S&S Roundup #45

The Latest in Contemporary Sword & Sorcery

Back from vaca, so we’re a tad late with this edition, and slightly light on news. (Sorry!) But first, a reminder to conserve water. ;-) Now, onward!

Interesting & Newsy

+ Production Week 15 of the Pendragon Cycle (YouTube link, 7 min summary). Looking forward to the series once it launches. Also from the DailyWire comes a competing vision of Snow White, one that is focusing on the original source material from the Brother’s Grimm. This should be a good version, starring Brett Cooper.

+ Here are the 10 Best H.P. Lovecraft Movies, ranked at Collider. I was actually unaware there were so many film adaptions of his stories out there. What are some of your favorite Lovecraft tales that have made it to the screen?

+ After 50 years, the comic book that inspired the cult movie “Yor: The Hunter from the Future” is finally in print (in English). From WorseMovies.

+ Review of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly #61 at Tangent. Includes the stories: “The Wailing Keep” by Tim Hanlon; “The Physician’s Tale” by Jonathan Duckworth; and “The Scepter of Aram Nazhar” by Dariel R. A. Quiogue. (Stories here.)

(Side note: I’d completely forgotten about Tangent. Dang, what a great review site. I had a gig there reviewing a few magazines back in…2009. Sheesh! Time flies. - Ed.)

+ Jason Ray Carney recently announced the closing of Whetstone Tavern Discord channel. Below is an image of the post. A new Discord channel, appropriately labeled Sword & Sorcery Tavern is up and open to new fans of the genre. If you want an invite, just let me know. The new BB already has a hearty discussion environment going.

New in S&S and Adjacent

+ Swords of Fire 3 from Dark Worlds Quarterly, edited by G. W. Thomas. Four new connected tales by Thomas, M. D. Jackson, Will Parker, and Jack Mackenzie.

+ Commentary/review of “Never Threaten A Spider” by Sara Century from Deep Cuts in a Lovecraftian Vein, which introduces a new S&S hero, a woman named Viy.

+ The Cambion Journals by Andrew P. Weston. Check out the whole series at his website. The books chronicle the adventures of demon hunter, Augustus Thorne.

+ City of Magic (3 book series) by Susan Ann Walker. “In a mecca for mages, there are wonders around every corner…. and dangers within every shadow.” Books 1 & 2 currently 99 cents.

+ Books of Cthulhu (7 book series) – A collection of novellas “written by some of the best Neo-Lovecraftian authors today” including Matthew Davenport, David Hambling, David J. West, David Niall Wilson, C. T. Phipps, and others.

+ Whisperer in Valhalla: The North Sea Trilogy Book Two - A Cosmic Horror Anthology coming Sept 2 (on pre-order), 275 pages, from Red Cape Publishing (UK link).

In this volume, 13 Lovecraftian authors explore the Viking invasion of the British Isles and the nightmares it will unleash. Stories by: Simon Bleaken, Gavin Chappell, Lee C. Conley, John DeLaughter, S.O. Green, Chris Hall & Jasiah Witkofsky, C Marry Hultman, Tim Mendees, Lily Jasmine Morse, Vincent O'Neil, C.T. Phipps, & Robert Poyton.

Kickstarters & Such

+ Coming Soon! The Known World of Aterra: The Prisoner of Ruhak Tower - a fantasy adventure novella from Grayson D. Sullivan. Also, check out Grayson’s free S&S short story on Substack, “The God Points the Way.”

+ Also Launching Soon! Even More Tales From the Magicians Skull - A magazine of all-new swords & sorcery fiction in the classic pulp style! At Kickstarter.

+ 6 Days Left: Badlander: The Seer & The Sorcerer King - “An action-packed fantasy novel & 5e-compatible one shot in the vein of Conan the Barbarian” from Blake Arthur Peel and Sam Ferguson.

+ Comic Book! A Saga of Sunsets - “A gritty fantasy Viking adventure filled with orcs, flying longships, magic & family.” From the dark mind of A.C. Pritchard, with art by Luke Stone via Fund My Comic.

S&S Via YouTube

+ The Story of Robert E. Howard's CONAN. Part 2 - The Scarlet Citadel from Eric Waag. (20 minutes) Other vids on Eric’s channel.

+ Audiobook Flash Fiction: Dragons and Jinn from Horse Dragon.

+ Jay Requard | Fantasy Author & Pondering The Orb!

+ 12 Major 80's & 90's Sword & Sorcery TV Series That Are Much Better Than Today's Shows – Explored from Marvelous Videos.

+ Skallagrim’s channel - Educational entertainment focused mainly on historical arms and armor.

+ From SpiralCon 3: Guest of Honor Interview: C.L. Werner from Spiral Tower Press.

Roundups & Podcasts

• Sensor Sweep from Castalia House (Aug 26)

• Just the Axe, Ma’am from Kevin Beckett (#12, July 30)

• The Cromcast - Season 20 Episode 1: Elric of Melniboné, Part 1 (Aug 19)

• Rogues in the House - Matt and Deane Get a Stew Going (Aug 28)

• Dungeons & Damsels - “Soldier, Arrow, Horse” (Part 1) ~ S4E7 of the Dungeons & Damsels fantasy adventure series (Aug 15)

• Monsters, Madness and Magic Podcast - EP#272: Realm of the Rat Queen - An Interview with Riley Pinkerton (Aug 26)

• Baen Free Radio Hour - Latest is Aug 23

• Strange Shadows - SS Reading 2 Three Poems by CAS (Aug 25)

• The Worldshapers - Episode 183: John Brady McDonald – The Glass Lodge: 20th Anniversary Edition (Aug 26)

Conan Corner & Pulps

+ A review of Hither Came Conan is up at The Silver Key. (Also read Brian Murphy’s commentary on ‘Can you separate the art from the artist?’)

+ Review from Vincent N. Darlage on John C. Hocking’s Conan: City of the Dead at Sprague de Camp Fan.

+ Over at Dark Worlds, G. W. Thomas has a series going on pulp writer Arthur J. Burks. Six posts so far.

+ Paperback Warrior explores the pulp character, Doctor Death.

+ A post honoring writer Janet Morris (May 25, 1946 – August 10, 2024) from Charles Gramlich at Black Gate.

For Writers

• Schlock! is now open to all submissions. For guidelines, visit here.

• Peasant Magazine - submission guidelines are here.

• Swords & Sorcery Magazine - new guidelines page is here.

• Swords & Heroes E-Zine will open for subs in October.

• Savage Realms Monthly has submission guidelines here. (send only first 3 pages)

• BFS Horizons writers’ guidelines are here. Also, they have a call for submission here for BFS Journal.

That’s it! But before you go, here’s a free coloring book page courtesy of Gilead Artist. Until next time, keep swinging!