Adrian Collins's Blog, page 244
February 6, 2016
Marc Turner's Devil Watching Competiton
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In Marc's short story, There's a Devil Watching Over You, a group of bandits picks the wrong man to rob. You can read the story, or listen to an audio version narrated by Emma Newman, at Marc’s website here. The two main characters, Luker and Safiya, part on less than amicable terms, but meet again later in The Chronicles of the Exile series.
In the comments below this post, in 100 words or less, what do you think will happen when they do?
Marc Turner's Devil Watching Competition opens here at Grimdark Magazine on the 6th of February and closes on the 13th of February. Marc will pick out his favourite two choices (which may or may not be the ones closest to reality!) on the 14th of February and we'll announce the winners immediately after that!
Get reading or listening to There's a Devil Watching Over You now to get your entry in!
February 1, 2016
Red Kent from Mark Lawrence's Bad Seed
Jason Deem has done it again with his new cover for Grimdark Magazine issue #1. In GdM #1 we were incredibly fortunate to secure a short story from one of the premier authors in the fantasy genre, but then incredibly bummed out when our cover artist for the issue unfortunately had to pull out of their commitment at the 11th hour. Fortunately our graphic designer came to the rescue with 30 minutes notice and created the original issue #1 cover.
With time, and a solid relationship built with Jason, we've been able to finally address that cover and bring it in to line with the kind of art you're now used to seeing on our ezine. Without any further ado, I give you Red Kent from Mark Lawrence's Bad Seed by Jason Deem.
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If you haven't checked out Red Kent in action in Bad Seed, go check it out over on our product page or on amazon.com.
If you'd like to check out more of Jason's artwork, head on over to his website, or you can buy his art for your own book or website through our marketplace.
January 28, 2016
Review: A Crown for Cold Silver
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A Crown for Cold Silver
by Alex Marshall
Review by Adrian Collins
A Crown for Cold Silver is a fantastic first dip of the toe into grimdark fantasy for for the author hidden behind the pseudonym Alex Marshall (best online theory I could find on who that is on Reddit, here). Book #1 in the The Crimson Empire is a tale so full of grit, dark humour, drugs, fuck-ups, and excellent writing that straight off the bat I'm not afraid to say it was one of my favourite reads for 2015.
The Villains are an ageing, broken-up crew of powerful women and men who conquered all under the leadership of Zoisa (Cold Cobalt) twenty years ago. With nobody left to beat, she "retired" into ignominy and left her Villains to find their own way.
Now a cheeky young general is gathering swords and bows under her banner, only... it's not her banner. It's Zoisa's.
A Crown for Cold Silver is a story of vengeance centred on Zoisa and her Villains, and the young General hoping to pull an unstoppable army under her by usurping Zoisa's legend.
Marshall presents A Crown for Cold Silver in an Abercrombie/Scull type of prose, which enables the narrator to present a certain amount of black humour in the story that had me chuckling on the bus on the way to work. The first quarter of the book kicks off in a slow manner. Marshall introduces us to plenty of characters, and also to two of the major factors of my enjoyment of this book: (a) complete and effortless equality of the sexes. It's not discussed, or pointed out, it just is, and (b) the involvement of drugs in society as no different to alcohol in terms of addictiveness and people who go too far on them to deal with things they feel they can't handle otherwise. Both of these, along with the Devils, the gateways, the different cultures to represent different factions, and a minimally-explained magical system made this a book I was engrossed in pretty quickly.
I loved reading from the POV of Zoisa, Maroto, Ji-hyeon, Sullen, and checking out Hoartrap, Ruthless, and the rest of the more secondary/tertiary characters. There was plenty to get your teeth into. Zoisa was hands down my favourite character. Her story brought her so far back to where she'd tried to escape from two decades ago. She was driven, brutal, violent, and truly enjoyable. Her stories of past glories, odd pipe obsessions, and her obsession with sleeping with just about anybody she wants as--I think--a way to back-fill the hole left in her life by the death of her husband by reverting to youthful craziness, was an enjoyably flawed backdrop to her development. As I'm a sucker for a run-down, screw-up, useless but violent barbarian, Maroto had my vote for the second most enjoyable character. He was funny, sad, loyal (in his fashion), messed up, and I so wanted him to get up and put his life back together. Ji-Hyeon felt like a pretty standard brat in charge of an army, while Sullen took about 2/3rds of the book to hit his straps and become interesting.
