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Mad Shadows
Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser
Valdar is a city of swordslingers and necromancers, witch cults and halfhuman races. It’s 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 name’s 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 Shadows—The 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.
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 name’s 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 Shadows—The 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.
- GenresFantasySword and Sorcery
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2011
4 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Joe Bonadonna
39 books26 followersI've published a number of short stories, and authored and co-authored eight 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. I've written numerous reviews and articles for Black Gate online magazine.
MAD SHADOWS - Book 1: THE WEIRD TALES OF DORGO THE DOWSER.
MAD SHADOWS - Book 2: THE ORDER OF THE SERPENT,
MAD SHADOWS - BOOK 3: THE HEROES OF ECHO GATE.
THREE AGAINST THE STARS
THE MECHMEN OF CANIS-9
WATERS OF DARKNESS, co-authored with David C. Smith.
THREE GHOSTS AND A BLACK PUMPKIN and THE POWER OF THE SAPPHIRE WAND, co-authored with and illustrated by Erika M Szabo
QUEEN OF TOADS appears in the Kindle anthology, Here Be Ghosts.
SAMUEL MEANTWELL AND THE LITTLE BLACK CLOUD OF THE APOCALYPSE appears in the shared-world anthology, Shad'Dadd: Toy, co-authored with Shebat Legion.
THE BOOK OF ECHOES, appears in the brand-new "shared-theme" anthology from Heathen Oracle, ARTIFACTS AND RELICS: EXTREME SWORD AND SORCERY.
THE BLOOD OF THE LION appears in the Sword and Soul Fantasy anthology GRIOTS 2: SISTERS OF THE SPEAR, edited by Charles Saunders and Milton Davis.
For author Janet Morris' highly-acclaimed series, HEROES IN HELL, I have published stories in Poets in Hell, Doctors in Hell, Pirates in Hell, Lovers in Hell, Mystics in Hell, Liars in Hell, and Monsters in Hell.
My story, SINBAD AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE, appears in the shared-world anthology, SINBAD: THE NEW VOYAGES, VOL. 4. m.
My story, "The Dragon's Horde," has been published in HEROIKA 1: DRAGON EATERS.
In collaboration with David C. Smith, our story, "To Save Hermesia," appears in the shared-world anthology, THE LOST EMPIRE OF SOL.
I have published poems in Stand Together: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories for Ukraine.
My story, "The Vampire Tree," appears in SAVAGE REALMS MONTHLY, MARCH 2022.
My story, "Just Another Day in Heaven, appears in the anthology UNBREAKABLE INK.
My story, "The Goblin Herd," appears in the anthology, LEGION PRESS.
As Editor:
"Hello, My Name is Max, and I Have Autism: An Insight into the Autistic Mind," written and with drawings by Max Miller.
"Being Max's Mom," by Rebecca Miller.
"Libertine: Awakenings," written by Cat Ravenelle.
For author A.L. Butcher I have edited "The Kitchen Imps," and "Tales of Erana: The Warrior's Curse."
MAD SHADOWS - Book 1: THE WEIRD TALES OF DORGO THE DOWSER.
MAD SHADOWS - Book 2: THE ORDER OF THE SERPENT,
MAD SHADOWS - BOOK 3: THE HEROES OF ECHO GATE.
THREE AGAINST THE STARS
THE MECHMEN OF CANIS-9
WATERS OF DARKNESS, co-authored with David C. Smith.
THREE GHOSTS AND A BLACK PUMPKIN and THE POWER OF THE SAPPHIRE WAND, co-authored with and illustrated by Erika M Szabo
QUEEN OF TOADS appears in the Kindle anthology, Here Be Ghosts.
SAMUEL MEANTWELL AND THE LITTLE BLACK CLOUD OF THE APOCALYPSE appears in the shared-world anthology, Shad'Dadd: Toy, co-authored with Shebat Legion.
THE BOOK OF ECHOES, appears in the brand-new "shared-theme" anthology from Heathen Oracle, ARTIFACTS AND RELICS: EXTREME SWORD AND SORCERY.
THE BLOOD OF THE LION appears in the Sword and Soul Fantasy anthology GRIOTS 2: SISTERS OF THE SPEAR, edited by Charles Saunders and Milton Davis.
For author Janet Morris' highly-acclaimed series, HEROES IN HELL, I have published stories in Poets in Hell, Doctors in Hell, Pirates in Hell, Lovers in Hell, Mystics in Hell, Liars in Hell, and Monsters in Hell.
My story, SINBAD AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE, appears in the shared-world anthology, SINBAD: THE NEW VOYAGES, VOL. 4. m.
My story, "The Dragon's Horde," has been published in HEROIKA 1: DRAGON EATERS.
In collaboration with David C. Smith, our story, "To Save Hermesia," appears in the shared-world anthology, THE LOST EMPIRE OF SOL.
I have published poems in Stand Together: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories for Ukraine.
My story, "The Vampire Tree," appears in SAVAGE REALMS MONTHLY, MARCH 2022.
My story, "Just Another Day in Heaven, appears in the anthology UNBREAKABLE INK.
My story, "The Goblin Herd," appears in the anthology, LEGION PRESS.
As Editor:
"Hello, My Name is Max, and I Have Autism: An Insight into the Autistic Mind," written and with drawings by Max Miller.
"Being Max's Mom," by Rebecca Miller.
"Libertine: Awakenings," written by Cat Ravenelle.
