David Robbins's Blog

  Hi everyone!

Time for a way overdue update.

Some have been asking when more ebook and print versions of earlier books will be coming out. They noticed that Mad Hornet started to do so....then inexplicably stopped.

Unfortunately, yours truly came down with COVID, ended up in ER, nearly died, and after that had some issues. Combined with other factors, things slowed to a turtle crawl. (My apologies to all turtles! Yes, I realize you can only go as fast as your genetics allow. :)

The new plan is to up the game with the New Year! Keep everything crossed that it works out! In the meantime, thank you to all those who continue to like my books!

Most sincerely,

David

©2020 David Robbins

Hi everyone.

Mad Hornet Pub. is in the process of reissuing the early ENDWORLD and WILDERNESS books. One of the first up is the single most requested of them all: FRONTIER STRIKE.

FRONTIER STRIKE is a crossover between the two series. Hunters from the future must join forces with pioneers from the past to stop a madman from reshaping reality.

It is the foundation, if you will, for the entire ENDWORLD Universe. Which, for those who aren't aware, is the first-ever
genre-bending genealogical epic.

By that I mean that the ENDWORLD Universe embraces five
series that run the gamut from Mountain Man to Westerns to Contemporary thrillers to Apocalyptic Science Fiction.

Specifically, the Mountain Man in the WILDERNESS series, which is set in the 1800's, is the ancestor of a Warrior from ENDWORLD, which is set a century after World War III.

If it sounds like your cup of action, pathos and mayhem, here are the series involved:
THE WILDERNESS SERIES
(75 books and counting)
BLOOD FEUD
(2 books)
WHITE APACHE
(10 books)
THE 'A GIRL' SERIES
(3 books)
THE ENDWORLD SERIES (and a spin-off series, BLADE)
(43 books)
And in a class all by itself
FRONTIER STRIKE.

I hope that helps those looking to dive in or complete their collections.

And here's a new release of the first ENDWORLD.

Copyright © 2019 David Robbins

Looking for some great reads? Over the past couple of months,
yours truly has had nine books come out. Two are brand new.
The others are new editions of earlier novels.

If you're into Horror and scares, HELL-O-WEEN is your cup of chills and thrills.

If you like Mysteries, check out this one.

Or maybe you enjoy Science Fiction. Specifically, tales
that have to do with the Apocalypse.

When you're done with those, you'll be hungry for more.
Here you go.

Or it could be you love to read about angels and demons and the fate of human souls.


And since we started with a Horror cover, let's end with one.
There you go! A lot of fun reads! Order yours today!

©2019 David Robbins


WILDERNESS fans!
     WILDERNESS #70: LOVE AND COLD STEEL has been released. If you're a fan of the series, you'll find it brimming with the usual thrills, action and drama. The generational saga continues as Evelyn King decides enough is enough. She is going to marry the man she loves come hell or high water. The only problem is that the frontier is a dangerous place---and some of those dangers are out to get her and her man.
     The book also marks a landmark of sorts. Counting the giant editions, it's the 76th book in the WILDERNESS series, which has been going strong now and in continuous publication for 28 years!
     If you're one of those who likes to find a good series and binge, might we recommend you give WILDERNESS a try? Based on the journals of Nathaniel King, it tells the story of a Mountain Man from the early fur trapping days to the settling of the frontier. Along the way, Nate marries a Native American and they have children who have children---all their stories intertwining to form a sweeping tale of of an era long gone but fondly remembered.
     WILDERNESS #70: LOVE AND COLD STEEL. Where love is put to the test and not found wanting!

© 2018 David Robbins


     ENDWORLD fans! The newest in the series in out! ENDWORLD #30 brims with the usual thrills, chills and humor!

     Several Warriors are stricken by a strange illness. Their bodies are petrifying. Little by little they are slowly dying.

     The only way to save them is for another Warrior and four trainees to venture deep into the Valley of Shadow. Perpetually shrouded by a vile fog, it harbors creatures born of nightmare and dementia.

     Set in the not-so-distant future after humankind has barely survived the Apocalypse, SYNTHEZOIDS will keep you on the edge of your seat.

     As timely as it is evocative, it highlights the dangers of mixing human and not-human. Sometimes the best of intentions produce the worst results.

     SYNTHEZOIDS! Order your copy today! Immerse yourself in a chilling future as near as tomorrow!

David Robbins Bibliography
© David Robbins

For those who might be interested, below is a list of most of the books yours truly has had published. A reader recently pointed out that given I’ve written under nine different pen names over a span of decades, it can be a challenge for those who like my stuff to track it down. This should help.

First up:
As David Robbins:
 

The BATTLEFIELD MARS series:
     BATTLEFIELD MARS
     COLONY DOWN
     SPECIES WAR
    
 The ANGEL U series:
    LET THERE BE LIGHT
    DEMIGOD

              ENDWORLD Series
     THE FOX RUN
     THIEF RIVER FALLS RUN
     TWIN CITIES RUN
     KALISPELL RUN
     DAKOTA RUN
     CITADEL RUN
     ARMAGEDDON RUN
     DENVER RUN
     CAPITAL RUN
     NEW YORK RUN
     LIBERTY RUN
     HOUSTON RUN
     ANAHEIM RUN
     SEATTLE RUN
     NEVADA RUN
     MIAMI RUN
     ATLANTA RUN
     MEMPHIS RUN
     CINCINNATI RUN
     DALLAS RUN
     BOSTON RUN
     GREEN BAY RUN
     YELLOWSTONE RUN
     NEW ORLEANS RUN
     SPARTAN RUN
     MADMAN RUN
     CHICAGO RUN
     DARK DAYS
     THE LORDS OF KISMET
     DOOMSDAY (A prequel)

                 BLADE Series
             (An ENDWORLD spin-off)
     FIRST STRIKE
     OUTLANDS STRIKE
     VAMPIRE STRIKE
     PIPELINE STRIKE
     PIRATE STRIKE
     CRUSHER STRIKE
     TERROR STRIKE
     DEVIL STRIKE
     L.A. STRIKE
     DEAD ZONE STRIKE
     QUEST STRIKE
     DEATH MASTER STRIKE
     VENGEANCE STRIKE

                                  WILDERNESS SERIES
                                  (as David Thompson)
 1. KING OF THE MOUNTAIN              24. MOUNTAIN MADNESS
 2. LURE OF THE WILD                        25. FRONTIER MAYHEM
 3. SAVAGE RENDEZVOUS                  26. BLOOD FEUD
 4. BLOOD FURY                                  27. GOLD RAGE
 5. TOMAHAWK REVENGE                  28. THE QUEST
 6. BLACK POWDER JUSTICE             29. MOUNTAIN NIGHTMARE
 7. VENGEANCE TRAIL                       30. SAVAGES
 8. DEATH HUNT                                 31. BLOOD KIN
 9. MOUNTAIN DEVIL                          32. THE WESTWARD TIDE
10. BLACKFOOT MASSACRE              33. FANG AND CLAW
11. NORTHWEST PASSAGE                34. TRACKDOWN
12. APACHE BLOOD                            35. FRONTIER FURY
13. MOUNTAIN MANHUNT                 36. THE TEMPEST
14. TENDERFOOT                               37. PERILS IN THE WIND
15. WINTERKILL                                 38. MOUNTAIN MAN
16. BLOOD TRUCE                              39. FIREWATER
17. TRAPPER'S BLOOD                       40. SCAR
18. MOUNTAIN CAT                            41. BY DUTY BOUND
19. IRON WARRIOR                            42. FLAMES OF JUSTICE
20. WOLF PACK                                  43. VENGEANCE
21. BLACK POWDER                          44. SHADOW REALMS
22. TRAIL'S END                                45. IN CRUEL CLUTCHES
23. THE LOST VALLEY                      46. UNTAMED COUNTRY  


                                   47. REAP THE WHIRLWIND
                                   48. LORD GRIZZLY
                                   49. WOLVERINE
                                   50. PEOPLE OF THE FOREST
                                   51. COMANCHE MOON
                                   52. GLACIER TERROR
                                   53. THE RISING STORM
                                   54. PURE OF HEART
                                   55. INTO THE UNKNOWN
                                   56. IN DARKEST DEPTHS
                                   57. FEAR WEAVER
                                   58. CRY FREEDOM
                                   59. ONLY THE STRONG
                                   60. THE OUTCAST
                                   61. THE SCALP HUNTERS
                                   62. THE TEARS OF GOD
                                   63. VENOM
                                   64. DEVIL MOON
                                   65. SEED OF EVIL
                                   66. GARDEN OF EDEN
                                   67. THE GIFT
                                   68. SAVAGE HEARTS
                                   69. THE AVENGER

        WILDERNESS GIANTS
         (As David Thompson)
     HAWKEN FURY
     SEASON OF THE WARRIOR
     PRAIRIE BLOOD
     ORDEAL
     THE TRAIL WEST
     SPANISH SLAUGHTER
 
                 WHITE APACHE Series
                 (As Jake McMasters)
     HANGMAN'S KNOT
     WARPATH
     WARRIOR BORN
     QUICK KILLER
     BLOOD BATH
     BLOOD TREACHERY
     BLOOD BOUNTY
     THE TRACKERS
     DESERT FURY
     HANGED
 
                 BLOOD FEUD series
                  (As David Robbins)
    BLOOD FEUD
    BLOOD FEUD: HOUNDS OF HATE
 
                ENDWORLD/WILDERNESS crossover
    FRONTIER STRIKE

[Note: The ENDWORLD and BLADE series, the WILDERNESS series, the WHITE APACHE series, the BLOOD FEUD series, and A GIRL, THE END OF THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING are all part of the Endworld Universe. Characters and story elements are linked in a genealogical timeline. For more information, check out an earlier post here at the blog.]

                                           HORROR
                                     (As David Robbins)
     A GIRL, THE END OF THE WORLD ANY EVERYTHING
           (An ENDWORLD prequel)
     THE WERELING
     THE WRATH
     SPECTRE
     HELL-O-WEEN
     PRANK NIGHT
     SPOOK NIGHT

                                     OTHER NOVELS
                                   (As David Robbins)

                                    WESTERNS
     DIABLO
     THUNDER VALLEY
     TOWN TAMERS
     RIDE TO VALOR
     BADLANDERS
     GUNS ON THE PRAIRIE
     THE RETURN OF THE VIRGINIAN
 
                                  THRILLERS
     HIT RADIO
     BLOOD CULT
        
                              SCIENCE FICTION
             (With Eric S. Brown)
     KAIJU SPAWN

                          DAVY CROCKETT Series
                           (As David Thompson)
     HOMECOMING
     SIOUX SLAUGHTER
     BLOOD HUNT
     MISSISSIPPI MAYHEM
     BLOOD RAGE
     COMANCHE COUNTRY
     TEXICAN TERROR
     CANNIBAL COUNTRY

                                     COMPTON Series
     DO OR DIE
     NOWHERE TX
     BUCKED OUT IN DODGE
     WEST OF PECOS
     FOR THE BRAND
     BY THE HORNS
     RIO LARGO
     A WOLF IN THE FOLD
     BLUFF CITY
     BLOOD DUEL
     BULLET FOR A BADMAN
     RIDE THE HARD TRAIL
     FATAL JUSTICE
     THE EVIL MEN DO
     BROTHER’S KEEPER
     THE LAW AND THE LAWLESS
     TEXAS HILLS
     OUTLAW TOWN

