Books published by Douglas Van Dyke Jr

Over a thousand years ago the Godswars ravaged the land of Dhea Loral, shattering continents, laying waste to cities, and driving species to extinction. The people of the land are once again starting to prosper and flourish, while the gods stay aloft and watch from afar the recovery. Yet, not all the old quarrels have been forgotten. For some gods, the time is right to once again meddle in the affairs of mortals. Though the gods have bound themselves by a Covenant that bars their direct entry into Dhea Loral, they are able to send mortal emissaries to carry out their schemes.A night of violence erupts in a small village on the fringes of civilization. A woman is kidnapped, though only to cover up the real crime. Trestan, the son of a blacksmith, finds his hero dead and unwillingly accepts the magical elvish blade that was bequeathed to him. He sets out with his lifelong friend to see justice done for the blood that was spilled that night. They are joined by an uncommon group of adventurers to share in their quest, whom often get involved in their own squabbles. The further the road leads from home, the more their enemies seem to multiply. Even as they hope to attempt a desperate rescue, they must discover the true crime that was set in motion by ambitious gods.Even honorable Trestan will find himself caught up in the plots of immortals. The youth must find the faith to save his friends, and yet even by doing so he may have to submit to another’s will. Not only has he inherited a sword…he has inherited a path that will take him from the only home he has ever known.

"Everyone calls me 'Boxer,' as if I was the only one." Brian "Boxer" DuWold is feeling outdated in a booming industrial age of electricity, magnetism, and stiff competition between steam and fossil fuel engines. The tough conman makes a living off gamblers, using prize-fighting rings or shooting matches. Few realize his livelihood supports his blind sister; unfortunately, the suits of the United Republic Agency use this leverage to their advantage. The United Republic has seen a lot of technological advances since defeating the southern rebels in its Civil War years ago. Now, the territory of Texico has won its independence from Meztica, and is considering joining the UR. One hitch: the mad scientist who helped win the revolution for Texico is pursuing his own agenda, which includes a train full of chemical explosives steaming straight for the capital! The doctor is rumored to have zombie soldiers, steam war machines, and high-tech weapons at his disposal. Boxer barely has time to grab his brass knuckles and six-shooter before URA men send him on a mission that one team has already failed. He's loaded into the most advanced biplane of his time and tasked to stop the train. It's time to buckle in for a wild ride of an adventure. (The Boxer series features non-chronological adventures in an alternate Earth history. It's a Steampunk Wild-West flavor mixed with the old 1930s adventure serials that inspired Indiana Jones.)

"If your death ever comes before mine, I hope the gods take my life soon after." Duli and her husband had stated those words to each other several times. Then the day came when his dwarf kin brought his body back from the field of an ambush. As a non-clan dwarf, rendered beardless by old customs, her widowed status places her in the lowest caste of Tok-Maurron. Fearful of her future under a chauvinistic crafters' guild, and unwilling to complete her suicide attempt, Duli's emotions turn to rage directed at the humans. Dwarf traditions forbid women to wage war, yet the ongoing battles leave more widows enticed by her call to action. Ridiculed, chastised, and even jailed in her own chambers for her actions, Duli's struggles for her beliefs are even slowed by her need to earn a living off her non-sanctioned craft. Duli only wishes her own death, but in the process sparks a liberation movement that shakes the subterranean city to its core values. Even if the women win over their clan, they must still prove they have the mettle to face their husbands' killers, and the magic that humans command. Author's Note: The world in which The Widow Brigade is set was designed after much of my own experience, and critical critique, of classic fantasy books and role-playing games. The story tips my hat to the many and yet too-few women who have shared this gaming passion of mine. The following quote by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich influenced how this story had to be written: "Well-behaved women seldom make history."