Red Shadows

One of the things I've always loved about the adventures of Psi-Judge Anderson is that her stories really could take place in any time period or locale. The fact that they take place in the post-holocaust 22nd century of Mega-City One is often incidental. While the More well known Judge Dredd often deals with high-tech plots, mutants, etc..., Anderson's stories are often tinged with more horror than Sci-Fi elements. This is certainly the case with the second book in the Anderson series from The Black Library, "Red Shadows" which is a terrific serial killer mystery that has Anderson and the rest of the Judges completely befuddled. William Ganz seems to be killing his victims at random from a list he carries. All he knows is that all of them have a red aura about them. He can see this because he is a powerful psychic, not only able to see people's auras, but because he is also a Tele-Dominant, and able to force people to do his bidding, and to make them see what he wants them to see. The murders become increasingly brutal. Even longtime Judges are shocked by the savagery of the killer. The victims all have their throats cut, some have all their organs removed or limbs hacked off. Clearly this is one very ticked-off murderer. When Anderson psi-scans the dead victims to see what they saw before they died, she has images of a delivery man bringing flowers or candy, yet each time it's a different looking man, and yet surveillance cameras never see any such delivery man. It is only after several murders that Anderson discovers the man's incredible psychic powers...powers which he uses to murder two Judges, and powers which may be even greater than Anderson's. That's not the worse thing though...the killer has now seen Anderson, and her aura glows with the brightest red he's ever seen. Now he's forgotten about the rest of the names on his list and is setting his sights on Judge Anderson. "Red Shadows" was a fantastic, and thoroughly grisly story. Be warned that the murders and murder scenes are quite graphic as writer Mitchel Scanlon pulls no punches. For perhaps the first time we see Anderson truly in doubt and in fear. Once Ganz goes after Anderson it's a great game of cat and mouse that Scanlon delivers with the skill of seasoned mystery writer. "Red Shadows" was a thrill to read and I hope to see more from Scanlon. Reviewed by Tim Janson

By the year 2126, atomic war has decimated humanity and the world is a bleak wasteland, inhabited by mutants and freaks. Most people live in vast, walled cities. Boredom, unemployment, and crime is sky high. The authorities must use an iron fist to keep the 400 million citizens in check. Justice is upheld by the implacable Judges. They are empowered to act as judge, jury, and executioner. Radioactivity has given some people dangerous talents: telekinetics, pyromaniacs, telepaths, and more. It is the Psi Division's task to do what the regular judges cannot: deal with supernatural phenomena and hunt mutant psychics down. Its ranks are comprised of telepaths and psychics, able to scan minds, even those recently deceased. Psi-Judge Cassandra Anderson is the best in the division. The Necropolis Event (in "Fear the Darkness") ranked alongside the Apocalypse War as one of the worst disasters to have ever befallen Mega-City One. Judge Edward Weller still has nightmares because of it. It is also why he despises all psychics, even psi-judges. And Psi-Judge Anderson, in Weller's opinion, is the worst, simply because she is the best in the Psi Division. Needless-to-say, Weller is NOT happy when he finds out Anderson is assigned to assist in his case. Psi-Judge Cassandra Anderson hunts a teledominant. This serial killer mentally dominates the minds of other people and makes them believe anything he wants them to. Every time Anderson scans a victim's mind, she sees only what the victim saw. Since the victims saw only what the killer wanted them to, Anderson has no idea as to what the killer looks like. To make matters worse, Judge Weller's prejudice ways keeps him from sharing vital information with Anderson. Yet even when they find out who the killer is, they must still find the person who is pulling the killer's strings. ***** Author Mitchel Scanlon often mentions names some of today's famous people or film characters within this series. They are slight, little mentions that many readers may not even notice. But for big fantasy and sci-fi fans, like myself, you will get a chuckle each time one of them jumps out at you. Other than this, the author keeps his sense of humor under wraps and gives his readers some of the best futuristic fantasies of the year. Author Mitchel Scanlon has a new fan in me! Fabulous! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.