S&S Roundup #15
The Latest in Contemporary Sword & Sorcery
Double Issue this week - taking next week off since my two adult daughters and their husbands are coming to visit us here in Puerto Rico. Lots of fun activities planned. So buckle up for plenty of links, project updates, roundups, podcasts, and general news.
Speaking of News
+ “The Tartessos culture emerged during the Late Bronze Age in the Southwest Iberian Peninsula of Spain.” I’d never heard of the Tartessos people, so I read this article from Heritage Magazine about them.
+ Are you into Mayan calendars? Did you know they finally figured out that the 819 day cycle works over a 45 year period of time? I didn’t. Article at Popular Mechanics.
Around the Blogosphere
+ Spear and Sorcery: The Influence of Robert E. Howard on Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal - a new article from DMR. Check out all DMR’s latest here.
+ New Stuff Roundup: Read the latest updates from Baen Books. Some new reviews are up at Vintage Pop Fictions as well as Paperback Warrior. Also see the recent posts at Fantasy Literature. Fun new series at Dark Worlds Quarterly: The Robots of Superman by G.W. Thomas. Check out the latest news from Goodman Games. And of course, always interesting new posts at Sprague de Camp Fan.
For Writers
+ Submissions period ending this month for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6. From the publisher: "Already it's become obvious to me some great stories are going to have to be turned down, there are just so many. The final lineup is always hard to decide upon - and it's going to be even harder this time. There really is a wealth of talent out there." For guidelines, visit here before it’s too late.
+ IronAge Media is accepting submissions for their new magazine Anvil. They need short stories, comics, and reviews. For information visit their guidelines here.
+ Do you have any other markets to share with others? Let me know.
+ Old Moon Quarterly opens their sub window on May 1 (accepting stories through June 1, 2023). Read their guidelines here.
+ The editors at greydogtales.com have a couple of new anthologies planned. Check out their guidelines for submission window dates.
(Note: Disclaimer - Some markets discriminate against certain groups of writers. Links are not endorsements; caveat emptor.)
Meet Some Indie Authors
+ From DMR - Independent Author Spotlight: Frank Sawielijew
+ From DMR - Independent Author Spotlight: Steve Carroll
Some Kickstarters of Note
+ A Summer of Sci-Fi & Fantasy: Volume 2 (9 days to go!)
+ The Pickman Papers - Being a collection of the singular adventures of the august members of the Pickman Club. Only 3 days left for this project from Innsmouth Gold.
+ Quest #1: Epic Swords and Sorcery Action in a Magical Realm. A ragtag party of adventurers face an impossible quest with the fate of their world at stake. New project from Scott Harris will launch soon.
Conan Corner
+ Spiral Tower Reviews Hither Came Conan from Rogues Blade Foundation (2023) - Quick review: "Will Please Writers and Readers Alike"
+ REH’s ‘The Hyborian Age’ explored at ThePulp.Net.
+ Latest updates about Howard Days from The Silver Key here.
Facebook Groups
New and Cool Projects
+ Changa and the Jade Obelisk Combo Special (Issues #1 & #2) from MVmedia. A lot of excellent sword and soul novels, collections, and projects on their site. Take a look!
+ Wolf in Shadows: The Wolf Who Would be King Volume 1 by Robert Poyton. A new volume - Book #7 - Wolf on the Waves - has recently dropped. Check out this series of S&S / pirating adventures from Innsmouth Gold.
+ Kevin J. Anderson’s “Dan Shamble” series seems pretty wild. A zombie P.I. has a series of casebooks, the latest is Bats in the Belfry. Sign up for future news here.
+ Another Game of Thrones spinoff. The Wertzone has a summary here and links to the announcement at Deadline here.
Roundups & Podcasts
DMR’s Links of Steel (April 23) - (I forgot to link to April 16th’s issue.)
Morgan’s Sensor Sweep (April 24) - (I forgot to link to April 17th’s issue.)
Nathan's List of SF/Fantasy New Releases (April 22)
The Cromcast Weird Fiction Podcast (NEW: S8, E6, April 17)
Dungeons & Damsels Short Story (S3 E3, April 13 - Parts 1 & 2 online)
Rogues in the House Podcast (NEW: April 24 - Conan Talk w/ Jim Zub)
The Worldshapers Conversations (Ep 133, April 16 w/ P. L. Stuart)
The Cellar of Horrors with Tim Mendees (Ep 33, April 22)
Baen Books Podcast on Rumble (BFRH Patrick Chiles on Escape Orbit)
From Tule Fog Press
Thanks for subscribing to this free newsletter. If you want to show your support, feel free to grab a project listed below. Reviews are appreciated as well. Happy reading!
+ Swords & Heroes - A Sword and Sorcery Anthology featuring 12 exciting tales of heroic adventure. Now available in e-book, paperback, and hardback editions.
+ Razored Land: Crimson Sacrifice by Charles Allen Gramlich is a post-apocalyptic science fantasy where a genetic plague leads to desperate survivors fighting a maniacal mutated overlord. Book 2 - Blackest of Hates - is available for pre-order.
+ Pale Reflection from Gustavo Bondoni collects six dark fantasy tales into a psychological journey from the Pacific surf to cold alpine glaciers and from dusty refugee camps to quaint medieval Spanish cities. The darkness knows no bounds.
+ A first-time collection of Michael Burke’s sword and sorcery tales featuring his barbarian hero, Ahanu Foxcloud, is up for pre-order: Fragments of a Greater Darkness. Catch an additional Ahanu adventure in the Swords & Heroes anthology.
So long for now!
Note: Next issue coming the week of May 7.