Do you hear that sound? That is the sound of a thousand Sacred Cows of Fantasy being tipped in the night.
Let me share a piece of wisdom I’ve picked up being the reviewer for the Dragon Page. You simply cannot go wrong reading anything Tee Morris writes. You won’t find a better blend of action, humor, suspense, and romance anywhere else.
It’s the oldest story in the book. In an attempt to save his realm from the powerful and evil Nine Talismans, a dwarf is sucked through a rip in space, and lands in a Chicago public library in 1927. Using the wealth of knowledge at his disposal, he learns all he can of his new home and sets up shop as Billibub Baddings, Private Investigator.
It ain’t easy being a pint sized P.I. in a world of humans, but though business is a little slow, Billibub’s got nothin’ to complain about. Till Lady Trouble walks in.
Seems this doll was the honey of a big time Mafioso, till the mook went and got himself barbecued by Big Al over some museum’s shiny new display piece. Now the dame wants to know why. That ain’t so hard, is it Billi? Just snoop around the Big Boss for a few days, and see what there is to see. And be sure you don’t get your ass handed to you with a side of fettuccini.
Oh, and the kicker? The museum trinket? Yup, you guessed it. One of the Talismans. Enough power to destroy the world, or at least enough to make you wish it was.
Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword may throw the reader for a loop at first if he doesn’t know what to expect. Reading the first few chapters, the reader might think, “Is this a joke?” Yup, it is, and a damn fine one, too. Tee thoroughly lampoons both the fantasy and hard-boiled detective genres while still paying close attention to good storytelling, and thus delivers an engaging and satisfying, if somewhat whimsical and unusual, story for the reader.
Many genre authors like to mix the genres together to create a new flavor to their stories. This is the first time I’ve seen fantasy and mystery blended quite in this fashion. It makes for fantastic dialogue and laugh-out-loud funny narrative.
Tee Morris’s first novel, Morevi, was co-written with Lisa Lee. I cannot praise that book highly enough. Billibub is Tee’s first solo flight. Trust me, he soars.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword by Tee Morris
Published by: Dragon Moon Press; October 30, 2004
ISBN: 1896944183
Genre: Fantasy
Author’s Webpage: teemorris.com
