BOOK: Judge Dredd: The Kingdom of the Blind by David Bishop

As the Mega Cities try to reach an agreement on extradition, the Big Meg’s cleverest criminal tries to wreck proceedings using 20th Century technology. The premise, like a lot of science fiction, turns a story about the future into a warning for our own time. David Bishop throws in some fun parallels with today’s world, particularly the museum built in the shape of a Dustbuster and television references such as CHANCERS (Celebrity Humiliation And Nominal Career Enhancement Reality Show).

Unfortunately, The Kingdom of the Blind suffers from its use of stereotypes (the visiting Judges are all characterized as the countries their cities represent) and cliché (crime boss Jesus Bludd’s chat with Dredd includes the overused cop/criminal comparison: “We are more alike than you can bring yourself to admit”).

On the plus side there are some unexpected moments, but overall it lacks the tension needed to make it a real page-turner.

Buy The Kingdom of the Blind by David Bishop at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com