Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy" discussion

Oh, my, it's been a while, hasn't it? But it's a long-established tradition that we start every year by reading anthologies old & new, so: Read away!

New anthologies might include, but are certainly not limited to:

Neither Beg Nor Yield: Stories with S&S Attitude
New Edge Sword & Sorcery Magazine: Issue #1
Tales from the Magician's Skull #10
A Book of Blades: Rogues in the House Presents
Any of the many anthologies DMR has been putting out

As for classic anthologies, well, there are entirely too many to even scratch the surface, but I'd mention:

Flashing Swords! #1
Swords Against Darkness
Swords and Sorcery


What are you going to read? Myself, I still have about 1500 pages of Malazan in the docket, but I'm hoping to finish that in time to at least start an anthology before the end of February ...

TY @Joseph. I’m currently reading NESS #1.

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.

Sweet to hear, Clint, glad that opening reads well for you.

Joseph, NBNY is on Goodreads now, but seems to be in 3 versions? Two without covers and a 3rd with. I think that's the actual Kindle one which is in pre-order, and I've shelved that one.

Jason M wrote: "Joseph, NBNY is on Goodreads now, but seems to be in 3 versions? Two without covers and a 3rd with. I think that's the actual Kindle one which is in pre-order, and I've shelved that one."

I just combined them so all editions should be linked now.

awesome, thank you!

I’m reading David A. Riley’s latest Swords and Sorceries anthology Volume Seven. Four stories in and I’m feeling that it is shaping up to be the best one yet.

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 also read New Edge Sword & Sorcery Magazine: Issue #1 and New Edge Sword & Sorcery Magazine: Issue #2 and enjoyed them both, some stories obviously more than others.

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).

Cool words you left in review, Clint, thank you. I appreciate you jumping into the full read so quickly. and while continuing with your NESS reads. I'm not certain directly comparing them is fair to either though, slightly different goals and productions. Stack NBNY against any anthology now, my others included, and let's see what happens :)

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 have just finished Savage Realms 2024 February edition. Below is my review.

You will find three stories of sword and sorcery in this edition of ongoing Savage Realms magazine. There are some mild spoilers in my below review.

The Red God by Christopher Pate 4/5
My favorite story in the collection, which reminded me of Simon of Gitta stories of Richard L. Tierney. I would definitely like to read more of Gnaeus The Gaul in the future, if author wants to expand his universe.

The Chalice of Khaluth-Ghal by J.L Abbuhl 2/5
I found the prose of this story too much intricate for a sword and sorcery tale. Besides its prose, I lost my interest in the story when characters started to shout lengthy dialogs to each other during what might be their last moments.

Bradic by Dave Dickie 3/5
An entertaining but still mediocre story which needs to better explain/narrate how the main hero slays an elder god with comperatively too little effort.

I haven't read this issue yet, but thanks for the reviews. I don't think you gave too much away, yet you were informative.