What are you currently reading? Showing 951-1,000 of 3,143

[Richard]

I am currently reading Memnon by Scott Oden. So far so good; plus, I was surprised to discover that he lives in N. Alabama too.

[S.E., Gray Mouser (Emeritus)]

Just wrapped up Weirdbook #35, which was great. Next up is either/both (a) Scott Oden's A Gathering of Ravens and/or (b) another Obscure book for the groupread .. ie Chris Carlsen's Berserker series

Weirdbook is highly recommended for the "weirder" folks here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Richard]

I am currently reading Weird Tales 4.

[Jon]

Finally read Robert E Howard's "The Tower of the Elephant" today. Was quite surprised and not what I expected story wise. It was a lovely piece.

[Jason]

Very cool! What surprised you so much?

[Jon]

Jason M wrote: "Very cool! What surprised you so much?"

I was thinking a tower decorated in elephants, but not what was inside the tower (without giving it away to anyone who hasn't read it yet). It did kind of go Sci-F'ish there a bit as well.

[S.E., Gray Mouser (Emeritus)]

Jon wrote: "Finally read Robert E Howard's "The Tower of the Elephant" today. Was quite surprised and not what I expected story wise. It was a lovely piece."

I recall my surprise many years ago; I didn't know as a "youngster" that REH had a "weird/mythos" side until reading Tower of the Elephant...and loved it. Then learned he was a pen pal of Lovecraft etc..

[Jon]

S.E. wrote: "Jon wrote: "Finally read Robert E Howard's "The Tower of the Elephant" today. Was quite surprised and not what I expected story wise. It was a lovely piece."

I recall my surprise many years ago; I..."

Yep! I had actually heard of "Call of Cthulhu" as an RPG/Boardgame and then of the books, but was never really interested. That was until recently when I read up on REH and his link to Lovecraft. Now I have to eventually read some of HP Lovecraft's works as well because of the REH link. I've loved Conan and Red Sonja since the movies from the 80s, but it wasn't until I became a writer that I investigated the man who created him. Now a whole new world of pulp fiction has been opened before me.

[Richard]

I've seen a lot of chatter about Harold Lamb. Wildside press has a mega pack collecting 18 of his stories for $.99. (I wanted to share this but I didn't really know where else to put it) *shrugs*

[T.C.]

Well, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance via Gonji, Jack! Many thanks for giving my re-issued 1980s heroic-fantasy series a try. Lots to address in your brief posting, so I'll dive in here.

RED BLADE FROM THE EAST is the Wildside Press re-issue of the first book of the Gonji "Deathwind Trilogy." So you'll need to read the next two books (THE SOUL WITHIN THE STEEL and DEATHWIND OF VEDUN) to get the complete narrative. That's because original publisher Zebra Books bought my epic "Deathwind" in the '80s and released it as a series of three mass-market paperbacks but didn't even indicate that they were three parts of one large work. I've tweaked and expanded them such that these Wildside books are the "authorized" editions.

Thank you for the kind words about the combat scenes. And though I like to think of the series as character-centric, if it's medieval (and monstrous) combat you favor, you ain't seen nothin' yet! Especially in the payoff book, DEATHWIND OF VEDUN, which is swarming with what fans call "The Battle of Vedun," for most of its 400+ pages. Check out Fletcher Vredenburgh's review of the trilogy in Black Gate e-zine, e.g., where he discusses my contention that that may be the longest continual battle sequence in the genre. (I can send you the review link, and others, if you're interested. Just friend either me on FB as "Ted Rypel---and please do call me Ted---or the Gonji Fictional Character FB page, and I'd be happy to message you the links.)

The cover art, like that of the other first five series re-issue books, is by Serbian illustrator Dusan Kostic. I was directed to his portfolio by my publisher, Wildside. Their art budget is rather limited, as they mainly deal in o.p. reprints of books whose rights have reverted to the authors. So these weren't commissioned but rather rented for one-time use by Wildside. I got fairly lucky as I was able to keep a stylistic homogeneity by finding enough paintings in Kostic's output that suited the individual books' content in some way.

But for the recently released sixth book, DARK VENTURES, I commissioned a scene-specific cover by my artist-filmmaker friend Larry Blamire (of the cult classic THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA). That cover stands out for its very different, luridly pulpy style, and for the nearest approximation of how I see Gonji (he's Japanese/Norwegian).

