The Case of the Singing Sword

Billibub Baddings #1

by Tee Morris

"Chicago, 1929. There are a thousand stories in the naked city; and when you're a dwarf at four-foot-one, they all look that much taller." It is The Era of Prohibition, where crime runs rampant in the streets and a city divided into territories serves as the ultimate prize. Somewhere in this Underworld of Chicago, an enchanted weapon holds the key to ending The Gangland Wars. In the wake of The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, only one is man enough to stand up against Al Capone... ...a four-foot-one dwarf named Billibub Baddings. "Billi," as his friends come to know him, is a working stiff dwarf in the all too-human sized world of Chicago. Seems that a brood of orcs and a renegade warlock had opened a Portal of Oblivion in his homeworld and was planning to submerge his nine lands of Acryonis into an Age of Darkness. Billi had managed to throw a monkey wrench into those plans...but not before getting himself caught in the pull of that portal. When he came to, he found himself in the heart of The Windy City during The Roaring Twenties. After dealing with trolls, goblins, and rock dragons, Al Capone and Bugs Moran are about as intimidating as choir boys. Billi sets himself up as a tough-talking, waist-high, straight-dealing detective, and business was looking bleak, until a dark-eyed beauty crossed his threshold with the case that involved the mob, the upper-crust of Chicago society, and Billi's past. Get ready for The Lord of the Rings written by Mickey Spillane! Poking fun at the hard-boiled detective novel, Fantasy mainstays, and even the legend of Chicago's 1920 underworld!

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Audiobook, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Detective, Historical Fantasy

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Tee Morris began his writing career with his 2002 historical epic fantasy, MOREVI The Chronicles of Rafe & Askana. In 2005 Tee took MOREVI into the then-unknown podosphere, making his novel the first book podcast in its entirety. That experience led to the founding of Podiobooks.com and collaborating with Evo Terra and Chuck Tomasi on Podcasting for Dummies and its follow-up, Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies. He won acclaim and accolades for his cross-genre fantasy-detective Billibub Baddings Mysteries, the podcast of The Case of the Singing Sword winning him the 2008 Parsec Award for Best Audio Drama. Along with those titles, Tee has written articles and short stories for BenBella Books’s Farscape Forever: Sex, Drugs, and Killer Muppets, the podcast anthology VOICES: New Media Fiction, BenBella Books’ So Say We All: Collected Thoughts and Opinions of Battlestar Galactica, and Dragon Moon Press’ Podthology: The Pod Complex.

In 2011, Tee returned to his first love—fiction—with the steampunk romp Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, co-authored with Philippa Ballantine. This debut novel from Harper Voyager won the 2011 Airship Award for Best Steampunk Literature. Now the series includes The Janus Affair (Harper Voyager), Dawn's Early Light (Ace Books), and the Ministry Protocol anthology (Imagine That! Studios). Find out more at ministryofpeculiaroccurrences.com.

When he is not writing, Tee enjoys life in Virginia alongside Philippa Ballantine, his daughter, and three cats.

Reviews

[Scott wachter · Rating 1 out of 5]

So imagine hypothetical novel about a detective who is recent immigrant from Belgium. The plot of this novel does have certain amount of material that has to do with Belgium, so it would make sense for this character to explain the necessary details to the plot via narration, right? But probably not drag the story into extended asides about how such and such situation reminds him of Belgium or how Belgian deal with such and such situations. The main main character should have character traits beyond 'is Belgian' right?

This novel does the opposite of all that.

So this story is about D&D dwarf living in 1920's Chicago except he only shuts up about being from D&D land to hammer exposition into the reader's skull. that is until three chapters from the end when clues and facts are half presented so we can have the detective explains the whole story moment for the last chapter. first person narration is about more than exposition and endless similes.

[Joe Pecoraro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this book on mp3 from www.podiobooks.com while I was rollerblading last summer. It's light, fast paced and fun, with a sometimes dry wit. This is not Hemmingway, nor is it intended to be. It's a modern twist on the old crime noir genre: "The dame walked into my office. I remember it like it was yesterday. She had two 38's and a gun . . ."

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read from Tee Morris! I put off listening to this podcast for some reason, and when I needed something to listen to I finally downloaded it and have to admit that I enjoyed it more than I had expected to. Stupid of me to have that expectation because I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I've heard by Tee Morris.

Tee has a way of taking a story and making it one that you hate to leave and can't wait to get back to. He puts just enough male/female sexual attraction in without it being gaudy or bordering on obscene. The way he writes these types of scenes makes you want to say, like the woman watching Meg Ryan in the restaurant scene with Billy Crystal, "I'll have what she's having". Anyone who's seen that particular scene knows exactly what I'm talking about.

In this story there's enough fantasy and history mixed in to satisfy those who want a taste of history without the outcome we already know to be true. A dwarf from another land and time...who thinks of these things? Oh to be gifted like that. But since I'm not I will always go back to a Tee Morris book or podcast to get my fantasy/fiction fix.

Read or listen, it's worth it.

[Donovan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice mix of fantasy and detective novel.

[Melissa Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billibub Baddings is an ax yielding dwarf of Gryfennos who finds himself accidentally dropped into a library of the human world...of Chicago after falling into a portal. He teaches himself the language and catches up on current events. Along with the reading in the library to get to know the world he is now in, he enjoyed the fiction stories of Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes. Then trying to figure out what work to do, he figured with his military skills as a dwarf and what he loved he would be a private investigator. He's been here for a few years and doing okay in the business. But this month is a slow month, thinking on making the call to an old associate to make a few extra bucks as dressing up as a munchkin from the Wizard of Oz. But as he was readying himself to make the humiliating call, a tall woman from the prominent family in Chicago walks through the door with a case ~ wondering why her boyfriend is now deceased from a hit by whom they suspect, Al Capone.

I enjoyed this book as it was a new blend for me. Our setting here is the late 1920's in Chicago during the mobster era of the big names; Al "Scarface" Capone and George "Bugs" Moran. With a mystery detective take on the story. But the best part was the blend of the fantasy world Billibub comes from. Not only does Tee create a great feel for the late 1920's with the accents and particular words popular then, but he creates a whole fantasy realm through Billibub's metaphors and similes to his home world from his memories.

I was really surprised how great these two worlds blended together. These are two places I would never have thought to blend. I have to say as I don't get to visit Billibub's world much as he is living in Chicago, but I would liked what pieces I did get of it and wished I could see more of it. But, Billibub has created himself here in Chicago in a great way. And all the short jokes, he takes with stride (most of the time).

I enjoyed the mystery/detective side of the story as well as it ends up being blended with the fantasy world as well. Very nice take on this. I have to say I enjoyed the piece on his ax and weapons. This did bring a smile to my face the first time it was really approached in the story with the visitors in his office. I know there is one other book with Billibub, and I'm curious to see if Tee comes out with more.

This is a book to read if you enjoy the 1920's or 1930's feel, mystery/detective storyline, with a grace of fantasy through the book and mystery itself.

[John M Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a lot of fun. Billibub is a dwarf thrown into detective noir world, just the mix of elements is really fun I'd like to see more of. Why not elven Sci-fi? Orcs in Steampunk? Vampire Romance?... nevermind.

Morris makes Billi a great character who feels real, despite not meshing with his surroundings. He really sticks out with a different way of thinking compared to the people of 1920s Chicago.

And the world has a stability too. It feels like the 20s you see or read in other stories, instead of feeling like current day with sepia toned paint like some period pieces.

I think Tee would do a great job writing a more traditional fantasy like Morevi: The Chronicles of Rafe and Askana Book 1 or a straight up detective noir novel and this book has the best elements of both.

It's not perfect though. Morris tries to stick a little too closely to the detective genre with a sex scene that feels tacked on because that's what happens in Noir books than really fitting in with the story. And the last chapter feels like an info dump as Billi explains every little connection. If you're the type that picks apart every little bit, you may like this added but I Felt a bit like the author was giving a wink and a nod and saying "See what I did there."

I hope I'm wrong, but the last few pages could leave somebody with a bad taste instead of really salivating for the next book, which is a shame. I personally can't wait to read the next Billibub book The Case of the Pitcher's Pendant: A Billibub Baddings Mystery and whatever Tee does next.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here's an exercise.

Go and read a Damon Runyon short story. Something by Dashiell Hammett or Raymond Chandler will probably do as well, but I know Runyon, so I say Runyon. One of his pieces is linked from his Wikipedia article.

Now take a look at the preview of this book.

See the difference in the writing?

If you don't see the difference, you may enjoy this one.

Of course, it's a little unfair to compare anyone to those masters, but if someone is writing a hard-boiled detective story, even mashed up with an epic fantasy character, I'd like to think that they'd adopt some of the style. Swift, action-packed, vivid prose, with not a word wasted, and metaphors that leap off the page. Not dense, slow, overwritten, vague, and determined to drive every minor point thoroughly into the ground. (I suppose, on reflection, the author could have been going for the epic fantasy style instead.)

A little over halfway through, I couldn't take the style any more and stopped reading. The story wasn't anything out of the ordinary (given "fantasy dwarf as hardboiled detective", anyway), and was moving so slowly through the dense thickets of unremarkable imagery that I lost interest.

Plus the flappers were all curvy, and had long hair. Has the author ever looked at a picture of a flapper?

[Icepick · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the introduction of Billibub Baddings, Tee Morris firmly establishes himself as master of the Dwarf-noir genre. This is a great character in a unique and rich setting. An excellent bit of story-telling, surprising, gritty and just a bit naughty.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic characters and a wonderful spin on two tired genres: Fantasy and detective mystery.

[David]

Well produced free audio book. I love the paper back version as well. Listened to this three times, read twice.

[Freddy Capelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Job! And with no budget. This audiobook is destined for greatness

[T.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billibub Baddings is a survivor. A blokey bloke sort, the dwarf is accustomed to battle, to adjusting to his surroundings. But when, in the midst of battle in his home, Acryonis, he gets a bit too close to a portal, life as he knew it ends. He is transformed to 1927 Chicago, smack dab in the stacks of the Chicago Public Library.

Billi, a sarcastic, funny guy is forced through the portal and into Chicago and is given few options. One of which, surviving, is an opportunity he won’t squander. Instead of raging against his circumstance, he embraces it. He works his way through the library stacks, pilfering the librarian’s bag lunches and familiarizing himself with the history, politics and language of our world.

His adjustment wasn’t always what he’d consider noble. There was frequent stints portraying “Waldorf, the Protector of Munchkinland,” (thanks to the popularity of Wizard of Oz) when things got tight, but hey, a guy’s gotta eat. His true calling came in the form a P.I. work and so it was that the noble Captain Baddings adjusted to his new life and a new career. It wasn’t easy. When you’re 4’1 with a long red beard, folks will notice. But he proves himself to be a stealthy, formidable investigator and earns a reputation for covertness.

It’s when the heiress Julia Lesinger offers him triple his fee to find out why the notorious Al Capone had her boyfriend assassinated that things get a bit dicey.

Interspersed into the narrative, is the occasional reference to Billi’s Tolkienesque homeland, which endears the dwarf to the reader. The novel is a beautiful mashup up of portal fiction/noir/detective novel that keeps you guessing, wondering, luxuriating in the authentic Chicago dialog and scenery and in the audacious manner in which Billi gets his job done.

It would have been easy for Morris to give Billi a ‘Napoleon syndrome’ where the ‘little man’ overcompensates for his stature with vigor and violence. On the contrary, Billi comes across as a character completely at peace with who he is, as though it’s everyone else who is abnormal. He handles the reactions he receives with confidence and graceful hilarity:

It’s all right, ma’am. I know I’m probably not what you expected. You probably expected someone less handsome, less dashing, and not so much in the facial hair department. I can only say this: It ain’t easy being this good-looking.”

When I got the laugh, I knew we were getting somewhere. Humor was the best way to get over the whole dwarf issue. Now, it came down to the credentials.

“I know you may think a dwarf stands out in a crowd, and perhaps I do. But I can also get in and out of many places without being noticed. My specialty. It’s this specialty that has built me a reputation for being discreet. I’d love to give you a list of references, but how ‘private’ of a private investigator would that make me? And, being a dwarf, I tend to be left alone, and being left alone tends to keep my investigations all the more private. The proof of the pudding with me is my work, and let me tell you something: I make great pudding.”

It’s this kind of assured attitude that allows Billis to delve deep into Chicago’s underbelly and to discover that he wasn’t the only thing that thrown into the Windy City through the portal. The mysteries and plot are finely woven and Morris is an expert at hiding those threads until the last possible minute when the reader’s guesses fail to resolve the real villain, the correct resolution.

Funny, witty and highly entertaining, Billi’s adventures is one not to be missed. Philip Marlowe would be proud.

Highly recommended.

