A brief video advertising our Swords and Sorceries series, especially Volume 10

 

New banner for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Public Group

Here is the new banner design for our Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Public Group on facebook, reflecting our full range of this particular genre of fantasy books from Parallel Universe Publications. Of course there will be at least two more in 2025 with volumes 10 and 11 of our anthology series, though there may be others in the pipeline! (More about these later.)

Thirty Years of Parallel Universe Publications

 

Thirty years ago Parallel Universe Publications was born. Using money from my redundancy at British Aerospace, where I'd worked for twenty years, I planned on bringing out a bi-monthly science fiction/fantasy magazine called Beyond. By now I had already accepted all the stories that would go into the first issue, to be published in 1995, and announced its forthcoming launch at 1994's Fantasycon, where I was to meet for the last time one of our most prominent contributors, Karl Edward Wagner, who died soon after. 

 

Beyond only lasted three issues, and for a few years afterwards Parallel Universe Publications went into abeyance till 2012 when we published the first of many ensuing books. This started with Craig Herbertson's The Heaven Maker & Other Gruesome Tales, and over 50 books have followed it, including our successful anthology series Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy, which will be up to volume 9 in November. 

 

Excellent, in-depth review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1

There is an excellent, in-depth review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1 on James Reasoner's Rough Edge blogsite. To read it in full just click on this link. 

"Overall, I found this volume to be really good, and if you’re a sword and sorcery fan, I think there’s a good chance you’d enjoy it quite a bit, too. I’m definitely planning to read others in the series. This one is available in paperback and e-book editions on Amazon."

Possible cover for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 8

Here's a sneak peep at what will possibly be the cover for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 8, which will be published in May. 

The illustration, of course, is by award winning artist Jim Pitts.

Submissions for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 7 are now open for the whole of October

 

Submissions period for Swords & Sorceries Volume 7

 is open from the 1st October till the 31st October 2023

 

 

Payment is £25 per story regardless of length plus one contributor's copy of the paperback. The book will be published as a paperback and ebook. If a hardcover version is published we will pay an additional £25. Please send your submissions as attachments (doc, docx or rtf) headed  

"Submission - Swords & Sorceries 7" 

 to:

paralleluniversepublications@gmx.co.uk

Please send only one submission - the one you consider the best fit for us. 

Although we prefer original stories we are prepared to consider reprints. Just let us know where and when it was previously published. 

You can send in simultaneous submissions, but let us know if your story is accepted elsewhere as soon as you can. Bear in mind you will only have to wait a maximum of one month and a week in which to receive a decision from us.

There is no limit on the size of submissions.  

There is absolutely no need to tell us anything about yourself because the only thing that matters is the story. Everything else is irrelevant.

All rejections and acceptances will be sent out by email by the end of the first week in November. Please don't enquire about your submission before then.

And good luck!

In the past we have received a number of stories that may be fantasy but are not swords and sorcery. If you are unsure what it is, why not get a better idea by checking out volumes 1 - 6. Saying that, swords and sorcery is a broad genre and we are more than willing to consider stories that stretch its limits, as we have in the past.

Also check our dedicated facebook group: 

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy

 

   

The contents of Volume One are:

THE MIRROR OF TORJAN SUL - Steve Lines

THE HORROR FROM THE STARS - Steve Dilks

TROLLS ARE DIFFERENT - Susan Murrie Macdonald

CHAIN OF COMMAND - Geoff Hart

DISRUPTION OF DESTINY - Gerri Leen

THE CITY OF SILENCE - Eric Ian Steele

RED - Chadwick Ginther

THE RECONSTRUCTED GOD - Adrian Cole

The cover and all the interior artwork is by Jim Pitts. 

 

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

The contents of Volume 2 are:

The Essence of Dust by Mike Chinn

Highjacking the Lord of Light by Tais Teng

Out in the Wildlands by Martin Owton

Zale and Zedril by Susan Murrie Macdonald

The Amulet and the Shadow by Steve Dilks

Antediluvia: Seasons of the World by Andrew Darlington

A Thousand Words for Death by Pedro Iniguez

Stone Snake by Dev Agarwal

Seven Thrones by Phil Emery

The Eater of Gods by Adrian Cole 

Illustrations by Jim Pitts.

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

 

 

The contents of Volume 3 are:

 

Sorcerous Vengeance by Lorenzo D. Lopez 

 

Seal Snatchers of Jorsaleem by Tais Teng

 

When the Gods Send You Rats by Chadwick Ginther 

 

Mother's Bones by Carson Ray

 

In the Lair of the Snake-Witch by Darin Hlavaz

 

The Rains of Barofonn by Mike Chinn

 

Wardark by Craig Herbertson

 

The Foliage by Rab Foster 

 

In the Lair of the Moonmen by Jon Hansen 

 

Sailing on the Thieves' Tide by Adrian Cole

 

Illustrations by Jim Pitts. 

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

 

 

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 4 contains eleven tales:

In the Iron Woods by Dev Agarwal

My People Were Fair and Wore Stars in Their Hair by Andrew Darlington

At Sea by Geoff Hart 

The Flesh of Man by Frank Sawielijew

City at the Mouth of Chaos by Adrian Cole

In the Belly of the Beast by Edward Ahern

The Tracks of the Pi Nereske by Wendy Nikel

Slaves of the Monolith by Paul D. Batteiger

The Green Wood by David Dubrow

Demonic by Phil Emery

The Whips of Malmac by H. R. Laurence

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

 

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 5 contains eleven tales:

The contents are: 

The Rotted Land by Charles Gramlich

Skulls for Silver by Harry Elliott

For the Light by Gustavo Bondoni

People of the Lake by Lorenzo D. Lopez

Free Diving for Leviathan Eggs by Tais Teng

The Black Well by Darin Hlavaz

Degg and the Undead by Susan Murrie Macdonald

The Mistress of the Marsh by David Dubrow

Silver and Gold by Earl W. Parrish

Bridge of Sorrows by Dev Agarwal

Prisoners of Devil Dog City by Adrian Cole

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com 

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6 is available as a paperback and ebook (kindle)

amazon.com

amazon.co.uk

 The contents are: 

LAND OF THE DEAD by Dev Agarwal

 

THE HOUSE OF BONES by Carson Ray

 

THRENODY OF GHOSTS by Phil Emery

 

WARDARK AND THE SIREN QUEEN by Craig Herbertson

 

OTRIM by Lyndon Perry

 

GODS, MEN, AND NEPHILIM by David Dubrow

 

GOLDEN WITCH OF ADZELGAR by Scott McCloskey

 

RAIDING THE GRAVEYARD OF LOST SHIPS by Tais Teng

 

A PLACE OF GHOSTS by Andrew Darlington

 

THOSE WHO WEAR THEIR WHITE HAIR PROUDLY by Lauren C. Teffeau

 

TRIALS FOR TREASURE by Harry Elliott

 

GOD OF THE DREAMING ISLES by Adrian Cole

A New Advert Revealed for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy

 

Cover reveal for Volume 7 of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy by Jim Pitts

This may not be the final version, but a glimpse of what the cover for Volume 7 of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy will look like. The illustration is the work of award-winning artist Jim Pitts. 

The submissions period for Volume 7 will open on the 1st October for the full month and will be published towards the end of November.

Steve Dilks's story from Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1 reprinted in A Book of Blades II

‘The Horror from the Stars’ by Steve Dilks, which was first published in Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1 has been republished in A Book of Blades II by the people behind the Rogues in the House Podcast.

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6

 

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6 is available as a paperback and ebook (kindle)

 

amazon.com

amazon.co.uk

 

Its stories are:

LAND OF THE DEAD by Dev Agarwal

THE HOUSE OF BONES by Carson Ray

THRENODY OF GHOSTS by Phil Emery

WARDARK AND THE SIREN QUEEN by Craig Herbertson

OTRIM by Lyndon Perry

GODS, MEN, AND NEPHILIM by David Dubrow

GOLDEN WITCH OF ADZELGAR by Scott McCloskey

RAIDING THE GRAVEYARD OF LOST SHIPS by Tais Teng

A PLACE OF GHOSTS by Andrew Darlington

THOSE WHO WEAR THEIR WHITE HAIR PROUDLY by Lauren C. Teffeau

TRIALS FOR TREASURE by Harry Elliott

GOD OF THE DREAMING ISLES by Adrian Cole

 

 

As with several of our previous volumes Volume 6 includes the return of some recurring characters:

 

Two are in stories written by Dev Agarwal: Baron Simeon, known as the Stone Snake, and Princess Irene, daughter of the emperor:

Stone Snake - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 2, 2021

In the Iron Woods - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 4, 2022

Bridge of Sorrows - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 5, 2022

Land of the Dead - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6, 2023

 

The poet and swordsman Zain by Phil Emery appears in:

Seven Thrones - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 2, 2021

Demonic - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 4, 2022

Threnody of Ghosts - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6, 2023

 

Knox by Carson Ray appears in:

Mother's Bones - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 3, 2021

The House of Bones - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6, 2023

 

Wardark by Craig Herbertson appears in:

Wardark - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 3, 2021

Wardark and the Siren Queen - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6, 2023

 

Mann, Hel and Hakker by Harry Elliott appear in:

Skulls for Silver - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 5, 2022

Trials for Treasure - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6, 2023

 

Artugol and Volnus, agents for the Druid, Dalan, closest adviser for the Atlantean king, Elak, by Adrian Cole appear in:

Prisoners of Devil Dog City - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 5, 2022

God of the Dreaming Isles - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6, 2023

 

 

Volume 6 of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy outsells previous volumes in its first month

The good news for Parallel Universe Publications is that with one day still to go in May Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6 has already outsold any previous volume in the series in its first month of publication.

 

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6 is available as a paperback and ebook (kindle)

 

amazon.com

amazon.co.uk

 

Its stories are:

LAND OF THE DEAD by Dev Agarwal

THE HOUSE OF BONES by Carson Ray

THRENODY OF GHOSTS by Phil Emery

WARDARK AND THE SIREN QUEEN by Craig Herbertson

OTRIM by Lyndon Perry

GODS, MEN, AND NEPHILIM by David Dubrow

GOLDEN WITCH OF ADZELGAR by Scott McCloskey

RAIDING THE GRAVEYARD OF LOST SHIPS by Tais Teng

A PLACE OF GHOSTS by Andrew Darlington

THOSE WHO WEAR THEIR WHITE HAIR PROUDLY by Lauren C. Teffeau

TRIALS FOR TREASURE by Harry Elliott

GOD OF THE DREAMING ISLES by Adrian Cole

 

New advert design for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy

 

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy

With publication of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6 later this week we are proud to have published 61 stories in the past three years by 33 writers from across the globe, including Adrian Cole, Andrew Darlington, Carson Ray, Charles Gramlich, Craig Herbertson, Darin Hlavaz, David Dubrow, Dev Agarwal, Earl W. Parrish, Edward Ahern, Eric Ian Steele, Frank Sawielijew, Geoff Hart, Gerri Leen, Gustavo Bondoni, H. R. Laurence, Harry Elliott, Jon Hansen, Lauren C. Teffeau, Lorenzo D. Lopez, Lyndon Perry, Martin Owton, Mike Chinn, Paul D. Batteiger, Pedro Iniguez, Phil Emery, Rab Foster, Scott McCloskey, Steve Dilks, Steve Lines, Susan Murrie Macdonald, and Wendy Nikel.

Of course, we have no intention of stopping here and a seventh volume will be published in November this year with another amazing cover by award-winning artist Jim Pitts. 

To check details of all 6 volumes so far please go to our dedicated website page: Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy

 

 

All 12 stories for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy have been chosen

All 12 stories for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6 have been chosen. The full Table of Contents will be announced as soon as all contracts have been returned to us.

Tais Teng - one of the most original contributors to Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy

There is a fascinating interview with Tais Teng, one of the most original contributors to Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy, on DMR's Independent Author Spotlight.

His stories have appeared in three of the five volumes of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy so far:

Volume 2 - Highjacking the Lord of Light

Volume 3 - Seal Snatchers of Jorsalem

Volume 5 - Free Diving for Leviathan Eggs

 

Volume 1 of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy

Over two years after it was published, Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1 is still getting 5-star reviews. The latest is from India.

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

 

Possible front cover for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6

Jim Pitts has been busy in the past week working on colouring a previous black and white illustration for the front cover of the next swords and sorcery anthology in May 2023. Below is a copy of the original illustration together with the coloured version and a copy of what the cover will almost certainly look like.

 

Volume 6 will be open for submissions on the 1st April for the full month.

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 5 - Coming Soon!

The 5th volume of our popular anthology series Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy will be published as a paperback and kindle e-book later this month. The full list of contents will be revealed here in the next few days.

With more pages than ever, there are some new names included in the TOC plus the return of some favourites. 

As alwsays the cover and interior artwork is by award-winning artist Jim Pitts. 

Check out our dedicated Swords & Sorceries Page. 

New advert designed for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 5

Full colour version

 

Greyscale version

For full details of our swords and sorceries series click on this link.

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 4 reviewed in the latest issue of Phantasmagoria Magazine

There is a great review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 4 in the latest issue of Phantasmagoria Magazine by editor Trevor Kennedy:

NOW IN ITS fourth volume, David A. Riley and Jim Pitts’ Swords & Sorceries high fantasy series returns with eleven new tales of faraway mystical lands, swash-buckling heroes, blood-soaked battles, powerful wizards and sorcerers, pissed offgods (aren’t they all?!) and strange creatures. 

Although more suited to aficionados of this genre, with the stories all unconnected and with no overall arc, any reader can jump on at any point with any of the volumes, or indeed stories, with the excellent illustrations of stalwart Pitts throughout livening up proceedings further once again.

All of the offerings within this latest anthology from Parallel Universe Publications are at very least solid and worthy of inclusion, varied and differing, some even of almost novella length, though all still very much belonging to the general theme and genre. 

Dev Agarwal’s opener, ‘In the Iron Woods’, sets things up well with a hero named Simeon taskedwith ferrying Princess Irene to safety. Of the other stories included, the following really stoodout for me: 

‘At Sea’ by Geoff Hart, a fun pirate-based romp which sees a couple of strange woman board a sea vessel. 

Frank Sawielijew gives us ‘The Flesh of Man’, and it’s another very enjoyable yarn involving a barbarian warrior, flesh-eating harpies, giant lizards and pterodactyls! 

Adrian Cole’s ‘City at the Mouth of Chaos’ is great, although this is no surprise either as I have yet to be disappointed with the author’s work and I always look forward to reading his tales when I see his name pop up in an anthology’s list of contributors. This particular story is one of his Voidal works set in the “omniverse” and is as fast-paced and imaginative as you would expect from the author. 

My absolute favourite of the entire volume, though, would have to be the delightfully titled ‘My People Were Fair and Wore Stars in Their Hair’ by Andrew Darlington. It’s a relatively short piece but a very memorable one at the same time and features reanimation/reincarnation of the dead through dark magic and time travel (of sorts), fascinatingly and vividly rendered by Darlington. 

Riley and Pitts have selected well for this fourth entry in their popular series and with them now averaging around two volumes per year, I would expect that numbers 5 and 6 are already in the works. Long may their series continue! 

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 4 is published by Parallel Universe Publications and is available to purchase from Amazon and other outlets.  

 

For more details please go to: paralleluniversepublications.blogspot.com
—Trevor Kennedy