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SwordPlay
Thirteen Tales of Sword & Sorcery!Thirteen Tales of Sword & Sorcery!
Mixing classic with unconventional approaches, SWORDPLAY collects into a single volume a group of tales like you've never experienced, while retaining a familiar feel all fans of the genre will recognize.
Lending their considerable talents toward tales of blades, battles, necromancers, sorceresses and lethal creatures, thirteen writers celebrate the genre while enhancing and expanding the range and scope of Sword & Sorcery.
Featuring original tales
CLIFF BIGGERS- DAN BRERETON- CULLEN BUNN- MICHAEL BURKE- RICHARD DANSKY- CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN- STEVEN GRANT- TONIA LAIRD- BRACKEN MACLEOD- JAMES A. MOORE- ALLISON PANG- LINDA ROBERTSON REINHARDT- CHARLES R. RUTLEDGE
Mixing classic with unconventional approaches, SWORDPLAY collects into a single volume a group of tales like you've never experienced, while retaining a familiar feel all fans of the genre will recognize.
Lending their considerable talents toward tales of blades, battles, necromancers, sorceresses and lethal creatures, thirteen writers celebrate the genre while enhancing and expanding the range and scope of Sword & Sorcery.
Featuring original tales
CLIFF BIGGERS- DAN BRERETON- CULLEN BUNN- MICHAEL BURKE- RICHARD DANSKY- CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN- STEVEN GRANT- TONIA LAIRD- BRACKEN MACLEOD- JAMES A. MOORE- ALLISON PANG- LINDA ROBERTSON REINHARDT- CHARLES R. RUTLEDGE
- GenresSword and SorceryFantasy
287 pages, Paperback
Published July 14, 2023
About the author
James Moore
295 books7 followers Librarian's note: There is more than one author on Goodreads with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 27, 2024
Good collection of fantasy and sword and sorcery type stories. There was a nice mixture of writing styles. A lot of stories are open ended ready for sequels. I’d like to see a follow up anthology. Recommend!
Read
May 16, 2026I feel like this is an under appreciated gem that many might have passed over or forgotten about.
Numerous stories firmly gripped my imagination and kept me returning eager to see what the next author brought to the table.
The book’s lack of an introduction is my only criticism at this time.
Swordplay edited by Dan Brereton, Allison Pang, and James A Moore
Cover and interior illustrations Dan Brereton
287 pages
2023
I only became aware of this book because a couple of the authors, I believe it was Rutledge and Burke, shared it on social media. Which is a shame because aside from the book lacking an introduction, or at the very least a blurb before each story, it is almost perfect. A baker’s dozen of great stories and illustrated to boot? Yes please.
The Crimson Totem by Dan Brereton and James A Moore
A brief story only spanning five pages. Five! Although those five pages did whet my appetite and curiosity for more. Ancyll, the star-born reaver reminds me Banner of the Sa’Yen by B.R. Stateham—which I highly recommend. The use of tanks and fey creatures from the forest makes this style of story hard to pigeonhole.
Barbarian Gothic by Charles Rutledge
Rutledge has been recommended to me by various individuals over the years. Sadly, I’ve only read a few of his stories, but each one of those have been really good.
A chance meeting in the wilderness brings a knight within reach of his goal. The hitch? Bandits fill the ruins he has taken shelter in.
Something else resides in the lower levels.
The titular barbarian has a unique set of attributes. I would definitely welcome more stories concerning him.
This one is easily worth the price of admission for this anthology.
Ārdeō by Bracken Macleod
This story title bears the same problem as in Daggers & Dark Powers: The Princess of Ïnișent by Urna Semper. Both include a single word with accent marks and both are in all caps. Is it a formatting issue?
There is something about a character that is so stolid and self-possessed. A calm facade masking the storm within. Knowingly walking into a bad situation, it’s simply badass.
Bravo Bracken! I sincerely hope to see more of Anika in the future.
Justified: Something Worth Saving by Linda Robertson Reinhardt
Another surprising protagonist with a specific skillset. It was fascinating that the story was written in first-person perspective yet the narrator is mute.
An enthralling tale of revenge, with betrayal and coercion too. As the body count rises our protagonist begins to connect the dots. Ultimately his final choice is simple because he has found something worth saving.
While I enjoy stories like this and certainly strong, competent protagonists, in the back of my mind I constantly consider who balances out this justice when it goes rogue? Or the system is corrupted?
