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Pilgrimage to Hell, the first novel in the series

Deathlands is a series of novels written by Christopher Lowder under the pseudonym Jack Adrian and published by Gold Eagle Publishing. The first novel, Pilgrimage to Hell, was published in 1986. This series of novels was written by Lowder until he became ill following his development of the plot and writing most of the book. Laurence James, under the pseudonym James Axler, then completed the series.[1]

The series exists in both an episodic style and a series format. Some novels can be read as a standalone book, while others are dependent on the previous release. There are also a few trilogy sets within the series.

Plot

On January 20, 2001, the climax of the Cold War turns the world into a postapocalyptic wasteland. The endgame began with a preemptive strike on Washington, DC. 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 of what occurred outside the two 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 changed dramatically. What was left of the United States came to be known as the Deathlands.

Nearly a century later, civilization begun to reappear, albeit brutal, short lived, morally confused, and crazed from mutation. Between the many hot spots are small plague pits ruled by warlords who have no limits 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 or "joltsky" (a hallucinogenic mixture of mescaline and heroin), ammunition, and slaves are the primary forms of currency. Life is a strange mixture of ancient history and limited technology scavenged from the twentieth century. Military technology is the most prized possession of all and success is often measured by the number of bullets one possesses. Ryan Cawdor leads a group 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 typically begins with the companions arriving at a previously unknown redoubt via MAT-TRANS. If the situation is impossible or hostile, the companions can use the transporter's "last destination" feature to return to the sending point. If the redoubt is unknown, the companions usually explore in search of weapons and supplies, which they rarely come across. They occasionally get lucky and find a working shower or stored food, which they always use or take. The plot picks up speed once the characters leave the redoubt and explore the surrounding countryside. Frequently, the companions are apprehended or forced into a confrontation with the local barons. Each novel reveals a little about the characters' backgrounds, motivations, and the region in which 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 had 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 December 2015, Deathlands novels stopped being produced following the company's closure, with the rights transferred to Graphic Audio and all subsequent sequels being in an exclusive audio drama format. Graphic Audio have produced over one thousand hours of audio set in the Axlerverse.

The Sci Fi Channel adapted Homeward Bound into a television movie in 2003.

In January 2024, a ten-part television series adaptation to be directed by Jonathan Frakes was announced.

As of April 2024, the Axlerverse consists of 231 stories (The Trader 1-3, Deathlands 0-152, and Outlanders 1-75), not including the 2003 television film.

The Trader prequel series (audiobook exclusives)

Series # Title Date Released
001 The High Cost of Doing Business October 2022
002 Golconda March 2023
003 Hostile Takeover January 2024

Gold Eagle novels

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 Milán 0-373-62578-2 December 2004
069 Black Harvest Edo Van Belkom 0-373-62579-0 March 2005
070 Vengeance Trail Victor Milán 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 Milán 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 Milán 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 Milán 0-373-62615-0 July 2012
106 Crimson Waters Victor Milán 0-373-62616-9 September 2012
107 No Man's Land Victor Milán 0-373-62617-7 October 2012
108 Nemesis Victor Milán 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 Milán 0-373-62621-5 July 2013
112 Dark Fathoms John Helfers 0-373-62622-3 September 2013
113 Motherlode Victor Milán 0-373-62623-1 November 2013
114 Siren Song Rik Hoskin 0-373-62624-X January 2014
115 Hanging Judge Victor Milán 0-373-62625-8 March 2014
116 End Program Rik Hoskin 0-373-62626-6 May 2014
117 Desolation Angels Victor Milán 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 Milán 0-373-62632-0 May 2015
123 Iron Rage Victor Milán 0-373-62633-9 July 2015
124 Child of Slaughter Robert T. Jeschonek 0-373-62634-7 September 2015
125 Devil's Vortex Victor Milán 0-373-62635-5 November 2015

Post-shutdown titles (audiobook exclusives)

Following the closure of Gold Eagle Publishing in 2015, Graphic Audio, the primary provider of audiobook adaptations of the Deathlands franchise, acquired the rights to produce more content for the series. All titles produced in-house by Graphic Audio are exclusively in a narrated audio drama format.

Series # Title Date Released
126 Survival in Doubt August 2016
127 Gaia's Promise

Cornerstone Saga - Book 1

November 2016
128 Bad Blood

Cornerstone Saga - Book 2

March 2017
129 Angels of Our Nature

Cornerstone Saga - Book 3

June 2017
130 City of Dark September 2017
131 Phreak Farm December 2017
132 Feeding Frenzy July 2018
133 Grim Choices December 2018
134 Glory's Stockpile January 2019
135 Killville May 2019
136 Trade War December 2019
137 Rift of the Magi January 2020
138 Who Lives and Who Dies May 2020
139 Exodus From Hell September 2020
140 Sea Hag March 2021
141 Hell Reclaimed May 2021
142 Into Delirium September 2021
143 Grave Capitol October 2021
144 Memory Box January 2022
145 Kraken May 2022
146 Red Letter Daze July 2022
147 Animal Kingdom April 2023
148 Caged Goddess June 2023
149 Extinction Generation August 2023
150 Devil's Redoubt October 2023
151 Outlands Warp April 2024
152 Cruel Seasons TBA

Adaptations

Deathlands also made it to film in 2003 as a low-budget telefilm 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 (cannibals), sec men (security men), a war wag (war wagon), and a redoubt (bunker) were depicted in the movie. The characters of Doc Tanner and Lori Quint were absent from the movie.

All of the Deathlands and many of the Outlanders novels have been adapted to the Graphic Audio audiobook format. The Deathands Saga was initially produced by Random House Audio, but never completed. The adaptations have an average running time of nearly 8 hours, and utilizes a full cast, score, and sound effects. The Deathlands Graphic Audio series continued from the events of the books' end, with the first completely original story, Survival in Doubt, released in Fall 2016.

Related works

Created in 1996 by Mark Ellis, Outlanders is the official sequel series to Deathlands, set a century after the original series. Outlanders provides 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. After 75 novels, the series ended in November 2015 with the closure of Gold Eagle. Graphic Audio have adapted the first 56 novels.

In 2022, Graphic Audio launched an audio-exclusive prequel series entitled The Trader, set in the 2080s, over a decade before the original series.

References

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