                               TRAILSMAN Series
                                (As Jon Sharpe)
118. ARIZONA SLAUGHTER           173. WASHINGTON WARPATH
120. WYOMING MANHUNT             174. DEATH VALLEY BLOODBATH
122. GOLD FEVER                           177. COLORADO WOLFPACK
123. DESERT DEATH                       178. APACHE ARROWS
125. BLOOD PRAIRIE                      183. BAYOU BLOODBATH
127. NEVADA WARPATH                 184. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NIGHTMARE
128. SNAKE RIVER BUTCHER        187. SIOUX WAR CRY
131. BEAR TOWN BLOODSHED      189. MISSOURI MASSACRE
135. MOUNTAIN MAYHEM              190. PECOS DEATH
138. SILVER FURY                          192. DURANGO DUEL
141. TOMAHAWK JUSTICE             197. UTAH UPRISING
144. ABILENE AMBUSH                  199. WYOMING WILDCATS
146. NEBRASKA NIGHTMARE        201. SALMON RIVER RAGE
149. SPRINGFIELD SHARPSHOOTERS   205. MOUNTAIN MANKILLERS
152. PRAIRIE FIRE                          208. ARIZONA RENEGADES
155. OKLAHOMA ORDEAL              211. BADLANDS BLOODBATH
158. TEXAS TERROR                      214. TEXAS HELLION
161. ROUGE RIVER FEUD               216. HIGH COUNTRY HORROR
164. NEZ PERCE NIGHTMARE        217. DAKOTA DECEPTION
166. COLORADO CARNAGE            220. MONTANA GUN SHARPS
169. SOCCORO SLAUGHTER          222. COLORADO DIAMOND DUPE
170. UTAH TRACKDOWN                226. NEBRASKA SLAYING GROUND
                                 228. WYOMING WAR CRY
232. PACIFIC PHANTOMS               322. APACHE AMBUSH
235. FLATHEAD FURY                    327. IDAHO GOLD FEVER
237. DAKOTA DAMNATION             328. TEXAS TRIGGERS
244. PACIFIC POLECATS                329. BAYOU TRACKDOWN
247. SEVEN DEVILS SLAUGHTER  333. BLACK HILLS BADMAN
251. UTAH UPROAR                        340. HANNIBAL RISING
257. COLORADO CUTTHROATS      341. SIERRA SIX-GUNS
261. DESERT DEATH TRAP             342. ROCKY MOUNTAIN REVENGE
264. SNAKE RIVER RUINS              343. TEXAS HELLIONS
272. NEVADA NEMESIS                   347. DAKOTA DEATH TRAP
275. OZARK ONSLAUGHT               349. NEW MEXICO GUN-DOWN
278. MOUNTAIN MANHUNT            350. HIGH COUNTRY HORROR
284. DAKOTA PRAIRIE PIRATES     351. TERROR TOWN
288: GILA RIVER DRY-GULCHERS  352. TEXAS TANGLE
295. OASIS OF BLOOD                    353. BITTERROOT BULLETS
300. BACKWOODS BLOODBATH     356. GRIZZLY FURY
303. TERROR TRACKDOWN            357. STAGECOACH SIDEWINDERS
306. NEBRASKA NIGHT RIDERS     359. PLATTE RIVER GAUNTLET
310. ALASKAN VENGEANCE           360. TEXAS LEAD SLINGERS
312. SHANGHIED SIX-GUNS           362. RANGE WAR
315. MISSOURI MANHUNT             363. DEATH DEVIL
317. MOUNTAIN MYSTERY             365. HIGH COUNTRY GREED
321. FLATHEAD FURY
 
         366. MOUNTAINS OF NO RETURN              
          367. TEXAS TEMPEST
          370. BLIND MAN'S BLUFF
          371. CALIFORNIA KILLERS
          373. UTAH TERROR
          374. FORT DEATH
          375. TEXAS SWAMP FEVER
          377. BOUNTY HUNT
          378. WYOMING WINTERKILL
          380. TEXAS TORNADO
          381. BOWIE'S KNIFE
          382. TERROR TRACKDOWN
          383. HIGH PLAINS MASSACRE
          385. THUNDERHEAD TRAIL
          387. APACHE VENDETTA
          389. OUTLAW TRACKDOWN
          391. NIGHT TERROR
          392. COLORADO CARNAGE
          393. SIX-GUN INFERNO
          394. BURNING BULLETS
          398. ARIZONA AMBUSHERS

                                   Giant TRAILSMAN
                                    (As Jon Sharpe)
     WOODLAND WARRIORS
     NEW MEXICO NIGHTMARE
     MENAGERIE OF MALICE
     ISLAND DEVILS
     IDAHO BLOOD SPOOR
     DESERT DUEL

[Note: The TRAILSMAN list is missing a few.)

                        EXECUTIONER Series
                        (As Don Pendleton)
     169: WHITE HEAT
     178: BLACK HAND
     191: EXTREME FORCE
     199: ROGUE AGENT
     230: DEEP ATTACK
     267: INVISIBLE INVADER
     294: SCORPION RISING
     313: LOCKDOWN
     322: TIME BOMB
 
                    Super BOLAN Series
                    (As Don Pendleton)
     44: SHOCK TACTIC
     46: PRECISION KILL
     51: THERMAL STRIKE
     61: BLOOD FEUD
     68: CODE OF CONDUCT
     75: EVIL ALLIANCE
     82: WAR LOAD
     90: AGE OF WAR

                  MOUNTAIN MAJESTY Series
                      (As John Killdeer)
     7: FIRE ON THE PRAIRIE
     8: THE SAVAGE LAND

                PREACHER’S LAW Series
                (As Dean L. McElwain)
     5: SLAUGHTER AT TEN SLEEP
 
                 HARDY BOYS Casefiles
                 (As Franklin W. Dixon)
     75: TERROR ON TRACK

                 OMEGA SUB Series
                  (As J.D. Cameron)
     2: COMMAND DECISION
     4: BLOOD TIDE
     5: DEATH DIVE
     6: RAVEN RISING
 
               MOVIE NOVELIZATIONS
                  (As David Robbins)
     MEN OF HONOR
     PROOF OF LIFE
     TWISTED
 
                    NONFICTION
                 (As David Robbins)
     HEAVY TRAFFIC (A history of the DEA)

And there you go. More or less. This doesn’t take into account magazine articles and other stuff.

Throw in the missing TRAILSMAN books and novels I’ve done that I can’t talk about----sometimes writers ‘ghost’ for others and agree to never, ever, tell anyone---and it would put the total at about 350. For the two or three people who have expressed an interest in collecting ‘everything’, good luck in your hunt.
:)
 
[Below is the goofus who wrote all those yarns. (Yes, that's a fond nod to REH)]

David Robbins
© 2017

The third book in the BATTLEFIELD MARS trilogy is out! It’s species against species in an epic struggle for supremacy.

Earth has established three colonies on the Red Planet. All goes well until indigenous life is discovered. And the natives don’t want us there.

In the first book, BATTLEFIELD MARS, a small detachment of United Nations Interplanetary Corps troopers must defend their colony after a young boy stumbles on a Martian. A simple act that triggers an increasingly savage series of events, resulting in the colony being besieged by a swarm of incredible creatures.
The Martians, it turns out, are remarkably similar to Earth’s crustaceans, and highly intelligent. Every Earther they come across, they literally rip the victim to pieces. Strangely, they also take the heads.

COLONY DOWN, the next book, escalates the war as the Martians turn their attention to the second colony. The mystery of the head-taking is uncovered. Even more shocking is the revelation that the Martians have weaponized one of the most basic of human urges.
SPECIES WAR ramps the conflict to new heights. Earth has rallied and sent a fleet to aid the colonists. Genetically engineered BioMarines are unleashed on the Martians. Robotic Armored Man-Of-War suits provide incalculable firepower. A flying Thunderbolt dominates the skies. Even so, the Martians have a few tricks up their shells that puts the outcome of the war in grave doubt.

There are a lot of homages to other writers. One of the colonies is called Wellsville, after H.G. Wells. Another is Bradbury in tribute to Ray Bradbury. Streets bear the names of more authors who have penned stories about our celestial neighbor.

In fact, SPECIES WAR kicks off with an homage to one of my favorites, Robert A. Heinlein. His novel THE PUPPET MASTERS, has nothing to do with Mars but is in my top three of all time. It ends with the rousing battle cry Death and destruction! I thought it would be cool to start SPECIES WAR the same way.

BATTLEFIELD MARS, COLONY DOWN and SPECIES WAR. Nearly 500 pages of spectacular clashes, chills and thrills.

David Robbins
© 2017

A few readers have expressed curiosity about my Horror books. Yes, Mad Hornet intends to make them available in print and ebook editions. One has already been reissued with more to follow.

In the meantime, I’ve been asked what inspired me to write the Horror novels I did. So here are some tidbits about the Horror of it all.

Do  you love scary books? Movies? Comics? Back in ‘the day’ scary was everywhere. From the classics like Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN and Stoker’s DRACULA to the Universal Monsters and more, pure Horror was around long before Jason and Freddy and Michael Myers came along.

As a kid I watched every horror movie on TV. I devoured every issue I could find of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND. Others like CREEPY, EERIE, and VAMPIRELLA were steady fare.

All that is by way of explaining how much I love Horror. It was only natural I would write some. A lot of my books, especially my science fiction but also ANGEL U and several of my Westerns, are steeped in fear. Of the several hundred I’ve had published, about half a dozen are pure examples of the genre. They were written to scare you silly.

My first Horror book was a werewolf story entitled THE WERELING that went through a big change before it saw print. As I originally conceived the story, it revolved around a mass-of-muscle weightlifter who is gonzo over werewolves. So much so, he buys a realistic mask and claws and takes to prowling around Ocean City, New Jersey---where yours truly hung out over a number of summers---and he gets so into the werewolf persona that he starts tearing people to pieces. Think PSYCHO in a werewolf costume. The first publisher I sent it to wanted to publish it---provided I made a change. The editor insisted werewolf stories ‘have to be supernatural’. I suppose I could have stuck by my literary guns, such as they were, but I had a family to feed, so I agreed. I added five pages, and presto, instant supernatural. If you come across a copy, try reading it without the prologue and the epilogue and see what you think.
My next Horror book stemmed from my interest in cryptozoology. Way back in 774 A.D. in the Assyrian Empire, they experienced what they described as a ‘plague’ of ‘creatures’ that attacked anyone and everyone. Another factor was a news article about seeds found in an ancient tomb, seeds that sprouted when planted. So I got to thinking. What if.....archeologists discover a buried tomb. What if.....when the archeologists open the tomb, they unleash a long dormant virus---the very virus that caused the Assyrian Empire plague? Those kernels became THE WRATH.



My third Horror novel stemmed from the exploits of a French lady by the name of Alexandra David-Neel. She was into mysticism and Tibet and fascinated by the concept of a tulpa, an entity or ‘thought form’ created by the human mind. She supposedly created one. So I got to thinking. Suppose a tulpa reflects the nature of its creator? And what if one were created by someone who reeked of pure evil? The result: SPECTRE.
 HELL-O-WEEN was my fourth pure Horror. The premise for this one was easy to come up with. You know all those movies that show teenagers being hacked to bits and turned into bubbly goo by a sundry assortment of human-and-otherwise killers and monsters? In HELL-O-WEEN, I take some teens and toss them into a version of Hell. Do any make it out alive? That would be telling.



In PRANK NIGHT something from ‘out there’ comes here to feast on us, but not in a way you might expect. It’s not our flesh the alien consumes---it’s the ‘sweet nectar’ of our very souls.



Finally, there’s SPOOK NIGHT. In my childhood I loved THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW. So much so, I had long wanted to write my own Headless Horseman scarefest and did so in SPOOK NIGHT. With a crucial plot twist. This time, the goblin of the night is a Confederate soldier. For some, that should make him twice as scary.

There you go. Chills and thrills for those nights when you are home alone. Just don’t blame me if the cat rubs up against you while you are reading and you shriek like a banshee.

David Robbins
© 2017

In recent weeks some new readers have asked for more info on the Endworld Universe. I’ll get to a few of their specific questions after bit. First, the Endworld Universe explained.

The ‘universe’ currently consists of seven series that form a genealogical timeline. Three of the series are set in the past, two in the present, and two more in the future. All connected by bloodlines.

Imagine your own. There’s you and your father and your grandfather     and your great-grandfather, and on back it goes. Project ahead. There’s you, your kids, your grandchildren, and on into however many generations your family tree persists.

That’s the basic concept. The main characters in the series in the past are the ancestors of the main characters in the series set in current continuity and the series set in the future.
[The first books in WILDERNESS and ENDWORLD. That guy on the left is the great, great, great, great, great, great....you get the idea....grandfather of that guy on the right.]




Here’s the breakdown:

                                                       ENDWORLD UNIVERSE

      PAST                                          PRESENT                                       FUTURE
WILDERNESS series                      DOOMSDAY                                 ENDWORLD series
      (75 books)                                     (1 book)                                         (29 books)
BLOOD FEUD series                 A GIRL, THE END OF                     BLADE series
      (2 books)                               THE WORLD, AND                               (14 books)
WHITE APACHE series                 EVERYTHING
      (10 books)                                  (1 book so far)
   

One of the most asked questions is about the sequence. Do they have to be read in any particular order? Absolutely not. The Past and Present series stand alone. The series set in the past make no mention of anything having to do with the series in the present or the future. (With a single notable exception. More shortly.) The series set in the present do foreshadow some of the things to come, but it’s only when we get to the series set in the future that we discover the links connecting everything.
 [Two of the PAST series. WHITE APACHE and BLOOD FEUD]




Although the Future series can be read as stand-alone’s, there is a sequence to the stories. Here’s the reading order for ENDWORLD and BLADE:
  
ENDWORLD 1 through 14
BLADE 1 through 3
ENDWORLD 15 through 19
BLADE 4 through 6
ENDWORLD 20
BLADE 7
ENDWORLD 21
BLADE 8
ENDWORLD 22
BLADE 9
ENDWORLD 23
BLADE 10
ENDWORLD 24
BLADE 11 and BLADE 12
ENDWORLD 25 through 27
BLADE 13
FRONTIER STRIKE
ENDWORLD 28 and 29

That last book, FRONTIER STRIKE, is pivotal. It directly links ENDWORLD to WILDERNESS. It connects the future to the past. You might say it is the linchpin to the entire timeline.
 [The two PRESENT series. DOOMSDAY and A GIRL, THE END OF THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING]

Now for a few of those questions:

Why call it a ‘Universe’? It’s a common convention for interrelated books, comics and movies. Just a few examples. ‘The Marvel Universe’. The DC universe”. The STAR WARS universe’. And so on.

Why a ‘genealogical universe’, of all things? Why not? Plus, as the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction site astutely notes, one of the ‘persistent patterns’ that ‘dominate’ my writing are ‘primal family values’.

Why mix genres? I mean, you have Westerns and science fiction and contemporary. Why not do them in a single genre? Because the stories don't fit in only one genre. Keep in mind that some people don’t like to mix genres. A lot of readers who, for instance, like Westerns or Science Fiction will ‘only’ read Westerns or Science Fiction. I want readers in whichever genre to enjoy the books on their own merits.

Then why bother creating the EU? Because it’s fun. Because it adds an extra layer---multiple layers, actually---to the series. Because those in the know get a little extra kick in the knowing.

Besides, who wouldn’t want to create their own universe? Just look at the Book of Genesis. :)
 [The first BLADE and the linchpin to everything, FRONTIER STRIKE}

David Robbins
© 2017
 
We’ve been talking about favorite actors and actresses recently---and one of mine is Karl Urban. You might know him from the reboot of the STAR TREK franchise or DOOM or PRIEST or RED or PATHFINDER or THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK or....well, you get the idea. He’s been in a lot of stuff.

My very favorite thing he’s been in is a movie called DREDD. It’s based on a character known as Judge Dredd from British comics. Sylvester Stallone starred in another movie version years ago. The two are not related.

 [Dredd on his Lawmaster motorcycle from an early scene in the newest movie.]
 
DREDD came out in 2012. It slipped under a lot of radars so this is yours truly, yet again, giving you a heads up. If you enjoy unrelentingly intense action flicks with great acting, DREDD is for you.

Karl Urban plays the character to spot-on perfection. He ‘really’ got into the role, to the extent of going through some heavy physical conditioning and extended weapons training. As if that weren’t enough, he insisted on doing his own stunts, including the motorcycle scenes. He’s also wonderfully adept at conveying emotion with his mouth and his tone. Why does that matter? you ask. Because nearly the entire movie, he wears a helmet. That he does such a masterful job of letting us know his feelings and thoughts is a tribute to his talent.

[Karl Urban as Dredd, wearing the sweetest helmet ever. Boba Fett, eat your heart out.]
 
The movie also stars Olivia Thirlby as Judge Anderson---sorry, ‘rookie‘ Anderson---and she, too, is terrific. In a cool twist she’s also a mutant. Anderson is paired with Dredd on a pass-or-fail evaluation that finds the pair trapped in a 200-story tower with a legion of baddies out to do them in.
[Olivia Thirlby isn't just 'another pretty face'. She brings considerable gravitas to her role.]

The movie also has Lena Headey and Wood Harris and others, but there’s a case to be made that the third big star is the Lawgiver. No, we’re not talking the wise anthropoid from the original PLANET OF THE APES. The Lawgiver is the name given to the gun the Judges use. The filmmakers actually made working models, in 9mm. The weapons fire a variety of rounds, can be voice activated, and are DNA-specific.
[A Lawgiver. Come on. You know you want one. If only.]

You don’t need to know anything about the Judge Dredd mythos to appreciate the movie. In fact, watching it cold, as it were, might enhance your enjoyment.

Have I mentioned the soundtrack? You know how every now and then you go to a movie and the score blows you away? Say hello to Paul Leonard-Morgan. He’s a Scottish composer. His music for DREDD fits so perfectly, and is so catchy, you might end up doing like I did and buy the CD and listen to it 27 times while writing your latest Mars novel.

On Rotten Tomatoes the movie earned a 78% rating, which is way above average. A lot of moviegoers gave it a ‘B’, which is still above average. Me, I give it an A+++, but then I’m into dark and gritty sprinkled with wry humor. See it for yourself and be your own judge. And jury. And executioner. :)