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The Coilhunter Chronicles #4
Lostlander
A Science Fiction Western Adventure
Welcome to nowhere.
Nox, the Coilhunter, wakes up in unfamiliar territory, victim of a deranged man who claims he's from another world, and who's building an army of slaves to help him get back there.
The eccentric bounty hunter must face off the wild of the desert and the wild in men, all the while trying to piece together what happened from his fractured memory.
Some go to the Lostlands to find themselves, but the Coilhunter is on the hunt for the true Lostlander: the Man with the Silver Mane. Folk say those Magi are lost without their magic, but Nox has long found his own kind of mojo in his gadgets and his guns.
Welcome to nowhere.
Nox, the Coilhunter, wakes up in unfamiliar territory, victim of a deranged man who claims he's from another world, and who's building an army of slaves to help him get back there.
The eccentric bounty hunter must face off the wild of the desert and the wild in men, all the while trying to piece together what happened from his fractured memory.
Some go to the Lostlands to find themselves, but the Coilhunter is on the hunt for the true Lostlander: the Man with the Silver Mane. Folk say those Magi are lost without their magic, but Nox has long found his own kind of mojo in his gadgets and his guns.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2019
33 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Dean F. Wilson
31 books2,097 followersUSA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author
Dean F. Wilson was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1987. He started writing at age 11.
He is the author of the Children of Telm epic fantasy trilogy, the Great Iron War steampunk series, the Coilhunter Chronicles science-fiction western series, the Hibernian Hollows urban fantasy series, and the Infinite Stars space opera series.
Dean previously worked as a journalist, primarily in the field of technology. He has written for TechEye, Thinq, V3, VR-Zone, ITProPortal, TechRadar Pro, and The Inquirer.
Dean F. Wilson was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1987. He started writing at age 11.
He is the author of the Children of Telm epic fantasy trilogy, the Great Iron War steampunk series, the Coilhunter Chronicles science-fiction western series, the Hibernian Hollows urban fantasy series, and the Infinite Stars space opera series.
Dean previously worked as a journalist, primarily in the field of technology. He has written for TechEye, Thinq, V3, VR-Zone, ITProPortal, TechRadar Pro, and The Inquirer.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 16, 2019
The fourth book in the Coilhunter series might have had promise, but it couldn’t hold up to the challenge of being another entertaining book in this multi-book saga. Here’s why:
None of the books in author Dean F. Wilson’s series are particularly well-written, but what they do have is charm. There is a playful adventurous in the way he describes the action. Most of all, the tongue-in-cheek names for all the colorful characters are, to me, a major piece in why the first three Coilhunter books worked and this one didn’t. All the names are alliterations – Hammerback Harry, Rustbucket Riley, Buckhorn Bobby – and their back stories are usually something to look forward to.
Unfortunately, this important piece has been shunted into the corner for this book, and the few times it is allowed out, the pacing seems rushed. It is almost as if the author wished to get the explanations out of the way so he could go back to the story. For the world Mr. Wilson has created, however, the inhabitants ARE the story. It seems he forgot that in this recent book.
This leaves the interactions primarily between the Coilhunter (NOX), Oakley, and Porridge. Porridge is a one-dimensional character that overstayed his welcome in the book, yet the author carried the annoying pattern of speech (Porridge calls even fruit and vegetable names – cabbage, peach, plum, etc.) all the way to the last chapter. Oakley came on too late to save the book, which left NOX with little to interact with, almost making him a caricature of himself.
I was a fan of this series, but the change of style exposed some of the grammar issues that were easierfto overlook when I felt entertained. I am sure that Mr. Wilson’s fans will like this book, but for me, it became tedious and a chore to get to the last page. Three stars.
None of the books in author Dean F. Wilson’s series are particularly well-written, but what they do have is charm. There is a playful adventurous in the way he describes the action. Most of all, the tongue-in-cheek names for all the colorful characters are, to me, a major piece in why the first three Coilhunter books worked and this one didn’t. All the names are alliterations – Hammerback Harry, Rustbucket Riley, Buckhorn Bobby – and their back stories are usually something to look forward to.
Unfortunately, this important piece has been shunted into the corner for this book, and the few times it is allowed out, the pacing seems rushed. It is almost as if the author wished to get the explanations out of the way so he could go back to the story. For the world Mr. Wilson has created, however, the inhabitants ARE the story. It seems he forgot that in this recent book.
