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Warlord #2
Warlord of the Nightmare Realm
Benjamin Colt and his team have done the impossible, but the Red Army must gather its strength before their Warlord leads them to one last battle and total victory.
The far western city of Pyreenia is home to a people alienated from the rest of Mihdradahl, and the last holdout of the barbaric army led by Ben’s former teammates. But festering in the remote city is an evil greater than any horde of four-armed savages.
With the help of new allies and old enemies, Benjamin Colt and his friends explore realms lost to time and sanity, all to keep a promise. By his life or his death, he’ll use everything learned as a Special Forces operator to win his queen her kingdom.
The atmosphere is depleted. Ben’s army is rife with infiltrators bent on murderous revenge. His queen’s council is riddled with conspirators who plot his demise.
Evil has a name as well as a sanctuary, leaving Benjamin Colt no choice but to take the path he knows best—to walk the gauntlet of combat. He’ll wield his brand of destruction to prove himself the true inheritor to the title, chosen by the ghost of the only other to bear the name… Warlord!
The far western city of Pyreenia is home to a people alienated from the rest of Mihdradahl, and the last holdout of the barbaric army led by Ben’s former teammates. But festering in the remote city is an evil greater than any horde of four-armed savages.
With the help of new allies and old enemies, Benjamin Colt and his friends explore realms lost to time and sanity, all to keep a promise. By his life or his death, he’ll use everything learned as a Special Forces operator to win his queen her kingdom.
The atmosphere is depleted. Ben’s army is rife with infiltrators bent on murderous revenge. His queen’s council is riddled with conspirators who plot his demise.
Evil has a name as well as a sanctuary, leaving Benjamin Colt no choice but to take the path he knows best—to walk the gauntlet of combat. He’ll wield his brand of destruction to prove himself the true inheritor to the title, chosen by the ghost of the only other to bear the name… Warlord!
326 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 1, 2022
More Hell-for-Leather adventure!
Following his trial-by-fire in “Warlord”, Ben Colt is now Warlord of the combined lands of the Red Martians of the Northern continent and their Tarn allies. However he is not yet officially proclaimed as such. His beloved Talis is now officially Queen and they are married. Yet both are too busy to arrange a honeymoon. Everything is in flux and Doc Spears misleads the reader as to what will happen. Sudden and shocking surprises ensue. Ben and his buddies are still trying to adjust, having been thrust thru a dimensional portal (in “Warlord”) onto this strange and deadly world.
Doc Spears spends a couple of chapters showing us the rocky state of Queen Talis’ Kingdom. Barely consolidated, corrupt politicians plot against the Queen and some evil forces still remain. Ben’s three loyal Special Forces companions are stretched to their limit and are worn out. Worse, their only real scientist, Cynar, who understands the Martian science of the far past, is now talking about dying. The 1000 year old Martian blames himself in part for the catastrophe they are facing.
As in “Warlord”, the characters are rich and engaging, and set the stage for more adventure.
“Nightmare Realm” follows on closely from “Warlord” and it really helps to have read the first novel. In “Nightmare Realm” the political elite of “scientific experts” who were previously exposed as privileged frauds, are shown to be responsible for a horrendous evil that will destroy Mars.
Ben is equally concerned about his former SF chief, who has gone full-blown mass-murderer and escaped to another continent. As with “Warlord” Doc Spears delights in de-stabilising everything that our heroes need to survive. Every applecart is overturned. So once again we have an adventure against impossible odds.
There is some superb character interplay between Ben and Talis, variously humorous, thought-provoking and loving.
And now the strange powers of the ancient Martians begin to emerge. This move from air-cars and blasters to esoteric mind-powers is well-written and subtly done. It starts with the tiniest hint of wild strangeness and slowly becomes a major part of the Warlord universe. Oh, and there is a magic sword (of course). If, like me, you are a reader of classic Science Fiction, wait until you find out what the sword’s name……
Suddenly everything is threatened and Ben and Talis must go to war again. But the stakes are even higher than before. Not just the lives but the souls of every human and Tarn on the Red Planet.
I was completely invested in the good guy’s fates. “Warlord” took 600 pages to build characters in depth, each with unique personalities. So to see them in terrible extremis was a compelling story. “Nightmare Realm” is half the length but moves at twice the speed.
A joy to read. I cannot recommend it highly enough to SF/Fantasy fans.
Following his trial-by-fire in “Warlord”, Ben Colt is now Warlord of the combined lands of the Red Martians of the Northern continent and their Tarn allies. However he is not yet officially proclaimed as such. His beloved Talis is now officially Queen and they are married. Yet both are too busy to arrange a honeymoon. Everything is in flux and Doc Spears misleads the reader as to what will happen. Sudden and shocking surprises ensue. Ben and his buddies are still trying to adjust, having been thrust thru a dimensional portal (in “Warlord”) onto this strange and deadly world.
Doc Spears spends a couple of chapters showing us the rocky state of Queen Talis’ Kingdom. Barely consolidated, corrupt politicians plot against the Queen and some evil forces still remain. Ben’s three loyal Special Forces companions are stretched to their limit and are worn out. Worse, their only real scientist, Cynar, who understands the Martian science of the far past, is now talking about dying. The 1000 year old Martian blames himself in part for the catastrophe they are facing.
As in “Warlord”, the characters are rich and engaging, and set the stage for more adventure.
“Nightmare Realm” follows on closely from “Warlord” and it really helps to have read the first novel. In “Nightmare Realm” the political elite of “scientific experts” who were previously exposed as privileged frauds, are shown to be responsible for a horrendous evil that will destroy Mars.
Ben is equally concerned about his former SF chief, who has gone full-blown mass-murderer and escaped to another continent. As with “Warlord” Doc Spears delights in de-stabilising everything that our heroes need to survive. Every applecart is overturned. So once again we have an adventure against impossible odds.
There is some superb character interplay between Ben and Talis, variously humorous, thought-provoking and loving.
And now the strange powers of the ancient Martians begin to emerge. This move from air-cars and blasters to esoteric mind-powers is well-written and subtly done. It starts with the tiniest hint of wild strangeness and slowly becomes a major part of the Warlord universe. Oh, and there is a magic sword (of course). If, like me, you are a reader of classic Science Fiction, wait until you find out what the sword’s name……
Suddenly everything is threatened and Ben and Talis must go to war again. But the stakes are even higher than before. Not just the lives but the souls of every human and Tarn on the Red Planet.
I was completely invested in the good guy’s fates. “Warlord” took 600 pages to build characters in depth, each with unique personalities. So to see them in terrible extremis was a compelling story. “Nightmare Realm” is half the length but moves at twice the speed.
A joy to read. I cannot recommend it highly enough to SF/Fantasy fans.
July 16, 2023
It's clear to me that the author intends this to be part of the Edgar Rice Burroughs universe, except set at a much later date. Perhaps, when the language has shifted a bit. The giant green four-armed Tarks are referred to as Tarns, the River Iss that the inhabitants of Mars float down to their doom when they tire of life is renamed, and a Warlord named John Kurr rather than John Carter is referenced and his ghost even appears--along with the ghost of his paramour, the renamed Dejah Thoris.
I am just fine with all of this! This is a highly enjoyable book. The dialogue, however, is somewhat crasser than an Edgar Rice Burroughs book--putting it somewhere in the PG-13 range.
I am just fine with all of this! This is a highly enjoyable book. The dialogue, however, is somewhat crasser than an Edgar Rice Burroughs book--putting it somewhere in the PG-13 range.
August 2, 2023
Great Series!
If you liked Edgar Rice Burroughs you will love the updated version. Doc brings his experiences and a modern take to this classic world. And, there are even more titles to check out from Wargate Publishing. Now I need to find the next one…
If you liked Edgar Rice Burroughs you will love the updated version. Doc brings his experiences and a modern take to this classic world. And, there are even more titles to check out from Wargate Publishing. Now I need to find the next one…
November 27, 2022
Excellent
A combination of Edgar R.
Burrows and 21st century puns. Well worth reading. Brought back good childhood memories of John Carter books.
A combination of Edgar R.
Burrows and 21st century puns. Well worth reading. Brought back good childhood memories of John Carter books.
January 23, 2023
excellent
An excellent continuation of Ben Colt’s story. Really enjoying this series and look forward to reading book 3. Highly recommend!
An excellent continuation of Ben Colt’s story. Really enjoying this series and look forward to reading book 3. Highly recommend!
March 8, 2023
Fantastic pulp! This reminds me of tales of Jahn Carter and Conan and Remo Williams novels from my childhood.
Loved it and will grab the next one.
Loved it and will grab the next one.
March 22, 2023
I like it, but even though it's half as long as the first one it still drags in spots.
November 21, 2025
The Shakespearean dialogue is tedious
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews