Killadelphia

by Connor Pritchard, Conor Buckley

In the year 2020, a military blockade surrounds the city of Philadelphia. Its justice system has crumbled and its lawful citizens have fled, leaving criminals and drug addicts to run rampant. A brilliant hacker capitalizes on the anarchy by creating a media empire within the city walls. This is Killadelphia. A website where gangsters upload their violent exploits and compete against each other in a city-wide power ranking. Content generating criminals become Internet celebrities, amassing click-based fortunes and millions of fans. Amidst the chaos, one of the city’s gang leaders is kidnapped. Cheo has lived on both sides of the law and his list of enemies is endless. He is drugged and detained in an undisclosed location. Just as Cheo becomes desperate for answers, a mysterious hologram appears in the form of the 16th century philosopher, Niccolo di Bernardo dei Machiavelli. Machiavelli challenges Cheo to uncover the identities of his captors, confront the crimes of his own past and fight for a final chance at redemption. Killadelphia is a dystopian crime novel based on a five hundred year old political treatise that explores the true nature of power and timeless strategies of deception.

Genres: Graphic Novels

270 pages, Paperback

First published April 13, 2016

About the author

Connor Pritchard is a screenwriter from the Bay Area and he currently lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Alex Couch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great storytelling from a gritty, near-future perspective. Cool integrations of current technology and trends (the rise of social media, especially social video) with some social upheaval.

[Ian Yarington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this in the giveaways and I'm glad because it was a great book. I really enjoyed the idea behind the crumbling of a city and use of social media. It hits a little close to home, especially recently, as bigger cities struggle but it was enough out of reality to be a good escape and interesting enough to be a quick read as I couldn't put it down.

[A. S. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book for free as part of the Goodreads Giveaway program.

I'll admit what drew me to the book was the premise and the setting. I lived in Philadelphia for nearly four years during university, and in that period, there was a marked upswing in violence within the city (the number of cop killings had reached an all time high, and there was a lot of random violence, some of which I witnessed first hand). The premise seemed interesting: a future world in which kills are uploaded and watched for entertainment. It was kind of like the Hunger Games combined with that new Emma Roberts movie coming out (Nerve, I believe it's called).

What I got mostly was the main character trapped in his cell not doing anything, or him remembering his past. I assume the intent of Cheo's backstory is to make us want to root for him, but all I saw was a dude who let his mom down by making the shittiest of choices. Cheo is whiny as hell, and I don't feel bad for a dude that murders his way out of problems.

I generally don't like gratuitous depictions of murders, but I can deal with it if I can sympathize with the protagonist and/or see the point of the violence in the story. Fight Club and The Hunger Games do this well. This book does not. Had the storyline been entirely focused on what people did to jockey to the top of the Killadelphia website, I could like this more. If Cheo had been the victim and just sought to get by like Katniss, I could like this a lot. But Cheo spends his teen years being a drug dealer; users I can sympathize with, but not dealers. Especially ones that go around murdering people the way Cheo et al. do.

I hate reviewing these Goodreads Giveaway books poorly, but I hate being dishonest even more. Sorry!

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel starts out as one thing and develops into something much more. At first you have an Escape From New York feel except much more realistic. In fact kudos to the author(s) for sitting down and thinking about how could something like this be done. Killadelphia has a great backstory that keeps you riveted and by the end I would say you can include a touch of sci-fi. The main character Cheo, I personally can't help but love. Certainly flawed like everybody he has an inner strength I really admire. His main asset is his brain which I also admire. The only problem is now I have to wait for book two. Highest Recommendation.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads via a contest.

I liked this story because it had Niccolo Machavelli in it. I was attracted to the concept of a Dystopian style Philly via Live feeds & drug runners.

I wish the author would have kept the future and Cheo's past separate. It was annoying to read the constant back & forth.

[Cole Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I burned through this book! Great crime thriller and lots of fun.

[Tiffany Guthrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through this book! It was a very interesting and entertaining read. I would strongly recommend this book.

[Dolores · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads. Thank you.
I really want to give this book a 3 and 1/2. Great thrill ride of a story.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and original crime thriller set in a not so distant future.