DEATHLANDS

The 'Deathlands' is a series of novels that takes place almost a century after a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union in January 2001. For the most part, the series follows the travels of seven characters as they make their way through a violent, post-apocalyptic world. The stories are structured in a similar manner in that the seven characters are put into a challenging situation and forced to use their minds and muscles to reach safety.
Many of the novels begin with the seven arriving in a new, unknown location by means of a matter transmitter often referred to as a Mat Trans by the characters. The Mat-Trans units were an invention by a Pre-Dark (before the nuclear conflict) project called Project Chronos and are similar to the Star Trek Transporters, but are in the form of gateways. There is one Mat-Trans unit per redoubt installation which are scattered around what was the world. Each unit has a LD key or Last Destination key which will send the travelers back to the place they came from if it is hit within a 30 minute window.

Contents

Plot

Series History

Main characters

Weapons

Adaptations

Film

Audio

Related works

Outlanders series

External links

Plot

According to the story, the world as we know it (referred to as Pre-Dark) came to an end on January 20, 2001, when a nuclear bomb was detonated in Washington. A global nuclear exchange ensued, completely altering the geography, climate, and ecosystems of the world. What was left of the United States came to be known as the Deathlands.
At the time of The Deathlands series, one hundred years have passed. The series follows the adventures of a group of warrior survivalists led by Ryan Cawdor, the son of a powerful east coast baron. In the aftermath of the nuclear holocaust and a prolonged nuclear winter, referred to as the Sky Dark, the only remaining social/political structure left in the United States are isolated settlements referred to as villes, which are ruled by leaders referred to as barons, typically employing military type security forces, called Sec men. Ryan and his companions travel using the MAT-TRANS gateways deep within redoubts (hidden government facilities built to survive nuclear war).

Series History

The Deathlands series was begun as a joint project by Christopher Lowder (pen name "Jack Adrian") and Laurence James (under the 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. He wrote one last novel, ''Crucible of Time'' that appeared in 1998 and died in February of 2000. All other Deathlands have been written by a number of other authors, including Mark Ellis who produced the first post-Laurence James entry, ''Stoneface''.
Among fans, it is widely accepted that the early Laurence James novels are superior, although the three-year period that featured the formula-breaking work of Ellis, Mel Odom, Alan Phillipson and Terry Collins is considered a peak in the quality in the novels.
Many of the later books (particularly those penned by Andy Boot and Edo van Belkom) are criticized as falling short in terms of character and plot development.

Main characters

★ Ryan Cawdor, the leader of the group. He was the son of a baron but ran away and became a deathlands warrior. He used to work as the war chief for the deathlands most feared trader.

★ Krysty Wroth, Ryan's life partner, she is a voluptuous woman with prehensile red hair and other mutie powers, including premonition, precognition and the ability to summon strength from the Earth.

★ J. B. Dix, the weapons expert of the group, he used to work with Ryan as the trader's armorer.

★ Dean Cawdor, ryan's son from a one night stand. He joins the companions after reuniting with his father.

★ Jak Lauren, an albino teenager from the swamps of Louisiana, knife throwing expert, and excellent in hand-to-hand combat.

★ Dr. Mildred Wyeth, a 20th century physician and olympic gold medalist sharpshooter, she was frozen in an attempt to save her life. Mildred is thawed out by Ryan's group.

★ Dr. Theophilus Tanner, born in 1868, Doc Tanner was time-trawled to 2001 by scientists, and made such a nuisance of himself trying to find his way back that the scientists sent him forward to the Deathlands.

Weapons

★ Steyr SSG 70 - Ryan's sniper rifle

★ LeMat Revolver - Doc's hand cannon

★ Browning High Power Pistol - Dean's hand gun

★ Sig Sauer - Ryan's Hand Gun

★ Heckler & Koch G11 - Ryan's Assault Rifle

★ ZKR 551 - Mildred's target pistol

Adaptations

Film

Deathlands also made it to film in 2003 as a low-budget TV movie that aired on the Sci-Fi Channel. '' starred Vincent Spano and Traci Lords.

Audio

Many of the Deathlands and Outlanders novels have been adapted to an audiobook format. These titles are produced by The Cutting Corporation and 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 audiobooks 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.

Related works

Outlanders series

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 much more expansive and complete backstory for the "Axlerverse" and the causes for the nuclear holocaust rather than relying on the very limited and out-dated "US VS. USSR" template.

External links

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★ JamesAxler.com Unofficial fan site where you can buy titles.

★ GraphicAudio Books Dramatized audio book adaptations of Deathlands & Outlanders.