Sword and Sorcery: Relax Your Troubled Brow

Over the past few years, my most re-read fantasy (other than Tolkien) has been Christopher Stasheff's A Wizard in Rhyme series, of which I think I like the first - Her Majesty's Wizard - the best. When I was younger, I devoured any sword and sorcery I could, and I especially liked Howard's Conan, Terry Brooks' Shannara series, Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, and of course, Tolkien.

Archibald Stanton said:

These are my favorite stories and their characters from sword & sorcery. I neglected Conan, because he's most revered. (Generally speaking, he doesn't need an introduction, with thanks to John Milius' awesome Conan The Barbarian.) If you're appalled by soulless, copy-cat Tolkien fantasy, and our modern, bonobo masturbatory sci-fi gives you cringe, then rise with me in celebration of high adventure! Discuss sword & sorcery among like-minded friends.

My top three:

#1

#2

- Princess of Mars, Illustrated by Frazetta​

#3

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I think I'm in love with the lady on the cover of the second book (Princess of Mars).

She has really kind eyes.
OB

Archibald Stanton said:

Shannara sounds familiar... I think Netflix have a show by that name, but A Wizard In Rhyme is a new one, to me. I'll give them a shot.

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I (obviously) quite liked them. The Belgariad by David Eddings was also a series that I really liked in my teenage years; also the The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever (and its sequel series) raised a lot of interesting theological and philosophical questions for me at that time. Maia by Richard Adams was a fascinating and beautifully told story, but perhaps a little too erotic and risqué for a Christian website. I also really liked Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea series.

I lived Eddings the Elenium and Tamuli trilogies. Sparhawk was the best! What great stories!

The Dragon Lance Chronicles and the Twins stories we're also amazing!

I've been gone awhile to not have noticed this topic. Both Sword and Sorcery and Sword and Planet have been favorite genre of mind since I discovered them around the age of 12. That was when I had my first experience with the deCamp versions of Howard's Conan and Burroughs' John Carter of Mars series. Since then I've added several other authors and titles to my list of favorites.

First on that list would be Karl Wagner's Kane series. Three novels and two collection of short stories cover all the material written for this character. An immortal warrior who was cursed with his immortality for defying and his god and killing his brother. As the first human to use violence against another human, he has become the living archetype of violence and warfare.

Another is Michael Moorcock's original Elric series. I highly recommend it as a reversal of the standard Sword and Sorcery series. An Emperor who throws away his throne, and later destroys his own kingdom in order to gain the freedom he wants. It sometimes boarders on high fantasy, but still keeps it's grim and dark atmosphere.

I'd also like to give a shout out to a couple of other creations by Robert E. Howard. His Kull and Solomon Kane stories should also be included as some of the best Sword and Sorcery stories ever written.

Since it is getting late and I have to be at work early tomorrow, I'll leave off for now and expand on some of my favorite Sword and Planet books and series at a later date.

I just finished Julian May's Conquerors Moon, the first in a Trilogy, the Boreal Moon. There was some interesting character development, and it didn't take long to explain the "system of magic" being used. It's mostly a "palace" or "palaces" story...Most of the main characters are royalty. And a lot happens in their respective castles or cities. The point of tension is that one character wants the land to accept his sovereignty over them, and others don't want to. Both groups have allies that come to bear as the story develops. After about 3 quarters through the book, some stuff begins to happen (I don't want to give away the plot) which eventually leads to an ending. Whether the ending is satisfying or not, depends more on the reader's point of view, since it is an act of nature that brings the final resolution.