[Scott Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword by Tee Morris is a melding of two of my favorite genres: traditional fantasy and the noir, hard-boiled detective tales of such characters as Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. In many ways you get what you expect here: a tough but endearing detective, plenty of buxom babes, and a colorful cast of villains, some dim-witted, others cunning. Taking place in 1920's Chicago, the kicker and what sets this novel apart is the fact that our hero, Billibub Baddings, is a four foot dwarf from another world.

Seeking to save his own world from a plethora of powerful talismans that have fallen into the wrong hands, Billibub makes a final, desperate attempt to destroy them by casting them into a magical portal. In the process, he is also sucked into the portal; he figures his life is worth the price. But instead of dying, Billibub finds himself transported to our own world. Later, as the story unfolds, he learns that the talismans, like himself, live on.

As the story begins, we find Billibub already settled into his new life; the above is given as back-story. He faces many of the daily headaches we might expect: finding the next client, paying the rent, keeping his secretary and assistant happy. But the story really begins when the rich and beautiful Julia Lesinger enters Billibub's office. Our dwarven detective is hired to investigate the death of Julia's boyfriend, a man who Billibub soon learns has mob ties and, more ominously, a link to an artifact found in a Egyptian burial dig that is a bit out of place. Billibub takes the case, following the trail until it leads him to the artifact that is the Singing Sword, one of the talismans he thought destroyed when he hurled it into the portal.

I have to mention that I listened to this novel in audio format. Hailed as the first ever podiobook—that is, a reading embellished by sound effects and an ensemble of voice actors portraying the novel's different characters—it was an absolute joy consuming it in this fashion. The production quality is top-notch, the voices excellent and, in most cases, very fitting, and the use of sound effects was just right.

Whether you read or listen, you have to consider that much of the humor and storytelling is tongue-in-cheek; Morris embraces many traditional fantasy tropes, but they exist only as embellishments and oftentimes for humor as the principal story takes place in the "real" world. But, of course, even that has its own set of stereotypes, especially as the story follows the typical formula of most hard-boiled detective novels. But Morris injects plenty of dwarven wit into the telling that I found myself laughing out loud more than a few times.

I do have to wonder why Morris chose a name so like Bilbo Baggins of The Lord of the Rings fame, but that's a minor qualm. This is the kind of audio book that I'd listen to again, and I've already told my wife she needs to hear it, too.

Tee Morris has podcasted many of his other books. He was the man behind The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy, a writing advice podcast which is now defunct, and he was both a contributor and editor of the books in The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy series. The next novel in the Billibub Baddings Mystery series is The Case of the Pitcher's Pendant.

This review at http://www.scottmarlowe.com/post/Book...

[Althea Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you think the idea of mixing the classic detective-genre novel (think Rex Stout, or any other tale where all the broads look like Jessica Rabbit, and a private dick's best friends are his piece and a bottle of liquor stashed in his desk...) with classic genre fantasy (dwarves, elves, and enchanted talismans) is just the most brilliant concept you've heard of all week, well, then this might be the book for you.
Falling through a Portal of Oblivion and landing in Al Capone's Chicago, a Dwarf Warrior decides to set himself up in practice as a private investigator. Acquiring the requisite babe secretary/receptionist, he's soon approached by not one but two society ladies, and embroiled in a case involving the mob up to his not-so-high-off-the-ground neck. When he realizes that the case also involves a dangerous magical sword that came from his original homeworld, he knows he has to solve it – or else this world could be destroyed.
Adequately done, competently written, in a very 1930's-style, I can see where some people would think this book was just hilarious – but it wasn't really my cup of tea.

[Julie Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Chicago, 1929. There are a thousand stories in the naked city; and when you're a dwarf at four-foot-one, they all look that much taller."

That gives you the sense of the story. Billibub was sucked into a mysterious portal from his own magical world to that of 1929 Chicago where instead of orcs he must do battle with guys like Al Capone. Using his warrior abilities the best way that a dwarf of his talents can, Billibub becomes a P.I.

I remember listening to this when it first came out and it is the perfect book to reread now that I have a big project to work on (many hours, but fairly mindless work). I enjoy the wisecracks, the way Billibub salts commentary with phrases from his own world, and the environment. Oh, and Tee Morris's narrating. That is what makes it all work.

