The Once and Future Sword: Excalibur's Delinquent Life Before Arthur

by Gregory Amato

Losing your temper is pretty bad for a sword.

Dwarf-forged and dwarf-blessed, this sword was made to do great things. At least until its wielder gets fat and lazy and starts using it as a prop. And until all the other weapons start snickering. Can two and a half pounds of homicidal steel regain glory after its importance is forgotten?

Unless it can forge a new path, the greatest sword in the North might just lose its edge.


The Once and Future Sword is a stand-alone short story by Gregory Amato.

Genres: Fantasy

19 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2023

About the author

Gregory Amato made a career of selling his quill as a mercenary writer for many years. He wrote true and important things for newspapers, magazines, academia, and, for over a decade, intelligence analysis for the FBI.

Now, he writes fantasy stories based on the myths and sagas of the vikings. His fiction is often influenced by tales lost to time, usually full of high adventure, and always the sort that makes readers late to dinner.

Outside his time spent spinning yarns about vikings and wizards, he teaches Judo, brews beer, and plays DnD when he gets the chance.

Gregory lives happily with his family in the Pacific Northwest.

Sign up for updates, free fiction, and fascinating musings at AmatoAuthor.com!

Reviews

[Rowdy Geirsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun really short little story. For anyone who has ever wanted to know what Excalibur was like in his younger, hell-raising days. He wasn’t modest and he thrilled in killing people, but he also had a really sensitive side that uppity knives and battle-axes brought out of him, and till now no one was even aware that this aspect of his life existed.

[Ben Kaeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and punchy. A witty dive into the mind of a legendary artifact. Easily worth reading for any fans of Arthurian legend

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the coziest short story about a sword! Yes, there is talk about severing heads, but I found the MC to be so endearing.

I loved every moment of this, and I'm excited to read more from this author.

Many thanks to the author for providing this wonderful story from his newsletter. I fully recommend this short story.

[merlin513 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute hoot of a short story from a certain famous sword’s point of view. Nothing says snobbery like being a dwarven forged eldritch killing blade and having to deal with hoitty-toitty knives & battleaxes.

I was honestly expecting a novella so the brevity of the story left me wanting more!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Andrew Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I got philosophical about it. And by philosophical, I mean depressed. Thinking is overrated, I decided. More wisdom in doing."

Is this a tale of sadistic sentient blades and masochistic shields? Of different tastes from maple trees, to fish, to cheese, to flesh? The humor of it all meshes well with the sincere insight into intent, even among a magical blade. Some are made directed toward power, but at least one is made directed towards its user, a connection galvanized by honor or loosely tethered by greed. Some users are gluttonous for power while others are noble king types. Over the years, I became leery of Arthurian additions but I rightly figured this tale would be no issue in that regard. I did not foresee (simply not thinking about it) that it would actually fit well into the legend of Excalibur and King Arthur, as it was forged anew but with the classic folded in. Told well, you could believe its part of the mythos, and I would like to see other workings by Amato in the Arthurian landscape, maybe one with Sir Gawaine's sword, Galatine.

Trollsbane
The Skald
The Sorcerer's Reward
Burden to Bear
The Once and Future Sword

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was wonderful. An inventive story that is entertaining and a fun read. Can’t wait for the trilogy to come out.

[Hanna Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this a lot more than I thought it would, an excellent fantasy book! Highly recommend and look forward to reading more books by this author.

I received a free copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun short story told from a truly exceptional point of view.

[Gregory Amato]

November 2023 update: The Once and Future Sword is on Kindle Unlimited! For now!

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.