Swords and Sorceries:Tales of Heroic Fantasy 11
Swords and Sorceries 11 begins with a dedication by David A. Riley, to its inspiration, the late Charles Black. Gone but not forgotten by his many friends and admirers.
We open with SILENCE FOR SNAKES by frequent contributor Harry Elliott, returning for our entertainment to the Undervalley. The terrible trio of Strumm, Hakker, and Silver ally with the Lochagos, Kirho, reluctant leader of the Men of the Middel who has a big problem with a big wall and the Red Men. Elliot has a nice turn of phrase which often made me smile and he’s adept in the mix of action and the light humour of the classic modern fantasy. Enjoyable.
MIDWINTER by David A. Sutton is a tale on the aftermath of The Battle of Arfderydd fought in the 6th Century in the Brythonic kingdom. As one might expect from an author who has more awards than Walt Disney has Oscars, it’s a mature effort with echoes of George MacDonald and elements of a prose poem suitable to this time and place. Delightful stuff.
In TOMB ROBBERS by Susan Murrie Macdonald, Evon and Arun wish to advance their careers as petty pickpockets. Electing to rob the tomb of the king’s favourite wife, they sally into the odorous royal catacombs. It’s a light-hearted yet visceral tale introducing the death-worm, a highly original monster.
BLACKSHIELD MANOR by Marc Edward Star is tale of a seller of swords; not a mercenary who sells his sword but a merchant who sells swords. It’s a world of relics, of temples of cartels and has a feel of deism, paganism, of warlocks and sacraments and a strangely catholic underbelly. Moorcock liked a nasty sword and there are plenty here.
Tais Teng has an easy redolent prose and a fine talent with dialogue. THE EGGSHELL CARVER feels like a story that could be heard at the feet of Scheherazade. A poor eggshell carver gets lucky, or maybe not. It has that agreeable Vancian feel and perhaps that’s why it is my favourite amongst a very strong anthology.
ETERNAL ASSASSIN: THE MAN WHO HUNTED DEATH by Andrew Darlington says it all in the title. Sicarius, the man known as the Eternal Assassin is, indeed, searching for death. As one would expect from a veteran, this is an accomplished tale with at times beautiful prose and occasional poetry. There is an inevitable comparison with some Moorcockian themes and tropes, but the story has its own voice. Another favourite rivalling Tais Teng.
THE GWAILOU SHIP by Geoffrey Hart illustrates the sheer strength of the Swords and Sorceries series, stretching the theme to a historical drama of Chinese piracy. Zheng Yi Sao who married the infamous Chinese pirate Zheng Yi who, after escaping a Canton brothel, went on to plague the seas herself. Good tale and an instant departure from what some might consider the norm for Sword and Sorcery, One of the key strengths of these anthologies.
I like a desert and a ruined temple and Ũũmbi begins his tale with a well constructed description of both in GOOD FORTUNE. Kach, hero of this tale, meets Morani, a high-ranking member of the Osan Trader’s Guild, who awaits Suk. He’s very unpopular with Suk. It’s a short, sweet tale.
In THE WYRM’S TONGUE by Daniel Mahoney, five bad-ass warriors are seeking Wyrm, a craggy mountain of a man. Or so it would seem. Encountering a farm and a woman with three sons they bash one on the head. This is a mistake as the one bashed, Cole, has been taking extracurricular lessons.
WARDARK AND THE SANDS OF SERPANAM by Craig Herbertson is the fourth in the Wardark saga. This time Wardark is battling men, Gobeln and the desert itself. Will he survive? He’s done it before.
Illustrated by Jim Pitts in his inimitable style, this is another top-class effort from Parallel Universe Publications which should be a must for lovers of the genre.