Tag: R.T. Slaywood Page 3 of 6

On November 9, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 38: Operator

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #38
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: November 9, 2023

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

He’s abducted by some representatives of a mysterious group who subject him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too). He passes—and is brought somewhere for answers, or maybe training, or maybe another test. Time will tell (or things are going to get really annoying). Answers aren’t quick to come—but the mysteries and questions keep piling up.

Things get hairy and Bonaduke leaves and finds himself back in the neighborhood he started from. He takes refuge in a homeless encampment shortly before a police raid. He’s apprehended and finds himself an interrogation room and shortly escapes after using his grift (but with results he didn’t quite intend). He finds himself by a group of squatters who seem to have strapped a woman to a chair for reasons that can’t be good. He attempts to rescue her before he even realizes what he’s doing, and seems to have succeeded—well, the two of them got away from the group anyway—breathing but bruised. They make their way to a fast-food taco joint and Bonaduke really needs to refuel to keep going. He tries, but fails to get food because he keeps passing out. Thankfully, the clerk is the same guy from the liquor store and he both recognizes him and gives him first aid. The woman (Zero) wakes up and shows some abilities of her on as she helps them escape from her captors who’ve tracked her down. One thing leads to another—Zero and Bonaduke’s magics don’t mix well (at least until they understand what each other can do?), and they end up in a video-game race against the squatters in a tricked-out version of Eric (the clerk’s) car. Note, I said video-game race, not a video-game-style race. They’re actually in one. When dumped back into reality, he’s surrounded by bruised and broken bodies (of people and cars). And then he gets into a supernatural fight and survives…just.

What’s Operator About?

Bonaduke is in rough shape when they get him back to the apartment, collapsing before he can really do much at all. The others rush to his aid, but since doesn’t realize how much he’s injured he struggles against it. He more than struggles–he lashes out (effectively, it should be noted) when the treatment/examination hurts as much as the injuries do, or inflames them.

The others struggle to restrain him and largely have success until Myrrh enters the room, and his rage toward her fuels him to attack her with magic unlike he’s been able to before–and when that fight is over, everything fades to black.

If it weren’t for the fact that there are dozens of episodes left (with more to come), you could make the case that this was a cliffhanger. But the suspense around Michael’s continuing existence is low. The real question is…what’s the situation going to be like when he comes to?

So, what did I think about Operator?

Too often in fiction (on page or on screen) I can’t help get frustrated by the lack of communication–honestly, if someone had taken a moment to talk to Bonaduke–or to listen to him–here, things might have gone better for all involved. Maybe not, but it would’ve been nice to see some effort.

There’s a point or two that would’ve been helped with a dialogue tag, honestly. The other part that would’ve been nice is to refer to some of these old faces with more than a name–something to help those of us who haven’t thought of them in 20 episodes or so to remember who they were. None of these are significant issues, and might say more about my memory than anything.

Overall, it was good to dip my toe back into the water here–and hopefully, I get back into regular reading of it. And, most importantly, I want to see what the next episode holds.

3 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 37: Last Leg by R. T. Slaywood: Some Aftermath, and a Glimpse of What’s to Come

On October 19, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 36: Roadside Assistance

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #37
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: October 19, 2023

“C’mon, we need to get going.” His words pinballed in my mind and took me a couple seconds to take hold. He offered me a hand.

“I don’t think I can.”

“I told you, I can’t leave you, and we need to go before we draw any more attention.”

“No, I mean I don’t think I can move.” I said barely clinging to consciousness. Looking down I could see how bad I was beat up. A wet borrowed shirt, covered in blood and watered down ink was now torn in a dozen places. Beneath which were scraps and gouges at various points of bleeding. My legs and jeans were not looking much better.

I also seemed to have lost a boot.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

He’s abducted by some representatives of a mysterious group who subject him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too). He passes—and is brought somewhere for answers, or maybe training, or maybe another test. Time will tell (or things are going to get really annoying). Answers aren’t quick to come—but the mysteries and questions keep piling up.

