Tag: classic fantasy

33 Must-Read Sword and Sorcery Books for Adventure Seekers

Discover the history of sword and sorcery fantasy from pulp origins to modern revivals. Includes an essential reading list of 33 gritty, action-packed novels.

If you’re partial to a spot of swashbuckling, a dash of dark magic, and a generous helping of gritty heroism, then you’ve probably dipped your toes into the tempestuous seas of sword and sorcery.

You might even have a favourite battered paperback, its spine creased from countless re-reads, tucked away somewhere safe.

This genre of fantasy, oft-clad in a loincloth and waving a sizeable chunk of sharpened metal, has a storied history that’s as colourful as the characters it portrays.

But before we delve into the 33 essential reads, let’s journey back to the genre’s roots, shall we?

Buckle up for a whirlwind tour of testosterone, tarnished heroes, and timeless tales.

Pulp Fiction’s Barbaric Birth

Our tale begins in the rough-and-ready world of 1930s pulp magazines, where the gritty, often morally ambiguous world of sword and sorcery was first birthed.

The term itself was coined by Fritz Leiber, in response to a challenge from Michael Moorcock, another luminary of the genre.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, there’s plenty of blood to spill first.

Our first stop is the Hyborian Age, the playground of Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian.

With his rippling muscles, disdain for witchcraft, and tendency to solve problems with a broadsword, Conan embodied the genre’s defining characteristics. He was no knight in shining armour, more like a brigand in a blood-stained loincloth.

And readers loved him for it.

The pulp era was a veritable breeding ground for such characters. Amidst the lurid covers of magazines like ‘Weird Tales,’ they battled monsters, rescued (and occasionally abducted) maidens, and got up to all sorts of sword-swinging, sorcery-slaying shenanigans.

From Pulp to Paperback

The pulps may have birthed the genre, but it was the paperback revolution of the 1960s and 70s that really spread the seeds of sword and sorcery across the globe.

This was the era of Michael Moorcock’s Elric of Melniboné, a somewhat anaemic-looking bloke with a cursed sword that devoured souls.

Elric was the polar opposite of Conan—frail, introspective, and reliant on sorcery (and his soul-sucking sword) to survive.

He was a new type of hero for a new age, typifying the shift towards more morally complex characters.

Then, of course, there was Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series.

These two roguish heroes, one a burly barbarian and the other a nimble thief, navigated a grimy, dangerous world full of dark magic and dangerous women.

It was a world where the monsters were often human, and the heroes were just trying to make a dishonest living.

The Modern Age of Grizzled Heroes

Fast forward to the present day, and sword and sorcery is still going strong, although perhaps it’s had a few pints, put on a bit of weight, and developed a slightly cynical outlook on life.

Modern authors have taken the genre’s foundations and built upon them, creating worlds that are darker, grittier, and dripping with even more gore.

Take Joe Abercrombie’s ‘The First Law’ series, a work of grimdark fiction as cheerful as a funeral in a rainstorm.

Its characters are deeply flawed, its world is cruel, and its magic is as likely to kill you as save you.

It’s sword and sorcery that’s been dragged through a hedge backwards, and it’s bloody brilliant.

Or consider Scott Lynch’s ‘The Lies of Locke Lamora.’

It’s a tale of thieves and con artists plying their trade in a city that makes the dens of the pulps look like a holiday resort.

It’s a world where the swords are sharp, the wit is sharper, and the sorcery…well, let’s just say you wouldn’t want to be on the wrong end of it.

Looking to the Future

Sword and sorcery has come a long way since the days of pulp magazines, but its heart remains the same.

It’s a genre that relishes in the raw, the rough, and the real.

It’s about heroes who aren’t always heroic, magic that’s as dangerous as it is powerful, and worlds where life is cheap and survival is an art.

It’s a dark, dangerous dance—a bloody ballet of blades and black magic.

And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

33 Recommended Sword and Sorcery Novels

If you’re looking for fantasy tales full of daring heroes, arcane magic, and thrilling adventures, sword and sorcery stories never fail to deliver action-packed escapism.

Here are 33 page-turning sword and sorcery novels everyone new to the genre should read:

Conan the Barbarian by Robert E. Howard

The iconic series that defined sword and sorcery featuring everyone’s favorite loincloth-wearing Cimmerian warrior.

Jirel of Joiry by C. L. Moore

Groundbreaking tales of the first female sword and sorcery heroine Jirel and her battles in a demon-haunted medieval France.

Servant of the Underworld by Aliette de Bodard

Sword and sorcery inspired by Aztec mythology with an engrossing mystery.

Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed

Excellent sword and sorcery in a Middle Eastern inspired setting featuring a ghul hunter protecting the people.

The Amethyst Sword by Fleur Adcock

A lyrical and imaginative tale of warriors, wizardry and Celtic mythology.

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

An original post-apocalyptic African sword and sorcery adventure.

The Copper Promise by Jen Williams

An action-packed epic following mercenaries, dragons, and ancient powers.

The Barbed Coil by J. V. Jones

A gritty tale of battle mages and political intrigue.

The Iron Dragon’s Daughter by Michael Swanwick

A subversive, contemporary take on sword and sorcery tropes.

The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells

Soaring dragon rider adventure perfect for fantasy fans.

The Fox Woman by A. Merritt

Classic Asian folklore inspired sword and sorcery.

Sister Light, Sister Dark by Jane Yolen

Celtic-flavoured sisterly conflicts amid mythical battles.

The Sword Woman by Robert E. Howard

Historical sword and sorcery set in the Dark Ages.

The Pit Dragon Trilogy by Jane Yolen

Young adult dragon rider adventure.

Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist

Political intrigue in a fantasy Asian-inspired setting.

Mirrorscape by Mike Wilks

A funhouse mirror world of swords and sorcery.

Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson

A modern cyberpunk meets Arabian Nights tale.

The God Stalker Chronicles by P.C. Hodgell

Demon hunting swordswoman in an intricate world.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Action-packed YA blending epic fantasy and sword and sorcery.

Cloudbearer’s Shadow by J. Kathleen Cheney

Asian-inspired magic and dragons.

Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord

A witty Caribbean storytelling vibe flavors this magical quest.

The Achtung Archipelago by Nick Mamatas

Subversive WWII alternate history mixed with sword and sorcery.

Starless by Jacqueline Carey

Epic journeys and demonic villains galore.

The Dragon’s Legacy by Deborah A. Wolf

Character-driven sword and sorcery with clan intrigue.

Throne of the Five Winds by S.C. Emmett

A unique Vietnamese fantasy world.

The Stone Knife by Anna Stephens

Grimdark sword and sorcery with imaginative worldbuilding.

The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick

Political intrigue mixed with gritty action.

Master of Poisons by Andrea Hairston

Majestic afrofuturist fantasy.

Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri

Indian-inspired tale of magics, dance, and destiny.

Black Leviathan by Bernd Perplies

Swashbuckling fantasy on the high seas.

Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho

Magic and manners in Regency England with a dash of sword and sorcery.

The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera

Epic fantasy inspired by Mongolian history.

The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V.S. Redick

Nautical fantasy adventure.

What are your favourites? Share your recommendations in the comments.

Unleashing the Magic: An Interview with Fantasy Author Clayton Wood

Discover the captivating fantasy worlds crafted by Clayton Wood, the mastermind behind the Runic, Fate of Legends, and Magic of Havenwood series. Join us as we delve into his writing journey, inspiration, and insights into the realm of fantasy fiction.

Fantasy Author Clayton Wood

Clayton Wood is the mastermind behind several popular fantasy series, including the Runic series, Fate of Legends series, and Magic of Havenwood series.

In this interview, we will delve into Clayton’s journey as a writer, his inspiration, and his thoughts on fantasy writing.

So without further ado, let’s get started!

What inspired you to start writing in the fantasy genre?

Fantasy books were my go-when I was a kid, and I devoured series by Piers Anthony, R.A. Salvatore, Raymond E. Feist, Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, and many more. Why fantasy appeals to me, I cannot honestly say. All I know is that my muse constantly conjures new ideas for me to work with, and she’ll make my life a living hell if I let her down by not using them!

How do you approach world-building in your stories?

For me, world-building usually grows from the main theme or themes I’m exploring in a series. For example, The Magic Collector was about art and creativity as magical forces, and so I incorporated works of art quite literally into the world. Books about castles made castles, and books about giants made giants. In contrast, Elazar the Magician was in part about dogma and ways of knowing, and thus a scientific and technologically more advanced society clashed with a religious one. Both were slaves to their own dogma, and the truly enlightened were magicians. Magicians who gained their powers through magic mushrooms, which inspired mushroom-shaped symbolism in the world-building process.

Can you walk us through your writing process?

Normally an idea for a new series comes out of the blue for me (see note on my abusive muse above), and I let it grow and mutate in my brain for a year or so. I know it’s ready for writing when it stops changing, solidifying into a world, narrative, and a couple of characters. I have an idea of the beginning, middle, and end, and when I write, I let the characters fill in the rest. Mostly because if I try to get in their way, they’ll stage a mutiny.

As for how I structure my time, I usually order book covers from my cover designer 6 months in advance. 2 for the Spring, 2 for the Fall. Nothing is written yet when I order them, but they gotta be done by the time the covers are due to be made. That way I keep a pace of around 4 books published a year.

Would you survive in your own fantasy world?

My wife says no, ’cause I’m soft. But she’s totally wrong.

What themes do you explore in your work?

For the Runic series, it was the role of various father figures in growth and self-actualization…how negative father figures can create conflict that forces growth through adversity, and how positive father figures can do so with mentoring and nurturing.

For the Fate of Legends series, I explored group identity vs. individual identity, and the magnetic-field-like forces that force those with weaker wills to align with stronger wills. Also, the ways in which failing to identify as part of the greater world can lead to calamity.

For the Magic of Havenwood series, I explored the creative process itself, making art magical. Writers wrote books that created entire lands and monsters, while sculptures came to life. Musicians could manipulate emotions and time itself, while Actors could literally transform into who they played. And Painters could take objects and living creatures they’d painted out of their canvases, bringing them to life. It was a fun way to explore my own creative process, teaching the reader some things that I’d learned. It was also a way to explore secondary themes of the dark and light parts of the human soul, and the somewhat lost idea of redemption.

For Inappropriate Magic, I explored the themes pertinent to the mid-life crisis, where one realizes they’re going to die, the life they’ve lived is one they fell into and no longer want, and that they need to find meaning and purpose in their life.

What do you consider to be your biggest influences as a writer?

Most authors I liked made me want to write a book like theirs. Piers Anthony made me want to be as creative as possible in my writing, instead of just parroting books I’ve read.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve had to research for your stories?

Coral reef reproduction as it pertains to a character from the battle over Alexandria during the rein of King Ptolemy VIII.

What do you hope readers take away from your stories?

First and foremost that they enjoy themselves. Secondly that each book makes them think a little bit. And third, that someone – even one person – is inspired to write their own book after reading mine. That’s what fantasy authors did for me, and if I can do that for someone else, that would be amazing.

Would you rather have a pet dragon or a unicorn, why?

Dragon. They’re badass. Although I’ve had both in my books. A rude, sarcastic skeletal dragon called Nemesis, and a…gifted unicorn named Peter.

If you could have any magical ability, what would it be?

Healing people. I’m a physician, so I naturally want to make people better!

If you were stuck on a deserted island with one of your characters, who would it be and why?

Vi. I feel like her survival skills would keep me alive…if she didn’t kill me for my lame Dad jokes, that is. My wife has considered it, but she’s waiting for my life insurance application to be processed.

What would you name your pet dragon?

Unicorn. Now I get to have both!

Where is the best place to start reading your work?

*It depends on your tastes. If you like classic coming-of-age fantasy, Runic Awakening.

If you prefer to have your heartstrings pulled at, The Magic Collector. If you like gritty medieval fantasy, Hunter of Legends.

If magic mushroom-based magic in a steampunk world is your thing, Elazar the Magician.

And if you enjoy inappropriate humor, Inappropriate Magic!

About the author.

Clayton Wood is the author of the Runic series, the Fate of Legends series, the Magic of Havenwood series, the Magic of Magic series, and the Masks of Eternity series. He’s been a computer programmer, graphics designer, martial-arts instructor, and now works in the medical field. He has a wife and three wonderful children.

Writing was always Clayton’s passion, but it wasn’t until the birth of his first son that he found the inspiration necessary to finish his first book. Five years later, he published Runic Awakening, the first entry in the Runic Series.

Find Clayton online:

Website: havenwoodpublishing.com

Facebook: facebook.com/claytontaylorwood

Instagram: instagram.com/claytontaylorwood

Exploring the Connection Between Fantasy and Heavy Metal

Explore the enduring connection between fantasy fiction and heavy metal music, discovering the shared themes, influences, and epic storytelling that unite these two powerful art forms.

Fantasy fiction and heavy metal music have a strong and lasting connection, with fantasy providing artists with a rich source of inspiration for their lyrics and music.

Both forms of art often deal with similar themes such as darkness, otherworldliness, and rebellion, making them a natural fit for each other. Fantasy fiction has been around for centuries and is inspired for many artists, including heavy metal bands and musicians.

The worlds created in fantasy often feature mythical creatures, magic, and battles between good and evil—themes and motifs found in many metal songs.

Tolkien’s influence.

Iron Maiden has been creating music for over 40 years and has been heavily influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and has written several songs inspired by the world of Middle-Earth, including “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” “The Trooper,” and “Fear of the Dark.”

German metal band Blind Guardian also draws influence from J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, as well as other works in the fantasy genre. The band’s music often features complex and intricate storytelling inspired by the rich worlds of fantasy fiction. Blind Guardian’s music is characterized by its sweeping epicness and powerful vocals, making them a must-listen for fans of both heavy metal and fantasy fiction.

Rhapsody of Fire is an Italian metal band inspired by classic fantasy such as “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Their music often features grandiose orchestral arrangements, which are inspired by epic battles and fantastical worlds. Rhapsody of Fire’s music is a testament to the power of fantasy fiction to inspire heavy metal music.

Austrian black metal band Summoning produce dark and atmospheric soundscapes, which are inspired by the dark and foreboding world of Middle-Earth.

Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band that has drawn heavy influence from several fantasy novels, including works by J.R.R. Tolkien, Neil Gaiman, and H.P. Lovecraft. The band’s music often features grandiose orchestrations, soaring vocals, and epic storytelling, which are inspired by the fantastical worlds of classic fantasy novels. Nightwish’s music is a testament to the power of fantasy fiction to inspire music.

Fantasy and metal have a long and intertwined history. As both forms of art continue to evolve, it is likely that this relationship will only grow stronger. Whether you are a fan of fantasy or metal, it is impossible to ignore the impact that each has had on the other.

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