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

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

Jason M wrote: "Richard, for some reason the link to your review won't work on my phone but I'll dig for it. Also the link to the book on Amazon only shows me book one, how do I find book two? Finally, this sounds..."

Yep, the links on GR have been acting funny lately. Especially on phones. Sigh. Even the HTML code do not work well....anyhow we persevere....

I happen to be a big Phil Emery fan. I discovered him through Jason's/RBE's anthologies. Interviewed Phil on Black Gate too on THE AESTHETICS OF SWORD & SORCERY: AN INTERVIEW WITH PHILIP EMERY
Link: = https://www.blackgate.com/2021/06/10/...

never heard of Kasmah....issue 10 of Savage Realms looks great

Tales From the Magician's Skull Blog Mar 2022 Round-Up-2
Link: https://goodman-games.com/tftms/


Apr 1: Look at Henry Treece’s The Great Captains by Fletcher Vredenburgh
https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2022/...
When Treece turned to fiction, an endeavor that would eventually put an end to his poetry writing, he found his voice in historical fiction, in particular in legendary events and characters, and in providing a realistic basis for them. Among his most notable works is the Celtic Tetralogy. Chronologically, the first, The Golden Strangers (1956) is about the conquest of Neolithic Britain by bronze-wielding invaders. The Dark Island (1952) and Red Queen, White Queen (1958) recount the doomed resistance by British leaders Caractacus and Boudicca, respectively, to Roman rule. In The Great Captains (1956), Artos and Medrodus, descendants of the invaders from The Golden Strangers, fight a doomed battle against a new race of intruders. Together the four books recreate ancient Britain, its forests haunted by spirits, portents looming in every strange occurrence. In his novels he presents events that perhaps lie at the center of the mythic heart of Britain. Alongside Paul Kingsnorth’s Buckmaster Trilogy, it’s one of the great poetic works about Britain’s history, its land, and its people

Mar 29: Ballantine Adult Fantasy: William Morris
https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2022/...
One of the most significant figures in the cultural life of Victorian England, William Morris (1834-1896) was everything from a poet, translator, and writer of medievalist fantasy, to a political activist, printer, champion of building preservation, and a renowned innovator in textile manufacturing and interior design. When Lin Carter oversaw the Ballantine Adult Fantasy line (1969-74), he brought many of Morris’ out-of-print fantasies back into print in affordable paperback editions.


Mar 25: Fueling the Fire of Fantasy Fiction: Gaming’s Influence on Today’s Writers by Brian Murphy
https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2022/...
After taking a bit of a controversial stance last week with my piece on the possible detrimental effects of gaming on sword-and-sorcery, I will now take the opportunity to rebut … myself, and offer the opposing side a chance. And discuss the net positives that role-playing and, in particular, Dungeons and Dragons has had on fantasy fiction. As I mentioned in my prior piece, gaming can, and in many instances has, inspired gamers to take up a pen and launch successful careers as fantasy authors. Before they were writers, the likes of China Mieville (author of Perdido Street Station), Cory Doctorow (Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom), and Joe Abercrombie (First Law trilogy, The Heroes) were slinging dice at the game table. George R.R. Martin is another notable author who sings the praises of role-playing, though he had started writing in 1971, prior to the invention of D&D.


Mar 22: Classic Covers: Dragonlance
https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2022/...
It might be fair to say that the Dragonlance series — initially a trilogy of novels written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman in tandem with a group of D&D modules from TSR — is The Lord of the Rings of media tie in fiction: massively best-selling, appealing to a broader fanbase than conventional wisdom dictated, and prompting an entire industry of imitators. In Dragonlance one can see the beginnings of not only an explosion in shared worlds based on popular media, but also the genesis of Young Adult fiction as a force punching well above its weight class in publishing.



Mar 18: Dungeons & Dragons: Friend or Foe of Sword-and-Sorcery? by Brian Murphy
https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2022/...
I’m a long-time D&D fan and ex-gamer who may again pick up the dice bag. D&D is an awesome game, has given me countless hours of unadulterated joy, and I will unequivocally state that the world is a better place for it. But, I don’t think it has necessarily been a uniformly positive influence for subsequent generations of writers. Specifically, it may have played a role in the downfall of sword-and-sorcery. Note: The following bit of speculation is not an indictment of what goes on at the table during D&D games, which at their best are cauldrons of creativity. But rather, the impact D&D may have had on sword-and-sorcery and subsequent fantasy fiction.



Mar 15: Where to Start With Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser
https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2022/...
Aside from Conan the Cimmerian, there can be no more iconic image in all of sword-and-sorcery fiction than the dynamic duo of “the Twain.” Fafhrd, towering Northern barbarian, and Mouser, weaselly little thief, form a wonderfully visually complementary whole, and that’s even before you get to their actual personalities. Bawdy and reckless, bantering and adventurous, these two lovable rogues have traveled the length and breadth of a nowhere place called Nehwon, with many of their most memorable escapades taking place in the city of Lankhmar.

Time to plan our May-June Group Read Topics!

May-June 2022 Group Rad Topic Poll; usually top two topics get a two-month spotlight. Feel welcome to write-in options

Link to Poll: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

https://conan.com/conan-returns/
S. M. Stirling

Conan: Blood of the Serpent, out in October

By S. M. Stirling

The hardcover edition of Conan: Blood of the Serpent by New York Times bestselling author S.M. Stirling will be available for pre-order beginning March 25, 2022, published by Titan Books.

Tales From the Magician's Skull Blog Mar 2022 Round-Up-1
https://goodman-games.com/tftms/


Feb-24: Adventures in Fiction: Arkham House, Ithaqua, and In-Jokes: The Influence of August Derleth by Bradley K. McDevitt
https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2022/...
Most of you probably know the name H.P. Lovecraft, but do you know August Derleth? Bradley K. McDevitt reminds you that you have a good reason to remember him. Without August Derleth (1909-1971), you probably wouldn’t have that Cthulhu bumper sticker on your car, that Cthulhu for President poster, and certainly not that Plushie Cthulhu you have staring down at you from your geek-memorabilia shelf. Not that Cthulhu would not exist, but he (it?) would be just one more forgotten character in a series of stories by an author unknown except to the most ardent of horror literati. Howard Phillips Lovecraft’s greatest creation and most if not all of his fiction would have passed into obscurity if not for August Derleth’s founding of Arkham House publishing.



Feb-25: Classic Covers: Arkham House
https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2022/...
When one thinks of legendary pulp publishers, names like Weird Tales, Black Mask, and Planet Stories leap to mind — beautiful magazines as sadly transitory as the era of popular literacy they defined. But it was for an indie book publisher to emerge as one of the leading lights of preservation for the best in the weird and fantastical horror of the age, and add its own legendary name to the rolls of honored pulpsters: Arkham House.



Mar-3: Appendix N. Archaeology: Arthur Machen by Bradley K. McDevitt
https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2022/...
This article is part of a series where the spotlight shines on some authors that inspired the writers we acknowledge today as influencing the creation of Dungeons and Dragons. For those unfamiliar with his fiction, the late Victorian era Welsh author Arthur Machen was admired by contemporaries like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and William Butler Yeats. Further relevant for this article, his work is an acknowledged influence by Appendix N authors such as Clark Ashton Smith, Robert E. Howard, and H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft even cheerfully admitted appropriating details like the god Nodens and reality-destroying language Aklo from Machen to be parts of the Cthulhu Mythos.



Mar-4: A Look at Andre Norton’s Witch World by Fletcher Vredenburgh
A Look at Andre Norton’s Witch World by Fletcher Vredenburgh
Born in 1912, Alice Mary Norton worked as a teacher, a librarian, and finally a reader for Gnome Press before becoming a full-time writer in 1958. By then she’d already had a dozen books published, including such classics as Star Man’s Son, 2250 A.D. and Star Rangers. Based on their easy style and simpler characterizations, most of her early books would probably be classified as YA today. It was with 1963’s Witch World that Norton first wrote a full-fledged sword-and-sorcery book steeped in pulp gloriousness. Sadly, for one of the most successful and prolific women to write fantasy and science with a career that last over fifty years, her books seem sorely neglected today.



Mar-8: Classic Covers: Andre Norton
https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2022/...
Alice Mary Norton — best known to the world by her pen name Andre Norton — was the author of over a dozen series in the genres of fantasy and science fiction, as well as a host of standalone works, including everything from young adult stories and historical adventures to wild science-fantasy mashups and sword-and-sorcery. Her best known and most enduring work is Witch World, itself consisting of story cycles running the gamut from portal fantasies incorporating science fiction to straight up high fantasy. Her long and varied publishing career would influence many a future writer, result in Norton being honored as the first woman to receive the SFWA Grand Master Award, and, of course, inspire dozens upon dozens of evocative book covers.



Mar-11: Jack Vance’s Influence on Dungeons & Dragons
https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2022/...
Did you know that ‘Vecna’—he of the disembodied hand and eyeball—is a deliberate anagram of ‘Vance?’ Gary Gygax made no secret of his love for the work, and person, of Jack Vance, and Vance’s Dying Earth stories in particular were often cited (see Appendix N) by Gygax as a major influence on the genesis of Dungeons & Dragons. Most prominently, of course, in what came to be known as the ‘Vancian magic system’—a term that emerged from the world of RPGs rather than any literary fandom—but there are many other elements, and indeed a prevailing tone, in D&D that are inspired in whole or in part by the works of Jack Vance.

Check out the BG article for easy links to these select S&S episodes:
https://www.blackgate.com/2022/03/08/...


Ep1 – So I’m Writing a Novel… begins! Meet host Oliver Brackenbury as he introduces the podcast, himself, and the titular novel Untitled Sword & Sorcery novel. He also discusses the genre of sword & sorcery, then shares his experience working with an editor on the short story which become the first chapter of the novel. It can be lonely writing a novel, and Oliver would love some company. Maybe, through the podcast, you’ll join him?

Ep 10 – The Red Man And Others w/ Angeline B. Adams & Remco van Straten: The show’s first interview featuring Angeline B Adams & Remco van Straten, authors of the sword & sorcery novel The Red Man and Other Stories.

Ep12 – Interview with Howard Andrew Jones: Author of the recently concluded Ring-Sworn trilogy, editor of the most excellent sword & sorcery magazine Tales of the Magician’s Skull, and teacher of a heroic fantasy writing class Oliver recently attended, Howard Andrew Jones has been a source of inspiration, knowledge, and encouragement for Oliver while our earnest podcast host has worked on his book.

Ep20 – Interview with Milton Davis about Sword & Soul: Oliver and Milton have plenty of laughs talking about what it’s like being both a writer and a publisher, knowing Charles Saunders and what’s going on with the Imaro TV adaptation, when the history nerds come for you, origin stories, designing and playtesting an RPG, and so much more!

Ep21 – Interview with Matt John of Rogues in the House: Oliver speaks with a host from the popular sword & sorcery podcast Rogues in the House, Matt John, about the genre, gatekeeping vs helping the S&S scene thrive, the trials of buying books online when you’re Canadian, working sword & sorcery and role-playing games into the classroom, Army of Darkness hot takes, He-Man, “Good Rudes”, letting go of the things you don’t want to write and just writing the things your inner child wants to write, good and bad nostalgia, and “more”!

Ep 30 -Story Consultation with Matt John: Since Oliver Brackenbury is also a freelance editor, he invited some brave writers on the show, opening up a work-in-progress to the topics. In this episode Matt John (of Rogues In The House) surprised listeners with a very touching point of origin for the story he had Oliver look at. A very thoughtful, impactful discussion that emphasizes the strength of the show and the community building.

Ep24 – Interview with Michael Curtis: Since Oliver greatly enjoys the role-playing games & adventures written by Fritz Leiber scholar Michael Curtis, while Leiber’s Fafhrd & Grey Mouser stories have been a great source of inspiration for Oliver’s novel-in-progress, you better believe he was excited to talk with Michael about: Why people should read the Fafhrd & Grey Mouser stories, how these characters so defined by their friendship were born of a real life bromance, what defines Leiber’s writing style, what makes F&GM’s home – Lankhmar – the ultimate fantasy adventure city, how Michael made writing RPGs his career, what it was like poring over Leiber’s original papers at an archive in Houston, and more.

Ep32 – Interview with Jordan Smith of Dark Crusade: This episode will introduce you to fantasy & horror author Karl Edward Wagner, as well as his iconic sword & sorcery supervillain, Kane! Oliver and Jordan discuss subjects like The Carcosa Papers, the magic of seeing author’s original notebooks (and fantasizing about others feeling that way seeing yours), getting deep into why Kane stands out from other well-read S&S protagonists, Kane as villain, as manipulator; as being almost secondary to his own stories, erotic horror, how Wagner’s psychiatry education enhanced his writing, reading an author’s personal issues in their work and then connecting them to your own, and a whole lot more.

Ep33 – Interview with Jason Ray Carney of Whetstone Magazine: Oliver speaks with the editor of Whetstone: Amateur Magazine of Sword & Sorcery, covering a wide variety of subjects germane to running a semi-pro literary magazine, online community, and good old sword & sorcery.

Oliver gets a spotlight on Black Gate:
https://www.blackgate.com/2022/03/08/...

Please check out the scope of the podcast & the list of select episodes.

Here's the deal:

This list/thread was never meant to define the S&S genre

It is okayed by the moderators since it:
(a) uses S&S search terms via Amazon
(b) some folks find it useful
(c) it is easy to ignore if someone is not interested

Also, anyone who has a better solution (ie searching Amazon for potentially-relevant, free books), you are welcome to share.

I've started deleting posts that did not contribute to a healthy discussion, which I hate to do.
There is no reason, ever, to get personal.
Be civil (per our group's mantra).
Contact a moderator if necessary.

No worries folks. Even though the free listing isnt perfect, there was a handful of members who enjoy it. So Randy is welcome to keep sharing. I think the headline even says Fantasy now instead of S&S to help convey the non-specific searching. Of course, if anyone has a way to improve searching, and wants to do that and share.... that would be welcome too.

[thumbs up]

Michael Fierce (Gandalf the Red) wrote: "C'mon, Seth, you know I got skillz.
⚡⚔️🗡️👩‍🎤⚡"


More skills than me! I need to up my game

Michael Fierce (Gandalf the Red) wrote: "S.E. wrote: "Dragons of Deceit
Margaret Weiss and Tracey Hickman
The official release date: August 2, 2022. Published by Del Rey Books."
👍"

Okay... how did you get an emoticon to show up in this archaic Goodread's interface? LOL.

Dragons of Deceit
Margaret Weiss and Tracey Hickman
The official release date: August 2, 2022. Published by Del Rey Books.
Dragonlance: Dragons of Deceit (Dungeons & Dragons): Destinies, Volume One

https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2022/2...

Renegade Swords III


copy/pasted from DMR's email blitz:

The latest release from DMR Books, Renegade Swords III, is now available! Like an adventuring swordsman plundering ancient tombs, DMR Books makes another foray into the realm of time-lost tales and returns laden with treasures! Renegade Swords III, like the previous volumes in the series, collects rare tales of sword-and-sorcery and heroic fantasy that have unfairly gone neglected or unnoticed. Of the six stories and novellas herein, not one has ever been reprinted before, so you’re bound to discover something new to you!

Stories included:
“A Ship of Monstrous Fortune” by Adrian Cole
“Handar the Red” by James Cawthorn
“Magic’s Price” by Lars Walker
“Quest of the Veil” by Gene DeWeese
“The Fire-Born” by W. Paul Ganley
“The Black Tower” by Brian McNaughton and Robert E. Briney

Click the image above to order.
Link =https://dmrbooks.com/renegade-swords-iii

Also, the article linked below has more information on the last three stories. If you're a fan of Brian McNaughton's Throne of Bones (as I am), you'll definitely want to check it out and learn more about how he got his start.
Shanadu: The First Shared World Fantasy Anthology

--D.M. Ritzlin
Copyright © 2022 DMR Books, All rights reserved.

Dariel, Brilliant. Others can follow suit. The free Kindle preview has the full first chapter "The Sword of Spartacus" which is similar in tone and scope of the others.

I am astounded by how great the Simon of Gitta tales are! Take a real-world Roman history milieu and infuse it with so many cosmic mythologies (from Lovercraft, Howard, and others) that the Emperors are performing rituals to call upon the elders routinely.... and the action and insane conflict with sorcerers is over the top.

I own The Scroll of Thoth: Simon Magus and the Great Old Ones: Twelve Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos which is hard to come by... but as Steve Dilks pointed out somewhere in this group....Sorcery Against Caesar: The Complete Simon of Gitta Short Stories is a reprint with additional stories (it even includes all the awesome annotated essays by Robert M. Price). Start with that one.

The Drums of Chaos occurs chronologically in the middle of those collections.

I own them all now (I had to get those extra stories in Sorcery Against Caeser).

If you were like me (and somehow overlooked these) you must track them down.
There are Kindle versions of these too.

A month ago, I naively thought that Simon of Gitta and his stories were going to be slower-paced "horror" tales, with a sorcerer protagonist trudging thru boring history. Well, that history is dripping with eldritch gods, informed by history but much more fun with its epic, unseemly rituals; and Simon is as much as a brutal warrior as he is a mage. The melee is splendid and frequent.

Tierney even has a wild cross-over-of-sort with Cain (and Karl Wagner's Kane).

I had The Scroll of Thoth: Simon Magus and the Great Old Ones: Twelve Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos on my TBR for too long. Just started. The first chapter "The Sword of Spartacus" is fun.

I had in mind (without ever reading his stories, and I'm not sure why) that Simon of Gitta was not the fighting type (more of a mage than fighter). Lol.

Banner Artist Credits
Boris Vallejo 1981 "The Ring of Ikribu"
Zach McCain 2021 "the Drums of Chaos"
Steven Gilberts 2021 "Sorcery Against Caeser"



Richard L. Tierney memorial groupread
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Richard L. Tierney passed away this month. Let's read some Weird Detective occur or Red Sonja in his honor!

Obscure Books
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Dig through your bookshelves and unearth some arcana. Or seek out an underappreciated classic and shed some light on it!

Obscure Books Dig through your bookshelves and unearth some arcana. Or seek out an underappreciated classic and shed some light on it!

Some examples: