Raymond E. Feist - Jon Cronshaw

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.

Immerse yourself into a realm of magic as we delve into the fantastical mind of epic fantasy author G J Kemp.

From his early beginnings, Kemp’s love for the fantasy genre blossomed in the face of adversity.

In this exclusive interview, Kemp invites us into his unique approach to world-building, his meticulous plotting process, and the thematic cores woven into his spellbinding narratives.

The twists and turns of his creative process are as intriguing as his novels, providing valuable insights for aspiring writers and readers alike.

So, grab yourself a cuppa and let’s embark on this fascinating expedition into the depths of Kemp’s creative world.

.What inspired you to start writing in the fantasy genre?

When I was young, I had a number of operations to try combat me being born with Cerebral Palsy. This meant, that I was immobile for large periods of my life. Bear in mind that this was in the 1970’s. To combat the boredom, my mother bought me every Enid Blyton book available. I devoured them followed by Lord of the Rings and The Magician. From there, my love for the fantasy genre was born.

How do you approach world-building in your stories?

Through dialogue coupled with action. I hardly ever describe a scene. My characters describe the scene for my by moving through the world they are in. Sometimes, a character will talk about a piece of the world, but only if this is really necessary.

Can you walk us through your writing process?

I am a major, major, plotter. Here it is high level. I start with working out the story structure. This usually comes in the form of a template. I am a firm believer that all good stories follow a structure. From there, I write a general outline for each Act, Block and Chapter. Once the outline has been done, I then re-outline against each scene. Once that is done, I re-outline in detail. Only then do I start working on the manuscript. Juno and the Lady is 111k words long. My plotting outline is nearly 100k words long.

Would you survive in your own fantasy world?

Absolutely. Since I am the writer I would give myself new powers every time I needed them! 🙂

What themes do you explore in your work?

I work on a three-theme structure. Each book I write, needs to have three themed arcs. Take Miles and the Soldier for instance. Theme 1 – Disability, Theme 2 – Friendship, Theme 3 – Loyalty and Trust.

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

Enid Blyton, Raymond E. Feist, Stephen King, J. R. R. Tolkien.

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

I think the strangest thing is for my upcoming series, Abbie Vera. She has an angel and demon sitting on each shoulder who consistently whisper stuff into her ears. Researching the interaction between these entities is a bit of a minefield!

What do you hope readers take away from your stories?

A sense of joy and hopefully something to think about. Most of my stories look at the worlds problems from different angles. If my stories give my readers another perspective, I am a happy author.

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

I would combine the two and have a Pegasus, thank you very much. A fire breathing, flying horse! Dragons and unicorns wouldn’t stand a chance!

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

I would have the ability to ward off death. I would like to live as long as I choose and only when I am done with exploring life, can the depths of darkness take me.

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

I think Genevie. A vampire princess. Although I think I would just end up being her food!

What would you name your pet dragon?

Geoff

Where is the best place to start reading your work?

Juno and the Lady (An Acre Story Book 1), available on Amazon.

Website: gjkemp.co.uk

Author bio

A nomad at heart, GJ has lived in nine countries across Africa, Europe and the Middle East. His career has included working as a Divemaster in The Red Sea, a zookeeper in Israel, and a proofreader in Sweden.

Born with cerebral palsy, GJ has spent a lifetime trying to tie his shoelaces while standing up in the hope of not falling over. It is a constant challenge, but sometimes he occasionally succeeds.

Finding the love for writing later in life, GJ spends most of his free time going for walks and dreaming of story ideas. He hopes to one day have a small place on the oceanfront where he can walk his dogs on the beach.