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

Gemini Warrior by J.D. Cowan

The Apothecary Diaries 04 by Natsu Hyuuga

One Piece volume 3

The Golden Maiden and Other Folk Tales and Fairy Stories Told in Armenia by A.G. Seklemian

The Untold Story by Genevieve Cogman

Streams of Silver by RA Salvatore

MOAR! Monsters Know What They're Doing by Keith Ammann

I should be done with Sunfail: A Dark Days Novel by Steven Savile soon. A fast paced end of the world techno-thriller.

Also just started up Robert E. Howard Changed My Life: Personal Essays about an Extraordinary Legacy

This will be a long read I expect to take me most of the year, as while I find it interesting, reading more than one or two letters in a sitting doesn’t hold my interest.

A Means to Freedom: The Letters of H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard.

Ghost in the Lore by Jonathan Moeller

Rebellion of the Lost by Amie Kaufman and Ryan Graudin

War Before Civilization: The Myth of the Peaceful Savage by Lawrence H. Keeley

the Last God, Book 1 of the Fellspyre Chronicles

Rogue Protocol, the third of Martha Wells' Murderbot novellas, which isn't even remotely sword & sorcery, but after the two Silverberg Legends anthologies (which I enjoyed immensely), it was time for a change.

Late to the game, but finally reading Appendix N: The Eldritch Roots of Dungeons and Dragons

Swords of the Four Winds: Tales of Swords and Sorcery in an Ancient East That Never Was

Bless The Child by David J. West. Well written fantasy as you would expect from Mr. West.

Sworn to the Light by Denton Salle

Richard wrote: "Swords of the Four Winds: Tales of Swords and Sorcery in an Ancient East That Never Was
[bookcover:Swords of the Four Winds: Tales of Swords and Sorcery in an Ancient East That Neve..."

Oh, cool! I just interviewed the author this weekend. What brought this to your attention?

@Oliver
That’s awesome! Is the interview available yet online?

I liked his story on Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Lord of the Brass Host, and discovered he had penned a whole book of short stories in the same vein. Brilliant stuff. To me it reads like Harold Lamb and David Gemmell collaborated.

@Richard

Not yet, I record several episodes in advance. I'm thinking March, at which point I'll advertise it here (among other places). He's a real history buff and had plenty to say - including his admiration for Harold Lamb, who you better believe I brought up!

@Oliver

I cannot recommend Swords of the Four Winds enough. I initially bought it, and shelved it, pretty much forgetting it. Now that I’m reading it I’m quite taken with it. I regret not diving right in. Even the editing surpasses a majority of books printed today, and this was self published.

Richard wrote: "@Oliver

I cannot recommend Swords of the Four Winds enough. I initially bought it, and shelved it, pretty much forgetting it. Now that I’m reading it I’m quite taken with it. I regret not diving r..."
@Oliver @Richard...you guys convinced me(when you both gush about it, it means I'm gonna love it)..yet another book purchased to be read....:-)...cant wait for the episode Oliver!

@Michael

I hope you enjoy it.

Savage Realms Monthly: October 2021: A collection of dark fantasy sword and sorcery short adventure stories

Just a few more and I'm all caught up!

Day of the Stranger, something I've always wished to read. Rediscovered the photocopied version gifted to me, but still in the market for a physical copy. RBF would certainly love to republish this...

Michael wrote: "Richard wrote: "@Oliver

I cannot recommend Swords of the Four Winds enough. I initially bought it, and shelved it, pretty much forgetting it. Now that I’m reading it I’m quite taken with it. I reg..."

Thank you! Should come out in early March (I record several episodes ahead). I'll crow about it here when that happens, I'm sure.

Richard wrote: "@Oliver

I cannot recommend Swords of the Four Winds enough. I initially bought it, and shelved it, pretty much forgetting it. Now that I’m reading it I’m quite taken with it. I regret not diving r..."

Right? And he wrote that a while ago, publishing in 2013. I'm very curious to see what his newer stuff is like, including the sequel he's working on.

Dariel has a Ko-Fi, if you want to help him commission cover art for said sequel: https://ko-fi.com/writerdariel

Because of his story in Blood on the Blade I've moved onto:

Theok the Indomitable: A Spill Of Sorcerer's Blood

Ghost in the Talisman by Jonathan Moeller

After stampeding through Murderbot #3-#6 in about a week, I decided to take a (possibly ill-considered) revisit to my childhood, beginning with Jungle Tales of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Can somebody tell me if the problem with typos is fixed in later issues? I'm half way through and have lost count. Even a title (Parmo?)

Starkadder


The first of a Viking themed trilogy. It seems only the first book was published here in the States. Stan Wagenaar put my feet upon this path.

From the jacket:
"Rich in the background of ancient Norse legends, Starkadder is a vivid, sweeping novel of swordplay and intrigue."

I'm reading Manly Wade Wellman's Kardios of Atlantis stories via Heroes of Atlantis & Lemuria. I love the overall tone, and the simplicity of the stories.

It's my first dip into Wellman, and I'm excited to read more. Are there any other good collections I should look out for?

@ Spidrax

Sadly most of his collections are out of print and very expensive second hand.

His novel Cahena is still in print from DMR Books. It’s a fun historical adventure.

Worse Things Waiting and Lonely Vigils are still in print and while I haven’t read them others seem to really like them. Both books were initially printed by Carcosa, a publishing house started by Karl Edward Wagner.

After reading another set of Tarzan books (the new editions from the Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library, which have lots of nice bonus materials) -- Jungle Tales of Tarzan, Tarzan the Untamed and Tarzan the Terrible -- I decided it was finally time to try some Matthew Hughes (an author who works very much in the tradition of Jack Vance) with his novel Majestrum.

And now for some audible brain candy.

Monster Hunter Bloodlines

The Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe by Matthew Gabriele and David M Perry

Sorcery in Shad by Brian Lumley.
The last of Brian Lumley's Tales of the Primal Land.

I'm about half-way through The Broken Sword and I'm enjoying it tremendously.

White Plume Mountain by Paul Kidd

Forgotten Realms...

It's a tale of two Tieflings..




Brimstone Angels

Going Ballistic by Dorothy Grant

Sharp Steel

Blood, Oil and Love by Dorothy Grant

A Perfect Day, With Explosions by Dorothy Grant

White Plume Mountain



Digging the 'Justicar and 'Cinders the undead hide of a Hellhound .... Unique Characters so far. Fight scenes are a bit disjointed. World building is unabashedly fantastic, as it most certainly spawns from the foundations of D&D. .