Joseph’s Comments (group member since Oct 24, 2012)

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

Andy wrote: "Steven wrote: "I think a good book is, regardless of actual length, just slightly shorter than you want it to be."

So true."

Of just about everything in life, come to think of it.

Mary wrote: "Joseph wrote: "Although even there, I think the lower limit for "novel" is 40,000 words, which is miniscule by modern standards.."

Once upon a time, that was within normal range. How-to-write book..."

Yeah, it's kind of amazing sometimes when I sit down with, e.g., A Princess of Marsand see how short it is compared to oh, I don't know, Memories of Ice or some such.

Which isn't to say that both don't have their pluses and minuses.

I think it's one of those terms (along with novelette) that's used primarily by fiction magazines and in the Hugo nomination process. Just a way to chonk up stories by word count into small, medium, large and novel. (Although even there, I think the lower limit for "novel" is 40,000 words, which is miniscule by modern standards.)

Well, Centipede is a very small press and they do really nice work. But yeah, $350 is ... not cheap.

The Kane books are available in eBook format also, but the eBooks aren't quite complete -- they don't include the later stories or the Wake of the Night fragment. Jerad did add those pieces into the two existing collections for the Centipede edition. But honestly, I don't think any of them are really indispensable.

Still reading Star Wars books (currently Dark Disciple), but I did get the copy of Savage Heroes: Tales of Sorcery and Black Magic that I ordered based, I think, on a discussion in this group.

Scott wrote: "S.E. wrote: "No worries, Jack. Just another confirmation that you belong in this group. Funny how many orciphilles are here."

We are legion :)"

You could almost say ... a horde?

I picked up Crystal Shard back when it first came out as part of the initial run of Forgotten Realms books (along with Darkwalker on Moonshae) and just wasn't impressed enough to continue. I've thought about trying the Exile/Homeland/Sojourn trilogy, but just haven't ever been able to get into them.

As for myself, I'm currently getting too excited about Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and reading Star Wars: The Rise of the Empire. It has (laser) swords and (space) sorcery, right?

S.E. wrote: "Jase, awesome comments. I never read Duar The Accursed, or anything by Clifford Ball actually. I'll need to track his work down. "

"Duar the Accursed" was in New Worlds For Old (one of Lin Carter's Ballantine Adult Fantasy anthologies), so I know I've read it but I'd have to go back to refresh my memory before I said anything about it.

Looks like I've also read one other Ball story, again in a Carter anthology -- this time, the story was "The Goddess Awakes" in Realms Of Wizardry (one of my favorite anthologies; or, at least, it and its companion, Kingdoms of Sorcery, were hugely influential on my reading tastes back in the day).

I haven't watched the whole thing yet -- it's 90 minutes -- but what I have seen is fascinating, and potentially quite relevant ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DBmN...

I haven't read all six, but I read at least two or three. As with the first, I found them pleasant enough diversions; I'll probably get around to the rest of the series at some point or another.

Phil wrote: "I'm also a CAS fan (of longstanding). I wonder if his creation of story-cycles based on milieu rather than a continuing character was something he initiated? (Can't think any other writer of fantas..."

Maybe Dunsany? Although the connections there are much more tenuous.

Phil wrote: "CAS is criminally underrated. As much as I love H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard's work, I still think Clark Ashton Smith is the best of the three."

Yep, if I had to choose just one, it'd be Smith. The Zothique stories in particular.

Still not S&S in the classic sense, but related -- I'm reading a prose translation of Orlando Furioso.

I liked Stealer of Flesh well enough, as a way to kill a few hours.

The opening part of Seven Princes struck me as being very reminiscent of Smith, and almost could've worked as a standalone piece. (Which I intend as a major compliment, to be clear.) I did enjoy the trilogy as a whole.

I've been reading Chris Evans' Iron Elves trilogy -- an early example of flintlock fantasy (first book came out in, what, 2009?) and have just started the third book, Ashes of a Black Frost.

After that, it might be time to reread all of the Tiffany Aching books before reading The Shepherd's Crown, the last Tiffany Aching, and the last Discworld, novel.

Speaking of covers: I do really like the ones Bison Press used on their Harold Lamb collections, such as:

Evgeny wrote: "If somebody wants to read more of his stories practically all of them are freely available from his official webpage: http://www.eldritchdark.com/"

Also an excellent point! And the site includes his poetry as well, much of which will be of interest.

The End of the Story by Clark Ashton Smith (volume 1 of a 5-volume set of his collected short fiction) is currently $1.99.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00725WJLY

S.E. wrote: "Jack, Stealer of Flesh looks good (free on Amazon.com kindle too). Thx"

I can confirm that the Kormak books (at least, the ones I've read) are good, old-fashioned S&S fun.