S&S Roundup #52
The Latest in Contemporary Sword & Sorcery
One more S&H story and roundup and then we’ll take a two week Christmas break. We’ll start back up Jan 7, 2025. Can you believe we’re almost done with 2024? In the meantime, happy holidays and … seasons’ greetings! ;-)
‘Self-Promo Monday‘ Projects…
Note: I saw the following books posted at Swords & Sorceries FB page, hosted by David A. Riley. Over 1800 members, a thriving public group for fans of S&S.
+ The Hunter And Chekwe Adventures (2 book series) by Aaron M. Fleming. “Hunter is a soldier-turned-monk, sworn to bring down the Kistrill Empire by stealing Kingmaker: an enchanted sword and the royal family’s most precious talisman of power.”
+ Blade of the Wanderer (Scars of Magic Book 1) by Steven Raaymakers. “The chronological short stories of Esterra Stake. Tractwalker. Mercenary. Exile.”
+ The Blade in the Angel's Shadow by Andy Darby. “The Angels want to usher in Revelation, and what better way than through the creation of the British Empire?”
+ The Snake-Man's Bane by Howie K. Bentley. “When Vegtam the Wanderer came to Herod-Thaar he was expecting good coin to play his lute and sing. Instead he kills a snake-man and has to go on the run with Tawna, the beautiful tavern wench.”
+ Journey to Stormrest: Chronicles of Altiva: Book One by Teel James Glenn. “…the prodigal prince will discover all of the highland clans are threatened by a mysterious foe capable of using dark magic against them. And it will fall on him to uncover this enemy before total destruction befalls them all.”
+ The Siblings (2 book series: The Tears of Arquazel and Anquisher) by Rick Hannah. “Ten jewels were fashioned to enhance, protect, extend and heal. Ten jewels for ten children... Warriors, seers, sorcerers, rulers, conquerors...”
+ Brutal Blades from Rogue Planet Press: “Sword swinging heroes and heroines battle against dark sorcery and weird science in nine action packed tales!”
+ J R Cason writes: “Book 4 of my Valengetrix series will be available soon but here is the link for my website where you can read more about the series and other books. If you’re a fan of pulp Sword & Sorcery, lost civilizations, ancient tech, and bloody swordplay you should definitely check them out!”
+ Keith B. Thompson writes: “Book One of my historical horror adventure series, The Midnight Watch, is available in paperback at Barnes and Noble and in ebook at Amazon Kindle.”
+ DMR Books has a selection available from their online storefront here.
+ Tule Fog Press has a selection available from their online storefront here.
+ XLZABK001: Jon Zaremba. “Seven symbolic tales of awakening, conquest, and rebirth for the thinking male.”
+ Game of Runes Book 5: The Jade Caverns Fantasy Adventure Gamebook by Chris Hunneysett. “You are the hero in this fifth standalone epic of the fast-paced Game of Runes series.”
Also from Gilead at Redbubble: “Christmas is coming and Gilead art on stuff makes unique and wonderful gifts! Buy your Granny that sword and sorcery tee-shirt she's always wanted. Get your baby sister a festive Cthulhu shower curtain or cell phone cover. Stickers, tee-shirts, mugs, totes, blankets, posters, notebooks and more!”
More New Projects
+ Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 9 edited by David A. Riley. Volume 10 is already set to be released in the spring of 2025.
+ From Scott Oden: Care for some free fiction? "The Bones Remember"
+ The Dweller in Drury Lane and Other Curious Chronicles by Paul Leone. “Immerse yourself in eight short stories of period horror and fantasy!”
+ New: Literary Outlaw #8 - Literary Outlaw is a modern pulp fiction magazine featuring both original fiction as well as classic stories and comics from the public domain.
+ Not new, but recently came to my attention - Conan fan fiction, The Dragon of Skar by Chris Turner. Over 1200 pages box set for 99 cents.
News, Reviews, and Interesting Views
+ BETTER NOT CALL YOUR DARK LORD BILL SMITH or how to choose the right fantasy and sci-fi names by Tais Teng. (Note: This is a FB link.)
+ Pulp Spotlight: "Man of Two Worlds" by Bryce Walton - a Sci-Fi classic from the early 1950s from The World of Niko Pulp substack.
+ Question: What do you think about projects that take characters from the public domain and…reimagine them? (grin) Here’s a horror collection straight from Pooh Corner. Thought? The Horror at Pooh Corner, edited by Joe Monson. “Having very little brain can be a blessing. Or a curse!”
