History Literature / Deathlands

* CoolGun: The various personal firearms of the characters get this treatment in the novels with a [[GunPorn fair bit of description]] given over to the details of the weapons and what makes them unique, useful, and/or effective.

After being in print since 1988, the series is currently out of print because Gold Eagle Publishing closing down in 2015.

* RareGuns
** Doc Tanner has carried two different [=LeMat=] revolvers.
** Ryan Cawdor uses an advanced model of the Heckler and Koch G-11 called the [[AKA47 G-12]]. Of course in this AlternateHistory there was no German reunification to put an end to their caseless rifle project. Ironically they find a H&K [=MP7=] and regard it as a Rare Gun InUniverse, as the weapon had only started production in 2001 when the war started.
** In the film ''Deathlands: Homeward Bound'', Ryan Cawdor uses a SPAS-12 shotgun.

* CruelAndUnusualPunishment: Before Doc Tanner was found by Ryan and the "Companions", he was kept as entertainment by a cruel band of thugs. Whenever he failed to amuse them (which was often), they would force him to have sex with the pigs they kept.

** '''John Barrymore Dix''' (a.k.a. '''J.B.''' or [[WalkingArmory The Armourer]]): GadgeteerGenius (weapons specialist), TheStoic, NiceHat, (TheShortGuyWithGlasses in the FilmOfTheBook).

** '''Jak Lauren:''' HeroicAlbino (a {{Mutant}} in the film), BladeEnthusiast, ChildSoldier, ScarilyCompetentTracker.

** '''Jak Lauren:''' HeroicAlbino (a {{Mutant}} in the film), KnifeNut, ChildSoldier, ScarilyCompetentTracker.

* KnifeNut: One of the main characteristics of Companion Jak Lauren is having about a dozen knives (at ''least'') on his person at all times, and being very good with them.

* SchizoTech: Thanks to pre-War technology that's been scavenged, futuristic tech like MAT-TRANS and cyborgs that's handwaved as coming from secret military projects, and whatever people can cobble together or develop themselves.

* SchizoTech: Thanks to pre-War technology that's been scavanged, technology like MAT-TRANS and cyborgs that's handwaved as secret military projects, and whatever people can cobble together or develop themselves.

** '''Jak Lauren:''' (a {{Mutant}} in the film), KnifeNut, ChildSoldier, ScarilyCompetentTracker.

* PuttingOnTheReich: The Sec forces of Mocsin are the patently {{obviously evil}} black uniform-wearing bad guys.

* FutureImperfect: The leader of a Russian war party declares his intention to invade the former United States, having read in the old books about how it's a land of wealth and beautiful women instead of the CrapsackWorld it is in reality.

** Ryan Cawdor uses an advanced model of the Heckler and Koch G-11 called the [[AKA47 G-12]]. Of course in this AlternateHistory there was no German reunification to put an end to their caseless rifle project.

After an attack on their convoy the Trader's war captain, Ryan Cawdor, saves and is saved by a stunningly beautiful female captive called Krysty Wroth. She is convinced that a [[ThePromisedLand gateway to a better world]] lies in the Darks formerly known as the Glacier National Park in Montana. This is an old UrbanLegend and Ryan is naturally skeptical, but events force him and several companions to seek it out. What they discover there leads them to a series of adventures across the Deathlands and beyond. Their wanderings lead them to battle an endless array of [[EvilOverlord power-hungry warlords]], kill-crazy marauders, mutant monsters, {{Mad Scientist}}s and various other villains. Expect loads of {{Gorn}} and GunPorn, over-the-top characters, cool events, and some crazy landscape. To date the series has reached over 100 books with multiple authors, making for some interesting adventures for the characters.

* YoungGun: Jak Lauren. Various characters start their careers as Blasters or Sec Men when they are young, such as Ryan Cawdor when he first became an outlaw.

* TheStarscream: It's so normal for a Baron to be overthrown by his [[TheDragon Head Blaster]], that it's become something of a tradition.

* TeleportersAndTransporters: What they find in the hidden redoubt beyond the [[FogOfDoom Cerberus fog defense]]. [[spoiler:It's later revealed they provide the ability to TimeTravel as well.]]

* WeaponizedCar: The War Wagons, War Wags for short, and the assault buggies. Feature numerous machine guns and even mortars in some cases.

* YoungGun:
** Ryan Cawdor the main character started out as this and built his reputation on his capabilities as a gun for hire known as a Blaster.
** Quite a few people often start their careers as Blasters or Sec Men when they are young.
* VulnerableConvoy:
** Noticeably averted with the Trader's convoy, which is attacked by mutant marauders who assume his reputation is exaggerated. They turn out to be very, very wrong.
** By the end of the first book the entire convoy is taken out by a surprise attack using chemical weapons from a hidden stash when they stop to trade.

* DeathWorld: The United States of America, also known as The Death Lands. Heavily populated by mutants and frequently scoured by deadly weather and hazardous terrain.

** Dr. Tanner is a victim of the Cererbus time travel experiments that violently ripped him from his time. His recollections of the scientists of Cerberus and their related projects paints a picture of a veritable army of {{MadScientist}}s.

* TankGoodness: The book ''Pandora's Redoubt'' revolves around the Companions jumping into a Redoubt that had been entered by another gang already, who had {{MacGyver|ing}}ed a tank out of the vehicles in the bunker's motor pool ([[NoHonorAmongThieves and then they all killed each other apparently trying to take full control of it]]).
* TeleportersAndTransporters:
** What they find in the hidden redoubt beyond the [[FogOfDoom Cerberus fog defense]].
** [[spoiler:It's later revealed they provide the ability to TimeTravel as well.]]
* TrueCompanions: Although AnyoneCanDie the more permanent members of the group are:

** '''Dr. Theophilus Algernon Tanner (a.k.a. Doc):''' MadScientist, HeroicBSOD, [[UglyGuyHotWife Ugly Guy, Hot Girlfriend]](with [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Lori Quint]]) [[spoiler:FishOutOfTemporalWater]].