The wizard Margle the Horrendous takes special pride in never killing his enemies. Instead, he transforms them into various accursed forms and locks them away in his castle. His halls are filled with his collection of fallen heroes and defeated villains, along with a few ordinary folk who were just unfortunate enough to draw Margle's attention.
It's Nessy's duty to tend this castle. It's a lot of work, but she manages, taking pride in housekeeping talents that keep the castle from collapsing into chaos. But when Margle suddenly dies, everything begins to unravel. Nessy finds herself surrounded by monsters, curses, a door that should never be opened, and one very deadly dark wizardess.
Nessy doesn't have might or magic on her side; she's just a kobold: short, furry, and sensible. Her allies aren't much better: a voice without a body, an angry fruit bat, a monster under her bed, a wizard in a jar (or some of him, anyway), and a one-eyed, one-horned, flying, purple, people eater. It would be smarter to walk away, but taking care of the castle is Nessy's job, and that's just what she intends to do.
If only she could find time to polish the silver while beating back the forces of darkness.
Industry Reviews
"Reformed warrior robot Mack Megaton searches for a missing family--and a moral purpose--in a city of exotic mutants. . . . Mack's smash-and-grab mission acquires some satisfying philosophical heft." --Entertainment Weekly on The Automatic Detective"A smart, rocket-fast read with a clever, twisty plot that comes to a satisfying conclusion." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Automatic Detective"Fans of Douglas Adams will happily sink their teeth into this combo platter of raunchy laughs and ectoplasmic ecstasy." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Gil's All Fright Diner Reformed warrior robot Mack Megaton searches for a missing family--and a moral purpose--in a city of exotic mutants. . . . Mack's smash-and-grab mission acquires some satisfying philosophical heft. Entertainment Weekly on The Automatic Detective A smart, rocket-fast read with a clever, twisty plot that comes to a satisfying conclusion. Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Automatic Detective Fans of Douglas Adams will happily sink their teeth into this combo platter of raunchy laughs and ectoplasmic ecstasy. Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Gil's All Fright Diner" Reformed warrior robot Mack Megaton searches for a missing family--and a moral purpose--in a city of exotic mutants. . . . Mack's smash-and-grab mission acquires some satisfying philosophical heft. "Entertainment Weekly on The Automatic Detective" A smart, rocket-fast read with a clever, twisty plot that comes to a satisfying conclusion. "Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Automatic Detective" Fans of Douglas Adams will happily sink their teeth into this combo platter of raunchy laughs and ectoplasmic ecstasy. "Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Gil's All Fright Diner"" "Reformed warrior robot Mack Megaton searches for a missing family--and a moral purpose--in a city of exotic mutants. . . . Mack's smash-and-grab mission acquires some satisfying philosophical heft.""--Entertainment Weekly" on "The Automatic Detective ""A smart, rocket-fast read with a clever, twisty plot that comes to a satisfying conclusion."---"Publishers Weekly "(starred review) on "The Automatic Detective ""Fans of Douglas Adams will happily sink their teeth into this combo platter of raunchy laughs and ectoplasmic ecstasy."---"Publishers Weekly" (starred review) on "Gil's All Fright Diner" "Reformed warrior robot Mack Megaton searches for a missing family-and a moral purpose-in a city of exotic mutants. . . . Mack's smash-and-grab mission acquires some satisfying philosophical heft.""-Entertainment Weekly" on "The Automatic Detective ""A smart, rocket-fast read with a clever, twisty plot that comes to a satisfying conclusion."---"Publishers Weekly "(starred review) on "The Automatic Detective ""Fans of Douglas Adams will happily sink their teeth into this combo platter of raunchy laughs and ectoplasmic ecstasy."---"Publishers Weekly" (starred review) on "Gil's All Fright Diner"
