From my first reading of the series, through to today some 20 years later I am still wowed by the concept of the wagon-trains. Most of my favourite sections of the series are those that take place with some involvement with the wagon trains.
I love big tech ideas - and in the Amtrak Federation there is nothing bigger than a wagon train. Patrick did such an amazing job of desribing their presence, operation and impact on the mutes, that those scenes throughout the series are memorable. This is not just limited to the combat scenes, but also the brief sections say like in Book 4 when 'The Lady' is making its high speed run to search for Steve and co, showed brief glimpses into the tracker world and how the trains are used.
As outlined in my earlier post, it would be great to see even bigger versions of the trains, or multi-train operations, something presented at the close of Book 5 when the federation finally takes out the McCalls once and for all with a 4 train attack. Think about that change in strategy - what would it mean for future wagon-train operations now that the Federation has seen how effective it has been.
Keen to hear thoughts.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Movie or mini-series for Amtrak Wars
Two things here:
1) Does anyone know what has happened to the movie version of Coud Warrior that was being developed by an Australian firm. I think there rights to the project were supposed to expire last year?
2) Who would you like to see play the main characters in an amtrak-wars movie or mini-series? The Dark Visions illustrated guide had great depictions of the characters - who do you think looks similar enough and could pull off the role?
1) Does anyone know what has happened to the movie version of Coud Warrior that was being developed by an Australian firm. I think there rights to the project were supposed to expire last year?
2) Who would you like to see play the main characters in an amtrak-wars movie or mini-series? The Dark Visions illustrated guide had great depictions of the characters - who do you think looks similar enough and could pull off the role?
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Book 7 - What do we know
So the proposed book 7 - what do we know:
- proposed title - Ghost Rider
- Steve is apparently alive and has been brainwashed into being a loyal agent of the Federation, somehow he survived being shot by John Chisum at the end of book 6
- as the post below shows, Fran also survived the Amexico bombing of the first family train towards the end of book 6
What do people think could happen next?
- proposed title - Ghost Rider
- Steve is apparently alive and has been brainwashed into being a loyal agent of the Federation, somehow he survived being shot by John Chisum at the end of book 6
- as the post below shows, Fran also survived the Amexico bombing of the first family train towards the end of book 6
What do people think could happen next?
Patricks forum response - Fran alive. & story teases
For a while in 2001 Patrick Tilley operated a forum on his site. The board was growing in popularity, and then alas it was closed. One message that I saved was this from Patrick below in relation to Fran Jefferson:
Fran Alive – Response from Patrick on forum 2001
Dear Neil - Re Fran. No. she didn't die. In book 7 readers were to discover she'd been seriously injured and badly disfigured. First Family medics had patched her body back together but the traumatic experience had left her with an even more unpleasant and psychotic personality - and Karlstrom was in the frame because she wanted to be the first ever female PG.
Does anyone else have any details that PT may have divulged over the years?
Fran Alive – Response from Patrick on forum 2001
Dear Neil - Re Fran. No. she didn't die. In book 7 readers were to discover she'd been seriously injured and badly disfigured. First Family medics had patched her body back together but the traumatic experience had left her with an even more unpleasant and psychotic personality - and Karlstrom was in the frame because she wanted to be the first ever female PG.
Does anyone else have any details that PT may have divulged over the years?
Federation Strategy
Some thoughts on potential Federation strategy:
The following is a look forward into the Amtrak universe based on the events in the books and a reasonably predicted evolution of characters, strategies and technologies.
1) Snow-Raven / Talisman will be presumably in her mid-20’s before she can access the full range of Talisman’s powers. In the mean time it is reasonable to assume that the Federation will attempt to eliminate her, Cadillac and Clearwater. This will undoubtedly be difficult to do as Clearwater will presumably have moved closer to the levels of power used by Mr Snow at the Storm Bringer level.
2) The Federation will continue to use multiple wagon-train attacks on large troublesome clans as used at the end of Book 5, when 5 trains were used to eliminate the M’Calls – The Lady from Louisiana, Iwo-Jima, True Grit, King of Pecos, and the Overland Raider. That’s a total potential of 5000 fighting personnel and 50 aircraft, presumably all Mark Two Skyhawks. Now the Plainfolks most powerful summoner – Mr Snow – is gone and several others were killed at the Battle of the Trading Post there is an enormous strategic advantage the Federation can exploit, 2-4 train attacks on large clans should yield relatively easy victories. This tactic would be combined with the introduction of night operations as seen at the end of Book Six and pre-attack high-altitude bombing with guided weapons/napalm.
3) Attack the new Plainfolk Council at their annual meeting, I think this is for Sioux falls though this may be wrong. The carnage of the Battle of the Trading Post showed the Federation the potential for massive gains to be made in the war, with primary gains being the gathering of clans most vital elements – their wordsmiths, summoners, seers, most valuable trades people and best warriors. A realistic option would be a massive aerial strike by Amexico. As shown in Book Four Skyriders can act as airborne command posts and the potential may be there for in-flight aerial refuelling extending the total combat range of the Mark Two. Another option is above in point two, one massive strike by an overwhelming number of wagon-trains against the Council, a single cohesive strike deep into Plainfolk territory with the rest of the wagon train fleet in reserve at the edge of Federation territory, possibly conducting their own operations against smaller clans, but still available to provide air support on the way back for the strike force.
