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Amtrak Wars - Series Overview
Author: Patrick Tilley
The first two groups we meet are the Mutes and the citizens of the Amtrak Federation. The Mutes are decendants of those that managed to survive the war on the surface of the planet, they are basically mutants, they have varying degrees of deviation to the standard human. The Mutes are a tribal race, and are split into diferent tribes, they are basically north american red indians, except that they are lumpy and have odd swirly coloured skins.
The Mutes have evolved to live in the new above ground world left by the war, they have also developed various near magical powers, which is just as well since they are hunted by the Amtrack Federation.
The Amtrack federation survived the war by fleeing into underground bunkers which eventually evolved into huge underground cities, where they stayed for many years refining their technology and their ideals. These are basically normal everyday humans, except that the majority of the population are sterile and so reproduction has had to become a science. They are technologically advanced and the citizens are basically all controlled with brainwashing and mind control.
The First family, undesputed rulers of the Amtrak Federation basically want to live in the american civil war period, they wear period outfits and go for picnics on steamtrains. They also worship John Wayne and several of his movies are like religious icons. All of this is hidden from the general populous and they are only let in on it once a high rank is reached.
The Amtrak Federation is lying to its people, they are leading them to believe that the above ground areas of the planet are still highly toxic and that this is caused by the Mutes, by killing all the Mutes they will cleanse the earth. This is not true, the radiation above ground is now so low that it is safe.
The Amtrak Federation is able to decieve the people because anyone that has done more than a few tours of duty dies at a very young age from radiation related illnesses, this is actually caused by the radiation inside the giant armoured land trains that they Amtrak Federation uses as it mobile command posts as it cruises around looking for Mutes to kill.
A contingent of pilots is attached to each train they fly recon missions and attach Mutes from the air. One of the major characters is a Pilot.
Later on in the piece we meet the other race the Iron Makers, these people are basically the asian races, the took to the sea in order to try survive the aftermath of the war, they have ended up genetically weaker than the Mutes, but have a higher level of technology, they have gunpowder, steam engines and metal working skills.
The iron makers trad with the Mutes, they supply weapons and cooking impliments in return for slaves. The Iron Makers have taken on the Imperial Japanese fudal system of government, they have Samurais and emporers.
The series progresses into an all out three way war, a prophecy is fulfilled and nobody actually wins. The story concludes for the main characters but the big picture story is just left hanging. Suposedly there will be more books in the series to finish it off one day, but that is more a rumor than anything else.
An wouldn't you know it yet again I have inconsistant coverart, the first book is the old artwork and then the other five books are the re-release artwork, I really hate that.
It is a good series though even if it does start as a big cliche.