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

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

Any suggestions for newbies to Lamb. If one were to read only one Lamb book, which one should it be?

S.wagenaar wrote: "Me too."

The 77-78 series got me hooked.

The Elric series, as per the omniscient internet (selected parts of article pasted below):
http://www.multiverse.org/wiki/index....

1963-1976The first sequence of books consisted of collections of the short stories and novellas that made up the original saga.

The Stealer of Souls (1963), containing five novellas:
1 'The Dreaming City'
2 'While the Gods Laugh'
3 'The Stealer of Souls'
4 'Kings in Darkness'
5 'The Flame Bringers'

Stormbringer (1965) – fix-up novel of four (abridged & revised) novellas:
1 'Dead God's Homecoming'
2 'Black Sword's Brothers'
3 'Sad Giant's Shield'
4 'Doomed Lord's Passing '

The Singing Citadel (1970), containing three Elric novellas + 1 other:
1 'The Singing Citadel'
2 'Master of Chaos'
3 'The Greater Conqueror' (non-Elric novella)
4 'To Rescue Tanelorn...'

The saga was expanded with
1 The Sleeping Sorceress (1971) – fix-up novel
2 Elric of Melniboné (1972) – novel
3 The Sailor on the Seas of Fate (1976) – fix-up novel

1977-1988. In 1977 the entire series was reordered and republished as a uniform six volume set:
1. Elric of Melniboné
2. The Sailor on the Seas of Fate
3. The Weird of the White Wolf (1977) – fix-up novel
4. The Vanishing Tower (1977) – retitling of The Sleeping Sorceress
5. The Bane of the Black Sword (1977) – fix-up novel
6. Stormbringer (1977) – revised

1992-1999 In 1993 the entire Elric Saga to date was collected in internal chronological order in two new omnibuses as part of a 14 omnibus series entitled The Tale of the Eternal Champion, being number Volumes 8 and 12 respectively.[2] At this time Moorcock took the opportunity to make some additional textual revisions.
Elric of Melniboné
1 Elric of Melniboné
2 The Fortress of the Pearl
3 The Sailor on the Seas of Fate
4 'The Dreaming City'
5 'While the Gods Laugh'
6 'The Singing Citadel'

Stormbringer
1 The Sleeping Sorceress - title reverted from The Vanishing Tower
2 The Revenge of the Rose
3 'The Stealer of Souls'
4 'Kings in Darkness'
5 'The Caravan of Forgotten Dreams' - formerly 'The Flamebringers'
6 Stormbringer

S.wagenaar wrote: "I have never read any Elric tales before, sounds like this is the time to try!"

S.wagenaar, wow! I suggest you stick to the early ones that rock (i.e. The Elric Saga Part I and The Elric Saga Part II). Moorcock revisited Elric and, I my opinion, stretched out the series too much.

Confession: If it makes you feel better, I never read any of Harold Lamb

Masthead Banner: Sept-Oct 2014 Groupreads: Topics:
1) Sept-Oct: Swords sans Sorcery - Read and Discussion
2) Sept-Oct: Elric Groupread Discussion

Focused on authors: Harold Lamb and Michael Moorcock.


Art credits:
Background: Elric: The Dreaming City, art by P. Craig Russel (art from interior depictions of Melnibone’)
- Riders of the Steppes: The Complete Cossack Adventures, Volume Three, cover art by Darrel Stevens
- Wolf of the Steppes: The Complete Cossack Adventures, Volume One , cover art by Darrel Stevens
- Swords from the East , cover art by Darrel Stevens
- Elric: Swords and Roses, cover art by John Picacio

There are two group reads for Sept-Oct 2014, this one is focused on historical, heroic fiction...ie. Swords without Sorcery. Thanks to group member Joseph for suggesting Harold Lamb's work will surely be a focus.

There are two group reads for Sept-Oct 2014, this one is focused on Elric!

Howard wrote: "I've been there once, and it was grand. That's where I first encounter the Ki-Gor pulps, and, at nearby bookstores, picked up some Ben Haas and a hardback of Edison Marshall's EARTH GIANT, a grand heroic novel about a historically possible Herakles."

Howard, what a great string of replies! Neat to hear that you enjoyed the OH Pulpcon and found Ki-Gor there.

BTW, the Sword-SANS-sorcery topic is clear winner for the next group read. I've already bugged you on the side re: covers to use in the banner and I managed to work the Bison versions of Lamb's work into a montage as per your suggestion (the other winner is "Elric", and it took some creativity to blend those topics). I'll post the new banner this weekend. Looking forward to your perspective on the Harold Lamb discussion that will ensue.

Looks like Oyster was doing well enough to inspire Amazon to roll out the "unlimited kindle" plan (also 9.99 US dollars/month). Exclusivity and new releases seem to be key traits. Anyone try this out?

Greg wrote: "I started reading Conan a few days ago but had to stop so I could finish (more or less) a co-written article over the last three-four days. I've only read the introduction and the op..."

Greg, Hey, I know that edition! It is not all Howard, with deCamp and Carter delivering pastiche, to many people's disliking. That said, it was the book that introduced me to REH's Conan, and led me to the original work. A Frazetta cover never hurts too.

I've been reading selected stories from Sword Woman and Other Historical Adventures. The titular story was awesome. I enjoyed it more after reading Howard Andrew Jones's essay "Howard's Journey" which explained that a subtle shift in time/tone was due to it being published in two parts. The story as one unit works well.

I also enjoyed Scott Oden's introduction. I've read a few other stories and miss the fantasy elements. Strangely, I enjoyed the essay's regarding REH's historical fiction as much (or more) than some of the stories. That's just me though...I seem to enjoy more the inclusion of monsters and sorcery with REH's heroic characters.

Here's the link to the Groupread Poll for Sept-Oct 2014
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/8...

Recent groupreads have been single topic, but this time we'll revert back to the "two topics" for "two months" style again.

Vote to steer the discussion! The top 2 topics win. Write-in suggestions always welcome (enter in the "Your Choice" field).

FYI...this just in from Jason Waltz's RBE-Facebook page:

"Effective 8/1/14, RBE is returning to what it originally was: A publisher of collaborative titles original to and owned by RBE only. This means that there will be no more novels and no collections released by RBE. The Tara Cardinal/Alex Bledsoe SWORD SISTERS novel and Seth Skorkowsky's BLACK RAVEN collections have found a new home with another press and will see the glory of Valhalla!

RBE will be releasing both CHALLENGE titles before forging ahead with a brand new themed anthology."

https://www.facebook.com/RogueBladesE...

There is an emerging convention on Pulps in my beloved state of Ohio. Unfortunately I cannot attend, but figured some folks here might:

Thousands of Pulp Magazines in One Hall!
Join us Thursday, August 7th – Sunday, August 10th at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus, Ohio for PulpFest 2014.

http://www.pulpfest.com/

Anyone ever been there? I think it started ~3yrs ago.

Forrest wrote: "Tomorrow is my birthday. For this birthday, I'm giving some gifts. It's another Heraclix & Pomp giveaway! This time, I'm putting up 2 signed ARCs as prizes for readers in the US, Canada, UK, and Au..."

Happy 45, Forrest!

JEM, thanks for you and Chris taking the time to share your thoughts and work. Chris is very theatrical with his reading! Lots of thought provoking comments from you about why we write and read heroic fiction.

Janet E. Morris and her husband Chris Morris just spoke at the Library of Congress, with a fine introduction from author Walter Rhein (who runs the Facebook Page for Heroic Fantasy).

"Social Reconstruction Through Heroic Fiction, the Role of Literature in Envisioning Our Future"
Here is the YOUTUBE version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Eylz...

Link to FB Heroic Fantasy:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/heroi...

Charles wrote: "I will post the answers in a day or so."

Funny, Charles, I mistook your writing for REH's!

Charles, I took a chance. Hope I am not embarrassed for choosing quickly.

I recently finished an ARC of Forrest Aguirre's Heraclix & Pomp (official release in Oct 2014).

Not strictly Sword & Sorcery, but should appeal to the same fan base. In brief, Heraclix & Pomp is a fun, well-constructed fairy tale that will appeal to fans of historical and speculative fiction.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Giveaway: here is a link to the a current giveaway: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...