Search Worlds Without End

Hundreds of years after civilisation has been destroyed by nuclear war, the Earth is divided between the Trackers of the Amtrak Federation – a community living in vast subterranean cities – and the Mutes, who have evolved to withstand the radiation that has driven their foes underground. A long war for possession of the overground has killed and enslaved many of the Mutes, leaving only the Plainfolk to resist the Federation.

The Mutes' physical strength and tribal way of life is no match for the advanced weaponry that is used against them. Mr Snow, supernaturally gifted wordsmith of the Mute clan M'Call, is the Plainfolk's last hope in withstanding the onslaught of the 'sand-burrower's' attacks.

Seventeen-year-old rookie wingman Steve Brickman is just about to graduate from Flight Academy. Safe in the knowledge of his own brilliance, his future seems assured. As a member of the Tracker society, Brickman has grown up deep underground, protected from the radiation of the blue-sky world above. The lure of this open space fills him with both fear and excitement, as he anticipates piloting his first mission against the sub-human Mutes.

But all does not go as smoothly as planned, as the clan M'Call kidnaps Steve and puts him under the strange tutelage of the mysterious Mr Snow. Captivated by the beautiful Clearwater and befriended by the stoic Cadillac, Brickman soon discovers that there is more to the Mutes than his masters would have him believe. Eyes now open to the Mute's humanity, Brickman is torn by a painful divided loyalty. And now, it seems, he has become embroiled in an ancient Mute prophecy; that of the Talisman, the one who will save them all.

Hundreds of years after civilisation has been destroyed by nuclear war, the Earth is divided between the Trackers of the Amtrak Federation – a community living in vast subterranean cities – and the Mutes, who have evolved to withstand the radiation that has driven their foes underground. A long war for possession of the overground has killed and enslaved many of the Mutes, leaving only the Plainfolk to resist the Federation.

After escaping from the clan M'Call in his handmade glider, wingman Steve Brickman expects a hero's welcome from his fellow Trackers. Kidnapped on his first mission above ground by the Mutes, he has spent the last five months under the enforced tutelage of Mr Snow, clan M'Call's wise and magically gifted wordsmith. The months have also garnered a friendship with Cadillac, Mr Snow's protégé, a dawning love of the beautiful Clearwater, and a realisation that the Mutes are not the sub-humans that his masters would have him believe.

But instead of a happy homecoming, he receives suspicion and interrogation. Still officially 'dead' until he receives the proper clearance, Brickman must face long hours of speculation and questioning at the hands of the First Family. Only the chance of seeing his kin-sister Roz – with whom he shares a psychic connection – offers any comfort.

He is soon drawn into the complicated world of AMEXICO, a top-secret intelligence force where nothing is as it seems, and Brickman must face the reality that everything he has believed in could be false. If the First Family have lied to them about the Mutes, then what else have they been covering up? Is there really any harmful radiation left in the blue-sky world at all?

Split by a terrible division of loyalties, what will Brickman choose? The world he knows of order and duty? Or the new life glimpsed through his love for Clearwater? Either way, his role in the Mute prophesy of the Talisman is far from over.

Hundreds of years after civilisation has been destroyed by nuclear war, the Earth is divided between the Trackers of the Amtrak Federation – a community living in vast subterranean cities – and the Mutes, who have evolved to withstand the radiation that has driven their foes underground. A long war for possession of the overground has killed and enslaved many of the Mutes, leaving only the Plainfolk to resist the Federation. And now the Iron Masters – a powerful people living in the traditions of the Samurai – have joined the struggle for dominance.

Steve Brickman, a Tracker wingman who has formed a bond with the Plainfolk Mute clan M'Call, has become embroiled in a web of deceit, double bluffing, and lies. Now an agent of AMEXICO, a secret intelligence force of the Amtrak Federation, he has had to walk a fine line between his divided loyalties. Struggling to be true to his own people, Brickman strives to protect his one-time mentor Mr Snow, clan M'Call's magically gifted wordsmith, his Mute friend Cadillac, and the object of his desire, the beautiful Clearwater. Together, they all have a part to play in the Mute prophesy of Talisman, the one who will bring peace to the Earth, and turn the red world green once more.

But now Cadillac and Clearwater have been kidnapped by the Iron Masters, a new threat in the power wars of the blue-sky world, and Brickman is determined to save them. With the psychic aid of his kin-sister Roz, and the help of the covert network of AMEXICO spies, he must infiltrate their closed and secretive society. Disguised as a Mute, travelling into the treacherous unknown, he must decide into whose hands to deliver his friends if he manages to save them; his AMEXICO handlers, who believe he is working for them? Or to Mr Snow, anxiously awaiting the return of his two disciples, the hope of the clan M'Call?

Hundreds of years after civilisation has been destroyed by nuclear war, the Earth is divided between the Trackers of the Amtrak Federation – a community living in vast subterranean cities – and the Mutes, who have evolved to withstand the radiation that has driven their foes underground. A long war for possession of the overground has killed and enslaved many of the Mutes, leaving only the Plainfolk to resist the Federation. And now the Iron Masters – a powerful people living in the traditions of the Samurai – have joined the war.

Steve Brickman, a Tracker special agent, has travelled to the land of the mysterious Iron Masters in a bid to rescue his Mute friends, Clearwater and Cadillac. Here he has had to navigate the treacherous feudal politics of Ni-Issan. With the help of his psychic kin-sister Roz, the Federation and Clearwater's summoner magic, the three have just escaped, killing the head of Yama-Shita in the process.

Under orders from the Amtrak Federation to betray his friends, Brickman must play a dangerous game in trying to appease both sides, for his loyalties are torn. Brickman's love for Clearwater and respect for Cadillac pull him away from the duty he owes his own home. Still fleeing and ruthlessly pursued by the Iron Masters seeking revenge, they must also avoid the 'aid' of the Federation agents who would use Cadillac and Clearwater for their own ends.

Hundreds of years after civilisation has been destroyed by nuclear war, the Earth is divided between the Trackers of the Amtrak Federation – a community living in vast subterranean cities – and the Mutes, who have evolved to withstand the radiation that has driven their foes underground. A long war for possession of the overground has killed and enslaved many of the Mutes, leaving only the Plainfolk to resist the Federation. And now the Iron Masters – a powerful people living in the traditions of the Samurai – have joined the struggle for dominance.

Steve Brickman, Tracker agent for the Amtrak Federation, and blood brother to the Mute clan M'Call, is struggling to maintain his double life. After evading the Iron Masters, Brickman's love – Mute summoner Clearwater – has finally been captured by the Federation. As she lays fighting for her life, Brickman must keep up the pretence of his disinterest in front of his Federation handlers. Pretending to orchestrate a plan to capture Cadillac and Mr Snow, who intimidate the Federation with their strong Mute earth-magic, Steve finds it increasingly difficult to outwit his Tracker comrades. Only Roz – his powerfully psychic kin-sister – knows of Brickman's predicament. Together they must work tirelessly under a false loyalty to the Federation.

They must prepare themselves, for a great battle is coming, one which will test the Plainfolk magic to its limit, and prove Brickman worthy of the name 'Death Bringer.' As both the Federation and the Iron Masters plot revenge, all players will soon come under the power of the Talisman Prophesy.

Death Bringer, first published in 1989, is the fifth instalment of Patrick Tilley's internationally best selling science fiction epic, The Amtrak Wars Saga.

Hundreds of years after civilisation has been destroyed by nuclear war, the Earth is divided between the Trackers of the Amtrak Federation – a community living in vast subterranean cities – and the Mutes, who have evolved to withstand the radiation that has driven their foes underground. A long war for possession of the overground has killed and enslaved many of the Mutes, leaving only the Plainfolk to resist the Federation. And now the Iron Masters – a powerful people living in the traditions of the Samurai – have joined the battle for dominance.

It is time for Steve Brickman, who has long struggled with split loyalties, to finally pick a side. His duty to his own people, the Amtrak Federation, wars against his spiritual bond to the Mute clan M'Call. Honoured with promotion into to the First Family, it looks as though Brickman may choose his home over that of his love's, the pregnant Clearwater. But when Clearwater gives birth to his child at the exact moment that Mount Saint Helens explodes, it looks as if the Mute Prophesy has come to fruition.

Meanwhile Roz – Brickman's powerfully psychic kin-sister – and Cadillac, last free living member of the clan M'Call, must travel into the treacherous lands of the Iron Masters to stave off a deadly retribution, whilst becoming embroiled in another land's civil war.

Now that the First Family believe Clearwater's child to be the Talisman – heralded messiah of the Plainfolk – their grip tightens as they plan to use this child of prophesy for their own ends.

Earth-Thunder, book six of The Amtrak Wars Saga, first published in 1990, concludes Patrick Tilley's internationally best selling science fiction epic.