The Book of Retslu
Garden of the Fountain of Youth

by Joe Vadalma

In a strange land where nothing is as it seems—other than a naïve, directionally challenged young man named Dorian—it’s often hard to tell good from bad, human from animal, and left from right. Fortunately, Dorian’s kind-hearted ways help lead him in the right direction in his search for King Woden’s tournament, despite an evil curse placed on him that forces him to always choose the opposite path from the one he needs to reach his destination.

Along the way to the tournament, and later to Shangri-La, Dorian seems to wander through a cast of familiar characters from the worlds of horror, science fiction, and historical fantasy. He is aided by a pompous vampire, a mysterious changeling, a knight, and a dimwitted strong man, while simultaneously being tricked and tortured by a witch, a sorcerer, a lustful queen, and a barbarian.

Whether he’s escaping from slave labor, wandering hopelessly through a labyrinth, or falling into yet another trap set by his evil nemesis, the sorcerer, Dorian represents a likable and believable hero who deserves to at least find the fountain of youth at Shangri-La and, at best, live happily ever after.

The author takes great pleasure in creating clever names for the multitude of characters that inhabit these strange lands. The places, people, situations, and genres jump around through time in a humorous, fantastic mix that should delight most readers. In 34 short chapters, The Book of Retslu takes readers on a wild journey with no clear beginning or ending, which adds to the confusion...and the fun.