Return of the Sword: An Anthology of Heroic Adventure in Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"

Dec 11, 2012 S.E. Lindberg rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed-by-se, sword-sorcery-group-authors

Highly recommended for new and veteran fantasy readers

The “Return of the Sword” is aptly titled: the Heroic Fantasy (Sword & Sorcery) genre may have originated with R.E.Howard’s Conan ~1920’s, but it is alive and well; this anthology captures the renewed direction(s).

Anthologies are a great way to discover new authors (well, new for the reader anyway). They offer a buffet of stories, so a well-done anthology should contain some stories that, despite being well written, are not what one may norm ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 21, 2022 Robin rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

This anthology focuses primarily on sword & sorcery tales, with a touch of historical adventure as well. As with all anthologies, some stories stood out more than others.

Neither "Mountain Scarab" by Jeff Stewart nor "Red Hands," a 1935 Cossack tale by Harold Lamb, directly involve the supernatural, but both are vigorous adventures with exciting swordplay.

Some of the best stories in the anthology have an element of humor. "To Be a Man" by Robert Rhodes involves an exhausted fellow trying to esca ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 03, 2024 Jim Kuenzli rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: sword-and-sorcery, adventure-action-pulp

This was a fun ride. Much better than I expected. Over 20 sword and sorcery and heroic fantasy stories with no bad eggs at all. I really enjoyed that RBE added the Harold Lamb story. What a way to finish! Highly recommend!

4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 13, 2013 Morgan rated it it was amazing

I read this book after the horrible SWORDS & DARK MAGIC, possibly the worst original sword and sorcery anthology to date. RETURN OF THE SWORD was a joy to read. The writers are for the most part unknowns, some do write for various small press and online publications. Remember the feeling of reading 1930s sword and sorcery reprints from WEIRD TALES, STRANGE STORIES, and UNKNOWN? This anthology has that feel. The stories are not the most sophisticated but they live and breathe. There is a sincerit ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 28, 2012 Periklis rated it really liked it

Shelves: sword-n-sorcery, anthologies-collections, e-books

This is a first class S&S anthology.I especially appreciated its cohesion and that it serves as a primer for new storytellers writing in the genre. RotS has only a few minor notes that didn't fit this symphony of heroic deeds.
Most of my favorite tales fall, either into the "Gemmellian" - heroic last stand category ("The Wyrd of War", "The Battle of Raven Kill"), or stories that fit the "concept of the outsider" ("The Red Worm's Way", "Deep in the Land of the Ice and Snow", "The Mask Oath").
Stor ...more

2 likes · Like · see review