Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy" discussion
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What are you currently reading?
Michael wrote: "I am rereading Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber. This time on audible. I plan to reread all of the Fafhrd and Grey Mouser stories this year. These are the only stories I found to come anywhere c..."Totally worth it, but brace yourself for the wildly uneven quality of the last two books. There's all this satisfying stuff about the guys growing older, settling into their new home...and then the odd scene that's just skeezy.
3/4 through Imaro by Charles Saunders. It's really fun and I wish I'd read it earlier! It's cool to read S&S rooted in non-European culture, but that's not all it has to recommend. You get to see the protagonist as a child (which Brian Murphy correctly points out is a rarity in the genre), stories work on their own but were clearly written with an intentional continuity (as opposed to the retroactive ones by Carter & DeCamp or Leiber) that is satisfying to watch build, and Saunders can spin a sentence.
I look forward to reading the other three books!
@JasonI love the Black Cauldron! Is it your first time reading it?That series and the Narnia books were my introduction to Fantasy.
Richard wrote: "@JasonI love the Black Cauldron! Is it your first time reading it?That series and the Narnia books were my introduction to Fantasy."
Yes, first time! They've been on my radar since I was about 12ish, but just never got around to reading them. Not sure why. So far, I'm enjoying #2 more than the first.
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@Joseph, speak to me of this Appendix N book club
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It's the podcast that I've mentioned before. Their first hundred episodes have been books/authors from the actual DMG Appendix N, but starting with episode 101, they decided to cast their net a little wider to other books of interest. I support them on Patreon, and one benefit for Patreon backers is that generally before they record the official episode, they host a discussion (the Patron Book Club) in which Patreon backers can join in and discuss the book beforehand.
Here's their website:
https://appendixnbookclub.com/
I just finished Blood of Elves, the first of the Witcher novels. It's not a self-contained book AT ALL, but I enjoyed it a great deal.I think it was S.E. who wrote that Geralt, the titular Witcher, is a sword & sorcery hero in a high fantasy/fairy tale world. I think that's pretty accurate, but I'd go a bit further. From my review: Despite the two swords and the badass mutant monster hunter trappings, he's kind of a blue collar hero. He tackles monster problems like a plumber unclogging drains. His clients are happy to have him around, but they don't particularly respect him or his vocation.
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I’ve been keeping an eye out for an ebook version of the Nifft books, but no luck so far.
I just started Blood + Pearls after hearing it mentioned on a podcast with S.E. Lindberg actually. I was listening to learn more about Lords of Dyscrasia and the host mentioned this book/author. I was familiar with Samurai Cat but not this series.
Blood + Pearls is a hard book to find. Never seen one in the flesh.
Richard wrote: "Blood + Pearls is a hard book to find. Never seen one in the flesh." Yes, it is. I found this one on ebay for around $20 and it's signed but to someone else obviously. The other two are out of my price range at the moment!
DDred wrote: "Richard wrote: "Blood + Pearls is a hard book to find. Never seen one in the flesh." Yes, it is. I found this one on ebay for around $20 and it's signed but to someone else obviously. The other two..."There's a couple of copies on Abebooks but they're not cheap.
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again I haven't read it in, I think, over ten years. Seems as good a time as any for a reread.
Savage Realms Monthly: June 2021:
Just finished reading an author's collection for blurb. Now about to now finish SWORDS AND SORCERIES 2, then on to the DMR anthology.
@Richard, I have been curious about that one. Let me know your opinion.
Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Prachett
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Kaori Yuki's The Cain Saga, Beyond The Fantasy-the Yoshitaka Amano biography, Kaori Yuki's Grand Guinol Orchestra aka Royal Doll Orchestra and Robotech Genesis.
I've been on a Leigh Brackett Sword & Planet binge as of late. Started by finishing off her incredible Skaith trilogy with The Reavers of Skaith. Then The Secret of Sinharat which was also top notch, and just started Enchantress of Venus. I can't get enough :)
@Jamie. Leigh Brackett is awesomeness
The Leigh Brackett Skaith books are amazing.
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Beyond the Bulwarks by K.J. Coble.
Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"
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It is adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s The Hound.
It is a complete unpublished novel published posthumously by Hippocampus Press.
It is due to release in August.