Sword and Sorcery ebooks

[ZodWallop]

Looking for some sword and sorcery recommendations. This type of fantasy flourished in the '70's, but has since been choked-off by high fantasy.

I'm looking for books old or new that are available as ebooks.

Definitions can be slippery, but I like Wikipedia's definition:

Sword and sorcery (S&S) is a subgenre of fantasy characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent adventures. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural. Unlike works of high fantasy, the tales, though dramatic, focus mainly on personal battles rather than world-endangering matters.

A few rules of thumb:

• Sword and Sorcery would: have book covers by Frank Frazetta or Boris Vallejo or '70's van art.
• Sword and sorcery would not: be a trilogy where a band consisting of a swordsman with a secret, an elf and a dwarf who bicker, and a powerful but elderly wizard seek the legendary Back Scratcher of Tirel which is the only means of defeating the dread Black Lord of Gravenal.

So please, no Lord of the Rings, no Terry Brooks. I like them. But they do not fit here.

Here are some examples that are available as ebooks:
Robert E. Howard. His Conan and Kull are basically the start of sword and sorcery.
Fritz Lieber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. He coined the term 'sword and sorcery'
Michael Moorcock's Elric
Karl Edward Wagner's Kane
C. L. Moore's Jirel of Joiry
Charles Saunders's Imaro
William King's Kormak

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Sword and Sorcery would: have book covers by Frank Frazetta or Boris Vallejo or '70's van art.

Are we limited by that rule when recommending?

Might put a huge damper on the new part of "old or new", if so.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Are we limited by that rule when recommending?

Might put a huge damper on the new part of "old or new", if so.

Not so much that it MUST have such a cover, but that such a cover would likely fit

This is sword and sorcery:


This is not:

[jackie_w]

Would Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy qualify? Probably not cover-wise but I found it quite gritty compared to LOTR/Shannara. Also a shifting perception of hero/villain status.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Not so much that it MUST have such a cover, but that such a cover would likely fit

OK. I'm with you.

[DiapDealer]

Try some of Howard Andrew Jones' stuff.

[Calenorn]

I wonder whether RE Howard only put the 'sorcery' in Conan stories to get them published in Weird Tales.

If you're willing to take the 'swords' without the 'sorcery,' then there's some primo historical fiction. Take Harold Lamb, for example.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Calenorn

If you're willing to take the 'swords' without the 'sorcery,' then there's some primo historical fiction. Take Harold Lamb, for example.

I second that! Lamb put the "sword" in Sword & Sorcery.

Howard Andrew Jones (who I mentioned above) was the editor of some recent Harold Lamb collections.

[Calenorn]

There are currently authors following in that tradition. Lots of gritty novels about Roman legions, crusaders, etc.

[Critteranne]

There seem to be quite a few new titles in the sword and sorcery tradition, thanks to indie publishers who are specializing in sword and sorcery and fantasy adventure tales. I haven't read any of these, so let me know how they are.

I just read a review of one at Black Gate.
https://www.blackgate.com/2021/07/06...eline-b-adams/

DMR Books published quite a few sword and sorcery titles in the Kindle store (and probably elsewhere as well). For example, their Renegade Swords anthology includes Robert E. Howard and Lin Carter but also Richard L. Tierney. (Tierney co-wrote some Red Sonja paperbacks in the 1980s that are sadly out of print.) Their "Heroes of Atlantis & Lemuria" reprints stories by Manly Wade Wellman, Leigh Bracket, and others. They've also reprinted "Swordsmen from the Stars," a fantasy novel by Poul Anderson, and they're printing some newer works as well, such as "Necromancy in Nilztiria" by D. M. Ritzlin.

Pulp Hero Press also has a number of sword and sorcery titles, such as Savage Scrolls [Volume One]: Thrilling Tales of Sword-and-Sorcery.

Also, look for Savage Realms Monthly, a continuing anthology of "dark fantasy and sword and sorcery short adventure stories." (This is put out by Literary Rebel, LLC.) And Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy (put out by Parallel Universe Publications).

For a recent nonfiction book on the topic, check out "Flame and Crimson: A History of Sword-and-Sorcery" from Pulp Hero Press. (There are also some newer books about Robert E. Howard and Conan, although many of the specialized ones are available in print only.)

[GlennD]

I'd recommend the Tiger and Del series by Jennifer Roberson. A little more recent than some of your examples (the series started in the mid 80s) but really good stuff.

[conan50]

On my TBR list is a series by John Jakes "Brak The Barbarian". The description sounds like a good "Conan the Barbarian" knock off. Available in Kindle books on Amazon. They come as two duology sets.

[WillAdams]

Have you read:

Poul Anderson: The Broken Sword?

Michael Moorcock might be a good fit.

Roger Zelazny? Jack of Shadows and The Changing Land and Dilvish the Damned might match your definition.

C.J. Cherryh's Morgaine Trilogy (Gate of Ivrel, Well of Shiuan, Fires of Azeroth, Exile's Gate) is available as a set: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SI02BAG

[John F]

How about Warrior of the Altail by Robert Jordan.

[gmw]

I'm guessing most of the books by David Gemmell would fit - they're mostly described as heroic fantasy but I seem to remember some magic (but it's been a long time since I read them). I do remember enjoying his Drenai series (starts with Legend).