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The Condemned
The world is at war.the city is dying.and those left for dead within its walls have awakened. A terrorist attack on the water supply has left the city quarantined by the army and inhabited by the City People, the mindless living dead who rule the urban night. Plagued by nightmares and wracked with guilt for having left his best friend behind, Jett returns to work, hoping to provide for his family. But his new partner, a wounded veteran known only as The Kid, won't let Jett forget that his best friend might not be entirely dead. As their city raids grow bloodier, Jett finds himself increasingly under the mysterious influence of his new partner. And just as his murderous rage for the City People grows nearly out of control, he realizes things may not be exactly as they appear. The night, and those who control it-the City People-hold many secrets. Secrets that might just set Jett free or destroy him and everything he holds dear.
221 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 11, 2014
Bell writes solid domestic mystery/thrillers and his horror is just as good. I very much appreciate his literary approach to writing genre. It's always a cut above most triteness out there. To oversimplify one can say this is a zombie story, but it really is so much more. In fact the word zombie is never mentioned at all. Cue in dramatic soundtrack, Mr. Moviefone narration...In a bleak economically desperate war times there is a city population that has been condemned to a particularly terrible existence. One man driven by guilt, encouraged by a recklessly dangerous ex military partner will take desperate measures to find out what is really hidden behind the city walls. And fade out. This is a very entertaining read, albeit in a profoundly depressing way. And it can be read as many things, a zombie novel, an action novel, a dystopian tale, a horror story, but to me what made it so awesome is what a clever sociopolitical commentary this was, particularly relevant in the present world of economic crises and the ever increasing disparity in wealth. Bell just takes a creative approach to dramatization of what is basically on the news in one form or another every day. Either way you perceive it, it makes for a great original read. And a very quick one at that. Recommended.
March 27, 2009
The Condemned by David Jack Bell
Delirium Books, 218 pages.
$16.95 at Powells.
David Jack Bell is apparently a rising star in the horror field. I saw apparently because the first time I heard of him was when he did an interview on the Pod of Horror podcast with host (and author) Mark Justice. When he discussed the plot to the Condemned I was immediately sold on what sounded like my kind of story. He also has a degree in English from the university where my dad has taught forever and I thought it was cool he lived in Bloomington. What sealed the deal for me to order the book from my local bookstore was the long chain of blurbs this novel managed to get.
To non horror readers the names may not mean much but to those of us with ‘To be read piles’ filled with horror fiction titles these are serious recommendations. Jack Kethchum, Ed Gorman, Thomas Monteleone, T.M. Wright and most important to this reader David Morrell who compared The Condemned to perhaps the best horror novel of all time I am Legend. Bell had a little edge up on the rest of us blurb hunters since he is a star graduate of the borderlands boot camp. That is a week maybe two of professional horror writers teaching the next generation to be the masters of the next. The question becomes is Bell’s novel a good advertisement for the skills taught at the borderlands camp?
The last time I saw a first time novelist in the small press horror field so hyped was Cody Goodfellow, Cody lived up to the hype and I think David Jack Bell has as well. A book this solid may have benefited from great teachers but it is more likely that the author was born a talented storyteller because you can’t bullshit a solid little novel like this no matter how much advice you get.
The novel could be called a zombie tale but that sells it so short. It does have the social commentary typical of the best in that genre but doesn’t get heavy handed with it. To me The Condemned is like a highly literate post apocalyptic Italian exploitation movie. One third Escape from NY, Part I am Legend and one part solid human drama. Bell has a keen eye towards the details of behavior which helped this horror novel rise above the other books in the small press that are not ready for primetime.
The story is about Jett Dormer (which I think is a great 80’s action hero name) a recycler who retrieves old abandoned cars which will be melted into raw materials to support the war effort aboard. Sounds easy enough right, well maybe if the dead cities weren’t filled with roving zombies made that way by a series of terrorist attacks on the water supply. Jett has just lost his partner to zombies referred in the book as city people. His family and friends hate him for it, and he is losing his own motivation when he gets a partner freshly returned from the war.
There is a lot more to the novel anything more and I think you’ll be harmed by too much knowledge going in. Usually I’m not a huge fan of first person, and the idea of a character whose simply referred to as ‘The Kid’ initially caused groans. Those problems are minor and were forgotten once the story got rolling. I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s short but jam packed with excitement and superior story telling skills.
Pick up The Condemned, be one of the first to discover David Jack Bell.
Delirium Books, 218 pages.
$16.95 at Powells.
David Jack Bell is apparently a rising star in the horror field. I saw apparently because the first time I heard of him was when he did an interview on the Pod of Horror podcast with host (and author) Mark Justice. When he discussed the plot to the Condemned I was immediately sold on what sounded like my kind of story. He also has a degree in English from the university where my dad has taught forever and I thought it was cool he lived in Bloomington. What sealed the deal for me to order the book from my local bookstore was the long chain of blurbs this novel managed to get.
To non horror readers the names may not mean much but to those of us with ‘To be read piles’ filled with horror fiction titles these are serious recommendations. Jack Kethchum, Ed Gorman, Thomas Monteleone, T.M. Wright and most important to this reader David Morrell who compared The Condemned to perhaps the best horror novel of all time I am Legend. Bell had a little edge up on the rest of us blurb hunters since he is a star graduate of the borderlands boot camp. That is a week maybe two of professional horror writers teaching the next generation to be the masters of the next. The question becomes is Bell’s novel a good advertisement for the skills taught at the borderlands camp?
The last time I saw a first time novelist in the small press horror field so hyped was Cody Goodfellow, Cody lived up to the hype and I think David Jack Bell has as well. A book this solid may have benefited from great teachers but it is more likely that the author was born a talented storyteller because you can’t bullshit a solid little novel like this no matter how much advice you get.
The novel could be called a zombie tale but that sells it so short. It does have the social commentary typical of the best in that genre but doesn’t get heavy handed with it. To me The Condemned is like a highly literate post apocalyptic Italian exploitation movie. One third Escape from NY, Part I am Legend and one part solid human drama. Bell has a keen eye towards the details of behavior which helped this horror novel rise above the other books in the small press that are not ready for primetime.
The story is about Jett Dormer (which I think is a great 80’s action hero name) a recycler who retrieves old abandoned cars which will be melted into raw materials to support the war effort aboard. Sounds easy enough right, well maybe if the dead cities weren’t filled with roving zombies made that way by a series of terrorist attacks on the water supply. Jett has just lost his partner to zombies referred in the book as city people. His family and friends hate him for it, and he is losing his own motivation when he gets a partner freshly returned from the war.
There is a lot more to the novel anything more and I think you’ll be harmed by too much knowledge going in. Usually I’m not a huge fan of first person, and the idea of a character whose simply referred to as ‘The Kid’ initially caused groans. Those problems are minor and were forgotten once the story got rolling. I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s short but jam packed with excitement and superior story telling skills.
Pick up The Condemned, be one of the first to discover David Jack Bell.
July 19, 2008
This is truly refreshing. David Jack Bell has managed to create a fascinating main character in Jett. Jett does things in this story that seem almost unfathomable at first - but Bell crafts his character in such a way that allows us to see how typically human this guy is - how likeable and flawed at the same time. He struggles with a myriad of demons -from both inner turmoil and actual horror he experiences on the job and in his dreams. A truly talented writer - amazing debut.
December 26, 2024
The first novel by David Bell (under the pen name David Jack Bell) is still one of my all-time faves of his. It's a stunning allegory that speaks directly to the world we live in today, specifically issues relating to race and class, even though it came out in 2008. A must-read for all lovers of allegory or dystopian novels.
Want to read
October 27, 2016This book is copy 26 of 100 hardcover copies signed by David J. Bell.
November 1, 2019
When you're reading a post-apocalyptic horror story in which humans are separated from the grey, shuffling denizens of the outside word by walls and fences, the last thing you expect is to be surprised by how emotionally gritty the tale is. However, in the case of David Jack Bell's The Condemned, the way emotions like guilt, fear, love and trust influence the narrative is precisely the best element of the book.
You can read Gabino's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Gabino's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
November 13, 2022
I have been a long-time fan of David Bell's. So it was to my surprise after pre-ordering and reading his latest book, "She's Gone," that I saw two books listed in the front that I had never heard of. I immediately ordered them! "The Condemned" was delivered first. My honest review is that it was amazing! The storyline, characters, and emotions in this novel are unforgettable. Everything about it was great, and the cover art is spectacular. I highly recommend this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 15, 2017
Overall, it was kind of a good story. The chapters were really short and doesn't give much background information. It's nice for a quick read but that's about it.