There are a couple of POV chapters I felt a bit unneccessary, such as Baron Hjortt, who, while somewhat furthering the story, also slowed it down and pulled me away from the POVs I was invested in. The chapters are well written, but they diluted the overall product. There were also a few surprising editorial mistakes, such as "Zoisa" being misspelled "Zoiba" that felt a bit out of character for the quality I'm used to seeing from the publisher.
One final thing I really enjoyed were--and the future potential of--the Devils. They are pulled from the gates by their owners/masters and are bound to animals. Zoisa's Devil, Choplicker, a dog, is bound to her and will go to some sort of special hell if he fails to protect her. The way he bloats as more death occurs around him, disobeys Zoisa at every possible turn, but then--in his way--protects her is really interesting. The use of Ji-hyeon's devil Fellwing to show that there is a limit to their power, and that they aren't all inherently nasty, further adds to their interest. The devil's world--theoretically inside the gates--is something I also want to know more about. Who are these epic creatures who can't get through the gate. Will we get to meet more of them?
This is, overall, an absolutely cracking read. It's a slow burn start, a well developed middle with plenty of POV cross interactions and pre-book world building hints, laughs, and then a barnstorming ending with plenty of vicious, bleak and anticipation-building finishes.
A Crown for Cold Silver gets 4.5 Grimdark Lords from me.
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Purchase A Crown for Cold Silver over at the Amazon Kindle store:
Purchase A Crown for Cold Silver from Galaxy Bookstore:
January 22, 2016
Excerpt: Peter Orullian's 'A Fair Man' featured in GdM#6
As a part of GdM#6 we were lucky enough to publish The Vault of Heaven series author Peter Orullian. If you haven't checked out Peter's books, make sure to head over to amazon and grab The Unremembered[image error]. For now, enjoy this excerpt of A Fair Man. You can grab the rest in Grimdark Magazine issue #6, available in Kindle, ePub and PDF through our webstore, and through the Amazon Kindle Store[image error][image error].
A Fair Man
A story from The Vault of Heaven
Peter Orullian
Pit Row reeked of sweat. And fear.
Heavy sun fell across the necks of those who waited their turn in the pit. Some sat in silence, weapons like afterthoughts in their laps. Others trembled and chattered to anyone who’d spare a moment to listen. Fallow dust lazed around them all. The smell of old earth newly turned. Graves being dug constantly for those who died fighting in the pit. Mikel walked the row, one hand on his blade, the other holding the day’s list.
He passed a big man sitting in a spray of straw. The fellow wore several brands across his chest. A prisoner. More than forty fights. Each win burned into his flesh with a simple hash. He’d die in chains. Or die in the pit. Blood caked his left foot below an iron manacle that had torn up the flesh of his ankle. Dust clung to his sweaty skin. The prisoner didn’t look up at Mikel, any more than he blinked away the fly drinking at the corner of his eye. But there was something foreign about the man. And something menacing. Indifference?
Further down, a young man practiced thrust and parry combinations, his boots lifting more dust into the hot haze. The fellow narrated each movement, the tone of his voice like a man trying to convince himself he’d survive the pit. Mikel hated this type. Not because they sought glory. No one was that stupid. It was desperation. The pup had a bit of training and had almost certainly wagered on his own victory, hoping to turn a few thin plugs. The young man’s sad, nicked sword told the story of his need.
Across from the pup came a hissing laugh. Mikel turned to see an old pit survivor. Jackman. An incomplete fellow. One arm. Wood stump beneath his left knee. A face that whitened around scars when he smiled. The bastard kept a list of his own. Odds for bettors. He limped up beside Mikel to watch the pup dance.
He said nothing for a long moment, then took a deep breath through his nose. ‘Smell it?’
‘Just you.’ Mikel turned to finish his round.
Jackman caught him with his one good hand. ‘Pup’s already dead. He just doesn’t have the sense to lay down in the grave yet.’ The hissing laugh followed. ‘Ten seconds for ten coins.’
Mikel gave the pup another look. The young man would never best a pit fighter. He’d die wearing the surprised look of a man who’d thought too much of his own skill. Mikel stared into the milky eyes of the odds maker, anger burning at the truth of it.
‘Maybe,’ he finally said. He pushed two thin plugs into Jackman’s dirty palm, taking the odds, and crossed to the pup. ‘Your sword arm is slow. Don’t use it to attack, only defend. Then jab with your knife hand. You’re faster there. Be patient. Winning is more important than looking heroic.’
The boy stared, confused, but nodded. Mikel clapped his shoulder and returned to the row. And the list. Jackman called after him, ‘Don’t go frustrating my odds, you whoreson! Leave the row alone.’
Toward the end of Pit Row, he found a man with thin shoulders seated on a tree stump. List said he was a debtor. In front of the man knelt a woman beside two children. The young ones stood quietly, around them all the feeling of goodbye.
The man had calloused hands, but no weapon. The list shared no further details.
Mikel approached. ‘I don’t see a blade. Do you have one?’
‘Was told they’d give me something,’ the man said, his eyes still fixed on the ground.
‘What are you good with?’ Mikel asked.
He finally looked up. ‘I’m a cobbler.’
‘A debtor,’ Mikel added.
‘Money was for a roll of boot leather and some mink oil. And they took me in the morning on my day of payment.’
The cobbler didn’t need to say more. It was a common practice. Take a borrower before he can pay all. Especially one with an interesting story for the pit. Makes better theatre. Spectators root louder, bet emotionally. And what better story than a simple boot maker fighting against impossible odds for his wife and children. Would love prove stronger than an opponent long acquainted with this theatre court? And when the cobbler died, his death would stir a moment’s regret in its witnesses. And all would feel blessed not to be in the pit. All would feel a moment’s humanity.
Keeps the pit fights from becoming routine. Keeps its patrons from disinterest.
And it wasn’t fair. None of it.
‘You ever handle a weapon? Ever fight?’ Mikel asked, surveying the man’s family.
‘I make shoes,’ he replied.
These children would be fatherless by dusk. For the price of a hide and some bootseal. Deafened gods. Mikel stood silent and shared a knowing look with the man. The cobbler knew it, too. Only the little ones might be unaware.
This fellow was not a gambler. Not a whore-monger. Not a spender beyond his means. He was a cobbler who’d bought material enough to earn a week’s keep. And fallen behind.
Sent to Pit Row for sport. For good measure. For the law. For the entertainment of those who walked on marble floors and drank water chilled.
Deafened gods.
Mikel stared at the cobbler’s little girl and thought of his own daughter. Soon to reach her cycle. Soon to visit one of those homes with marble floors and chilled water . . .
. . . Mikel let that alone for now.
He took out his writing lead and scratched out the man’s name.
‘What are you doing?’ the cobbler asked. ‘It’ll go worse for me if I don’t—‘
Mikel raised a hand to silence him. ‘Go home.’
The cobbler stood, looking Mikel in the eyes for a long time. Then he proffered his hand in thanks. The surprise of it almost caused Mikel to smile. Almost. The man had a grip every bit as tight as Mikel’s own. He then gathered his family and left Pit Row.
Mikel looked back at the list and wrote his own name into the blank.
END OF EXCERPT
Check out what happens to Mikel when he enters the pits, sword and shield in hand, in Grimdark Magazine issue #6, available in Kindle, ePub and PDF through our webstore, and through the Amazon Kindle Store
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January 7, 2016
Line up for GdM issue #6
Issue # 6 has an absolutely cracking line up of fiction and non-fiction, covered with a beautiful piece of artwork based on one of Michael R. Fletcher's hassebrands, by Jason Deem. Issue #6 will be available on the 15th of January, 2016 via our webstore and Amazon.
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Fiction:
At the Walls of Sinnlos by Michael R. Fletcher (a Manifest Delusions short story)
A Fair Man by Peter Orullian (a Vault of Heaven short story)
Twelve Minutes to Vinh Quang by T. R. Napper
Excerpt: Blood of Innocents by Mitchell Hogan
Non-Fiction:
The Grimdark Villain by C. T. Phipps
A review of Larry Correia's Son of the Black Sword (review by Malrubius)
An Interview with Aliette de Bodard
Publisher Roundtable with Tim Marquitz, Geoff Brown, Katie Cord, and Shawn Speakman
A Review of Dishonoured by C. T. Phipps
Addendum: James A. Moore has had his piece (which we committed to publishing in this issue at the end of his interview in issue #5) moved to issue #7 due to a scheduling conflict on our behalf. We're really looking forward to getting to publish such an awesome author in the next quarter's issue!
Issue #6 is dedicated to our colleague, friend, and fellow grimdark enthusiast Kennet Rowan Gencks, who unexpectedly passed away on the 6th of November, 2015.
One of Michael R. Fletcher's Hassebrands
As a part of developing his Manifest Delusions world for Beyond Redemption, Michael R. Fletcher wrote a series of short stories. We were luck enough to snag one for issue #6 (due out 15 Jan '16). It features a hassebrand, an early version of the character Gehirn would become.
I then gave the story to Jason Deem, who came up with the following piece for the cover of issue #6, named, aptly, Hassebrand.
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GdM #6 goes up on the 1st of January 2016.
If you'd like to see more of Jason's work, head on over to his website. If you'd like to purchase his work for your own book or website, keep and eye out for his upcoming page on the GdM marketplace.
When the Heavens Fall: Grimdark for the High Fantasy Lover
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When the Heavens Fall
By Marc Turner
Review by Matthew Cropley
Can traditional high fantasy be grimdark? Apparently, yes.
Marc Turner’s debut novel When the Heavens Fall showed me that fantasy can be saturated with magic without losing any of the grit. It manages to deliver an old-school quest narrative without succumbing to the clichés and stagnation that drove me away from classic fantasy and in to the loving embrace of grimdark.
Mayot Mencada, a necromancer, has stolen the Book of Lost Souls and unleashed death magic to blight the land. This focus of power attracts all manner of gods, monsters, and mortals, some hoping to claim the power for themselves and others simply seeking to destroy it. Luker, a pragmatic magical warrior, only hopes to find some sign of his old master, who disappeared tracking Mayot down. Romany, the self-indulgent high-priestess of a shadowy god called the Spider, seeks to manipulate Mayot to her own ends. Ebon, a prince tormented by spirits, only wants to save his kingdom. Finally, Parolla, a young woman cursed with a darkly magical lineage, seeks to use the Book of Lost Souls as a gateway into the underworld itself. Each of these four separate strands hurtles together, telling different sides of a story that comes together in an explosive climax.
On the surface the plot may sound like the same sort of thing we’ve all heard a thousand times, and yet, Turner manages to put a spin on it that kept me interested until the very end. The world is dark, the morality ambiguous, and the characters grey. High fantasy is given a grimdark twist and the best of both is brought to the table. Turner’s magical world let me recapture the sense of wonder that drew me to fantasy as a child without sacrificing maturity, which is no mean feat.
Luker, Romany, Ebon and Parolla all feel like real, flawed people and they’re easy to connect to. Each of them, barring Ebon, is involved for selfish reasons, and a lot of innocents get hurt along the way. Even Ebon, with his seemingly heroic motivations, is a tortured and troubled man just trying to do what he believes is right. Each main character is supported by a well-developed secondary cast, many of whom become highly memorable, such as Jenna, a hard-drinking, hard-fighting assassin who presents surprisingly vulnerability at times. The point of view switches frequently but I found that there was no character I ever wanted to skip over. Each brings something new to the table and provides a different insight into the world Turner has created.
Magic seeps out of every crack. Living gods bicker, monsters lurk, and every detail leaves you feeling as if absolutely anything could happen next, yet everything feels like part of a coherent whole. Even the deities are decidedly human and there are multiple layers to everything that’s going on. The book focuses on necromancy, and while this is used a lot in fantasy Turner managed to give it an original spin. In his world, the undead aren’t shambling monsters, but rather entirely normal people with all of their mental faculties, except for the fact that they are utterly controlled by the necromancer. This makes for some interesting confrontations with friends who have died only to be enslaved as undead, all too aware of what they’re being forced to do but powerless to stop it.
The world has a living, breathing history that manages to convey itself without becoming irrelevant. Intriguing little titbits are snuck in as natural extensions of the plot, coloured by the views and voices of the characters. There are very few, if any, annoying exposition dumps, which I found to be a blessing. With warriors, mages, monsters, ancient civilisations and warring gods, it feels like Dungeons and Dragons, or a series like the Belgariad, but all grown up. The book managed to both make me realise how horrifying a magical world would be, while somehow simultaneously making me want to live there.
Despite the mountain of positives, it took a long time for the plot to really take off. For the first quarter we spend time with our four protagonists getting to know them and their worlds, and while it’s all quite compelling it didn’t keep me obsessively turning the pages like some books do from page one. I found myself asking “is this all going to pay off at the end?”
It does. By the time I’d finished the whole book, every character arc or plot point brought up early on had reached a climax, and I retroactively appreciated everything. Despite When the Heavens Fall being the first instalment in The Chronicles of the Exile, the book is a self-contained story and the climax is as satisfying as you could ask for.
Something particularly noteworthy is Turner’s treatment of gender. Half the point of view characters are women, and it never feels as if they’re playing second fiddle to the men. Each woman is a three-dimensional, well-developed character in their own right. I enjoyed relationships such as Jenna’s friendship with Luker, which works great as a platonic friendship but with possibilities of something more underneath. For me, it didn’t even matter whether there was any romantic feeling as they have a beautifully written camaraderie that transcends love without shunning it. Platonic relationships across genders are something that I don’t think we see enough of and it was great to see one done so well.
Turner’s style has been rightly compared by many to Steven Erikson and Joe Abercrombie. He switches point of view frequently, but I never found myself wondering whose head I was in as each character has a distinctive voice. Turner’s writing is impressively economical and I felt as if every word I read propelled me forwards. He doesn’t get bogged down in unnecessary backstory or world-building, and everything introduced is relevant in some way to the main plot. Action is frequent and well-written, and Luker’s fight scenes were particularly fun to read since he has a telekinesis ability akin to the Force in Star Wars which, used creatively and blended with swordplay, makes for some thrilling combat. Most of the fight-scenes are about finding a creative solution to beat the opponent and they read more like chess-games rather than two people simply hitting each other, and as the plot progresses and the stakes get higher the fights become more desperate and captivating.
All up, it’s a good read that offers to scratch a different itch from most grimdark. If you want a novel that harkens back to classic fantasy without sacrificing any of the grit, Marc Turner’s When The Heavens Fall is for you.
I give When the Heavens Fall four grimdark lords out of five.
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To purchase When the Heavens Fall, use our purchase links below to support the author and Grimdark Magazine.
If you're an Aussie resident, support Galaxy Bookstore by clicking on the image below to make your paperback purchase.
December 30, 2015
Issue #6 release delay (and other bits of good news)
Issue #6 Pushed Back
Trying to release an issue on the 1st of Jan, right on the back end of the busiest time of year at our day jobs, Xmas, New Years, and the general crazy season can be a full on thing to accomplish, if we're being honest. Amongst all the madness, our visual designer has come down with something pretty nasty in the last week and was unable to finish the cover design based on Jason Deem's awesome depiction of Michael R. Fletcher's Hassebrand on time. Our hand has unfortunately been forced, and the release of issue #6 will be delayed to 15 Jan, 2016.
To those of you who were just itching to brush off your New Years Day hangovers like The Bloody Nine brushes off an axe wound and get stuck into this issue, we're sorry. Sometimes stuff just doesn't work out. We'll try to make it up to you with the good news!
The Good
Following the bad news, I have some good. In 2016 we're doing 2 things that we think are pretty fucking cool. Not quite a Ragnarok-bringing-out-Blackguards-2 level of coolness, but still pretty up there.
New issue covers
We will re-release of cover art for issues 1, 2, and 3, with a completely new piece of cover art for issue 1. Interesting story; the chainmail style cover art for issue #1 is not how we'd planned it to look. Our wonderful designer put that together from scratch ON PUBLICATION DAY after the artist we'd commissioned for the issue had to pull out the night before (after a deadline extension).
Anyhow, check out this new cover art by Jason Deem for issue #1, based on Mark Lawrence's Red Kent from his short story Bad Seed. Hopefully it'll take a little sting out of the delayed release of issue #6!
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Awesome, right? Even better, if you can produce a receipt for your purchases, I'll reissue the files at no cost to make sure your Kindle, iPhone / iPad, Nook, laptop, etc has all the newest artwork and branding. Just email me at adrian@grimdarkmagazine.com with the subject, "REISSUE" and include your receipt.
New versions will be available prior to 15 Jan.
GdM Marketplace
The second piece of awesome news is for you authors (especially the self-publishers) and webmasters out there. The GdM Marketplace will be opening up at the same time as the issue #6 release and will provide you with easy access to the professionals we trust with the creation of our magazine. We're starting with Jason Deem (cover art) and Mike Myers (editing), with more services to come.
You've seen their work in action in our issues and on our blog, and very soon you'll be able to purchase their services directly through our web store.
Happy New years!
Thank you for all of your support this year. Every time you've purchased an issue, jumped in on a grimdark conversation, or shared something from our social media, you've helped spread the word about Grimdark Magazine and kept us all pushing to do bigger and better.
The team and I can't thank you enough, and we're looking forward to continuing our work and introducing you all to a project we're all pretty excited about, soon!
Stay safe, tell your mates you love 'em, and enjoy bringing in 2016 with a bang!
December 16, 2015
The GdM team pick their grimdark favourites for 2015
2015 has been a pretty damned epic year for grimdark fiction. Our team has spent the last year reading about hundreds of gritty anti-heroes fighting their way through plenty of dark worlds. In our downtime, though, we still love to read and review works by those authors we idolise. In the team's view, these are the authors who've really hit it out of the park this year.
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Sean Grigsby | Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher
Beyond Redemption is the grimdarkest book of 2015, and arguably, the decade. The characters are selfish, bloodthirsty, and fun as hell to read.
You can find our review of Beyond Redemption on our blog.
Purchase links: Kindle[image error] | Galaxy Bookstore
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Tom Smith | The Liar's Key by Mark Lawrence
The new grimdark book of the year for me was The Liar's Key by Mark Lawrence. Lawrence's writing just keeps getting better and better - clever wordsmithing, use of Norse mythology in what was already a unique setting and somehow making you enjoy a character as snarky and cowardly as Prince Jalan after coming off of ruthless Jorg. How can you top that? And then there is Snorri who is a total badass and probably the closest in toughness to Abercrombie's Logen Ninefingers I've see yet. Anyone who loves grimdark and hasn't read this series yet is doing themselves a disservice.
You can find our review for The Liar's Key in GdM #5.
Purchase links: Kindle[image error] | Galaxy Bookstore
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Mike Myers | The Mechanical by Ian Tregellis
The Mechanical is a grimdark orgy of sci-fi, steampunk, fantasy, and historical fiction. The year is 1926, and the Dutch control Europe with alchemically powered, sentient robot soldiers. The French have moved their government into exile in the New World and hope to uncover a secret that can help even the odds in the battle for Empire. Psychologically complex, sympathetic, fucked up characters fuck and kill each other, and only the robots seem sane in this tour de force SFF novel.
You can find our review for The Mechanical in GdM #5.
Purchase links: Kindle[image error] | Galaxy Bookstore
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Matthew Cropley | Half The World by Joe Abercrombie
The book has everything you’d expect from Abercrombie, with a large cast of interesting characters that undertake a year-long voyage. The story is told through the eyes of Thorn and Brand, two teenage warriors who couldn’t be more different. The changes they undergo throughout the journey are never what you’d expect, and the plot is always captivating. However, for me, the best part of the book was seeing the development of Father Yarvi, the protagonist from book one, who has become a ruthless manipulator that you like despite yourself. Much of the story is used to set up Half a War, the final book in the trilogy, which promises to give a hugely satisfying payoff to several interweaving stories. Lord Grimdark does it again.