4) New types of aircraft. An unspecified type of aircraft was used in Book Three to monitor Amexico operations in Ne-Issan, so the potential exists for different variants. These could include: airborne refuelling tankers, The Skyhawk mark Three with longer range, greater weapons load, possibly a two seater fighter with a pilot and a bombardier, and helicopters or tilt-rotor gunships and troop transports – derivatives of the AH-64Apache, the V-22 Osprey and the Blackhawk helicopter.
5) The Special Treatment List. At the end of Book 5 the President General explained to Karlstrom that Steve and Roz "were the most outstanding examples to date." So the Federation could potentially have its own summoners in development or in reserve in an effort to neutralise Talisman. Add in the factor of Lucas Brickman - the 'dark star whose task it is to destroy the federation from within.' Sooner or later he will be exposed and most likely an attempt to kill him will be made. This would most likely result in a spectacular battle within the Earth-Shield. There is also the possibility that the Federation could clone Lucas and have their own tame 'dark star' once they realise the real article is out of control.
6) The Federation needs some sort of aircraft carrier. A small carrier with a large strike force of Mark Two Skyhawks could mount round the clock bombing operations against the Southern Mutes in the Gulf States and Florida, and along the Eastern Seaboard. It could be also be used for a strategic attack on the naval forces of Ne-Issan, attempting to sink any and all wheel-boats, and making air and land strikes against the leaders of particular domains, thereby destabilizing the region and weakening the trading link with mutes resulting in less weapons used against Federation forces. Ground forces could be sent in using hovercraft, small inflatable boats, and via the proposed troop carrying aircraft
7) The air wings on the wagon trains need to be increased. By adding extra power cars surely a wagon train could take aboard an extra flight wing (10 planes, 2 cars) thereby doubling the potential strike force, and enabling the train to split and conduct flight and ground operations from multiple staging points, i.e. half the train with 10 aircraft strikes from one point, the other half and aircraft from another position, thereby splitting Mute forces and tricking them into believing they are being attacked by more than one train.
8) Karlstrom will attempt a coup, or the PG will attempt to eliminate Karlstrom. Karlstrom has shown the lengths he is willing to got too by wiping out an entire branch of the Family at the end of Book Six, it is doubtful this was authorised by the PG. Either way it seems inevitable there will be a showdown between these two, this may be over the raising of Lucas (Karlstrom opposes this). Could the PG have another covert unit that Karlstrom is unaware off, a second Amexico?
9) Forward positioning air assets at outer boundary way stations and divisional bases so they can conduct long-range aerial strikes on a year round basis.
10) The Prophecy is in motion and the Family must be concerned, does anyone doubt they have an ultimate weapon on standby for a final showdown with talisman or an evacuation plan to remote enclave - South America maybe.
The following is a look forward into the Amtrak universe based on the events in the books and a reasonably predicted evolution of characters, strategies and technologies.
1) Snow-Raven / Talisman will be presumably in her mid-20’s before she can access the full range of Talisman’s powers. In the mean time it is reasonable to assume that the Federation will attempt to eliminate her, Cadillac and Clearwater. This will undoubtedly be difficult to do as Clearwater will presumably have moved closer to the levels of power used by Mr Snow at the Storm Bringer level.
2) The Federation will continue to use multiple wagon-train attacks on large troublesome clans as used at the end of Book 5, when 5 trains were used to eliminate the M’Calls – The Lady from Louisiana, Iwo-Jima, True Grit, King of Pecos, and the Overland Raider. That’s a total potential of 5000 fighting personnel and 50 aircraft, presumably all Mark Two Skyhawks. Now the Plainfolks most powerful summoner – Mr Snow – is gone and several others were killed at the Battle of the Trading Post there is an enormous strategic advantage the Federation can exploit, 2-4 train attacks on large clans should yield relatively easy victories. This tactic would be combined with the introduction of night operations as seen at the end of Book Six and pre-attack high-altitude bombing with guided weapons/napalm.
3) Attack the new Plainfolk Council at their annual meeting, I think this is for Sioux falls though this may be wrong. The carnage of the Battle of the Trading Post showed the Federation the potential for massive gains to be made in the war, with primary gains being the gathering of clans most vital elements – their wordsmiths, summoners, seers, most valuable trades people and best warriors. A realistic option would be a massive aerial strike by Amexico. As shown in Book Four Skyriders can act as airborne command posts and the potential may be there for in-flight aerial refuelling extending the total combat range of the Mark Two. Another option is above in point two, one massive strike by an overwhelming number of wagon-trains against the Council, a single cohesive strike deep into Plainfolk territory with the rest of the wagon train fleet in reserve at the edge of Federation territory, possibly conducting their own operations against smaller clans, but still available to provide air support on the way back for the strike force.
4) New types of aircraft. An unspecified type of aircraft was used in Book Three to monitor Amexico operations in Ne-Issan, so the potential exists for different variants. These could include: airborne refuelling tankers, The Skyhawk mark Three with longer range, greater weapons load, possibly a two seater fighter with a pilot and a bombardier, and helicopters or tilt-rotor gunships and troop transports – derivatives of the AH-64Apache, the V-22 Osprey and the Blackhawk helicopter.
5) The Special Treatment List. At the end of Book 5 the President General explained to Karlstrom that Steve and Roz "were the most outstanding examples to date." So the Federation could potentially have its own summoners in development or in reserve in an effort to neutralise Talisman. Add in the factor of Lucas Brickman - the 'dark star whose task it is to destroy the federation from within.' Sooner or later he will be exposed and most likely an attempt to kill him will be made. This would most likely result in a spectacular battle within the Earth-Shield. There is also the possibility that the Federation could clone Lucas and have their own tame 'dark star' once they realise the real article is out of control.
6) The Federation needs some sort of aircraft carrier. A small carrier with a large strike force of Mark Two Skyhawks could mount round the clock bombing operations against the Southern Mutes in the Gulf States and Florida, and along the Eastern Seaboard. It could be also be used for a strategic attack on the naval forces of Ne-Issan, attempting to sink any and all wheel-boats, and making air and land strikes against the leaders of particular domains, thereby destabilizing the region and weakening the trading link with mutes resulting in less weapons used against Federation forces. Ground forces could be sent in using hovercraft, small inflatable boats, and via the proposed troop carrying aircraft
7) The air wings on the wagon trains need to be increased. By adding extra power cars surely a wagon train could take aboard an extra flight wing (10 planes, 2 cars) thereby doubling the potential strike force, and enabling the train to split and conduct flight and ground operations from multiple staging points, i.e. half the train with 10 aircraft strikes from one point, the other half and aircraft from another position, thereby splitting Mute forces and tricking them into believing they are being attacked by more than one train.
8) Karlstrom will attempt a coup, or the PG will attempt to eliminate Karlstrom. Karlstrom has shown the lengths he is willing to got too by wiping out an entire branch of the Family at the end of Book Six, it is doubtful this was authorised by the PG. Either way it seems inevitable there will be a showdown between these two, this may be over the raising of Lucas (Karlstrom opposes this). Could the PG have another covert unit that Karlstrom is unaware off, a second Amexico?
9) Forward positioning air assets at outer boundary way stations and divisional bases so they can conduct long-range aerial strikes on a year round basis.
10) The Prophecy is in motion and the Family must be concerned, does anyone doubt they have an ultimate weapon on standby for a final showdown with talisman or an evacuation plan to remote enclave - South America maybe.
My history with this series
Background:
I first picked up a second-hand copy of First Family as 10 year old and was enthralled right from the start. I immediately purchased Cloud Warrior and Iron Master and then the wait began for the subsequent volumes. I was also lucky enough to find a copy of Dark Visions. Amtrak Wars was a very popular series in New Zealand, Australia and the U.K.
Favourite Moments
The first battle between the Lady from Louisiana and the Clan McCall in Book 1
The She Kargo summoners battle against the Iron Masters and their wheel boats in Book 5
Unexplained mysteries:
Is the over ground still radioactive or is the Family poisoning the Trail Blazers?
Why do Trackers live such short life-spans?
What other resources do the Family have access to – e.g. pre-holocaust libraries etc?
I first picked up a second-hand copy of First Family as 10 year old and was enthralled right from the start. I immediately purchased Cloud Warrior and Iron Master and then the wait began for the subsequent volumes. I was also lucky enough to find a copy of Dark Visions. Amtrak Wars was a very popular series in New Zealand, Australia and the U.K.
Favourite Moments
The first battle between the Lady from Louisiana and the Clan McCall in Book 1
The She Kargo summoners battle against the Iron Masters and their wheel boats in Book 5
Unexplained mysteries:
Is the over ground still radioactive or is the Family poisoning the Trail Blazers?
Why do Trackers live such short life-spans?
What other resources do the Family have access to – e.g. pre-holocaust libraries etc?
Saturday, July 28, 2007
First post
The first post to this blog - intended to be a forum or discussion area for fans of the iconic sci-fi series The Amtrak Wars, and also a place for fans of the series to support Mr Tilley as he writes more novels in the series.
You can find an overview of the series at Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amtrak_Wars and of course at Patricks site at www.patrick-tilley.com
I posted the Q&A on the wiki with Patrick (via his agents) back in 2006. John Breslin has a more recent update from Patrick saying he is working on 3 more books see the comments towards the bottom this page - http://www.johnbreslin.com/blog/1998/10/08/review-the-amtrak-wars/
You can find an overview of the series at Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amtrak_Wars and of course at Patricks site at www.patrick-tilley.com
I posted the Q&A on the wiki with Patrick (via his agents) back in 2006. John Breslin has a more recent update from Patrick saying he is working on 3 more books see the comments towards the bottom this page - http://www.johnbreslin.com/blog/1998/10/08/review-the-amtrak-wars/
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