November 5, 2010
This story takes place in a nameless city that has pretty much perished under the onslaught of terrorism attacks, with much of its population poisoned via the waterstream years previous. They are light adverse night stalkers who everyone outside the city despises, thinking that they have become vicious animals. The country is at war overseas and essentially we are seeing a world that appears to be winding down, rusting into oblivion with people hanging on, trying to salvage what they can.
We are introduced to Jett, a man who works for the government, hauling scrap out of the city in the daytime hours. It is a risky job, with the City People hiding out and ready to kill those who they get a hold of. His partner died at hands of the city people, or was turned into one when they were making run that ran a little too close to dusk. Enter a new partner for Jett, who we only know as The Kid. He is a war veteran with some secrets and a desire to push Jett to find out what really happened to his partner, plus he has a lust for going after the city people. Together, they set out to find out not only what happened to Jett's first partner but what the real deal is with the City People, who have been condemned by society as outcasts and monsters but may be more than they appear.
Overall, I found this relatively short novel a brisk and easy read. David Jack Bell has a tight and crisp writing style that keeps the pace steady and consistent, revealing small bits and pieces of this tale in an efficient manner that keeps you interested throughout.
I enjoy apocalyptic fiction and besides the movies and books I mentioned above, I also could sense numerous other influences on this work. A world that is slowly dying, war, plagues, famine, potential government conspiracies. It all comes together nicely under the author's deft hand here, in a place where he does not give us much in the way of specific details about the city or about the enemy overseas. We can envision this being a part of our own world in the near future or some alternate reality that none of us would want to be a part of.
I enjoyed this story of this grim and dingy place that the author has created. I do wish there was more depth of understanding of the City People but I realize that our view of this world is through the eyes of the main character, which intentionally limits our perception of things. We do not know where things will lead when the story ends, leaving many things open for interpretation for the reader.
We are introduced to Jett, a man who works for the government, hauling scrap out of the city in the daytime hours. It is a risky job, with the City People hiding out and ready to kill those who they get a hold of. His partner died at hands of the city people, or was turned into one when they were making run that ran a little too close to dusk. Enter a new partner for Jett, who we only know as The Kid. He is a war veteran with some secrets and a desire to push Jett to find out what really happened to his partner, plus he has a lust for going after the city people. Together, they set out to find out not only what happened to Jett's first partner but what the real deal is with the City People, who have been condemned by society as outcasts and monsters but may be more than they appear.
Overall, I found this relatively short novel a brisk and easy read. David Jack Bell has a tight and crisp writing style that keeps the pace steady and consistent, revealing small bits and pieces of this tale in an efficient manner that keeps you interested throughout.
I enjoy apocalyptic fiction and besides the movies and books I mentioned above, I also could sense numerous other influences on this work. A world that is slowly dying, war, plagues, famine, potential government conspiracies. It all comes together nicely under the author's deft hand here, in a place where he does not give us much in the way of specific details about the city or about the enemy overseas. We can envision this being a part of our own world in the near future or some alternate reality that none of us would want to be a part of.
I enjoyed this story of this grim and dingy place that the author has created. I do wish there was more depth of understanding of the City People but I realize that our view of this world is through the eyes of the main character, which intentionally limits our perception of things. We do not know where things will lead when the story ends, leaving many things open for interpretation for the reader.
January 23, 2009
Delirium Books is commonly known in the horror scene as one of the finest small press publishers around. They consistently release high caliber fiction from a wide range of horror authors. The Condemned, the first novel by David Jack Bell, is an unfortunate misstep from the publisher.
The book follows Jeff Dormer, who earns a living traveling into "the city" and salvaging for scrap metal. When the book opens, Jeff has just lost his partner to the City People. These creatures are the reason for the city's abandonment and a constant danger in Jeff's line of work. When he gets a psychotic new partner, Jeff's life begins to fall apart in a quest to find out the truth of the City People and get revenge on them.