For author A.L. Butcher I have edited "The Kitchen Imps," and "Tales of Erana: The Warrior's Curse."
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 9, 2017
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
View all my reviews
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
View all my reviews
May 31, 2021
This is the first anthology of a trilogy of books featuring Dorgo the Dowser, a one-of-a-kind detective/sword and sorcery hero/amorous rogue/occultist (yes, all of those slashes are necessary). As I read this, I could not help but think of the first years of the pulp, *Weird Tales,* when that magazine was not yet constrained by genre conventions/tropes, when it was an unpretentious playground of the literary bizarre. Why? Like the beginning years of that legendary pulp, the stories in this anthology are exuberantly difficult to categorize. Is this sword and sorcery? Detective fiction? Lost world adventure? Could Dowser himself say? In the afterword, the author demonstrates familiarity with a variety of pop culture touchstones: S&S, classic horror film, sci-fi television, punk rock, fantasy roleplaying games, and more. These stories capture that level of variety and color and are gushing with radiant energy and prismatic joy. I am into grim fiction in fantasy, so I was hard to win over in the first few pages; but, as I got deeper into the experience (and encontered a fair amount of darkness), the charismatic protagonist allowed me to accept and enjoy the unique world, the parade of minotaurs, cursed witches, demon-possessed puppets, reptile apes, foul-mouthed satyrs, "unicats," gold-thirsty shadows, werewolves, alien sorcerers, and more. Reading this was a literary acid trip, a KISS concert, a police procedural, a sword and sorcery adventure, all somehow contained within two covers. And despite this, there are a few surprising moments of quietude: humane, touching, and memorable. Looking forward to the second book.
May 14, 2016
Dorgo Mikawber is a resident of the city of Valdar, a cesspit with as many cutthroats, remorseless killers and femme fatales as there are minotaurs, centaurs, fawns, and dwarves. Dorgo himself is a lovable rogue, and ex soldier, down on his luck, who sails close to the wind and only just manages to stay this side of the law as an investigator of all things "strange" - a position he finds himself in after being gifted a magical dowsing rod from a Yongarloo shaman. With it, he runs afoul of warlocks, wizards, witches, werewolves...oh yes, and mad scientists from other dimensions.
This makes for an entertaining set of adventures presented in one book as a series of sequential mini-sagas. (A novel approach that I personally found worked well). Dorgo is a lovable character, gifted with a dry sense of humor, and his down-to-earth approach was a pleasure to get involved with.
If you enjoy magical mystery and mystical mayhem - you'll absolutely love Mad Shadows. Highly recommended.
This makes for an entertaining set of adventures presented in one book as a series of sequential mini-sagas. (A novel approach that I personally found worked well). Dorgo is a lovable character, gifted with a dry sense of humor, and his down-to-earth approach was a pleasure to get involved with.
If you enjoy magical mystery and mystical mayhem - you'll absolutely love Mad Shadows. Highly recommended.
August 4, 2013
This is just the sort of short story collection that I love to read. All six of the stories featured, “Mad Shadows”, “The Secret of Andaro’s Daughter’s”, “The Moonstones of Sor Lunarum”, “The Man Who Loved Puppets”, “In the Vale of the Black Diamond”, and “Blood on the Moon”, center around the adventures of one central character, Dorgo.
Dorgo is a dowser, as the title of the book and his nickname indicate. Dorgo lives in a world where mystical creatures are not only real but live lives very much like yours and a mine and is doing his best just to make it. This leaves him as sort of a cross between private investigator, petty criminal, ladies man, and hero. Both his character and the majority of the stories offered up here about his life have a very noir feel to them, which is quite a departure from what most readers expect from the fantasy genre. It is a pleasant departure that I feel really works.
The exceptions to this rule were the final two stories. They were enjoyable reads, but Dorgo’s life and character take a bit of a turn. He’s removed from his home among the thugs and sexy dames of his day to day life for an adventure with a childhood friend. This friend is from a well to do, noble family and is on a mission to search for an item of great power, in order to save the life of her brother. The story of this search, “In the Vale of the Black Diamond”, felt very much to me like it could have been included in a collection of Lovecraftian tales; alien being, lost cities, that sort of thing.
The finally story, “Blood on the Moon”, was more of a traditional horror story, and also saw Dorgo through to the ultimate conclusion of the adventure he started on in “In the Vale of the Black Diamond”. All of the stories in this book or connected to one another in similar ways and follow a linear time line in the life of the main character and by the close of this story I was sorry to see Dorgo ride off into the sunset. He was a flawed character, probably not the sort of guy you’d trust with your money or your daughter, but reading about his life was fun. That is, at the end of the day, the most we can ask for from a book’s main character.
Dorgo is a dowser, as the title of the book and his nickname indicate. Dorgo lives in a world where mystical creatures are not only real but live lives very much like yours and a mine and is doing his best just to make it. This leaves him as sort of a cross between private investigator, petty criminal, ladies man, and hero. Both his character and the majority of the stories offered up here about his life have a very noir feel to them, which is quite a departure from what most readers expect from the fantasy genre. It is a pleasant departure that I feel really works.
The exceptions to this rule were the final two stories. They were enjoyable reads, but Dorgo’s life and character take a bit of a turn. He’s removed from his home among the thugs and sexy dames of his day to day life for an adventure with a childhood friend. This friend is from a well to do, noble family and is on a mission to search for an item of great power, in order to save the life of her brother. The story of this search, “In the Vale of the Black Diamond”, felt very much to me like it could have been included in a collection of Lovecraftian tales; alien being, lost cities, that sort of thing.
