Jason Waltz > Recent Status Updates

Mike MacLean's story offers a bit o'fun writing despite its ultimate pointlessness.

As usual for me, Leiber's Fafhrd & Mouser tale is much ado about nada.

Among the authors present is Howard Andrew Jones, and I did look forward to his storytelling. I was curious as to his approach, so imagine my surprise at discovering a Dabir tale! I wondered how such would fit alongside what I'd read to this point. The answer: not only is it a delightful addition to the Dabir collection, it is by far the best tale thus far in this anthology. For me. It would fit in a RBE title well.

I will admit to not being the target audience for this title. I bought it in support of the original creators/publishers. I could not care less about kaiju, but there were several quality authors involved, so I thought it'd be tolerable. The stories have essentially delivered on my low expectations and, frankly, are simultaneously boring and ludicrous.

Been reading this pretty much since it came out at the end of 2014. Obviously not very compelling or memorable at this pace. I don't recall the merits of any particular story but I do recall not thinking very much of 2 of those read, that's for certain. It's anthology reading month, so I'm trying to clean out some of this malingerers.

An old world weird tale, mythical and maniacal, dark and deadly, containing a cool warrior and massive weapon. Following that is "A Life Giving Grave" by Shane Porteous, perhaps the best tale told in this anthology. A thinking man's story of a serious-minded hero with a touch of humor and a deep-rooted sense of honor.

Truth, especially in 2021: "Fear has killed more men than all the swords and arrows ever made.”

“when all choices are shitty, a man must pick the one most likely to leave him alive to wash.” - fun lines at a fun moment amidst a not-so-fun series of moments. Been some decent storytelling and intrigue, building nicely toward our climax. Enjoyable reading thus far.

Hey Stan - I've met Gunnolf, and he sure can feed the ravens! Great first story to be published, congratulations. Your storytelling is a shining gem amongst the chaff surrounding it. I imagine there are further adventures in Gunnolf's saga to be read?

A couple fair-ta-middlin' tales have decently passed the time.

Weirdly told tales that truly needed editing help, none of which was given in this anthology.

I'm enjoying this read and following the protagonist's progression through his emotions and true self from denial to recognition. Decent, realistic fighting, a strong foe (or two) and interesting mystery behind a few things.

Two vaguely-REH-Hyborean-related tales, one also with Lovecraftian aspects, both with entertaining premises, one better-told than the other, both simply passable. And some verse.

Really not too sure what the call for submissions could have been for this book. One rockstar story and two other decent ones this far, the rest a rather messy collection of oddities. Very glad I did not buy the print version.

Didn't realize I was already halfway through. A couple moments of reading I wasn't able to set aside, and look where I'm at. Compelling, likeable character with an enjoyable, mysterious plot. Some cosmetic errors and a mild case of repetitiveness, but all-in-all a pleasant and pleasing read.

"The Cauldron of Vanthos" by Benjamin Sperduto = best story by far, hands down fun and s&s escapades (and, obviously, previously published elsewhere).

I'd oft' heard of Anderson's "Tale of Hauk," and now I've read it.

Cobb's "Faith, Hope and Charity" is a charmingly delightful telling of comeuppance.

This has turned into a biography filled with sexual escapades...and I've suddenly realized the overly present gods from the first quarter of the book haven't been seen nor heard in a long, long while. I've taken to skimming bits, though I aim to finish this.

Chamberlain's tale of showing and racing horses is passionately and beautifully told, painting a perfect picture of the magnificent beasts.

'...while the widows of emperors did on his spurs.' and '...while the orphaned daughters of extinguished dynasties held the reins.' are such delightful and beautiful turns of phrase! Lin Carter's "How Sargoth lay Siege to Zaremm" opens the anthology with a bit of tongue in cheek - appropriate, I'd say ;)

Beginning Bebergal's version of Gygax's "monument to the triumph of fantasy literature in every aspect of pop culture."

Turning into a chore to read, sadly. A day-in-a-life tale, hour by hour.

Hervey Allen opens with a great tale about fighting men in WWII, "Blood List," which simultaneously is and is not what one anticipates such a title to contain.

Llorc is a strong S&S adventurer learning the ways of civilized people. Nice fights and themes and characters. Enjoying!

Enjoying this quite a bit, my thanks to someone's plug on a FB post. There are unfortunately a number of formatting issues from broken to double sentences, but only one has caused confusion and appears to be missing a section. But I'm enjoying our S&S hero and the writer's storytelling style.

Beginning with a quote on civilization (and not the regularly heard (yet still quite awesome) one) from REH is delightful and promising.

Finally a decent stab at a tale by Zachary Ruiz, followed by a good story by familiar name Ed Ahren.

This...is not as advertised. Possibly getting worse with each story, and there's many yet to go.

I will finish this, but right now I have no interest in pursuing this story. We've spent almost 25% of this book - which is billed as Conan in Skyrim - on the relationship between our hero and his wife. While not a poor storyline, not what I intended to read when I agreed to buy and read this. And the editing continues to be atrocious. I like our hero though!