BTW, DARK VENTURES is the book I'm most pushing since its release this spring. It's the perfect entry book for readers new to the series. If you get hooked on RED BLADE, it's great if you go on and finish the trilogy. But I'd recommend checking out DV next---the shortest book, containing the only two novellas in the series (and if you want "combat," the anchor tale, "Dark Venture," is right out of the Weird Tales anthologized pulp thrillers, for you!), plus the definitive series creation/publishing history essay. And the book ends with a teaser excerpt from the in-progress Gonji origin epic BORN OF FLAME AND STEEL.

Also, speaking of Gonji art, check out the magnificent piece that graces my Ted Rypel cover pic on FB. It's artist Joe Rutt's interpretation of a wyvern attack scene from chapter 15 of RED BLADE.

You can read a sample chapter of "Dark Venture" at the BookDaily promotional site (I can send you the handy link for that, as well.)

Enough for now. Keep in touch, link up with me on FB, and here's hoping for an enjoyable journey for you along Gonji's tortuous track!

[T.C.]

Terrific, Jack! I'd be happy to hear your observations, field any questions, etc. And I hope you find the whole series enjoyable eventually.

By the way, you didn't mention which edition of RED BLADE you're reading. If it's paperback, then you have the very helpful "Map of Vedun" printed, originally created by artist Joe Rutt for the early-'80s Zebra Books release, which helps keep you geographically oriented in the Carpathian territory of the trilogy. But if it's the Kindle you have, I can't reproduce it here, but you can find it in the pix on the Gonji Fictional Character FB page or on my own Ted Rypel page.

If you're not on FB or can't locate it among the pix, I'd be happy to email you a copy.

Happy reading!

[T.C.]

You're all set, then. And thank you for your indulgence.

Here's a bit of trivia I haven't shared in a long time. I worked on the big "Deathwind" epic off and on for about four years before my agent sold it to Zebra (which had rejected an earlier version of it two years earlier). I had a clean, finished draft of about two-thirds of what became RED BLADE---the first of the three parts---and a massively detailed outline for the rest. I knew where I was going and that I could finish. So I stepped away for about a year to work on other things.

When I signed the contract...there it was---the mandate to PROVE that I could finish successfully my first novel. And an epic, at that, divided into three huge parts by Zebra. I stared at the blank page, headed "Chapter 15," for about five minutes: What's the first line you write after having been away from an open project for a year, knowing that it was going to be published?

I knew at once, and that opening line of the chapter---"Panther-quick and silent as poison..." has become a sentimental touchstone for me. I'm also rather proud of the chapter, which contains the scene Joe Rutt immortalized in his remarkable painting that heads my FB page.

[Dean]

T.C. wrote: "You're all set, then. And thank you for your indulgence.

Here's a bit of trivia I haven't shared in a long time. I worked on the big "Deathwind" epic off and on for about four years before my agen..."

Hi I just wanted to say I'm reading the first Gonji novel (alongside glen cook's starfisher's trilogy--both great)--I have the zebra a=edition and didn't know it was reprinted; are there any major differences between the old and new editions?
I'm really eager to read the fortress of lost world, sounds really cool. . .

[T.C.]

Dean wrote: "T.C. wrote: "You're all set, then. And thank you for your indulgence.

Here's a bit of trivia I haven't shared in a long time. I worked on the big "Deathwind" epic off and on for about four years b..."

Hey, Dean!

Thanks for the continued enthusiasm and props for the Gonji series!

If you're reading the first Zebra Books edition (1982), then I presume you mean what they titled as "DEATHWIND OF VEDUN." And yes, all five Zebra Gonji novels have been re-issued by Wildside Press, in paper and Kindle, and with significant tweaks and text restorations, including the titles.

Zebra changed four of my five titles, all restored in the new Wildsides. That can lead to a little confusion. The proper title for the one you're reading is RED BLADE FROM THE EAST. They continue as follows, from Wildside:

THE SOUL WITHIN THE STEEL (formerly SAMURAI STEEL)
DEATHWIND OF VEDUN (ex-SAMURAI COMBAT)
FORTRESS OF LOST WORLDS (same)
A HUNGERING OF WOLVES (ex-KNIGHTS OF WONDER)

The series creation/publication history essay in the Afterword of DARK VENTURES explains all this, once and for all, as I've done a thousand times to individuals over the years.

As to whether the tweaks and expansions are "major differences"...some of that is a matter of taste and degree; some is borderline important, since over the decades I've developed a complete timeline with resolutions for all characters and narrative background arcs. And some minor seeding of information in the old books resulted from that.

If you finish book one in the old edition, you should be fine. But trust me, they're better (and handsomer) in the new Wildside editions.

And if you upgrade to the Wildside books but opt for the Kindles, bear in mind that the very helpful Joe Rutt "Map of Vedun" (for the three series-opening "Deathwind Trilogy" books only) doesn't appear in the Wildside Kindles, just the trade paperbacks. But since you already have the map in your old Zebra, it's kind of a moot point. The map was reprinted identically. For some reason they can't reproduce it in the e-book.

Yes, book 4---FORTRESS OF LOST WORLDS---is a pretty bizarre narrative in which Gonji's world expands to introduce him to the knowledge of a greater scope for his mysterious destiny. It takes almost a "science-fantasy" turn, as Gonji and his cohorts learn of the inter-phasic concentric worlds (of which our/their earth is one) that have been exploited by power-mad tyrants for millennia.

Some very weird events...battles in non-Euclidean spaces and dimensional crossovers...Inquisition encounters...and bizarre creatures---including one of my personal favorites, the Moonspinner---in that book.

[Dean]

T.C. wrote: "Dean wrote: "T.C. wrote: "You're all set, then. And thank you for your indulgence.

Here's a bit of trivia I haven't shared in a long time. I worked on the big "Deathwind" epic off and on for about..."

Thank you so much for the reply! "Fortress" sounds even more amazing now, I love science fantasy! The next books I buy are yours!

[T.C.]

Dean wrote: "T.C. wrote: "Dean wrote: "T.C. wrote: "You're all set, then. And thank you for your indulgence.

Here's a bit of trivia I haven't shared in a long time. I worked on the big "Deathwind" epic off and..."

Well, thank you again, Dean. You do me great honor. I hope the subsequent books old up for you.

BTW, the latest Gonji book---DARK VENTURES---seems to really be picking up steam, judging by all the hits they're tracking on BookDaily whenever they feature it (prospective buyers can read a sample chapter of the anchor story there). It's also a finalist for a Golden Quill Award. That's the book I've been touting as the perfect entry point for new readers---two novellas, the series creation/publication-history essay, and the excerpt from the coming Gonji origin epic.

I'd love to hear what you have to say about that one, if and when you get around to it. It's the shortest book in the series, at just over 200 pp. I'd go after that one next. The shorter of the two novellas is actually a reworking and expansion of the first chapter of FORTRESS OF LOST WORLDS, written at an anthology editor's behest for a book that didn't get released until I'd pulled my story for my own book. But the longer novella, "Dark Venture," is a killer tale. One of the best pieces of work I've done in the entire series. It would have made for perfect serialization in Weird Tales.

[Dean]

T.C. wrote: "Dean wrote: "T.C. wrote: "Dean wrote: "T.C. wrote: "You're all set, then. And thank you for your indulgence.

Here's a bit of trivia I haven't shared in a long time. I worked on the big "Deathwind"..."

I'll take your advice! And I really can't wait to read the books! And you are really cool for taking the time to reply to me, thank you so much!

[T.C.]

Dean wrote: "T.C. wrote: "Dean wrote: "T.C. wrote: "Dean wrote: "T.C. wrote: "You're all set, then. And thank you for your indulgence.

Here's a bit of trivia I haven't shared in a long time. I worked on the bi..."

My pleasure, Dean. It's wonderful to exchange with such enthusiastic readers. That never gets old!

[David]

Periklis wrote: "Discuss what you're currently reading, here..."

I just finished three novels in the Gunthar series by Steve Dilks. I am on to Young Thongor by Lin Carter and others.

[Richard]

I am currently reading The Dragon Waiting by John M. Ford.

[Periklis, Fafhrd (Emeritus)]

I'm slowly embracing the (grim)darkness that is Lords of Dyscrasia.