Purchase links: Kindle[image error] | Galaxy Bookstore
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Kristy Mika | The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
Because it gave me the 'holy wow's... I sat for a long time afterwards thinking "Shit. You've ruined my soul!", and cursed like a sailor at Dickinson, for being the true master of maniacal evil. I actually annoyed people reading it with child-like badgering of "where you up to?" and "have you finished yet?" interspersed with "hurry up! hurry up!" , so I wasn't the only person to have experienced it. I'm usually a very solitary reader, but this I needed to nut out with others so I could let it go! I haven't been so excited about a series in a long time, and yet I'm slightly scared of it. Will I get through it unscathed? The path it's on is so ominous, I don't know if I'm emotionally equipped to handle it! Explosive, diverse, progressive, brutal, beautiful.. Just 'holy wow!'
You can find Kristy's review of The Traitor Baru Cormorant on her blog.
Purchase links: Kindle[image error] | Galaxy Bookstore
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Joe Price | Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
Though it may be on the lighter side of grimdark ever since I read The Last Wish on my brothers behest two years ago, it was inspiring to me, and with Swords of Destiny just coming out in the US, I have been avidly reading it since day one.
Purchase links: Kindle[image error] | Amazon[image error]
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Jeff Suwak | Wild Hunt by LJ McDowall
The story is not perfect and, by virtue of its brevity, has a modest scope. But, I have found that it's stuck with me. The story is written by a Scotswoman and involves Scottish culture and language, which I found very intriguing. It also handles a rape scene central to the story in a challenging, some might say "shocking," way. I enjoyed the story while reading it, but have found that it left an out-sized impression on me. The stories that I still find myself thinking about months after reading them are the ones I enjoy most.
Purchase links: Kindle[image error]
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S.H. Mansouri | Blackguards from Ragnarock Publications
Nearly all the stories in this anthology are good and grimdark fans will love the diversity of the pieces. My favorite stories were Irindai by Bradley P. Beaulieu and The Secret by Mark Lawrence. The world building, culture and characters of Irindai was beyond anything I've seen before in a short piece. A pit-fighting teenager who gets sucked into the world of a desert god, and an assassin with a secret and a lie that truly must love each target he erases. Best story-telling in the Grimdark subgenre I've read all year.
You can find our review of Blackguards on our blog.
Purchase links: Kindle[image error] | Amazon[image error]
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Adrian Collins | A Crown for Cold Silver by Alex Marshall
This book hit all the right grimdark notes and provided a cracking start to the author's works under the pseudonym Alex Marshall. I especially liked the way drugs in society and sexuality were melded into the author's world. The Devils, the Villains, and princess's grab for power, all written in a Joe Abercrombie / Luke Scull style of prose really hit the mark for me. I'm eagerly awaiting the second in this series. Though long overdue, keep an eye out for our review in late 2015 / early 2016.
Purchase links: Kindle[image error] | Galaxy Bookstore
That'll do it for 2015! There are plenty more authors out there kicking arse. It's a bit of a bugger that I haven't hit the lofty heights of 50 books a year that I used to be able to hit pre-GdM, but them's the breaks. Keep reading, keep reviewing, and keep supporting the people creating these awesome gritty worlds.
Adrian.
December 9, 2015
GdM closed to submissions for the holidays
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Our submissions team have been working their collective hides off for a year and a half without break to find the best in short grimdark fiction to put in front of you. I reckon they've earned a break, don't you?
From the 20th of December 2015 to the 10th of January 2015 (AEST), inclusive, the GdM submissions inbox will be closed.
We'll spend a little time catching up on the entries already in there, but -- if we're being completely honest here -- a fair bit more time having a breather, recharging the batteries, and either living it up in our singlets, pluggas, and footy shorts with an ice cold frothy under the burning sun, or wrapped up to the eyeballs in scarves with a steaming mug of mulled wine to fight off the cold (depending on which GdMer you talk to), hanging with our family and mates over the holiday season.
Any entries received during this period won't be read and the emails deleted; sorry folks. You'll get an automated response to let you know that your submission won't be read, and will be deleted without being read, and that'll be it. The only exception will be submission queries. Responses to submission enquiries will be slow during this period. Please have patience with us.
To all of you: I wish you a safe and fun holiday season. Tell your mates you love 'em, enjoy each beer as if it's your last, and remember the world isn't black and white, it's seven billion shades of grey*.
Adrian and the GdM team.
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*take that E.L. James you narrow-minded bugger.