The Scythian: Nereid’s Ring by Steven Grant
The character, the Scythian, appears to be the intellectual property of both Steven Grant and Dan Brereton.
Another supremely competent martial character. Playing all the angles, he seeks a big payday. The folks he ends up enmeshed with hide a long, sinister history. The Scythian isn’t a fool but he may have underestimated the depth of this engagement.
The Girl With Downcast Eyes: An Undeadly Tale by Cullen Bunn
The art that adorns the title page of the story actually matches the story, perhaps it’s because several of the characters are the intellectual property of Dan Brereton.
I just cannot get behind most tales of urban fantasy that incorporate S&S ascetics. As a whole the story is engaging, it’s just not my bag.
An entire major city has slid into a nightmare. Creatures and gangs of bad men and demons now control everything. Two companions have entered this no-man’s-land on a quest. What they find is petrifying!
It is human to err, and indie publications are no strangers to typos. However, this story was riddled with them. Thus far the book has had a few occasional typos. I found almost a dozen just in this story alone.
Faces of the Winter Wood by Richard Dansky
A nameless warrior descends upon a village that borders the Wood. Folk come from all over to converse with the faces in the wood. Some never return. Others return mad. Some return half-dead.
The warrior’s intentions and goals aren’t made clear until the end. He learns the truth about the faces as we learn the truth about him.
The denouement was confusing, especially given the warrior’s reaction to the faces. With the last couple of sentences Dansky makes it all clear. Woe to the enemies of the unnamed warrior!
The Conquerors by Christopher Golden
I am still unsure how I feel about this story. It is brief. It contains very little action and no magic. Even still, at the end I wanted more.
You see, I wouldn’t call this a complete story. If it were part of a series, I would think of it as a bridge between stories. What it actually seems to be is an introduction. An incident. Just enough to pique your interest and then leave you wanting to know the outcome of what comes next.
Waters of Death by Cliff Biggers
It bodes ill for the common person when the powerful and capricious play games with nature.
Gondar strides into the story with competence and confidence. Using his wits he doesn’t match his opponents energy but learns the roots of that power. Devising a means of turning that power against its user.
This story is brief but leaves me wanting more of this author’s fiction. The artwork that accompanies the story depicts a pivotal moment.
City of the Dead by James A Moore
I was reminded recently that James A Moore had passed away. I am not overly familiar with his fiction, but I did enjoy this story. I have his Seven Forges series on the shelf in the library—I should consider reading it sooner rather than later.
There is a novelty concerning the denouement that I cannot recall encountering before. I certainly don’t want to spoil it for anyone.
The job was simple: locate a tome and its accompanying necklace. Retrieve both and return. Their employer? Unscrupulous and already deep in debt to our protagonists. The rub? They’re not the only ones on the job.
A theft in a city with the moniker ‘city of the dead’, stealing from the high priest of a death goddess, and your competition is a necromancer notorious for cannibalism? That my friend is a stacked deck!
Mortality by Tania Laird
Initially I had trouble with this one. It didn’t click with me right away. I persevered and was rewarded with a compelling story of family, magic, and revolution.
The events are recounted in the first person perspective. The story breaks often, blending the past with the present. I must praise the editors and author for this one. All of the memory segments are italicized. Nice touch!
I do not want to get into the nuts and bolts of this for fear of giving something away. I will say that my imagination was quite taken with the abilities of the protagonist. Very cool. The solution at the climax, while not explosive like a Michael Bay movie, but it was still quite effective.
I am really glad that I didn’t give up on this story.
The Vision of the Crimson Eye by Michael Burke
Burke is no stranger to writing sword & sorcery. His signature character, Ahanu Foxcloud, stands proud among other traditional characters found in this genre.
Ahanu, despite what he is actively doing, seems to be seeking knowledge of his parents. Namely his mother. The supernatural creatures and/or magic users he meets always seem to know of his quest and promise to share their knowledge…for a price.
I am unsure where this story falls chronologically within the saga, but it doesn’t seem to follow behind the events in Lord of Blood found in Swords & Heroes anthology published by Tule Fog Press. Although, I could be wrong.
I enjoyed the traditional bent of the story. The dilemma Ahanu must face was difficult. The knowledge he seeks was seemingly within his grasp but rationale and loyalty convinced him his ultimate decision was correct.
I just learned, from an Amazon search, Burke’s collection Fragments of a Greater Darkness is out of print. Perhaps we’ll see another collection in the future.
