The Land Of Wind And Ghosts

Return of the Sword, you ask? Why return? Has it gone somewhere?

Good question. When did the sword ever, really, go away? Oh, certainly, fantasy is a broad church. It has room for clockwork and steam, it has room for vampires and angels, it has room for romance and horror.

But when I first started reading it, there was no doubt that it had room for swords, and it had room for sorcery.

I believe it still does. I have my reasons for this belief. Sure, I also have reasons for wanting to believe it. It’s a rare story I write that doesn’t have one or the other, at the very least. But I’ve sold fourteen stories. Of these, swords feature in eight and sorcery in eleven.

There is still a demand for stories featuring swords, and featuring sorcery. Look at the success of Scott Lynch if you don’t believe me. What is “The Lies Of Locke Lamora” if not a classic, updated, sword’n’sorcery romp in the grand tradition of Howard and Lieber? Locke and Jean are the heirs of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, and even of Conan (who was thief and swordsman in one).

So why am I talking about the return of the sword?

Because today I am host to the blog tour supporting The Return Of The Sword from Flashing Swords Press (also available from Amazon).

“Return of the Sword is a brand new anthology of blood-pounding, spine-tingling stories by some of fantasy's most critically acclaimed Sword and Sorcery authors.

Stacey Berg, Bill Ward, Phil Emery, Jeff Draper, Nicholas Ian Hawkins, David Pitchford, Ty Johnston, Jeff Stewart, Angeline Hawkes, Robert Rhodes, E.E. Knight, James Enge, Michael Ehart, Thomas M. MacKay, Christopher Heath, Nathan Meyer, S.C. Bryce, Allen B. Lloyd, William Clunie, Steve Goble, Bruce Durham, and Harold Lamb present you with enough fast paced adventure to keep you reading for hours.

A hand painted, wrap around cover by fantasy artist Johnney Perkins ensures that Return of the Sword will not only be enjoyable to read, but also look good on your coffee table or bookshelf.”