Tag: The Ballad of Bonaduke Page 3 of 6

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

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #30
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: August 4, 2023

…whatever happens next you have to believe or we’re worse than dead.

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.

What’s Zero Game About?

Before Bonaduke can get some food or come up with a decent plan for what to do next, the squatters find them and try to invade the restaurant to get the woman back (and probably punish Bonaduke). She wakes up, very conveniently, and takes charge—getting the clerk and Bonaduke to follow her lead pretty effortlessly (but not entirely willingly).

Then things get dangerous and weird.

So, what did I think about Zero Game?

Oh, ho. This is full of things happening. There’s zero naval-gazing or setup for later here (well, a little setup)—it’s about action and the story moving forward. This woman, apparently named Zero, is someone that I want to get to know better. And I think we’re going to get that chance.

Now I’m really annoyed that I took last week off because I could’ve been reading Episode 31 today otherwise. I really want to see what Zero does next.

4 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 29: All Talk by R. T. Slaywood: What a Small World

On July 21, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode Episode 29: All Talk

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #29
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: July 20, 2023

Just once I would like to wake up on something warm and soft.

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.

What’s All Talk About?

Desperate for something to eat to help him keep going, Bonaduke walks up to a drive-thru restaurant and places an order. Now, unless things are different where Slaywood or Bonaduke reside, he shouldn’t get served there—but he does. Well, almost. The employee at the window is someone the reader and Bonaduke know. So things go downhill fast (that conjunction might not be the best to use, but who do we know that Bonaduke does where things would go well after running into them?).

Without intending to, Bonduke uses his grift. He and the (still) unconscious woman find themselves a place to wait in relative security while waiting for the next shoe to drop and/or he decides what his next move will be.

So, what did I think about All Talk?

It’s not all talk—but it largely was. It’s one of the more dialogue-heavy episodes thus far—maybe the heaviest. But Slaywood’s kept the forward momentum going—and that’s what’s important.

I can think of nothing I didn’t like about this episode, Bonaduke keeps trying to help this woman, and while not enjoying it, successfully pushes this kid around to do just that. And maybe because he enjoys it a bit.

I really don’t have anything else to say. Good job, and I’m eager to see what happens next.

4 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 28: The Warning by R. T. Slaywood: In Which Our Hero(?) Ponders a Bit

On July 7, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode Episode 28: The Warning

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #28
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: June 29, 2023

I could feel blood dripping down my back and begin soaking the waistline of my pants by the time I reached the exit. The pain from my leg almost blocked out the sensation of my socks soaking from the ankle down, but it was there.

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…

What’s The Warning About?

This episode is essentially Bonaduke carrying the woman he rescued out of the building and thinking about what happened at the end–how did his grift work in that situation? It was a lot more powerful than he’s used to–for that matter how does it work in the first place? He’s still trying to figure that out.

He doesn’t come up with a firm answer–not much of any answer, but he’s chewing on it.

So, what did I think about The Warning?

So, um…yeah. It’s good for Bonaduke (and therefore the reader) to get some clarification on what happened, but I’m not sure we got any solid answers here. I’m pretty sure he didn’t, and if he didn’t, we can’t. I’d like an answer or two soon. The beginnings of theories are interesting, and it’s nice to see a character think through something. But argh…some progress we could hang our hats on to would be interesting.

I’m reminding myself that if I wasn’t reading this episodically, I’d probably not have these frustrations. But…I am and I do.

I don’t have a firm opinion on this episode, because it’s a stepping stone. The problems I have with it are because of the design, not the execution. I didn’t dislike it is the best I can do–oh, and I want more.

I’m hoping we get back to the guys in the apartment (or their colleagues) in the near future–and maybe some more with the sister-in-law. But if Slaywood’s got another interesting curveball to throw at us, I won’t complain.

3 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 27: Zero Rescue by R. T. Slaywood: So, That Happened

On June 30, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 27: Zero Rescue

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #27
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: June 29, 2023

This is bad

This is really bad

…

I’m losing.

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). 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. Taking refuge in a homeless encampment, Bonaduke has to make some decisions. He starts to get his thoughts in order when the police begin a raid at the camp. During the raid, he’s apprehended by…well, we need to find out. But first, the interrogation kicks off—Bonaduke tries to work his grift to get him out, and while that effort starts off promisingly…it didn’t quite go the way he’d intended. 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…

[I really need to tighten that up, hopefully I have time for that next week]

What’s Zero Rescue About?

That title doesn’t fill you with a bunch of hope for what’s about to happen, does it?

We left Bonaduke in a pretty precarious situation. And it gets worse this episode starts.

And then…well, I’m not precisely sure what happens (yet?), but it’s big.

I know I’m being vague, but it’ll be an episode or two before we get a real idea what happened.

So, what did I think about Zero Rescue?

I hate to complain about typos (really)–but there’s one in the final line that took away some of the impact, which is a crying shame, because it was a good one.

I think I liked the episode, but I’m a little afraid that Slaywood might be getting vague and indefinite (maybe even muddled) rather than mysterious and enigmatic. But in time, I trust we’ll get some resolution.

I don’t really have much to say about this episode–I like the directionit’ headed, but I’m going to need to see more before I have much more to say.

3 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 26: Something Awful by R. T. Slaywood: Whoa…

On June 23, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 26: Something Awful

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #26
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: June 23, 2023

My boot connected with his face. I felt a squishing sensation through the heel of my foot and watched as his entire head collapsed inward like an oversized cadbury egg.

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). 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. Taking refuge in a homeless encampment, Bonaduke has to make some decisions. He starts to get his thoughts in order when the police begin a raid at the camp. During the raid, he’s apprehended by…well, we need to find out. But first, the interrogation kicks off—Bonaduke tries to work his grift to get him out, and while that effort starts off promisingly…it didn’t quite go the way he’d intended. 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…

What’s Something Awful About?

We left Bonaduke in a tight spot—surrounded by a lot of people being led by someone with some sort of interest in their abductee. We don’t know what that interest is, but we know it’s not going to be easy for him to get her out of there.

That’s what this episode’s about—just how hard it’s going to be when all of these people decide to stop Bonaduke. There’s no magic, there’s no grift, there’s no navel-gazing, or anything. It’s just an all-on-one brawl. Bonaduke’s better at that than I’d have guessed—it might just be a combination of fear, adrenaline, and oddly good luck. But it might be working for him.

So, what did I think about Something Awful?

This was nothing but action. The plot didn’t move forward at all, like with many other episodes, but this was so action-packed, who could notice?

There were a couple of lines where I wasn’t sure exactly what Slaywood was trying to accomplish, but by and large, he did a convincing job with this brawl. I was glued throughout and can’t wait to see how/if Bonaduke gets out of this one.

3.5 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 25: Nothing by R. T. Slaywood: This Ain’t Nothing

On June 16, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 25: Nothing

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #25
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: June 15, 2023

My grift had brought me here. Call it luck, call it destiny, hell call it bad stuff I was done running away. Done hiding. Done. I clenched my jaw and pulled open the disabled sliding door that I somehow knew would be unlocked.

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). 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. Taking refuge in a homeless encampment, Bonaduke has to make some decisions. He starts to get his thoughts in order when the police begin a raid at the camp. During the raid, he’s apprehended by…well, we need to find out. But first, the interrogation kicks off—Bonaduke tries to work his grift to get him out, and while that effort starts off promisingly…it didn’t quite go the way he’d intended. 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.

What’s Nothing About?

Before he can register what he’s doing, Bonaduke races to the woman to try to free her. There’s some commotion from the rest of the squatters and one—presumably a leader of some sort—moves to intervene.

A physical altercation ensues and Bonaduke finds a way to use his grift to help himself and…

I don’t know, we’ll see how badly this goes for him* in the next episode.

* Or how well, I should say—he’s due, right?

So, what did I think about Nothing?

Oh ho! This was good—plenty of action, a little exploration of Bonaduke’s abilities, and the kind of cliffhanger ending that leaves you in anticipation (rather than an eye-roll because it’s clearly manipulative (although the point of a cliffhanger is to manipulate, you know what I mean)).

Bonus points for the rather realistic self-injury resulting from a thrown punch.

No complaints from me on this one. I’m eager for the next episode.

3.5 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 24: Circles without Center by R. T. Slaywood: That’s Not What I Expected At All

On June 9, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 24: Circles without Center

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #24
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: June 8, 2023

My grift had brought me here. Call it luck, call it destiny, hell call it bad stuff I was done running away. Done hiding. Done. I clenched my jaw and pulled open the disabled sliding door that I somehow knew would be unlocked.

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). 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. Taking refuge in a homeless encampment, Bonaduke has to make some decisions. He starts to get his thoughts in order when the police begin a raid at the camp. During the raid, he’s apprehended by…well, we need to find out. But first, the interrogation kicks off—Bonaduke tries to work his grift to get him out, and while that effort starts off promisingly…it didn’t quite go the way he’d intended.

What’s Circles without Center About?

Not much. Bonaduke starts to wonder what’s going on with his grift, it’s not working like he’s used to–but maybe that’s because he doesn’t understand it.

He then walks into the building his grift brought him to and finds something neither the reader or he expected.

So, what did I think about Circles without Center?

I have no idea…I didn’t dislike it. But I’m not convinced that I have enough to form an opinion on. I need more to go on.

If the goal was to get me to click on the next episode–it worked. The only reason that I didn’t immediately go forward is that I needed to get some sleep. I really want to see what Bonaduke walked into.

3 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 23: Grift or Die by R. T. Slaywood: Without a Paddle

On May 26, 2023

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 23: Grift or Die