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Besting the Beast and Other Fantasy Tales
"Grimm-like fairy tales for Grimdark readers."
-- S.E. Lindberg, Black Gate - Adventures in Fantasy Literature
From Scott Forbes Crawford, author of Silk Road Centurion comes a collection of tales to thrill and bewitch. Previously published in SNAFU: Holy War, Bards and Sages, Sword and Sorcery Magazine and elsewhere, these stories of hard-bitten fighters and crafty innocents will spirit you off to realms of peril and awe:
“The Carving of a Warrior” – A young woman crossing a monster-infested forest must sculpt a new destiny if she is to survive.
“Heart of a Samurai” – In the tradition of Japanese ghostly tales, a proud warrior learns the limits of his purity, courtesy of a cat.
“A Thief’s Work” – A novelette of intrigue and conspiracy in a city enslaved to the magical drug Sorcel. Can a burglar recruited into the resistance free her people?
“Besting the Beast” – After the onslaught of a demonic horde, a former bandit who left his savage ways behind him finds they may be of use after all.
“Half-baked Hero” – When a bodyguard encounters an outlandish client, she faces a choice between her past and future, vengeance and honor.
Plus an excerpt from Silk Road Centurion, the chronicle of a Roman soldier fighting to make a life on the ancient Chinese frontier, called “a riveting action-packed novel” by Asian Review of Books.
-- S.E. Lindberg, Black Gate - Adventures in Fantasy Literature
From Scott Forbes Crawford, author of Silk Road Centurion comes a collection of tales to thrill and bewitch. Previously published in SNAFU: Holy War, Bards and Sages, Sword and Sorcery Magazine and elsewhere, these stories of hard-bitten fighters and crafty innocents will spirit you off to realms of peril and awe:
“The Carving of a Warrior” – A young woman crossing a monster-infested forest must sculpt a new destiny if she is to survive.
“Heart of a Samurai” – In the tradition of Japanese ghostly tales, a proud warrior learns the limits of his purity, courtesy of a cat.
“A Thief’s Work” – A novelette of intrigue and conspiracy in a city enslaved to the magical drug Sorcel. Can a burglar recruited into the resistance free her people?
“Besting the Beast” – After the onslaught of a demonic horde, a former bandit who left his savage ways behind him finds they may be of use after all.
“Half-baked Hero” – When a bodyguard encounters an outlandish client, she faces a choice between her past and future, vengeance and honor.
Plus an excerpt from Silk Road Centurion, the chronicle of a Roman soldier fighting to make a life on the ancient Chinese frontier, called “a riveting action-packed novel” by Asian Review of Books.
- GenresFantasy
90 pages, ebook
1 person is currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Scott Forbes Crawford
10 books8 followersScott Forbes Crawford is the author of the historical novel Silk Road Centurion, the history book The Han-Xiongnu War 133 BC – 89 AD, and co-author of the fantasy novel The Phoenix and the Firebird. His short stories and articles have appeared in a range of magazines and anthologies. After spending many years in Beijing and Taipei, Crawford now lives in Japan with his wife and daughter. Learn more at www.scottforbescrawford.com.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 19, 2024
A magnificent and beguiling collection of five fast yet intricate and imaginative stories, spun into one big tale of adventure, horror, mystery and betrayal. Crawford transports you to another place altogether! Filled with magic, monsters, mythic elements, and even life lessons, I could not put this down and enjoyed it immensely. I only wish there was more to read!
[ Contains some spoilers ]
PLOT SUMMARY
The Carving of a Warrior (2020): Resh Karsto and her family flee their farmland to escape a massacre, hoping to cut through the Umbran forest so they can find farmland and start anew in time for the harvest. Resh is tired of her old life and wants something new for herself. However, this forest is infested with Imps, Cerebeasts, Winged Wolves and a barely humanoid demon – and they do not take kindly to strangers.
Heart of a Samurai (2019): Kokoro Kenzo though a samurai was once a fierce and proud warrior. The Civil War and the loss of many have taken its toll, Kokoro now chops wood for a living waiting for revenge for his friends. He discovers a village where he saves a little white cat from samurais. He instils wisdom in the cat and names him Scrapper. But all is not as it seems.
A Thief’s Work (2020): In the city of Zintro, the evil sorcerer Rhio Honta has taken over. Most of the civilians have drunk a magical drug Sorcel, turning them into Droolers (due to their “chins slick with drool from their gaping mouths, robbed of speech and will, they carried out any command Honta gave, careless of pain or death”).
Vora is a thief who has joined the rebels hoping to free the city from the tyrant. Under Jordi’s instruction (a man who previously helped govern the city), Kaz’s encouragement (a swordsman) and with some difficulty, she breaks into the castle. But it is not just Honta who has been behind this, for there is a traitor in their midst.
Besting the Beast (2021): Kai used to be a bandit who is now trying to be a samurai worthy of the name. On the battlefield, he and his master’s army face The Guardians of the Sleeper led by Hierophant Jomon as well as Oni (troll), Tengu (bird men) and Kaijin (strange men, monsters). They believe that The Mother, a female monster who lurks in the pool will awaken again and all will feel Her wrath. Kai follows The Guardians in the hopes of getting revenge by slaying Jomon, but he discovers more than that: The Mother – and what’s more, his bandit abilities may come in handy.
