Kingdom of the Blind

Judge Dredd novels from Black Flame #5

by David Bishop

Senior Judges from around the world are gathering in Mega-City One to negotiate a global extradition treaty. Judge Dredd is put in charge of security, a task not made easier by the delegates having full diplomatic immunity as well as the criminal underground who will do anything to stop him; setting the stage for a devastating new weapon is about to be unleashed on the city. Senior Judges from around the world are gathering in Mega-City One to negotiate a global extradition treaty. Judge Dredd is put in charge of security, a task not made easier by the delegates having full diplomatic immunity as well as the criminal underground who will do anything to stop him; setting the stage for a devastating new weapon is about to be unleashed on the city.

Genres: Science Fiction, Comics, Fiction

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 14, 2004

About the author

David James Bishop is a New Zealand screenwriter and author. He was a UK comics editor during the 1990s, running such titles as the Judge Dredd Megazine and 2000 AD, the latter between 1996 and the summer of 2000.

He has since become a prolific author and received his first drama scriptwriting credit when BBC Radio 4 broadcast his radio play Island Blue: Ronald in June 2006. In 2007, he won the PAGE International Screenwriting Award in the short film category for his script Danny's Toys, and was a finalist in the 2009 PAGE Awards with his script The Woman Who Screamed Butterflies.

In 2008, he appeared on 23 May edition of the BBC One quiz show The Weakest Link, beating eight other contestants to win more than £1500 in prize money.

In 2010, Bishop received his first TV drama credit on the BBC medical drama series Doctors, writing an episode called A Pill For Every Ill, broadcast on 10 February.

Reviews

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vote: ☆☆☆-☆☆☆1/2

Read in the Dredd omnibus from Abaddon Books

"Dredd to Control, are we getting any signal from Ryan?"
"Negative. Bludd's hoverpod must be heavily shielded. Nothing leaks out from inside and ultra-sonics can't penetrate the vehicle's exterior."
Dredd watched the hoverpod disappear into the distance. "All units, stand down. Bludd has taken the bait. If Ryan survives the day, we may have a new operative on the inside."

Let's start with the good: main storyline was not bad at all and I enjoyed a lot, like in previous Dredd vs. Death tale collected in Dredd omnibus from Abaddon Books, to read about a 60 years old Dredd pushing his body and mind beyond their limit against all odds and every genre of punishment nearly dying to save Mega-City One from apocalypse again.

Dredd stepped back and let Hershey climb into her hoverpod. Once she was seated inside, the Chief Judge opened the window to add something more. "Trust me when I say I will protect this city and its people by any and all means necessary. If I have to send a thousand Judges to their deaths to achieve that, I will - even you. No single person is more important than this city. You taught me that.

Sadly, lots of softcore sexual activities, a female over-sexualized villain that seems out from a Russ Meyer's movie or, worst, an xxx parody, full body cavity search scenes and the stereotypical bad depiction of a couple of lesbian and transgender characters, bordering to misoginy and worse but never pushing too far beyond bad taste, stop me from recommending this tale to anyone.

"For the love of grud, just do something!" Warner screamed before breaking down in tears. "I can't keep myself up like this much longer."
Dredd and Giant exchanged a look. Finally Giant burst out laughing, no longer able to contain his mirth. "I'll call in Med-Division," he said between guffaws on his way out of the room.

Of course you need to suspend your disbelief to fully accept some things like russian delegate knocking off Giant just breaking a bottle of perfume on his helmet or appreciate Justice Department sending lots of volunteers Judges to their death just to infiltrate an undercover sleeping agent, braiwashed to become a criminal mastermind's first enforcer and lover, having sex, mind and body kind of, with men and women, just to get awakened in the ending and save the day.

In the distance the Grand Hall of Justice shone in the morning light, sun reflecting off the mighty building. It was a symbol of order and the Law, a potent representation of the power held by the Judges. To attack the Grand Hall was to attack the Law itself, to invite anarchy and chaos into this city. If Bludd should succeed, there was no knowing where the consequences would lead the Big Meg.

It was a far from unexpected twist for me, but I was expecting most famous Psi-Judge Cassandra Anderson in the role it instead of Judy Janus, an obscure secondary character from Judge Dredd's comics whose existence I've just forgotten or totally ignored, but it left me wanting to read much more about her now.

Dredd began searching the skyline. Twenty years ago the eyes had been ripped from his head by a vicious enemy. Fortunately, Med-Division was able to implant bionic replacements, restoring the Judge's vision and even enhancing his ocular range. In the distance he could see the approaching hoverpod, unswerving in its course, relentless in its approach

Same author later dismissed this book blogging "I swore I'd never, ever, ever write another Judge Dredd novel.", but besides overmentioned flaws, this was an entertaining action-packed futuristic crime-thriller read for me.

Brison was still recovering when Dredd arrived, the fresh-faced Tek wiping the last remnants of vomit from his chin. Med-Judges were already gathered around the package; a black plastic cube. Nearby the delivery droid was being interrogated by street Judges, protesting its ignorance. "Hey, I just carry parcels from place to place. Somebody gives me a delivery and I deliver it!"

The Batman's Joe Chill, David Fincher's Se7ven (1995) movie and the infamous but hilarious piercing stuck accident scene from The Sweetest Things (2002) flick were nice easter-eggs, rounding up my vote to full three, three and an half, generous stars.

Bludd smiled. "I wondered how long it would be before you'd bring that up. No doubt the department's profilers and Psi-Division empaths pinpoint my mother's rape and murder as the key incident that turned me to a life of crime, yes?"
"I don't put much stock in psychological profiles," Dredd replied. "All I need to know is who's breaking the Law, then I break them."
"Then why mention my mother?"
"Call it a test."

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have spoken before about book series based on table-top/RPG games, movies, etc., & I have given my opinion many times about this "sub-genre" of publishing. I am usually against it--especially when it comes to D&D or video games (Gears of War, StarCraft)--but Dan Abbnet's Warhammer 40K novels turned that opinion around. But even with that said, I have a hard time with a novel series based on a comic. On one hand it should work because comics are written with the idea of the words & images appearing in print, thus tying them more closely with the prose book. But on the other hand, you are denied the art from the illustrators of the comic's characters. In other words: You don't get to "see" it. I'm sorry but I can't bring myself to read a Spider-man NOVEL or an X-Men NOVEL because I want to SEE the action while reading it. Superheroes need to be seen doing what they do best--action! But Judge Dredd is another case altogether.

Being a sci-fi based comic strip (yep, it's a strip--not a complete comic like here in the U.S.--that appears in the anthology comic mags, 2000AD & Judge Dredd Megazine) that has virtually a universe that rivals Marvel's, DC's & Image's even on a bad day, makes the possibility of a Dredd novel more plausible. Superheroes are non-existent in Dredd's universe & if they were, they would be judged by Dredd as soon as they were apprehended.

But, once again, I digress.

The prose novel favors Dredd's comics because of the sci-fi factor being in the forefront with it's social & political satire more ready for reading than seeing. With that said: I went into this novel with an open mind & because I'm a big fan of "Old Stony Face".

I could start off with a rundown of the plot but the description provided on its goodreads page is sufficient. Yes, there is a summit meeting among Senior Judges around the world to establish a network of extradition of perps to other Meg-Cits for crimes committed within their population. But this isn't the main plot. Yes, there is a devastating new weapon that will effect millions of civilians of Mega-City One, but the Judges as well. Again, it's not the main plot. The main plot is Judge Dredd vs. Jesus Bludd. Bludd wants to blackmail the planet's Judicial Systems for astronomical sums which would allow him to hold the world's economy in his hand to do with it as he will. He is a man without scruples--as most of Dredd's perps are--& is just another perp in a long list of Dredd's enemies.

Was it good? Let's just say I've read worse Dredd stories in his comics written by better writers (Garth Ennis & Grant Morrison come to the front please). Seriously, I have. & fans of Dredd know what I'm talking about. This is not a time-waster, but it comes close. It could have used more action but this is forgivable because Bishop's prose is not bad--but it's nothing earth-shaking as well. I would love to see Dan Abnett (Warhammer 40K novels) write a Dredd book because he would set the bar for other writers & he knows how to approach the subject matter because he also writes comics. As for Bishop? Bishop gives us a great Dredd story & I believe it could possibly earn a fourth star if it was in graphic novel form.

I liked it. It was good filler between the epic 1,000 page novels I'm reading when I wanted a break from being overwhelmed by them.

Will I read more Dredd novels? I am right now.

[Dave Tindall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It shows a much older Dredd, nearly 60 if I remember correctly and although he isn't the unstoppable force that he used to be he still fights his way through the book. However he gets into situation where even he can't fight through without nearly dying. Good book with strong characters and a good plot.