Desert Kings [Mass Market Paperback]

Cawdor & Co. are wandering about the southwest looking for a cyborg, Delphi, who is also looking for them (specifically Doc) and who in turn is being sought by Edgar Franklin - another cyborg - a member of the enigmatic pre-skydark sect TITAN an offshoot of Over-Project Whisper, more specifically Project Chronos.

The lions-share of this novel is spent by the heroes wandering aimlessly about the Utah border with a few moderately interesting battles / occurrences interspersed here and there. Example: The crew fights a laser bot sentry, presumably killing it only to have it return later but with an automotive incorporation. Also, Cawdor & Co. witness, then take part in a battle between Cannies and Slavers - here they acquire their transport for most of the story, "The Cyclops". Then they have to deal with Solenodons (something like Cuban rats) while trying to rid themselves of the Cannies.

Ominous news is proffered by a Doomie under the Baronship of Levine insinuating that if TITAN were to "ace" (that word is used WAY too many times in this novel) Delphi, a second skydark would well occur.

After a grisly battle, a lot of fire and "chilling", and a... kraken, I suppose - the story ends as one would expect. The sole cliff-hanger being TITAN & what this group is planning for The Deathlands.

Overall a story that spent more time meandering around than it did getting to the point. The character's seemed decently depicted as were the battles but when a sub-plot battle lasts for more chapters than the battle with the primary villain (who wasn`t entirely dislikable, which I didn`t really like - I didn`t like that he wasn`t dislikable, sounds funny)... that's moderately disheartening. Also, as prior reviewers have stated - there are a plentitude of editing mistakes in this novel. Most of them are generally small and can be read over without a second thought but if you pick up on these types of things you'll probably be annoyed, often.

I also, have read Deathlands from the beginning. This latest book was one of the worst I've read so far. Other than the bad grammer, jumping from here to there, I think the author should get a " Guns of the World" and sit down and look through it before writing about something he dosen't really know anything about. Example - A Webley was made in .45 cal. not .44, the BAR was not a bolt action rifle, it was full auto, a black powder .44 dosen't have more stopping power than a 9mm., those are only a few I caught and am not thur with the book yet. Also , in one scene, Ryan has a hip holster, and in the next, a shoulder holster. Come on guys, Mr. Axler is gone, let the series go too. Enough is enough.

Nick Pollatta used to write great Deathlands tales, but with his last three books he has suddenly take a nose dive and turned into something akin to an Andy Boot writer.

What happend to this writer?

Desert Kings has a good premise, but the execution of it was lame and poorly written. Even Nick's once great action sequences have turned to quagmire.

This series needs a new and bold writer to breathe in new fresh air and direction to this once great series. It still has so much untapped potential.

This series is seemingly running as dry as the James Axler website forums.