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

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

Howie wrote: "Jack wrote: "Howie wrote: "I initially discovered sword and sorcery upon reading The Savage Sword of Conan magazines as a teenager in the early 1980s. These led me to seeing John Milius's Conan the..."

Hey Howie.

We have a couple of Key Folders of interest. On the group read front, we take polls to guide two-month duration / two parallel topics (and we change the homepage banner to match). We start polling a month in advance (so the next poll will start end-Jan)

I have a Pinterest site with all the previous banners/topics:
https://www.pinterest.com/sethlindber...

Here's a link to all the groupread folders: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

We are pretty liberal with topics/themes. Anything to stir discussions. So if a topic is on a specific book, any discussion on the author's work is fair game.

Howie wrote: "Joseph wrote: "Howie wrote: "Jack wrote: "Starting to read Swordsmen in the Sky, which, based on the title, should be a good Sword & Planet collection. Stories by Poul Anderson, Edmo..."

Welcome to Howie! Great to have join. Lots of Rypel/Gonji fans are about.

We have group reads every two months (two topics in parallel). Every January one topic is Anthologies! So I'll try to steer the cool discussion on Poul Anderson and Swordsmen in the Sky over there:
Link=
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

There is a nice anthology discussion going on in the "currently reading" thread. I'll try to divert over here!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Michael wrote: "Joseph wrote: "And I finished The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe (Kij Johnson's response to Lovecraft's Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath) and saw the trailer for the second..."

Joseph, I admit to failing to finish the The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath three times. Part of me is driven to learn more about Pickman's ghouls (Pickman's Model) who appear again.... but this is the only Lovecraft work I can't finish. I didn't know about the "missing women" perspective until your post here. I will look into The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe . Thx for sharing.

Jack wrote: "John O'Neill features our very own S.E. Lindberg on the Black Gate website this week!

S.E.'s first book, Lords of Dyscrasia, is described as one of their "New Treasures." I've rea..."

Thanks Jack! I actually missed the post a few days ago, but Jason E. Thummel pinged me about it today. A highlight for me last Oct was attending the World Fantasy Convention in Columbus OH, moderating and attending panels the first time as an author, and getting a chance to meet John... of course. Black Gate won a WFC award too so that was nice. I admire a lot of the Black Gate authors so it is an honor to be mentioned by them/John.

Richard wrote: "I couldn't agree more Greg! Let the work stand by itself, don't prop it up with an overinflated mass marketing success. Several books I own say on the cover 'in the tradition of Conan...' and sever..."

It would be good if we can lure Milton Davis to comment; he's a/the leading Sword & Soul guy. I'll ping him.

Peter wrote: "I've seen some posts about Cirsova, Skelos and Grimdark magazine.
I was wondering. Which other magazines are there that publish (mostly) sword & sorcery or related genres?
What's the difference be..."

Well, Peter is actually known as the Beneath Ceaseless Skies guru (for those who follow is reviews). I try to consolidate some info. but I am not the ultimate resource.

Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Publishes frequently (from 2008, up to Issue #216 for Jan 2017) ~ every 2weeks.
Flash/short fiction (3 per issue I think, but Peter can explain better)
Online : http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.co...

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly is an ezine dedicated to publishing short works of heroic fantasy. More than that, through both prose and poetry we hope to hearken an older age of storytelling – an age when a story well told enthralled audiences. Traits of great oral storytelling survive the ages to influence treasures of literature, the pulps, radio plays, late-night game sessions, and now Heroic Fantasy Quarterly.
Online: http://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/

Blackgate: okay, I know the print magazine halted in 2010 (along with most of its short story publications); but the shared blog continues and is a great resource for reviews, news, excerpts. Updates frequently (every few days)
https://www.blackgate.com/

Swords and Sorcery Magazine
Dec 2016 #59 (first issue Feb 2002) monthly
online: http://www.swordsandsorcerymagazine.c...

Cirsova: Heroic Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine ;
first issue Mar 2016 4 issues per year; seems to be derived from gaming fans content seems to be short stories
Print and eBook

Skelos: first issue Summer 2016 ; 4 issues a year planned.
Being a journal, it strives to have a literary feel. It includes essays, reviews, novelettes, artwork, and reviews. Covers anything "weird" which includes sword & sorcery and sci-fi (first issue's fiction was mostly S&S, gothic horror)
Print and eBook

Grimdark Magazine: Issue #1
first issue October 2014; issue 10 January 13, 2017 (4 per yr)
Short stories, interviews, and reviews
"An ezine that deals specifically in the grittier nature of people in futuristic or fantasy settings..."; expect faster paced, battle-heavy tales
eBook

Weirdbook
Stopped in 1997... rebooted by Douglass Draa
#31 September 14, 2015;
#32 May 24, 2016
#33 October 27, 2016
(~2per yr)
"great fantasy and horror tales"
Paperback and eBook

Jack wrote: "I just started The Mad Song: and other Tales of Sword & Sorcery for this group read. It looks like it includes a wide variety of S&S tales. Great cover, too."

I have copy of Mad Song, but have't dived in yet. Looking forward to your review.

Skelos proves that Weird Fiction lives! Most of this was Sword & Sorcery. Proud to have backed this periodical in 2016. Great price for a huge menu (essays, novelettes, short stories, art, poems, reviews....)

Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Fyi ... new Grimdark Magazine Issue #10 is out: copy and pasted from Facebook:



In Grimdark Magazine issue #10 we've got a pretty serious dose of grimdark awesomesauce for you:
- THE LADY OF CROWS by Anthony Ryan: Get back into the Raven's Shadow world with a 20,000 word novella. A quest for bloody vengeance forces Derla, a skilled veteran of the Varinshold underworld, into the service of arch schemer King Janus. Charged with protecting the renowned drunkard and cardsharp Sentes Mustor, Derla finds herself drawn into a high stakes game with the notorious criminal overlord known as One Eye.
- WORLDS WITHOUT END: KEYS TO RICH, BELIEVABLE WORLDBUILDING by Jesse Bullington (Alex Marshall): A tutorial by the author who brought you A Crown for Cold Silver and The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart.
- THE FUTURE OF GRIMDARK by Matthew Cropley: Matt explores where this magnificent genre is heading.
- Interviews with John Gwynne and Deborah A Wolf by our man in the trenches Tom Smith.
- Reviews of Michael R. Fletcher's THE MIRROR'S TRUTH Brian Lee Durfee's THE FORGETTING MOON.
Jump on Amazon to purchase in Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Grimdark-Magaz...
Or check out our subscriptions through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=177000
ePub and PDF files available from our webstore: https://grimdarkmagazine.com/products...

http://www.selindberg.com/2017/01/mad...

I really enjoyed Joe Bonadonna's Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser which appeals to dark fantasy and weird fiction fans; Dorgo really is a superb blend of mystery and adventure. It is my pleasure to help announce his recently released sequel Mad Shadows II: Dorgo the Dowser and The Order of the Serpentavailable now! Shown below is a treat, since cover artists Erika Szabo also created a map of Aerlothia and we have it here!



Map of AERLOTHIA by cover-artist Erika M. Szabo


Synopsis: Dorgo the Dowser lives in a world where life is cheap and souls are always up for sale. Armed with a unique dowsing rod that can detect the residue of any supernatural presence or demonic entity, he can sense the vestiges of vile sorcery used in the commission of crimes. His adventures pit him against inter-dimensional creatures, friendly ghouls, raging cyclopes, psychopathic satyrs, and monstrous insects . . . not to forget a criminal underworld of duplicitous women and dangerous men. This time around, Dorgo falls in love with a witch known as the Girl Who Loves Ghouls, battles creatures from another dimension, and meets one very special werecat named Crystal. It’s also the first time he hears about an ancient death cult known as the Order of the Serpent. Then, after a young woman is murdered and a deadly, dangerous book of arcane lore is stolen from her, Dorgo comes closer to learning more about this secret Order. But first he must battle both humans and demons in order to find and destroy “The Book of Echoes.” Finally, Dorgo squares off against a horde of fiends born of dark sorcery when he tries to help a young girl who became trapped inside a powerful spell while attempting to destroy someone calling himself Ophidious Garloo. Racing against time, Dorgo the Dowser uses every trick he knows to uncover the secret identity and learn the True Name of Ophidious Garloo -- the Undying Warlock who may very well be the leader of the Order of the Serpent.

More magic, murder, mystery and mayhem in this sequel to Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser. MAD SHADOWS II -- DORGO THE DOWSER AND THE ORDER OF THE SERPENT. . . Heroic Fantasy with a film noir edge. Available in paperback and Kindle editions from Amazon, Smashwords, CreateSpace, and other online booksellers.

Steve wrote: "Hi. This one is not a sword-and-sorcery, but I have some fans in this group and it does have a good deal of action and adventure, so ...

My murder mystery/pirate adventure will release in Septemb..."

Steve, this looks great. I may bite on this one... but my heart really wants a Mask Oath/ Faceless Sons collection. Yet any Goble is good!

Peter wrote: "Just added a review for Beneath Ceaseless Skies Issue #210. Still have to add reviews for a few issues. Currently reading [book:All These Shiny Worlds: The 2016 ImmerseOrDie Anthol..."

Peter, I am curious. Have you followed any authors you discovered in BCS into their other publications/other books?

Weird book

Witch theme / April 2017

http://weirdbook-magazine.com/submiss...

From Douglas Draa:

"Submissions for our Themed Annual this year will open up on the 1st of April 2017 and close on the 30th of April 2017


The Theme is WITCHES
(and Warlocks)


6,000 words is the maximum story length to be accepted.

No cover letters or bios.



Simultaneous submissions are allowed as long as you let me know.

Publication date is October

I’m looking for original (no reprints) well-written (duuh, I guess that that’s fairly obvious) weird stories. My tastes are broad and I’m looking for any of the following: fantasy, dark fantasy, sword and sorcery, ghost, horror, heroic fantasy, science fantasy or just plain odd.


But don’t forget, this is for our 2017 Annual and the theme is WITCHES!"

Peter, thanks for sharing your BCS reviews!

All, note that S&S is alive and well in Italy:

EROICA Anthology - Italian Sword and Sorcery



English via Facebook: Heroic: the first volume of the necklace truefantasy for Watson editions of Ivan Alemanno curated by Alessandro Iascy and Francesco La Manno.
The Volume (more than 300 pages) will contain stories and essays to theme sword & sorcery and will be available for purchase from the first January 2017 from the site of the Watson editions and soon also on the main stores online for the price of 12 €.
Soon available in digital edition for those who prefer the ebook.

====
Eroica: Il primo volume della collana TrueFantasy per Watson Edizioni di Ivan Alemanno a cura di Alessandro Iascy e Francesco La Manno.
Il volume (oltre 300 pagine) conterrà racconti e saggi a tema Sword & Sorcery e sarà disponibile per l’acquisto dal primo Gennaio 2017 dal sito della Watson Edizioni e presto anche sui principali stores online al prezzo di 12€.
Presto disponibile anche in edizione digitale per chi preferisce l’ebook.
New year's eve with a bang!
My "head of santo" on heroic!"

Here's the cover of heroic: the first volume of the necklace truefantasy for Watson editions by the undersigned and Alessandro Iascy Francesco La Manno.
The Volume (more than 300 pages) will contain stories and essays. Below the content:
Short stories
- the tower glauca of Adriano Monti Buzzetti
- head of saint of mala spina
- Edga, the witch of donated altomare
- the scorpion on the blade of Mauro Longo
- the book of Max Hunchback
- chess of the king of Andrea Gualchierotti and Lorenzo camerini
- Floxar the polite of livio gambarini
- quick of Mark Lawrence (translated by annarita guarnieri)
- Moor & stone - the amphora of arcùn of Francesco Brandoli
Wise men
- Solomon Kane, a hero in the balance of Michele Tetro
- the saga of fafhrd and the gray mouser of fritz leiber
Di Stefano Sacchini
- why sword & sorcery and not heroic, epic or high fantasy?
John luisi
- Women & sorcery of mariateresa botta
- the contribution of Clark Ashton Smith to sword & sorcery of
Francesco La Manno

Phil, nice review! I am intrigued with your idea of having a "go-to" recommendation for getting introduced to Sword & Sorcery.

You indicate REH's Tower of the Elephant, is a good one (accessible, nice mix of adventure and weird fiction too).

If I ever need an off-the-cuff-recommendation, I'll be better prepared since I'll follow suit.

Greg wrote: "S.E. wrote: "I'm looking forward to Conan the Conqueror with Arnold...assuming it gets the green light sometime."

This would be Conan smashing heads with a reinforced Zimmer frame? :P"

Had look up "zimmer frame." Yep, he may need one.

For those wanting to test this out first, the first seven chapters are available free.

Goodreads even has separate reviews for this : Goodreads Ch1-7 Unhewn Throne Link

Amazon US link for free Ch1-7

The prologue was intriguing.

Jack wrote: "I finished Conan the Destroyer by Robert Jordan. Not a bad book. Nothing too fantastic or terrible about it. Flashes of Howard-eque descriptions, but also some passages where Jordan w..."

@Jack,
I think that book ( Conan the Destroyer) was adapted from/for the movie. Did it evoke the movie for you?
...I think you were baiting me with the Ken Kelly comments ;). (shameless explanation: the cover hid did for my Spawn of Dyscrasia has elements of KISS )

I'm looking forward to Conan the Conqueror with Arnold...assuming it gets the green light sometime

Greg wrote: "Death Note is quite a good series - haven't read any of the Attack on Titan one yet!

By the way, here's a little, um, humour from Ryuk. ;) ..."

Greg, you have to read/see/play Attack on Titan (Koei made a game out of it). The horror aficionado in you must!

And apple-pen Ryuk! I already seen that. Glad I knew he had an apple fetish to help make the connection. Funny stuff.