Author Interview: Eadwine Brown & Phil Emery re Neither Beg Nor Yield edited by Jason M Waltz

I have had the privilege of hosting a debate between two swords and sorcery writers appearing in Jason M Waltz’s forthcoming anthology Neither Beg Nor Yield: Eadwine Brown and Phil Emery, discussing what constitutes a genuine sword and sorcery story - something which is bound to continue for some time to come.

To access the pdf of this interview please click on the following link: Interview between Eadwine Brown and Phil Emery or alternatively OneDrive Access to the Interview

 

First review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6

Contributor Craig Herbertson recently posted this review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6:

Off we ride again into other worlds and other times. David A. Riley brings us the sixth volume in the Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy series of anthologies. First up is Dev Agarwal who in “The Land of the Dead”, continues the tale of the Stone Snake and Princess Irene. There is a Moorcockian feel as we enter in and out of dreamscapes. There are great images; I was particularly taken by the Hall of Clocks. I am a sucker for description and Agarwal delivers.

In “The House of Bones” Carson Ray recalls his hero, Knox, whose lopsided grin insouciantly smiles on one and all, particularly when he is cutting one and all into little pieces. Knox springs to life from the pages and his protagonists are colourful, particularly Doctor Grim who is mainly coloured an evil black. A hint of Jack Vance emerges in the use of bones as furniture. Ray has built, with similar invention and craft ,a story that has five stars written all over it.

In “Threnody of Ghosts” The Corlaar Banshees surround the city of Demaghor. Zain, commander of the mercenaries hired to protect the castle, orders the arbalests to fire. Might as well shout at the wind. It’s a story with a poetic thread, poetically told, beginning in an elegant whorehouse and ending in an ethereal mist. Top marks.

My story, Wardark and the Siren Queen, returns to the world of Gobeln and Gauntspider and the quest for a Warlock’s tomb, a quest interrupted by the dismal prospect of a watery death.

Lyndon Perry’s “Otrim” is all about rites of passage. The young boys of the tribe need to make a kill to become men. Tzedron has made his first kill. Otrim is keen to follow in his footsteps. Cozum’ll apparently isn’t. Breathing in magical air offers a vision of the future and it’s not very promising. This is followed by “Gods, Men, and Nephilim”, David Dubrow’s third story in the Swords and Sorceries series and he brings new, vivid characters to the game – Abelia Agelastus Priestes of Tiberinus, Emmer-Yahad of Enoch. While Perry’s “Otrim” is very tribal, Dubrow is very Graeco-Roman. Although neither mode is my particular favourite in the genre (there’s a certain restraint in the use of magic) they are both consistent, polished and well told.

In Scott Mcloskey’s ‘The Golden Witch of Adzekgar’ an aspiring, and somewhat privileged witch, elects to resurrect a champion of the Ysir whose appellation Blood of Ten thousand should have been taken as a hint. This is up with my favourites. From first to last scene you are in the world.

“Raiding the Graveyard of Lost Ships”. Tais Teng, whose haunting illustration accompanies his tale, entertains again with a relaxed and easy prose which makes the unbelievable seem quite believable and the terror almost palatable.

Veteran Andrew Darlington treats us with a longer story. I’ve always been an admirer of Darlington’s imagery which, like malt whiskey only appears better with age. I wish this tale of the immortal Addsiduo Sicarious (or his host) would quietly transmogrify into a novel: Another favourite.

“Those Who Wear Their White Hair Proudly” by Lauren C. Teffeau was first published in 2017 and is only one of Lauren’s impressive bibliography: Sidika is no longer her father’s child, other purposes will guide her life. She doesn’t like it and it’s not going to be easy.

In “Trials for Treasure” Harry Elliot’s splendid prose reads like the Welsh author Kenneth Morris who remains in my top five fantasy authors. What more can I say,

Finally, there’s a reason that Adrian Cole has a story in every volume for the series and “God of the Dreaming Isles” is a pleasant reminder.

Again, the strength is in the variety. There are no duds. And, like a child in a sweet shop, you’ll find it difficult to pick your favourite. But this time I’ll go for “The House of Bones” by Carson Ray. Knox is a stand-out sword and sorcery hero and I can’t wait for his next adventure.

 

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

 

amazon.com

amazon.co.uk

 

 

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

 

 

Lucilla - a novella

Sometime in the near future Parallel Universe Publications will be publishing my novella Lucilla, which was serialised last year in Bewildering Stories. 

It was just another standard day at the Women’s Refuge until the arrival of Lucilla. 

Then Miranda’s world was never the same again. 

Unaccountably influenced by what the girl needed, her job, her friendships, even freedom itself were of no importance. It was not until her niece’s life was at risk that Miranda knew she had to act. 

But what could she do against someone who had such a tight, insidious grip on her?

The cover artwork is by Jim Pitts. 

Pdfs of the book are available prior to publication for reviews.  

Please email paralleluniversepublications@gmx.co.uk for copies. 

New video advert for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6

 

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

 

May has been the best month ever for Parallel Universe Publications

Sales of Parallel Universe Publications' books have already been the best ever this month, with still two days to go, not just of our already popular swords and sorcery anthologies but of our other books too.

Thank you everyone who has bought either a book or ebook of ours. Your support is massively appreciated.

Check out all of our available books on this link.

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

 

Parallel Universe Publications Newsletter for May 2023 was emailed this week

The latest Newsletter from Parallel Universe Publications was emailed this week. If you click on each picture you should get a much clearer image.

 

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6 has now been published

 

We are delighted to announce that Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6 is now available to order either as a paperback or kindle ebook. Twelve stories in over 300 pages.

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

All of the illustrations, including the front and back covers, are by Jim Pitts apart from Raiding the Graveyard of Lost Ships which is the work of its author Tais Teng.