Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy" discussion

That could be fun.

I agree that swords and orcs could be a fun topic!

Ashe wrote: "That is pretty interesting. And you're right, it has never seemed to catch on. I read The Goblin Corps earlier in the summer and despite focusing on the races considered "evil," it..."

I was looking at some of the reviews for that book. One person was saying that the author tells about the orcs' evil but doesn't show it. A lot of people liked it a lot though.

Charles wrote: "My own entry into the Orc saga is "Harvest of War," which is available on Amazon. I tried to make it neither orc centric nor human centric but an examination of both sides when they come together.
..."

I'd added Harvest of War to my my TBR shelf in 2012, I think on the basis of Seth's review. Must get around to reading it at some point! :P I like the cover, by the way, which looks like it's based on a diorama of tabletop figurines(?)

I mean, it was a fun read but it was one of those books where one read was enough, ya know?

Ashe wrote: "I mean, it was a fun read but it was one of those books where one read was enough, ya know?"

I get ya.

Orc folk,

The Orc-topic has a life of its own, deserving of its own thread; I created one just to keep the Introduction thread tidy.
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Good idea, Seth! :)

Ashe, hope you enjoy Harvest of War. That was a cover I actually got from a free art site. I think it's an old photo of some memorial

To keep things clear, I'll post my reply about the book in tthe orc thread.

Hi everybody, my name is Robin and I joined the group like a second ago. I've always had a love of fantasy but in recent years my interest is more towards the darker side of fantasy. While I have nothing against the archetypal fantasy, whereby protagonists go on quests and successfully complete them then live happily ever after until the next adventure, I want to read something which has an element of danger to it. I don't want to read a book in which we as readers know that nobody from the good guy team dies. So basic information about me, I'm a current college student living in Manchester England, so any englishisms which people may not get just ask me what it means.

Welcome Robin

Robin wrote: "Hi everybody, my name is Robin and I joined the group like a second ago. I've always had a love of fantasy but in recent years my interest is more towards the darker side of fantasy. While I have n..."

Welcome Robin. This sounds like a good group for you. Note we have ongoing group reads (2month durations, 2topics usually) tha you are well come to join. A new set is starting now (Henry Kuttner and Glen Cook focused: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Welcome to the group, Robin!

Hi everyone. Following Robin's lead, I might as well introduce myself. I'm Seth Skorkowsky. I write, play a lot of tabletop RPG's, and love movies. I got into sword and sorcery by way of Fritz Leiber. I'm more a fan of pulp than I am of epic fantasy. I still enjoy big epic tales where the world is at stake, but I have a special place in my heart for the thief breaking into castle to steal a fist-sized diamond.

Seth, I like those kinds of tales too. It's big stakes for a few people. Stories don't always have to have world shaking significance. Especially if you like the characters.

Seth wrote: "Hi everyone. Following Robin's lead, I might as well introduce myself. I'm Seth Skorkowsky. I write, play a lot of tabletop RPG's, and love movies. I got into sword and sorcery by way of Fritz L..."

Seth, glad to have you here. Via Jason Waltz, I learned about your work and have them in my to-read queue. Kind of strange to refer to another "Seth" though. I feel like I am talking to myself...especially since you are also a Nox Arcana fan.

Seth wrote: "Hi everyone. Following Robin's lead, I might as well introduce myself. I'm Seth Skorkowsky. I write, play a lot of tabletop RPG's, and love movies. I got into sword and sorcery by way of Fritz L..."

Welcome Seth! I wonder how many current and former role-players are here (I fall in to the latter category)?

Thanks for the welcome everyone. Happy to be part of the group.

Thank you all. It is rather weird, Seth. In fact typing that sentence was strange for me.

hello to robin and seth.

Late to party as per usual, but welcome to you both.

Welcome welcome!

Sarahs just get used to addressing other Sarahs.

Welcome to everyone!

Eh gad, the group has grown large enough to have multiple Seth's and Sarah's .

My husband once belonged to a campus volunteer organization that had more Dans than women. This is why our kids have weird, old-fashioned names.

At least I can still be the only Ashe haha.

Jason wrote: "Late to party as per usual, but welcome to you both."

There's no other way to arrive to a party other than late. At least when you get to a party late, it's all ready going full tilt.

I have a friend called Robyn, so I always look up when ever somebody calls her. It gets rather confusing.

Hi all!
I'm Valerio, fantasy author from Italy. I love S&S, even though I'm still studying the older stories, and I'm currently writing stories in the genre to one day self-publish. As for reading, I particularly enjoyed the Lankhmar series and the Witcher one.
I love the "earthier" feeling this genre gives off, the right position between fantasy and reality, how it helps the reader with the immersion.
I'm not a big poster, but I'm sure this will be fun!

Welcome to the group Valerio. You'll fit right in.

Buongiorno Valerio. Well that's my supply of Italian exhausted. Learned this when I was on holiday to Rome a few years ago.

Welcome Valerio.

Welcome!

Welcome, Valerio!

Just recently joined Goodreads as a way to keep in touch with like-minded fantasy writers and readers. I enjoy fantasy over other more pedestrian fiction with focus on heroic, sword and sorcery, sword and sandal, etc. (can't keep up with all the sub-genres.)

I write (have published a bit, but not in the genre)because I must to keep me sane. I have recently finished my fantasy novel, "The Returning," which is described in Agent Queries as: A reluctant immortal craves release from life into final death; instead, he is cast into Prince Syjer, thrust into battle against a brother–likewise cursed–poised to destroy him, a people, and an entire culture.

At some point, I hope to post parts of the novel for review, but being new to this forum, will need time to figure it all out.

Glad to be here and hope my contributions will be helpful to other writers and readers.

Welcome to the group, Rick!

Welcome Rick. You are very similar to most group members here, being a genre fan, writer, and reader.

Welcome aboard.

Thanks for the warm welcome, all. Look forward to future camaraderie.

Welcome, Rick.

wow so many wonderful writers here. reading, illustrating, and playing fantasy games has been a passion of mine for over 50 years. it is so nice to get to know so many new authors that have yet to be discovered. one thing i have found over the years is that the new authors seem to have the best stories. keep up the great work.

my name is Donna. i'm a 3D illustrator. which means my illustrations are created in several 3D programs and then finished in Photoshop. the illustrations i mostly do are fantasy, science fiction, and children's. being a fantasy author you must find it very difficult to find an illustrator to work with. i'm easy going and try to come up with a design that meets your needs. here is my portfolio if you are interested https://99designs.com/profiles/dhmdes... please let me know if i can be of any assistance to you.

Donna, Welcome! Nice portfolio of 3D bookcovers, and timely post. A discussion on illustrators was just brewing on our experimental "Networking" thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I encourage you to repost/copy come of your intro there (as a new Networking topic or under the existing thread).

BTW, I am a total Adobe junkie, though I stick to 2D Photoshop, After Effects, and Indesign mostly.

Cheers, Seth

thank you very much for the heads up. i will check it out. and thank you for the welcome.

Hello,
My name is W.A. Rusho, you can call me Bill.
I am a new author; my debut novel is Legend of the Mystic Knights.
I am a former Private Detective and former pro-wrestler. I am glad to be part of this group.

Welcome!

Hello, Bill. Please tell me you're gonna write a story about a PI Wrestler who solves his cases with piledrivers and dropkicks. Please.

Welcome Bill!

Welcome Bill (and many others who haven't introduced themselves). Browse the folders and feel welcome to extend any discussion.

Hi everyone! Fellow sword and sorcery reader here, glad to join a group of like minded people! I am an author as well, but haven't ventured too far into the Sword and Sorcery genre, at least not yet. Glad to meet you all!

Nobody trust Quentin, he's a rapscallion. Always up to no good.