Clint’s Comments (group member since Jul 26, 2017)

Clint’s comments from the Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy" group.

@Jason, Thank You Sir. I look forward to reading it.

Worlds Beyond Worlds by John R Fultz. I’m only two stories deep, but recommended so far.

@Jason. I would gladly review

@Joy, DO IT. Read Flame and Crimson. Excellent book

I like the idea of reading books from a modern publisher.
DMR and Pulp Hero Press are both solid choices.

Biography of S&S writers? I recommend both Mark Finn’s book and Todd Vick’s for REH. I’ve only encountered, and read one about CAS (I will have to dig it up for title and author). In the same ball park, there are some great collections of essays. Most recent, and a hell of a great book, Brian Murphy’s Flame and Crimson: A History of Sword and Sorcery. For a great guide to REH’s fiction journey, I heartily recommend David Smith’s Robert E Howard: A Literary Biography.

Dunno? I guess I will read more WH and find out

I reflected earlier that I came to S&S from a love of Conan comics; however, I too came to REH actual late in life. I read a good bakers dozen of pastiche Conan books (Tornans) in high school and college, but I didn’t get into the pure REH Conan until I saw the Del Rey copy of The Coming of Conan in late in life.

That book, particularly “The Tower of the Elephant” made me seek out more in the same vein. I was aware of S&S prior to that, but hadn’t fully experienced it. Since then, I haunted used book stores (which are sadly down to a precious few in Anchorage AK) and Abe Books seeking out more S&S. I think the second S&S story to make my socks roll up and down was “Black God’s Kiss”, by C.L. Moore.

So, I’m reading a Warhammer novel, as I’m prone to do from time to time. Almost daily, as I update my status, I get likes from intriguing young ladies with links in their profiles that lead to online dating sites.

I must say, if 13 year old me knew reading Warhammer novels would make him so attractive, he would have been relieved.

@Richard I’m curious about the truncated state FS6 was left in after the whole Introduction controversy. I hope to read your thoughts when finished.

I’m rather excited about these. Michael Moorcock is not always on fire for me, but there are a few Elric stories I have missed. I’m not sure if these are complete, but there are a few I’ve been interested in for years, and there is a kindle edition of each.

https://www.tor.com/2021/03/02/reveal...

Time for some Old World Warhammer RPG Lit. Time of Legends: Age of Legend, edited by Christian Dunn with stories by C.L. Werner, Gav Thorpe and a host of others.

My thoughts

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

@Richard, I really like the idea of Howard and KEW as the “big name draws”; but, there are few S&S tales by REH that are not easily obtained (BUT, Dave did so once with Renegade Swords, he keeps surprising me, and hence I keep dipping into the well for more); KEW, I have a feeling his stories aren’t so easily obtainable (BUT, Dave surprised me again in Renegade Swords II, with a KEW story that BONUS, was new to me).

I will pitch it, but one pitch is whisper, several are a shout.

@Richard, I’m sold on the idea, but I admit my ignorance of how much work curating stories is. I literally have no idea how difficult it is or isn’t. Morbid thought (but not meant as such), how about an anthology of writers taken from us too soon?

“The Tower of Darkness” was an enjoyable read. I agree that a collection of David Madison’s stories would be an interesting read. I wrote Dave Ritzlin of DMR fame to suggest as much. He wasn’t against the idea, but is unsure how much interest there would be. Perhaps if more people contacted him and suggested the same?

So far, I have only read Bebergal’s introduction, but I think I will dive in at least read Madison’s story this weekend.

It seems like a “there can be only one!” argument that is unneeded. I can’t imagine two D&D fans agreeing upon what should be included. The inclusion of the authors from Swords Against Darkness is not that tenuous. Gygax did name that anthology in A-N. It might be a stretch to include stories from volumes other than SAD III, but not that much of a stretch. The question of “why weren’t C.L. Moore and CAS included in A-N? is a time of old question.

Wouldn’t it be a gas if Gygax’s Appendix N consisted simply of all the books he just happened to have in eye view as he wrote it?

I agree with Richard, the blog post reads like the author viewed the ToC and judged completely from that. I think he’s mostly ticked about sharing the title with his book; however, neither he nor Bebergal were the first to lay claim to the title.

I read Tower of the Elephant, if not once a year, then probably every other. I might like it just a tad.

Brian Murphy’s Silver Key blog is one I frequent from time to time. The post I read today is a subject heavy on my mind. Mr Murphy tackled it intelligently without anger.

https://thesilverkey.blogspot.com/202...

I ordered mine while sipping coffee this morning. From the ToC Joseph posted, I’ve read a good many in the past; however, there are a few I have not, and some it’s been a decade or three, and I look forward to the essays. I hope they are up to snuff.

For the group read, I will most likely select a few to read in April; March is pretty much spoken for with the fat stack of books I curbside picked up at my local library.

This will be one of those books I keep on my nightstand and pick up from time to time.