Mad God's Wrath (Outlanders) [Mass Market Paperback]

James Axler (Author)

Book Description

Series: Outlanders | Publication Date: February 1, 2004

Grim Spoils.

Two centuries after the nuclear conflagration, humanity has endured the fallout of a power struggle reaching far beyond mankind's mistakes to a battle as old as time. The failure of the nine human-hybrid barons to fulfill a new blueprint for earth's domination is a partial victory for those dedicated to halting the tide of extinction engulfing the human race. But the battle is far from over.

Grotesque Folly.

The survivors of the oldest moon colony have been revived from cryostasis and brought to Cerberus Redoubt, leaving behind an enemy in a deep, frozen sleep. But betrayal and treachery brings the rebel stronghold under siege by the resurrected demon king of a lost world. With a prize hostage in tow to lure Kane and his fellow warriors, he retreats to the uncharted planet of mystery and impossibility for a final act of madness. From the great pyramids of Mars, earth's destiny will come full circle . . .

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Gold Eagle; First Edition edition (February 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373638418
• ISBN-13: 978-0373638413
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,493,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Science Fiction With An Adventurous Edge, February 12, 2004

By 

Douglas Wojtowicz "Neo-pulp writer" (North Riverside, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mad God's Wrath (Outlanders) (Mass Market Paperback)

In a time when too many science fiction authors spend 700 pages to tell one 10th of their great big story arc (coughcoughrobertjordancoughcough) it's nice to know that a Science Fiction novel, with fantasy underpinnings, can deliver the goods quickly, sharply and efficiently.

Unlike the deathlands fan from oveido, florida, I didn't think the pace of the novel was at all harmed by the inclusion of backstory. For someone who has missed the books, or are reading them out of sequence (Amazon truly is a boon in regards to finding Outlanders books - you just can't find them used!), it was something vital. Maccan and David were only menaces that were referred to in passing, if at all in other books, but this novel definitely profited from the much-needed backstory, otherwise people who've missed the Devil In the Moon/Dragonseye two-parter, or the Outlanders' first visit to Mars would have been lost.

This is a series that contains continuity, but it is gentle to the readers by providing that backstory, then getting back to the business to adventure in a heroic age.

A great book with a masterful villain and a slam-bang opening.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A solid familiar story, February 17, 2004

By 

frank (Troy, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mad God's Wrath (Outlanders) (Mass Market Paperback)

Mad God's Wrath is the return of Mark Ellis to the Outlanders series with a solid, lucid story that rolls along smoothly with no missteps. He gets all the characters and conventions of this series exactly right, from the interactions between the lead characters to the tie-ins with mythology.

Even though there's nothing terribly new in this book except for the assault on the Cerberus redoubt, the story is familiar and comfortable, like a TV series you love but haven't seen in a while.

The science-fiction elements which were noticeably absent in the last book are back in full force, at least. Mad God's Wrath puts the trinity of Kane, Brigid and Grant on center stage again but Lakesh has a large part to play too. The most interesting thing about the book is the villain, Maccan, returning from the Dragon Kings two-parter of a couple of years ago. He's a much nastier in this one --with the Silver Hand of Nuadhu he splits open heads and tears apart chests like the wrappers off candy bars.

Able to murder at will but seeming to be immune to retaliation, Maccan is an effectively menacing and frightening enemy. His final fate is grimly appropriate...but I have a feeling he could return in the future.

The real joy comes with visiting our old friends at Cerberus again, feeling a part of their interactions and their on-the-edge lives. It's too bad Domi doesn't have a larger part to play (she gets graphically tortured). For that matter, a number of Cerberus personnel are either wounded or killed.

Despite scenes like that sort, there are a lot of enjoyable details thrown into the story, like the return of the vicious little David from Parallax Red or the uber-bizarre Tasha who comes off as a player in an S&M Kabuki play. One of the great delights of this series is its unpredictable quality-- you never know just what you're going to encounter. Mad God's Wrath may have a familiar feel to it, but it is in no way as hidebound or locked into a by-the-numbers formula as other series of this ilk are, like the predictable monotony of most entries in the Executioner or Deathlands series.

A very enjoyable book all the way around.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a comeback !!, February 11, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Mad God's Wrath (Outlanders) (Mass Market Paperback)

Mad God' Wrath by Mark Ellis is a nice return to the Outlanders series. Lately the flair was missing but this book has brought a nice return to the popular series' magic. Thanks !!