Half-Baked Hero (2019): Janza ul-Varoon is a Gurkmani bodyguard. There have been mysterious deaths of Dukes. She encounters a Tangian merchant, Kong Si, and journeys with him to the city of Leng’koo. As Kong encourages her to travel with him to see the world, she hesitates, torn between duty and vengeance. But there is more to this merchant than meets the eye.
INTRO TO THE BOOK/AUTHOR
These were written as individual short stories for magazines and anthologies, ranging from the years 2019 to 2021 (see my plot summary above). It could be argued that Crawford’s style of writing has not changed much since then, though I would say his descriptions have got more immersive and sophisticated.
Crawford currently lives in Japan and I feel this is evident through his stories, having a certain fighting style, the word samurai mentioned a lot, and the tentacle-like monsters that appear at various times. The Heart of a Samurai tale is inspired by Japanese ghost stories, which I will explore below.
The cover of the book is one of the three panels of the Japanese woodblock print “Recovering the Stolen Jewel from the Palace of the Dragon King” by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 1853. There are a number of things happening in the design, which could be reflective of the book itself as there are also a lot of things that occur in the stories. The title of Crawford’s book merges so well with the print design that it’s like it has always been there and was meant to be! The story behind the print is rather fitting too: the scene depicts Princess Tamatori diving into the sea and fighting all manners of monsters from the Dragon King’s court to retrieve a sacred jewel that was meant to be a gift for Japan which had during a storm fallen overboard. She cut open her breast to hide the jewel, and died from her wounds when she reached shore.
This tale actually sets the mood for the stories within this book: most main characters have to fight some monster or other so the stories are quirky like this and also contain violence. The story most like this tale would be Besting the Beast, as there is fighting in water. This is probably why this was also picked as the title for the book. Ingenius!
OVERALL OPINIONS
I liked these stories; they each contained some kind of uniqueness but all had similar themes so neatly woven into each other like a tapestry. They are all dark, a little violent, very mysterious – and just about all of them have a betrayal or plot twist.
I felt nearly all of them had bittersweet endings, but this reflects the type of stories they are: most mythologies are usually tragic. This made some of the tales feel incomplete, like there should have been more to it than that. Ultimately, I do not mind.
There was excellent world-building in each story that felt necessary but supplied in such a way that didn’t feel too complicated or quick. It was also realistic in the sense that each character served a purpose and not all of them made it until the end. The characters themselves were done very well: there is an even amount of male and female characters, all strong in their own ways, particularly the women, but have weaknesses. There were so many monsters, all of them either with horns or something green about them, whether it be their skin or their blood. There were a few plot holes here and there, but nothing that did not make sense or detract from the overall story.
My personal favourites from this collection were Heart of a Samurai and A Thief’s Work. This is because, of all the stories, these two both had the most amount of plot, characterisation, depth, and contained backstories that could be quickly understood.
-ˋˏ ꒰ The Carving of a Warrior꒱ ˎˊ-
I loved the concept of this story. There were a lot of things about this that was good: her mother saving her from their doom was touching, I like that there was regret in not listening to her father more (I think a lot of people experience this). She is very brave to face the monster. There was a moment I thought it was all a dream, and I would have lowkey preferred this ending haha but I really did like it.
I especially adored that it is her own weapon, her carving knife, that she uses in the end. That was poetic justice! She no longer needed her late father or his influence, and the very knife/hobby that he frowned upon saved her life. It is a good reminder that creativity can set you free – in more ways than one.
-ˋˏ ꒰ Heart of a Samurai꒱ ˎˊ-
This had arguably the best storyline. This is based on Japanese yōkai (spirits) stories. The Japanese folklore contains Kaibyō, which means “strange cat”; a supernatural cat, if you will. There are a few types of Kaibyō. The main one here used for Scrapper is Bakeneko which means “cat-monster”. They have supernatural abilities like shapeshifting, and speaking the same language as humans, who are also deceivers who murder then feast on human corpses.
According to an article on the history of supernatural cats, the Japanese were wary of cats in the 12th century when they quickly multiplied and dominated the lands. They have “long held a folk belief that when things live too long, they manifest magical powers”. Around the 17th-18th century, the country wanted tales of magic and so the idea of spirits manifested, along with this idea of supernatural cats then rumours surfaced of courtesans being cats shapeshifting as humans. The rest is history, and artworks. It’s such a fascinating thing!
In this story, I love that Scrapper goes from being an innocent kitty to this huge demonic cat who uses his master Kokoro’s words about there being honor in “facing a foe you’d never defeat” back at him in mockery. The important message to take from this is to be careful who you place your trust in: especially little seemingly harmless kitty cats.
-ˋˏ ꒰ A Thief’s Work꒱ ˎˊ-
This was one of the more positive stories. The Droolers was a cool idea! I like that Vora goes from being a thief to wanting to do something more in life and she manages to free the people from the tyrant. The ending is bittersweet yet hopeful because Vora looks up to Kaz only to find out he is not the man she thought he was, but can now rely on herself. But I admired her strength of character and quick thinking.
-ˋˏ ꒰ Besting the Beast꒱ ˎˊ-
This story felt the most random. I expected a different sort of beast rather than The Mother. I loved the bond between Kai and his master/mentor Lord Issei and it is heartwarming that he is such a fatherly figure to him. Out of all the stories, this showed a healthier relationship. He becomes the driving force behind Kai’s decision to seek revenge:
“Issei had taken in Kai as a boy, when he was nothing but a wicked heart and beastly mind, and from those crude parts fashioned a human being. Kai wasted no time now on useless words of farewell. His duty and debt to the man could be fulfilled only by action.” – I got emotional here!
