Mad Shadows is Cozy Gothic Noir - Highly Recommended

Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser by Joe Bonadonna
S.E. Lindberg rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mystery for the Horror Fan -- Cozy Gothic Noir Joe Bonadonna's Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser is a great mashup of Horror/Fantasy/Film Noir. In Television terms, this would appeal to fans of the X-files, Supernatural, or Grim. Being a collection of tales, each serves as an episode. Expect: necromancy, mythogical creatures -- especially the hybrid horned creatures (satyrs, minotaur, etc.), pitted against our protagonist who is motivated to set things right (and make enough money to eat…and perhaps a sustained glance at a beautiful woman).

Gothic Noir: With the exception of one tale, Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser proved to be more “Crime & Sorcery” than “Sword & Sorcery.” Dorgo is not an official constable or justice keeper, but he is hired layman with investigative skills and a magical dowsing rod which he uses on occasion -- much less than expected given his name “Dorgo the Dowser.” Bonadonna brands his Dorgo tales “Gothic Noir,” which is fitting. Despite the weirdness of Valdar city and the threatening necromancy that abounds, we know Dorgo will survive and resolve any case as surely as Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser did. Speaking of Leiber, Bonadonna call’s out Leiber as an influence; Bonadonna's style is unique but he delivers the same entertaining blend of weird adventure dosed with humor.

Episodes: All are stand alone reads, except for the last one (“Blood on the Moon”) which leans toward being a sequel to the “Black Diamond.” Without spoiling, the first four are set in Valdar, and the final two explore some “old” territory…and we learn a bit about Dorgo’s past.
1-Mad Shadows
2-The Secret Of Andaro’s Daughter
3-The Moonstones Of Sor Lunarum -- For T.C. Rypel fans, you’ll enjoy a call-out to his Gonji: Red Blade from the East.
4-The Man Who Loved Puppets
5-In The Vale Of The Black Diamond
6-Blood On The Moon (an extension of #5)

Orphan/Parent-Offspring Themes: The haunting dedication sets the stage for the themes of many of these stories: the dedication was extended to his parents and to “Mary Ellen Pettenon and the other 91 children and 3 nuns who became angles too soon in the Our Lady of Angels School Fire, December 1, 1958.” I learned on Facebook that Bonadonna is a long time Chicagoan, who was in the same school system and if his birthday was a few months different, he would have been in the building. In the book, we learn early on that Dorgo is an orphan, and many of the plots/character-motivations are based on family ties.

Echoes: Bonadonna’s Book of Echoes contribution to Azieran Adventures Presents Artifacts and Relics: Extreme Sorcery was so good I tracked this collection down, and enjoyed this. I suggest you track more Dorgo/Bonadonna down too:
Bonadonna’s Blog
Bonadonna’s Amazon Author Page


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Heroika Dragon Eaters - Pre-Orders

Heroes throughout history stalk their legendary foe! 

My short story Legacy of the Great Dragon appears in HEROIKA -- DRAGON EATERS  along with sixteen more tales of dragon hunting/consumption, each with a varied milieu & style (from an awesome set of authors). Recipes will be shared online from many of the authors, so get your gear on, hunt some dragon, and prepare to make a wild stew!  Or just pre-order the Kindle (Paperbacks to be available late May/early June).

HEROIKA -- DRAGON EATERS is an anthology of heroic fiction edited by Janet E. Morris, and featuring original stories by: Seth (S.E.) Lindberg, Jack William Finley, Travis Ludvigson, Tom Barczak, Jp Wilder, Joe Bonadonna, Milton Davis, Alex Butcher, Will Hiles, M Harold Page, Walter Rhein, Cas Peace, Beth W. Patterson , Bruce Durham, Mark Finn.

Highly recommended heroic fantasy coming your way from Perseid Press! Kindle pre-order's available now. 


About the editor: Best selling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. She has contributed short fiction to the shared universe fantasy series Thieves World, in which she created the Sacred Band of Stepsons, a mythical unit of ancient fighters modeled on the Sacred Band of Thebes. She created, orchestrated, and edited the Bangsian fantasy series Heroes in Hell, writing stories for the series as well as co-writing the related novel, The Little Helliad, with Chris Morris.

Story Summaries: Heroes throughout history stalk their legendary foe: the Father of Alchemy entombs his own magic; dragons must not kill dragons; even a patron saint struggles when confronted by the mighty Wyght Worm; Hunting dragons, getting there is half the battle; mankind’s fate lies in a man, a child, and a dragon; holy warriors write their legend in the blood of dragons; the love of the innocent meets a dragon’s heart; one dragon hunter finds out the truth about feeding on dragon’s blood; one woman and two wolverines seek a dragon’s egg; cross the water and stop a new plague of dragons before it’s too late; bounty hunters pit their dirigible against a dragon and a flying castle; seven enemies unite to kill an ancient legend; In the bayou stews more than storm and alligators; remnants of the human race face their ultimate challenge in the bleak Arctic; when dinosaurs return, a squad of Rangers goes from dragon hunters to hunted. 

Audio Sample - Kathy Bell Denton Narrates Spawn of Dyscrasia

Audio Sampler of Spawn of Dyscrasia:

Immerse yourself in the dark world of Dyscrasia Fiction

Spawn of Dyscrasia is now available as an audio book, narrated by Kathy Bell Denton who has a splendid voice reminiscent of the female narrator of Ralph Bakshi's 1977 movie Wizards (Susan Tyrrell).  Kathy Denton has a creepy, English accent perfect for dark fairy tales and reinforces the character of Helen well.  Check out the samples on Audible.com or  Audiobook on Amazon.

Complimentary Review Copies!

Review copies of all forms are available (Audible, Kindle, and Paperback). For files or promotional codes, just contact me via email (teamlinderg-at-gmail.com), on Dyscrasia Fiction on Facebook, or the Goodreads Sword & Sorcery group that I co-moderate. Thanks to all who already read, listened, and reviewed. 

Spawn is Audible!

Immerse yourself in the dark world of Dyscrasia Fiction

Spawn of Dyscrasia is now available as an audio book, narrated by Kathy Bell Denton who has a splendid voice reminiscent of the female narrator of Ralph Bakshi's 1977 movie Wizards (Susan Tyrrell).  Kathy Denton has a creepy, English accent perfect for dark fairy tales and reinforces the character of Helen well.  Check out the samples on Audible.com or  Audiobook on Amazon.

Complimentary Review Copies!

Review copies of all forms are available (Audible, Kindle, and Paperback). For files or promotional codes, just contact me via email (teamlinderg-at-gmail.com), on Dyscrasia Fiction on Facebook, or the Goodreads Sword & Sorcery group that I co-moderate. Thanks to all who already read, listened, and reviewed. 

More Dyscrasia Fiction Audio!

The Audiobook for Lords of Dyscrasia, narrated by Thomas B. Hackett, is in progress! Cover shown below. Expected release Spring 2015.

Orcs vs Goblins - Groupread Apr-Mar 2015 on Goodreads

Please join the Sword and Sorcery Goodreads Group  as we have two groupreads this Mar-Apr 2015: two competing discussions actually...

Orcs  versus Goblins (and Worms too!)

Our default specific book is E.R. Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros, which has a type of Goblin featured.  Any Goblin or Orc Book will suffice...heck, some members are even discussing kobolds already as well. 

Cover Artist Credits L to R in the Banner:
1) Tim Lauten - Stan Nicholls's Orcs: Inferno (2012)
2) Barbara Remington E.R. Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros Ballantine Books (~1960)
3) Cheoljoo Lee - Guy Haley's Skarsnik (Warhammer-Black Library, 2013)

   

Untamed - Graphic Sword and Sorcery - 2015 Kickstarter

I just backed a the UNTAMED - Print Hardcover Kickstarter campaign  (started Feb-17...last until March something). A hardcover rendition of Stranger Comic's Untamed series. Very grim, artsy, Sword & Sorcery. The book will retail at $29.99, but as a Kickstarter Special, you can get it signed and shipped for $25. 

This combines the eBooks of Sebastian A. Jones Untamed series under one hardcover book:The Untamed: A Sinner's Prayer #1, The Untamed: A Sinner's Prayer #2, The Untamed #3,Dusu: Path of the Ancient #4, The Untamed #5...more I think...there should be 7 total

The first one was made into a Motion Graphic, on Youtube: ~11min (see embedded video). Watch it!

     

Stranger Comics  /    UNTAMED on Facebook

The IX, by Andrew Weston - New Release

Perseid Press has a great portfolio of Historical Fantasy and Fantasy Fiction including The Heroes In Hell Series and Sacred Band of Stepsons.  Below is the announcement for their most recent offering, a new take on the legendary missing Ninth Legion (available now):   

The IX, by Andrew Weston

If you like your science fiction fast paced and gritty, full of realistic action and dark humor in the face of overwhelming odds, then The IX is definitely the epic for you. 

Fans of Julian May’s “Saga of the Pliocene Exiles,” Robert Heinlein’s “Have Space Suit, Will Travel”, and Jerry Pournelle's “Janissaries Series” will love this tale. It combines the divergent elements of the past, present, and future, and blends them together into a slick and stylish package that will leave you breathless and hungry for more. 

The Must Read Science Fiction Adventure of 2015. Sometimes, death is only the beginning of the adventure...

Arden, home to a culture that has existed for thousands of years and which spans dozens of worlds. Regardless, their sophistication cannot prevent calamity at the hands of an unstoppable nemesis. Known only as the Horde, this enemy has proven relentless. They have not only stripped the outer colonies bare, but now threaten the existence of the entire Ardenese way of life.

Realizing there is nothing they can do to prevent the inevitable march toward extinction, the Ardenese governing body comes to a drastic decision. They gather together at their capital city, Rhomane, and place their remaining genetic heritage in a vast underground ark, in the care of an advanced AI construct called the Architect. Its mission? To use Rhomane’s dwindling reserves and safeguard their race by reaching out across time and space toward those who might be in a position to help reseed a devastated world at some time in the future.

Soldiers from varying eras and vastly different backgrounds find themselves snatched away from Earth at the moment of their passing and transported to the far side of the galaxy. Thinking they have been granted a reprieve, their relief turns to horror when they discover they face a stark ultimatum:

Fight or die! Despite a host of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, this group of misfits manages to turn the tide against a relentless foe, only to discover the true cost of victory might exact a price they are unwilling to pay.

Andrew Weston - Author Website  / Author Blog /  Author page on Amazon /  Weston on Twitter

 

Andrew P Weston is a military and police veteran from the UK who now lives on the beautiful Greek island of Kos with his wife, Annette, and their growing family of rescue cats. A criminal law and astronomy graduate, he is a member of the British Science Fiction Association and British Fantasy Society, and is a contracted writer of both fiction and poetry for several publishing houses and a growing number of well established magazines. 

In his spare time, Andrew assists NASA on one of their research projects, and amazingly, still finds the time to submit regular educational articles for Amazing Stories and Astronaut.com. When not writing, Andrew enjoys holding his breath, being told what to do by his wife, and drinking Earl Grey Tea whilst dressed as Captain Jean Luc Picard. Make it so...