Clint’s
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(group member since Jul 26, 2017)
Clint’s
comments
from the Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy" group.
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Good series. The God Killer, particularly volume one, has a great S&S vibe as well
Welcome Max
@Joseph, I’m excited this is finally happening. I think Spicy might be my next read.
I heard the terrible news yesterday and have been crushed since. I do not know him well, but have the deepest respect and gratitude for him and his part to raise the sword. My interactions have been as a fan and were through email and social media; however, he has always been affable and gracious in his words.
There is a mixture of S&S with Dantes Inferno and a, I’m not sure how to accurately state this, a non-traditional telling of the tale. I feared it would be too highbrow, but it is not. My other fear was it would be “in the tradition of Clark Ashton Smith” (which in my unpopular opinion too often means “I busted out my thesaurus”), but it’s not. It is unique and I look forward to more in the line.
Novellas and anthologies are my favorite group reads.
I finished Hurled Headlong Flaming by M Holder. It would make for a good group read.
I finished NESS #1 a few days too late to count for the group read, but here are my thoughts:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I managed to finish NBNY last night, but I’m still picking at NESS #1. I enjoyed NBNY immensely, and NESS isn’t bad, but of the two, I enjoyed NBNY more (I should say “so far” as I’m still sifting through NESS).
I’m reading NESS #1 as well as NBNY. I started it last week. My thoughts so far:Non-Fiction: I tend to start by reading the nonfiction first. I don’t know why, it’s just my preference.
From the Editor-nothing special of note. It serves as an overview of the issue and does so well.
“Why (New Edge) Sword & Sorcery” - Brian Murphy
This was a feature I was excited for. Solid essay. Favorite quotes: “The heritage of Sword & Sorcery is one of defying convention and breaking new ground”; my second is too long for my thumbs to reproduce but in summary, the barbarian archetype as “…a willingness to…cast off safety and security, and explore new frontiers…”. In other words, Conan never shied from breaking new ground.
“Cele Goldsmith Lalli — Midwife to the Second Sword & Sorcery Boom”, Cora Buhlert
This kind of thing is my jam. I love learning about those that helped bring my favorite genre into life.
“Fresh Blood and Thunder! Bringing New Readers to Sword & Sorcery, with Sof Magliano”, Oliver Brackenbury.
This was originally a podcast and was better as such. Reading a conversation is not nearly as effective as active listening. It felt tacked on and unnecessary as it’s available as a podcast.
“Review: Woman of the Woods by Milton J. Davis”, Robin Marx.
Fair review that doesn’t try to sell it.
Fiction:
I was, understandably, most curious about the Michael Moorcock story, so I started there.
“The Folk of the Forest”, Michael Moorcock.
An Elric “prequel” story. It takes place before Elric left his homeland and joined with Stormbringer. Like many of Moorcock’s later Elric stories, I found it an okey-dokey read.
From there, I jumped back to the beginning.
“Carnivora”, Kirk A. Johnson
I didn’t care for this story. It lacked a character I could sympathize with. The ending was brutal, but without a central character to feel sympathetic towards, I shrugged my shoulders at the violence.
“Come Lay the Crone to Rest”, Margaret Killjoy
The story was enjoyable, but there was an editing mistake that drew me out of the story. Killjoy uses the gender They/Them for the character Molt, but suddenly on page 42, Molt’s gender is identified as She. It was jarring in an unintentional way.
That is as far as I have traveled with the fiction this far. More to come.
I would like to say the cover and interior art are great.
I’m excited for new Jirel stories, it’s awesome that Moore’s fire is burning on. NESS is part of the January/February Group Anthology read.
Neither Beg nor Yield is part of our Anthology read for January-February.
I cracked open (well, digitally speaking) Neither Beg nor Yield. The introduction was engaging and quotable, I highlighted three different paragraphs. The lineup is amazing: Clint Werner, William King, John C. Hocking, Chuck Dixon, John Fultz, David C. Smith, Joe Lansdale, Glen Cook, Howard Andrew Jones, Adrian Cole. That’s a long list AND it’s incomplete! Those are just some of my favorites. I’m digging this anthology all ready.
TY @Joseph. I’m currently reading NESS #1.
@Jason, It will be added sans time constraints. I’m looking forward to it
Excellent ending and bravo. The entire novel was a great read, but the last 5 chapters kicked me into turbo mode on read speed. I found myself (nearly) thankful that 2024 started with a flu for me. The unexpected downtime allowed me to sit and read more than one chapter at a time. My only complaint: this is the end.
I’m about 60% through. I’m enjoying the “jumps” of the book (I don’t want to give spoilers). I hope to finish it this weekend.
I have not encountered the reading time I would like, but I have read the first six chapters and I’m enjoying the book
I’m only two chapters in (I stole some time at my work desk today), but I’m enjoying it so far.