-ˋˏ ꒰ Half-Baked Hero꒱ ˎˊ-
As a Scottish person, I appreciated the bagpipes – and using them as a weapon haha. The concept of this story is really odd but intriguing, and I did like the idea of Janza having to fight her doppelganger. It too ends on a bittersweet note, and concludes the collection excellently.
<< Positives >>
🠚The influence of the Japanese culture is shown positively and excellently through Crawford’s work.
🠚Each story had a good underlying message.
🠚I was introduced to more mythical creatures. I particularly enjoyed the ones that Crawford seemed to have created himself like the Cerebeasts and Tescalor.
🠚Crawford’s descriptions are incredible! Take this example from the first story: “With possibilities ripening in her mind like an unplanned but gorgeous detail in a carving” and from the second story: “his eye caught his swords leaning against the wall of the woman’s hovel, and he fancied that they mocked him for wielding an axe, and not them.”
<< Negatives >>
🠚Some of the stories felt like they finished too quickly.
🠚There was a plot hole in the first story: how does Resh know for sure that her family didn’t escape?
🠚We never get to find out what the significance of the child in the first story was. Why is the monster watching her intently but not harming her?
🠚In the third story, the creature is named “frog-thing”. Being right next to the “Tescalor”, it really deserved a better name!
🠚It takes a moment, due to the lack of information, to discover that Zevka is a goddess. I think this should have been clearer.
🠚I would have liked for some of these stories to be longer and expanded on. Don’t get me wrong, I know they are short stories but the longest story was 20 pages, the shortest around 10, and I was very eager for more!
FAV QUOTES
• “No better pair of weapons than your eyes, if you can make ‘em sharper than swords,”
• “You wouldn’t beat it – but there’s honor in that, facing a foe you’d never defeat – how else to learn the true contents of one’s heart?”
• With the city watch dissolved, Vora might have basked in a golden age, stealing as she pleased. Much to her surprise, when the only city she had ever known was taken from her, she discovered how much she loved it. Whatever she was, Zintro had made her, and now she had to repay that.
• a building was more than a vessel for the plunder it housed. It was a text to be read, a being to seduce of its secrets.
• Ahead, a lightening of shadows – a shimmer of hope.
• “Sad, that you die a hero of a world that will never know you died fighting for it.” | “I will know,” said Janza.
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Scott Crawford, and BookSirens for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
[ Contains some spoilers ]
PLOT SUMMARY
The Carving of a Warrior (2020): Resh Karsto and her family flee their farmland to escape a massacre, hoping to cut through the Umbran forest so they can find farmland and start anew in time for the harvest. Resh is tired of her old life and wants something new for herself. However, this forest is infested with Imps, Cerebeasts, Winged Wolves and a barely humanoid demon – and they do not take kindly to strangers.
Heart of a Samurai (2019): Kokoro Kenzo though a samurai was once a fierce and proud warrior. The Civil War and the loss of many have taken its toll, Kokoro now chops wood for a living waiting for revenge for his friends. He discovers a village where he saves a little white cat from samurais. He instils wisdom in the cat and names him Scrapper. But all is not as it seems.
A Thief’s Work (2020): In the city of Zintro, the evil sorcerer Rhio Honta has taken over. Most of the civilians have drunk a magical drug Sorcel, turning them into Droolers (due to their “chins slick with drool from their gaping mouths, robbed of speech and will, they carried out any command Honta gave, careless of pain or death”).
Vora is a thief who has joined the rebels hoping to free the city from the tyrant. Under Jordi’s instruction (a man who previously helped govern the city), Kaz’s encouragement (a swordsman) and with some difficulty, she breaks into the castle. But it is not just Honta who has been behind this, for there is a traitor in their midst.
Besting the Beast (2021): Kai used to be a bandit who is now trying to be a samurai worthy of the name. On the battlefield, he and his master’s army face The Guardians of the Sleeper led by Hierophant Jomon as well as Oni (troll), Tengu (bird men) and Kaijin (strange men, monsters). They believe that The Mother, a female monster who lurks in the pool will awaken again and all will feel Her wrath. Kai follows The Guardians in the hopes of getting revenge by slaying Jomon, but he discovers more than that: The Mother – and what’s more, his bandit abilities may come in handy.
Half-Baked Hero (2019): Janza ul-Varoon is a Gurkmani bodyguard. There have been mysterious deaths of Dukes. She encounters a Tangian merchant, Kong Si, and journeys with him to the city of Leng’koo. As Kong encourages her to travel with him to see the world, she hesitates, torn between duty and vengeance. But there is more to this merchant than meets the eye.
INTRO TO THE BOOK/AUTHOR
These were written as individual short stories for magazines and anthologies, ranging from the years 2019 to 2021 (see my plot summary above). It could be argued that Crawford’s style of writing has not changed much since then, though I would say his descriptions have got more immersive and sophisticated.
Crawford currently lives in Japan and I feel this is evident through his stories, having a certain fighting style, the word samurai mentioned a lot, and the tentacle-like monsters that appear at various times. The Heart of a Samurai tale is inspired by Japanese ghost stories, which I will explore below.
The cover of the book is one of the three panels of the Japanese woodblock print “Recovering the Stolen Jewel from the Palace of the Dragon King” by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 1853. There are a number of things happening in the design, which could be reflective of the book itself as there are also a lot of things that occur in the stories. The title of Crawford’s book merges so well with the print design that it’s like it has always been there and was meant to be! The story behind the print is rather fitting too: the scene depicts Princess Tamatori diving into the sea and fighting all manners of monsters from the Dragon King’s court to retrieve a sacred jewel that was meant to be a gift for Japan which had during a storm fallen overboard. She cut open her breast to hide the jewel, and died from her wounds when she reached shore.