Sorrow’s Lament by Allison Pang
A young woman, who is disabled in some way that I cannot remember, is used by her father to hunt fey creatures in the wood. Her father wants to sell the creature to get a great payday.
The young woman eventually defies her father and must now forge a future free of his overbearing control.
Not quite the tone I expected at the end of this collection of stories. Although if it had been placed in the middle of the book it probably would have been forgotten and overshadowed by the others.
Numerous stories firmly gripped my imagination and kept me returning eager to see what the next author brought to the table.
The book’s lack of an introduction is my only criticism at this time.
Swordplay edited by Dan Brereton, Allison Pang, and James A Moore
Cover and interior illustrations Dan Brereton
287 pages
2023
I only became aware of this book because a couple of the authors, I believe it was Rutledge and Burke, shared it on social media. Which is a shame because aside from the book lacking an introduction, or at the very least a blurb before each story, it is almost perfect. A baker’s dozen of great stories and illustrated to boot? Yes please.
The Crimson Totem by Dan Brereton and James A Moore
A brief story only spanning five pages. Five! Although those five pages did whet my appetite and curiosity for more. Ancyll, the star-born reaver reminds me Banner of the Sa’Yen by B.R. Stateham—which I highly recommend. The use of tanks and fey creatures from the forest makes this style of story hard to pigeonhole.
Barbarian Gothic by Charles Rutledge
Rutledge has been recommended to me by various individuals over the years. Sadly, I’ve only read a few of his stories, but each one of those have been really good.
A chance meeting in the wilderness brings a knight within reach of his goal. The hitch? Bandits fill the ruins he has taken shelter in.
Something else resides in the lower levels.
The titular barbarian has a unique set of attributes. I would definitely welcome more stories concerning him.
This one is easily worth the price of admission for this anthology.
Ārdeō by Bracken Macleod
This story title bears the same problem as in Daggers & Dark Powers: The Princess of Ïnișent by Urna Semper. Both include a single word with accent marks and both are in all caps. Is it a formatting issue?
There is something about a character that is so stolid and self-possessed. A calm facade masking the storm within. Knowingly walking into a bad situation, it’s simply badass.
Bravo Bracken! I sincerely hope to see more of Anika in the future.
Justified: Something Worth Saving by Linda Robertson Reinhardt
Another surprising protagonist with a specific skillset. It was fascinating that the story was written in first-person perspective yet the narrator is mute.
An enthralling tale of revenge, with betrayal and coercion too. As the body count rises our protagonist begins to connect the dots. Ultimately his final choice is simple because he has found something worth saving.
While I enjoy stories like this and certainly strong, competent protagonists, in the back of my mind I constantly consider who balances out this justice when it goes rogue? Or the system is corrupted?
The Scythian: Nereid’s Ring by Steven Grant
The character, the Scythian, appears to be the intellectual property of both Steven Grant and Dan Brereton.
Another supremely competent martial character. Playing all the angles, he seeks a big payday. The folks he ends up enmeshed with hide a long, sinister history. The Scythian isn’t a fool but he may have underestimated the depth of this engagement.
The Girl With Downcast Eyes: An Undeadly Tale by Cullen Bunn
The art that adorns the title page of the story actually matches the story, perhaps it’s because several of the characters are the intellectual property of Dan Brereton.
I just cannot get behind most tales of urban fantasy that incorporate S&S ascetics. As a whole the story is engaging, it’s just not my bag.
An entire major city has slid into a nightmare. Creatures and gangs of bad men and demons now control everything. Two companions have entered this no-man’s-land on a quest. What they find is petrifying!
It is human to err, and indie publications are no strangers to typos. However, this story was riddled with them. Thus far the book has had a few occasional typos. I found almost a dozen just in this story alone.
Faces of the Winter Wood by Richard Dansky
A nameless warrior descends upon a village that borders the Wood. Folk come from all over to converse with the faces in the wood. Some never return. Others return mad. Some return half-dead.
The warrior’s intentions and goals aren’t made clear until the end. He learns the truth about the faces as we learn the truth about him.
The denouement was confusing, especially given the warrior’s reaction to the faces. With the last couple of sentences Dansky makes it all clear. Woe to the enemies of the unnamed warrior!
The Conquerors by Christopher Golden
I am still unsure how I feel about this story. It is brief. It contains very little action and no magic. Even still, at the end I wanted more.
You see, I wouldn’t call this a complete story. If it were part of a series, I would think of it as a bridge between stories. What it actually seems to be is an introduction. An incident. Just enough to pique your interest and then leave you wanting to know the outcome of what comes next.
Waters of Death by Cliff Biggers
It bodes ill for the common person when the powerful and capricious play games with nature.
Gondar strides into the story with competence and confidence. Using his wits he doesn’t match his opponents energy but learns the roots of that power. Devising a means of turning that power against its user.
This story is brief but leaves me wanting more of this author’s fiction. The artwork that accompanies the story depicts a pivotal moment.
City of the Dead by James A Moore
I was reminded recently that James A Moore had passed away. I am not overly familiar with his fiction, but I did enjoy this story. I have his Seven Forges series on the shelf in the library—I should consider reading it sooner rather than later.
There is a novelty concerning the denouement that I cannot recall encountering before. I certainly don’t want to spoil it for anyone.
The job was simple: locate a tome and its accompanying necklace. Retrieve both and return. Their employer? Unscrupulous and already deep in debt to our protagonists. The rub? They’re not the only ones on the job.
A theft in a city with the moniker ‘city of the dead’, stealing from the high priest of a death goddess, and your competition is a necromancer notorious for cannibalism? That my friend is a stacked deck!
Mortality by Tania Laird
Initially I had trouble with this one. It didn’t click with me right away. I persevered and was rewarded with a compelling story of family, magic, and revolution.
The events are recounted in the first person perspective. The story breaks often, blending the past with the present. I must praise the editors and author for this one. All of the memory segments are italicized. Nice touch!
I do not want to get into the nuts and bolts of this for fear of giving something away. I will say that my imagination was quite taken with the abilities of the protagonist. Very cool. The solution at the climax, while not explosive like a Michael Bay movie, but it was still quite effective.
I am really glad that I didn’t give up on this story.
The Vision of the Crimson Eye by Michael Burke
Burke is no stranger to writing sword & sorcery. His signature character, Ahanu Foxcloud, stands proud among other traditional characters found in this genre.
Ahanu, despite what he is actively doing, seems to be seeking knowledge of his parents. Namely his mother. The supernatural creatures and/or magic users he meets always seem to know of his quest and promise to share their knowledge…for a price.
I am unsure where this story falls chronologically within the saga, but it doesn’t seem to follow behind the events in Lord of Blood found in Swords & Heroes anthology published by Tule Fog Press. Although, I could be wrong.
I enjoyed the traditional bent of the story. The dilemma Ahanu must face was difficult. The knowledge he seeks was seemingly within his grasp but rationale and loyalty convinced him his ultimate decision was correct.
I just learned, from an Amazon search, Burke’s collection Fragments of a Greater Darkness is out of print. Perhaps we’ll see another collection in the future.
Sorrow’s Lament by Allison Pang
A young woman, who is disabled in some way that I cannot remember, is used by her father to hunt fey creatures in the wood. Her father wants to sell the creature to get a great payday.
The young woman eventually defies her father and must now forge a future free of his overbearing control.
Not quite the tone I expected at the end of this collection of stories. Although if it had been placed in the middle of the book it probably would have been forgotten and overshadowed by the others.
October 23, 2023
A mixed bag of stories, a few of which seemed a little far from the theme, but most were pretty good.
March 25, 2026
This is a decent collection of Sword and Sorcery tales. I think it would have garnered more attention had it been released 5 or so years earlier but at the time in 2023 there was a lot of small press Sword and Sorcery out there. Part of what took me to long to get to reading it.
A couple stories really stood out for me.
Barbarian Gothic which was an interesting exploration of a forgotten literary style with an S&S twist. Justified which was very original and different than your typical S&S yarn. Finally, Michael Burke’s The Vision of the Crimson Eye which was pound for pound the best traditional Sword and Sorcery story in the collection. I’m always up for more Ahanu Foxcloud tales.
All in all it’s a decent package but definitely a deep cut for genre diehards.
A couple stories really stood out for me.
Barbarian Gothic which was an interesting exploration of a forgotten literary style with an S&S twist. Justified which was very original and different than your typical S&S yarn. Finally, Michael Burke’s The Vision of the Crimson Eye which was pound for pound the best traditional Sword and Sorcery story in the collection. I’m always up for more Ahanu Foxcloud tales.
All in all it’s a decent package but definitely a deep cut for genre diehards.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews