Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy" discussion

Joseph wrote: "...King's website, books 3 and 4 are in process..."

Fellow addicts, you got me intrigued again--thanks! This Kormak series looks like it has all the right ingredients. To get acquainted, I "purchased" the free short story from Amazon: Guardian of the Dawn (Short Story). I'd like to hear everyone's take on the sequels.

As for other books, I continue to track down works by the authors in this group: I recently read Charles Gramlich's poetic, gritty Harvest of War and Rogue Blade Entertainment's anthology Return of the Sword (see my reviews for details); they are both highly recommended for heroic fantasy fans.

Now I am halfway through J. Thummel's In Savage Lands, and am enjoying this one too.

I am about to start Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

Doing lots of reading myself, though quickly running through this thread has introduced me to several more authors/titles to pursue. I too picked up the free Kormak tale from King and will check out that series.

I typically have 3-5 titles in progress, and so decided that to stay in the spirit of the Jan-Feb reading period I should go thin, so I've chosen Salmonson's Amazons! to kick off my S&S Anthology year.

In addition, I am currently reading One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer, Return of the Thin Man: Two never-before-published novellas featuring Nick & Nora Charles, and Imaro. I also have book marks in several others, such as The Black Devil Brigade, The Sword & Sorcery Anthology, The Big Book of Adventure Stories, etc.

Rogue Blades wrote: "Doing lots of reading myself, though quickly running through this thread has introduced me to several more authors/titles to pursue. I too picked up the free Kormak tale from King and will check ou..."

I just finished The Harsh Suns and reading Return of the Sword along with the SF Use of Weapons.
Amazons! looks like a great pick.

I just finished Wolfsangel and thought it was wonderful. For a full review other than what I gave it here on Goodreads, you can check out my blog if you so desire: http://www.clydeandrewsauthor.com/201...

Periklis wrote: "Joseph wrote: "And (because it's a pick in the Fantasy Book Club this month) I just started David Gemmell's Legend, which has been sitting on my shelf for rather a long time. Not sure if I'll cont..."

Well worth getting through as are all his books!!! The Rigante series is just as good

Gerald wrote: "Well worth getting through as are all his books!!! The Rigante series is just as good ..."

Hello Gerald and welcome to the group. I'm planning on reading White Wolf (Drenai Saga, #10),the first Skilgannon book, soon. David Gemmell was among the finest fantasy authors. It seems there is a Gemmell tribute anthology in the making, to coincide with the annual Gemmell awards.
Also, feel free to join us on the JAN/FEB anthology-themed Groupread.

Re-read an old favorite today - THE BROKEN SWORD by Poul Anderson. It still stands up pretty well.

Currently reading 1925 issues of WEIRD TALES. The tales are not the most polished but I appreciate the earnestness of the writers.

Still reading Tolkien. About to start The Children of Húrin (of which I've read alternate versions in The Silmarillion and in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-Earth) which isn't S&S, exactly, but is probably the closest Tolkien comes -- at least, it's got much more of a Viking/Icelandic saga feel to it than his other stuff.

The Hammer and the Blade. Well done sword and sorcery!!!!

I'm also reading Young Thongor. The first two stories are definitely an improvement over the novels I've read. Much more of a REH pastiche than Burroughs one and much the better for it.

I finished reading the Brak the Barbarian/Mark of the Demons e-book omnibus. It wasn't revolutionary or anything, but it was better than I expected going in. My review.

Currently I'm enjoying Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser by Joe Bonadonna. Good S&S. Dorgo is an interesting character.

Reading Fenrir at the moment.

My most recent S&S read a few months back was one of the ORON books by David C. Smith in the 90s. OK read, nothing special.

Further back I read John Jakes' paperback take on a heroic wizard character, THE LAST MAGICIANS. I have to say that the character's name, "Cham Helleyes," may be the worst hero-name in the genre; certainly it's the worst I've seen.

I keep meaning to get round to rereading more of the John Carter books. THE GODS OF MARS is a much better book than PRINCESS imo.

Gene wrote: "... John Jakes' paperback take on a heroic wizard character, THE LAST MAGICIANS. .."

Welcome Gene! Did you know that two of the authors you mention are from Ohio (David Smith and John Jakes). For some reason, as an Ohoian, I try to keep track of the dark fantasy folk from the state (for more see my compulsive accounting of Ohio Sword & Sorcery Roots)

Anyway, I have had The Last Magicians on my to read pile for a bit, but haven't delved in yet. I did read the first few pages, and tripped over some unexpected humor. Did you get past the silly "Cham" name to enjoy the story? If so, what did you think?

S.E,
Jakes' LAST MAGICIANS was just OK. He did a professional enough job, and it wasn't just hackwork (or even hack-and-slash work). Still, I can't say I got a lot out of it compared to some other Jakes books from that period.

Finished off "Young Thongor" as was pretty happy with it. Not only is it leaps and bounds better than "Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria" it's actually pretty good. Ditching the ERB stuff and sticking strictly to aping REH, Carter created a series of fun, if somewhat generic, S&S adventures. Robert Price's story, which I had high hopes for, is actually the closest thing to a clunker in the book. It's not bad, it's just not that good. There's a sort of naivete to Carter's writing that works. He really was the ultimate fanfic writer. Price's story is too deliberate.

Now I'm halfway into Ki-Khanga: The Anthology. Some good stuff so far.

I just finished Ki-Khanga: The Anthology by Milton J. Davis and Balogun Ojetade. While at times it's a better RPG supplement than anthology, for the most part it's fun, inventive swords & soul. None of the stories were anything less than good and several, particularly "The Hand of Sa-Seti", "The Bene's Daughter" and "Simple Math" are great. Davis' character Omari Ket is a solid addition to the halls of S&S characters.

down among the Yla

I'm almost done with Claudius

So far I love it :) And what's not to like with a Roman conquest filled with plenty of sword fighting and a touch of sorcery (on the part of the British and their superstitions)

The Last Wish

I like this a lot more than I was expecting so far. Cool character.

I am currently reading Tark and the Golden Tide, by Colum MacConnell. A little obscure, but fun stuff, published back in 1977 during the S&S rush started by the Lancer Conan paperbacks in the 60's.
Just got a few books in the mail today; The Long Ships, The Viking, The Black Amulet, King of the Wood and a nice copy of The Hour of the Dragon. The Viking oriented reading is "research" in anticipation of the first episode of "Vikings", starting on March 3rd, on the History Channel.Can't wait.

S.wagenaar wrote: "I am currently reading Tark and the Golden Tide, by Colum MacConnell. A little obscure, but fun stuff, published back in 1977 during the S&S rush started by the Lancer Conan paperbacks in the 60's...."

Wasn't aware of Tark and the Golden Tide. Nice find!
I found the History Channel episode of Vikings on YouTube. I hope this is what you were looking for...

Cool... Never heard of Tark and the Golden Tide. Obscure discoveries are great!

Periklis wrote: "S.wagenaar wrote: "I am currently reading Tark and the Golden Tide, by Colum MacConnell. A little obscure, but fun stuff, published back in 1977 during the S&S rush started by the Lancer Conan pape..."
Actually, the series I am referring to is a 9 episode, scripted, fictional show meant to compete with the likes of Spartacus and Game of Thrones. Looks pretty gritty, with R-rated violence and plenty of sword-play. Hope this kick-starts a flood of Viking type feature films!

S.wagenaar wrote: "Periklis wrote: "S.wagenaar wrote: "I am currently reading Tark and the Golden Tide, by Colum MacConnell. A little obscure, but fun stuff, published back in 1977 during the S&S rush started by the ..."

I looks gritty enough to be of interest. Will have to check it out. Thanks for suggesting this!

S.wagenaar wrote: Just got a few books in the mail today; The Long Ships,...."

Excellent book. I really enjoyed the movie as well. Growing up I usually got to see the movie once a year, when it was on the Sunday Movie Matinee on channel 4, so in that sense I came to the book via the movie and not the other way around.

Jason wrote: "Excellent book. I really enjoyed the movie as well. Growing up I usually got to see the movie once a year, when it was on the Sunday Movie Matinee on channel 4, so in that sense I came to the book via the movie and not the other way around.

The movie was one of those that I remember seeing in my childhood, but all I really remembered was the execution scene and the temple dome. Finally found out the title a few years back and got it from Netflix; it actually held up pretty well. Still need to read the book.

Right now I'm reading Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick which is novel-length but definitely has the S&S vibe.

Just started The Black Amulet, by Don Tracy. Not actual S&S, but bloody, Dark Ages historical adventure, with a pulp feel. Don Tracy was a pulp writer back in the day, and also wrote novels of all sorts. Its the Picts v.s. Vikings, Irish, Britons, and anyone else who gets in the way! I'll let you folks know how it turns out.

Finished Among Thieves and now I'm reading the Voidal books by Adrian Cole (Oblivion Hand is the first of three). They're far from perfect but I'm enjoying them -- they have that kind of weird cross-dimensional many-worlds-and-gods thing that you get in some Moorcock but not (to my taste, at least) in nearly enough other S&S fiction.

I've been off and on reading The Complete Chronicles of Conan by Robert E. Howard

It is so fantastically good, that I'm reading it slowly.

I'm ready to crack open The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie. I'll admit I'm a bit leery. I really enjoyed The First Law Trilogy, but found Best Served Cold relentlessly depressing. I think Joe is an excellent author, but he really needs to lighten up with his characters a bit :)

Bruce wrote: "I'm ready to crack open The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie. I'll admit I'm a bit leery. I really enjoyed The First Law Trilogy, but found Best Served Cold relentlessly depressing. I think Joe is an exce..."

I had the same problem with both books you mention, although Red Country that followed, was much more enjoyable.
On a side note, your " Valley of Bones" reminded me both of Abercrombie and "Nekht Semerkeht". Ol' school S&S with modern sensibilities? or perhaps, the best of both worlds...

Reading Andre Norton' Web of the Witch World. It and its predecessor are great, slambang adventures. With a hero originally from Earth and a mix of swords & super-science, they are aboutas perfectly pulpy as I could hope for. The short story collection, Lore of the Witch World is one of the best things I've read in years.

Periklis wrote: "I had the same problem with both books you mention, although Red Country that followed, was much more enjoyable.
On a side note, your " Valley of Bones" reminded me both of Abercrombie and "Nekht Semerkeht". Ol' school S&S with modern sensibilities? or perhaps, the best of both worlds... "

Thanks. I'll take that comparison. Speaking of Swords Against Darkness, I could have sworn I had a copy. Can't find it anywhere, though. Damn.

Just finished off Web of the Witch World and am moving on to The White Isle. The Andre Norton book was a blast; psychic powers, swords and mysterious ray guns and an army of the walking dead. Great, great stuff!

I have started Gonji: Red Blade from the East and really enjoying this so far...

The Daylight War The Daylight War
Winter's Heart

Am about to start Gate of Ivrel, the first book in C.J. Cherryh's Morgaine series. Which certainly feels like S&S even though it's technically SF if you scratch beneath the surface.

Joseph wrote: "Am about to start Gate of Ivrel, the first book in C.J. Cherryh's Morgaine series. Which certainly feels like S&S even though it's technically SF if you scratch beneath the surface."

I just recently finished a second reading of this one and definitely agree that it can be read as S&S. The Morgaine saga is one of the few works of C.J. Cherryh that I have read, and I don't recall if the SF elements pick up in the later works, but am looking forward to reading them again to find out. My second pass of Gate of Ivrel certainly held up to my memories of enjoyment, at any rate.

Jason wrote: "Joseph wrote: "Am about to start Gate of Ivrel, the first book in C.J. Cherryh's Morgaine series. Which certainly feels like S&S even though it's technically SF if you scratch beneath the surface...."

It's SF in a way almost similar to Thundarr the Barbarian -- most people are living with vaguely medieval technology, but the occasional character (Morgaine in particular) will sometimes use what, from context, we can recognize as a firearm or a high-tech medical scanner, but the locals (from whose POV the story is told) perceive it as witchcraft.

Most of the actual SF comes in the introduction when there's a Union-produced government document discussing the need to send the team through the Gates to shut & disable them.

Got sidetracked from the first group read on "Anthologies". Had to track down/read P.Emery's book Necromantra, which is not Sword & Sorcery like his short stories in the RBE anthologies; Necromantra is a Weird-Steampunk-Noir blend; my Good Reads Review link. A fun diversion.

Now I can focus on the Sword and Mythos group read. Campbell's Ryre just took me to the bizzare town of Hoak...

And continuing with Morgaine's saga (or, more properly, Nhi Vanye's saga) -- I finished Well of Shiuan and have Fires of Azeroth poised to go. I'd forgotten just how really, really good these books are.

I'm reading a couple crime books at the moment but I've got Giant Thief and The Blade Itself on deck.

Dan wrote: "I'm reading a couple crime books at the moment but I've got Giant Thief and The Blade Itself on deck."

Dan, have you tried any Sword Noir books? You'll probably enjoy them if you like both S&S and hardboiled crime novels.

I've read some of the Garrett PI books by Glen Cook. They were fun but I lost track of them after the sixth book.

I finished Elric at the End of Time last night. I'd read about half the content before in other collections, and found this particular volume kind of weak and random. Most of the stuff here is collected in Del Rey's excellent Elric reprints, but teenage Moorcock's Sojan the Swordsman stories (recently reprinted in Paizo's Planet Stories line: Sojan the Swordsman/Under the Warrior Star) were goofy fun.

Phil wrote: "I finished Elric at the End of Time last night. I'd read about half the content before in other collections, and found this particular volume kind of weak and random. Most of the stuff here is coll..."

That's one of those where I think it works better to have the stories interspersed back into the series instead of pulled into a separate collection -- you're right; the Elric stories aren't first-rate, so they're easier to take if they're surrounded by stronger material. The essays &c. were kind of interesting, though.