Charles Allen Gramlich's Blog

 

I started these posts on Sword & Planet and Sword &Sorcery fiction September 16, 2023, and the page has grown in leaps &bounds. It currently has 5800 followers and we pick up more about every day. Iwant to thank all who have visited and commented. I frequently get asked bynewer folks if I’ve covered “so and so.” Sometimes I have. Since I can’t linkdirectly to specific posts, I decided to construct an index of what I’vecovered, which I’ll update periodically. This lists the posts in order andgives the specific date they appeared. If you visit the Swords & PlanetLeague page, you can scroll back to those specific dates to find the topicsyou’re interested in. I’m posting it here but will also keep the list on myblog: http//charlesgramlich.blogspot.com as a permanent and easily locatableindex.

Sword and Planet League Index:

1. First post. Generic Sept 16, 2023

2. Sword & Planet (S&P) fiction, ERB’s Barsoomseries: Sept 16

3. Swordsmen in the Sky anthology, Sept 17

4. Gulliver of Mars, Sept 17

5. Otis Adelbert Kline (OAK), His Peril and Mars series, Sept18

6. Lin Carter, Green Star & Callisto, Sept 19

7. OAK’s Mars stories, facsimile editions, Sept 19

8. Gardner Fox, Thief and Warrior of Llarn, Sept 20

9. First John Norman, Gor post, Sept 21

10. Norman and Gor post 2, Sept 22

11. Norman and Gor post 3, Sept 23

12. Michael Moorcock’s Mars/Kane series, Sept 24

13. Mike Resnick, Ganymede series, Sept 25

14. Robert E. Howard (REH), Almuric, Sept 26

15. Ken Bulmer/Alan Burt Akers (ABA), A Sword for Kregen, Sept27

16. Bulmer/Akers, the Prescot series, Sept 28

17. Bulmer/Akers, Prescot, 2nd post Sept 28

18. Bulmer/Akers, Prescot, 3rd post, Sept 29

19. Bulmer/Akers, Prescot 4th post, Sept 30

20. Dray Prescot stories and pastiche work, Oct 1, 2023

21. Charles Allen Gramlich (CAG) Talera series, Oct 2

22. CAG, S&P stories, Empire of Sol, Strange worlds,Machineries of Mars, Oct 3

23. Charles Nuetzel, Sword & Planet work, Oct 4

24. Reprint of Swords of Kregen post at Black Gate, Oct 4

25. Alex Dain, Bane of Kanthos, Oct 5

26. Moorcock & Joe Lansdale S&P stories, Sojan &Warrior Star, Oct 6

27. S&P photos and collections covers, Oct 7

28. Del Dowdell, Spearmen of Arn & Ghandor, Oct 8

29. Manly Wade Wellman, Early S&P work, Sojarr of Titan,Oct 9

30. ERB’s Venus series, Oct 10

31. ERB’s Moon series, Oct 11

32. Lin Carter, Thongor, Oct 12

33. Carter’s Worlds’ End series, Oct 13

34. Carter’s Zanthadon, Oct 14.

35. Mike Siroto, Dannus series and Berbora, Oct 15

36. Sirota, General stuff on Oct 16

37. Henry Kuttner, Land of the Earthquake, Oct 17

38. Howie Bently, Snake men’s Bane and Dim blue sun, Oct 18

39. Leigh Brackett and Eric John Stark, Oct 19

40. Brackett and Edmond Hamilton, with more of Stark, Oct 20

41. Brackett’s other work, Oct 21

42. Flash Gordon, Oct 22

43. Flash Gordon, post 2, Oct 23

44. Edmond Hamilton and space opera, Crashing Suns, Oct 24

45. Hamilton and the Kaldar S&P stories, Oct 25

46. Hamilton and Kaldar and other Hamilton tales, Oct 26

47. C. L. Moore, Jirel and Northwest smith, Oct 27

48. CAG and Brackett/Moore, Under the Ember Star, Oct 28

49. Repost by Black gate of my Ken Bulmer and Kregen post, Oct28

50. Some books I hadn’t read, Lin Carter, Coleman Burroughs,Flash Gordon, Oct 29

51. CAG, “One Wicked Evening on Mars, Halloween story by me,Oct 31

52. Jack Vance, Tschai series, Nov 1

53. Jack Vance, post 2, general stuff, Nov 2

54. S. M. Stirling, Crimson Kings and his Venus book, S&Previval, Nov 3

55. Al Sarrantino, Masters of Mars trilogy, Nov 4

56. Books about ERB, Lupoff’s Master of Adventure & FlintRoy’s Guide to Barsoom, Nov 5

57. Boris Vallejo, cover art, Nov 6

58. Boris post 2, more cover art, Broken Sword, Some Gorstuff, Nov 7

59. Neil Barrett Jr., Aldair series and uplift stuff, (Breedto Come, Norton), Nov 8

60. Andy Offutt, My Lord Barbarian, Nov 9

61. Under the Moons of Mars, ERB tribute anthology, Nov 10

62. Under the Moons of Mars antho, the awful Peter Beaglestory, and more, Nov 11

63. Andy Offutt, Ardor on Aros and his John Cleve crusaderstuff, Nov 12

64. Offutt, S&P works, Andor and Zhuvastou, Nov 13

65. Offutt’s Conan and REH pastiche stuff, Nov 14

66. Offutt as editor, Swords against Darkness, Nov 15

67. Wallace Moore (Conway) Balzan series, Nov 16

68. Andre Norton, introduction post, Nov 17

69. Norton and Breed to come, with CAG’s Razored Land asuplift story, Nov 18

70. Norton, Star guard and Janus books, Nov 19

71. Norton and the Witch world series, Nov 20

72. Norton, various, including Eye of the Monster, Nov 21

73. Reprint of Bane of Kanthos piece on Black Gate, Nov 22

74. CAG shelfie of REH stuff, Nov 22

75. CAG shelfie of various fantasy, Nov 22

76. CAG shelfie of Koontz, King and classics, Nov 22

77. CAG shelfie of TBR piles, Nov 22

78. Andre Norton, Star Gate only, Nov 23

79. Stuart Byrne, Thundar Man of 2 Worlds, Nov 24

80. Dave Van Arnam, Star Barbarian, Lord of Blood, Nov 25

81. Joel Jenkins, Dire Planet series, Nov 26

82. Gardner Fox, Kyrik series (mentions Charles SaundersTrail of Bohu), Nov 27

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83. Gardner Fox, Kothar and Niall, Nov 28

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84. Old Mars anthology, Nov 29

85. Philip Jose Farmer, World of Tiers, Nov 30

86. Farmer, Red Orc’s Rage, Dec 1

87. Farmer, Two Hawks from Earth, Dec 2

88. Farmer, ERB pastiches, Hadon of Opar, Tarzan heart oftime, A Feast Unknown, Dec 3

89. Farmer’s pastiches part 2, Doc Savage & Tarzan“bios,”  Escape from Loki, Dec 4

90. Farmer, various, mostly book covers, Dec 5

91. Chess in S&P fiction, Chessmen of Mars, Dec 6

92. Chess in S&P fiction, part 2. Kaissa and Jikaida(Gor, Kregen) Dec 7

93. CAG, Chess in the Talera series, Dec 8

94. Chess and other games in Fantasy & SF, Pawn to Infinity,Unicorn Variation, Dec 9

95. Robert Adams, Horseclans part 1, Dec 10

96. Adams, Horseclans part 2, Dec 11

97. Adams, Stairway to Forever and Castaways in Time series,Dec 12

98. Adams edited Anthos, Barbarians 1 and 2, Dec 13

99. Robert Moore Williams, Zanthar and Jongar, Dec 14

100. R. M. Williams, mostly Zanthar, Dec 15

101. William R. Forstchen, Rally Cry series, Dec 16

102. Forstchen, other books and one second after series, Dec17

103. Narrative drive, using ERB and Harlan Coben asexamples, Dec 18

104. ERB and Tarzan, part 1, Dec 19

105. ERB and Tarzan, part 3, Dec 20

106. ERB, Time Forgot series, Dec 21

107. ERB, Westerns, Dec 22

108. ERB, Mucker, Rider, Oakdale affair, Dec 23

109. ERB’s Hollow Earth part 1, Pellucidar series, Dec 24

110. ERB’s Hollow earth part 2, Carter’s Zanthadon and themammoth cave tale, Dec 25

111. ERB pastiches, Mahars Pellucidar, Bunduki, Tarzan Lost Adventure(Lansdale), Dec 26

112. Mary Norton’s Borrower series, Dec 27

113. Little people series, The Littles, the Micronauts,Tenn’s Men & Monsters, Dec 28

114. Ralph Milne Farley, Venus books, Radio series, Dec 29

115. Reprint of my Gardner Fox & Llarn post at Blackgate, Dec 29

116. Gil Kane, Blackmark Graphic novel, Dec 30

117. End of year retrospective, Dec 31

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118. Lin Carter editor, Flashing Sword series part 1, Jan 2,2024

119. Lin Carter editor, Flashing Sword series part 2, Jan 3,2024

120. Jeffrey Lord (House name), Blade series, Jan 4

121. Blade series part 2 and Roland Green (Wandor series), Jan5

122. Adrian Cole, Dream series and short stories, Jan 6

123. Adrian Cole in anthologies, with CAG, Jan 7

124. ERB’s non fantasy, Efficiency Expert, Girl Hollywood,Girl Farris, Jan 9

125. Michael Crichton, Particularly Eaters of the Dead, Jan 10

126. Ken Bulmer as Manning Norvil, Odan trilogy, Jan 11

127. Von Daniken, Chariots of the Gods, Also Churchward’sMu, Jan 13

128. James Silke, & Frank Frazetta, Death Dealer series,Jan 14

129. John Maddox Roberts, Conan pastiches, Jan 15

130. JM Roberts as Mark Ramsey, Falcon series and others, Jan16.

131. Chris Carlsen (Robert Holdstock), Berserker trilogy, Jan18

132. CAG, Skyrim RPG game, Jan 19

133. Heroic fantasy/ heroic historical subgenre defined,illustrated, Jan 20

134. Heroic historical part 2, Jan 21

135. Karl Wagner, editor for Echoes of Valor anthologytrilogy, Jan 23

136. L. Sprague De Camp, Spell of Seven anthology, Jan 24

137. An S&P quiz, match world with author, Jan 26

138. S&P quiz answers, Jan 27

139. Two S&S Anthos, Savage Heroes and Heroic Fantasy, Jan28

140. 3 Marvel Conan comic book collections in paperback, Jan29

141. John Jakes and Brak, Jan 30

142. John Jakes, other works, Feb 1

143. Avon fantasy reader anthologies, Feb 3

144. Swordsmen and Supermen anthology, Feb 4

145. Reprint of my Andy Offutt and Swords against Darknesspost at Black Gate, Feb 5

146. Warlocks and Warriors antho, De camp editor, Feb 6.

147. Warlocks and Warriors antho, Douglas Hill editor,mentions Moorcock, Feb 7

148. Charles Saunders and Imaro, Feb 8

149. 2 de camp edited Anthos, Swords & Sorcery and TheFantastic Swordsmen, Feb 10

149. The Dark of the Soul antho, Feb 11 (CAG with Flu)

150.  2 S&SAnthos, Hans Santesson editor, Mighty Barbarians, Mighty Swordsmen, Feb 13

151. The Barbarian Swordsmen antho, Sean Richards editor, Feb15

152. Seth Lindberg, Dyscrasia fiction, Feb 17

153. High Fantasy definition and examples, part 1, Tolkien,Eddison, Dunsany, Feb 19

154. High Fantasy part 2, George Martin, Stephen Donaldson,J. K. Rowling, Feb 20

155. Young Blood antho, Feb 23

156. Bigfoot, Sword of the Earthman, graphic collection, Feb25

157. Dennis McKiernan, Iron tower series, Feb 27

158. Motorhead and Deaf Forever Lyrics, (CAG still withflu), Feb 29

159. Lin Carter editor, Year’s Best Fantasy post 1, March 2

160. Lin Carter Editor, Year’s Best Fantasy post 2, March 3

161. Carter, Grail Undwin & Year’s Best Fantasy, March 4

162. Eternal City antho, David Drake editor, March 7

163. Karl Edward Wagner (KEW) and Kane part 1, March 9

164. KEW and Kane part 2, March 10

165. KEW poetry, March 11

166. KEW and his horror stories, March 12

167. KEW and REH pastiches, Road of Kings, Legion from the Shadows,March 14

168. KEW and some hardback books, miscellaneous.  March 16

169. Poul Anderson part 1, Viking related books, March 19

170. Poul Anderson part 2, Flandry series and The BrokenSword, March 21

171. Anderson and his Conan pastiche, with more on AndyOffutt’s Conan, March 23

172. Anderson and The Broken Sword specifically, March 24

173. Anderson and other fantasy, and various, March 26

174. Anderson and Short stories, Fantasy and Queen of Airand Darkness, March 27

175. Heroes of fantasy quiz, match hero with author, March29

176. Answers to Heroes of Fantasy quiz, March 30

177. A personal rant on “purple prose” in fantasy, March 31

178. David C. Smith and REH, Bran and Black Vulmea, April 2

179, Smith and REH part 2, Red Sonja paperback series, April4

180. David C. Smith’s original work, Oron and others, April6

181. Smith part 4, Fall of the First World series and hishorror, April 7

182. Becoming a reader part 1, Grapes of Wrath, GreatGatsby, etc, April 9

183. Becoming a reader part 2, the King James Bible, TheOdyssey etc. April 10

184. TOR and their Conan covers, April 12

185. CAG, S&S anthology appearances, Krieg specifically,April 13

186. Norvil Page, Wan Tengri books, April 15

187. Norvil Page post 2, the Spider books, April 16

188. Reprint of Andre Norton post by Black Gate, April 17

189. Asimov’s Magical World of Fantasy antho, April 19

190. Matching quiz, authors and pseudonyms, April 23

191. Answers to authors & pseudonyms Quiz, April 25

192. Michael Moorcock part 1, Eternal Warrior and Elric,April 27

193. Michael Moorcock part 2, More Elric, hardbacks. April28

194. Michael Moorcock part 3, Hawkmoon series, April 30

195. Moorcock part 4, Corum series, May 2

196. Moorcock part 5, Eternal Champion trilogy, May 4

197. Moorcock part 6, various, music influence and comics, May6

198. Gordon Shirreffs and Calgaich, as well as westerns, May8

199. Gil Kane, Sword of the Atom graphic collection, May 9

200. Alan Moore’s work, The Watchmen, May 11

201. Philip Jose Farmer, The Mad Goblin and Lord of the Trees,May 13

202. Fritz Leiber, part 1, Fafhrd, Gray Mouser, May 15

203. Fritz Leiber part 2, Fafhrd, Gray Mouser, Leiber vsREH, May 16

204. Leiber part 3, vs REH, nonfiction essays, May 17

205. Leiber part 4, Fafhrd, Gray mouser comic stuff, andother novels, May 18

206. S&P comics, Planet Hulk, Skaar, May 20

207. Swords & Sails, Interplanetary, Treasure planet,Swasbucklers, etc, May 22

208. Lines I wish I’d written part 1, taken from fantasystories, May 24

209. John Russell Fearn, Mars series (4 books), May 26

210. Reprint of a 2nd Andre Norton post at BlackGate, May 27

211. Moorcock and Elric tribute anthology, May 29

212. Paragraphs I wish I’d written, Bradbury, Jackson,Howard, etc, May 31

213. Killraven graphic collections, June 2

214. Roger Zelazny post 1, Amber Chronicles, June 4

215. Zelazny post 2, Dilvish and other books, June 5

216. John Maddox Roberts, post about his death, June 6

217. Pathfinder graphic novel, with mention of CAG HeroicaSkirmishers story, June 8

218. Hugh Walker and Magira, June 10

219. Heroes of fantasy with 4 and 5 letter names June 12

220. Lyndon Perry, Sword of Otrim, June 14

221. John Christopher and the Tripods, post 1, June 15

222. John Christopher post 2, June 17

223. Reprint of Joel Jenkins and Dire planet post at BlackGate, June 18

224. David Mason and Kavin, June 19

225. Robert Jordan and his Conan pastiches, June 21

226. Index to the page, covering to this point, June 22

227. Sean Moore, Conan and Kull pastiches. June 23

228. Leonard Carpenter’s Conan Pastiches, June 25

229. James Reasoner, Post 1: General and westerns, June 27.

230. James Reasoner, post 2, fantasy work, June 28.

231. Jack Vance’s Dying Earth, with Influence on LinCarter’s Worlds End books, June 30.

232. Jungle Girl comic, July 2, 2024

233. Scott Oden, Post 1. Intro and his Historical fiction.July 3

234. Scott Oden, post 2. Mostly his fantasy work. July 5

235. Where Past Haunts the Present, Heroic fantasy as one ofthe oldest types of story. Mentions Merritt, Haggard, Caball, and many others.July 7, 2024.

236. Post link to Swords & Heroes site where my tale,“Eye of the Beholder” appears. July 9.

237. Jack London post 1, general information on life anddeath. July 11.

238. Jack London post 2, General writing. July 12

239. Jack London and REH, post 1. London’s SF/Fantasy,particularly the Star Rover and influence on REH. July 13.

240. Jack London and REH, post 2, personality similaritieswith REH. July 15.

241. John Christopher & the Sword of the Spiritstrilogy. July 17.

242.  Black Gatereprints my Kothar, Kyrik and Niall post by Gardner Fox. July 18.

243. Rusty Burke & Short Biography of REH, July 21.

244. C. E. Owston & The Scarlet Skull, July 23.

245. Ramsey Campbell Post 1, general info. July 25.

246. Ramsey Campbell Post 2, Ryre stories. Far Away &Never. July 26.

247. Ramsey Campbell and REH, Solmon Kane connection.  July 27.

248. Mystery of J. F. Rivkin and Silverglass series, July29.

249. John C. Hocking's Conan work, July 31.

250. John Morressy, August 1

251. David Gemmell, post 1, introductory stuff, August 4.

252. David Gemmell post 2, August 5.

253. Black Gate Reprints my John C. Hocking post, August 6.

254. David Gemmell post 3, Stones of Power and Riganteseries, August 7.

255. Gemmell post 4, his later works, August 9.

256. Harold Lamb post 1, general and books, August 11.

257. Janet Morris Obituary and retros pectus, August 12.

258. Harold Lamb part 2, shorter fiction, August 14.

259. Return to school and some favorite lines from literaryfiction, August 17.

260. Ray Bradbury, S is for Space, R is for Rocket,Dandelion Wine, August 19.

261. Author Pseudonyms part 1, Andre Norton & more.August 22.

262. Black Gate Reprints my brief review of the Old Marsanthology, August 23.

263. Pseudonyms part 2, Dean Koontz, Stephen King &more, August 24.

264. Black Gate reprints my Janet Morris obituary, August25.

265. Pseudonyms part 3, my work for Wolfpack Publishing,August 26.

 266. Dungeons &Dragons & Gary Gygax, Lana's post, August 27.

267. Piers Anthony (Battle Circle and others), August 30.

268. The Invisible Writer. Why I don’t like “transparentProse,” September 2.

269. Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, by Charles andLana, September 4.

270. Jordan’s Wheel of Time, Celtic myth connections, LanaGramlich, September 6.

271. Juantia Coulson. Mostly her Web of Wizardry & DeathGod’s Citadel books. Sept 8.

272. Arthur O’ Friel and Time Lost books. Tiger River andPathless Trail, September 11.

273. Black Gate reprints The World of Tiers and Beyond:Philip Jose Farmer, Part I, Sept 13.

274. I Dream of Heroes, (Heroic Fantasy Dream of mine).September 17.

275. RAI, the graphic novel collection from Valiant Comics,September 21.

276. Black Gate reprints part 2 of my Philip Jose Farmerposts. September 23.

277. Lost Race Stories part 1, Arthur O. Friel, September24.

278. Lost Race Stories part 2, Lost World by Doyle,September 27.

279. Health update and placeholder post, October 1.

280. We are Legends review by Darrell Scweitzer, October 3.

281. Quest of the Dark Lady (Quinn Reade) and Quest of Kadji(Lin Carter), two fantasy books with reused cover. October 5.

282. Ray Bradbury’s 3 poetry collections, October 7.

283. Black Gate reprints my Chess in S&P fiction post,October 15.

284. Robert Silverberg, Juvenile SF, Conquerors from theDarkness, Time of the Great Freeze, Starman’s Quest, October 21.

285. Tigers of the Sea collection by Robert E. Howard,October 23.

286. REH and Baen Cormac Mac Art, October 26.

287. G. Firth Scott’s Last lemurian (lost race), October 28.

288. Black Gate reprints my part 2 of Chess in Sword &Planet fiction, October 29.

289. Chess in S&P fiction addendum: Lin Carter andCallisto series, November 1.

290. Ben Haas, The Sword of Morning Star and Exile’s Quest,November 4.

291. Ben Haas part 2, A Hack’s Notebook, with comments onJohn Benteen. November 7.

292. Norman Winski and The Sword and the Sorcerer movienovelization, with discussion of Winski’s other works. November 10.

293. Black Gate reruns my Chess in S&P fiction, partIII. Zelazny & Pawn to Infinity. Nov 12.

294. C. M. Gilbert and the Ozine Conquest: The Mystery ofGilbert. November 14.

295. Bruce Boston: Obituary and poetical and short storyworks that I’ve read. Nov 17.

296. Alan Dean Foster part 1: His work with Star Wars, hisStar Trek Log series, some of his other novelizations like The Thing, and someof his original work. November 21.

297. Alan Dean Foster part 2: Fantasy work, Krull, Clash ofthe Titans, Luana, & Chronicles of Riddick. November 25.

298. Black Gate reruns my Robert Adams posts, about hisHorseclans, Castaways in Time, and Stairway to Forever series. November 27.

299. Conan Little Golden Book, with commentary on otherGolden books, including Star Trek, November 29.

300. Jeffrey M. Wallman Post 1, Death Trek, December 3.

301. Jeffrey M. Wallman Post 2, other work, December 5.

302. William Goldman, Princess Bride & Movie, December7.

303. William Goldman post 2 & “As you like it,” aboutmaking the movie, December 10.

304. Black Gate reruns my essay on Robert Adams editedBarbarians 1 and 2, Dec 12.

305. Glen Cook Part 1, Black Company, December 14.

306. Glen Cook Part 2, Dread Empire, December 16.

307. Glen Cook Part 3, Other Fantasy series,Instrumentalities and Darkwar, December 19.

308. Glen Cook Part 4, Stand alone fantasy and some SF,  December 22.

309. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays: Book pics of thingsto come. December 25.

310. Black Gate reruns Part 4 of my Chess ins S&Pfiction. Lin Carter’s Callisto. Dec 27.

311. Barrington Bayley and Star Winds novel, December 30.

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312. Black Gate Reruns my Robert Moore Williams piece on hisZanthar books.  January 1.

313. Alan E. Nourse, Raiders from the Rings and Trouble onTriton, January 3, 2025

314. Samuel R. Delany, Post 1, Talking to him on the phone.January 5.

315. Samuel Delany Post 2: His fantasy work set on Nevèrÿon. January 7.

316. SamuelDelany, Post 3: Dhalgren, concept and controversy. January 10.

317. Black Gatereprints my piece on William Forstchen and the Lost Regiment, January 11.

318. Black Gatereprints my piece on ERB and the Masters of Narrative Drive (contains mentionof Harlan Coben), January 16.

319. Donald E.McQuinn and his Moondark trilogy, post apocalyptic reversion to primitive societies,set in the Pacific Northwest, January 18.

320. CharlesJohn Cutcliffe Wright Hyne and his book The Lost Continent (Atlantis), January20.

321. DavidJarrett and Witherwing book, cover by Frazetta, January 22.

322. Black Gatereruns a compendium of my posts on ERB, January 24.

323. John Turmanand his Saxon and the Sorceress (S&S mixed with S&P), January 28.

 

 

 

 Sword and Planet League Index:

1. First post. Generic Sept 16, 2023

2. Sword & Planet (S&P) fiction, ERB’s Barsoomseries: Sept 16

3. Swordsmen in the Sky anthology, Sept 17

4. Gulliver of Mars, Sept 17

5. Otis Adelbert Kline (OAK), His Peril and Mars series, Sept18

6. Lin Carter, Green Star & Callisto, Sept 19

7. OAK’s Mars stories, facsimile editions, Sept 19

8. Gardner Fox, Thief and Warrior of Llarn, Sept 20

9. First John Norman, Gor post, Sept 21

10. Norman and Gor post 2, Sept 22

11. Norman and Gor post 3, Sept 23

12. Michael Moorcock’s Mars/Kane series, Sept 24

13. Mike Resnick, Ganymede series, Sept 25

14. Robert E. Howard (REH), Almuric, Sept 26

15. Ken Bulmer/Alan Burt Akers (ABA), A Sword for Kregen, Sept27

16. Bulmer/Akers, the Prescot series, Sept 28

17. Bulmer/Akers, Prescot, 2nd post Sept 28

18. Bulmer/Akers, Prescot, 3rd post, Sept 29

19. Bulmer/Akers, Prescot 4th post, Sept 30

20. Dray Prescot stories and pastiche work, Oct 1, 2023

21. Charles Allen Gramlich (CAG) Talera series, Oct 2

22. CAG, S&P stories, Empire of Sol, Strange worlds,Machineries of Mars, Oct 3

23. Charles Nuetzel, Sword & Planet work, Oct 4

24. Reprint of Swords of Kregen post at Black Gate, Oct 4

25. Alex Dain, Bane of Kanthos, Oct 5

26. Moorcock & Joe Lansdale S&P stories, Sojan &Warrior Star, Oct 6

27. S&P photos and collections covers, Oct 7

28. Del Dowdell, Spearmen of Arn & Ghandor, Oct 8

29. Manly Wade Wellman, Early S&P work, Sojarr of Titan,Oct 9

30. ERB’s Venus series, Oct 10

31. ERB’s Moon series, Oct 11

32. Lin Carter, Thongor, Oct 12

33. Carter’s Worlds’ End series, Oct 13

34. Carter’s Zanthadon, Oct 14.

35. Mike Siroto, Dannus series and Berbora, Oct 15

36. Sirota, General stuff on Oct 16

37. Henry Kuttner, Land of the Earthquake, Oct 17

38. Howie Bently, Snake men’s Bane and Dim blue sun, Oct 18

39. Leigh Brackett and Eric John Stark, Oct 19

40. Brackett and Edmond Hamilton, with more of Stark, Oct 20

41. Brackett’s other work, Oct 21

42. Flash Gordon, Oct 22

43. Flash Gordon, post 2, Oct 23

44. Edmond Hamilton and space opera, Crashing Suns, Oct 24

45. Hamilton and the Kaldar S&P stories, Oct 25

46. Hamilton and Kaldar and other Hamilton tales, Oct 26

47. C. L. Moore, Jirel and Northwest smith, Oct 27

48. CAG and Brackett/Moore, Under the Ember Star, Oct 28

49. Repost by Black gate of my Ken Bulmer and Kregen post, Oct28

50. Some books I hadn’t read, Lin Carter, Coleman Burroughs,flash Gordon, Oct 29

51. CAG, “One Wicked Evening on Mars, Halloween story by me,Oct 31

52. Jack Vance, Tschai series, Nov 1

53. Jack Vance, post 2, general stuff, Nov 2

54. S. M. Stirling, Crimson Kings and his Venus book, S&Previval, Nov 3

55. Al Sarrantino, Masters of Mars trilogy, Nov 4

56. Books about ERB, Lupoff’s Master of Adventure & FlintRoy’s Guide to Barsoom, Nov 5

57. Boris Vallejo, cover art, Nov 6

58. Boris post 2, more cover art, Broken Sword, Some Gorstuff, Nov 7

59. Neil Barrett Jr., Aldair series and uplift stuff, (Breedto come, Norton), Nov 8

60. Andy Offutt, My Lord Barbarian, Nov 9

61. Under the Moons of Mars, ERB tribute anthology, Nov 10

62. Under the Moons of Mars antho, the awful Peter Beaglestory, and more, Nov 11

63. Andy Offutt, Ardor on Aros and his John Cleve crusaderstuff, Nov 12

64. Offutt, S&P works, Andor and Zhuvastou, Nov 13

65. Offutt’s Conan and REH pastiche stuff, Nov 14

66. Offutt as editor, Swords against Darkness, Nov 15

67. Wallace Moore (Conway) Balzan series, Nov 16

68. Andre Norton, introduction post, Nov 17

69. Norton and Breed to come, with CAG’s Razored Land asuplift story, Nov 18

70. Norton, Star guard and Janus books, Nov 19

71. Norton and the Witch world series, Nov 20

72. Norton, various, including Eye of the Monster, Nov 21

73. Reprint of Bane of Kanthos piece on Black Gate, Nov 22

74. CAG shelfie of REH stuff, Nov 22

75. CAG shelfie of various fantasy, Nov 22

76. CAG shelfie of Koontz, King and classics, Nov 22

77. CAG shelfie of TBR piles, Nov 22

78. Andre Norton, Star Gate only, Nov 23

79. Stuart Byrne, Thundar Man of 2 Worlds, Nov 24

80. Dave Van Arnam, Star Barbarian, Lord of Blood, Nov 25

81. Joel Jenkins, Dire Planet series, Nov 26

82. Gardner Fox, Kyrik series (mentions Charles SaundersTrail of Bohu), Nov 27

83. Gardner Fox, Kothar and Niall, Nov 28

84. Old Mars anthology, Nov 29

85. Philip Jose Farmer, World of Tiers, Nov 30

86. Farmer, Red Orc’s Rage, Dec 1

87. Farmer, Two Hawks from Earth, Dec 2

88. Farmer, ERB pastiches, Hadon of Opar, Tarzan heart oftime, A Feast Unknown, Dec 3

89. Farmer’s pastiches part 2, Doc Savage & Tarzan“bios,”  Escape from Loki, Dec 4

90. Farmer, various, mostly book covers, Dec 5

91. Chess in S&P fiction, Chessmen of Mars, Dec 6

92. Chess in S&P fiction, part 2. Kaissa and Jikaida(Gor, Kregen) Dec 7

93. CAG, Chess in the Talera series, Dec 8

94. Chess and other games in Fantasy & SF, Pawn to Infinity,Unicorn Variation, Dec 9

95. Robert Adams, Horseclans part 1, Dec 10

96. Adams, Horseclans part 2, Dec 11

97. Adams, Stairway to Forever and Castaways in Time series,Dec 12

98. Adams edited Anthos, Barbarians 1 and 2, Dec 13

99. Robert Moore Williams, Zanthar and Jongar, Dec 14

100. R. M. Williams, mostly Zanthar, Dec 15

101. William R. Forstchen, Rally Cry series, Dec 16

102. Forstchen, other books and one second after series, Dec17

103. Narrative drive, using ERB and Harlan Coben asexamples, Dec 18

104. ERB and Tarzan, part 1, Dec 19

105. ERB and Tarzan, part 3, Dec 20

106. ERB, Time Forgot series, Dec 21

107. ERB, Westerns, Dec 22

108. ERB, Mucker, Rider, Oakdale affair, Dec 23

109. ERB’s Hollow Earth part 1, Pellucidar series, Dec 24

110. ERB’s Hollow earth part 2, Carter’s Zanthadon and themammoth cave tale, Dec 25

111. ERB pastiches, Mahars Pellucidar, Bunduki, Tarzan Lost Adventure(Lansdale), Dec 26

112. Mary Norton’s Borrower series, Dec 27

113. Little people series, The Littles, the Micronauts,Tenn’s Men & Monsters, Dec 28

114. Ralph Milne Farley, Venus books, Radio series, Dec 29

115. Reprint of my Gardner Fox & Llarn post at Blackgate, Dec 29

116. Gil Kane, Blackmark Graphic novel, Dec 30

117. End of year retrospective, Dec 31

118. Lin Carter editor, Flashing Sword series part 1, Jan 2,2024

119. Lin Carter editor, Flashing Sword series part 2, Jan 3,2024

120. Jeffrey Lord (House name), Blade series, Jan 4

121. Blade series part 2 and Roland Green (Wandor series), Jan5

122. Adrian Cole, Dream series and short stories, Jan 6

123. Adrian Cole in anthologies, with CAG, Jan 7

124. ERB’s non fantasy, Efficiency Expert, Girl Hollywood,Girl Farris, Jan 9

125. Michael Crichton, Particularly Eaters of the Dead, Jan 10

126. Ken Bulmer as Manning Norvil, Odan trilogy, Jan 11

127. Von Daniken, Chariots of the Gods, Also Churchward’sMu, Jan 13

128. James Silke, & Frank Frazetta, Death Dealer series,Jan 14

129. John Maddox Roberts, Conan pastiches, Jan 15

130. JM Roberts as Mark Ramsey, Falcon series and others, Jan16.

131. Chris Carlsen (Robert Holdstock), Berserker trilogy, Jan18

132. CAG, Skyrim RPG game, Jan 19

133. Heroic fantasy/ heroic historical subgenre defined,illustrated, Jan 20

134. Heroic historical part 2, Jan 21

135. Karl Wagner, editor for Echoes of Valor anthologytrilogy, Jan 23

136. L. Sprague De Camp, Spell of Seven anthology, Jan 24

137. An S&P quiz, match world with author, Jan 26

138. S&P quiz answers, Jan 27

139. Two S&S Anthos, Savage Heroes and Heroic Fantasy, Jan28

140. 3 Marvel Conan comic book collections in paperback, Jan29

141. John Jakes and Brak, Jan 30

142. John Jakes, other works, Feb 1

143. Avon fantasy reader anthologies, Feb 3

144. Swordsmen and Supermen anthology, Feb 4

145. Reprint of my Andy Offutt and Swords against Darknesspost at Black Gate, Feb 5

146. Warlocks and Warriors antho, De camp editor, Feb 6.

147. Warlocks and Warriors antho, Douglas Hill editor,mentions Moorcock, Feb 7

148. Charles Saunders and Imaro, Feb 8

149. 2 de camp edited Anthos, Swords & Sorcery and TheFantastic Swordsmen, Feb 10

149. The Dark of the Soul antho, Feb 11 (CAG with Flu)

150.  2 S&SAnthos, Hans Santesson editor, Mighty Barbarians, Mighty Swordsmen, Feb 13

151. The Barbarian Swordsmen antho, Sean Richards editor, Feb15

152. Seth Lindberg, Dyscrasia fiction, Feb 17

153. High Fantasy definition and examples, part 1, Tolkien,Eddison, Dunsany, Feb 19

154. High Fantasy part 2, George Martin, Stephen Donaldson,J. K. Rowling, Feb 20

155. Young Blood antho, Feb 23

156. Bigfoot, Sword of the Earthman, graphic collection, Feb25

157. Dennis McKiernan, Iron tower series, Feb 27

158. Motorhead and Deaf Forever Lyrics, (CAG still withflu), Feb 29

159. Lin Carter editor, Year’s Best Fantasy post 1, March 2

160. Lin Carter Editor, Year’s Best Fantasy post 2, March 3

161. Carter, Grail Undwin & Year’s Best Fantasy, March 4

162. Eternal City antho, David Drake editor, March 7

163. Karl Edward Wagner (KEW) and Kane part 1, March 9

164. KEW and Kane part 2, March 10

165. KEW poetry, March 11

166. KEW and his horror stories, March 12

167. KEW and REH pastiches, Road of Kings, Legion from the Shadows,March 14

168. KEW and some hardback books, miscellaneous.  March 16

169. Poul Anderson part 1, Viking related books, March 19

170. Poul Anderson part 2, Flandry series and The BrokenSword, March 21

171. Anderson and his Conan pastiche, with more on AndyOffutt’s Conan, March 23

172. Anderson and The Broken Sword specifically, March 24

173. Anderson and other fantasy, and various, March 26

174. Anderson and Short stories, Fantasy and Queen of Airand Darkness, March 27

175. Heroes of fantasy quiz, match hero with author, March29

176. Answers to Heroes of Fantasy quiz, March 30

177. A personal rant on “purple prose” in fantasy, March 31

178. David C. Smith and REH, Bran and Black Vulmea, April 2

179, Smith and REH part 2, Red Sonja paperback series, April4

180. David C. Smith’s original work, Oron and others, April6

181. Smith part 4, Fall of the First World series and hishorror, April 7

182. Becoming a reader part 1, Grapes of Wrath, GreatGatsby, etc, April 9

183. Becoming a reader part 2, the King James Bible, TheOdyssey etc. April 10

184. TOR and their Conan covers, April 12

185. CAG, S&S anthology appearances, Krieg specifically,April 13

186. Norvil Page, Wan Tengri books, April 15

187. Norvil Page post 2, the Spider books, April 16

188. Reprint of Andre Norton post by Black Gate, April 17

189. Asimov’s Magical World of Fantasy antho, April 19

190. Matching quiz, authors and pseudonyms, April 23

191. Answers to authors & pseudonyms Quiz, April 25

192. Michael Moorcock part 1, Eternal Warrior and Elric,April 27

193. Michael Moorcock part 2, More Elric, hardbacks. April28

194. Michael Moorcock part 3, Hawkmoon series, April 30

195. Moorcock part 4, Corum series, May 2

196. Moorcock part 5, Eternal Champion trilogy, May 4

197. Moorcock part 6, various, music influence and comics, May6

198. Gordon Shirreffs and Calgaich, as well as westerns, May8

199. Gil Kane, Sword of the Atom graphic collection, May 9

200. Alan Moore’s work, The Watchmen, May 11

201. Philip Jose Farmer, The Mad Goblin and Lord of the Trees,May 13

202. Fritz Leiber, part 1, Fafhrd, Gray Mouser, May 15

203. Fritz Leiber part 2, Fafhrd, Gray Mouser, Leiber vsREH, May 16

204. Leiber part 3, vs REH, nonfiction essays, May 17

205. Leiber part 4, Fafhrd, Gray mouser comic stuff, andother novels, May 18

206. S&P comics, Planet Hulk, Skaar, May 20

207. Swords & Sails, Interplanetary, Treasure planet, Swasbucklers,etc, May 22

208. Lines I wish I’d written part 1, taken from fantasystories, May 24

209. John Russell Fearn, Mars series (4 books), May 26

210. Reprint of a 2nd Andre Norton post at BlackGate, May 27

211. Moorcock and Elric tribute anthology, May 29

212. Paragraphs I wish I’d written, Bradbury, Jackson,Howard, etc, May 31

213. Killraven graphic collections, June 2

214. Roger Zelazny post 1, Amber Chronicles, June 4

215. Zelazny post 2, Dilvish and other books, June 5

216. John Maddox Roberts, post about his death, June 6

217. Pathfinder graphic novel, with mention of CAG HeroicaSkirmishers story, June 8

218. Hugh Walker and Magira, June 10

219. Heroes of fantasy with 4 and 5 letter names June 12

220. Lyndon Perry, Sword of Otrim, June 14

221. John Christopher and the Tripods, post 1, June 15

222. John Christopher post 2, June 17

223. Reprint of Joel Jenkins and Dire planet post at BlackGate, June 18

224. David Mason and Kavin, June 19

225. Robert Jordan and his Conan pastiches, June 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Moon Quarterly, Volume 5, 2023. 137 pages. Edited andarranged by Julian Barona. Cover by Derek Moore.

This is a collection ofheroic fantasy short stories. Most of these tales would fall into the generalSword & Sorcery subgenre, but several of them stretch those boundaries tothe breaking point. The Table of Contents consists of:

Introduction, by theeditors of Old Moon. An interesting comparison between “Kull” type heroicfantasy and “Conan” type.

Together Under the Wingby Jonathan Olfert. One of the most unique heroic fantasy stories I’ve everread. The hero is not a human or even human like. I don’t want to say morebecause I don’t want to give it away. But this was a powerfully memorablestory.

Champions Against theMaggot King by K. H. Vaughn. A relatively traditional Sword & Sorcery talebut with tremendous world building behind it. Told in first person and presenttense, but I didn’t find that either got in the way of the story. The endinghaunts.

The King's Two Bodiesby Joe Koch. A long poem. Very fine language.

The Origin of Boghoundsby Amelia Gorman. A story of a woman and her boghound. Very nontraditionaltale. Beautifully written. 

Well Met at the Gatesof Hell by David K. Henrickson. Elements of this are traditional but it’scertainly presented in a unique way. A warrior dies and must face three oldenemies at the gates of hell. As the battle progresses, we learn more and moreabout the warrior. I believe this is my favorite, although if you ask metomorrow I might decide on another.

A Warning AgaynsteWoldes by Zachary Bos. Another poem, and a most challenging one. Not written instandard English. This one bears rereading before you’ll begin to understandit.

The Skulls of Ghosts byCharles Gramlich. This is my story and is probably the most traditional Sword& Sorcery tale in the collection. It involves my series character, Krieg,  but that’s all I’ll say.

The Headsman'sMelancholy by Joseph Andre Thomas. This is an out and out horror story setagainst a heroic fantasy backdrop. Ever since Robert E. Howard invented theSword & Sorcery genre, there’s always been a strong element of horror inthe best stories and this one doubles that quotient. I felt strongly for themain character.

A Book of Blades, Copyright 2022 by Rouges in the HousePodcast: 226 pages.

A Book of Blades is subtitled “A Sword & SorceryAnthology.” It contains 15 stories as well as a very brief introduction byMatthew John, and an Artist’s Portfolio. This is one of the most entertainingcollections of S&S stories I’ve read in a long time. The quality isconsistently high in every instance and I definitely give it 5 stars. Below isa listing of the stories with my brief comments about each.

“By the Sword,” by John C. Hocking: I only knew of Hockingfrom his Conan pastiche, Conan and the Emerald Lotus, but I’ve never read it.After reading this tale I’ll have to pick up more of Hocking’s work. A storyfull of blood and thunder, and with a poignant ending that strongly engaged me.

“Ghost Song,” Chuck Clark: Turkael is a young hunter of histribe but it is he who must face a sorcerer shapeshifter. Something in thistale reminded me of the character Imaro as created by the late CharlesSaunders, and that’s a fine compliment.

“Last of the Swamp Tribe,” by L.D. Whitney: There’s a bit of“Beastmaster” in this. Man and wolf face their enemies together. Greywind isthe wolf and made an excellent character.

“Wanna Bet?,” by T.A. Markitan: A mage hires two warriors tohelp him rob a ruin, but there’s a hidden agenda. And secrets within secrets.The denouement turns on an interesting character reveal.

“The Serpent’s Heart,” by Howard Andrew Jones: A ship iswrecked by a sea monster and its crew set adrift. They are rescued by anothership, which is pursuing the monster. But of course there are secrets. Thescenes aboard the “rescuing” ship are beautifully rendered and very creepy.Jones has recently had a couple of S&S books released and after this I’llcertainly pick them up.

“How They Fall,” by Angeline B. Adams and Remco van Straten:This is really a character study rather than a story, but it works because it’svery well written and also quite short. It creates a melancholy mood that growsstronger throughout.

“The Breath of Death,” by Jason M. Waltz: Starting thisstory was a little jarring stylistically compared to the previous tales, andthat’s because it was written in present tense. Present tense can bringimmediacy to a story, and it does so here. It can also be risky at longerlengths, but Waltz judged the length just right. I was engaged. 

“Embracing Ember,” by S.E. Lindberg: Lindberg is anexcellent prose stylist, and maybe my favorite one working in the fantasy fieldtoday. This is a story from his Dyscrasia universe, a fully realized but quitebizarre world. The world building is incredible but Lindberg doesn’t stint oncharacter development either. Fully realized, but most unusual. Very much of atreat.

“The Curse of Wine,” by J.M. Clarke: Kyembe wakes up from adrunk to find that he’s been robbed. Bad idea. A short tale but very engaging.

“The Gift of Gallah,” by Matthew John: I enjoy tales ofaging warriors. When they’re well done. And this one is well done. Anotherpoignant ending.

“Crawl,” by Scott Oden: Oden is well known for the bloodyaction of his stories, but in this one he stretches his wings a little more.There is action, but the tale turns primarily on character and on historicalresonance. It’s a kind of retelling of European history against the backdrop ofChristianity’s spread. One really feels for the underdogs here.

“The Spine of Virens Imber,” by Nathaniel Webb: Shar theSpearmen is an indomitable warrior, which is not unusual in sword and sorcery.But the character is very well done and the writing strong. A fine piece.

“The City of the Screaming Pillars,” by Cora Buhlert: Wehave an ensemble cast here, and they’re after treasure in an abandoned city ofthe desert. A cursed city. Robert E. Howard strengthened his fantasy worlds bybringing in horror elements, and Buhlert mines a similar ground here to verygood effect.

“Two Silvers for a Song of Blood,” by Jason Ray Carney:Carney is a fellow academic and I’ve worked with him before on The Dark ManJournal. That’s nonfiction and I haven’t previously read his fiction. Not allacademics can write blood and thunder but Carney masters it and gives his“Barbarian-like” character some intriguing extra layers. Best title goes tothis one as well.

“The Blood of Old Shard,” by John R. Fultz: I’ll definitelywant to read more by Fultz. This was a great story to end the anthology onbecause it’s certainly one of the strongest tales among a grouping of strongpieces. Gnori is a great hero and, again, we have a most poignant ending thatleft me wanting more. A good way to end a book.

So, to finish, I truly liked every story in this book, whichis not a common experience for me actually. Nothing weak here, and I recommendthem all. But, the three that hit me the hardest personally were the pieces byLindberg, Carney, and Fultz.

Since Blogging doesn't seem as popular as it used to be, I've started posting a series of pieces on Sword & Planet fiction over on Facebook, in what is called The Swords & Planet League. S&P fiction is the kind of story that Edgar Rice Burroughs created when he wrote "A Princess of Mars" back in 1912. His stories of Earthman John Carter's adventures on Mars, called "Barsoom" by its inhabitants, have thrilled millions and influenced countless authors, including me. I wrote the five part Taleran saga because of that influence, and quite a few short stories as well.  

If you are on facebook, please check out my S&P page: The Swords & Planet League. 

Despite the title, this is a short story, and actually on the shorter side of short. It was originally published in 1895 along with two other interwoven stories in a work called "The Three Imposters." I have not read the collection but this piece stands on its own as a short tale. The story is simple. An Englishman from the upper class is studying for the law and begins suffering from what might be called "nervous exhaustion." He is prescribed a white powder by his doctor and at first he seems full of renewed energy and vigor. However, the powder begins to take an awful toll and the man becomes more and more reclusive until...well, you'll need to read to find out. The story is told by his concerned brother, and in the course of the tale we find that the medicine prescribed by the doctor is not what the pharmacist supplied. As the basis of the drug, the pharmacist used a container of powder that had been on his shelves for many years and had been chemically altered by that long exposure into another substance called Vinum Sabbati--a witch's brew.

The story is pretty simple but effective. Since it's told by the brother, we don't "see" or experience the man's transformations except second hand. This was a common storytelling technique in those days and is still used today, although not as commonly. However, the writing is very fine and we get a good sense of mounting dread from the story. One can see how this tale was likely a strong influence on H. P. Lovecraft and his nameless horrors. 

I suspect that Machen's influence here came at least partially from the writings of Sigmund Freud on Cocaine, which mostly appeared between the years 1884 and 1887. The drug was well known by the time Machen wrote this story, and quite a few doctors and researchers had extolled its virtues, although it's less desirable effects were also becoming known.  

Very sad to see that Coach Charles Tadlock has died. He was my first football coach, in seventh grade at Charleston, Arkansas Junior High. I remember that he was quite a large man, and as a kid who barely weighed 100 pounds in 7th grade he was intimidating. But over the next few years I came to admire him and…I liked him.  (Picture above borrowed from a facebook page. All rights to the photographer.)

Coach Tadlock could be tough but I always found him fair. The thing I remember most is that he wanted you to do your best, but if you tried your best and it wasn’t good enough, he recognized it and didn’t hold you accountable for not being able to do the miraculous. 

I remember one particular game. I was playing safety on defense and the opposing team had a wide receiver who was something like six feet, nine, a good foot taller than me, with arms to match. This guy caught three touchdown passes right over me that night. I was so upset, so angry. I remember coming off the field nearly in tears and sitting on the bench with my head in my hands. No one would talk to me, not out of meanness but because they were all just as young as I was and didn’t know what to say.

Coach Tadlock approached. He patted me on the shoulder pads and said, “just keep doing your best. That’s all you can do.” There was no anger or recrimination in his voice. I’ve remembered that moment for fifty years. 

I remember, too, a much funnier moment. We were playing a team from Oklahoma. Pacola, I think. They were driving toward a touchdown. I was playing safety. I intercepted a ball just before the endzone and gave us back the ball. This time, my teammates knew just what to do. They all cheered and pounded me on the back. 

After the celebration was over and I was sitting on the bench, Coach Tadlock came over to me. He was smiling and slapped me on the shoulder pads. Then he leaned in, and in a very quiet voice that no one else could hear, he said: “you know you were out of position, don’t you?”

Indeed, I had been. The receiver had beat me and their quarterback underthrew him and hit me right in the chest. It was a colossal piece of luck on my part. But the kindness of coach there, knowing what I’d done wrong and wanting to teach me, but not to correct me in front of all my peers and take away that moment of joy. 

I’m sorry for the loss of this good man, and for his family who will now have to bear his absence. He will be remembered by many. 

  

I'm a fan of Halloween, but not as big of a fan as K. A. Opperman. I'm not sure there is a bigger fan of All Hallows Eve than Opperman. His introduction to “Past the Glad and Sunlit Season,” his first collection of Halloween themed poems, illustrates it. I enjoyed the brief story of his Halloween journey. It's quite different from mine, and he is far more passionate in his love for the holiday.