[S.E., Gray Mouser (Emeritus)]

Periklis wrote: "I'm slowly embracing the (grim)darkness that is Lords of Dyscrasia."

It's an honor to have you tour the Underworld, Periklis! Looking forward to your feedback.

BTW, Just weeks from now I'll have it's sequel published (it's called Helen's Daimones, which bridges Lords and Spawn of Dyscrasia).

[Cindy]

I just found a couple of Tarzan books that I didn't have, so I am looking forward to reading those.

[Joseph, Master Ultan]

Cindy wrote: "I just found a couple of Tarzan books that I didn't have, so I am looking forward to reading those."

Which ones?

I read Kate Elliott's Buried Heart (concluding her Court of Fives trilogy) and a couple of associated novellas, and am just starting The Company by K.J. Parker.

[Cindy]

Tarzan the magnificent and Tarzan and the castaways. The castaways is set in south america, so I am looking forward to that one.

[Periklis, Fafhrd (Emeritus)]

S.E. wrote: "Periklis wrote: "I'm slowly embracing the (grim)darkness that is Lords of Dyscrasia."

It's an honor to have you tour the Underworld, Periklis! Looking forward to your feedback."

It's been long due Seth! I've been savoring my personalized copies for quite some time... Looking forward to your latest book!

[Joseph, Master Ultan]

Well, I finished The Company, which would probably make a good entry point into K.J. Parker's work, and started Lord Dunsany's The Book of Wonder, which has some proto-foundational S&S stories in it.

[David]

Joseph wrote: "Having finished Swords Against Darkness, I recommend it unreservedly to anyone who's looking for a first-rate anthology.

I finished D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths and..."

I read (re-read rather) Swords Against Darkness IV this past summer. That whole serious was well put together from beginning to end.

[Joseph, Master Ultan]

I never really got around to the Andrew J. Offutt Swords Against Darkness books -- for whatever reason, Lin Carter's Flashing Swords! #1 books held more appeal. (I think it might've been because Flashing Swords had longer pieces -- only 4-5 stories per volume, as opposed to Swords Against Darkness' 15-20.) I do have them all on my shelf, so someday I'll have to give them another shot.

[Richard]

I just finished Sword of Destiny, which was great and now I'm picking up Les Daniels The Silver Skull. This is the sequel to The Black Castle.

[Joseph, Master Ultan]

It's only kind of S&S-adjacent, but in honor of the season I decided to reread Lovecraft for the first time in several years, beginning with Collected Fiction Volume 1 (1905-1925): A Variorum Edition.

[Richard]

I have some Lovecraft on the shelf, just never have gotten around to it. Maybe one day. Happy reading Joseph!!

[Joseph, Master Ultan]

Richard wrote: "I have some Lovecraft on the shelf, just never have gotten around to it. Maybe one day. Happy reading Joseph!!"

He's been one of my favorites (problematic though he may be) ever since The colour out of Space scared the pants off of me back in about 6th grade.

(And just look at that cover!)

[Richard]

Joseph wrote: "Richard wrote: "I have some Lovecraft on the shelf, just never have gotten around to it. Maybe one day. Happy reading Joseph!!"

He's been one of my favorites (problematic though he may be) ever si..."
Nice looking cover! I've never heard of or seen that title before today. His books seem to be fairly scarce; at least here in Alabama.

[Richard]

I'm reading the original DAW edition The Quest for Cush: Imaro II. I really enjoyed Imaro, so hopefully I'll feel the same about this one.

[S.E., Gray Mouser (Emeritus)]

Jack wrote: "Richard wrote: "I'm reading the original DAW edition The Quest for Cush: Imaro II. I really enjoyed Imaro, so hopefully I'll feel the same about this one."

I look for the Imaro book..."

Link to Groupread on Saunders...has connections to Lulu and other websites to get his books;
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Richard]

Jack wrote: "Richard wrote: "I'm reading the original DAW edition The Quest for Cush: Imaro II. I really enjoyed Imaro, so hopefully I'll feel the same about this one."

I look for the Imaro book..."

