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Deathlands #22
Rider, Reaper
VENGEANCE TRAIL
The red-baked mountains of New Mexico offer a peaceful interlude for Ryan Cawdor, and a reunion with Jak Lauren. But in the violent post-holocaust world of Deathlands, survival is a blood-soaked game - and Ryan's idyll becomes a mission of revenge.
The quarry is the General and his band of paramilitary killers. Roving and plundering the Southwest, the General travels with an unsurpassed armory, his troops unchallenged, his agenda unstoppable.
Allied with local vengeance-hungry Indians, Ryan Cawdor and his warrior survivalists begin a cross-desert manhunt on horseback through the acrid canyon lands, when danger waits in the form of fifteen-foot rattlesnakes, acid-rain hurricanes - and a man who grimly prepares to destroy his pursuers.
Hope died in the Deathlands, but the will to live goes on.
The red-baked mountains of New Mexico offer a peaceful interlude for Ryan Cawdor, and a reunion with Jak Lauren. But in the violent post-holocaust world of Deathlands, survival is a blood-soaked game - and Ryan's idyll becomes a mission of revenge.
The quarry is the General and his band of paramilitary killers. Roving and plundering the Southwest, the General travels with an unsurpassed armory, his troops unchallenged, his agenda unstoppable.
Allied with local vengeance-hungry Indians, Ryan Cawdor and his warrior survivalists begin a cross-desert manhunt on horseback through the acrid canyon lands, when danger waits in the form of fifteen-foot rattlesnakes, acid-rain hurricanes - and a man who grimly prepares to destroy his pursuers.
Hope died in the Deathlands, but the will to live goes on.
349 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1994
3 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 1, 2026
Well, if there’s any lesson to be learned in the Deathlands, it’s that there never a happy ending.
When the team come to in a familiar jump chamber, they realize they are close to the homestead of Jak and Christine Lauren and their newborn baby. But what starts as a happy reunion ends in tragedy, with a vengeance-fuels chase across the wasteland in pursuit of a murderous General and his gang of scum.
This Deathlands definitely has a western vibe to it as well, with the gang riding horses in pursuit of the general and teaming up with a band of Navajos also on the vengeance trail. I never realized how many of these books are sort of western stories reimagined on the post apocalyptic Deathlands, but it makes sense, the lawless frontier is now everywhere, and Cawdor, Dix and company are the white hats.
There’s also an interesting aside with Abe and the Trader waiting to see if Cawdor gets Abe’s message about finding Trader. There’s a few chapters with them up near Seattle, where you can see the Trader slipping into madness more and more.
It ends with Ryan and JB heading towards Seattle in a purloined war wag, while the rest of the team waits at Jak’s ranch for their return with the legendary Trader.
Another quick and easy read here, these early Deathlands are a pleasure to revisit.
When the team come to in a familiar jump chamber, they realize they are close to the homestead of Jak and Christine Lauren and their newborn baby. But what starts as a happy reunion ends in tragedy, with a vengeance-fuels chase across the wasteland in pursuit of a murderous General and his gang of scum.
This Deathlands definitely has a western vibe to it as well, with the gang riding horses in pursuit of the general and teaming up with a band of Navajos also on the vengeance trail. I never realized how many of these books are sort of western stories reimagined on the post apocalyptic Deathlands, but it makes sense, the lawless frontier is now everywhere, and Cawdor, Dix and company are the white hats.
There’s also an interesting aside with Abe and the Trader waiting to see if Cawdor gets Abe’s message about finding Trader. There’s a few chapters with them up near Seattle, where you can see the Trader slipping into madness more and more.
It ends with Ryan and JB heading towards Seattle in a purloined war wag, while the rest of the team waits at Jak’s ranch for their return with the legendary Trader.
Another quick and easy read here, these early Deathlands are a pleasure to revisit.
July 2, 2022
This series has gotten great ratings yet I just can't seem to get into it. Much of it is marred by what ruins so many of Weber's books: exposition disguised as wince inducing dialog, and "humor" where a wag's witticisms consist of criticizing other characters' intellect, height, courage, etc. only for said wag to telegraph by the twinkle in his eye (or half twinkle, or hint of twinkle with a side of barely suppressed grin) to the unseen observer that HE or SHE is ONLY JOKING! One time was meh, given that Weber uses the same trick in so many books, but he repeats it over and over expecting a belly laugh each time.
And not much happens in nearly 16 hours until the very end.
Third time pays for all, as they say, so I'm going to give Weber
one more try with Wind Rider's Oath!
And not much happens in nearly 16 hours until the very end.
Third time pays for all, as they say, so I'm going to give Weber
one more try with Wind Rider's Oath!
May 3, 2023
A revenge chase instead of a typical ville. Some main(ish) characters die and one returns. The ending doesn't go into another teleport, but will be a break in the group to find the Trader. Next one should be interesting.
October 21, 2019
One of the better Deathlands books. I appreciated the nuanced story the book (surprisingly) weaved regarding the nature of trust.
August 15, 2021
One of, if not the most heart wrenching stories in the series.
November 30, 2009
So sad
February 25, 2011
This and the next two brought back the trader. Well done and kept the mystery alive.
March 22, 2013
Great book!
Very sad and emotional
Very sad and emotional
January 26, 2016
An average apocalyptic adventure story. This one takes a century after the last war and now there are mutants running around the earth. Recommended
May 4, 2016
As good as any in the list.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews