Outlanders


Outlanders is a long-running series of science-fiction novels created by Mark Ellis and published by Gold Eagle, an imprint of Harlequin Enterprises.

Plot

Set in the same fictional universe as the 'Deathlands' series but separated by a century, 'Outlanders' follows the adventures of a core group of explorers, Kane, Grant, Brigid Baptiste and Domi who operate out of a secret military base known as the Cerberus Redoubt.
Although both 'Deathlands' and 'Outlanders' bear the "James Axler" byline, the latter series is primarily written by its creator Mark Ellis whereas multiple authors produce 'Deathlands'.
Two hundred years after a nuclear holocaust devastated the Earth, the chaos and barbarism as depicted in the 'Deathlands' series gave way to a centralized, despotic government ruled by nine mysterious barons.
Material taken from redoubts, secret preholocaust military installations with stores of weapons and the home of the gateways, MAT-TRANS devices, supplied the baronial rule in what was known as the “Program of Unification.”
Rearmed from redoubt stockpiles, the barons consolidated their power and reclaimed very advanced technology created two centuries before by the so-called “Totality Concept”.
Their power bolstered by the invisible authority known only to an elite few as the Archons extended beyond the fortified city-states into what came to be called the Outlands. There, the rootstock of humanity survived, eking out an existence in hellzones and hounded by black-armored Magistrates, the enforcers of the barons’ laws.
When Cobaltville Magistrates Kane and Grant came across a piece of misplaced technology and Brigid Baptiste, an archivist began an investigation on their behalf, they found themselves branded as sedititionists, their citizenship stripped from them and they were reclassified as Outlanders.
Since 1997’s Exile To Hell, the first book in the series, the heroes and heroines of Outlanders slowly uncovered the truth behind the barons, the Archons and the nuclear holocaust and finally the hidden history of humanity.
They learn that Earth and humankind has been influenced since the dawn of time by the reptilian Anunnaki and the Tuatha Dé Danann. They realize that the baronies are a revival of the god-king system of ancient Sumeria.
Besides the nine barons, other threats arise in the early books, namely Sindri, a brilliant but deranged dwarf who rules a secret colony on Mars. First appearing in Parallax Red, Sindri becomes the most persistent foe of the Cerberus warriors, appearing in several novels.
Other recurring enemies include Colonel Thrush, Sam the Imperator, Grigori Zakat and Maccan, the last prince of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
In Shadow Scourge, the heroes contend with Ocajinik, apparently one of H. P. Lovecraft’s Old Ones.
In Children of the Serpent, the Cerberus warriors discover that the nuclear holocaust and the institution of the baronies were part of an ancient plan formulated over a thousand years before by Enlil, the last Anunnaki on Earth in order to reincarnate the pantheon of Sumerian gods and re-establish their rule over the world.
The reincarnated Enlil becomes the Outlanders' main villain. He is considerably more evil and powerful than any of the barons, and has much of the knowledge and technology of the Anunnaki.
Employing conspiracy theories and myths from all cultures as underpinnings, 'Outlanders' quickly distanced itself from the survivalist tone of 'Deathlands' and struck out in new directions, providing explanations and a backstory for many of the unresolved science-fiction elements in the earlier series.

Series History

According to series creator Mark Ellis, 'Outlanders' was not originally conceived as having any connection whatsoever to 'Deathlands'. The link between the two series came after all the other elements had been envisioned and was suggested by Ellis who had already authored several novels in the Deathlands series.

The “Axlerverse”, a term coined by Mark Ellis, is inclusive of events in both 'Outlanders' and 'Deathlands'—however there is very little in the way of a cohesive fictional universe in the latter series.
'Deathlands' did not develop much depth in the way of setting and Ellis introduced many new concepts to make the Axlerverse into a plausible fictional world, particularly important in the books published post-2001.
Outlanders has established a reputation for featuring strong yet sexy female characters both in the books and on the covers, particularly those produced by artist Cliff Nielsen.
Other writers who have contributed to the 'Outlanders' series are Mel Odom and Victor Milan.
The 'Outlanders' series is also available on audiobook up to Outlanders #53, through a company named Graphic Audio.
Series #TitleAuthorFirst Edition ISBNDate Released
001Exile to HellMark EllisJune 1997
002Destiny RunMark EllisSeptember 1997
003Savage SunMark EllisDecember 1997
004Omega PathMark EllisMarch 1998
005Parallax RedMark EllisJune 1998
006Doomstar RelicMark EllisSeptember 1998
007IcebloodMark EllisDecember 1998
008Hellbound Fury
The Lost Earth Saga Book 1		Mark EllisMarch 1999
009Night Eternal
The Lost Earth Saga Book 2		Mark Ellis, Mel OdomJune 1999
010Outer Darkness
The Lost Earth Saga Book 3		Mark EllisSeptember 1999
011Armageddon AxisMark EllisDecember 1999
012Wreath of FireMel OdomMarch 2000
013Shadow ScourgeMark EllisMay 2000
014Hell RisingMark EllisAugust 2000
015Doom Dynasty
The Imperator Wars Book 1		Mark EllisNovember 2000
016Tigers of Heaven
The Imperator Wars Book 2		Mark EllisFebruary 2001
017Purgatory Road
The Imperator Wars Book 3		Mark EllisMay 2001
018Sargasso PlunderMel OdomAugust 2001
019Tomb of TimeMark EllisNovember 2001
020Prodigal ChaliceMel OdomFebruary 2002
021Devil in the Moon
The Dragon Kings Book 1		Mark EllisMay 2002
022Dragoneye
The Dragon Kings Book 2		Mark EllisAugust 2002
023Far EmpireMark EllisNovember 2002
024Equinox ZeroMark EllisFebruary 2003
025Talon and Fang
Heart of the World Book 1		Mark EllisMay 2003
026Sea of Plague
Heart of the World Book 2		Mark EllisAugust 2003
027AwakeningVictor MilanNovember 2003
028Mad God's WrathMark EllisFebruary 2004
029Sun LordVictor MilanMay 2004
030Mask of The SphinxMark Ellis, Chris Van DeelenAugust 2004
031Uluru DestinyVictor MilanNovember 2004
032Evil AbyssMark EllisFebruary 2005
033Children of the SerpentMark EllisMay 2005
034SuccessorsVictor MilanAugust 2005
035Cerberus StormMark EllisNovember 2005
036RefugeVictor MilanFebruary 2006
037Rim of the WorldMark EllisMay 2006
038Lords of the DeepVictor MilanAugust 2006
039Hydra's RingMark EllisNovember 2006
040Closing the Cosmic EyeVictor MilanFebruary 2007
041Skull ThroneMark EllisMay 2007
042Satan's SeedMark EllisAugust 2007
043Dark GoddessMark EllisNovember 2007
044Grailstone GambitMark EllisFebruary 2008
045GhostwalkMark EllisMay 2008
046Pantheon of VengeanceDouglas WojtowiczAugust 2008
047Death CryRik HoskinNovember 2008
048Serpent's ToothDouglas WojtowiczFebruary 2009
049Shadow BoxRik HoskinMay 2009
050Janus TrapRik HoskinAugust 2009
051Warlord of the PitMark EllisNovember 2009
052Reality EchoDouglas WojtowiczFebruary 2010
053Infinity BreachRik HoskinMay 2010
054Oblivion StoneRik HoskinAugust 2010
055Distortion OffensiveRik HoskinNovember 2010
056Cradle of DestinyDouglas WojtowiczFebruary 2011
057Scarlet DreamRik HoskinMay 2011
058Truth EngineRik HoskinAugust 2011
059Infestation CubedDouglas WojtowiczNovember 2011
060Planet HateRik HoskinFebruary 2012
061Dragon CityRik HoskinMay 2012
062God WarRik HoskinAugust 2012
063Genesis SinisterRik HoskinOctober 2012
064Savage DawnDouglas WojtowiczFebruary 2013
065Sorrow SpaceRik HoskinMay 2013
066Immortal TwilightRik HoskinAugust 2013
067Cosmic RiftRik HoskinNovember 2013
068Wings of DeathDouglas WojtowiczFebruary 2014
069NecropolisDouglas WojtowiczMay 2014
070Shadow BornDouglas WojtowiczAugust 2014
071Judgment PlagueRik HoskinNovember 2014
072Terminal WhiteRik HoskinFebruary 2015
073Hell's MawRik HoskinMay 2015
074Angel of DoomDouglas WojtowiczAugust 2015
075Apocalypse UnseenRik HoskinNovember 2015