Alan Burt Akers Books In Order

Publication Order of Balintol Cycle Books

Publication Order of Dray Prescot Books

Publication Order of Phantom cycle Books

Prolific science fiction and fantasy author Kenneth Bulmer used the pen name “Alan Burt Akers” to write the “Dray Prescot” series. Some of the books were published as “by Dray Prescot, told by Alan Burt Akers” in an attempt to support the illusion the stories were really being told and written by the main character, Prescot. This is from a sub-genre of fantasy known as “Sword and Planet”, it sees a Earthling transported to other planets and swash buckles against other human and non human type creatures.

It began in the year 1972 with the release of “Transit to Scorpio”. It ended in the year 1997 with the release of “Turmoil on Kregen”, which is the 52nd book in the series. At least two books were released for the series, starting in 1973; at times there would be as many as three released in one year.

The series has eleven cycles to it, each having around four to six books in them. Each cycle of novels has an overarching plot line that is wrapped up at the finish of each cycle.

“Transit to Scorpio” is the first novel in the “Dray Prescot” series and was released in the year 1972. Two forces battle it out for the destiny of the world on Kregen, it circles Antares which happens to be the brightest star of the Constellation called Scorpion. One of them, called the Savanti, called a human pawn that was from Earth, a far away planet.

Only Savanti know which role he plays, and his name is Dray Prescot. He confronted an incredible world, one that was unmapped, barbaric, and inhabited by races that were human and non-human. The Star Lords are always there to check and watch out for what the Savanti have planned. Dray Prescot has a choice to make that will turn him from just a pawn into a much bolder piece on the chessboard of the planets.

These books are a great way to spend an afternoon of reading time; there is quite a bit of action, and the world was well created and interesting and characters that well drawn. Fans of the novel found this to be some of the best sword and planet that has ever been committed to page. Some like the narration of the lead character, it is to the point, very little of tortured inner life, and there is some criticizing of his own actions, something that some readers found to be interesting.

“The Suns of Scorpio” is the second novel in the “Dray Prescot” series and was released in the year 1973. Dray is helpless while the phantom forces of both the Star Lords and Savanth battle it out, he is pulled away from Earth to make good on another grisly task on Kregen.

Is he going to go to Zair, where they worship a red sun deity, or to Grodno, which worships a green sun god and the evil overlords Magdag rule their slave nation?

He waits the battle’s outcome, his one hope is that wherever he goes, he will be closer to his own princess (a lovely woman named Delia). She was taken from him long ago by the Star Lords.

Fans of the novel found this to be a great follow up to the first novel in the series. It is here that the main character starts to come into his own, as he gets developed more and more in each of the novels. Another action packed and killer novel that seems to suggest that this series is going to be stellar throughout its entire run. Some cannot get enough of this series, as each one is hard to put down, and they get started on the next one soon after picking one up.

“Warrior of Scorpio” is the third novel in the “Dray Prescot” series and was released in the year 1973. Once more, Dray is pulled from the Star Lords and sent to carry out a mission somewhere. Now, he has to take his beloved Delia to that distant kingdom that she came from long ago.

The route was a treacherous one because there is the jungles and mountains of the Hostile Territories. Here, Dray is going to be placed among even stranger peoples and even greater challenges than even Delia had ever known.

If you are looking for something that will stimulate your brain, look elsewhere, but if you want fun, entertainment, and excitement this is for you. Fans of the novel found that this one continues the adventure well, and proves that more adventures with Dray do not get tiresome. There are no bad installments in this series, and some will continue to read it. This a complex world the author has created for the hero to adventure around in. Some want to see if these will stay incredible the more installments they read in the series.

“Swordships of Scorpio” is the fourth novel in the “Dray Prescot” series and was released in the year 1973. What is a man supposed to do when fate has made him protect the royal head of his foe? In Dray Prescot’s case, he does his duty, rather than fulfill his quest. He was going to go to Vallia and get Delia, his princess. He had a duty to defend the ancient foe of Vallia, placing the rightful heir on the throne, which had sworn to attack Vallia.

The Swordships, a fleet of pirates, comes between the two competing demands. Dray realizes that only by following his own star could this contradiction be resolved.

Fans found they had a hard time putting this one down for very long, as they had to know how this one would end. Some found his to be a stellar installment in an incredible series of novels, and cannot wait to see what happens next in the incredible series of books. What a great way to spend days at time, reading this series of books. They are full of action, excitement, and you get to know why Dray did something from the guy himself. Readers have a fun time with these books, and hope to check out more from the series, hoping that future installments and cycles will be just as great as this one was.