Tag: R.T. Slaywood

On November 11, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 8: Cat out of the bag

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #8
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: November 10, 2022

I smiled at the stupidity of it all. No one who was right in the head would think this would work, even with a real coin. “Stupid stuff works all the time.”

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.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into a liquor store robbery. He foils it in some sort of magical fashion, gets some more to drink, and heads off to the park to drink until he’s arrested (probably for the failed robbery). At least that’s his plan, but it gets interrupted by being hit by a car. He wakes up on some sort of short, metal bed and is unsure what’s going on. It turns out that some group is subjecting him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too).

What’s Cat out of the bag About?

Bonaduke tries a couple of new strategies that fail, and when he’s about at the end of his rope, or maybe at the end of his rope, something happens. Now he’s ready to begin.

So, what did I think about Cat out of the bag?

Oh, ho. Now we’re cooking with fire—we see a little about Bonaduke’s childhood. And we get to the end of the test, so we can find out what this has all been leading to. Whatever it is, it feels like a real improvement compared to his life on the streets.

Or, it could be a trap.

Either way, it will be fun to see.

3.5 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 7: Lost Lamb by R. T. Slaywood: Lost, but Maybe on the Way to Being Found

On November 4, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 7: Lost Lamb

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #7
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: November 3, 2022

That’s the thing people don’t get about being homeless. Nobody wants to see you until you’re a threat.

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.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into a liquor store robbery. He foils it in some sort of magical fashion, gets some more to drink, and heads off to the park to drink until he’s arrested (probably for the failed robbery). At least that’s his plan, but it gets interrupted by being hit by a car. He wakes up on some sort of short, metal bed and is unsure what’s going on. It turns out that some group is subjecting him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too).

What’s Lost Lamb About?

So Bonaduke’s strategy last time didn’t work out so well—and he tries a couple of other things, and we end up in a similar situation to the ending of the last episode. Bonaduke’s got an idea, he’s trying something, and…well, it ends.

So, what did I think about Lost Lamb?

I thought I didn’t have a lot to say about the previous episode, and it turns out that I’m still there. Bonaduke’s not making a lot of progress in this test, and I’m not making a lot of progress in my evaluation.

Once again, I have nothing but questions at this point—and I think that’s the point. I liked what we got here, and am possibly more intrigued by this story than I have been so far. Again, I’m tempted to toss of my schedule and catch up on all the episodes right now.

3.5 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 6: Rat in a Maze by R. T. Slaywood: I Feel Like I’m Lost in a Maze with This, but I Like It

On October 28, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 6: Rat in a Maze

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #6
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: October 27, 2022

I spent an uncomfortable amount of time pulling out the IV before standing up and rushing the door. The world spun upwards, and the floor hit my 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.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into a liquor store robbery. He foils it in some sort of magical fashion, gets some more to drink, and heads off to the park to drink until he’s arrested (probably for the failed robbery). At least that’s his plan, but it gets interrupted by being hit by a car. He wakes up on some sort of short, metal bed and is unsure what’s going on.

What’s Rat in a Maze About?

Bonaduke tries to escape from wherever exactly he is while learning what he can about it. It turns out that he’s going to be tested for something (he’s not told what) and if he passes, someone will explain everything. The test is…hard to explain without giving any details. Essentially he ends up taking a “Kirk passing the Kobayashi Maru” sort of approach. We’ll have to see how that works out for him in Episode 7.

So, what did I think about Rat in a Maze?

I don’t have a lot to say about this episode, but what I do have is complimentary.

I have nothing but questions at this point—and I think that’s the point. I liked what we got here, and am possibly more intrigued by this story than I have been so far. I’ve been fighting the temptation for a day to push on and ignore my schedule.

3.5 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 5: Hair of the Dog by R. T. Slaywood: Waking Up…

On October 21, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 5: Hair of the Dog

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #4
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: October 13, 2022

Only my experience waking from numerous drunken nights told me to keep quiet until I could sort out where I was. It also told me that the pain I was feeling was not from booze. It had started at the back of my head, and was already making its way down through my bones, joints, and muscles. Even my belly button hurt like hell. Each sensation fought like a bitch to complain the most. I felt like I was hit by a truck.

No.

It was a blue Prius.

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.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into a liquor store robbery. He foils it in some sort of magical fashion, gets some more to drink, and heads off to the park to drink until he’s arrested (probably for the failed robbery). At least that’s his plan, but it gets interrupted.

What’s Hair of the Dog About?

Bonaduke wakes up in pain, as you’re wont to do when hit by a car. Even by a Prius. He’s disoriented and hungover and it takes him a little while to piece together what had happened to him and how he may have arrived…wherever he is. That part’s unclear, he’s getting something delivered by an IV, he’s on something cold, metal, and too short to be a hospital bed (or anywhere else to hold an adult). There are a couple of people having a conversation nearby about him. Bonaduke doesn’t understand exactly what they’re saying or have any idea who they are.

