Ryan Cawdor
Encyclopedia
Ryan Cawdor is a fiction
al Deathlands
character that first appeared in the novel Pilgrimage to Hell
by Jack Adrian.
in Virginia
. His middle brother, Harvey, is responsible for the loss of Ryan’s left eye after murdering Morgan, Ryan's eldest brother. Ryan’s nephew, Nathan Freeman now controls the barony of Front Royal. Ryan was named after his great grandfather, the original founder of Front Royal.
He joined the Trader's convoy approximately ten years before the beginning of Pilgrimage to Hell, at the age of 21. Over the years, he climbed the ranks rapidly in Trader's convoy, soon becoming Trader's second-in-command. It was during this time that he met his best friend J.B. Dix, who joined Trader a little over a year later. Ryan is a master of many forms of combat, including knife fighting, and unarmed combat
. He learned a great deal from both Trader and J.B.
Ryan was recently portrayed by Vincent Spano
in the Sci Fi Channel
original movie version of Deathlands: Homeward Bound
.
Ruger Blackhawk
revolver with a 6 inch barrel. As of the first novel he carried a SIG P226
with a built-in silencer, which he retains to the present. At that time he also carried a LAPA 5.56mm assault rifle, which he gave up in the second book for the G-12. His main weapon was a Heckler & Koch
G12 - a fictional descendant of the G11
, which fires caseless ammunition - but he eventually abandoned it because of difficulties finding ammo. Along with the SIG, he currently carries a 7.62mm Steyr
sniper rifle. He also carries a panga (a variant of the machete) and a slim-bladed flensing knife. One of his rarely-used last-ditch weapons is a silk scarf with lead weights sewn in its ends, allowing him to use it an as a garrote
.
It was during this failed trading mission that Ryan met Krysty Wroth
, a beautiful red-haired mutant
woman with whom he fell in love. It was also here that Ryan encountered the addle-brained Dr. Theophilus Tanner
, or 'Doc', who seems to know a great deal about the legendary redoubts and MAT-TRANS
gateways.
Leading the few survivors of the attack into the darks, Ryan and his associates encountered a hidden redoubt. After destroying the guardian, they entered the redoubt and discovered the MAT-TRANS
, which can transport them throughout the Deathlands
.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al Deathlands
Deathlands
The Deathlands is a series of novels published by Gold Eagle Publishing. The first novel 'Pilgrimage to Hell' was first published in 1986. This series of novels was first written by Christopher Lowder, under the pen name Jack Adrian. Mr. Lowder became ill after developing the plot and writing most...
character that first appeared in the novel Pilgrimage to Hell
Pilgrimage to Hell
Pilgrimage to Hell is the first book in the Deathlands Saga of novels. Written by Christopher Lowder under his pen name Jack Adrian and published on May 1, 1986, it follows the adventures of Ryan Cawdor, Krysty Wroth and J.B...
by Jack Adrian.
Ryan's life
Ryan is the youngest son of a powerful baronBaron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. His middle brother, Harvey, is responsible for the loss of Ryan’s left eye after murdering Morgan, Ryan's eldest brother. Ryan’s nephew, Nathan Freeman now controls the barony of Front Royal. Ryan was named after his great grandfather, the original founder of Front Royal.
He joined the Trader's convoy approximately ten years before the beginning of Pilgrimage to Hell, at the age of 21. Over the years, he climbed the ranks rapidly in Trader's convoy, soon becoming Trader's second-in-command. It was during this time that he met his best friend J.B. Dix, who joined Trader a little over a year later. Ryan is a master of many forms of combat, including knife fighting, and unarmed combat
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
. He learned a great deal from both Trader and J.B.
Ryan was recently portrayed by Vincent Spano
Vincent Spano
Vincent M. Spano is an American stage, film and television actor, and film director and producer. He received a Cable Ace Award nomination in 1988 for his role as Mark Ciuni in Il cugino americano.-Backround:...
in the Sci Fi Channel
Sci Fi Channel (United States)
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
original movie version of Deathlands: Homeward Bound
Deathlands: Homeward Bound
Deathlands: Homeward Bound is a 2003 Sci Fi Channel television film based loosely on the Deathlands series of books. The film stars Vincent Spano and Traci Lords, and was directed by Joshua Butler.-Synopsis:...
.
Weapons
Among other weapons, Ryan has carried a .357.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
Ruger Blackhawk
Ruger Blackhawk
The Ruger Blackhawk is a 6-shot or 8-shot, single-action revolver manufactured by Sturm, Ruger. It is produced in a variety of finishes, calibers, and barrel lengths.-History:In the early 1950s, Westerns were popular in movies and television...
revolver with a 6 inch barrel. As of the first novel he carried a SIG P226
SIG P226
The SIG P226 is a full-sized, service-type pistol made by SIG Sauer. It is chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .22 Long Rifle. It is essentially the same basic design of the SIG P220, but developed to use higher capacity, staggered-column magazines in place of the...
with a built-in silencer, which he retains to the present. At that time he also carried a LAPA 5.56mm assault rifle, which he gave up in the second book for the G-12. His main weapon was a Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
G12 - a fictional descendant of the G11
Heckler & Koch G11
The Heckler & Koch G11 is a non-production prototype assault rifle developed during the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s by Gesellschaft für Hülsenlose Gewehrsysteme , a conglomeration of companies headed by firearm manufacturer Heckler & Koch , Dynamit Nobel The Heckler & Koch G11 is a non-production...
, which fires caseless ammunition - but he eventually abandoned it because of difficulties finding ammo. Along with the SIG, he currently carries a 7.62mm Steyr
Steyr Mannlicher
Steyr Mannlicher is a firearms manufacturer based in the city of Steyr, Austria. Originally a part of the Steyr-Daimler-Puch manufacturing conglomerate, it became independent when the conglomerate was broken in 1990.-History:...
sniper rifle. He also carries a panga (a variant of the machete) and a slim-bladed flensing knife. One of his rarely-used last-ditch weapons is a silk scarf with lead weights sewn in its ends, allowing him to use it an as a garrote
Garrote
A garrote or garrote vil is a handheld weapon, most often referring to a ligature of chain, rope, scarf, wire or fishing line used to strangle someone....
.
Pilgrimage to Hell
During a mission to the town of Mocsin to trade weapons, ammunition, and explosives to the Baron Jordan Teague, Trader's convoy was attacked and destroyed by Teague’s head man, Cort Strasser. Twenty-four of the crew survived, and the only remaining vehicle was War Wag One. Trader, suffering from radiation-induced cancer, quietly wandered off into the night, leaving Ryan in charge.It was during this failed trading mission that Ryan met Krysty Wroth
Krysty Wroth
Krysty Wroth is a main character in James Axler's Deathlands saga of novels. A skilled and talented combatant and markswoman, her primary weapons of choice are a snub nosed 5 shot .38 Smith and Wesson Revolver, her silver toed cowboy boots, and a small knife secreted on her person...
, a beautiful red-haired mutant
Mutant (fictional)
The concept of a mutant is a common trope in comic books and science fiction. The new phenotypes that appear in fictional mutations generally go far beyond what is typically seen in biological mutants, and often result in the mutated life form exhibiting superhuman abilities or qualities.-Marvel...
woman with whom he fell in love. It was also here that Ryan encountered the addle-brained Dr. Theophilus Tanner
Dr. Theophilus Tanner
Dr. Theophilus Tanner, or "Doc" as he is known, is a fictional character from the book series Deathlands. He is rescued by Ryan Cawdor and his people from the ville of Mocsin, where he was being kept captive by Jordan Teague, the ville's baron....
, or 'Doc', who seems to know a great deal about the legendary redoubts and MAT-TRANS
MAT-TRANS
MAT-TRANS is short for Matter-Transmitter, a teleporter used as a plot device in James Axler's Deathlands and Outlanders series.The device is typically a six-sided room with walls, floor and ceiling made of "armaglass", a likely fictitious type of glass which is very difficult to break or shatter....
gateways.
Leading the few survivors of the attack into the darks, Ryan and his associates encountered a hidden redoubt. After destroying the guardian, they entered the redoubt and discovered the MAT-TRANS
MAT-TRANS
MAT-TRANS is short for Matter-Transmitter, a teleporter used as a plot device in James Axler's Deathlands and Outlanders series.The device is typically a six-sided room with walls, floor and ceiling made of "armaglass", a likely fictitious type of glass which is very difficult to break or shatter....
, which can transport them throughout the Deathlands
Deathlands
The Deathlands is a series of novels published by Gold Eagle Publishing. The first novel 'Pilgrimage to Hell' was first published in 1986. This series of novels was first written by Christopher Lowder, under the pen name Jack Adrian. Mr. Lowder became ill after developing the plot and writing most...
.