Saturday, 3 July 2021

Of Slings and Feeling Vexed - Karina Fabian - A DragonEye, PI Story

Of Slings and Feeling Vexed
A DragonEye, PI Story
Karina Fabian
Laser Cow Press
ASIN B096PWC7RH


This is the eighteenth book or story I have read by Karina Fabian. Most of them in the last 8 months. I love her style, her sense of humour, and the variety of stories she writes. This is a standalone piece set in the DragonEye PI series, a short story, and Fabian has announced she will release a few of these this year, then compile them into an anthology for print. But I could not wait for that to happen and will pick them each up and read them as they release. I picked this up and devoured it the day I found out about it. I read it over a mug of coffee, and then listened to it, using adaptive technology. I have encountered Vern previously in anthologies and in other novel to date and have plans to finish what has previously been published. But this new story was a lot of fun. 

For those who are not familiar with the DragonEye PI series, Vern is a Faerie dragon currently stuck on our side of the barrier. He is a Private Investigator he fights crimes both human and Fairy. And he is working off a dept and works for the Faerie Catholic Church. He is nowhere near the dragon he was, in size or power because of a run in with Saint George. The description of this volume is:

“When Vern joins Conquistadors in the new world, he didn’t know they expected him to take on Quetzalcoatl. Still, something had to be done to stop human sacrifices to the ancient “god,” and what’s a dragon for? Too bad Vern was undersized, underpowered, and lacking his native magic and fire. (Thanks a lot, St. George!)”

The story begins thus:

“Quetzalcoatl looked me over, and his head crest flattened in his equivalent of a smirk. “At least they didn’t send Saint George after me.” 

That hurt. Once upon a time, dragons like me commanded fear and awe, even among the empyrie like the one currently treating me to his mocking sympathy. No, when we dragons traveled together, we darkened the sky, and the movement of our wings against the air announced us like thunder before the approaching storm. Singly, any one of us was a match for even the most powerful of magical beings, and we were sought after for our wisdom, which we granted… if you were brave and interesting enough. We were the Eighth Day Creation, made by God Himself after he’d had a good long rest and was feeling jaunty.”

But before going further I need to reshare the Author’s note from the beginning of the volume:

“Author’s Note: “Empyrum” (Plural: Empyrie) is the term Faerie use for natural creatures with godlike powers who thrive on worship.”

And you might wonder why that is important? Well because Vern recognizes his adversary and even in his reduced capacity, Quetzalcoatl recognises Vern. Together they decide to stage a little fight, something along the lines of a WWE match but with god like creatures and the souls of many hanging in the balance. Throw in a bit of David and Goliath with a twist or should we say pit, and you have one immensely entertaining story. 

Another great story in the Vern Verse and excellent offering from the Fabian Space. A great little read. Excellent for fans of the series, or someone wanting a sampling. A great short story.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!


Dex Hollister Series:
The Old Man and the Void
Dex's Way
...

Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator Series :
Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator
I Left My Brains in San Francisco
Shambling in a Winter Wonderland
…

DragonEye PI Series:
DragonEye PI Novels:
9.0 Gapman
10.0 Magic, Mensa and Mayhem (Revised edition forthcoming)
11.0 Live and Let Fly (Revised edition forthcoming)
...

DragonEye PI Short Stories:

DragonEye PI Original First Editions:
Live and Let Fly
....

Space Traipse Series:
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 1
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 2
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 3
Space Traipse Stories
…

Mind Over Series:
Mind Over Mind
Mind Over Psyche
Mind Over All
Hearts Over Mind
…

Edited by: Karina Fabian:
Infinite Space, Infinite God I
Leaps of Faith
Infinite Space, Infinite God II
...


Contributed to:
Firestorm of Dragons
The Zombie Cookbook
The Book of Tentacles
Twisted Fayrie Tales
FRIGHTLINER: And Other Tales of the Undead
Mother Goose is Dead
Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary
Image and Likeness Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body
Corrupts Absolutely? Dark Metahuman Fiction
Weird Noir
The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels
Manifesto UF
Avenir Eclectia
Planetary Anthology: Jupiter
Planetary Anthology: Pluto
Planetary Anthology: Luna
Planetary Anthology: Uranus
FlagShip Science Fiction and Fantasy v2i5
My Little Book of Headdesks
To Be Men: Stories Celebrating Masculinity
...







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