Determined to confront them and get out of answers, he swings his “half-numb legs” off the bed and the episode ends.

So, what did I think about Hair of the Dog?

I’ll have to see what happens in Episode 6. I don’t have enough to really say—I think the direction this is going, though. Hopefully, Eposide 6 will be like 4, and give me something to chew on.

I think it’s clear at this point that the Kindle Vella format is really not my cup of tea. But I’m going to stick with this particular story, I just can’t see myself trying another.

3.5 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 4: The Five by R. T. Slaywood: In the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

On October 14, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 4: The Five

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #4
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: October 13, 2022

Recovering, I stood up straight, and stared at his right eye. His eyes bounced back and forth between mine, the gun moving with his gaze. Another one of my dad’s tricks as only professionals shoot a moving gun.

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.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into something.

What’s The Five About?

Bonaduke walks in on a liquor store robbery and takes it upon himself to intervene. We still don’t get a clear idea of his abilities or of whatever it is that makes this an Urban Fantasy. And wow. He’s not messing around. You get the impression that things are going to go bad for him soon–like he expected after his grift, which was a smaller exercise of his abilities. So whatever is coming will probably be even worse than that (and the last sentence seems to suggest we’ll see that soon).

So, what did I think about The Bad Stuff?

I really liked this one–good action, nice magic (or whatever it turns out to be), and I liked what we saw of Bonaduke and his motivations. If we get episodes like this on a fairly regular basis, I’m really going to enjoy this series.

Good hook for the next episode, too.

3.5 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 3: The Bad Stuff by R. T. Slaywood: We Get a Little Backstory

On October 7, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 3: The Bad Stuff

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #3
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: October 6, 2022

“Tell your friends you can have my body when I’m done.” The bird made a point not to look at me as it pecked at some garbage that had caught itself on the building’s corner, just like everyone else in this damn city did.

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.

What’s The Bad Stuff About?

Bonaduke slumps off to drink his ill-gotten windfall, but the memories overcome him. We don’t get details, but we learn his father died, he grew up in foster care, then his wife and children died.

So, what did I think about The Bad Stuff?

I don’t want to keep harping on the brevity of these things–that’s apparently part of the design. But man…as soon as I get into episode, it’s over.

It was nice–it filled in some needed motive and the last line or two definitely set the hook for Episode 4. I’m coming back for sure.

3 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 2: The Register by R. T. Slaywood: Bad Stuff on the Horizon

On September 30, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 2: The Grift

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #2
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: September 29, 2022

…when weird stuff happened, it was a sign that the bad stuff was close by.

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.

What’s The Grift About?

Bonaduke gets a sign that he shouldn’t proceed with the grift–and he actually doesn’t have to anymore. But he goes ahead, anyway, and gets a little carrying around money and the bottle he wants so much.

But there appears to be a price for his little trick–and he knows he’s going to pay it soon.

So, what did I think about The Register?

Okay, these story segments are wayyyy too short for me–as soon as I start to dig my teeth into something, it’s over. I’m curious to see what comes next–it promises to explain a little about what’s going on. I don’t expect that to be good for Michael.

3 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 1: The Register by R. T. Slaywood: A Sufficiently Intriguing Introduction

On September 23, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 1: The Register

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #1
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: September 22, 2022

I’m not sure how I got here and, honestly, I stopped caring.

I mean, I know, but I don’t remember.

Ah, who am I kidding? I know exactly how I got here, I can never forget the screams from that night.

The Story So Far…

Okay, this is Episode 1, so there’s nothing to put here now. This is the introduction to the series. The author states

This episode is the baseline, the norm for Michael Bonaduke; a broken man, and protagonist of this story. Everything from here on is abnormal, and will help you understand how Bonaduke came to be.

Which sounds pretty ominous, no?

What’s The Register About?

An inebriated man shops at a liquor store for another bottle to help him get through the night. Exactly what’s driven him to this, we don’t know, but he’s looking for an escape—not a good time.

He’s a little short on cash, though, and begins a “grift” to get the money he needs from the cashier. This, I think, is where the paranormal aspect kicks in—but we’ll have to see next time.

So, what did I think about The Register?

It’s not bad—it definitely gives you plenty to be interested in and leaves you wanting to know more.

I’m pretty curious about Bonaduke, which is the point. But beyond that? It’s too soon to say.

3 Stars

The Genius’ Guide to Bad Writing by R.T. Slaywood, R.C. Martinez: For Those Who Are Curious About Writing Worse