S.E.’s Comments (group member since Nov 01, 2012)

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

Clint wrote: "So far for this group read, I have read Tales From the Magician’s Skull #5, Whetstone #2 and I am now one story deep into Savage Scrolls. Anthologies and zine reading are my favorite consumables.
..."

One fun part of reading anthologies is finding some fresh, new voices. Since you are reading so many zones/books, your TBR pile is going to be overflowing. Plenty of author-readers are in this group. Too many to mention actually. So you'll have a tough time avoiding works from those you know.

Thanks for the kind words. Most of my work is often too dark/weird for people's taste, since it leans way into alien/evil-sorcery than "earthy"-melee. I blame my muses. Anyway, glad you are cool with it. It would absolutely cool if you didn't like it too.

I've been enjoying the serialized stories across the issues of Tales from the Magician's Skull (i.e., from Enge, Hocking, Cole). My TBR pile has 4 other anthologies... calling to me. Need more time.

Welcome @M.A. and @Ausjeb.
This group is full of writer-readers, and we're glad to have more join the fun. No worries about "missing" any group read: even though we have designated 2-month intervals, we just leave the topics open and folks come-n-go long after the official time.

Of course, we have our annual anthology read going on now. I think Ausjeb just posted there as I type. Cool.

Some getting started info is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

I know nothing about Edmond Hamilton. @Richard, you'll have to educate me

Jason wrote: "I'm kicking off the new year with a book from one of our very own!
Spawn of Dyscrasia by this guy! --> "

....blushing.... hope you enjoy it! You trying the audio?

The Skull continues to feed us "mortal dog" readers great new tales.
Just devoured Tales from the Magician's Skull #4...review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now onto #5, which has more of Adrian Cole's Elak of Atlantis amongst Herioc Fantasy Quarterly's own Adrian Simons tale. Lots of Adrian's in there (yo, Adrian?? call out to Rocky Balboa) : Tales from the Magician's Skull #5

Adding books/records on GR:

Goodread's has allowed for magazines and odd-ball documents to be tracked. The issue is that a volunteer has to populate a book-record first. Anyone who has any account that is >7days old can do so here:
Link to Add Book

I've been entering records for a lot of the S&S magazines the last few years, mainly for this group.

EDIT: recall, there is a scanner on the phone App for GR which rocks. Just point it at your book/magazine's bar code and it will create a record for you...and add it to your library.


If you are even more die-hard... and want to tidy up records, you may need Librarian status.
Link to GR Librarian Info.

Steve, great share. We've never done a Simon of Gritta group read... will have to poll for that especially since availability is easier now.

Our annual group read for Sword & Sorcery Anthologies and Magazines starts now (thru Feb-2021)! Discuss here/below.
Link to Discussion Folder

Please peruse and add to the Poll which we are using as means to communicate books we are reading or discussing.
Poll Link

Masthead banner and credits


Tales from the Magician's Skull #5: Manuel Pérez Clemente (better known as Sanjulián)
Appendix N: The Eldritch Roots of Dungeons and Dragons cover art byArik Roper
Savage Scrolls Volume One : Thrilling Tales of Sword-and-Sorcery cover art by Jesus Garcia (to be confirmed)

@Al/all.... nice copy! This "currently reading" list is always fun to watch and grow our TBRs!

@Clint, thanks for sharing on your Facebook page about this Karl Edward Wagner documentary, just released :

The Last Wolf: Karl Edward Wagner link: Vimeo on demand link

BLURB:
arl Edward Wagner was one of the most accomplished dark fantasy and horror writers in the world during the 1970’s and 1980’s, but very few outside of his devoted cult of fans even know his name. Creator of the immortal antihero warrior Kane and the author of several cerebral tales of psychological horror, Karl gave his characters and settings a unique and chilling perspective. A rugged and imposing figure who resembled his red-bearded swordsman Kane, Karl’s life ultimately ended tragically in 1994 due to the ravages of alcohol, cutting short the career of a writer who should be considered a legend in the field of weird fiction. This feature-length documentary features Karl’s family, friends, and contemporaries like Ramsey Campbell, Peter Straub, and Dennis Etchison as they explore the life of the Last Wolf, a dark genius from a bygone era who, like Kane, remains immortal through his words.

@Clint, thx!

BTW, Oron author and member David C. Smith just posted a good-bye letter to Saunders on Black Gate.

https://www.blackgate.com/rogue-blade...

I didn’t know the 1986 Amazons movie was based on Saunder’s work(Agbewe’s Sword, Dossouye). The Roger Corman S&S movies always had great covers… and campy production. I would love to see a serious take on Imaro.

@Brian, lol. now I need to track another book down

thanks David! I'm getting into Tour Guide making I guess. The Oron one was fun....and I did one for the Witcher which has a huge helpful rating on Amazon.

Ok, got the tour guide posted on Black Gate. It sorts out the publication history and chronology...and reveals a teaser about the unpublished anthology.

Imaro Series Tour Guide link

Poop, it looks like all the special editions are out of stock

@Brian I got the whole Escape the Dark Castle line up. Great game and awesome art indeed. The TOC for DnD AppendixN has most of my favorites....plus a few I never read. Must track it down

Just finished The Trail of Bohu.
Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Key summary:
This third novel is a setup for last: The Naama War. The Trail of Bohu has considerably less action than Imaro and The Quest for Cush: Imaro II (the prior being comprised of short stories and this being the first full length novel). So far, Saunders has been building up two big plots: (1) Imaro's mysterious, ancestral origin, and (2) the burgeoning war between the united Northern tribes/nations (Cloud Strider and Cushite aligned) and the evil Naamans (Erriten, Mashataan sorceries). Here Saunders delivers mostly on the former, and quite comprehensively; the latter, reserved for the final book.

I prepared a guide to the series for BlackGate.com to be posted in a few days.

Whetstone: Amateur Magazine of Sword and Sorcery Issue Two is out now!

Click here for the free PDF



Issue 2, Winter 2020 CONTENTS:

Editor’s Note by Jason Ray Carney
The City of Tombs by George Jacobs
An Unforgiveable Interruption by D.M. Ritzlin
The Stain on the Skull by Simon Ruleman
The Augur of Khoalse by Corey Graham
Dark Meditations by J. Thomas Howard
The Mortal Essence by Ulysses Maurer
Hounds by Chuck Clark
Mother of Malevolence by Chase Folmar
Raising Daughters by S.E. Lindberg
The Slain of Talhn by R. Sagus
Under the Oak by Zack Taylor
Best Left to Professionals by Jace Phelps
Rolf's Ride by Frank Coffman



WHETSTONE is an amateur magazine that seeks to discover, inspire, and publish emerging authors who are enthusiastic about the tradition of "pulp sword and sorcery." Writers in this tradition include (but are not limited to) the following: Robert E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, Jack Vance, Michael Moorcock, Karl Edward Wagner, David C. Smith, and many more. "Pulp sword and sorcery" emphasizes active protagonists, supernatural menaces, and preindustrial (mostly ancient and medieval) settings. Some "pulp sword and sorcery" straddles the line between historical and fantasy fiction; at WHETSTONE, however, we prefer "secondary world settings," other worlds liberated from the necessity of historical accuracy.

First released Friday, December 4th, 2020

Cover art by Rick McCollum

Whetstone Seal by Bill Cavalier.

Skull graphic by Gray Moth.

Webpage: https://whetstonemag.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whetstonemag/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SorceryWs

Discord: https://discord.gg/hJKdkyDuUb

Editor/Publisher: Jason Ray Carney

Associate Editor: Chuck Clark

lulu doesn't seem to have #2 .... but the Nightshade version is available on Amazon I think

Honored to have authors chime in here! Our annual Anthology group read is this upcoming Jan-Feb. This will be on my target list