OK, just got this book nearly a week ago, and had to say that after just finishing the first 4 chapters, around 40 pages, this one is already better than the last book.

Personal views by me are because the writing style of Victor Milan is much more in line with the original author, Laurence James, and this book so far in particular thus far as reminded me strongly of those early books.

The argument and break-up of the companions here makes much more sense, and comes off feeling much more like how the companions would act and feel. In fact, in the last chapter i just read, the companions are running away from a ville through some major thorn bushes, and Mildred is pissed at the recent break-up of Jak and the group, and they are running through harsh weather and environment, so her mind wanders through the recent break-up, along with her feelings toward their overall plight. Milan proves right here, once again, that he KNOWS these characters. I really enjoyed this harsh look at themselves through her clinical mind.

This is the problem with the two Outlanders writers. They have turned the Cerberus team into a bunch of do-gooders to the extreme. They now help out obvious and well known enemies that have tried to kill them. Just plain stupid. This DL chapter I just read had Mildred, a doctor from our time, admit that J. B. and Ryan were chilling machines, cold and efficient, but only when they have to be. Leave no enemies left behind you to make trouble for you later. Uh, yeah! 

Thank the God/s that there is a decent one in the pipeline.

Now 70 pages in, and it just gets better.

Nice to read a back to basics mutie-infested and purely survival type book. And the sec men posse are hardcore coldhearts, old-school type.

Looking forward to what you guys think.

Well, I just finished Deathlands Hanging Judge, and I don't know where to start to tell you just how classic and awesome this upcoming title was. From cover to cover it was never dull nor boring, and just proves - yet again - just how talented a writer this Victor Milan is.

I haven't read a DL book that tapped into the original author's writing style and feel that creators and original authors Jack Adrian and Laurence James did since this series's inception back in '86.

Hanging Judge harkens back to the days of old, reminding me of such titles as Pony Soldiers and Trader Redux. That is to say that Hanging Judge had no fancy storyline, such as finding aliens or a huge redoubt in space or whitecoats with a super weapon. No, just an awesome 'back to basics' approach of sheer survival, with one of the most colorful bad guys since Cort Strasser and Zimyanin. Cutter Dan and his U. S. Marshal sec men are truly some of the most brutal coldheart sec men Ryan and companions have run into in a long, long time.

And even though author Victor Milan has proven time and again that he knows his Deathlands models, and the companions inside out, he showcases it here with even more dramatic flair. For you Jak Lauren fans out there, you are really in for a treat. But ALL of the companions are showcased here at their best, both in dramatic dialogue to their actions, with such flair and greatness, that hard core fans such as myself had a grin from ear to ear from beginning to end. There is never a dull moment, and the action scenes are some of the very best this series has ever showcased. And that is saying something!

 I have to digest this book some more before I give an official review. But suffice it to say, Victor Milan really outdone himself with this one. Classic DL in every sense of the word. Thanks for caring enough to not rest on your already hefty laurels, Mr. Milan, and continuing to write DL the way it is supposed to be written.

 

 

Is it as good as Nemesis? Fingers crossed. Victor Milan is probably my #2 Author of DL at the moment.

Overall, I would say hanging judge is better, and quite possibly Milan 's best book. There was just so many awesome things in it, from fantastic dialogue, tons of dark humor, very colorful and memorable new duties and bad guys. Also loads of expertly written action sequences of different varieties.

I wrote and sent in a review a few days ago of the all-new DL, Hanging Judge.

But I don't see it posted. I guess Ron is busy.

 Anywho, I've been praising the hell out of it since I got it early copy and read it in just a couple of days. 

Milan really knocked it out of the ball park - again!

I've read the first 10 pages on the amazon look inside feature and it looks pretty good. Fed up having to wait a month more than you guy's in North America.

Hanging judge is tons better than the last two books, in my humble opinion.

Hanging judge is tons better than the last two books, in my humble opinion.

I just started Hanging Judge yesterday. I knew I was going to love it by the end of the first paragraph.

I'm still reading this great book but I wanted to see if anyone else noticed that this author mentions things from one of Chuck's books . The bit about the giant hogs from Hell Road Warriors .

Liking this book lots .

Um, er, the editor might have added that tiny bit of text for continuity.

I think Victor Milan is a savvy enough author to keep continuity.

If I recall correctly, I believe there is a reason why I added that line.

Got my copy today and I'm 3/4 through already and it is easily the best book in the last seven and 2nd or 3rd in the last fifteen. Victor Milan is fast becoming one of the best current DL novel's.

I wish he would drop the whole "Wheel gun" thing. It really bugs me.

Jim

Why? Wheeling is proper naming. Nick Polatta started that.

I have no idea why it just does. I guess its a bit like marmite toe either like it or not.

Jim

Oh, to be honest, the word wheel-gun for some reason irritated me too. It is weird that it does, despite the correctness of it.s usage.

 But I am also glad you fans out there currently reading this latest DL, are finding it as awesome as I did. I really enjoyed all the angles of the storyline, especially Jak's new love interest. She was utilized to great and dramatic effect, to balance all the awesome action scenes.

Just finished this and was most suprised, it is a darn good DL book and read like an old time book. if i had any problems with it then it has to be the number of silly mutants they encountered and doc firing the shotgun barrel followed almost immediatly by the standard rounds.

The interaction between the group was well done especially the split, sadly almost nothing was spent on the reunion afterwards.

Overall this is a firm 6/10 book for me.

Jim

Stupid muties? I loved the dinosaur muties!

I wasn't so keen on the Dinosaur/lizard/man things either. At least there wasn't the obligatory stickie.

Cutter Dan seemed like he could have been an epic "Baddie" but kind of fell at the last hurdle.

Posted By Maximus on 3/25/2014 4:49:00 PM
Stupid muties? I loved the dinosaur muties!

There are just too many now. Its almost become the norm that each book has to have a mutie of the month in it. The whole premise of thes ones here is a total rip off of the raptor scenes from jurassic park. Nothing original there.

Jim

I disagree with the rip off of J P. movie.

 

Similar? Perhaps. But the people in Jurassic Park didn't fight back like my main man Ryan Cawdor and company did! 

This one just didn't grab me... I got about 50 pages into it, and I quit reading. The whole "Jak goes his own way" was unbelievable - it seemed more like a plot point than anything. The muties didn't really bother me, but some of Victor's narrative does - "busting caps"? Really?

Didn't grab you?

Man, you must have hated the early books, then. 

Jak's leaving the companions in this one seemed much more in tune and fit the feeling than the previous book. Your feelings towards this latest book was how I felt in the previous volume.

I guess I don't like seeing Ryan as a house builder and Krysty as a babysitter in my DL.

I'd much rather see them chill the hell out of some new and colorful muties and memorable sec men.

I loved the visual of Ryan kicking the shit out of one Native American and facing off against a post-holocaust Geronimo. It was anything but a typical stand-off. It was just little things like that that just brought it home for me. Strongly reminded me of the LJ days, but with even better fight scenes.

Is it just my copy, or did anyone else notice that the inside back cover of Hanging Judge has a GE add that includes the "new" series Room 59 (which was cancelled years ago), and a blurb for readgoldeagle.blogspot.com (which hasn't been updated since October of 2012)?

Oops.

I think I did notice that. Way to go Gold Eagle!

Posted By Ron Miles on 4/3/2014 4:17:39 PM
Is it just my copy, or did anyone else notice that the inside back cover of Hanging Judge has a GE add that includes the "new" series Room 59 (which was cancelled years ago), and a blurb for readgoldeagle.blogspot.com (which hasn't been updated since October of 2012)?

Oops.

Must have been the same clown that mixed the Hanging Judge ad in the last book that mixed together The Executioner with it. 

 

GE prbably has a back log of Room 59 books to get rid of. I read the first one and liked it, however.

Posted By Maximus on 4/4/2014 3:08:53 PM
GE prbably has a back log of Room 59 books to get rid of. I read the first one and liked it, however.

I liked them all.  Particularly the ones by Jonathan Morgan. Shame the series didn't pan out.

Posted By Maximus on 4/3/2014 4:13:05 PM I

...loved the visual of Ryan kicking the shit out of one Native American

Really, so you like the idea of the macho white man getting the better of a native American do you.I bet you also think that they have no rights in there own country and should be treated like shit?

Its nice to see you finally show your true colours here.

 

Jim

For all its worth, I do know who Maximus is (and have for a good long time). I have wilfully looked the other way as long as he plays nice.

So, you know... play nice?

So do I and I'm not playing here I'm serious.
I believe in free speech but draw the line at blatant racial assaults which is a direct breach of rule 6 here is it not?

Jim

I just read this, and I cannot believe it. Jim, are u really serious?

 You think I am racial towards Native Americans?

Hey genius, my father was half Arapaho from his mother's side of the family. So what do you think that makes me?

If I were racist, then why would I have named them redskins or something, other than their proper name?

And, if you had actually paid attention to what I was typing, and had read the book, then you'd know what I meant on how Ryan and the other, older Indian faced off, and how they ended their dispute. (But I don't wanna ruin it for others who have not read this one yet.)

If you think I am a racist, then you must think the multiple writers are too. Most idiotic statement I've read here, Jim. It is funny that YOU are the only one who took my last statement about a part of the last book like that.

Racist? Don't be jumping to stupid conclusions. How about asking me about a statement that you so obviously mistook for such, instead.

Hey genius, my father was half Arapaho from his mother's side of the family. So what do you think that makes me?

Thanks for noticing that my tested IQ score places me into the Genius range, how did you know this?
As for your lineage, I cant prove or disprove that, all I can say is that makes you American. Having one descendant three generations back does not mean you are of that race, maybe a bit of your DNA is but that's it.
My Grandfather and Mother were both born and bred in the highlands of Scotland but this does not make me Scottish -only my surname remains.

It was what you typed that causes the offense "I loved the visual of Ryan kicking the shit out of one Native American..." You intimate from this that you get enjoyment from the thought of Ryan -a white man, getting the better of and causing grave harm (kicking the shit out of) to a member of an ethnic minority. No matter what race you are from having such views is racist -period.

Then again this is Deathlands a fictional land where no one is any longer "American", "British", "Spanish" or what ever, all these man made place names no longer exist each and every person living on the world at this time is just a survivor or a "resident" of the local ville.

Argue away, I'm not going to further reply to this. I've made my statement and will stick by it.

Jim

Max: I loved the early books. This one just didn't keep my interest for some reason. Ryan the others playing "house" didn't bug me as much as everyone else, because it was part of the storyline - their minds were being altered, and that was the direct result. Granted, the book needed some work (I'm not going to bother rehashing that argument), but YMMV.

Jim: I think you're reading too much into his statement. "Apocalyptic Geronimo" might've been slightly offensive, but not worth flying off the handle.

actually didn't care for it. I can see Jack taking off on his own again but, just poof and off he goes? And why do they always talk and say thigs like we would now a days? I don't think so.  Ryan saying affirmative,  now he would talk like that.  Chally asking jack"where are you from from anyways, mars?" now I suppose she has a collage education and knows all about starts and planets.  now why after so so so many book, which is what, months? years? in deathland time is Mildred still acting like its her 1st step in "death lands" sorry but after a week I would think you realize its a whole new world, or you just go crazy. and ricky has been with them long enough to not be doing such things. And not sure that's how Ryan would handle Jack leaving. if that's the case he wouldn't care if anyone left except for Krysty,  so if JB said ya know I am out of here you think Ryan would just say, Oke Doky see ya. or even doc or mildred for that matter.so if they are getting back to their "old" ways and being bad ass. why not just take the road to the next town, they had a lead , buy and just take a car/truck/ horse and buggy and just get? Jb never checked to see where they are maybe there is a redoubt near?  just not liking it 

Hi Kev64,
I think that the way they talk is a reflection of what the editors want ,not what the writer thinks . We as fans think things should be different, but the editors want books that everyone can understand . Having the characters speak in some kind of mixed up post war jargon would be too hard for continuity from book to book . I think it would drive the good writers that we have writing these books mad and they would quit writing DL/OL books forever.

I believe Ryan knows Jak well enough to figure out that he needed some alone time . We have seen Jak leave before and then come back . I think Jak is the only character in the team who has fought or disobeyed Ryan and not been killed for it. To my way of thinking Jak and Ryan are equals both are Alpha males . To my way of thinking all the rest of the team are followers, but not Jak he is with the team only because he had no place else to be when he thinks he has found someplace to be he stay .