The finally story, “Blood on the Moon”, was more of a traditional horror story, and also saw Dorgo through to the ultimate conclusion of the adventure he started on in “In the Vale of the Black Diamond”. All of the stories in this book or connected to one another in similar ways and follow a linear time line in the life of the main character and by the close of this story I was sorry to see Dorgo ride off into the sunset. He was a flawed character, probably not the sort of guy you’d trust with your money or your daughter, but reading about his life was fun. That is, at the end of the day, the most we can ask for from a book’s main character.
December 5, 2012
Is a collection of six Sword & Sorcery/Gothic Noir novella's featuring Dorgo the Dowser, a sleuth and jack of all trades who utilizes the unlikely tool of a sorcerous dowsing rod to investigate crimes and mysteries-which usually get him into a heap of trouble to boot.
I could not help but feel the kinship to all the great old noir books and film as I read these. I could have been in the midst of a Hammet or Chandler tale with Dorgo relating a past event at the bar and then suddenly a vicious centaur or gold eating demon becomes involved-and it all makes sense. Bonadonna's world-building is excellent-here is an author I have no doubt has made the most of life experiences within his own fantasy realm.
I especially loved the asides of Dorgo narrating the back-story on other characters as well as Bonadonna's dialogue = magical and gritty. The sorcery encountered is unique and yet the world of Dorgo is realistic and strong on character giving this book the best of the pulps flavor.
Another defining thing I enjoyed about these tales (doing my best not release any spoilers) is that Dorgo does not always have things go his way. True to the noir turnabouts and twists, situations radically shift and Dorgo isn't in control or even necessarily know what's going on (even if he thinks he does).
This is one that I'm pretty sure all my S&S pulp friends will enjoy.
I'm looking forward to the next Dorgo tale, The Book of Echoes in the Artifacts & Relics anthology (that I'm also a part of) hopefully released earlier next year.
I could not help but feel the kinship to all the great old noir books and film as I read these. I could have been in the midst of a Hammet or Chandler tale with Dorgo relating a past event at the bar and then suddenly a vicious centaur or gold eating demon becomes involved-and it all makes sense. Bonadonna's world-building is excellent-here is an author I have no doubt has made the most of life experiences within his own fantasy realm.
I especially loved the asides of Dorgo narrating the back-story on other characters as well as Bonadonna's dialogue = magical and gritty. The sorcery encountered is unique and yet the world of Dorgo is realistic and strong on character giving this book the best of the pulps flavor.
Another defining thing I enjoyed about these tales (doing my best not release any spoilers) is that Dorgo does not always have things go his way. True to the noir turnabouts and twists, situations radically shift and Dorgo isn't in control or even necessarily know what's going on (even if he thinks he does).
This is one that I'm pretty sure all my S&S pulp friends will enjoy.
I'm looking forward to the next Dorgo tale, The Book of Echoes in the Artifacts & Relics anthology (that I'm also a part of) hopefully released earlier next year.
September 6, 2012
Review of “Mad Shadows”
I recently read a book entitled “Mad Shadows,The Weird Tales of Dorgo The Dowser, by Joe Bonadonna.
This was indeed a book filled with weird tales. There were monsters and imaginary creatures throughout, and every tale flowed into the next one, so there were common threads. The stories take place in an imaginary world much like our own, but not quite the same, as most fantasy/sword and sorcery tales do.
Dorgo is almost a reluctant hero as he seems to take far more lumps then he gives out, and more times then not he has to be saved by one of the other characters, though in the end he always saves the day.
There were several excellent stories within this tome, and it's very hard to pick a favorite, though the last one (A werewolf story) struck a resonance with me.
I enjoyed this book very much, probably because it was so different then anything I had read in a long while.
This was a good, enjoyable read, that I looked forward to picking up each day. Dorgo's world is a world of magic and monsters as well as less evil in nature. Centaurs and Satyrs play and work here as well as other, far less recognizable creatures.
All in all this was an excellent fantasy book, and I enjoyed living in Dorgo's world , albeit briefly, very much,. Five stars!
I recently read a book entitled “Mad Shadows,The Weird Tales of Dorgo The Dowser, by Joe Bonadonna.
This was indeed a book filled with weird tales. There were monsters and imaginary creatures throughout, and every tale flowed into the next one, so there were common threads. The stories take place in an imaginary world much like our own, but not quite the same, as most fantasy/sword and sorcery tales do.
Dorgo is almost a reluctant hero as he seems to take far more lumps then he gives out, and more times then not he has to be saved by one of the other characters, though in the end he always saves the day.
There were several excellent stories within this tome, and it's very hard to pick a favorite, though the last one (A werewolf story) struck a resonance with me.
I enjoyed this book very much, probably because it was so different then anything I had read in a long while.
This was a good, enjoyable read, that I looked forward to picking up each day. Dorgo's world is a world of magic and monsters as well as less evil in nature. Centaurs and Satyrs play and work here as well as other, far less recognizable creatures.
All in all this was an excellent fantasy book, and I enjoyed living in Dorgo's world , albeit briefly, very much,. Five stars!
April 12, 2018
Old fashioned sword & sorcery pulp tales, but in some cases a bit too old fashioned for my tastes.
