Sorcery Fantasy Superhero
One dead parrot. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Novel Excerpt The Desert Of Souls – Howard A. Jones
And Libertine62 has kindly added a bunch of Elric images in, too! 3.5 out of 5
That’s a Southron demon, the Archivist points out to the bad guy. 3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about A River Through Darkness and Light – John C. Hocking
The Cold Commands definitely has the middle book syndrome going on. The three are separated. Ringil is off doing some slaver slaughtering, Archeth is involved in politics working on keeping people alive and putting together an investigation into a strange island. Egar is busy getting into trouble with other people’s wives and discovering Dwenda cults. [...]
High on his throne sat Bran Mak Morn When the sun-god sank and the west was red; He beckoned a girl with his drinking horn, And “Sing me a song of the race,” he said. Her eyes were as dark as the seas of night, Her lips were as red as the setting sun, As, [...]
Continue reading about A Song of the Race – Robert E. Howard
One slept beneath the branches dim, Cloaked in the crawling mist, And Richard Grenville came to him And plucked him by the wrist. No nightwind shook the forest deep Where the shadows of Doom were spread, And Solomon Kane awoke from sleep And looked upon the dead. He spake in wonder, not in fear: “How [...]
Continue reading about The Return of Sir Richard Grenville – Robert E. Howard
It was gloomy land that seemed to hold All winds and clouds and dreams that shun the sun, With bare boughs rattling in the lonesome winds, And the dark woodlands brooding over all, Not even lightened by the rare dim sun Which made squat shadows out of men; they called it Cimmeria, land of Darkness [...]
Five stories including one curiosity, a round robin work by several authors of note of the period in The Challenge From Beyond. Here the work that the title is drawn from, a great Conan story, is to be found in the middle. Beyond The Black River : The Grisly Horror – Robert E. Howard Beyond [...]
Six stories and one poem in this collection, bookended by the great Conan stories Queen of hte Black Coast and A Witch Shall Be Born. Gardens Of Fear : Queen Of The Black Coast – Robert E. Howard Gardens Of Fear : The Haunter Of The Ring – Robert E. Howard Gardens Of Fear : [...]
Another introduction from Mark Finn and with several poems to finish as well as throughout the rest of the book another top-notch collection, including the brilliant Conan story Red Nails. Black Hounds Of Death : Black Canaan – Robert E. Howard Black Hounds Of Death : Red Nails – Robert E. Howard Black Hounds Of [...]
Death stalked the night. It haunted the shadowed alleys of Shasesserre. Those it passed near hurried away, driven by the knives of fear. Death wore the guise of a squat, gnarly man in a vile yellow mask, the mask of a shantor, a carrier of the weeping sickness. Death was a liar, a wearer of [...]
“‘I served a cause,’ Ringil said stiffly, sticking to the role. ‘I served my Emperor and defended my people. That was payment enough for me.’ The shaven-headed man nodded. ‘Yeah. And now you’re hunting bandits in a foreign land for fifty florins a pop.’ ‘There’s no brawling in here,’ the clerk warned. ‘Start anything and [...]
Continue reading about Poets and the Prosaic – Richard Morgan
Last part of the audio serial. 3.5 out of 5 http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/starshipsofa/StarShipSofa_No_193_Michael_Moorcock_Pt_3.mp3
Audio serial reading in a podcast. 3.5 out of 5 http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/starshipsofa/StarShipSofa_No_192_Michael_Moorcock_Pt_2.mp3
Audio serial reading in a podcast. 3.5 out of 5 http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/starshipsofa/StarShipSofa_No_191_Michael_Moorcock_pt_1.mp3
Captain, concubine, death guides and witchhunter betrayal. 3.5 out of 5 https://comics.comixology.com/#/issue/12242/Artesia-1-of-6-
Elric is weak, out of drugs and looking for a fabled black plant cure to his condition. Only problem as it turns out that a giant man-eating plant is what he is looking for – and it also finds Melniboneans tasty, as Elric ventures there with some of his kind. 3.5 out of 5
In this collection you get a later novel, a short story, some esoterica and a homage, along with some artwork from various previous sources. In the Dream Realms : THE FORTRESS OF THE PEARL – Michael Moorcock In the Dream Realms : ELRIC: THE MAKING OF A SORCERER – Michael Moorcock In the Dream Realms [...]
Continue reading about In the Dream Realms – Michael Moorcokc
““You’ve got the wrong house,” he said conversationally. The invigilator’s face mottled with anger. “How do you dare to-“ “No, you’re not listening to me.” Egar kept his voice patient and gentle. “There’s obviously been some mistake back at the Citadel. Pashla Menkarak isn’t keeping you up to date. When he sent you down here, [...]
Continue reading about Penultimate Pre-pub Taste: The Cold Commands – Richard Morgan
Wow, he finished it! 4.5 out of 5 http://www.barrywindsor-smith.com/studio2/cimmeriaintro.html
Got us Champions aplenty here. 4 out of 5 http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=8578
““We are not afraid,” Jaffar said. Perhaps he was not; I covertly made the sign warding against evil, hiding it behind my thigh. She paused a moment more, staring into his eyes. “You have paid the price,” she spoke without sentiment, “and I will honor your coin with my service.” She motioned to the boy, [...]
Something of an oddity, this installment. Or a crossover, if you like, of the Vlad stories, the Khaavren Romances and the Paths of the dead, although more the first two as Vlad features in the first half and Khaavren in the second. It their various involvements in a Jhereg plot to kill Vlad by faking [...]
“Sethra greeted me with the words, “There’s someone I’d like you to meet, Vlad.” I had expected something more like, “What are you doing here?” as I’d shown up at Dzur Mountain without any advance warning. But then, if Sethra Lavode had been accustomed to do the expected, she wouldn’t have been Sethra Lavode. I [...]
3.5 out of 5 http://www.battleroar.com/dyvimtvar.cfm
3.5 out of 5 http://www.battleroar.com/hyrkanianblad.cfm
Pretty much the same quality as the first issue. Plus poetry. Heroic Fantasy Quarterly 2 : The Hand Of Afaz – Euan Harvey Heroic Fantasy Quarterly 2 : Monster In The Mountains – Bywilliam Gerke Heroic Fantasy Quarterly 2 : The Waking Of Angantyr – Marie Brennan Naked swimming and paen singing. 2.5 out of [...]
Continue reading about Heroic Fantasy Quarterly 2 – David Farney and Adrian Simmons
Bloody bunny sacrifice, ghost resting and a nifty sword. 3 out of 5 http://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?p=304
Continue reading about The Waking of Angantyr – Marie Brennan
Fighting a mandible beast – with a greyhound? 3 out of 5 http://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?p=297
Continue reading about Monster In the Mountains – William Gerke
The novel length Conan work. An aging Conan is now in a position of responsibility, being King of Aquilonia. His reign is threatened by a very powerful sorcerer, whom Conan is unable to stop by mundane means, and must take himself off hunting for a mystic artifact. Having done this, there is some wizard smiting [...]
Continue reading about The Hour Of the Dragon 10 – Robert E. Howard
Out of the Dust Shall Acheron Arise 5 out of 5 http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/conan/the_hour_of_the_dragon20.mp3
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 20 – Robert E. Howard
Three stories in this first issue, one good, one average, one poor. And a poem. Heroic Fantasy Quarterly 1 : Black Flowers Of Sevan – James Lecky Heroic Fantasy Quarterly 1 : Man Of Moldania – Richard Marsden Heroic Fantasy Quarterly 1 : Beyond The Lizard Gate – Alex Marshall A bet leads Tulun to [...]
Continue reading about Heroic Fantasy Quarterly 1 – David Farney and Adrian Simmons
A bet leads Tulun to discover the truth about the ruler’s beautiful companion and the poppy around he neck that are the object of the wager. 3.5 out of 5 http://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?p=196
The third of Remic’s Gemmell homages starts where the last one left off. Some warlords realising that waking up ancient Vampire Warlords in triplicate was a rather bad idea for their continued influence and longevity. Kell and Myriam and Saark knew it was a bad idea to start with, despite a couple of them already [...]
“The men’s attention was then stolen by a shining figure riding a warhorse. The Cavalier rode down the line of Sujins, inspecting the lot of them. The morning sunlight sparkled off the warrior’s plate armor. Balto and Gatesin glanced up at the same time. Gatesin saw the man, saw the face, and his mouth puckered [...]
Continue reading about The Troll Hunter 1 – Keith C. Blackmore
A couple of killers negotiating about a teamup. 4 out of 5 http://www.tor.com/stories/2011/03/the-desecrator
The Ballad of Shemhaza – Steven BrustMusician not so nice. 3.5 out of 5
““Because Prophet knows,” Jhiral went on with a long suffering sigh. “His good lady wife’s been writing to every worthy at court he ever shared a bribe with, trying to get his sentence commuted. We’re all up to our ears in tear-stained parchment. I imagine you’re on the list as well, somewhere.” She was not. [...]
Morlock and Wyrth just want lunch at the town inn – just discover a lifemaker and his experiments, and they really bug Morlock. As does the six-armed hybrid warrior he uses to take the local children for his work. 3.5 out of 5 <a href=”http://pyrsamples.blogspot.com/2010/12/travellers-rest-by-james-enge.html”>http://pyrsamples.blogspot.com/2010/12/travellers-rest-by-james-enge.html</a>
The first thing that happens in The Wolf Age is that Morlock is stripped of the familiar – his horse is gone, his flames are gone, his wife of course is long gone. Someone would have shot his dog if he had one. You can’t really remove a magic sword that comes when you call [...]
Big leeches and doppelganger passwords. 4.5 out of 5 https://comics.comixology.com/#/issue/3496/Skullkickers-0
Chop on ship. 2 out of 5 https://comics.comixology.com/#/view/122/1001-Arabian-Nights-The-Adventures-of-Sinbad-0
Continue reading about 1001 Nights: The Adventures of Sinbad 0
Kick arse when not tied up. 2.5 out of 5 https://comics.comixology.com/#/view/111/Ezra-Evoked-Emotions-1-of-3-
Storm, tree, dead men. 4 out of 5 https://comics.comixology.com/#/issue/3398/Red-Sonja-0
Power metal Hyboria. 4 out of 5 http://www.battleroar.com/swordofcrom.cfm
Three parts of the music from the movie :- 1) Main Title / Kalidor’s Theme 2) Fighting the Soldiers 3) Love Theme / End Credits 4 out of 5
A cover gallery tribute. 4 out of 5
Continue reading about Red Sonja: Lord Wind – Field of Broken Swords
The road was long and the road was hard, And the sky was cold and grey: The dead white moon was a frozen shard In the dim dawn of day: But thief and harlot, king and guard Warrior, wizard, knave and bard Rode with me all the way. The wind was sharp as a whetted [...]
Continue reading about The Death Song of Conan the Cimmerian – Lin Carter
“A clatter of blades pulled free of scabbards sounded behind Sonjathe sounds of men pressing forward, eager for action. With the supple ease of a swordadept, the red haired Hyrkanian lifted her blade in time to meet the corpse’s advance, skewering it deftly through the chest, then ripping sidewise. Her movement tilted the thing off [...]
Continue reading about Star of Doom 1 – David C. Smith and Richard L. Tierney
“She was lithe and graceful as she moved forward, with all the smooth coordination of a jungle cat. Her hair fell in deep scarlet waves down her back. Dressed as she was in mail armor, she had seemed an affront to many a proud male in the tavern that night; and no matter how much [...]
Continue reading about Endithor’s Daughter 1 – David C. Smith and Richard L. Tierney
“”You may use your strength to make the world your home. You may become a wanderer, the equal of any man or woman you meet.” She sensed a sword in her handher father’s sword. Suddenly she felt almost invincible. “But first you must make a vow to me, Sonja. You must never allow yourself to [...]
Continue reading about When Hell Laughs 1 – David C. Smith and Richard L. Tierney
“Sonja stepped back a half pace, and in the space of a breath her sword rasped free of its scabbard. It was a curt, startling demonstration. Sobut fell back. So swiftly had Sonja reacted, with such spectacular precision, that Sobut had automatically stepped back, startled. He lifted both hands in a mild gesture of conciliation. [...]
Continue reading about Demon Night 1 – David C. Smith and Richard L. Tierney
“”What do you think?” one of them asked his lord. “A swordswoman for hire.” Omeron stared at the sleeping woman. “Mayhap we can recruit her.” “To fight Du-jum? Can we pay her enough to die by sorcery?” “Perhaps she has met sorcery in her time.” Omeron continued to stare, measuring, judging, appreciating. A beautiful woman [...]
Continue reading about Against the Prince of Hell 1 – David C. Smith and Richard L. Tierney
“It was no soldier’s voice. Now the gray cloak came off in a bold arc, spraying water droplets, and beneath it was revealed-a woman. She was tall and fair-skinned with a head of long, tousled, flame-red hair-and she was armored. A long-sword swung in the scabbard at her side, a knife at her hip. She [...]
Continue reading about The Ring of Ikribu 1 – David C. Smith and Richard L. Tierney
The Road to Acheron 5 out of 5 http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/conan/the_hour_of_the_dragon22.mp3
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 22 – Robert E. Howard
Drums of Peril 5 out of 5 http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/conan/the_hour_of_the_dragon21.mp3
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 21 – Robert E. Howard
Out of the Dust Shall Acheron Arise 5 out of 5 http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/conan/the_hour_of_the_dragon20.mp3
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 20 – Robert E. Howard
In the Hall of the Dead 5 out of 5 http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/conan/the_hour_of_the_dragon19.mp3
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 19 – Robert E. Howard
I Am the Woman Who Never Died! 5 out of 5 http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/conan/the_hour_of_the_dragon18.mp3
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 18 – Robert E. Howard
He Has Slain the Sacred Son of Set! 5 out of 5 http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/conan/the_hour_of_the_dragon17.mp3
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 17 – Robert E. Howard
Audio serial of the novel. 5 out of 5 http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/conan/the_hour_of_the_dragon16.mp3
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 16 – Robert E. Howard
Audio serial of the novel. 5 out of 5 http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/conan/hour_of_the_dragon15.mp3
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 15 – Robert E. Howard
Audio serial. 5 out of 5 http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/conan/hour_of_the_dragon14.mp3
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 14 – Robert E. Howard
Another chapter in this Conan audio serial. 5 out of 5 http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/conan/hour_of_the_dragon13.mp3
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 13 – Robert E. Howard
““Tell you,” the young Ishlinak muttered. “Demlarashan, it’s a waste of fucking time. The empire’s never going to rein them in, doesn’t matter how many men they spend. Those guys got nothing better to do down there than string each other up over spelling mistakes in the fucking Revelation. Might as well give it up [...]
A collection of Howard tales, featuring his sword and sorcery work in the main, but with some horror examples, and, oddly, a Western. Vultures would seem to be out of place, here. Almost the 4.0 average, so you really can’t get much better than that unless you pick them yourself. There’s an introduction by John [...]
Continue reading about Heroes In the Wind – Robert E. Howard
Part 12 of an ongoing serialisation. 5 out of 5 http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/conan/hour_of_the_dragon12.mp3
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 12 – Robert E. Howard
The novel length Conan work. An aging Conan is now in a position of responsibility, being King of Aquilonia. His reign is threatened by a very powerful sorcerer, whom Conan is unable to stop by mundane means, and must take himself off hunting for a mystic artifact. Having done this, there is some wizard smiting [...]
Continue reading about The Hour of the Dragon 11 – Robert E. Howard
“Ironspell slashed and stabbed, but always the starblade was there to turn Runesblood aside. Another kiss of the knight’s sword drained all the strength from his limbs. Ironspell’s living spirit seeped like blood from a split vein. He fell, lying on his back against the stairs. Death’s champion stood over him, eyes blazing inside the [...]
Continue reading about The Weird of Ironspell 7 – John R. Fultz
A spot of Kushite battling. 3 out of 5
As a sword and sorcery anthology this generally succeeds, and in general the writers understand what that actually means. Except for Gene Wolfe. Having read a lot of stuff by Wolfe, I see no evidence of him ever having the ability to produce a sword and sorcery story. And I still don’t. As a story [...]
Continue reading about Swords and Dark Magic – Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders
No, get that thing. 3.5 out of 5
Sorcerers. If you stab them and they don’t die they have an absolute shitload of deathtraps. 4 out of 5
Kill dad, no big deal short girls. Want furs? 3 out of 5
Continue reading about The Sea Troll’s Daughter – Caitlin R. Kiernan
Better if you geas don’t think about it, brothers. 3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Two Lions A Witch And The War-robe – Tanith Lee
Vampires bloody everywhere. Or bloody vampires everywhere. After Kell gets done with them, anyway. In the second book of this Gemmellesque homage trilogy Kell is still looking to rescue his granddaughter. Saark is still attempting to be able to just have a good time – with the problem that almost anyone he runs into wants [...]
““You really killed one of these beasts?” She was watching him keenly now, he knew. “With that blade you carry? Now that is remarkable.” “I suppose so. As I said, I did have help.” “Even so. Are you not proud?” Ringil grimaced. “If you’d seen some of the other things I’ve done with this blade, [...]
Continue reading about The Cold Commands Draft Excerpt – Richard Morgan
Vocabuvore giant exam passing psycho roommate consumption. 4 out of 5
Slymire crystal revelation. 3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Dapple Hew the Tint Master – Michael Shea
Godridden good riddance, virgins. 3.5 out of 5
Sorcerer torture scare stunt revenant rebellion ending. 4 out of 5
Continue reading about The Deification Of Dal Bamore – Tim Lebbon
Sphere world Phroon pirate slaughter dragon dad distraction White Sword steal. 4.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Red Pearls: An Elric Story – Michael Moorcock
Maladroit music mishaps, evil entity. Naked God preferred. 4 out of 5
Continue reading about A Suitable Present For A Sorcerous Puppet – Garth Nix
DeadHeadroom for improvement. 3.5 out of 5
Tewk me. I’m an illusion Master. 3.5 out of 5
You killed my bartender, demon. You’re really in the shit now. 4 out of 5
Taken generation garrison not hairy. 4 out of 5
Continue reading about Tides Elba: A Tale Of The Black Company – Glen Cook
We kill demons for a living, silly shovel boy. 4 out of 5
Red Nails – Robert E. HowardDownload Conan – Red Nails Conan is travelling, finds a dead woman, and then encounters Valeria of the Red Brotherhood. After trading some insults, they have the misfortune to stumble across a dragon. Then they have fun in an abandoned city full of crazed warriors, two evil leering royals, and [...]
Red Nails – Robert E. HowardDownload Conan – Red Nails Conan is travelling, finds a dead woman, and then encounters Valeria of the Red Brotherhood. After trading some insults, they have the misfortune to stumble across a dragon. Then they have fun in an abandoned city full of crazed warriors, two evil leering royals, and [...]
Red Nails – Robert E. HowardDownload Conan – Red Nails Conan is travelling, finds a dead woman, and then encounters Valeria of the Red Brotherhood. After trading some insults, they have the misfortune to stumble across a dragon. Then they have fun in an abandoned city full of crazed warriors, two evil leering royals, and [...]
Red Nails – Robert E. HowardDownload Conan – Red Nails Conan is travelling, finds a dead woman, and then encounters Valeria of the Red Brotherhood. After trading some insults, they have the misfortune to stumble across a dragon. Then they have fun in an abandoned city full of crazed warriors, two evil leering royals, and [...]
Red Nails – Robert E. HowardDownload Conan – Red Nails Conan is travelling, finds a dead woman, and then encounters Valeria of the Red Brotherhood. After trading some insults, they have the misfortune to stumble across a dragon. Then they have fun in an abandoned city full of crazed warriors, two evil leering royals, and [...]
““Grobos! No!” Ironspell screamed a warning as the fallen Runesblood came flying back into his hand. But he was too late to save the gnome. The she-demon wrapped her arms about the stunted wizard’s neck. Her serpentine tale encircled his body, squeezing with unearthly might. Ironspell heard the gnome’s bones cracking even as Grobos moaned [...]
Continue reading about The Weird of Ironspell 6 The Tomb of Azazar – John R. Fultz
““Who has done this?” Tumnal asked when the pace of their horses slowed a bit. The mounts must rest or die of exhaustion. Still, Ironspell rode on at a slow trot. “A sorcerer I killed years ago,” Ironspell said. “Twice.”” 3.5 out of 5 http://www.blackgate.com/2010/06/01/original-fiction-the-weird-of-ironspell-by-john-r-fultz-5/#more-8009
Continue reading about The Weird of Ironspell 5 The Son of Ironspell – John R. Fultz
A wailing guard, having slain the last of the tigers, jabbed his spear at Ironspell. The warrior dodged its oversized point. He opened his fist to receive the hilt of the spinning Runesblood. As he slew the last two sentinels, leaping to slash their throats, a third giant rushed into the hall brandishing a great [...]
Continue reading about The Weird of Ironspell 4 The Jewel and the Giant-King – John R. Fultz
““Lord Ironspell, we hereby appoint you Warlord of the Triple Alliance. Lead our troops against the death horde. For this service, we will grant you anything in our power to give.” Ironspell picked up the golden bowl from which he had been drinking. “Give me more wine,” he said, and they did.” 3 out of [...]
Continue reading about The Weird of Ironspell 3 Return of the Golden Skull – John R. Fultz
““Open your gates, Slaves of Azazar!” bellowed Grobos the gnome in the eastern dialect. He dismounted from his camel and pointed a stubby finger up at the sentinels. “Tell your master that Ironspell has come for him!” The wall guards laughed. “Why don’t you write him a letter, dog?” one of them shouted. The rest [...]
Continue reading about The Weird of Ironspell 2 – John R. Fultz
“The first man was tall and lean, and although weary he moved with the graceful stride of the trained warrior. His long fair hair had been bleached near white by the sun, and his pale blue eyes had a hint of madness in them. But the thing most remarkable about his appearance was the dull [...]
Continue reading about The Mad God’s Amulet 1 Sorandum – Michael Moorcock