This leaves the interactions primarily between the Coilhunter (NOX), Oakley, and Porridge. Porridge is a one-dimensional character that overstayed his welcome in the book, yet the author carried the annoying pattern of speech (Porridge calls even fruit and vegetable names – cabbage, peach, plum, etc.) all the way to the last chapter. Oakley came on too late to save the book, which left NOX with little to interact with, almost making him a caricature of himself.
I was a fan of this series, but the change of style exposed some of the grammar issues that were easierfto overlook when I felt entertained. I am sure that Mr. Wilson’s fans will like this book, but for me, it became tedious and a chore to get to the last page. Three stars.
October 1, 2019
I love this series. I initially thought the Coilhunter as a mix of 'Dirty Harry and Mad Max', but I now think there are elements of Stephen King's Gunslinger (Dark Tower series) in there too.
This time, Nox awakens to find himself missing memories but having flashbacks of a silver haired man who has an unnerving aura and finds he is wearing a strange metal collar. So starts an adventure to clear his memory and free not just himself, but others he encounters along the way. As is the case with this series, there are the usual inventive ways of getting out of sticky situations, and an old favourite Porridge makes a welcome appearance, keeping things entertaining when they could be becoming just that shade too serious. There are also mentions towards the authors other incredible series 'The Iron War', reminding us that Nox has been involved in more than just Coilhunting in his past. For Nox, it seems that no matter how many people he sets free he can never truly be free himself and is but a prisoner of his own making and this comes across perfectly in this story. The characters are larger than life and vary from the usual Western 'have a gos' to down on their luck and desperate, to over the top flamboyant gender pushing extroverts. There is something for everyone in this mix of madness.
One for fans of Sci-fi, Steampunk and Westerns or for people who want something different.
This time, Nox awakens to find himself missing memories but having flashbacks of a silver haired man who has an unnerving aura and finds he is wearing a strange metal collar. So starts an adventure to clear his memory and free not just himself, but others he encounters along the way. As is the case with this series, there are the usual inventive ways of getting out of sticky situations, and an old favourite Porridge makes a welcome appearance, keeping things entertaining when they could be becoming just that shade too serious. There are also mentions towards the authors other incredible series 'The Iron War', reminding us that Nox has been involved in more than just Coilhunting in his past. For Nox, it seems that no matter how many people he sets free he can never truly be free himself and is but a prisoner of his own making and this comes across perfectly in this story. The characters are larger than life and vary from the usual Western 'have a gos' to down on their luck and desperate, to over the top flamboyant gender pushing extroverts. There is something for everyone in this mix of madness.
One for fans of Sci-fi, Steampunk and Westerns or for people who want something different.
April 7, 2019
Lostlander - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Bounty-hunter Nathaniel Oxley Xander, aka Coilhunter, aka Nox, aka The Man with 1000 Names is kidnapped and abandoned to die in the deserts of the distant Lostlands which gives Lostlander, an amazing, incredible 4th book in the Coilhunter Chronicles by Dean F Wilson its title.
When he recovers consciousness, Nox remembers only that he was ensnared by a shadowy figure he calls The Man With the Silver Mane, because of his enemy's head of long silvery white hair. As Nox heads for what he hopes is the city he began his hunt in. His only ally in his return and revenge, is Old Reliable, a sturdy horse belonging to Chance Oakley, an old acquaintance of Nox's, whom he finds dreadfully wounded by the wolves who chase and attack them as they flee to try and find Chance. Other discoveries and encounters both good and evil will aid or delay Nox, but one thing's for sure - the Coilhunter (like the Mounties), always gets his man! Get your copy today and saddle up for an adventure like no other - it's sure to be a 5-star winner for Dean F Wilson - yee-hah!!
Bounty-hunter Nathaniel Oxley Xander, aka Coilhunter, aka Nox, aka The Man with 1000 Names is kidnapped and abandoned to die in the deserts of the distant Lostlands which gives Lostlander, an amazing, incredible 4th book in the Coilhunter Chronicles by Dean F Wilson its title.
When he recovers consciousness, Nox remembers only that he was ensnared by a shadowy figure he calls The Man With the Silver Mane, because of his enemy's head of long silvery white hair. As Nox heads for what he hopes is the city he began his hunt in. His only ally in his return and revenge, is Old Reliable, a sturdy horse belonging to Chance Oakley, an old acquaintance of Nox's, whom he finds dreadfully wounded by the wolves who chase and attack them as they flee to try and find Chance. Other discoveries and encounters both good and evil will aid or delay Nox, but one thing's for sure - the Coilhunter (like the Mounties), always gets his man! Get your copy today and saddle up for an adventure like no other - it's sure to be a 5-star winner for Dean F Wilson - yee-hah!!
September 19, 2025
Lostlander is an incredibly imaginative novel and a great addition to The Coilhunter Chronicles by Dean F. Wilson. It’s the type of story that could be hard to pull off but succeeds wonderfully in the hands of this talented author.
Although each book in The Coilhunter Chronicles can be read as a standalone novel, I’ve been reading them in order because I’m enjoying the series.
Lostlander opens with the main character, Nathaniel Osley Xander or Nox or the Coilhunter who’s also known by many other names, waking in a part of the desert he’d never been to before, without any memory of how he got there. He has what is labeled “anaesthesia of the mind.” The opening sentences give the reader a sense of how brutal this desert can be: “The Coilhunter awoke in the desert. That wasn’t the strange part. The desert went on for miles. If you didn’t wake there, chances are you were dead.”
Nox tries to stand, but his knees buckle. As he sips water from a canister, his mind clears a bit and he realizes he has something around his neck. It turns out to be a metal collar that no matter how hard he tries, he can’t remove. Struggling to remember what happened, he has an image of a man with silver hair standing over him, putting the collar on. The man’s intense stare and voice are incredibly powerful and hypnotic. Nox nicknames him the Man with the Silver Mane and goes off in search of him.
Nox eventually ends up in a part of the desert that is rather otherworldly and mysterious. Discovering a force field, he thinks about how things like force fields are considered magic. He thinks about those called Magi and the many stories about them.
As Nox continues his journey to find the Man with the Silver Mane, he meets up with a couple of other characters mentioned earlier in the series (although you don’t need to know who they were beforehand) and together they enter a world filled with both science and magic. The philosophical aspects of the story work well with the action sequences to make Lostlander a unique and wonderful book.
Although each book in The Coilhunter Chronicles can be read as a standalone novel, I’ve been reading them in order because I’m enjoying the series.
Lostlander opens with the main character, Nathaniel Osley Xander or Nox or the Coilhunter who’s also known by many other names, waking in a part of the desert he’d never been to before, without any memory of how he got there. He has what is labeled “anaesthesia of the mind.” The opening sentences give the reader a sense of how brutal this desert can be: “The Coilhunter awoke in the desert. That wasn’t the strange part. The desert went on for miles. If you didn’t wake there, chances are you were dead.”
Nox tries to stand, but his knees buckle. As he sips water from a canister, his mind clears a bit and he realizes he has something around his neck. It turns out to be a metal collar that no matter how hard he tries, he can’t remove. Struggling to remember what happened, he has an image of a man with silver hair standing over him, putting the collar on. The man’s intense stare and voice are incredibly powerful and hypnotic. Nox nicknames him the Man with the Silver Mane and goes off in search of him.
Nox eventually ends up in a part of the desert that is rather otherworldly and mysterious. Discovering a force field, he thinks about how things like force fields are considered magic. He thinks about those called Magi and the many stories about them.
As Nox continues his journey to find the Man with the Silver Mane, he meets up with a couple of other characters mentioned earlier in the series (although you don’t need to know who they were beforehand) and together they enter a world filled with both science and magic. The philosophical aspects of the story work well with the action sequences to make Lostlander a unique and wonderful book.
April 8, 2019
I really enjoy the Coilhunter Chronicles because Nox is one of my favorite characters. He reminds me of old school Clint Eastwood from the spaghetti westerns. And while this book was good, it didn't live up to the expectations based on the previous entries in the series. This one was different. The style of the story was different, the pacing different and the "bad guy" was different. The story starts in the middle, which works for me in TV, but not so much in books. You spend the first part of the book a little disoriented because you don't really know what's going on and everything feels so foreign for a Coilhunter book. Things do finally get a bit more on track when Nox and Porridge make their way to the Castle in the Sand. But then things for me fall really flat at the end as I find the confrontation with The Man with the Silver Mane to be very anti-climactic. All this turmoil and struggle throughout the book and then bam, it's just over with not much of an explanation on why...other than he was trying to get home. That wasn't enough for me. It doesn't answer a lot. I was hoping for more. As I said, it's not a bad book at all...it's written well and Nox is such a cool character. It's worth the read. I eagerly await the next installment....Sixshooter!
March 12, 2019
As always, the author spins a story so vividly that you find yourself in the midst of the action. You can hear the raspy voice of the Coilhunter. You can taste the dust blowing across the desert. You can hear the growls and snapping jaws of the wolves. The reader joins Nox on a journey, looking for answers & fighting for his freedom from slavery. More than once, the reader is left with a cliffhanger at the end of a chapter, only to be lifted up by the events of each subsequent chapter. I love the way the author ties this series into the Great Iron War series.
June 18, 2019
Folk Say
Folk say that these are some damn good books. Folk say Dean Wilson is a damn good author. Folk say these are some weird stories. Folk say a lot of things. I say that this book, like all the Coilhunter books, are fun to read. They are corny, hoakey, and downright ridiculous, but Wilson makes it work. After ready a lot of military sci-fi books in a row it’s kinda nice to take a break with something so crazy entertaining. Don’t know about an Irishman writing books that are undoubtedly based on the American Old West, but I’ll overlook that. Just keep writing them.
Folk say that these are some damn good books. Folk say Dean Wilson is a damn good author. Folk say these are some weird stories. Folk say a lot of things. I say that this book, like all the Coilhunter books, are fun to read. They are corny, hoakey, and downright ridiculous, but Wilson makes it work. After ready a lot of military sci-fi books in a row it’s kinda nice to take a break with something so crazy entertaining. Don’t know about an Irishman writing books that are undoubtedly based on the American Old West, but I’ll overlook that. Just keep writing them.
March 17, 2019
Wilson has done it again with Lostlander, another fun science fiction western in the Coilhunter Chronicles.
I love all of the sci-fi gadgets—as well as the new technology that the Man with the Silver Mane has introduced—but this isn't a space opera. Nox and friends are surrounded by a dry desert and a relentless sun.
I can't recommend this book enough! And I can't wait until Sixshooter publishes later this year!
I love all of the sci-fi gadgets—as well as the new technology that the Man with the Silver Mane has introduced—but this isn't a space opera. Nox and friends are surrounded by a dry desert and a relentless sun.
I can't recommend this book enough! And I can't wait until Sixshooter publishes later this year!
July 16, 2020
Too much sand, I'm itching where I shouldn't.
If you read this series or just the first book, Nox needs a break, not just any break but an honest to God vacation. This guys mission is endless and surprise he has a soft spot for the down trodden. Good series and it's like a cross between Louis Lamore and Salvador Dali , feel like I'm reading Carlos Castaneda and it's 1970 again.
If you read this series or just the first book, Nox needs a break, not just any break but an honest to God vacation. This guys mission is endless and surprise he has a soft spot for the down trodden. Good series and it's like a cross between Louis Lamore and Salvador Dali , feel like I'm reading Carlos Castaneda and it's 1970 again.
August 8, 2020
A book I loved and hated!
I love the thought that the Coilhunter always wins through no matter his battle. At the same time, I hated all the details about what he thought and why. For someone who has only read this novel it might be necessary but I have read the first three novels and those points caused the story to lag. In the end I loved it!
I love the thought that the Coilhunter always wins through no matter his battle. At the same time, I hated all the details about what he thought and why. For someone who has only read this novel it might be necessary but I have read the first three novels and those points caused the story to lag. In the end I loved it!
March 12, 2021
Again, this is not my type of story, but that does not mean the writing is bad. I paid for the story, and I try not to waste the money by not reading it. For people who enjoy dystopian stories, this would make them sit up and take notice. The writing is tight. The main characters are memorable and believable, The ending is satisfactory. What more can you ask of a story or it's teller.
March 24, 2019
One of the best
This has got to be one of the best Ciilhunter books to date. While it can be confusing at first to read, the book advances in New ideas and ties the series in A little closer with Dean F. Wilson's other series. Well done.
This has got to be one of the best Ciilhunter books to date. While it can be confusing at first to read, the book advances in New ideas and ties the series in A little closer with Dean F. Wilson's other series. Well done.
May 1, 2025
Another good read that follows a slightly different path to the other coilhunter stories.
Still well worth the read as plenty of new and expanded characters which add to the variation.
Onward to the next in the series.
Still well worth the read as plenty of new and expanded characters which add to the variation.
Onward to the next in the series.
March 20, 2019
Really got into this steampunk/wild West genre!This is sort of book that makes you think about what you are reading.Well done that man!
April 23, 2020
Lonely but never lost
Another great story in the series. An excellent combination of the Dark Tower and steampunk. Always look forward the adventure of The Coilhunter.
Another great story in the series. An excellent combination of the Dark Tower and steampunk. Always look forward the adventure of The Coilhunter.
April 12, 2019
I love this series, and enjoyed this new installment as much as the previous books. Another great adventure and foe for Nox to face. Bonus: Porridge is back with his flying helicopter... thing, the Dandyman, in all their flametastic glory. It takes a real man to have the intestinal fortitude to call Nox the Coilhunter "plum," and Porridge shows even more dimensions of true awesomeness in this adventure. Plus, we get a look inside Duck's head!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews