# Deathlands

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathlands
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***Deathlands*** is a series of novels written by Christopher Lowder under the [pseudonym](/source/Pseudonym) Jack Adrian and published by [Gold Eagle Publishing](/source/Gold_Eagle_Publishing). The first novel, *[Pilgrimage to Hell](/source/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](/source/Laurence_James), under the pseudonym [James Axler](/source/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 standalone works, while others are dependent on the previous release. There are also a few [trilogies](/source/Trilogy) within the series.

## Plot

On January 20, 2001, the climax of the [Cold War](/source/Cold_War) turns the world into a [postapocalyptic](/source/Post_apocalyptic) wasteland. The endgame began with a preemptive strike on [Washington, DC](/source/Washington,_DC). Underground nuclear bombs were detonated from within the basement of the Soviet embassy, by an elite group of [Spetsnaz](/source/Spetsnaz) operatives, destroying the central command structure and political system of the United States. For an indefinite period of time, a [nuclear exchange](/source/Nuclear_War) between the [United States](/source/United_States) and the [Soviet Union](/source/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](/source/Nuclear_winter) known as Skydark. The [geography](/source/Geography), [climate](/source/Climate), and [ecosystems](/source/Ecosystem) of the world changed dramatically. What was left of the United States came to be known as the Deathlands.

Nearly a century later, civilization began 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](/source/Dark_Ages_(historiography)). 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, 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](/source/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 and motivations, and the region in which they arrived.

## Main characters

- **Ryan Cawdor**: In the novel, Cawdor is the youngest son of a powerful [baron](/source/Baron) in [Virginia](/source/Virginia). He first appeared in the novel *[Pilgrimage to Hell](/source/Pilgrimage_to_Hell)* by Jack Adrian. His middle brother, Harvey, is responsible for the loss of Ryan's left eye after murdering Morgan, Ryan's eldest brother. Ryan's nephew, Nathan Freeman now controls the barony of Front Royal. Ryan was named after his great-grandfather, the original founder of Front Royal. He joined the Trader's convoy approximately ten years before the beginning of *Pilgrimage to Hell*, at the age of 21. Over the years, he climbed the ranks rapidly in Trader's convoy, soon becoming Trader's second-in-command. It was during this time that he met his best friend J.B. Dix, who joined Trader a little over a year later. Ryan is a master of many forms of combat, including knife fighting, and [unarmed combat](/source/Martial_arts). He learned a great deal from both Trader and J.B. Ryan was portrayed by [Vincent Spano](/source/Vincent_Spano) in the [Sci Fi Channel](/source/Syfy) original movie version of *[Deathlands: Homeward Bound](/source/Deathlands:_Homeward_Bound)*.
- **Krysty Wroth**: In the novel, Wroth is a skilled and talented combatant and markswoman. She is a valued member of the companions' party for both her natural fighting abilities and her limited "feelie" (precognitive) abilities. She was initially introduced in the first book in the series, [Pilgrimage to Hell](/source/Pilgrimage_to_Hell) in 1986, and it was in that book that she established a mutually monogamous romantic relationship with Ryan Cawdor. She is a [mutant](/source/Mutant_(fictional)), though possessing a rare combination of beneficial mutant traits, unlike the myriad of mutilated and deformed "muties" the party comes across throughout their travels. Her most notable characteristic is her long red, semi-sentient animated hair as a result of her mutation.
- **John Barrymore Dix**: In the novel, J.B. Dix, also known as The Armorer, has been Ryan Cawdor's closest friend and travelling companion since both men worked for and travelled with the Trader. He is a thin, wiry, tough man who wears wire-rimmed spectacles and a brown fedora. He is very quiet, never using four words when three will do. He is a living encyclopedia on weapons from pistols to tanks to missiles. He is also an explosives expert and decent hand-to-hand combatant, although only an average shot. He carries a large canvas satchel containing his explosives and other weapons at all times. Born in Cripple Creek, Colorado, he spent his early years exploring the local area and salvaging trade goods (primarily firearms) from abandoned dwellings and shelters. He developed severe claustrophobia in one such incident as he was trapped in a cave-in with a corpse for several days while exploring an old mine. After serving several years with the Trader he entered the MAT-TRANS with Ryan and his other companions. He began a romantic relationship with Dr. Mildred Wyeth. He has also learned that he has [glaucoma](/source/Glaucoma) and will eventually go blind.
- **Dean Cawdor**: In the novel, Dean is the teenage son of Ryan Cawdor. Despite his youth he is a full member of the team of warrior survivors that comprise the primary characters. Dean is the result of an affair Ryan Cawdor had with Sharona Carson when Ryan was still traveling with his old mentor, the Trader. Dean's existence is first revealed in *[Time Nomads](/source/Time_Nomads)*, and he first encounters the group in *[Seedling](/source/Seedling_(novel))*.
- **Jak Laurent**: In the novel, Laurent is an [albino](/source/Albino) distinguished in the books by his unusual syntax when speaking. Jak was introduced in the third book, [Neutron Solstice](/source/Neutron_Solstice). He is a young man, in his late teens, and is an extremely capable hunter and warrior. His signature weapons are his leaf bladed throwing knives, of which he has between 8 and 12 hidden on him at all times, and often uses them as thrown weapons or for melee when guns are inappropriate, and his .357 Colt Python revolver. He comes from the suburb of West Lowellton in Lafayette, Louisiana, where the group first meet him. At the time, he is leading a group of rebels against an extremely sadistic baron known as Tourment. When Ryan and the other's first met him, and saw just how skillful of a fighter and leader he is, they are surprised to find he is only 14 years old. He is later married to Christina Ballinger, and temporarily leaves the group to settle down in [Latitude Zero](/source/Latitude_Zero_(Deathlands_novel)), but tragedy strikes and his wife and daughter are savagely murdered, and he rejoins the group. In the *[Deathlands: Homeward Bound](/source/Deathlands:_Homeward_Bound)* movie from the [Sci-Fi Channel](/source/Syfy), his personality was altered to that of a "savage".
- **Dr. Mildred Winona Wyeth**: In the novel, Wyeth is a stocky black woman, known for her corn-rowed hair and smart-ass comments to life in general. She is also a medical doctor from the twentieth century who was cryogenically frozen before the [nuclear holocaust](/source/Nuclear_holocaust). After her introduction in the series she joined Ryan Cawdor and the other characters in roaming the Deathlands via the Redoubts. She has been romantically linked to [J.B. Dix](/source/J.B._Dix), one of the original characters of the series. Mildred is both a skilled physician and a person to contend with firearms-wise, having been an Olympic pistol champion before her cryonic freezing, she has the ability to shoot with a level that almost defies belief, notably hitting Stingwings, small fast terrors that are generally feared in Deathlands, as they attack the group while in flight.
- **Dr. Theophilus Algernon Tanner**: In the novel, Tanner, also known as "Doc", was rescued by Ryan Cawdor and his people from the ville of Mocsin, where he was being kept captive by Jordan Teague, the ville's [baron](/source/Baron). Dr. Tanner speaks in a very strange, [Victorian](/source/Victorian_era) way. Physically, he is very tall and skinny. His face is deeply lined and framed by long gray hair. He has perfect teeth and speaks with a deep, rich voice which commands attention. He is a doctor of [philosophy](/source/Philosophy), as well as having studied [ichthyology](/source/Ichthyology). Tanner was actually born on February 14, 1868, in South Strafford, Vermont. During a [time traveling](/source/Time_travel) experiment by scientists, he was brought one hundred years into the future, to 1998. Since he proved to be a nuisance and kept trying to escape, the scientists pushed him a further one hundred years into the future, to the Deathlands. The time travel has put a strain on his body, and his memory has partly lapsed. His knowledge of pre-apocalypse redoubts (hidden government fortresses) proves invaluable to Ryan Cawdor and his team. He possesses knowledge of several other projects besides the one which "Time Trawled" him to the Deathlands time period, notably TITAN. There is a past drug-induced psychotic break whenever something brings that particular project to the forefront, and Doc fails to think clearly until the moment passes or he is distracted to another subject. Dr. Tanner was left out of the 2003 film *[Deathlands: Homeward Bound](/source/Deathlands:_Homeward_Bound)*.
- **Trader**: In the novel, there are many people in Deathlands who bear the title "trader", but only one who used it as his name. Trader is a legend all over Deathlands—a man known for fair deals, a distinct lack of mercy, and the largest and most powerful convoys anywhere. Trader was about 56 years of age at the time of his final appearance (and, it is presumed, death); he had grizzled salt-and-pepper hair and a beard, a burly build, and a chronic cough from his radiation sickness (though he was later cured of this). He carried a battered Armalite rifle, often using it as a crutch.

## 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:

- **Cort Strasser**: Former Security Man for Baron Teague and sado-masochistic mastermind behind many plots against Cawdor's crew. He appeared three times: as the Sec Chief in *Pilgrimage to Hell*, as the leader of a group of formidable soldiers in *Pony Soldiers*, and finally as the leader of a group of raiders who travel by railway in *Latitude Zero*, in which he killed himself in an attempt to kill Ryan Cawdor.
- **Major Zimyanyin**: Major-Commissar Gregori Zimyanin was a member of the Russian Security Bureau (sort of an amalgam of the KGB and the army). He appeared multiple times throughout the series, opposing Cawdor's team. He kills himself after a plot to kidnap Ryan Cawdor's son because he was too honorable to allow a small child to bear such a heavy grudge.
- **Straub**: A powerful psionic mutie who had the abilities of mind-reading and hypnosis. He was encountered two times throughout the series: as a leader of a group of bandits in *Shadowfall* (where he also presumably killed major characters Abe and Trader), and as cohort to evil Baroness Katya Beausoleil in *Circle Thrice*, where he was shot by Doc Tanner.
- **Magus**: A former slaver of genetically engineered mutants, he had his eyes, hands, and jaw destroyed in a fight against the Trader, and later was repaired and learned to master pre-dark technology. He's believed to have magical abilities by the more superstitious in the Deathlands.
- **Baron Harvey Cawdor**: The brother of Ryan Cawdor and the leader of a barony in Virginia. He tried and succeeded, with the help of his father's young wife, to kill his father and brothers so he could rule the barony—although Ryan escaped with one less eye. Because of a breech-birth, he was a misshapen hunchbacked man with a proficiency in guns and knives. He was killed in his first appearance in *Homeward Bound*.
- **Dredda Trask**: A woman who lived in an alternate universe where the nuclear detonations never occurred. She was the CEO of a corporation that controlled most of the world, and was genetically altered to be the "perfect" human being. She was later destroyed by parasites that inhabited the void between the universes.
- **Baron Willie Elijah**: A powerful Baron who believed in genetic purity and sentenced all other kinds of humans to forced labor. While never being more of a secondary antagonist himself, he has caused a number of villains incidentally, such as... - **Johnson Lester**: His former Sec Man who was later badly burned and later became the leader of an army of mutant stickies. - **Kaa**: A powerful psionic mutant under the captivity of Baron Elijah, but eventually making it into his good graces. He had the ability to control mutants with his pineal third eye. He then tried to commit genocide of all non-mutants in the Deathlands.

## 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](/source/Mark_Ellis_(American_author)), 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 exclusively audio dramas. 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 July 2025, the Axlerverse consists of 238 stories (*The Trader* 1-4, *Deathlands* 0-158, 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 004 Devil in the Details July 2025

**Gold Eagle novels**

Series # Title Author(s) First Edition ISBN Date Released 000 Encounter Alan Philipson (Primary Story), Mark Ellis, Christopher Lowder, Laurence James ISBN 0-373-81197-7 January 1988 001 Pilgrimage to Hell Christopher Lowder (First ¾ of book), Laurence James (Last ¼ of book) ISBN 0-373-62501-4 June 1986 002 Red Holocaust Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62502-2 September 1986 003 Neutron Solstice Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62503-0 March 1987 004 Crater Lake Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62504-9 August 1987 005 Homeward Bound Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62505-7 January 1988 006 Pony Soldiers Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62506-5 May 1988 007 Dectra Chain Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62507-3 September 1988 008 Ice and Fire Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62508-1 December 1988 009 Red Equinox Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62509-X June 1989 010 Northstar Rising Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62510-3 December 1989 011 Time Nomads Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62511-1 June 1990 012 Latitude Zero Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62512-X April 1991 013 Seedling Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62513-8 September 1991 014 Dark Carnival Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62514-6 January 1992 015 Chill Factor Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62515-4 May 1992 016 Moon Fate Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62516-2 September 1992 017 Fury's Pilgrims Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62517-0 January 1993 018 Shockscape Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62518-9 June 1993 019 Deep Empire Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62519-7 January 1994 020 Cold Asylum Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62520-0 April 1994 021 Twilight Children Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62521-9 June 1994 022 Rider, Reaper Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62522-7 August 1994 023 Road Wars Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62523-5 October 1994 024 Trader Redux Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62524-3 December 1994 025 Genesis Echo Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62525-1 March 1995 026 Shadowfall Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62526-X May 1995 027 Ground Zero Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62527-8 July 1995 028 Emerald Fire Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62528-6 October 1995 029 Bloodlines Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62529-4 December 1995 030 Crossways Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62530-8 February 1996 031 Keepers of the Sun Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62531-6 April 1996 032 Circle Thrice Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62532-4 June 1996 033 Eclipse at Noon Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62533-2 September 1996 034 Stoneface Mark Ellis ISBN 0-373-62534-0 November 1996 035 Bitter Fruit Mel Odom ISBN 0-373-62535-9 January 1997 036 Skydark Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62536-7 March 1997 037 Demons of Eden Mark Ellis ISBN 0-373-62537-5 May 1997 038 The Mars Arena Mel Odom ISBN 0-373-62538-3 August 1997 039 Watersleep Terry Collins ISBN 0-373-62539-1 November 1997 040 Nightmare Passage Mark Ellis ISBN 0-373-62540-5 January 1998 041 Freedom Lost Terry Collins ISBN 0-373-62541-3 March 1998 042 Way of the Wolf Mel Odom ISBN 0-373-62542-1 July 1998 043 Dark Emblem Terry Collins ISBN 0-373-62543-X October 1998 044 Crucible of Time Laurence James ISBN 0-373-62544-8 January 1999 045 Starfall Mel Odom ISBN 0-373-62545-6 April 1999 046 Gemini Rising The Baronies Trilogy - Book 1 Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62546-4 July 1999 047 Gaia's Demise The Baronies Trilogy - Book 2 Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62547-2 October 1999 048 Dark Reckoning The Baronies Trilogy - Book 3 Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62548-0 January 2000 049 Shadow World Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62559-6 March 2000 050 Pandora's Redoubt Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62560-X June 2000 051 Rat King Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62561-8 September 2000 052 Zero City Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62562-6 December 2000 053 Savage Armada The Skydark Chronicles - Book 1 Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62563-4 March 2001 054 Judas Strike The Skydark Chronicles - Book 2 Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62564-2 June 2001 055 Shadow Fortress The Skydark Chronicles - Book 3 Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62565-0 September 2001 056 Sunchild Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62566-9 December 2001 057 Breakthrough Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62567-7 March 2002 058 Salvation Road Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62568-5 June 2002 059 Amazon Gate The Illuminated Ones - Book 1 Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62569-3 September 2002 060 Destiny's Truth The Illuminated Ones - Book 2 Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62570-7 December 2002 061 Skydark Spawn Edo Van Belkom ISBN 0-373-62571-5 March 2003 062 Damnation Road Show Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62572-3 June 2003 063 Devil Riders Scorpion God - Book 1 Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62573-1 September 2003 064 Bloodfire Scorpion God - Book 2 Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62574-X December 2003 065 Hellbenders Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62575-8 March 2004 066 Separation Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62576-6 June 2004 067 Death Hunt Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62577-4 September 2004 068 Shaking Earth Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62578-2 December 2004 069 Black Harvest Edo Van Belkom ISBN 0-373-62579-0 March 2005 070 Vengeance Trail Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62580-4 June 2005 071 Ritual Chill Altered States - Book 1 Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62581-2 September 2005 072 Atlantis Reprise Altered States - Book 2 Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62582-0 December 2005 073 Labyrinth Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62583-9 March 2006 074 Strontium Swamp Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62584-7 June 2006 075 Shatter Zone The Coldfire Project - Book 1 Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62585-5 September 2006 076 Perdition Valley The Coldfire Project - Book 2 Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62586-3 December 2006 077 Cannibal Moon Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62587-1 March 2007 078 Sky Raider Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62588-X June 2007 079 Remember Tomorrow Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62589-8 September 2007 080 Sunspot Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62590-1 December 2007 081 Desert Kings Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62591-X March 2008 082 Apocalypse Unborn Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62592-8 June 2008 083 Thunder Road Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62593-6 September 2008 084 Plague Lords Empire of Xibalba - Book 1 Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62594-4 December 2008 085 Dark Resurrection Empire of Xibalba - Book 2 Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62595-2 March 2009 086 Eden's Twilight Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62596-0 June 2009 087 Desolation Crossing Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62597-9 July 2009 088 Alpha Wave Rik Hoskin ISBN 0-373-62598-7 September 2009 089 Time Castaways Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62599-5 December 2009 090 Prophecy Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62600-2 January 2010 091 Blood Harvest Chuck Rogers ISBN 0-373-62601-0 March 2010 092 Arcadian's Asylum Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62602-9 May 2010 093 Baptism of Rage Rik Hoskin ISBN 0-373-62603-7 July 2010 094 Doom Helix Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62604-5 September 2010 095 Moonfeast Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62605-3 November 2010 096 Downrigger Drift John Helfers ISBN 0-373-62606-1 January 2011 097 Playfair's Axiom Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62607-X March 2011 098 Tainted Cascade Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62608-8 May 2011 099 Perception Fault John Helfers ISBN 0-373-62609-6 July 2011 100 Prodigal's Return Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62610-X September 2011 101 Lost Gates Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62611-8 November 2011 102 Haven's Blight Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62612-6 January 2012 103 Hell Road Warriors Chuck Rogers ISBN 0-373-62613-4 March 2012 104 Palaces of Light Andy Boot ISBN 0-373-62614-2 May 2012 105 Wretched Earth Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62615-0 July 2012 106 Crimson Waters Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62616-9 September 2012 107 No Man's Land Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62617-7 October 2012 108 Nemesis Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62618-5 January 2013 109 Chrono Spasm Rik Hoskin ISBN 0-373-62619-3 March 2013 110 Sins of Honor Nick Pollotta ISBN 0-373-62620-7 May 2013 111 Storm Breakers Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62621-5 July 2013 112 Dark Fathoms John Helfers ISBN 0-373-62622-3 September 2013 113 Motherlode Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62623-1 November 2013 114 Siren Song Rik Hoskin ISBN 0-373-62624-X January 2014 115 Hanging Judge Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62625-8 March 2014 116 End Program Rik Hoskin ISBN 0-373-62626-6 May 2014 117 Desolation Angels Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62627-4 July 2014 118 Blood Red Tide Chuck Rogers ISBN 0-373-62628-2 September 2014 119 Polestar Omega Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62629-0 November 2014 120 Hive Invasion Travis Morgan ISBN 0-373-62630-4 January 2015 121 End Day Alan Philipson ISBN 0-373-62631-2 March 2015 122 Forbidden Trespass Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62632-0 May 2015 123 Iron Rage Victor Milán ISBN 0-373-62633-9 July 2015 124 Child of Slaughter Robert T. Jeschonek ISBN 0-373-62634-7 September 2015 125 Devil's Vortex Victor Milán ISBN 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 October 2024 153 Mutie Nation December 2024 154 Reaper's Peace February 2025 155 Doom Horizon March 2025 156 Cemetery Tango September 2025 157 Wraith Winter November 2025 158 Captive Souls August 2026

## Adaptations

*Deathlands* also made it to film in 2003 as a low-budget [telefilm](/source/Television_film) that aired on the [Sci-Fi Channel](/source/SyFy). *[Deathlands: Homeward Bound](/source/Deathlands:_Homeward_Bound)* starred [Vincent Spano](/source/Vincent_Spano) and [Traci Lords](/source/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](/source/GraphicAudio) 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](/source/Outlanders_(book_series))* 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](/source/Cold_War)" 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](/source/Don_D'Ammassa) (2009), *Encyclopedia of adventure fiction*, Facts On File, p. 149, ISBN 978-0-8160-7573-7

## External links

- [Official James Axler site](http://www.jamesaxler.com)
- [Official Mark Ellis site](http://www.MarkEllisInk.com)
- [GraphicAudio](http://www.graphicaudio.net/) dramatized audio adaptations of *Deathlands* and *Outlanders,* plus original *Deathlands* and *The Trader* audio stories
- ["Deathlands Revisited"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7gr-iU66FY)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Deathlands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathlands) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathlands?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.