Rico Dredd: The Titan Years

Rico Dredd: The Titan Years #1-3

by Michael Carroll

Original fiction featuring the story of Judge Dredd’s evil twin Rico’s years on Titan, finally revealed.

You know about me. I’m Rico Dredd, Joe Dredd's big brother.

I'm the clone that went bad, that brought shame on Judge Fargo's legacy.

I was a Judge, the best the Academy of Law ever turned out. The very best. But after less than a year on the streets of Mega-City One, I was brought down, taken in. It was Little Joe who caught me; second-best Judge there’s been.

Broken, sentenced, stripped of office, I was shipped out to the brutal moon Titan, to do my twenty years' hard labour. Yeah, you know about Rico Dredd.

But do you know what really happened? Why I did it? What it was like, out there on the edge of space, doing time in the Bronze?

Truth is, mister, you know stomm about me.

Genres: Science Fiction

480 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2019

Reviews

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been so long since I read a 5-star book, I've almost forgotten what it's like.

Rico Dredd, is, simply, awesome. Michael Carroll is one of those authors who actually understands and gets the topic, genre, and characters he's intending to write. Just as he did in his other Judge Dredd stories, he really captures the feeling and intricacies of America, 2089, as well as the much underutilized and hugely underrated Rico Dredd, who, sadly, never got his real spotlight in the progs.

Everything about Rico Dredd: The Titan Years is damn near perfect. I don't often find a book to be completely fault free, but this is one of those rare times when I did. If you're even a casual fan of all things Dredd, Rico Dredd is a must read and I can't recommend this one enough!

[Mat Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. The book is broken into three parts which are connected well. The character of Rico is fleshed out well and there are some interesting surprises and a social commentary which fits well into the world of Dredd/2000ad.

[M. Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of first person narratives usually but this is one of those rare occasions where it actually works. Rico’s story in Rico’s own words and, naturally, he’s the hero. Reading between his lines we can see him for what he really is. Wonderful work from Carroll.

[Michael Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rico Dredd is the clone brother of Joe Dredd. Whereas Joe is a human rule book, everything by the book, Rico tries to work with criminals, giving them a chance to be better. It works to a degree but Rico realises he will not always be a Judge, so takes money for his retirement and a better life. Nothing gets by Joe Dredd and eventually he is forced to turn his brother in, a man accidentally dying at Rico's hand as he does so. Rico gets a twenty year sentence in the iridium mines of Titan, a moon of Saturn.
With no way of escaping, Rico finally realises that you cannot buck the system, and with ups and downs, is generally a good prisoner, even through the bad years and emergencies. He is turned into a cyborg of kinds, able to survive in the methane atmosphere of Titan and the ultra-cold there.
Eventually his sentence is up and he goes back to Earth to face his brother.

[Olly Colluphid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. The five stars is a rating of the book for what it is. If you don't know already who Rico is, don't pick this up.

Very interesting take on the character and his motivation. First person narrative works well.

[Henry Eggleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about Dredd's clone brothers time as a prisoner on Titan