Customer Reviews

Encounter (Deathlands)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I think this was a very good read. I have read deathlands since its conception back in '86 so I consider myself a fan who knows what he is talking about. Now don't get me wrong, this isn't the best ever written, but it is written very well indeed! Ryan is a young whipper snapper and full of himself, this writer is showing you his brash youth, a different ryan but Ryan all the same. This ghost writer in my estimation gave the Deathlands readers and full-blown action/adventure read. It is even better than some of the old master blaster writer himself - Mr. Laurence James, a.k.a. James Axler! Whoops, did I ruin anything for you readers? Don't worry, this series needs new blood writers anyway and it seems to me - there getting some d*** good action writers for the most part! I was getting kind of sick and tired of seeing Ryan and Co. getting food and shelter all of the time. The bare knuckles survival feel of the books was starting to slip away there for awhile. This book at least gives you Trader at his finest and gives you some long-awaited answers, mixed with sex and violence! Now thats Deathlands to me folks!

I thought this book was as good as any other Deathlands book. I enjoyed reading about Ryan and J.B. in the early years. I was really surprised about Doc being in the book. But it answered the question about why Doc always carries those two balls with him. It also explains how Trader received his rad poisoning. For anyone that read Pilgramage From Hell they would now know what happened with Trader. I have read every book by James Axler and there has not been one book I've been disappointed with. The only disappointment with this book was it being to short of a story. I hope to read more books on the Trader in the future.

I'm a long time reader of the Deathlands series and, as stated by others, this book falls a little short. I'd love to see a series of Ryan and Trader and the back story of how they met and what Ryan did to earn has mentor's respect. Not a best effort but a good foundation for something bigger and better.

After waiting for well over a year to read this novel, and being hyped about it, I found that it was a serious let down. The story was sub-standard and poorly written. The villians were stereotypical card board cut outs. The situation was just another standard back stabbing fight for survival. But the worst thing is that there were two major mistakes in the first 60 pages. I won't tell you what they are but suffice to say I almost put the book down and couldn't continue. However, the last part of the book, the section dealing with the birth of the series was just incredible. That section gets a five out of five from me. And after 12 years we finally get a chance to see what Trader looks like.

What could have been a great chance to tell the story of Trader and the war-wag days has been squandered, resulting in a decidedly sub-par Deathlands novel. Serious inaccuracies, some poor writing and a pretty lame plot threaten to make this book almost not worth buying. The bit that really does make it worth buying has nothing to do with the story at all. Right at the end of the book there are essays on the birth and evolution of the Deathlands saga. They really should have made the entire book like this, it's totally fascinating stuff.

Treat the story as nothing more than a folk tale and not part of the Deathlands canon and you might be able to put up with its failings. All I hope is that if someone tries something similar in the future, and I hope they do, that they put a bit more effort and thought into it.

This is the first in what I hope is a series about Trader and Ryan before Ryan met Krysty et all. The writing is a little below par, but the story is interesting enough. It ain't Shakespeare but it ain't bad.

We the loyal fans of the Deathlands saga, were let down. The story was only about 200 pages, the story was rushed. Axler or whomever should read their books.

The way we know the trader, was not the way he was depicted in this story. Where was his infamous quotes, none were present in this story. Plus he gets poisoned, just like a "rube." The story should have been 348 pages then do the history of Deathlands and Outlanders.

I enjoyed the extras, but the story was bad. they fit everything into 348 pages. So we the loyal and diehard fans of this series were sold a bill of goods.

James Axler and Gold Eagle books owe us an apology for this abbreviated story, this poor excuse of a "special, collector's edition book"

How can you do this to us?

I just stared to read the DEATH LANDS books. therefore I thought it aproperite to read ENCOUNTER. And i am glad I did. Being a new reader I do not yet now what the mistakes in the first 60 pages are? But I thougaly enjoyed this book. I do think they should have came out with it sonner. If you are going to read the sieries it is one you will be better off not missing. Well worth the read.

Yeah, the story was too short, and, yeah, the characters were too two-dimensional (sad that our Casper the ghost author didn't develop the characters more -- which is what I thought the whole point of this book was about). And, yeah, there are two major mistakes in the first sixty pages. But my chief complaint was this: who cares about this psychotic character, Trader? What makes the Publisher think the average fan out there is eager to follow the antics of a character who frequently crosses the border into that of a murderous psycho? Not me, Baby! Hoo-Ha! The treatment renders the story into a disagreeable yarn, wherein nobody wants to follow the main character, known as Trader, around much at all, if not totally avoid the sucker completely. (Then again, some subsurface rock dwellers are fascinated with reading about Hitler.) As Confucius might once have penned the reader's experience, "Living with Trader like athlete's foot -- soon becomes irritating."