 2001
054 Judas Strike

The Skydark Chronicles - Book 2

Nick Pollotta 0-373-62564-2 June 2001
055 Shadow Fortress

The Skydark Chronicles - Book 3

Nick Pollotta 0-373-62565-0 September 2001
056 Sunchild Andy Boot 0-373-62566-9 December 2001
057 Breakthrough Alan Philipson 0-373-62567-7 March 2002
058 Salvation Road Andy Boot 0-373-62568-5 June 2002
059 Amazon Gate

The Illuminated Ones - Book 1

Andy Boot 0-373-62569-3 September 2002
060 Destiny's Truth

The Illuminated Ones - Book 2

Andy Boot 0-373-62570-7 December 2002
061 Skydark Spawn Edo Van Belkom 0-373-62571-5 March 2003
062 Damnation Road Show Alan Philipson 0-373-62572-3 June 2003
063 Devil Riders

Scorpion God - Book 1

Nick Pollotta 0-373-62573-1 September 2003
064 Bloodfire

Scorpion God - Book 2

Nick Pollotta 0-373-62574-X December 2003
065 Hellbenders Andy Boot 0-373-62575-8 March 2004
066 Separation Andy Boot 0-373-62576-6 June 2004
067 Death Hunt Andy Boot 0-373-62577-4 September 2004
068 Shaking Earth Victor Milan 0-373-62578-2 December 2004
069 Black Harvest Edo Van Belkom 0-373-62579-0 March 2005
070 Vengeance Trail Victor Milan 0-373-62580-4 June 2005
071 Ritual Chill

Altered States - Book 1

Andy Boot 0-373-62581-2 September 2005
072 Atlantis Reprise

Altered States - Book 2

Andy Boot 0-373-62582-0 December 2005
073 Labyrinth Alan Philipson 0-373-62583-9 March 2006
074 Strontium Swamp Andy Boot 0-373-62584-7 June 2006
075 Shatter Zone

The Coldfire Project - Book 1

Nick Pollotta 0-373-62585-5 September 2006
076 Perdition Valley

The Coldfire Project - Book 2

Nick Pollotta 0-373-62586-3 December 2006
077 Cannibal Moon Alan Philipson 0-373-62587-1 March 2007
078 Sky Raider Nick Pollotta 0-373-62588-X June 2007
079 Remember Tomorrow Andy Boot 0-373-62589-8 September 2007
080 Sunspot Alan Philipson 0-373-62590-1 December 2007
081 Desert Kings Nick Pollotta 0-373-62591-X March 2008
082 Apocalypse Unborn Alan Philipson 0-373-62592-8 June 2008
083 Thunder Road Andy Boot 0-373-62593-6 September 2008
084 Plague Lords

Empire of Xibalba - Book 1

Alan Philipson 0-373-62594-4 December 2008
085 Dark Resurrection

Empire of Xibalba - Book 2

Alan Philipson 0-373-62595-2 March 2009
086 Eden's Twilight Nick Pollotta 0-373-62596-0 June 2009
087 Desolation Crossing Andy Boot 0-373-62597-9 July 2009
088 Alpha Wave Rik Hoskin 0-373-62598-7 September 2009
089 Time Castaways Nick Pollotta 0-373-62599-5 December 2009
090 Prophecy Andy Boot 0-373-62600-2 January 2010
091 Blood Harvest Chuck Rogers 0-373-62601-0 March 2010
092 Arcadian's Asylum Andy Boot 0-373-62602-9 May 2010
093 Baptism of Rage Rik Hoskin 0-373-62603-7 July 2010
094 Doom Helix Alan Philipson 0-373-62604-5 September 2010
095 Moonfeast Nick Pollotta 0-373-62605-3 November 2010
096 Downrigger Drift John Helfers 0-373-62606-1 January 2011
097 Playfair's Axiom Victor Milan 0-373-62607-X March 2011
098 Tainted Cascade Nick Pollotta 0-373-62608-8 May 2011
099 Perception Fault John Helfers 0-373-62609-6 July 2011
100 Prodigal's Return Nick Pollotta 0-373-62610-X September 2011
101 Lost Gates Andy Boot 0-373-62611-8 November 2011
102 Haven's Blight Victor Milan 0-373-62612-6 January 2012
103 Hell Road Warriors Chuck Rogers 0-373-62613-4 March 2012
104 Palaces of Light Andy Boot 0-373-62614-2 May 2012
105 Wretched Earth Victor Milan 0-373-62615-0 July 2012
106 Crimson Waters Victor Milan 0-373-62616-9 September 2012
107 No Man's Land Victor Milan 0-373-62617-7 October 2012
108 Nemesis Victor Milan 0-373-62618-5 January 2013
109 Chrono Spasm Rik Hoskin 0-373-62619-3 March 2013
110 Sins of Honor Nick Pollotta 0-373-62620-7 May 2013
111 Storm Breakers Victor Milan 0-373-62621-5 July 2013
112 Dark Fathoms John Helfers 0-373-62622-3 September 2013
113 Motherlode Victor Milan 0-373-62623-1 November 2013
114 Siren Song Rik Hoskin 0-373-62624-X January 2014
115 Hanging Judge Victor Milan 0-373-62625-8 March 2014
116 End Program Rik Hoskin 0-373-62626-6 May 2014
117 Desolation Angels Victor Milan 0-373-62627-4 July 2014
118 Blood Red Tide Chuck Rogers 0-373-62628-2 September 2014
119 Polestar Omega Alan Philipson 0-373-62629-0 November 2014
120 Hive Invasion Travis Morgan 0-373-62630-4 January 2015
121 End Day Alan Philipson 0-373-62631-2 March 2015
122 Forbidden Trespass Victor Milan 0-373-62632-0 May 2015
123 Iron Rage Victor Milan 0-373-62633-9 July 2015
124 Child of Slaughter TBA 0-373-62634-7 September 2015
125 Devil's Vortex Victor Milan 0-373-62635-5 November 2015

Adaptations

Deathlands also made it to film in 2003 as a low-budget TV movie that aired on the Sci-Fi Channel. Deathlands: Homeward Bound starred Vincent Spano and Traci Lords. Ryan, Krysty, J.B., and Jak were featured characters in the movie. Cannies, Sec Men, War Wag, and a Redoubt were depicted in the movie. The characters of Doc Tanner and Lori Quint were absent.

Many of the Deathlands and Outlanders novels have been adapted to the Graphic Audio audio book format. The Deathands Saga was initially produced by Random House Audio, though the Saga was never completed. Currently these titles are produced by The Cutting Corporation and are called Graphic Audio. They are primarily targeted at long-distance drivers. With an average running time of nearly 8 hours, each of the books is a definite favorite of many OTR (long distance, over-the-road) truck drivers. The Cutting Corporation sets the Deathlands and Outlanders audio books apart from others by using a multicast. Each character has their own voice, and so makes it easy to picture the events from the book actually taking place. Music and background sound effects also accompany the sound track, setting their productions apart from most normal audio-books. The Deathlands Graphic Audio series currently has plans to continue the series after the events of the books end, the first completely original story releasing in Fall 2016.

Related works

Created in 1996 by Mark Ellis, Outlanders is the official spin-off series from Deathlands, although it established an identity distinct from Deathlands with the first novel, Exile To Hell. Outlanders provided a more expansive and complete backstory for the "Axlerverse" and the causes for the nuclear holocaust rather than relying on the "US vs. USSR" template.

References

  1. Don D'Ammassa (2009), Encyclopedia of adventure fiction, p. 149, ISBN 978-0-8160-7573-7

External links

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