Things get hairy and Bonaduke leaves and finds himself back in the neighborhood he started from. He takes refuge in a homeless encampment shortly before a police raid. He’s apprehended and finds himself an interrogation room and shortly escapes after using his grift (but with results he didn’t quite intend). He finds himself by a group of squatters who seem to have strapped a woman to a chair for reasons that can’t be good. He attempts to rescue her before he even realizes what he’s doing, and seems to have succeeded—well, the two of them got away from the group anyway—breathing but bruised. They make their way to a fast-food taco joint and Bonaduke really needs to refuel to keep going. He tries, but fails to get food because he keeps passing out. Thankfully, the clerk is the same guy from the liquor store and he both recognizes him and gives him first aid. The woman (Zero) wakes up and shows some abilities of her on as she helps them escape from her captors who’ve tracked her down. One thing leads to another—Zero and Bonaduke’s magics don’t mix well (at least until they understand what each other can do?), and they end up in a video-game race against the squatters in a tricked-out version of Eric (the clerk’s) car. Note, I said video-game race, not a video-game-style race. They’re actually in one. When dumped back into reality, he’s surrounded by bruised and broken bodies (of people and cars).

What’s Last Leg About?

It takes some work for Bonaduke to pull himself together after the ending of Episode 36–no matter what he knows really happened, his mind saw something else. And you just can’t shrug that off.

But he has to get moving–Zero helps him (one boot and all) to the car so they can go get some medical attention, get off the street, and regroup.

Eric’s not doing well–everything he’s experienced is so far from what he’s capable of understanding that his mind is having a hard time coping.

And, well, that’s about it, really.

So, what did I think about Last Leg?

This felt longer than usual (but I’m not doing word counts, so who knows). Which is good–things got to breathe a little bit. This is still very much a transition from the last mini-arc to the next, but Slaywood accomplished a little more than that.

I think we’re about done with Eric–which is good and bad, I liked him, but I think he’s served his purpose. Although it’s possible that he’s going to get drawn in even deeper with Bonaduke and the rest. Which will not end well for him.

I may have an idea where we’re headed for the next episode or two, and I’m intrigued.

I don’t have much to say, really. Good episode overall.

3 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 36: Roadside Assistance by R. T. Slaywood: Don’t Make Him Angry, You Wouldn’t Like Him When He’s Angry

On September 29, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 36: Roadside Assistance

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #36
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: September 29, 2023

A part of me, the grifter, knew it was a trick. That the face twisted in pain was a mask that was stolen from my memories…But it didn’t matter. The part of me that wished and longed to see her alive one last time won the moment he changed his face.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

He’s abducted by some representatives of a mysterious group who subject him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too). He passes—and is brought somewhere for answers, or maybe training, or maybe another test. Time will tell (or things are going to get really annoying). Answers aren’t quick to come—but the mysteries and questions keep piling up.

Things get hairy and Bonaduke leaves and finds himself back in the neighborhood he started from. He takes refuge in a homeless encampment shortly before a police raid. He’s apprehended and finds himself an interrogation room and shortly escapes after using his grift (but with results he didn’t quite intend). He finds himself by a group of squatters who seem to have strapped a woman to a chair for reasons that can’t be good. He attempts to rescue her before he even realizes what he’s doing, and seems to have succeeded—well, the two of them got away from the group anyway—breathing but bruised. They make their way to a fast-food taco joint and Bonaduke really needs to refuel to keep going. He tries, but fails to get food because he keeps passing out. Thankfully, the clerk is the same guy from the liquor store and he both recognizes him and gives him first aid. The woman (Zero) wakes up and shows some abilities of her on as she helps them escape from her captors who’ve tracked her down. One thing leads to another—Zero and Bonaduke’s magics don’t mix well (at least until they understand what each other can do?), and they end up in a video-game race against the squatters in a tricked-out version of Eric (the clerk’s) car. Note, I said video-game race, not a video-game-style race. They’re actually in one. When dumped back into reality, he’s surrounded by bruised and broken bodies (of people and cars).

What’s Roadside Assistance About?

So…yeah. Bonaduke is looking at his beloved’s face. He knows it’s not her–but, oh, he wants it to be. This sets off a flashback for him (and the reader) surrounding Francine’s death.

Once he’s able to wrest his mind back to the present, Bonaduke lets his anger out–the anger about having to deal with this again, anger for his own role in her death, and anger about who knows what else. The results promise not to be pretty, but it’ll be the next episode before we know exactly what all that might be.

So, what did I think about Roadside Assistance?

We run, once again, into my biggest problem with this story. Part of it has to do with the brief episodic nature that it’s told in, and part of it is Slaywood’s style. I wonder how this would read as a novel/novella, then I’d know for sure. Frequently episodes like this one feel like a half-developed outline more than a narrative. This is seen best when Bonaduke uses his grift, but it’s also in the flashback (although I think that’s more purposeful, so I’m not complaining)–it seems to me that Slaywood is trying for the text come across as mysterious or enigmatic, but lands as abstruse, incomplete, and unclear.