I was lucky enough to find books 2 & 3 tucked away on a bottom shelf at my local bookstore for half the cover price. Imagine the elation!! Although book 1 was more elusive, I broke down and ordered it from Ebay. I searched for about a year until I found one for less than $10 with shipping. Joining this group actually prompted me to begin reading this series. It's been gathering dust for several years. Good luck with your search, Jack!

[Richard]

I'm currently reading Gene Lancour's newest book Resurgence of Empire. I came in the mail yesterday!!

[Robin]

I just finished reading The Guiding Nose of Ulfant Banderoz, a novella by Dan Simmons set in Jack Vance’s Dying Earth setting. This was probably the most FUN book I’ve read all year. It’s a slim volume but packed with Vancian magic, demonic servants, warrior women, and lost technology. Well worth checking out if you like the Dying Earth.

[Richard]

Phil wrote: "I just finished reading The Guiding Nose of Ulfant Banderoz, a novella by Dan Simmons set in Jack Vance’s Dying Earth setting. This was probably the most FUN book I’ve read all year..."

Thanks for sharing. I was unfamiliar with the title but now I want to read it too.

[Robin]

I read it as a stand-alone book, but apparently it’s also included in the Songs of the Dying Earth anthology edited by George R. R. Martin.

[Richard]

Lol, silly me! That has been collecting dust on my shelves since it came out. Sounds like I need to dust it off and read it. Thank you, again.

[Peter]

I found the Songs of the Dying Earth anthology a pretty good read. Some of the stories were pretty close to the actual Dying Earth stuff.

[Richard]

Thank you, Phil and Peter. I think I'll read it next after I finish Fortress of Lost Worlds.

[David]

not reading but listening to Lin Carter's Gondwane series on Audible

[Richard]

I just finished T C Rypel's Fortress of Lost Worlds. It has been awhile since I've enjoyed a fantasy book this much!

Next up is Songs of the Dying Earth: Stories in Honour of Jack Vance.

[T.C.]

Richard wrote: "I just finished T C Rypel's Fortress of Lost Worlds. It has been awhile since I've enjoyed a fantasy book this much!

Next up is [book:Songs of the Dying Earth: Sto..."

I'm so pleased that you found FORTRESS enjoyable, Richard!

I have a special fondness for that one, since it was an important follow-up to the Deathwind Trilogy, the contract offer for more books came from Zebra out of the blue, in 1984, and it contains some of my favorite concepts developed for the series.

FORTRESS is the "breakout" book that introduces Gonji to a whole new scale of interdimensional villainy---an axis of power which focuses on him and Simon Sardonis as opponents who MUST be removed.

The "Moonspinner" from Chapter 6 is one of my personal favorite creature inventions. I was just exchanging recently with famed Hollywood storyboard artist Pete Von Sholly about how no artist has yet to take a shot at depicting my Moonspinner (hoping to get Pete to do so, but he's reading the new DARK VENTURES right now---lots of monstrosities in there to distract him!).

And if you get around to reading DARK VENTURES yourself, be advised that the first novella, "Reflections in Ice," is an expansion of FORTRESS OF LOST WORLD's opening chapter, having been commissioned for an anthology that didn't happen.

Thank you for your flattering remarks and the thoughtfulness to take the time to express them.

[Richard]

T.C. wrote: "Richard wrote: "I just finished T C Rypel's Fortress of Lost Worlds. It has been awhile since I've enjoyed a fantasy book this much!

Next up is Songs of the ..."</i>


I actually just bought my copy of [book:Gonji: Dark Ventures today, Ted. It may be a little while before I read it because I want to read book five next.

[T.C.]

Well, thank you again for continued interest, Richard! I hope to hear from you with feedback on the books.

The anchor story in "Dark Ventures" is garnering some award consideration talk. I'll look forward to your opinion of THAT feverish pulp-style piece one day!

Fond best wishes to you...

[Joseph, Master Ultan]

It's not precisely S&S, but it's a D&D novel and D&D came from the sword & sorcery tradition, so I'm going to count it anyway ... Currently reading Time of the Twins, the first novel in Dragonlance Legends, the second trilogy. First time I've read it in, oh, 25 years, give or take.

And it's interesting -- surprisingly dark, especially coming after the first Dragonlance trilogy, which was kind of a by-the-numbers Quest to Defeat the Dark Lord (not to say I didn't enjoy it).

But oh, man, the prose is really not good.