This tale actually sets the mood for the stories within this book: most main characters have to fight some monster or other so the stories are quirky like this and also contain violence. The story most like this tale would be Besting the Beast, as there is fighting in water. This is probably why this was also picked as the title for the book. Ingenius!
OVERALL OPINIONS
I liked these stories; they each contained some kind of uniqueness but all had similar themes so neatly woven into each other like a tapestry. They are all dark, a little violent, very mysterious – and just about all of them have a betrayal or plot twist.
I felt nearly all of them had bittersweet endings, but this reflects the type of stories they are: most mythologies are usually tragic. This made some of the tales feel incomplete, like there should have been more to it than that. Ultimately, I do not mind.
There was excellent world-building in each story that felt necessary but supplied in such a way that didn’t feel too complicated or quick. It was also realistic in the sense that each character served a purpose and not all of them made it until the end. The characters themselves were done very well: there is an even amount of male and female characters, all strong in their own ways, particularly the women, but have weaknesses. There were so many monsters, all of them either with horns or something green about them, whether it be their skin or their blood. There were a few plot holes here and there, but nothing that did not make sense or detract from the overall story.
My personal favourites from this collection were Heart of a Samurai and A Thief’s Work. This is because, of all the stories, these two both had the most amount of plot, characterisation, depth, and contained backstories that could be quickly understood.
-ˋˏ ꒰ The Carving of a Warrior꒱ ˎˊ-
I loved the concept of this story. There were a lot of things about this that was good: her mother saving her from their doom was touching, I like that there was regret in not listening to her father more (I think a lot of people experience this). She is very brave to face the monster. There was a moment I thought it was all a dream, and I would have lowkey preferred this ending haha but I really did like it.
I especially adored that it is her own weapon, her carving knife, that she uses in the end. That was poetic justice! She no longer needed her late father or his influence, and the very knife/hobby that he frowned upon saved her life. It is a good reminder that creativity can set you free – in more ways than one.
Giving in now meant accepting a woman’s life on the farm, toil and pregnancies and worst, hands too fatigue-clumsy to shape wood. She must meet her fear.
-ˋˏ ꒰ Heart of a Samurai꒱ ˎˊ-
This had arguably the best storyline. This is based on Japanese yōkai (spirits) stories. The Japanese folklore contains Kaibyō, which means “strange cat”; a supernatural cat, if you will. There are a few types of Kaibyō. The main one here used for Scrapper is Bakeneko which means “cat-monster”. They have supernatural abilities like shapeshifting, and speaking the same language as humans, who are also deceivers who murder then feast on human corpses.
According to an article on the history of supernatural cats, the Japanese were wary of cats in the 12th century when they quickly multiplied and dominated the lands. They have “long held a folk belief that when things live too long, they manifest magical powers”. Around the 17th-18th century, the country wanted tales of magic and so the idea of spirits manifested, along with this idea of supernatural cats then rumours surfaced of courtesans being cats shapeshifting as humans. The rest is history, and artworks. It’s such a fascinating thing!
In this story, I love that Scrapper goes from being an innocent kitty to this huge demonic cat who uses his master Kokoro’s words about there being honor in “facing a foe you’d never defeat” back at him in mockery. The important message to take from this is to be careful who you place your trust in: especially little seemingly harmless kitty cats.
“Greed and cruelty have poisoned men’s souls. That is what’s twisted. Even the best men – or those thought to be best – bend against such wicked tides. They don’t even see the evil they do.”
-ˋˏ ꒰ A Thief’s Work꒱ ˎˊ-
This was one of the more positive stories. The Droolers was a cool idea! I like that Vora goes from being a thief to wanting to do something more in life and she manages to free the people from the tyrant. The ending is bittersweet yet hopeful because Vora looks up to Kaz only to find out he is not the man she thought he was, but can now rely on herself. But I admired her strength of character and quick thinking.
Soon, rays of sun would blast through windows and awaken the city to its freedom. Vora wondered how she might use hers. Honor and valor shone brighter than stolen gold and silver, she decided.
-ˋˏ ꒰ Besting the Beast꒱ ˎˊ-
This story felt the most random. I expected a different sort of beast rather than The Mother. I loved the bond between Kai and his master/mentor Lord Issei and it is heartwarming that he is such a fatherly figure to him. Out of all the stories, this showed a healthier relationship. He becomes the driving force behind Kai’s decision to seek revenge:
“Issei had taken in Kai as a boy, when he was nothing but a wicked heart and beastly mind, and from those crude parts fashioned a human being. Kai wasted no time now on useless words of farewell. His duty and debt to the man could be fulfilled only by action.” – I got emotional here!
He unslung the war hammer strapped to his back. It had carried him through many battled. It must again today.
-ˋˏ ꒰ Half-Baked Hero꒱ ˎˊ-
As a Scottish person, I appreciated the bagpipes – and using them as a weapon haha. The concept of this story is really odd but intriguing, and I did like the idea of Janza having to fight her doppelganger. It too ends on a bittersweet note, and concludes the collection excellently.
“I will fail, without doubt, but not soon. Not with my coming army. And oh, I shall leave my mark, and live on in the rubble of razed cities and in frightful dreams.”
<< Positives >>
🠚The influence of the Japanese culture is shown positively and excellently through Crawford’s work.
🠚Each story had a good underlying message.
🠚I was introduced to more mythical creatures. I particularly enjoyed the ones that Crawford seemed to have created himself like the Cerebeasts and Tescalor.
🠚Crawford’s descriptions are incredible! Take this example from the first story: “With possibilities ripening in her mind like an unplanned but gorgeous detail in a carving” and from the second story: “his eye caught his swords leaning against the wall of the woman’s hovel, and he fancied that they mocked him for wielding an axe, and not them.”
<< Negatives >>
🠚Some of the stories felt like they finished too quickly.
🠚There was a plot hole in the first story: how does Resh know for sure that her family didn’t escape?
🠚We never get to find out what the significance of the child in the first story was. Why is the monster watching her intently but not harming her?
🠚In the third story, the creature is named “frog-thing”. Being right next to the “Tescalor”, it really deserved a better name!
🠚It takes a moment, due to the lack of information, to discover that Zevka is a goddess. I think this should have been clearer.
🠚I would have liked for some of these stories to be longer and expanded on. Don’t get me wrong, I know they are short stories but the longest story was 20 pages, the shortest around 10, and I was very eager for more!
FAV QUOTES
• “No better pair of weapons than your eyes, if you can make ‘em sharper than swords,”
• “You wouldn’t beat it – but there’s honor in that, facing a foe you’d never defeat – how else to learn the true contents of one’s heart?”
• With the city watch dissolved, Vora might have basked in a golden age, stealing as she pleased. Much to her surprise, when the only city she had ever known was taken from her, she discovered how much she loved it. Whatever she was, Zintro had made her, and now she had to repay that.
• a building was more than a vessel for the plunder it housed. It was a text to be read, a being to seduce of its secrets.
• Ahead, a lightening of shadows – a shimmer of hope.
• “Sad, that you die a hero of a world that will never know you died fighting for it.” | “I will know,” said Janza.
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Scott Crawford, and BookSirens for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
September 21, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of Japanese mythology by the author. They are short and easy to read. The protagonist in each story is battling a beast, evil force or monster. My favorites were The Heart of a Samurai (that cat!) and Besting the Beast (beware of an angry mother).
This is the second book I have read of the author and loved them both. I will be reading more. If you like mythology and want to dive into Japanese myths, then I highly recommend reading this.
I want to thank Book Sirens for an early copy of this book. The opinions and rating of this book are mine alone and given voluntarily.
This is the second book I have read of the author and loved them both. I will be reading more. If you like mythology and want to dive into Japanese myths, then I highly recommend reading this.
I want to thank Book Sirens for an early copy of this book. The opinions and rating of this book are mine alone and given voluntarily.
November 10, 2024
Besting the Beast by Scott Forbes Crawford
(2024, Kindle); Cover art by Ben Greaves
Besting the Beast is Grimm-like tales for Grimdark readers
Fantasy readers often seek escapism and encounters with the unknown, but those adventures can become too weird to be accessible. Shorter forms help. Incorporating some grounding in history or reality helps too. One of the most accessible styles is the fairy tale, and Scott Forbes Crawford delivers five remarkable fun, and easy-to-read, adventures bridging the short story and fairy tale form in Besting the Beast (Aug 2024). All are rooted in Asian history/myth and feature relatable human protagonists to lead the way.
The cover art by Ben Greaves is appropriately derived from “Recovering the Stolen Jewel from the Palace of the Dragon King” (1853) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861). Don't let the friendly style fool you. The beasts herein are pleasantly weird and gory. Excerpts from all the stories are below so you can get a flavor of the horrific creatures and antagonists you'll experience. Sword & Sorcery and Grimdark fiction fans will enjoy these (indeed, Besting the Beast is Grimm-like fairy tales for Grimdark readers).
The contents of Besting the Beast have all been published before (in SNAFU: Holy War, Bards and Sages , Sword and Sorcery Magazine, and more). Also, expect more of these characters in future publications since Crawford has a few acceptances brewing for other Sword & Sorcery venues. My favorites are "The Carving of a Warrior" and "Half-baked Hero" since I am fascinated with weird art and human sculptures. I am thrilled that the character Janza from "Half-Baked Hero" has more stories penned in her honor.
Crawford's blending of weird adventure and global history/myths is expressed in his other books like Silk Road Centurion (which had an excerpt inside Besting the Beast) featuring a 53 B.C. Roman soldier Manius Titinius who is held captive by a warband of nomadic Xiongnu, and The Phoenix and the Firebird that explores a realm of magic and monsters inspired by Chinese and Slavic folklore (The Han-Xiongnu War: 133 BC–89 AD). What inspires Crawford? Well, he's been traveling the world during his life, including stints in Japan and China.
Don’t let the friendly, fairy tale style fool you. Crawford's beasts are pleasantly weird and gory
Besting the Beast: Table of Contents & Excerpts
The Carving of a Warrior (first published in Bards and Sages, 2020)
A young woman named Resh desires to be an artist when she grows up but must cross a monster-infested forest to sculpt a new destiny.
More leaves crunched. Nearer now. Before Resh’s eyes grew a hulking, barely comprehensible form. Humanoid – vaguely – its bulbous torso was a purple shade and it lumbered nearer on limbs of black chitin. Four tentacles swelled from its chest in place of arms. Two organic tubes, the hue of intestine, stemmed from its back and bent over its shoulders, belching a stream of the lavender gas. No features contoured its face; utterly flat, the head served only to host a single mammoth eye, white but for some speckles of red, like blood-spattered milk...In a hollow of her mind, Resh sensed the Imps were nothing more than phantasms born of the gas. This demon, though, was all too real as it stood before her father and wreathed him in gas. The creature’s tentacles embraced his head and chest. He dropped the spear without a fight, his empty hands savagely clawing air until they froze and he flopped beside the useless weapon, his head pulped, a rotten melon.
Heart of a Samurai, (first published in Pulp Modern 2019)
In the tradition of Japanese ghostly tales, a proud warrior, Kokoro Kenzo, learns the limits of his purity, courtesy of the cat Scrapper
...he spied a furry lump outside the first hut – what was that? He moved closer: a large, floppy-eared dog, torn into ragged, gory thirds. There, at the next hut – three more, and there, beside the well, seven bodies of cats, sworn enemies, who had in death become brothers and sisters. Loosening his katana in its scabbard, Kokoro quickened his step – and then he froze. A stack rose ahead of him, like of firewood. A stack so tidy and geometrical and perplexing, Kokoro took a moment to recognize it was made of men. Children, grandmothers, sun-browned farmers. What had happened to their chests?
A Thief’s Work (first published in The Society of Misft Stories, 2020)
A novelette of intrigue and conspiracy in a city enslaved to the magical drug Sorcel (zombie-like drug addicts are called Droolers). Can a burglar recruited into the resistance free her people?
... a gauntlet closed around her throat and lifted her. Choking, she stared at the blank eyes of the Drooler, her mind flailing for some action to take. The edges of her vision darkened. Another moment and the dark would swallow her. But an idea sparked. The Drooler hadn’t fully locked her right arm. Slowly, she reached for his wrist and with fingers made cunning by years picking pockets, she untied the lacings which fastened the gauntlet to his forearm. Her vision clouded and she felt consciousness dwindling away, but finally she undid the last lacing. The gauntlet fell and she tumbled free, rolling as the Drooler tried sweeping her up. Shaking off a woozy head, she leaped into the mill wheel, folding herself in the cramped hollow between the wheel’s blades as it swooshed her down and away.
Besting the Beast (first published in SNAFU: Holy War, 2021)
The titular tale covers the aftermath of a demonic invasion; a bandit orphan Kai is one of the few survivors of a grand melee with winged demons. He seeks revenge for his lord and family in a confrontation with the mother of evil gods.
On an impossibly long, spindly arm, a hand shot from the water, snatched a Jomon trooper from the front rank and yanked him screaming into the pool. A red cloud mottled the surface. Another arm whizzed out. Another. Long fingers raked in Guardians. Now the water swirled and frothed. A head broke the surface and swooped up on a lengthy, sinuous neck.
The whole of the chamber released a collective, ecstatic sigh. Kai reeled at what hovered above the water – a woman’s head, in some demented fashion, with strings of blue-black hair. Eyes like moons filmed in the hue of blood, a jumble of sharp teeth set in an outsized mouth. What form of body lurked beneath the surface?
Half-baked Hero (first published in Sword and Sorcery Magazine, 2019)
When the female bodyguard Janza encounters an outlandish client, she faces a choice between her past and future, vengeance and honor.
Kong parted his robe.
Waist up was immense flab, the flesh of his belly coarse, grainy, gloppy. Incongruously, his legs rippled with muscle. Kong began massaging his stomach and chanting ancient words. Cruel, bestial words Janza had never heard, yet somehow, her blood recognized them, recognized and feared them. Janza could only lie there, frozen and terrified, until the sorcerous, blood-thieving assassin had his final say.
Yet with every bead of sweat wetting Kong’s brow, more disgusted heat blasted through her body. Rage warmed her. By inches her limbs began melting free.
Kong rubbed his paunch furiously . . . and he dug his fingers in and tore away bloodless wads of paunch. These he piled on the floor.
Silk Road Centurion - Novel Excerpt (Published by Camphor Press., 2023)
The book chronicles a 53 B.C. Roman soldier making a life on the ancient Chinese frontier. However, Manius Titinius falls captive to a warband of Xiongnu, nomadic horsemen who rule the seas of grass between the Gobi Desert and the Mountains of Heaven.
Hooves pounded nearer. They were almost on top of Manius. He snatched the two pila javelins he kept on his horse, just as the enemy rounded the bend. The lead rider now was a squat man wrapped in furs, not that giant. Judging his speed, Manius drew back a pilum, coiling his muscles like a tensed spring before whipping forward and launching. The javelin arced true, striking the horseman to the dirt.
Manius readied his throw against the next man. No, only a beardless boy, unarmed. From his speeding horse he looked up at Manius and their eyes locked, the boy’s seeming to register in that split second his life had been spared. Around the bend came the giant. Manius sent his last javelin soaring up and as it arced, he knew it had its victim’s scent. The barbarian seemed to freeze, gazing stupidly at the onrushing projectile, at his end foretold. ... Mouthing a curse, Manius clawed out his gladius, dashed at his surprised foe and thrust for his ribs. In one fluid motion the giant drew his sword. There was a clang and a silvery flash as the barbarian’s curving steel batted away the short, straight Roman sword. Manius was open now to a follow-on strike and braced to receive the killing blow...
About the Author
Scott Forbes Crawford is the author of the historical novel Silk Road Centurion, the history book The Han-Xiongnu War 133 BC – 89 AD, and co-author, with his wife Alexis Kossiakoff, of the Middle-Grade historical fantasy novel The Phoenix and the Firebird. His short stories and articles have appeared in a range of magazines and anthologies. After spending many years in Beijing and Taipei, Crawford now lives in Japan with his wife and daughter. You can learn more about Scott Forbes Crawford at the author's website, his Facebook page, or his newsletter site.
S.E. Lindberg is a Managing Editor at Black Gate , regularly reviewing books and interviewing authors on the topic of “Beauty & Art in Weird-Fantasy Fiction.” He is also the lead moderator of the Goodreads Sword & Sorcery Group and an intern for Tales from the Magician’s Skull magazine. As for crafting stories, he has contributed eight entries across Perseid Press’s Heroes in Hell and Heroika series, and has an entry in Weirdbook Annual #3: Zombies. He independently publishes novels under the banner Dyscrasia Fiction ; short stories of Dyscrasia Fiction have appeared in Whetstone, Swords & Sorcery online magazine, Rogues In the House Podcast’s A Book of Blades Vol I and Vol II, DMR’s Terra Incognita, and the 9th issue of Tales From the Magician’s Skull.
August 20, 2024
Great combination of Japan Mythology. I often find myself wanting to read some of the more original stories from Asian mythology, but it becomes hard to do as often the translations can be difficult to read and the nuance of the story is lost. However, I think Crawford did a great job with these collection of stories, and I felt like my mythology knowledge was expanded. Not great if you don't read academic or more stuffy books, but definitely think everyone should give it a shot.
September 26, 2024
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This collection of short stories (plus a snippet of a novel at the end) was the perfect size to fit between two epic fantasy series I'm in the middle of reading. The short stories are short enough that I can read one within an hour and have that story completely finished. It's nice and refreshing.
The worldbuilding was absolutely phenomenal. Even though each story was so short, I felt fully immersed within the worlds. I admit that I do not know much about Japanese mythology, and this collection definitely sparked my interest in learning more. The monsters, the imps, the almost golem-like dough creations… They were all a mix of creepy and fascinating.
Even regarding the characters, though we didn't get to see too much of them in such short a time, I cared about the main one in each story. The first story in this collection will especially leave you with your heart hanging open for the FMC. And the white kitten with dashes of black on its head.
Overall, this was a very well-written collection of fantasy stories that whet my appetite for more Japanese mythology. Nice and bite-sized for when you just need a little something, but don't want to commit multiple days.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This collection of short stories (plus a snippet of a novel at the end) was the perfect size to fit between two epic fantasy series I'm in the middle of reading. The short stories are short enough that I can read one within an hour and have that story completely finished. It's nice and refreshing.
The worldbuilding was absolutely phenomenal. Even though each story was so short, I felt fully immersed within the worlds. I admit that I do not know much about Japanese mythology, and this collection definitely sparked my interest in learning more. The monsters, the imps, the almost golem-like dough creations… They were all a mix of creepy and fascinating.
Even regarding the characters, though we didn't get to see too much of them in such short a time, I cared about the main one in each story. The first story in this collection will especially leave you with your heart hanging open for the FMC. And the white kitten with dashes of black on its head.
Overall, this was a very well-written collection of fantasy stories that whet my appetite for more Japanese mythology. Nice and bite-sized for when you just need a little something, but don't want to commit multiple days.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 13, 2024
Besting the Beast and Other Fantasy Tales by Scott Forbes Crawford is a thrilling collection of five fantasy stories packed with action, adventure, and magic. Get ready for brave heroes, clever thieves, and fearsome monsters! 🐉⚔️✨
The Carving of a Warrior – A young woman must fight through a monster-infested forest and carve her own destiny to survive. 🌲👩🎨🐺
Heart of a Samurai – A proud samurai learns a tough lesson about honor after meeting a mysterious, ghostly cat. 🐱⚔️👻
A Thief’s Work – A skilled thief joins the rebels to stop an evil sorcerer controlling her city with a magical drug. 🏙️🗡️🌀
Besting the Beast – A former bandit finds that his old ways might save his people after a demon horde attacks. 😈🛡️🏹
Half-baked Hero – A bodyguard must choose between revenge and doing the right thing when she takes on an unusual client. 🛡️🗡️🤔
These short, action-packed stories are full of magic, adventure, and unexpected twists. If you love fantasy and fast-paced reads, you’ll enjoy this exciting collection! 💥📚🐉
#FantasyReads #AdventureTales #EpicHeroes #MythAndMagic #ShortStories #ScottForbesCrawford #ActionPacked #FantasyLovers #QuickReads #BookRecommendation
The Carving of a Warrior – A young woman must fight through a monster-infested forest and carve her own destiny to survive. 🌲👩🎨🐺
Heart of a Samurai – A proud samurai learns a tough lesson about honor after meeting a mysterious, ghostly cat. 🐱⚔️👻
A Thief’s Work – A skilled thief joins the rebels to stop an evil sorcerer controlling her city with a magical drug. 🏙️🗡️🌀
Besting the Beast – A former bandit finds that his old ways might save his people after a demon horde attacks. 😈🛡️🏹
Half-baked Hero – A bodyguard must choose between revenge and doing the right thing when she takes on an unusual client. 🛡️🗡️🤔
These short, action-packed stories are full of magic, adventure, and unexpected twists. If you love fantasy and fast-paced reads, you’ll enjoy this exciting collection! 💥📚🐉
#FantasyReads #AdventureTales #EpicHeroes #MythAndMagic #ShortStories #ScottForbesCrawford #ActionPacked #FantasyLovers #QuickReads #BookRecommendation
July 25, 2024
This was a fantastic read in every sense of the word - the stories were consistent in quality which I don’t always find with compilations of shorter works, and the writing was excellent and flowed easily, pages turning at pace. Demonic hordes, monster infested forests, ghosts, conspiracies, samurai, cats, vengeance and honour; all can be found within these pages. Not having read this author before but being generally interested in both fantasy and Japanese history/folklore, I knew I had to check this out and it didn’t disappoint. I now intend to read the authors other work “Silk Road centurion” which also sounds like something I would enjoy. This gets an easy 5* from me as I had a blast with it!
Disclaimer - I received a free advance review copy courtesy of booksiren, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
Disclaimer - I received a free advance review copy courtesy of booksiren, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
July 6, 2024
Surprisingly Good. I was given a chance to read an ARC and this was my very first. Appreciate the author's trust in my fair and honest review.
I love short stories and if it's about monsters then even better. The imagination and creativity in the different types of monsters that I came across through Scotts words was thrilling.
This was the first time I read anything from Scott Forbes Crawford but was impressed by how he was able to express so much in so little, from character building to intense storylines as well as how engaging and satisfying each plot was in this Beastly collection was.
The Asian inspiration is apparent and enjoyable. My favourites were "Half baked hero" and "Heart of a Samurai."
It was a Good Read!
I love short stories and if it's about monsters then even better. The imagination and creativity in the different types of monsters that I came across through Scotts words was thrilling.
This was the first time I read anything from Scott Forbes Crawford but was impressed by how he was able to express so much in so little, from character building to intense storylines as well as how engaging and satisfying each plot was in this Beastly collection was.
The Asian inspiration is apparent and enjoyable. My favourites were "Half baked hero" and "Heart of a Samurai."
It was a Good Read!
July 18, 2024
It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a collection of tales as much as I have these! The stories and characters took me back to the days of reading “Thieves’ World” in terms of the suspense and thoughtful plot creation, and the intriguing denizens of the world.
I knew I was going to enjoy this collection, having already finished the entirety of this author’s “Silk Road Centurion,” an introduction of which concludes this volume.
My only “complaint” was that this collection was too short! Well done Scott Crawford!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I knew I was going to enjoy this collection, having already finished the entirety of this author’s “Silk Road Centurion,” an introduction of which concludes this volume.
My only “complaint” was that this collection was too short! Well done Scott Crawford!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2024
This book is a delightful collection of fantasy stories that managed to keep me hooked from start to finish. Crawford's writing style is engaging and vivid, making it easy to get lost in the various fantastical worlds he creates. Each story is unique, filled with intriguing characters and imaginative plots. One thing I really appreciated was the pacing. Crawford knows how to build suspense and keep the reader guessing without dragging things out.
However, a few stories felt a bit rushed towards the end, which is why I couldn't give it a full 5 stars.
Overall, it is a fantastic read for anyone who loves fantasy. It's a fun and captivating collection that I'd definitely recommend.
However, a few stories felt a bit rushed towards the end, which is why I couldn't give it a full 5 stars.
Overall, it is a fantastic read for anyone who loves fantasy. It's a fun and captivating collection that I'd definitely recommend.
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August 1, 2024I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
starting off brutally and ending with silence, Besting the Beasts delivers what was promised splendidly with the story delivered easily telling you about the characters and what you need to know in a few short sentences before the battle begins and the monsters deliver fear without much need for delay. honestly, the tales being so short are disappointing because readers would gladly welcome more.
starting off brutally and ending with silence, Besting the Beasts delivers what was promised splendidly with the story delivered easily telling you about the characters and what you need to know in a few short sentences before the battle begins and the monsters deliver fear without much need for delay. honestly, the tales being so short are disappointing because readers would gladly welcome more.
July 26, 2024
I love yokai and Asian culture, mythology, and legends. These short stories show how comfortable the author is among the concepts and creatures, bringing awesome tales forward always with a hint of well-balanced creepiness. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 6, 2024
I received a ARC free from Book Sirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
Fantastic writing.
Interesting stories.
Imaginative.
Hard to put down.
Fantastic writing.
Interesting stories.
Imaginative.
Hard to put down.
August 17, 2025
These short stories featuring Asian mythology are not easy reads for me since I don't read a lot of fantasy. The author's strength lies in the vivid and intricate details while describing action in combat. I don't really visualise much while reading in general, yet the author manages to conjure a fairly lively scene in my mind. I like how he pays attention to the howling sound of a cat: "Reeeeeeeeearh!" I chuckled reading that portion! On the other hand I had to search for the meaning of some words like 'lackadaisical', 'itinerant', 'addled', 'skulked', words which could be replaced with simpler alternatives. That did slow me down. Lastly, I don't really comprehend why the characters are acting in a certain way, maybe within the confines of a short story the stakes and motivations aren't explored well enough for me.
I requested and received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I requested and received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 3, 2024
I really enjoyed these mythic short stories! I received an ARC from NetGalley, and am glad I was able to snag this one. A few short stories inspired by folklore, my favorites were “The Heart of a Samurai” in the tradition of Japanese ghostly tales (with a cat), and “A Thief’s Work,” where we follow a female thief who joins the resistance to save her people from a sorcerer. These are short, easy reads, and the stories drop you right into the action.
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