"The Ysidra," is about some lowly soldiers stumbling around a high fantasy battlefield in the battle's chaotic aftermath. ThI've got a story in this.
"The Ysidra," is about some lowly soldiers stumbling around a high fantasy battlefield in the battle's chaotic aftermath. They see a dead wizard and some dead knights and some other fun stuff. I was thinking a tiny little bit about Farley Mowat's tall tale about acquiring a V2 rocket in April 1945, but mostly a lot about Die Nibelungenklage, a medieval german lament for the passing of a generation of warriors. BTW, the title comes from a parrot-like bird I read about in a medieval bestiary.
It's always fun to see who gets published alongside you in these things, and the stories I've enjoyed reading so far are:
"Aloof Stars and Their Distant Answers" by Eric de Roulet — a woman travels to a remote mountain to ask a magic statue (?) to help her find her missing friend
"Wizards Unwelcome" by Adie Hart — a jaded jeweller reluctantly teams up for a journey with a wizard.
"Ignorance Is Bliss" by Josie Jaffrey— a demon in lapus lazuli becomes trapped in a time loop while trying to carry out a woman’s three wishes. Some very neat logic games here.
"I See You, Witch" by Zoe Shakes — about a witch on Hallowe'en
I guess if these stories have anything in common it's that for the most part they're strong on atmosphere?
I haven't finished reading this yet, but I look forward to returning to it.
Safe to say I loved it and it's going to stick with me for a long time to come. Holder has a real talent and I believe he's doing something unique witSafe to say I loved it and it's going to stick with me for a long time to come. Holder has a real talent and I believe he's doing something unique within genre fiction.
Fast paced, imaginative, and thoughtful, but what was with all those little references to Trump (orange skin powder, infrastructure week, maybe the maFast paced, imaginative, and thoughtful, but what was with all those little references to Trump (orange skin powder, infrastructure week, maybe the masking stuff)? Does that make the goddess Hilary Clinton? Awful. The more it was its own thing, the better it was. I really liked the owl stuff. And the wizard. The fantasy ecology was great, and prose was stylish and often beautiful.
Really the perfect setup. Small guy who wishes he was big, big guy who wishes he was small. Both of em just want wine, women, and adventure, not necesReally the perfect setup. Small guy who wishes he was big, big guy who wishes he was small. Both of em just want wine, women, and adventure, not necessarily in that order....more
This ruled. I wish someone had taken me aside as a thirteen-year-old and told me to put the Star Wars EU novels away and pick up some Fritz Leiber.
ThrThis ruled. I wish someone had taken me aside as a thirteen-year-old and told me to put the Star Wars EU novels away and pick up some Fritz Leiber.
Three origin stories here. The first two are about Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, respectively, setting out and winning their first loves. The last is the story of how they met and became partners (though there's a hint that they met previously?) and also how they lost their first loves.
Really pleasantly surprised at how well Leiber captures getting drunk with your friends and feeling invincible as a young person in "Ill Met in Lankhmar." Also really liked the snow tribe in "The Snow Women," it's just its own thing, not trying to copy or comment on any existing culture, and most of the snow stuff is just a chance to pun and play with words.
"Thieves' Guild" stuff used to piss me off so bad when I'd read stuff along those lines as a kid, but I guess I didn't get that Leiber, at least, is playing the concept for laughs.
I'm seeing a lot of other reviews complaining that the writing is misogynist, to which I would say it's certainly not 'feminist,' but I think what makes these stories (and in particular the comedy) work is that instead of depth, the characters are caricatures who must reliably choose vice over virtue, and that has to extend to the women (and to our heroes' attitudes towards them) as much as anything else. ...more
A neat plot idea and like that they tried to visually explain/justify Sonja's costume by having it clearly the result of damage. But not a whole lot gA neat plot idea and like that they tried to visually explain/justify Sonja's costume by having it clearly the result of damage. But not a whole lot going on, nothing really pulled me into the story, and I think that's the setting more than anything else. I really want to like Conan and Red Sonja, but it's so rare that any of their stories pull me in.
Merged review:
A neat plot idea and like that they tried to visually explain/justify Sonja's costume by having it clearly the result of damage. But not a whole lot going on, nothing really pulled me into the story, and I think that's the setting more than anything else. I really want to like Conan and Red Sonja, but it's so rare that any of their stories pull me in....more
DNF. I really want to like Elric/Moorcock, but I just can't do it. I read up until about the end of book one, where he gets ensorcelled by another oneDNF. I really want to like Elric/Moorcock, but I just can't do it. I read up until about the end of book one, where he gets ensorcelled by another one of his kind and helps her steal back the dragon eyes from Addric Heed.
Am I a snob? Maybe. I find there are too many longueurs where my brain shuts down after tagging the paragraph as hippyish nonsense, usually when he's talking about Chaos or the metaphysics of the world. It also doesn't help that the action is so often glanced over. A conflict is set up, and then Elric wins it by dint of his superiority, no struggle or striving required....more
This was a lot of fun. Bryn Hammond's story The Grief-Note of Vultures was the standout fiction work for me, she painted such a big world in so littleThis was a lot of fun. Bryn Hammond's story The Grief-Note of Vultures was the standout fiction work for me, she painted such a big world in so little space that it left me wanting to more. Good action and great atmosphere. Really need to track down more of her work.
When I heard this publication was in the works, I sort of worried a bit about what would fill the non-fiction section, as sword and sorcery is a cool concept yet also a somewhat limited remit. But the essays are good, and offer a nice mix of looking backwards on the genre's past as well as exploring current offerings (need to look up Kirk Johnson's Obanaax for sure).
Looking forward to see what this New Edge is capable of in the future....more
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