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    Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser
    Unavailable
    Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser
    Unavailable
    Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser
    Ebook429 pages6 hours

    Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser

    By Joe Bonadonna

    5/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Valdar is a city of swordslingers and necromancers, witch cults and halfhuman races. Its a city in a world of darkness, black magic and creatures of the night . . . a city where demonic entities serve the needs of any witch or magicman who can open a doorway into their domain.

    This is my city. This is my world.

    With a special dowsing rod, I can detect the ectoplasmic residue of any supernatural presence or demonic entity and sense the vestiges of odylic power and vile sorcery used in the commission of crimes. I hunt anyone and anything that poses a threat to the people of my city. My names Dorgo. Folks call me the Dowser.

    From infernal depths where lost souls mutate into hell-spawned devils, from the other side of the veil that separates the earthly from the unearthly, from an ancient land whose borders cross into other dimensions, Mad ShadowsThe Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser, will transport you to a world where sentient shadows, vengeful vampires, malevolent puppets, and raging werewolves haunt the night . . . a world where life is cheap and souls are always up for sale.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisheriUniverse
    Release dateJan 6, 2011
    ISBN9781450276160
    Unavailable
    Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser
    Author

    Joe Bonadonna

    I've published a number of short stories, and authored five novels, and five screenplays. I'm a former board member of the Chicago's Screenwriter Network, where I lectured on the history of science fiction, horror, and fantasy in films, as well as on writing screenplays. I'm also a former rock and roll guitarist and songwriter from the Golden Age of 1964-1984.MAD SHADOWS: THE WEIRD TALES OF DORGO THE DOWSER, is my first novel, published by iUniverse. It's epic Heroic Fantasy with a film noir edge. It can be purchased from Amazon.com in both paperback, hardcover and Kindle editions. Winner of the 2017 Golden Book Readers' Choice Award for Best Fantasy.THREE AGAINST THE STARS is my second novel, an old-fashioned space opera published by Airship 27 Productions. It's available now from Amazon.com, in both paperback and Kindle editions.WATERS OF DARKNESS, co-authored with David C. Smith, (Dark Muse, Call of Shadows, Fall of the First World Trilogy), is a swashbuckling pirate adventure of swords, sorcery, and Lovecraftian horror. It's now available in both paperback and Kindle editions thru Amazon.comMAD SHADOWS II: DORGO THE DOWSER AND THE ORDER OF THE SERPENT, my fourth novel, has just been published. It's another Heroic Fantasy with a film noir twist, with more magic, murder, mystery and mayhem all brought to you courtesy of Dorgo the Dowser. Semi-Finalist in the 2017 Golden Book "Golden Quill Award for Best Fantasy."THREE GHOSTS IN A BLACK PUMPKIN is my first collaboration with acclaimed author and illustrator, Erika M Szabo. This is also my first children's book, appropriate for ages 6 - 14, and adults may enjoy it, too. This is fantasy about two cousins, Nikki and Jack, who find a talking wind chime in the shape of a silver skeleton named Wishbone Jones, and a black pumpkin in which the ghosts of the three good Wishmothers have been imprison. To free them, Nikki Jack travel to the magical world of Creepy Hollow, where they face all sorts of dangers and tests, and along the way, learn a few lessons about life and growing up. Winner of the 2017 Golden Book Judges' Choice Award for Best Children's Fantasy.THE POWER OF THE SAPPHIRE WAND (Creep Hollow Adventures Book 2) is Erika M Szabo's and my sequel to "Three Ghosts in a Black Pumpkin." Nikki and Jack return to Creepy Hollow in this new, action-packed fantasy adventure for middle-grade children and young adults. On her 13th birthday, Nikki discovers she has magical powers. During a surprise attack by the giant Mutanto, his henchmen Howler and a gang of Werewolves, Wishbone, Ghoulina and Catman arrive to save the kids and tell them about Evila the Grim Witch’s plans to conquer Creepy Hollow. Nikki also learns the truth about what happened to her parents twelve years ago. She and Jack go back to Creepy Hollow with their friends to help them defeat Evila. Jack discovers he can talk to animals when they meet a herd of Wild Horses and he becomes friends with Champ, the clumsy young colt, and Sparky, the orphaned dragon. Together, Nikki and Jack conquer their fears and gain courage, and in the final battle against Evila and her minions they grow into the warriors they were destined to become.THE BLOOD OF THE LION, my first sword and soul heroic fantasy tale, appears in the Sword and Soul Fantasy anthology GRIOTS 2: SISTERS OF THE SPEAR, edited by Charles Saunders and Milton Davis. Available thru Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle editions.My stories WE THE FURIOUS, and UNDERTAKER'S HOLIDAY, in collaboration with Shebat Legion, both appear in POETS IN HELL volume 17, in author Janet Morris' highly-acclaimed series, "Heroes in Hell." My story, "Hell On A Technicality," appears in DOCTORS IN HELL, volume 18 of "Heroes in Hell." My latest story, "The Pirates of Penance," appears in PIRATES OF HELL, volume 19 of the "Heroes in Hell" series.My story, SINBAD AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE, appears in the shared-world anthology, SINBAD: THE NEW VOYAGES, VOL. 4, published by Airship 27 Productions. Available in paperback and Kindle editions from Amazon.com.My story, "The Dragon's Horde," has been published in HEROIKA 1: DRAGON EATERS. This is a brand-new series of all-original Heroic Fantasy tales created and edited by author Janet Morris and published by Perseid Press. Available in paperback and Kindle editions.AS EDITOR:"Hello, My Name is Max, and I Have Autism: An Insight into the Autistic Mind," written and with drawings by Max Miller. Foreword and Afterword by his Mom, Rebecca Miller. Available from Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions."Being Max's Mom," by Rebecca Miller. This is Rebecca's very personal story of bringing her son, Max, into the world, of his being diagnosed with autism at the age of 4, and how she fought to do the best and find the best for her son. Available from Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.Rebecca Miller's Amazon Author page:amazon.com/Rebecca-Miller/e/B0110LJMY2"Libertine: Awakenings," a wonderful psychosexual drama written by Cat Ravenelle.Visit Cat's Amazon Author Page at:amazon.com/Cat-Ravenelle/e/B00Q9CN26C"The Kitchen Imps," and "Tales of Erana: The Warrior's Curse," BY A.L. Butcher."Vampire Therapy: The Chronicles of the Cat's Ass Boutique ~ Seasons and Reasons ~" by Shebat Legion, as well as her children's book, "The Fork Tree." Please visit Shebat's Amazon page at: http://www.amazon.com/Shebat-Legion/e/B00BUARZAM"Metoo, The Annoying Little Sister," by Erika M. Szabo. Please visit Erika's Amazon page at:https://www.amazon.com/Erika-M-Szabo/e/B004S0OV12Please visit and LIKE my Facebook page, "Bonadonna's Bookshelf."https://www.facebook.com/BonadonnasBookshelf/My blogsite is: http://www.dorgoland.blogspot.com

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    Reviews for Mad Shadows

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    • 5/5
      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 (i.e., all 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.