While I appreciated the noir influences, having the protagonist evaluate every female character based on their looks felt a bit to old school for me. His friend Yozinda, a kick ass warrior made up for some of that, but having Dorgo, the main character, punch a male character who kissed him while in a female guise as the supposedly comical punchline of story really grated on me.
I guess the target audience of Bonadonna's works is the more conservative fantasy reader, which is probably a bit chunk of the people who like to read action heavy sword & sorcery. When reading the older stories from Robert E. Howard or even Fritz Leiber I tend to excuse some of the more old fashioned treatment of women, but for newer authors I'm just a bit more strict.
It might feel harsh to criticize a book based on the views of a character, but fiction does have a big influence on how people internalize certain views, as I've noticed when reading to my toddler daughter.
Ok, long winded essay, back to the actual stories. I did like the actual stories enough to still rate this book 3 stars. It's certainly not bad, I'm sadly just not the target audience.
While I appreciated the noir influences, having the protagonist evaluate every female character based on their looks felt a bit to old school for me. His friend Yozinda, a kick ass warrior made up for some of that, but having Dorgo, the main character, punch a male character who kissed him while in a female guise as the supposedly comical punchline of story really grated on me.
I guess the target audience of Bonadonna's works is the more conservative fantasy reader, which is probably a bit chunk of the people who like to read action heavy sword & sorcery. When reading the older stories from Robert E. Howard or even Fritz Leiber I tend to excuse some of the more old fashioned treatment of women, but for newer authors I'm just a bit more strict.
It might feel harsh to criticize a book based on the views of a character, but fiction does have a big influence on how people internalize certain views, as I've noticed when reading to my toddler daughter.
Ok, long winded essay, back to the actual stories. I did like the actual stories enough to still rate this book 3 stars. It's certainly not bad, I'm sadly just not the target audience.
October 3, 2014
A collection of stories tied together featuring Dorgo the Dowser. He is not the typical sword and sorcery hero but is heroic when he has to be. The stories get better as they progress. There are some very chilling scenes within the book.
November 1, 2011
An excellent read! I enjoyed Mad Shadows from beginning to end. Joe blends pulp fiction and fantasy effortlessly and his characters are wonderful. One of the best books I've read this year.
June 16, 2020
This is the first edition, published in 2011 by iUniverse. This one is no longer available, but a second and revised edition is now available, published by Pulp Hero Press.
November 27, 2015
Engaging characters. A nice read.
September 12, 2019
A blend of Howard, Lovecraft and Dashell Hammet, Dorgo the Dowser is just one of those guys who always finds himself in the wrong place at the right time. Toting a pronged dowser rod that searches out all sorts of mystical villains, Dorgo is a good guy with an edge. Fiction with a lot of pulp!
February 16, 2014
Firstly let me state this clear that it’s about time the Indian (and of course Asian) bookaholics start choosing books like this. For, i bet that it'll be an entirely different experience - so much like a safe excursion in to another world, a dark world(dark, dreary, but extremely enjoyable and intriguing) swelling with dark arts of necromancy, witchcraft, evil magic. . . . . . Etc. It is time to take a detour from the usuals( but i don't blame all of them, exceptional and marvelous works do emanate:)) like i said , reading 'Mad Shadows' was like a little trip to that world, which Joe Bonadonna has so prudently penned to perfection- Aerlotha,Valdar....a sojourn amidst necromancers and witches, disembodied spirits, evil entities, creatures of the dark nights. The introduction of the supernatural investigator was extremely fresh subject (for this humble reader, of course) and that too with his marvelous, magical dowsing rod. personally, as an Indian reader, as a south Indian, native of Kerala state, having born and bought up in a state rich with supernatural fables - of black magicians, Tantrics, yogis,Yakshis, kinnaras and Gandharvas(all Indian versions of witches, black magicians and supernatural entities J) , i could enjoy the book to the fullest, that everything from the chilling fables and legends, long dormant in me , seemed to have given life to the images and description(exceptionally perfect description, i must say) in the chapter. This is why i have already recommended it to many of my friends here.
Another remarkable fact is that Joe had been very careful to do away with making it excessively dreary, too dark and ghostly, for it could have been a disaster for a tale akin to this. the author had packed interesting little adventures with the advent of intriguing characters like Yozinda(In The Vale of the Black Diamond, Blood on the Moon) and many female supporting characters that leave the reader wishing that their tale (and venture) never ended.
The cover art, to mention, is very cleverly chosen that it don't leave a speck of the rich , thick darkness and spooky adventures inside, unprojected. The book can't have a better cover. The portrait of shadowy Dorgo with his magical Dowsing rod, and all the ghostly figures starring/peeping from the back!
Story
MAD SHADOWS is the collection of six short stories;
1) Mad Shadows
2) The Secret of Andaro's Daughter
3) The Moon Stones of Sor Lanarum
4) The Man Who Loved Puppets
5) In the Vale of The Black Diamond
6) Blood on The Moon
* Mad Shadows is the story of evil, dark entities thrust for gold. Their reign of terror in the city of valdar exceeds all limits. The city is forced to open their eyes in the mornings to the sight of dead bodies and savor death's dreary, foul smell, of rotten flesh. Dorgo Mikawber(Dorgo the Dowser, i liked this usage better) come to their rescue, investigating the mystery and thereby nullifying the evil presence.
* The Secret of Andaro's Daughter is, as the name indicates, about Dorgo's investigation of the mysterious disappearance of an alchemist and his daughter, who is believed to have the possession of a magical key to immortality.
* The Moon Stones of Sor Lunarum is the tale of two brothers fetching magical moon stones owned by a witch. Strange and apparently unexplainable murders start to occur then. The hero Dorgo is called for help. He is to secure the magical stones before wrong hands use it for the cause of evil.
* The Man Who Loved Puppets, is about a strange illness that strikes a little town, affecting mostly the children leading them to a state of coma (tales about strange illness that affect a small population/township/village and a magical holy cure that comes are said in tones, especially in my country, but this one is truly different and worth reading) Dorgo is destined to root out the cause for the mishap and save the children.
*In The Vale of the Diamond and Blood On the Moon
These two stories among the six are my favorite. where Dorgo, our hero and Yozinda takes on thrilling ventures and ends up in unsolved mysteries and cursed populations who gaze at them with their pity, fear stricken eyes, so desperate for help, that Dorgo can't do away with getting involved. in the first story the two set out to the canyon of Severnus Tujeer seeking the magical Black Diamond which has the capacity to cure great blights. Yazinda intends to cure her brother (stricken by an illness) using the magical powers of the diamond. In Blood on Moon Dorgo and Yazinda reaches the latter’s hometown of Okalin and finds the town population in benumbing fear as the place is cursed with mysterious and unsolved murders. Dorgo gets in to action rooting out the cause of the murders.
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Well, i may also include a request to the author(that i would be sharing with many fellow readers) - to send Dorgo for more adventures, to dispatch the Dowser to solve more mysteries amidst ghosts, vampires, half humans and witches(Sorry Dorgo but we can't help it J) i am eager to devour more of Dorgo ventures, do pen more Joe. And thank you for this amazing work.
Another remarkable fact is that Joe had been very careful to do away with making it excessively dreary, too dark and ghostly, for it could have been a disaster for a tale akin to this. the author had packed interesting little adventures with the advent of intriguing characters like Yozinda(In The Vale of the Black Diamond, Blood on the Moon) and many female supporting characters that leave the reader wishing that their tale (and venture) never ended.
The cover art, to mention, is very cleverly chosen that it don't leave a speck of the rich , thick darkness and spooky adventures inside, unprojected. The book can't have a better cover. The portrait of shadowy Dorgo with his magical Dowsing rod, and all the ghostly figures starring/peeping from the back!
Story
MAD SHADOWS is the collection of six short stories;
1) Mad Shadows
2) The Secret of Andaro's Daughter
3) The Moon Stones of Sor Lanarum
4) The Man Who Loved Puppets
5) In the Vale of The Black Diamond
6) Blood on The Moon
* Mad Shadows is the story of evil, dark entities thrust for gold. Their reign of terror in the city of valdar exceeds all limits. The city is forced to open their eyes in the mornings to the sight of dead bodies and savor death's dreary, foul smell, of rotten flesh. Dorgo Mikawber(Dorgo the Dowser, i liked this usage better) come to their rescue, investigating the mystery and thereby nullifying the evil presence.
* The Secret of Andaro's Daughter is, as the name indicates, about Dorgo's investigation of the mysterious disappearance of an alchemist and his daughter, who is believed to have the possession of a magical key to immortality.
* The Moon Stones of Sor Lunarum is the tale of two brothers fetching magical moon stones owned by a witch. Strange and apparently unexplainable murders start to occur then. The hero Dorgo is called for help. He is to secure the magical stones before wrong hands use it for the cause of evil.
* The Man Who Loved Puppets, is about a strange illness that strikes a little town, affecting mostly the children leading them to a state of coma (tales about strange illness that affect a small population/township/village and a magical holy cure that comes are said in tones, especially in my country, but this one is truly different and worth reading) Dorgo is destined to root out the cause for the mishap and save the children.
*In The Vale of the Diamond and Blood On the Moon
These two stories among the six are my favorite. where Dorgo, our hero and Yozinda takes on thrilling ventures and ends up in unsolved mysteries and cursed populations who gaze at them with their pity, fear stricken eyes, so desperate for help, that Dorgo can't do away with getting involved. in the first story the two set out to the canyon of Severnus Tujeer seeking the magical Black Diamond which has the capacity to cure great blights. Yazinda intends to cure her brother (stricken by an illness) using the magical powers of the diamond. In Blood on Moon Dorgo and Yazinda reaches the latter’s hometown of Okalin and finds the town population in benumbing fear as the place is cursed with mysterious and unsolved murders. Dorgo gets in to action rooting out the cause of the murders.
--------------------------------------------------------
Well, i may also include a request to the author(that i would be sharing with many fellow readers) - to send Dorgo for more adventures, to dispatch the Dowser to solve more mysteries amidst ghosts, vampires, half humans and witches(Sorry Dorgo but we can't help it J) i am eager to devour more of Dorgo ventures, do pen more Joe. And thank you for this amazing work.
July 23, 2014
What can I say about Dorgo? He is the Mike Hammer of the Fantasy World?
I love this guy.
I was going to spout something poetic about this book, but I decided that wouldn’t match up with the hard boiled noir style of this fantastic read.
So here goes nothing….
Once I started this book, I could not stop. It was like a freight train, pulling me through all the stories and all the events that occur within them. This is a book driven by its characters and an incessant need to figure out the mysteries encapsulated within the story. There is always just enough to keep the reader entranced by and invested in the actual mystery itself. Unlike so many mysteries where formula and tired old clichés drive the story, these are new and fun—partly because they are embedded in a dark fantasy world and partly because they aren’t prepared in any obvious formula.
It isn’t the setting that draws you into these stories, like so many deeply woven fantasy stories (although I must admit that the setting is quite deep for a book like this, and filled with great detail and research). This story is all about Dorgo and how he deals with the mysteries that are thrown at him. He is at once a deeply hard-boiled guy, and a caring, concerned person looking out for the wellbeing of his beloved city. Think The Grey Mouser mixed with Magnum P.I. … without the Ferrari.
Heroic—The hardboiled tradition usually has this sort of troubled hero that rises above his faults and crustiness to become endearing. He pursues the mystery to its end, often times despite his personality flaws, often times through sheer determination. This Dorgo guy continues that tradition. We find ourselves liking him despite his sarcastic nature, despite his winning personality. We want this dude to rise above, despite knowing he may not be the smartest, most capable guy. He is just plain diligent, plain spoken and more intuitive than you initially can see—a la Columbo.
Have I said it enough? I love this guy!
I would recommend this story to anyone that enjoys either noir mysteries or sword & sorcery fantasy. It does not conform to any norm that I am aware of and encapsulates all the great things we look for in our heroes. Take a read, you won’t regret it.
I love this guy.
I was going to spout something poetic about this book, but I decided that wouldn’t match up with the hard boiled noir style of this fantastic read.
So here goes nothing….
Once I started this book, I could not stop. It was like a freight train, pulling me through all the stories and all the events that occur within them. This is a book driven by its characters and an incessant need to figure out the mysteries encapsulated within the story. There is always just enough to keep the reader entranced by and invested in the actual mystery itself. Unlike so many mysteries where formula and tired old clichés drive the story, these are new and fun—partly because they are embedded in a dark fantasy world and partly because they aren’t prepared in any obvious formula.
It isn’t the setting that draws you into these stories, like so many deeply woven fantasy stories (although I must admit that the setting is quite deep for a book like this, and filled with great detail and research). This story is all about Dorgo and how he deals with the mysteries that are thrown at him. He is at once a deeply hard-boiled guy, and a caring, concerned person looking out for the wellbeing of his beloved city. Think The Grey Mouser mixed with Magnum P.I. … without the Ferrari.
Heroic—The hardboiled tradition usually has this sort of troubled hero that rises above his faults and crustiness to become endearing. He pursues the mystery to its end, often times despite his personality flaws, often times through sheer determination. This Dorgo guy continues that tradition. We find ourselves liking him despite his sarcastic nature, despite his winning personality. We want this dude to rise above, despite knowing he may not be the smartest, most capable guy. He is just plain diligent, plain spoken and more intuitive than you initially can see—a la Columbo.
Have I said it enough? I love this guy!
I would recommend this story to anyone that enjoys either noir mysteries or sword & sorcery fantasy. It does not conform to any norm that I am aware of and encapsulates all the great things we look for in our heroes. Take a read, you won’t regret it.
May 16, 2014
Visit A World Where The Sun Never Sets; It Falls
Mad Shadows-The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser, by Joe Bonadonna, is an anthology of six dark fantasies that will capture your imagination and entertain you, as no other fantasy will. It is, without a doubt, the best fantasy I have read thus far this year. Who would ever think that a character carrying a dowsing rod could become such a thrilling and humorous hero? Dorgo is that and much more.
Dorgo, is a mixture of detective, mercenary, womanizer, and criminal. In one word, Dorgo is an adventurer. He lives in a world that is familiar and yet strikingly unusual. It’s a world were Captain Mazo, the head Constable in Valdar, rides on the back of a black and crimson warcat. It’s a world where you’ll meet a satyr who sometimes disguises himself as a blind beggar, where a Minotaur tends bar, where Unicorns, and Centaurs play prominent roles and interact with the human population as naturally as day follows night.
The imagery created by the skill of Joe Bonadonna will stay with you long after you’ve turned the page, or turned off your device.
"The spectral light of the gibbous moon washed over the figure as it drew to a final stop. With claw-like hands, it lowered its hood and revealed itself to the two men." (from: The Moonstones of Sor Lunarum; a tale within the anthology)
An afterward written by the author, enumerates his inspiration from both film and written origins. In that afterward Joe Bonadonna states that ‘Dorgo the Dowser was resurrected and saved from oblivion.’ There will be many readers who will be grateful that Dorgo has come back to life.
I, for one, will move on to other works written by this very talented author.
Sincerely,
Jeanne E. Rogers, Author
Award Winning Middle Grade Fantasy
The Sword of Demelza
Mad Shadows-The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser, by Joe Bonadonna, is an anthology of six dark fantasies that will capture your imagination and entertain you, as no other fantasy will. It is, without a doubt, the best fantasy I have read thus far this year. Who would ever think that a character carrying a dowsing rod could become such a thrilling and humorous hero? Dorgo is that and much more.
Dorgo, is a mixture of detective, mercenary, womanizer, and criminal. In one word, Dorgo is an adventurer. He lives in a world that is familiar and yet strikingly unusual. It’s a world were Captain Mazo, the head Constable in Valdar, rides on the back of a black and crimson warcat. It’s a world where you’ll meet a satyr who sometimes disguises himself as a blind beggar, where a Minotaur tends bar, where Unicorns, and Centaurs play prominent roles and interact with the human population as naturally as day follows night.