That said, Slaywood’s really able to convey Bonaduke’s grief and anger here–this is the most honest emotional reaction we’ve seen from him, and the power of it clear. It’s probably the closest the reader’s really been able to come to understand Bonaduke yet.

A mixed bag, to be sure, but one that pushes the reader on to the next episode.

3 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 35: Game Over by R. T. Slaywood: Well, THAT was Unexpected

On September 22, 2023

I know I normally do these on Friday, but I’ve been saying I need to dip into this more so I can catch up. Also, (and pettily), I’m not going to let the distractions of the last 24 hours break my streak (884 days once I hit “publish”). Something big can derail me, and I’ll be okay with that. But not trivia.

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 35: Game Over

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #34
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: September 21, 2023

My shirt, jeans, skin, and muscle tore on each brief contact with the ground as I rolled on the asphalt. A crack sounded from my elbow that I could feel through my entire body before I finally came to a stop.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

He’s abducted by some representatives of a mysterious group who subject him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too). He passes—and is brought somewhere for answers, or maybe training, or maybe another test. Time will tell (or things are going to get really annoying). Answers aren’t quick to come—but the mysteries and questions keep piling up.

Things get hairy and Bonaduke leaves and finds himself back in the neighborhood he started from. He takes refuge in a homeless encampment shortly before a police raid. He’s apprehended and finds himself an interrogation room and shortly escapes after using his grift (but with results he didn’t quite intend). He finds himself by a group of squatters who seem to have strapped a woman to a chair for reasons that can’t be good. He attempts to rescue her before he even realizes what he’s doing, and seems to have succeeded—well, the two of them got away from the group anyway—breathing but bruised. They make their way to a fast-food taco joint and Bonaduke really needs to refuel to keep going. He tries, but fails to get food because he keeps passing out. Thankfully, the clerk is the same guy from the liquor store and he both recognizes him and gives him first aid. The woman (Zero) wakes up and shows some abilities of her on as she helps them escape from her captors who’ve tracked her down. One thing leads to another—Zero and Bonaduke’s magics don’t mix well (at least until they understand what each other can do?), and they end up in a video-game race against the squatters in a tricked-out version of Eric (the clerk’s) car. Note, I said video-game race, not a video-game-style race. They’re actually in one.

What’s Game Over About?

With a crash, everyone’s back in the Real World. The game is over, and it’s bad. Bodies, detritus, and vehicles scatter the road.

Bonaduke starts looking around, looking for what to do next…and gets a mighty big surprise.

Turn and Face the Strange

When I talked about Episode 34, I said, “there’s a section in which I lost track of pronouns and antecedents, or Zero’s gender changed. I’m pretty sure it was a slip of the finger.” Well, I went back and checked—and yeah, in Episodes 33 and prior, Zero was a woman. “She” and “her” were consistently used in reference to Zero. But for these last two, Zero’s a “he.” I trust there’s an explanation for this.

So, what did I think about Game Over?

Hmmm. It was okay.

Like I feared, it was a come-down to leave Zero’s game, but there’s plenty of promise for what’s to come. The last couple of lines, in particular, have a lot of promise.

3 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 34: Three to Four Times The Charm by R. T. Slaywood: Annnnnnnd They’re Off!

On September 19, 2023

I know I normally do these on Friday, but I’ve been saying I need to dip into this more so I can catch up. Also, (and pettily), I’m not going to let the distractions of the last 24 hours break my streak (884 days once I hit “publish”). Something big can derail me, and I’ll be okay with that. But not trivia.

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 34: Three to Four Times The Charm

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #34
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: September 19, 2023

Asphalt bounced off the car. I was tossed into the side of the trunk as we dodges a massive fiery crater. Behind us the squatters leader was standing through the sunroof holding a rocket launcher.

Of course.

A rocket launcher.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

He’s abducted by some representatives of a mysterious group who subject him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too). He passes—and is brought somewhere for answers, or maybe training, or maybe another test. Time will tell (or things are going to get really annoying). Answers aren’t quick to come—but the mysteries and questions keep piling up.

Things get hairy and Bonaduke leaves and finds himself back in the neighborhood he started from. He takes refuge in a homeless encampment shortly before a police raid. He’s apprehended and finds himself an interrogation room and shortly escapes after using his grift (but with results he didn’t quite intend). He finds himself by a group of squatters who seem to have strapped a woman to a chair for reasons that can’t be good. He attempts to rescue her before he even realizes what he’s doing, and seems to have succeeded—well, the two of them got away from the group anyway—breathing but bruised. They make their way to a fast-food taco joint and Bonaduke really needs to refuel to keep going. He tries, but fails to get food because he keeps passing out. Thankfully, the clerk is the same guy from the liquor store and he both recognizes him and gives him first aid. The woman (Zero) wakes up and shows some abilities of her on as she helps them escape from her captors who’ve tracked her down. One thing leads to another—Zero and Bonaduke’s magics don’t mix well (at least until they understand what each other can do?), and they end up in a video-game race against the squatters in a tricked-out version of Eric (the clerk’s) car. Note, I said video-game race, not a video-game-style race. They’re actually in one.

What’s Three to Four Times The Charm About?

This episode gives us slightly over half of the first(?) lap of the race. Eric and Zero are manning the wheel and the phone controls, Bonaduke does what he can to help by climbing in the trunk to act as a look-out for the cars behind them and to do what he can to slow them down (mostly by throwing miscellaneous objects at them).

That’s it. That’s the sum of the episode (unless I was going to get into a play-by-play).

So, what did I think about Three to Four Times The Charm?

I’m trying not to complain about Slaywood’s editing (which has greatly improved)—but there’s a section in which I lost track of pronouns and antecedents, or Zero’s gender changed. I’m pretty sure it was a slip of the finger, but it was at such a bad time for me—the last thing I needed at the moment was to stop and read a couple of paragraphs 5 times to see if I could track pronouns.

This is all action—that’s it. And it’s fast-paced, too—try not to read this at a speed worthy of Mario Kart (or whatever your preferred racing game is). There’s an effective cliffhanger, too. Good stuff, and I’m fighting the impulse to read on.

The note from the author at the bottom of this episode made me smile—and forgive (but not forget) the pronoun bit.

I’ll note again that Zero’s arc has put a lot of fun into this series.

3.5 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 33: Player 2 by R. T. Slaywood: From Strange to Stranger

On September 15, 2023

Life, the Universe, and Everything has taken me away from this longer than I realized. Glad to get back into this series. I’m apparently 27 episodes behind, that’s a lot. I’d better try to avoid breaks for a bit.

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 33: Player 2

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #33
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: September 14, 2023

“You gave an NPC your magic, and now we’re in the game.”

I nodded pretending to know what the hell she was talking about, trying to temper my anger. ‘Ah yes, I see, that makes sense.” I said putting as much dripping sarcasm I could into each word.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

He’s abducted by some representatives of a mysterious group who subject him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too). He passes—and is brought somewhere for answers, or maybe training, or maybe another test. Time will tell (or things are going to get really annoying). Answers aren’t quick to come—but the mysteries and questions keep piling up.

Things get hairy and Bonaduke leaves and finds himself back in the neighborhood he started from. He takes refuge in a homeless encampment shortly before a police raid. He’s apprehended and finds himself an interrogation room and shortly escapes after using his grift (but with results he didn’t quite intend). He finds himself by a group of squatters who seem to have strapped a woman to a chair for reasons that can’t be good. He attempts to rescue her before he even realizes what he’s doing, and seems to have succeeded—well, the two of them got away from the group anyway—breathing but bruised. They make their way to a fast-food taco joint and Bonaduke really needs to refuel to keep going. He tries, but fails to get food because he keeps passing out. Thankfully, the clerk is the same guy from the liquor store and he both recognizes him and gives him first aid. The woman (Zero) wakes up and shows some abilities of her on as she helps them escape from her captors who’ve tracked her down.

What’s Player 2 About?

As Episode 32: Suspect number 1 wrapped up, Bonaduke tried something wreckless—even by his standards. This episode is about the results of that move.

So, Zero’s power involved tying reality into a video game, which helped her accomplish things that were impossible. As a result of Bonaduke’s meddling, they’re now in that video game—and they have a limited opportunity to get back out of it. And yeah, that sounds strange. But what do you want for this series?

So, what did I think about Player 2?

When I talked about the last episode, I said I wasn’t sure what Bonaduke was trying to do there—and honestly, I’m still not sure. But I enjoyed the fallout from his dumb move (not that he realized it was that dumb when he made it). I wonder how long Slaywood is going to stick with this arc within an arc, but I think it’s going to be fun.

Despite Zero’s attitude (and comments) about Eric, I wonder if he’s going to play a bigger role in this story than I’d anticipated. I think that’d be good. The more this series has Bonaduke with people rather than just bouncing around from event to event/location to location by himself, the better it is. You get Zero and Eric with him for a prolonged time and I think it’ll only improve. Especially if they all start understanding each other.

And if that doesn’t happen and we just get Zero for a bit? I’m okay with that, too, she’s one cool character. (and I mean “cool” in a number of ways)

This was a fun episode and the next episode or two that it sets up should be as good.

4 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 32: Suspect number 1 by R. T. Slaywood: Whoops

On August 18, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 32: Suspect number 1

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #32
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: August 10, 2023

A surge of power that soudned like an old tube TV started up emanated from Zero as she laughed.

Everything changed.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

He’s abducted by some representatives of a mysterious group who subject him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too). He passes—and is brought somewhere for answers, or maybe training, or maybe another test. Time will tell (or things are going to get really annoying). Answers aren’t quick to come—but the mysteries and questions keep piling up.

Things get hairy and Bonaduke leaves and finds himself back in the neighborhood he started from. He takes refuge in a homeless encampment shortly before a police raid. He’s apprehended and finds himself an interrogation room and shortly escapes after using his grift (but with results he didn’t quite intend). He finds himself by a group of squatters who seem to have strapped a woman to a chair for reasons that can’t be good. He attempts to rescue her before he even realizes what he’s doing, and seems to have succeeded—well, the two of them got away from the group anyway—breathing but bruised. They make their way to a fast-food taco joint and Bonaduke really needs to refuel to keep going. He tries, but fails to get food because he keeps passing out. Thankfully, the clerk is the same guy from the liquor store and he both recognizes him and gives him first aid. The woman (Zero) wakes up and shows some abilities of her on as she helps them escape from her captors who’ve tracked her down.

What’s Suspect number 1 About?

We get to see a little more of what Zero can do—and Eric (the clerk’s) car starts upgrading as they go along. But Bonaduke has run out of juice and can’t keep things going as much as they need him to.

So then, gripped by the spirit of Baldrick he comes up with a cunning plan. But like most of Baldrick’s plans, it doesn’t go so well.

So, what did I think about Suspect number 1?

First—Zero’s powers are as cool as I expected. But I need to know more.

Second—I don’t get what Bonaduke was trying to do, but I’m looking forward to figuring it out.

Third—this was another winner. Slaywood’s on a roll.

3.5 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 31: Cheat by R. T. Slaywood: Buckle Up!

On August 11, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 31: Cheat

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #31
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: August 10, 2023

The shooting is making this difficult!

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

He’s abducted by some representatives of a mysterious group who subject him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too). He passes—and is brought somewhere for answers, or maybe training, or maybe another test. Time will tell (or things are going to get really annoying). Answers aren’t quick to come—but the mysteries and questions keep piling up.

Things get hairy and Bonaduke leaves and finds himself back in the neighborhood he started from. He takes refuge in a homeless encampment shortly before a police raid. He’s apprehended and finds himself an interrogation room and shortly escapes after using his grift (but with results he didn’t quite intend). He finds himself by a group of squatters who seem to have strapped a woman to a chair for reasons that can’t be good. He attempts to rescue her before he even realizes what he’s doing, and seems to have succeeded—well, the two of them got away from the group anyway—breathing but bruised. They make their way to a fast-food taco joint and Bonaduke really needs to refuel to keep going. He tries, but fails to get food because he keeps passing out. Thankfully, the clerk is the same guy from the liquor store and he both recognizes him and gives him first aid. The woman (Zero) wakes up and shows some abilities of her on as she helps them escape from her captors who’ve tracked her down.

What’s Cheat About?

Zero’s driving the car like a bat out of hell—or at least as much as she can. She’s weaving all over, battering cars of the squatters, and essentially barely keeping them all alive. Something about the way that Bonaduke is playing a video game on the clerk’s phone is impacting them—Zero doesn’t really explain, but this has something to do with what she insisted they believe in the last episode.

Still, Bonaduke isn’t that good at phone games. Then he realizes that he borrowed the phone and his grift is able to kick in.

So, what did I think about Cheat?

I want more details about Zero’s ability—but I realize that a high-speed chase isn’t the best place for a conversation.

This episode was a lot of fun. There’s not much more to say.

4 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 30: Zero Game by R. T. Slaywood: Something’s Afoot!

On August 4, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 30: Zero Game