[Raicara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first meet Tee and WesterCon when it was in Calgary Alberta Canada. I had been to a panel with him on it. When I saw the book for sale in the dealers room I bought it. A little while latter I was in the hotel lobby reading the book and laughing out loud. After that I paneled stalked Tee. I went back to the dealers room and bought his two other books. Latter I had them signed by the author.

I bought the second Billibub Baddings novel as soon as it came out and have been waiting for more. I have also been waiting for more Moravii (Sp), can't find my books right now. That is another story.

I do hope there is a third Billibub Baddings soon. Very soon.

[DDog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tee Morris was already one of my favorite authors for his Morevi: The Chronicles of Rafe and Askana Book 1, and he does not disappoint with this book. The podiobook version has great production and amazing voice talent, and really brings the story to life, but it all starts with the writing. A great read and listen.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I really need to get a new copy. I lent my old one out to a friend and haven't seen it since.
Billibub (Billi for short), is a dwarf from the fantasy world Gryfennos who was transported to 1928 Chicago in a magical accident. He can't go home as far as he knows, so he uses the skills he developed as a captain of a saboteur squad to work as a P.I. There are several nods to film-noir, Sam Spade-esque styles of writing here, and Morris's signature humor also shines through.
Tee, Y U NO write more about Billi?

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, to what genra does this belong? Historical urban fantasy? Whatever it is, its a rollicking good read. Looking at late 1920's Chicago through the eyes of a displaced Dwarf from an epic fantasy world turned private investigator is just a hoot.

This is one of 2 books which involve the main character. I hope that at some point in the future that the author will blow the dust off the battle axe and we'll get some more tales about a certain 4 foot tall gumshoe.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall an easy book to enjoy, the characters and style of the story made it easy to listen too. I listened to this book as it was coming out on PodioBooks.com and found myself waiting for the next chapter.

As this book was released to print, I did have to buy it and reread it, always fun looking for those little things that were missed while listening. I have normally looked to Tee Morris as a non-fiction author, but his fiction works have also won me over.

[Kim Savage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billibub Baddings is a dwarf in the throes of war with the Black Orcs. In the midst of battle he falls through a portal of oblivion and ends up in 1929 Chicago. Sometime after becoming a private detective, a beautiful woman enters his office and hires him to find out why her boyfriend (who is Al Capone's right hand man) was killed. A fantasy/mystery genre, there is a great mix of action, humor, suspense, and romance. This story was fun to read.

[Alex Jahnke · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great idea, a dwarf from a fantasy world dumped in the mobster world of 1928 Chicago as a private eye. The book has everything this genre needs, humor, cool guys - pardon me - dwarves, hot girls und evil gangsters. Who needs film noire if there is the dwarf noir genre available? You can listen to the whole book read by the autor for free at www.podiobooks.com.

[Dan Absalonson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! It had me laughing all the way through. The story was great to, I couldn't put this one down, and never became bored. I really liked the melding of the fantasy and mystery genres. Who would have thought that would work? But this here book is proof that it shines. I can't wait to read Pitcher's Pendant!

[Will Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing mix of Fantasy and Crime Noir. Two genre's that you would not expect to mesh well at all. I DL'ed the podiobook version and Tee Morris not only wrote a wonderfully humorous Story, but also put in some grade 'A' audio production. You will think you have been taken back the to day's of great radio drama's!!!! I completely recommend this book.

[Aaron Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun and distracting little story. Funny concept: dwarf from a magical world is thrown into 1929 Chicago and faces off against Al Capone etc., but it was a little heavy handed at times. Forced cliches and "down home" kind of sayings, and the writing in general wasn't terribly good. But the story was fun, and it's nice to read something fun and dumb sometimes.

[Juraj Borza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to put down story with a hard-boiled dwarf detective, interspersed with references to the titular hero's fantasy homeworld. I've listened to the audiobook version and it had an exciting cast of guest stars (from Podiobooks fame).

[Eugene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty send-up of the noir detective and sword & sorcery fantasy at the same time. A great mystery and a hysterical read, as well. The full-cast audiobook is a performance to be remembered. I've never heard better.

Remember, friends: Dwarves may be short, but they're not small.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually listened to this book. It was released through Podiobooks.com. It's a great book.

[Kyle · Rating 1 out of 5]

unbelievably shitty

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic story. I listened to it on Podiobooks.com. The production values are excellent and the story engaging and rich. Defiantly give this one a try.