The imagery created by the skill of Joe Bonadonna will stay with you long after you’ve turned the page, or turned off your device.
"The spectral light of the gibbous moon washed over the figure as it drew to a final stop. With claw-like hands, it lowered its hood and revealed itself to the two men." (from: The Moonstones of Sor Lunarum; a tale within the anthology)
An afterward written by the author, enumerates his inspiration from both film and written origins. In that afterward Joe Bonadonna states that ‘Dorgo the Dowser was resurrected and saved from oblivion.’ There will be many readers who will be grateful that Dorgo has come back to life.
I, for one, will move on to other works written by this very talented author.
Sincerely,
Jeanne E. Rogers, Author
Award Winning Middle Grade Fantasy
The Sword of Demelza
April 22, 2012
I recently had the pleasure of reading Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser by fantasy author Joe Bonadonna.
The book itself begins with Dorgo Mikawber investigating the appearance of an ominous group of shadowy figures stealing all the gold in the village of Valdar, a story that captivates you from the first page. I was however, pleasantly surprised to find out that Joe had not just written a novel based solely on these Mad Shadows, but had compiled a group of stories following the life and times of Dorgo.
I can not remember the last time I got excited to open up a book in eager anticipation to follow a character on a new adventure. I have to admit, it made me feel like a kid again. Each tale is amusing, packed full of adventure, suspense; and even though the setting is based in a fantasy world, it reminds me of one of those classic detective stories from the 1930s.
Joe’s style of writing paints a vivid image of the world he has created, one easily visualized by the reader. His characters are well developed, their dialogue flows easy; so easily at times that I could picture myself sitting at the Hungry Hyena eating dinner with the rest of Valdar’s vagabonds.
Dorgo, his main character, is a hero most people can relate with. He is a moral man in his own way, and though he might not collaborate with some of Valdar’s most respected; he does what is necessary to finish any case he’s been hired for.
I give Mad Shadows 5 stars, and I am eager to see what adventures Joe has next for Dorgo the Dowser!
The book itself begins with Dorgo Mikawber investigating the appearance of an ominous group of shadowy figures stealing all the gold in the village of Valdar, a story that captivates you from the first page. I was however, pleasantly surprised to find out that Joe had not just written a novel based solely on these Mad Shadows, but had compiled a group of stories following the life and times of Dorgo.
I can not remember the last time I got excited to open up a book in eager anticipation to follow a character on a new adventure. I have to admit, it made me feel like a kid again. Each tale is amusing, packed full of adventure, suspense; and even though the setting is based in a fantasy world, it reminds me of one of those classic detective stories from the 1930s.
Joe’s style of writing paints a vivid image of the world he has created, one easily visualized by the reader. His characters are well developed, their dialogue flows easy; so easily at times that I could picture myself sitting at the Hungry Hyena eating dinner with the rest of Valdar’s vagabonds.
Dorgo, his main character, is a hero most people can relate with. He is a moral man in his own way, and though he might not collaborate with some of Valdar’s most respected; he does what is necessary to finish any case he’s been hired for.
I give Mad Shadows 5 stars, and I am eager to see what adventures Joe has next for Dorgo the Dowser!
October 2, 2016
Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo The Dowser is a detailed finely crafted creative work that brings the fantastical to life. The protagonist Dorgo has an eye for the female sex, is ordinary in appearance but is brave, charismatic and full of charm. The word he inhabits has the feel of a noir at times due to its descriptive gritty observant - yet elegant at the same time.
"The city streets were wet and slick and glistening in the light of a hunter' s moon. It must have been a good storm, the kind of heavy rain that keeps people indoors."
Plots within the novel that I adored were: Elema and Marlia tricking the men and running away together. Also lloved Vola and Kribble' s story - demon hands and a Faustian deal of darkness. Bonadonna' s novel has both darkness, light, houmor and horror.
"The old biddy even gave me another grown to dig him up. When she was satisfied that the one great love of her life was indeed dead, she spat on his corpse and gave me a third crown to cover him back up again."
A fun page turner for lovers of fantasy and adventure. Compelling fantasy with grit and wit.
"The city streets were wet and slick and glistening in the light of a hunter' s moon. It must have been a good storm, the kind of heavy rain that keeps people indoors."
Plots within the novel that I adored were: Elema and Marlia tricking the men and running away together. Also lloved Vola and Kribble' s story - demon hands and a Faustian deal of darkness. Bonadonna' s novel has both darkness, light, houmor and horror.
"The old biddy even gave me another grown to dig him up. When she was satisfied that the one great love of her life was indeed dead, she spat on his corpse and gave me a third crown to cover him back up again."
A fun page turner for lovers of fantasy and adventure. Compelling fantasy with grit and wit.
June 2, 2015
Awesome book! I loved this one. A definite page turner. I know I couldn't quit turning the pages till I reached the last one. The main character, Dorgo, I love him. And Joe has populated the book with tons of other fascinating characters as well. I loved the mystery angle to each story. That combined with the fantasy/supernatural setting makes it an awesome book. Joe is an awesome writer.
Book creation ratings:
Overall total -- 27 out of a possible 30
-- Story & characters -- 10
-- Cover & title -- 8
-- Editing & formatting -- 9
* based on a 1-10 scale with: 1-4, poor; 5-7, good; 8-10, very good.*
Reader Recommendations
Genre -- fantasy, supernatural, mystery
Age recommendations -- 18 plus
Sex content rating -- practically none, 3 or so incidents of kissing mostly
Violence rating -- quite a bit, not for the squeamish
Book creation ratings:
Overall total -- 27 out of a possible 30
-- Story & characters -- 10
-- Cover & title -- 8
-- Editing & formatting -- 9
* based on a 1-10 scale with: 1-4, poor; 5-7, good; 8-10, very good.*
Reader Recommendations
Genre -- fantasy, supernatural, mystery
Age recommendations -- 18 plus
Sex content rating -- practically none, 3 or so incidents of kissing mostly
Violence rating -- quite a bit, not for the squeamish
November 2, 2014
"Valdar is city of swordslingers and necromancers, witch cults and half-human races...This is my city. This is my world." Joe Bonadonna, Mad Shadows
Take a wisecracking detective who's handy with both sword and dowsing rod. Take a mosaic of villages with evil lurking in every alleyway. Take a host of supernatural villains. Take all this and more and you've got Mad Shadows, one of the most amazing reads of my summer!
I had a blast matching swords with "Dorgo's" meta-humans, hunting down beasties and seeking out magic with his dowsing rod. In short, I give Joe Bonadonna's Mad Shadows an enthusiastic five stars as a thoroughly enjoyable and exciting read!!!
Take a wisecracking detective who's handy with both sword and dowsing rod. Take a mosaic of villages with evil lurking in every alleyway. Take a host of supernatural villains. Take all this and more and you've got Mad Shadows, one of the most amazing reads of my summer!
I had a blast matching swords with "Dorgo's" meta-humans, hunting down beasties and seeking out magic with his dowsing rod. In short, I give Joe Bonadonna's Mad Shadows an enthusiastic five stars as a thoroughly enjoyable and exciting read!!!
November 2, 2014
"Valdar is city of swordslingers and necromancers, witch cults and half-human races...This is my city. This is my world." Joe Bonadonna, Mad Shadows
Take a wisecracking detective who's handy with both sword and dowsing rod. Take a mosaic of villages with evil lurking in every alleyway. Take a host of supernatural villains. Take all this and more and you've got Mad Shadows, one of the most amazing reads of my summer!
I had a blast matching swords with "Dorgo's" meta-humans, hunting down beasties and seeking out magic with his dowsing rod. In short, I give Joe Bonadonna's Mad Shadows an enthusiastic five stars as a thoroughly enjoyable and exciting read!!!
Take a wisecracking detective who's handy with both sword and dowsing rod. Take a mosaic of villages with evil lurking in every alleyway. Take a host of supernatural villains. Take all this and more and you've got Mad Shadows, one of the most amazing reads of my summer!
I had a blast matching swords with "Dorgo's" meta-humans, hunting down beasties and seeking out magic with his dowsing rod. In short, I give Joe Bonadonna's Mad Shadows an enthusiastic five stars as a thoroughly enjoyable and exciting read!!!
February 4, 2013
Mad Shadows is a collection of six tales featuring Dorgo the Dowser, a Sword & Sorcery sleuth in the vein of traditional noir detective stories. Dorgo uses a dowsing rod that can detect magic (I've used a dowsing rod, and had trouble finding water, let alone magic).
Joe Bonadonna is an accomplished writer who has crafted a vivid world and filled it with believable characters, creating an enjoyable read from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
Joe Bonadonna is an accomplished writer who has crafted a vivid world and filled it with believable characters, creating an enjoyable read from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
February 20, 2017
This is an amusing fantasy with hints of mystery read. Some of the window dressing did stand out in an awkward way. Mad Shadows would have been much stronger if Bonadonna had: 1) skipped the Narnia-like use of many fantasy races and just stuck with humans, and 2) skipped the Robert E. Howard-like "short hand" of using near IDs for things drawn from reality ("Falkings" for Vikings, etc.). That said, if another volume of Dorgo the Dowser stories comes out, I'll be buying it.
April 7, 2016
Ein Wünschelrutengänger, der wie ein seltsamer Vetter von San Spade sich durch eine Fantasywelt voller Halbwesen und hartgesottener Damen bewegt. Sehr gelungen und für mich bislang der Überraschungstreffer dieses Jahres. Mr Bonadonna vermeidet die ausgelutschten Klischees, die die meisten modernen Fantasyautoren quälen, ich würde mich freuen, mehr von Dorgo und seiner wundersamen Rute zu lesen...
October 17, 2011
A great read! Joe is a master of character driven storytelling. Dorgo is an interesting and likable character as well as all the other characters he encounters. A recommended read.
April 19, 2020
Gripping
The adventures of Forgo the Dowser provide great entertainment. Each story introduces unique characters and a few fantasy favorites - centaurs, fawns, and even a werewolf.
The adventures of Forgo the Dowser provide great entertainment. Each story introduces unique characters and a few fantasy favorites - centaurs, fawns, and even a werewolf.
August 16, 2021
Amazing book. I just love Dorgo. He's the good guy that all too often, can't get a break in this diverse magical world. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
July 17, 2020
If Pratchet and Lovecraft had a noir lovechild...
This is the book they would birth... Low fantasy with biting humor, a hero his mother couldn't love, and in desperate need of a film/TV adaptation.
This is the book they would birth... Low fantasy with biting humor, a hero his mother couldn't love, and in desperate need of a film/TV adaptation.
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