Opperman has also produced a second collection of Halloween related poetry in “October Ghosts and Autumn Dreams.” I’ve reviewed them independently on Goodreads but decided to blog them together. The covers on the two books are the first thing you notice. Both are striking, and the interiors are fully illustrated. These are my photos here of the covers. The covers reflect—in my opinion—the contents of the books. The book 2 poems are generally darker, although not horrific. 

As for the poems? The first volume contains 54 of them. Most are short. All are rhyming. They are charming enough to be read to children but have enough ghoulish imagery to tantalize the adult. I read some to my wife, who is also a Celtiphile, and she found them delightful.

The second collection contains 46 poems, but several of them are longer so it’s about the same total length. These are also rhyming poems, although he varies the rhyming scheme a little more here. I personally find writing good rhyming poems difficult, but in these two books Opperman has done a wonderful job in making the rhymes work to his—and the reader’s—advantage. 

A very nice touch in both books was a section at the end about the poems, wherein Opperman discusses the origins and some of the meanings of the pieces. I keep this kind of information for my own stories and poems so it’s nice to see it from someone else. 

The second book also ends with a too brief essay on “Trick-or-Treat As Initiatory Rite and Attendant Symbolism.” Opperman laid out some very interesting concepts in this piece and I’d love to see an expansion of it. He clearly has thought a great deal about Halloween and that time of the year. Perhaps he is indeed the Pumpkin King and his human face only a summer disguise.

Overall, there's a touch here and there that remind me of Ray Bradbury's work, who was also a lover of Halloween. The titles, particularly, put me in mind of Ray. I will mention one specific poem that reminds me of Bradbury’s work, from book 2. It really connected with me. “Where Yet October Dwells.” To quote:

Against the bleak advances of November,

There is a hollow lost in hidden dells,

Where yet a pumpkin keeps October’s ember—

A place of dreams and spells. 

I was born in October, as was my wife. We are one day apart, although not in years. So this poem resonated with me for that reason in addition to others. When I finished reading it, I was expecting it to be the last one in the collection. Turns out there was one more but I think the position of these two might have been reversed to good effect. 

To sum up, these two volumes make a nice addition to my shelves. Perhaps I’ll have to put them up with a Halloween display this year. And I doubt we’ve heard the last about Halloween from the Pumpkin King. Not the “King in Yellow” but the King in Orange. With a carved smile. 

Spectros #1: Silverado, by Logan Winters. Tower Books,1981. 159 pages.

Logan Winters was one of several pseudonyms used bywriter Paul Joseph Lederer (July 2, 1944 – January 30, 2016). Some others wereOwen G. Irons, C. J. Sommers, Warren T. Longtree, and Paul Ledd. He also wrotebooks under his own name, particularly a series called the “Indian Heritage”series. I haven’t read anything other than Spectros #1 so far but I will likelypick up some of his other works.

So, to the review. The book was billed as a kind ofweird western. I agree it fits that mold, although the primary influence herewould be the pulps such as Doc Savage. Doctor Spectros, a master magician ofunknown age, has a crew that work with him in the same vein as Doc Savage.These include gunslinger Ray Featherskill, brute/mute Montak, and aninscrutable foreign fighter named Inkada.

The gist of the story is that another sorcerer,Blackschuster, has kidnapped Spectros’ love, Kirstina, and has been keeping heralive through magical means. Alive but unconscious. Spectros is after him withhis crew.

What I liked: The prose here is very good. Crisp,vivid, clean. There’s quite a lot of poetry in it, which always sets my littleheart a flutter. This is the main reason why I’d read more by this writer. Inaddition, the characters are broadly drawn but interesting, and I liked thecrew much better than Doc Savage’s crew. They weren’t played for laughs—for themost part—and given serious roles to fulfill.

What I didn’t like: Though this is the “first” in aseries of four books, it seems clear the reader is expected to know a lot ofbackstory already. The characters aren’t really introduced. They are sprinkledin like a cook adding ingredients to a stew. Now, I’m a fan of action up front,but I also expect that characters with a long and complicated history getintroduced fairly early in a book so the reader has some orientation to theirstory and why it is meaningful. There was almost none here. I got moreorientation from the back cover blurb than the book itself.

In addition, the story jumps around between thecharacters somewhat willy-nilly, without much of a common thread to connectthem. As I was reading about Lederer’s work, he made a comment in an interviewthat made me think this was his general approach to writing. I’m a pantsermostly myself but I work very hard to make the multiple characters andplotlines connect.

Another issue, which may not be Lederer’s fault, isthat characters and scenes sometimes changed in the middle of a page withoutany break or asterisks, or anything to indicate said break. That makes for somedifficult reading. And add to that quite a few typos and you’ve got someconfusion.

Overall, I can only give this book two stars. Theprose deserves four or five but all the other things dragged the work down tothe point that I was glad to finish so I could move on to a better story. Thestory is the thing.

As for Lederer, he was born in California and died inhis early seventies from a brain aneurysm. He served a term in the Air Force,in the Intelligence Arm, and was widely travelled in Europe, the Middle East,and Asia. He wrote over 100 novels, most of them westerns or with westernconnections. Sounds like he would have been an interesting fellow to meet.  

 

A few days ago (on Tuesday, June 27th), I lost afriend—Alvin Burstein, who most people called “Al.” By the time I met Al, he wasalready retired from a long career as a clinical psychologist and educator. Imet him in a different capacity when I joined a small, newly begun writinggroup on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain, across the lake from NewOrleans. Al and his wife Sandra were early members of that group, whichunderwent quite a few changes before a hardcore cadre of stalwartscoalesced. Al, who was very much a man of literature, suggested we call ourgroup Louisiana Inklings, after a much more famous group of writers, mostnotably including C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Inklings met for many years, initially at a local library oroccasionally a restaurant, and finally at Al and Sandra’s elegant home on theNorthshore. (It continued in somewhat truncated form even after Covid hit.)

Al was a fan of sushi as well as literature, and he and I and Sandra metsometimes outside the group for raw fish, rice, and conversation. Al hadwritten many academic and scholarly articles in his career (here is a link tohis vita), but at this time in his life he’d stoked his fire for fiction. Andhe was a talented and precise wordsmith, but often a playful one, as witnessedby a story of his that I republished in an anthology I edited of the Inklingcrew’s work—“The Crawfish Boil.”

Al was also astute at the critique work of the group.Although his often-blunt commentary occasionally left some hard feelings earlyon, his intent was never to cut but to clarify. His deeply analytical andprobing mind, having been honed by years working as a clinical psychologist, slicedthrough the BS and centered on the heart of the matter—what was the storytrying to say and was it successful at it.

Although Al and my writing styles could scarcely have beenmore different, we both appreciated and respected the other’s work. Alunderstood what I was trying to accomplish and why my characters were describedas they were, and he often made inciteful comments that helped me clarify mythoughts. (He was also great at catching typos.)

Al had quite a long life. His energy seldom faltered; his commitmentto quality in his own work and in that of others never did. Al was also a Francophile and the picture above, taken by Sandra, shows him at the Academie Francaise in Paris. Perhaps the best sample of his literary style can be found in "The Owl," which was published in 2012. A delightful novella.  

Al Burstein was afine man, a fine writer, and a wonderful friend. I’ll miss him.