Deathlands #09 - Red Equinox

The ninth Deathlands paperback, Red Equinox, was published by Gold Eagle in June 1989. It was authored by Laurence James under the house pseudonym of James Axler. Like the series' fifth installment, Homeward Bound, Red Equinox recounts prior events to add a little sequel variation. This book serves as a companion to the second Deathlands entry, Red Holocaust, published in 1986, thus the similar title.

In Red Holocaust, Ryan and the group emerged from a redoubt in Alaska. It was there that they ran into the Russian military unit, the Narodniki, and a Russian leader named Major Zimyanin. That book ended in a wild finale featuring the Russian military, an earthquake, and a nuclear bomb. Ryan's group escaped back into the redoubt to Louisiana. After reading the book, I could sense we hadn't seen the last of Major Zimyanin. After reading Red Equinox I still have that same feeling.

In Red Equinox, we have a series first – travel outside of the U.S. Ryan and his friends arrive in a redoubt that is damaged. It's like a metaphor for the group itself, mainly two of the members, Doc and Rick. In the last novel, Ice andFire, Doc's lover Lori, is killed. He is now pining for her and remembering things from his past. Rick has a terminal illness and is living out his last hours in pain and mental confusion. It's a tough time for the gang, made even tougher when they discover the redoubt is in the middle of a nuked-out Moscow.

Laurence James constructs this Deathlands entry in such a unique way. Ultimately, the premise is so simple – scavenge for tools to fix the redoubt door so they can jump to another place on the map. Only Rick has the know-how to fix it, but he's living his last hours. There's a sense of urgency to get into the city, get the tools, and fix the door. James cleverly leaves various characters in the redoubt to isolate Ryan, Kristy, and Rick. This is mainly Rick's story, and the trio has an emotional bond that elevates the novel into some touching moments. Rick's death, his inability to ever revisit his own time (he's from the 1980s), and his relay of information to Kristy about the “old days”. This is such a wonderful farewell to a lovable character.

The group is spotted in town, and Major Zimyanin, who is in an entertaining spat with his new wife, attempts to corral Ryan's group. He remembers the “one-eyed man” and wants a semblance of revenge. There are other elements at play as well, including Rick's insistence that the American flag be rescued from a pro-Soviet museum and Kristy's use of the Mother Earth mutant power.

Red Equinox is a dynamic Deathlands novel and one that serves as a way to continue events from Red Holocaust while also killing off another character (a second consecutive book to feature a character death). This is one of my favorite series, and I can't wait to find out where the group ends up next. Highly recommended if you are a Deathlands fan.

Get the book HERE.