While the plot may sound promising, it fails in almost every aspect. The book's biggest misfire is in its villains, the City People, who appear as emaciated, ugly humans. While they are intended to be frightening, the reader is never given any reason to fear them. Throughout the entire duration of the novel they never pose a threat of any kind. In a majority of scenes in which the City People appear, they are fast asleep or wandering aimlessly. The reader is barely allowed a glimpse into their past history and the reason every character in the book fears them is never made clear.
The book also suffers from very forced characterization. When the evil conspirator boss is confronted over his evil ways, he immediately breaks down into tears and begs for forgiveness, yet several pages later he is once again a hard-ass dedicated to a massive cover-up. The main expert on the City People lives in fear of his life, yet he will rant and rave about government secrets to anyone who contacts him over the internet.
Contradictions, rash decisions, and unrealistically extreme reactions are the norm for the dysfunctional people populating the story. The characters would be better suited for a day-time soap-opera rather than a horror novel.
Being Bell's first novel, one would not expect a perfect masterpiece, but The Condemned reads like a work in progress. If more time had been spent fine-tuning the book it may have been an exciting read. As it stands, the story plods along with lifeless characters and a distinctly non-menacing threat. One is left with the impression that The Condemned would have worked better as a short story or if it underwent further revisions.
The book follows Jeff Dormer, who earns a living traveling into "the city" and salvaging for scrap metal. When the book opens, Jeff has just lost his partner to the City People. These creatures are the reason for the city's abandonment and a constant danger in Jeff's line of work. When he gets a psychotic new partner, Jeff's life begins to fall apart in a quest to find out the truth of the City People and get revenge on them.
While the plot may sound promising, it fails in almost every aspect. The book's biggest misfire is in its villains, the City People, who appear as emaciated, ugly humans. While they are intended to be frightening, the reader is never given any reason to fear them. Throughout the entire duration of the novel they never pose a threat of any kind. In a majority of scenes in which the City People appear, they are fast asleep or wandering aimlessly. The reader is barely allowed a glimpse into their past history and the reason every character in the book fears them is never made clear.
The book also suffers from very forced characterization. When the evil conspirator boss is confronted over his evil ways, he immediately breaks down into tears and begs for forgiveness, yet several pages later he is once again a hard-ass dedicated to a massive cover-up. The main expert on the City People lives in fear of his life, yet he will rant and rave about government secrets to anyone who contacts him over the internet.
Contradictions, rash decisions, and unrealistically extreme reactions are the norm for the dysfunctional people populating the story. The characters would be better suited for a day-time soap-opera rather than a horror novel.
Being Bell's first novel, one would not expect a perfect masterpiece, but The Condemned reads like a work in progress. If more time had been spent fine-tuning the book it may have been an exciting read. As it stands, the story plods along with lifeless characters and a distinctly non-menacing threat. One is left with the impression that The Condemned would have worked better as a short story or if it underwent further revisions.
February 16, 2017
A first book by this author, and not a bad one at all. It is set in a sci-fi setting, where the world is at war, and the city has been destroyed by contaminated water, that have turned the people into mutants. Everyone else, is still living out in the suburbs, but the city itself, is infected. Jett, the main character drives a truck into the city, to pick up abandoned cars for the metal that is needed in the war. The story starts after Jett returns to work after losing his partner in the city. What transpires is Jett gets obsessive over the city people, and trying to get his partner back from the city.
The book has political undertones, but in it's plot it's pretty simple. The end is also left wide open, so the story is really more about the ride. It was a fun ride, and a pretty good idea for a book.
The book has political undertones, but in it's plot it's pretty simple. The end is also left wide open, so the story is really more about the ride. It was a fun ride, and a pretty good idea for a book.
May 23, 2008
The Condemned is a richly imagined novel about doing what's right. But it's also about figuring out what's right when nothing at all is clear. Is it "right" to lay low and be safe for the sake of your wife and kids, or is it "right" to risk all to solve/avenge the death of your friend and job partner? Is it "right" to destroy the City People, or are they already being destroyed? The reader is glad to be with Jett, who seems to know intuitively what is right, and who is willing to do it even when doing so puts himself and others at risk.
I really enjoyed the masterful pacing of the novel. Each chapter goes deeper into the characters, the plot, and the familiarly unfamiliar City--without revealing too much or too little. Thus, much of the quiet suspense of the first half of the book is the delightful mystery of what this strange post-apocalyptic world is all about. The second half holds a different type of suspense, of the no-turning-back-now variety, and is full of unexpected twists and surprises that are both gratifying and terrifying.
I also loved some of the nostalgic references to major league baseball, especially in the context of creepy references to the abandoned (?) stadium.
A great read! Highly recommended!
I really enjoyed the masterful pacing of the novel. Each chapter goes deeper into the characters, the plot, and the familiarly unfamiliar City--without revealing too much or too little. Thus, much of the quiet suspense of the first half of the book is the delightful mystery of what this strange post-apocalyptic world is all about. The second half holds a different type of suspense, of the no-turning-back-now variety, and is full of unexpected twists and surprises that are both gratifying and terrifying.
I also loved some of the nostalgic references to major league baseball, especially in the context of creepy references to the abandoned (?) stadium.
A great read! Highly recommended!
June 29, 2011
This book was pretty much what I expected. Being published by Delirium Books, I knew going in that the writing and editing would be solid. I was curious to see what new twist on the zombie mythos this would bring, and overall, I was satisfied.
While the characters were not as layered as I would have liked, Bell's prose is smooth and the pace was consistent. A few of the plot points might have been a bit too convenient at times, but I felt like that was maybe the whole point, that fate was forcing it's hand like the characters had discussed between themselves at one section in the story. However, there was a point where the characters retrieve very important, secret information, and I didn't understand why they didn't go public with what they knew, but rather, decided on taking a much more dangerous, risky route.
I also didn't mind that the zombie action and gore was fairly sparse since I always prefer story and atmosphere to be the main focus of horror. The Condemned is more conservative than my tastes usually run, but it was well written and had a clear, engaging vision. Bell paints a fascinating world here in his debut novel and I know I'll be looking out for more of his work.
While the characters were not as layered as I would have liked, Bell's prose is smooth and the pace was consistent. A few of the plot points might have been a bit too convenient at times, but I felt like that was maybe the whole point, that fate was forcing it's hand like the characters had discussed between themselves at one section in the story. However, there was a point where the characters retrieve very important, secret information, and I didn't understand why they didn't go public with what they knew, but rather, decided on taking a much more dangerous, risky route.
I also didn't mind that the zombie action and gore was fairly sparse since I always prefer story and atmosphere to be the main focus of horror. The Condemned is more conservative than my tastes usually run, but it was well written and had a clear, engaging vision. Bell paints a fascinating world here in his debut novel and I know I'll be looking out for more of his work.
June 23, 2008
What did I learn from this book? GET BARS ON YOUR WINDOWS OR A MUTANT WILL EAT YOUR BABY. For real, though, I learned that baseball bats are good weapons, tire irons also work well, and everyone should invest in a good ice bucket IMMEDIATELY. At any rate, I liked it. I didn't love it, but that's because mutants aren't my thing and, for me, they take some getting used to. (But I'll try for you, David Bell.) One more thing: I think that this book would transfer well to the big screen and that production of a movie version should commence right now.
March 20, 2014
I will start by saying I love zombie stories, so my attraction to this particular novel isn't hard to understand. I've read a couple of David Bell's other book, so I expected to enjoy this one. I had no idea I would enjoy it this much. His take on the zombie mythos is fresh and original. This book, like all good zombie novels, has a strong social message but never beats the reader over the head with it. The characters are deeply flawed, but likeable. I would strongly recommend this to anyone who likes horror stories that ask you to think.
June 10, 2012
Bell has a wonderful lexicon and knows how to turn a phrase or two. However, my largest points of contention rest with the slow pacing of the work and that there is not a single likeable character found within the pages. It was an enjoyable read and I certainly will look for other work by the author, but this one was not as exciting and action driven as I tend to crave.
January 11, 2008
Excellent book! Couldn't put it down. Belongs on the shelf next to Matheson's "I Am Legend".
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August 12, 2015Great book
Very fast paced read. Didn't know that I would get into the subject matter, but I was hooked after the first page! Intriguing, makes you wonder. . .
Very fast paced read. Didn't know that I would get into the subject matter, but I was hooked after the first page! Intriguing, makes you wonder. . .
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews