Group Reads Announcements

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

S.wagenaar, the Shaper series looks more like Clark Ashton Smith than REH, but still Swords and Sorcery .... So I'm in.

[S.wagenaar]

Works for me! Looking forward to reading these soon. Andy Remic has a couple of books, Iron Wolves and The White Towers,that would qualify as S&S as well. Grimdark perhaps, but S&S for sure.

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

Nov-Dec Group read Topics and folder links
1) The Broken Sword - 1954 by Poul Anderson
2) High Couch of Silistra - 1997 and 2015 by Janet Morris

Banner and Cover Credits:


Janet E. Morris's High Couch of Silistra, covers by Boris Vallejo (1977) and Roy Mauritsen (2105; includes "Dancing Maenad in a Roman relief" photo by Ana Belén Cantero Paz)


Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword:
1973 Patrick Woodroffe and 1977 Boris Vallejo 1977 (coincidentally)


Kickstarter Also note, a new folder just for Crowdfunding and Kickstarter:
Folder Link

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

Anthologies 2016 Groupread Wow, don't assume that anthologies of Sword & Sorcery only form the genre's roots! 2015 had at least three quality anthologies surface which are featured in the banner. Officially, the group read is Jan-Feb 2016, but start whenever you want. Treat yourself to a Holiday gift!

Discuss folder is open!

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

Mar-Apr Groupread Topics<>: top two selections win. Write-in suggestions welcome.

Click here to Vote

Sword & Six-Shooters (aka Guns -n- Sorcery))
Lancer Series Conan (i.e. join Moderator Jack on his quest to read these)
RPG-tie ins (Forgotten Realms, Dragon Lance, Warhammer, etc.)
Graphic Novels like Pat Mills's Slaine: The Horned God - Part One
Lord DunsanyThe Sword of Welleran and Other Stories or The King of Elfland's Daughter
David C. Smith's Oron series

comments and details
·
show results
·
invite friends

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

All, I'll be make by the banner this weekend for the next group read. I need help with some book covers to draw from.

Topics seem to be
1) rpg tie in
2) swords and six shooters

Ideas?

[Joseph, Master Ultan]

[Mary]

Well, let's see. and are RPG based. Does that qualify?

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

Sweet Mary and Joseph! Thx guys for the fast response!

[Ashe]

Anything Deadlands could work for six shooters.

[Periklis, Fafhrd (Emeritus)]

[Jason]

Hilariously well timed S.E.!

[Dan]

Jason M wrote: "Hilariously well timed S.E.!"

Yeah I had a good chuckle myself.

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

Jason M wrote: "Hilariously well timed S.E.!"

Glad the humor was conveyed. Guess, I could have used a comma in there....

[Martin]

Yes.

The Witcher is one of the best Sword & Sorcery series I've ever come across. Ranks right next to Conan and Kane for me and beating anything else.

Neither guns nor tie-in, though.

[Ashe]

I don't think the games will ever get novels. If I recall right, the author says he doesn't consider the games canon, though I do believe he enjoys them.

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

Groupread Mar Apr 2016 Topics:
(a) Swords-n-Guns - link to folder
and
(b) RPG tie-in Discussion (link to folder)

What counts for these topics? Whatever you decide...just come discuss and be prepared to articulate the connection.



Banner Credits go to Raymond Swanland:

Dungeons & Dragons - Forgotten Realms
The Legend of Drizzt: The Collected Stories by R.A. Salvatore
Cover art (c) 2011 Raymond Swanland

Warhammer - Space Wolves
Blood of Asaheim by Chris Wraight
Cover art (c) 2014 by Raymond Swanland

[Jason]

Great banner once again, S.E.! I love me some Ray Swanland in the morning!

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

Jason M wrote: "Great banner once again, S.E.! I love me some Ray Swanland in the morning!"

Thanks Jason. It's always fun making the banners. It seems to charge up readers a bit. All 40 banners done to date are on pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/sethlindber...

[Rich]

S.E. wrote: "Thanks Jason. It's always fun making the banners. It seems to charge up readers a bit. All 40 banners done to date are on pinterest:"

Wow. I had no idea the group had been active that long. Those are great!

[Jason]

40! Hot dang!

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

Oops, it is 40months worth .... So only 20 banners.

[Jason]

Fantastic as always. Thank you for your efforts at keeping this place going, and providing such inspiring banners.

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

May June 2016 Groupread topics:
1) Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher Series. Read the series that spawned a video game.

2) Review-Starved Books: Spread the good word about under appreciated Sword & Sorcery books by writing and sharing reviews.



Masthead Banner Credits:
Author: Andrzej Sapkowski

Cover art by Alejandro Colucci for the Spanish edition of The Last Wish and Time of Contempt.

Alejandro Colucci's website

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

July August Groupread (not June/July as my email indicated) is ready
top two selections win. Write-in suggestions welcome.

Click here: Poll Link

The Shadow Kingdom by Robert E. Howard ~1929 first Kull story
The Phoenix on the Sword by Robert E. Howard ~1932 first Conan Tale
The Hour of the Dragon by Robert E. Howard -- only novel length Conan
Anything Malazan - by Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont like Gardens of the Moon
First Law books - The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Broken Empire books -Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

comments and details
·
show results
·
invite friends

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

Crap... actual timing ins July-August, but the URL for the poll sent originally has June-July in it. Ugh. So some links may not work from the emails. Sorry. GR limits broadcast emails so i can't send out a correction for a day or so.

This link should work:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

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

July Aug 2016 Groupreads:
1) Joe Abercrombie's First Law series - Link to discussion folder

2) REH's "The Hour of the Dragon" - Link to discussion folder

Banner Credits:
Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes, Coverart by Raymond Swanland 2013

The Hour of the Dragon by Robert E. Howard's only novel of Conan; Cover art by Ken Kelly 1977

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

Jack wrote: "Wow! Great banner, S.E! "

Thanks!

[S.wagenaar]

Oh boy, what one to read? I might have to read both...

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

Nov Dec 2016 Groupreads Folder Links:
(a)Brackett's Sword of Rhiannon (aka Sea Kings of Mars)
(b)CONAN Pastiche




Masthead Banner Credits
Leigh Brackett's sword & planet adventure is a short novel but a favorite among aficionado's. Let's read: The Sword of Rhiannon...first published as Sea-Kings of Mars and Otherworldly Stories in "Thrilling Wonder" Magazine in 1949 (cover artist Earle Bergey).

Conan Pastiche, from 100% pastiche to posthumously finished tales, let's read how non-Robert E. Howard authors continued the barbarian's adventures! Banner shows cover art by Frazetta. Lin Carter and L. Sprague de Camp's 1967 Conan.

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

Poll

Vote for Jan-Feb Theme. Recall, this period we always have an Anthology focus for one theme. This vote would be for a possible second discussion.

Scott Oden's A Gathering of Ravens

Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Children of Húrin

William King's Gotrek & Felix: The First Omnibus

Brian Staveley's The Emperor's Blades

Brian Lumley's Hero of Dreams

David Lindsay's A Voyage to Arcturus

comments and details
·
show results
·
invite friends

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

May June Groupreads:

(a) Moorcock - Elric, Corum, pick an eternal champion! Folder Link:

(b) Leiber - Fafred and the Gray Mouser! - Folder Link




Banner Credits
1974 Michael Moorcock's The Sword and the Stallion Cover art by David McCall Johnston
1974 Michael Moorcock's The Oak and the Ram Cover art by David McCall Johnston
1976 Fritz Leiber's - Zwaarden tegen Magiërs Cover art by Bruce Pennington. (Swords against Wizardry)
1975 Fritz Leiber's Zwaarden in de mist Cover art by Bruce Pennington

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

Jack wrote: "S.E. wrote: "May June Groupreads:
(a) Moorcock - Elric, Corum, pick an eternal champion! Folder Link:
(b) Leiber - Fafred and the Gray Mouser! - Folder Link

Banner Credits
1974 [author:Michael ..."

Thanks Jack! This banner got a bit trippy, but that matches the authors' eras.

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

Sept-Oct 2017 Groupreads Are Set:

Link to Viking Age discussion

Link to Sword-n-Planet discussion

Banner Credits:
Fliers of Antares (Dray Prescot, #8), cover art by Jack Gaughan, Dray Prescot Series #8 book by Alan Burt Akers

Transit to Scorpio coverart Josh Kirby 1975, Dray Prescot #1 book by Alan Burt Akers

Melvyn Grant artist, for 1977 Chris Carlsen (Robert Holdstock) Shadow Of The Wolf

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

May June 2018 Groupread Topics:

(1) Tales From the Magician's Skull - Link to Discussion Folder

(2) Brak the Barbarian - Link to Discussion Folder

Masthead Banner Art Credits

(a) Tales from the Magician's Skull #1 edited by Howard Andrew Jones / cover art by Jim Pavelec 2018

(b) John Jakes's Brak the Barbarian / cover art 1977 by Charles Moll

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

Jack wrote: "Great job on masthead S.E., yet again!"

Thanks Jack! Lime Green and Yellow emerged as catchy colors... I think I need a Mountain Dew now!

[Joseph, Master Ultan]

I can't begin to count how many pages I read back in the day with a Mountain Dew in one hand and a bag of Doritos in the other. Well, OK, I had the book in one hand while using the other hand for snacking purposes, but you know what I mean.

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

Three cheers for snacking on fluorescent dyes! Hear hear!

[Joseph, Master Ultan]

A suggestion: Since there's going to be a new Black Company novel out in September (Port of Shadows), maybe Glen Cook for one of the Sept/Oct groupreads? He has several series (Black Company, Dread Empire, Garrett PI) that kind of exist at the center of the Venn diagram between sword & sorcery, epic fantasy and grimdark.

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

Agreed Joseph. I’m thinking September/October will be (a) Wagner’s Kane ... on combo with the Podcast read along mentioned in other threads

And

(B) the new “cook” book

[Joseph, Master Ultan]

S.E. wrote: "Agreed Joseph. I’m thinking September/October will be (a) Wagner’s Kane ... on combo with the Podcast read along mentioned in other threads

And

(B) the new “cook” book"

I support both of those! Especially given that I have those Centipede Press Kane editions sitting over on my shelf ...

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

KANE Group Discussion . It is always a goo time to read Kane, but now we can do so with this group, and a fine podcast already in progress on The Dark Crusade Podcast.

Cook's BLACK COMPANY Groupread Discussion . Glen Cook's Black Company.... with a keen eye toward Port of Shadows, the new episode due out Sept-11th 2019. All Black Company books are fair game.

Masthead Banner: Credits


Glen Cook's Black Company: Port of Shadows, Cover art by - Raymond Swanland 2018

Karl Edward Wagner's Gods in Darkness: The Complete Novels of Kane
2002 by Ken Kelly

[S.wagenaar]

Well, I have all the Kane books-short story collections and novels-so I got that covered. I also have the first three Black Company novels in a omnibus collection that I could read as well. I actually haven’t read any Cook as of yet, so this group read is a perfect opportunity to do so. But Kane. I love me some Kane. And Wagner is a well I always go back to, over and over. His work is the epitome of my definition of S&S.

[Richard]

Awesome banner!

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

Banner credits:
The King of Elfland's Daughter - cover art by John W. Waterhouse La Belle Dame sans Merci (1893).
Nomads of Gor Boris Vallejo 1976



Topic 1: Dunsany's 1924 classic: The King of Elfland's Daughter (or any Elf or Dunsany) - Link to discussion

Topic 2: Sword n Planet - Link to Discussion

[Joseph, Master Ultan]

Excellent! I was thinking it might be time to revisit Barsoom; and more Dunsany is always a good thing ...

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

I love Dunsany but never read “Elfland”.... now is the time

[Clint]

If only I had time for both: Dunsany or Sword & Planet, hmmm.

[Joseph, Master Ultan]

Clint wrote: "If only I had time for both: Dunsany or Sword & Planet, hmmm."

If you can't fit in an entire Dunsany novel, maybe pick up one of his collections and skip around in it -- TBH, I think I prefer his short stories to his novels. Recommended: The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories or The Book of Wonder (both probably available free in eBook format).

[Mary]

Well, it was elves and not Dunsany in the poll. . . he's not heavy on them.