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

Worlds of Wonder, Days of Judgment: Popular Religious Belief in Early New England by David D. Hall

Cloak of Ashes by Jonathan Moeller

Currently reading this
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

This is not at all sword and sorcery except in a strictly literal sense, this being chivalrous stories of virtuous and honourable knights, but I'm reading Stories from the Faerie Queene.

Currently reading The Living Dead, listening to The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

Richard, having read Death God's Doom, can you tell me if its plot inspired the Lamentations of the Flame Princess game module Death Frost Doom in anything other than title, judging from this one's summary?

Well, the title's so similar, I'd guess it was a reference to Tubb's title, at least, since the game in general is heavily inspired by pulp fiction.

"Doom" originally meant fate or destiny, not necessarily a bad one, so it could have been meant that way.

The View From Castle Always by Melissa McShane

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes

I'm currently reading The Prophecy Con (sequel to The Palace Job), also by Patrick Weekes. Fun books!

Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski for me.

Dragon Ops by Mari Mancusi

Moved on to The Prophecy Con, the third of Patrick Weekes' Rogues of the Republic trilogy.

Currently reading , and listening to

Started Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs

I just started NADA the Lily by H. Rider Haggard on what, by coincidence, turns out to be his 164th birthday (06/22/1856).

Is Haggard's bday common knowledge? Why would you know that? lol.

S.E. wrote: "Is Haggard's bday common knowledge? Why would you know that? lol."

It's not a big secret or anything, but I only learned it by coincidence from a couple of different blog posts I saw after I had started the book. (Which looks to be a good one -- I think it's going to be more of a straight historical adventure, but it's about Chaka (Shaka), the Zulu leader.)

Minimum Wage Magic by Rachel Aaron

Now reading

Like it so far.

Currently reading a western, Avenging Angels: The Wine of Vengeance by a writer friend writing under Wolfpack Publishing's house brand, A.W. Hart. Half way through and it's pretty good!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Part-Time Gods by Rachel Aaron

Finished NADA the Lily and decided to keep on with Haggard, so started another historical, Montezuma's Daughter, set in the waning days of the Aztec Empire.

Currently reading The Sorcerer’s Sacred Isle by Keith Taylor. Fun Celtic Mythology written in a Heroic Fantasy/S&S fashion.

Lyndon wrote: "Currently reading a western, Avenging Angels: The Wine of Vengeance by a writer friend writing under Wolfpack Publishing's house brand, A.W. Hart."

Well, our writer friend is our own S&S mainstay, Charles Gramlich. :) Just finished it. Review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Reading Cirsova: Heroic Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine #7

Currently reading through indie writer Dean Floyd's "Shamrock Samurai" series (in Kindle Unlimited) - an urban/modern day paranormal series of stories that uses Celtic mythology and Eastern weaponry. The protag is of Irish descent and discovers he has the ability to fight monsters - and boy howdy - they come for him. Fun action adventure with a lot of geek culture references along with an exotic array of fae-like creatures. The author's first person narrative is witty and fast paced. On book (novella size) 4.

https://www.goodreads.com/series/2367...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Decided to revisit some old-school urban fantasy, so started Jack, the Giant Killer by Charles de Lint.

Finishing The Fifth Season

Finishing up and I recommend it to those who want something different. Moving on to

Reading my first Mike Hammer novel. "One Lonely Night" by Mickey Spillane. Opening chapter was pure gold.

And for something completely different, I'm starting Roger Zelazny's Doorways in the Sand, which just got rereleased as an eBook.

I remember getting this in hardcover from the public library many, many years ago, but am not sure if I've read it since high school.

Finished Doorways in the Sand (it was short and fast) and started Byzantium, a massive historical novel by Michael Ennis. This one will take a while.

Frozen Dreams by Moe Lane

Peace Talks by Jim Butcher

Started Robert M. Price's anthology The Mighty Warriors, not least because it has a David C. Smith story in it.

Reading 'The Last Kingdom' by Bernard Cornwell (book one of the Saxon Chronicles). Season 5 of the series on Netflix is a go!

I've watched all of Vikings, but need to add Last Kingdom to the mix. Maybe after I finish my current watch of S2 of Into the Badlands, which I suspect would be relevant to the interests of many folks here.

Into the Badlands was an awesome show, very disappointed it finished unfinished.

OK, after spending two full weeks in Byzantium (which I don't regret in the slightest), I read The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water, which I loved -- had a very deliberate wuxia vibe to it, although obviously with more focus on the characters than on the flying through trees and kicking each other, and started Gentlemen of the Road, which is historical, not S&S, but Michael Chabon definitely seems to be riffing on, say, Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser and other well-worn S&S tropes.

I prefer The Last Kingdom over Vikings, though I need to catch up on the latest season of Vikings. Enjoy both shows a lot.

Currently reading Battleaxe by Sara Douglass and Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Each season of Last Kingdom is a satisfactory story arc. Vikings lost their way after Season 3, imo. Watching S5 right now and it's a mess.

The Princess Who Forgot She Was Beautiful by William David Ellis

Not exactly S&S (although closer than you might think), but I just started Harrow the Ninth. Before which I read In an Absent Dream and Come Tumbling Down, the two most recent in Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series.

@Joe, I'm curious about your take on Harrow the Ninth

S.E. wrote: "@Joe, I'm curious about your take on Harrow the Ninth"

I liked Gideon the Ninth a whole lot, but wasn't sure how she'd be able to continue the story. I'm currently only a few chapters into Harrow, but I'm starting to develop theories.

The Vikings: From Odin to Christ by Martyn Whittock

Sigyn of Asgard: Volume One: The Vultures will Know and Other Tales