+ Immaculate Scoundrels by John Fultz, a review by Brian Murphy at The Silver Key.
+ Review: The "Iblis" at Ludd by Talbot Mundy (William L. Gribbon) at Rough Edges.
+ Review of Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein from Gary Romeo.
+ Hallowed, compiled by Stacey Jaine McIntosh, is an Iron Faerie Publishing collection of Halloween themed stories to enjoy any time of the year.
+ Conan: Lord of the Mount by Stephen Graham Jones reviewed at Paperback Warrior.
+ Leroy Yerxa’s Witch of Blackfen Moor reviewed at Vintage Pop Fictions.
+ Robert Adams was a Master of Narrative Drive, article by Charles Gramlich at Black Gate.
For Writers
These markets seem to be always open: Swords & Sorcery Magazine // Savage Realms Monthly // BFS Horizons // Schlock! // Swords & Heroes // Peasant Magazine // Iron Age Media // Do you know of any others?
Raconteur Press - Open Calls for 2025.
Raven Tale Publishing is open for ‘Creature Feature’ stories.
FB page: Open Submission Calls for variety of genres.
From Authors Publish: December 2024
Roundups, Podcasts, & Vlogs
Sensor Sweep from Castalia House (Dec 2)
Just the Axe, Ma’am from Kevin Beckett (#16, Nov 29)
Rediscovered Realms Fantasy Gift Guide 2024 (Nov 24)
Podcasts…
Monsters, Madness and Magic Podcast - EP#294: The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy - An Interview with Bill Farmer (Nov 28)
Strange Shadows - SS3 18 Ubbo-Sathla (Nov 24)
Paperback Warrior Podcast - Ep 110, Nov 25: The world of Alistair MacLean.
Baen Free Radio Hour - Latest episode is Nov 15.
The Cromcast - S21 E3: Valhalla Rising and The Green Knight (Nov 25)
Rogues in the House - Love, Revenge, Metal: Panos Cosmatos’ ‘Mandy” (Oct 30)
Dungeons & Damsels - “Soldier, Arrow, Horse” (Part 4 of 4, Nov 29)
YouTube Shows…
Rogue Blade Presents “24 in 42” - latest episode with Armand Rosamilia.
Michael K. Vaughan’s latest: Reading Classic Science Fiction.
Skallagrim’s latest: The Height of Sword Evolution.
+ The Dream Lords - 50th Anniversary Edition by Adrian Cole (from Cirsova) has been sent out to Kickstarter backers and will soon be available to the general public, I think. “Collecting Adrian Cole’s Dream Lords saga in a single volume for the first time.” Check out the Geek Gab podcast, episode 363, for the lowdown. Also, see this YouTube podcast from Superversive Radio: Adrian Cole and the Dream Lords.
Some Kickstarters of Note
+ 48 Hours to Go! Zorann: The Star Warrior - Sword and Sorcery - Remastered! A Conan-style barbarian warrior on a prehistoric alien world battles monstrous beasts and evil magic astride his telepathic pterodactyl from Drew D. Lenhart/SnowyWorks.
+ Rogue Mancer Book 1: LitRPG Fantasy Progression Series. Uploaded to an afterlife simulator on his death, the unnamed must climb his way out of the blood pits, gain rank, and ascend the Spire! From Two Taverns.
+ The Crucible Within - An Epic Fantasy Novel. Demigods, Angels, Cherubim, Magic Metals, and the eternal battle between Light and Darkness. From Lúcio José Patrocínio Filho.
+ At Fund My Comic: A Saga of Sunsets - “A gritty fantasy Viking adventure filled with orcs, flying longships, magic & family.” From A.C. Pritchard, with art by Luke Stone.
And finally…
If you have found this biweekly roundup helpful, would you consider supporting the effort by backing the Kickstarter: Three New Sword & Sorcery Collections! These are 3 brand new projects by David A. Riley, Tim Hanlon, and Andrew Darlington featuring tales of dark fantasy and heroic adventure. Plus more add-ons available from Tule Fog Press. We’ve reached our funding goal, but still have a week to go in the campaign. Thank you so much!
Until next time, keep swinging!
The Alistair MacLean podcast was awesome! One of my favorite authors and I have all of his fiction books.
I just missed this new release: "The Fall of the Grey Fortress" by Eli Freysson - Book 1 of 1: The Barbarian's Blade. "A dying empire. A rising hero." https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPJCHFJL