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Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology
Magic. Myth. Warfare. Wonder. Beauty. Bravery. Glamour. Gore. Sorcery. Sensuality. These and many more elements of fantasy await you in the pages of Griots, which brings you the latest stories of the new genre called Sword and Soul. The tales told in Griots are the annals of the Africa that was, as well as Africas that never were, may have been, or should have been. They are the legends of a continent and people emerging from shadows thrust upon them in the past. They are the sagas sung by the modern heirs of the African story-tellers known by many names – including griots. Here, you will meet mighty warriors, seductive sorceresses, ambitious monarchs, and cunning courtesans. Here, you will journey through the vast variety of settings Africa offers, and inspires. Here, you will savor what the writings of the modern-day griots have to journeys through limitless vistas of the imagination, with a touch of color and a taste of soul.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2011
57 people are currently reading
779 people want to read
About the author
Milton J. Davis
78 books246 followersMilton Davis is owner of MVmedia, LLC , a small publishing company specializing in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Sword and Soul. MVmedia’s mission is to provide speculative fiction books that represent people of color in a positive manner. Milton is the author of eight novels; his most recent The Woman of the Woods and Amber and the Hidden City. He is co-editor of four anthologies; Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology and Griot: Sisters of the Spear, with Charles R. Saunders; The Ki Khanga Anthology with Balogun Ojetade and the Steamfunk! Anthology, also with Balogun Ojetade. MVmedia has also published Once Upon A Time in Afrika by Balogun Ojetade.
Milton resides in Metro Atlanta with his wife Vickie and his children Brandon and Alana.
Milton resides in Metro Atlanta with his wife Vickie and his children Brandon and Alana.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 8, 2015
Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology is an aptly named milestone in speculative fiction. Named after African storytellers who relied on the oral tradition (griots), this anthology marks the initial growth of the sub-genre “Sword & Soul.” Charles R. Saunders is credited with starting the sub-genre with his Imaro tale (Imaro Series). Imaro broke the mold of adventure fantasy with Saunders being the primary champion. With Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology, Milton J. Davis leads a troop of authors to expand the front. Saunders contributes the introduction for this as well as the capping tale. An excerpt reveals the Saunders’s motivation and the original scope of Sword & Soul:
There are 14 varied contributions. A large portion deal with the coming-of-age of the protagonist. Some suffer from too-powerful heroes or overly ambitious scopes (i.e. a few did not feel stand alone, reading as non-identified excerpts or poorly contained plots). My favorites tales were:
Awakening by Valjeanne Jeffers: A coming-of-age tale about a feisty heroine; nice sword & sorcery.
Skin Magic by P. Djeli Clark: a dose of Lovecraftian horror and aesthetic magic make this desert journey very entertaining.
The Belly of The Crocodile by Minister Faust, a vulgar, first-person perspective of a fantastic tale.
The General’s Daughter by Anthony Nana Kawmu: a trip to the Underworld, a warrior goes to save a loved one from death.
The Queen, The Demon, and The Mercenary Ronald Jones’s battling, demonic armies = engrossing sorcery and battle.
The Three-Faced One: Charles R. Saunders’s Imaro tale demonstrates the best storytelling, from its tapping into African history/myth coupled with excellent pacing and gripping style.
More Sword & Soul: Milton J. Davis leads MVMedia which is churning out more Griots (i.e Griots: Sisters of the Spear) and a host of other Sword & Soul media, from Young Adult novels to Video Games! Check out their offerings at the (MVMedia Website and Facebook page for Sword & Soul.
Quibbles: I read the Kindle version which had two outages: (1) Scene breaks were not marked; hence, paragraphs from different scenes that should have had an additional return/space or a marker, instead ran together; this leads to repeated confusion in several stories; (2) There are credits for many artists, but there is no art in the Kindle or even alternate text.
Recommendation: New to Sword & Soul? I recommend reading either version of Charles R. Saunders's Imaro. Then it would be a coin toss continue with either (a) Imaro:2 (The Quest for Cush) or (b) branching out to find like-minded authors with very different styles with Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology.
Robert E. Howard and his contemporaries were products of their time. Racism, in the form of white supremacy, was an integral part of the popular culture of the early decades of the twentieth century, and as such it pervaded pulp fiction. As a product of a later time during which the tenets of racism came under vigorous challenge, my enjoyment of fiction from past decades was often compromised by the racial attitudes I encountered in my reading. On some occasions, I simply let it slide. On others, I wrestled with resentment. Then I discovered a way to resolve my dilemma.
Interest in African history and culture surged during the 1960s, and at the same time I was reading sword-and-sorcery and fantasy fiction, I was also absorbing heretofore-unknown information about a continent that was not “dark” as its detractors made it out to be. I realized that this non-stereotypical Africa of history and legend was just as valid a setting for fantasy stories as was the ancient and medieval Europe that served as the common default setting for everything from Conan to Lord of the Rings. A character came into my head then: Imaro, a black man who could stand alongside mythical warrior-heroes like Beowulf and Hercules, as well as fictional creations such as Conan and Kull.
There are 14 varied contributions. A large portion deal with the coming-of-age of the protagonist. Some suffer from too-powerful heroes or overly ambitious scopes (i.e. a few did not feel stand alone, reading as non-identified excerpts or poorly contained plots). My favorites tales were:
Awakening by Valjeanne Jeffers: A coming-of-age tale about a feisty heroine; nice sword & sorcery.
Skin Magic by P. Djeli Clark: a dose of Lovecraftian horror and aesthetic magic make this desert journey very entertaining.
The Belly of The Crocodile by Minister Faust, a vulgar, first-person perspective of a fantastic tale.
The General’s Daughter by Anthony Nana Kawmu: a trip to the Underworld, a warrior goes to save a loved one from death.
The Queen, The Demon, and The Mercenary Ronald Jones’s battling, demonic armies = engrossing sorcery and battle.
The Three-Faced One: Charles R. Saunders’s Imaro tale demonstrates the best storytelling, from its tapping into African history/myth coupled with excellent pacing and gripping style.
More Sword & Soul: Milton J. Davis leads MVMedia which is churning out more Griots (i.e Griots: Sisters of the Spear) and a host of other Sword & Soul media, from Young Adult novels to Video Games! Check out their offerings at the (MVMedia Website and Facebook page for Sword & Soul.
Quibbles: I read the Kindle version which had two outages: (1) Scene breaks were not marked; hence, paragraphs from different scenes that should have had an additional return/space or a marker, instead ran together; this leads to repeated confusion in several stories; (2) There are credits for many artists, but there is no art in the Kindle or even alternate text.
Recommendation: New to Sword & Soul? I recommend reading either version of Charles R. Saunders's Imaro. Then it would be a coin toss continue with either (a) Imaro:2 (The Quest for Cush) or (b) branching out to find like-minded authors with very different styles with Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology.
September 14, 2017
"My sister, Iyoke”― Nunu extended her hand ― “come and wonder at your kingdom with me.”
Iyoke stood up, bowed to her new royal parent who smiled upon her, bowed to her mother Queen Mizaka. Slowly she let loose her husband’s hand. This is what Nunu said as they walked the ship, chrysanthemums and lilies to be transplanted in the royal gardens swaying near their feet. “For one year, I’ve been married to Prince Biodun.”
“A blessing, sister,” Iyoke answered.
“I was not as lovely as Sembele,” Nunu continued, “and the wealth of our kingdom did not hang upon my back, arms, ankles, and neck. But I was a princess so a husband was easily found.”
“True words, sister,” Iyoke peered into the mental distance at the land that had never quite been her native home.
“Biodun is a handsome, affable man,” Nunu said. “His black skin is velvet as the night. His eyes shine with wisdom. His lips utter wit. True, he is proud, but he is third in line to rule a great southern kingdom.”
“You are truly blessed, my sister,” Iyoke said, her eyes shining with happiness for her sister.
But tears fell from Nunu’s eyes. She spoke slowly. “Blessed, but not loved.”
Iyoke hugged her sister. “He will learn to love you yet, sister. Your kindness and shrewdness will make it so.”
“Perhaps he will love me for those few charms I have. If love comes, it comes. But in whatever state I am, I have learned to be satisfied. Biodun is allowed a harem. Limitless. As many as the stars if he wishes. Doubtless he will find many lovelier than I who will rejoice his heart and perhaps will apportion less and less of his heart to me as the years go by. But you and I are quite armed against being unloved. Our father and mother have taught us well, have they not?”
“They have, sister.”
Although her sister spoke bitter words, Iyoke could not help but see the wisdom in them. Both Nunu and Iyoke had lived in the shadow of their well-favored, much-honored sister. Their spirits had not been honed to praise, or their souls to expecting greatness. Iyoke turned her inward gaze from her ancestors’ homeland toward the open sea. Home, her new home, awaited her. There, perhaps, she would be loved. But if her new people did not love her, that hardly mattered: Jaejoong loved her.
“Still, a princess is a princess,” Nunu continued. “Unloved though she may have been. Therefore I have told Biodun to remember from whom I am descended ― great queens, noble kings. Moreover, I am his first wife. It is understood ―– come what may, whoever he may love ― I am always to be his chief wife.”
“Not a small thing.” Iyoke pulled her silken mantle across her shoulder against the wildly-blowing southern wind.
“And if fortune blesses Biodun by killing his older brother―”
“My sister! No!” Iyoke shouted. “It cannot be.”
Nunu raised an eyebrow. “Can it not? My husband is evil, my sister.”
“But do not match his evil, sister.” Her worried frown became a burst of laughter that sounded like ripples in a pond. “And yet I do not believe you could ever match his evil. Others, perhaps, allow evil to taint them. But your soul is too pure to be tainted thus. Indeed, I believe you would do all you can to prevent his evil if you had the choice.”
“All I can, but no more,” Nunu answered. “For I will not give my life to protect another. Even if I am as noble as you say, don’t the most noble learn at last to protect themselves?”
“I have heard it said, sister.”
Nunu hugged her sister’s shoulder. “Do not fear. I will be quite safe. I have lived too long among intrigue to be taken by surprise. And while our mother is yet alive, how shall he kill me? The kingdom of Tentuke is his near neighbor and all mother’s allies surround him. No, I shall be quite safe. So, yes, it appears that I will become chief queen of his land.” Now, Nunu also laughed. “And you are to become a queen of a great land, yourself. Therefore, forget our sister’s jealousy and think on future love and future greatness. There are lands which honor us, even if our own people treat us ill.” She turned toward the imperial cabin where the nuptial festivities continued. Through the doors, Iyoke could see robed performers celebrating her love story in dance. “Let us look ahead at future joys and future loves, for that is all we have. I only warn you. Beware! The time will come when this mother of ours dies. And then, beware. For our sister will then be queen of her own land. And if she remains unchanged, this raging of hers will grow. And before a sister’s jealousy, who is able to stand?”
3 3/4 stars
Iyoke stood up, bowed to her new royal parent who smiled upon her, bowed to her mother Queen Mizaka. Slowly she let loose her husband’s hand. This is what Nunu said as they walked the ship, chrysanthemums and lilies to be transplanted in the royal gardens swaying near their feet. “For one year, I’ve been married to Prince Biodun.”
“A blessing, sister,” Iyoke answered.
“I was not as lovely as Sembele,” Nunu continued, “and the wealth of our kingdom did not hang upon my back, arms, ankles, and neck. But I was a princess so a husband was easily found.”
“True words, sister,” Iyoke peered into the mental distance at the land that had never quite been her native home.
“Biodun is a handsome, affable man,” Nunu said. “His black skin is velvet as the night. His eyes shine with wisdom. His lips utter wit. True, he is proud, but he is third in line to rule a great southern kingdom.”
“You are truly blessed, my sister,” Iyoke said, her eyes shining with happiness for her sister.
But tears fell from Nunu’s eyes. She spoke slowly. “Blessed, but not loved.”
Iyoke hugged her sister. “He will learn to love you yet, sister. Your kindness and shrewdness will make it so.”
“Perhaps he will love me for those few charms I have. If love comes, it comes. But in whatever state I am, I have learned to be satisfied. Biodun is allowed a harem. Limitless. As many as the stars if he wishes. Doubtless he will find many lovelier than I who will rejoice his heart and perhaps will apportion less and less of his heart to me as the years go by. But you and I are quite armed against being unloved. Our father and mother have taught us well, have they not?”
“They have, sister.”
Although her sister spoke bitter words, Iyoke could not help but see the wisdom in them. Both Nunu and Iyoke had lived in the shadow of their well-favored, much-honored sister. Their spirits had not been honed to praise, or their souls to expecting greatness. Iyoke turned her inward gaze from her ancestors’ homeland toward the open sea. Home, her new home, awaited her. There, perhaps, she would be loved. But if her new people did not love her, that hardly mattered: Jaejoong loved her.
“Still, a princess is a princess,” Nunu continued. “Unloved though she may have been. Therefore I have told Biodun to remember from whom I am descended ― great queens, noble kings. Moreover, I am his first wife. It is understood ―– come what may, whoever he may love ― I am always to be his chief wife.”
“Not a small thing.” Iyoke pulled her silken mantle across her shoulder against the wildly-blowing southern wind.
“And if fortune blesses Biodun by killing his older brother―”
“My sister! No!” Iyoke shouted. “It cannot be.”
Nunu raised an eyebrow. “Can it not? My husband is evil, my sister.”
“But do not match his evil, sister.” Her worried frown became a burst of laughter that sounded like ripples in a pond. “And yet I do not believe you could ever match his evil. Others, perhaps, allow evil to taint them. But your soul is too pure to be tainted thus. Indeed, I believe you would do all you can to prevent his evil if you had the choice.”
“All I can, but no more,” Nunu answered. “For I will not give my life to protect another. Even if I am as noble as you say, don’t the most noble learn at last to protect themselves?”
“I have heard it said, sister.”
Nunu hugged her sister’s shoulder. “Do not fear. I will be quite safe. I have lived too long among intrigue to be taken by surprise. And while our mother is yet alive, how shall he kill me? The kingdom of Tentuke is his near neighbor and all mother’s allies surround him. No, I shall be quite safe. So, yes, it appears that I will become chief queen of his land.” Now, Nunu also laughed. “And you are to become a queen of a great land, yourself. Therefore, forget our sister’s jealousy and think on future love and future greatness. There are lands which honor us, even if our own people treat us ill.” She turned toward the imperial cabin where the nuptial festivities continued. Through the doors, Iyoke could see robed performers celebrating her love story in dance. “Let us look ahead at future joys and future loves, for that is all we have. I only warn you. Beware! The time will come when this mother of ours dies. And then, beware. For our sister will then be queen of her own land. And if she remains unchanged, this raging of hers will grow. And before a sister’s jealousy, who is able to stand?”
3 3/4 stars
October 29, 2011
“Griots: A Soul and Soul Anthology" is an intriguing collection of fantasy stories from some talented writers.
You will find tales of exotic magic, evil sorcery, incredible beasts and great warriors all in the context of an Africa both familiar and unfamiliar. I was particularly pleased to find two of my fantasy favourites, Changa and Imaro, making an appearance in the book.
If you like the Sword and Soul genre, you are certain to enjoy Griots which is well presented with great cover art and illustrations.
You will find tales of exotic magic, evil sorcery, incredible beasts and great warriors all in the context of an Africa both familiar and unfamiliar. I was particularly pleased to find two of my fantasy favourites, Changa and Imaro, making an appearance in the book.
If you like the Sword and Soul genre, you are certain to enjoy Griots which is well presented with great cover art and illustrations.
August 22, 2011
Magic. Myth. Warfare. Wonder. Beauty. Bravery. Glamour. Gore. Sorcery. Sensuality. These and many more elements of fantasy await you in the pages of Griots, which brings you the latest stories of the new genre called Sword and Soul. The tales told in Griots are the annals of the Africa that ...
December 30, 2020
“Griots” is an anthology of African-inspired sword & sorcery, or “Sword & Soul” as dubbed by the sub-genre’s first proponent, Charles Saunders. The anthology sets out to provide fantasy stories in a neglected milieu (nearly all the stories take place in Africa or an Africa-like fantasy setting), with Black heroes and heroines in a genre that has long had a tendency to put dark-skinned characters in the roles of supporting characters or antagonists.
The anthology gets off to a strong start with “Mrembo Aliyenaswa,” an adventure by active sword & soul promoter Milton Davis. Much like many Robert E. Howard stories, it’s set in a historical African setting with a light touch of magic. I’d never read any of Davis’ other stories featuring his hero Changa, but this story encourages me to check them out.
“Awakening” by Valjeanne Jeffers is less testosterone-drenched than the bulk of the stories in this anthology, but it serves up an interesting blend of action and mythology.
“The Demon in the Wall” is a fun adventure involving a young warrior and his spry, alluring grandmother(!) fending off a supernatural invasion. The characters in this story are particularly fun, including one antagonist who isn’t fully committed to evil.
Other standout stories included “The General’s Daughter” (by Anthony Nana Kwamu), “The Queen, the Demon, and the Mercenary” (by Ronald T. Jones), and “Icewitch” (by Rebecca McFarland Kyle). The latter is notable for being the only story NOT taking place in an African setting, involving a Black character among a tribe of white people in the frozen north.
The best story by far is “The Three-Faced One,” an Imaro tale by Charles Saunders. I imagine it must have been intimidating for the newer writers appearing in the same anthology as the genre’s founder, and Saunders really delivers. Imaro remains an appealing hero, and the supernatural threat he faces is an intriguing one.
While it’s nice that this anthology collects and spotlights African fantasy and Black heroes, nearly any of these stories would just as easily be at home in any sword & sorcery anthology. So if you enjoy sword & sorcery but aren’t familiar with sword & soul, give it a try!
The anthology gets off to a strong start with “Mrembo Aliyenaswa,” an adventure by active sword & soul promoter Milton Davis. Much like many Robert E. Howard stories, it’s set in a historical African setting with a light touch of magic. I’d never read any of Davis’ other stories featuring his hero Changa, but this story encourages me to check them out.
“Awakening” by Valjeanne Jeffers is less testosterone-drenched than the bulk of the stories in this anthology, but it serves up an interesting blend of action and mythology.
“The Demon in the Wall” is a fun adventure involving a young warrior and his spry, alluring grandmother(!) fending off a supernatural invasion. The characters in this story are particularly fun, including one antagonist who isn’t fully committed to evil.
Other standout stories included “The General’s Daughter” (by Anthony Nana Kwamu), “The Queen, the Demon, and the Mercenary” (by Ronald T. Jones), and “Icewitch” (by Rebecca McFarland Kyle). The latter is notable for being the only story NOT taking place in an African setting, involving a Black character among a tribe of white people in the frozen north.
The best story by far is “The Three-Faced One,” an Imaro tale by Charles Saunders. I imagine it must have been intimidating for the newer writers appearing in the same anthology as the genre’s founder, and Saunders really delivers. Imaro remains an appealing hero, and the supernatural threat he faces is an intriguing one.
While it’s nice that this anthology collects and spotlights African fantasy and Black heroes, nearly any of these stories would just as easily be at home in any sword & sorcery anthology. So if you enjoy sword & sorcery but aren’t familiar with sword & soul, give it a try!
July 11, 2013
Of fourteen stories six are of the first rank. Of these, Carole McDonnells' "Changeling", a folklore style story of daughterly duty and sibling jealousy, and Minister Faust's take on Egyptian myth in "The Belly of the Crocodile" are my favorites. Next is "The General's Daughter" by Anthony Nana Kwamu, in which a victorious Ethiopian general travels the land of the dead to face a terrible sacrifice. The other three are all very good straight up S&S. For those who've read Davis's Changa novels, "Mrembo Aliyenaswa" is a prequel tale. Charles Saunder's "The Three-Face One" is as good as you'd expect from him (by which I mean it rocks). In it his hero Imaro encounters a wasteland tribe caught up in a terrible, seemingly unwinnable competition with another tribe. "Skin Magic" by P. Dejli Clark is a tale of a thief cursed with horrible magical abilities being hunted by unknown forces across East Africa.
"Awakening" by Valjeanne Jeffers, "Lost Son" by Maurice Broaddus, "The Demon in the Wall" by Stafford L. Battle, "Sekadi's Koan" by Geoffrey Thorne, "The Queen, the Demon, and the Mercenary" by Ronald T. Jones, "Icewitch" by Rebecca McFarland Kyle, and "The Leopard Walks Alone" by Melvin Carter make up the middle-rank. None are bad, in fact they're all pretty decent. Well written, often exciting, just none picked me up and threw me around the room like the other ones did. Except for "Awakening" and "Lost Son", which invoke myths and legends, the others can be classified as S&S or at least nearly so.
"Griots" is an excellent purchase.
"Awakening" by Valjeanne Jeffers, "Lost Son" by Maurice Broaddus, "The Demon in the Wall" by Stafford L. Battle, "Sekadi's Koan" by Geoffrey Thorne, "The Queen, the Demon, and the Mercenary" by Ronald T. Jones, "Icewitch" by Rebecca McFarland Kyle, and "The Leopard Walks Alone" by Melvin Carter make up the middle-rank. None are bad, in fact they're all pretty decent. Well written, often exciting, just none picked me up and threw me around the room like the other ones did. Except for "Awakening" and "Lost Son", which invoke myths and legends, the others can be classified as S&S or at least nearly so.
"Griots" is an excellent purchase.
August 20, 2015
Griots A Sword and Soul Anthology is an exciting journey into the mythos of the warriors of Africa. The beautifully illustrated cover told a story before I had even opened to the first page. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book, but here are a few of my favorite stories (spoiler alert):
Mrembo Aliyenaswa (Captured Beauty) by Milton Davis: A quick temper and an even quicker blade combined with a deep sense of honor make Changa a force to be reckoned with.
Awakening by Valjeanne Jeffers: I loved reading about Nandi, the strong heroine who defies tradition, choosing the warrior's path previously meant only for men. Her defiance and strength earn her the favor of the gods, and help her claim her rightful place in the world.
Skin Magic by P. Djeli Clark: Makamis' terrible curse has made him a fugitive. But soon he discovers that there are others like him, and that the curse is more than it seems. This story has vivid imagery and a well thought out idea.
Lost Song by Maurice Broaddus: Another tale of strength and heroism, filled with great battle scenes featuring the mysterious, wandering warrior, Dinga of the clan Cisse.
I highly recommend giving this anthology a read, you will be glad you did.
Mrembo Aliyenaswa (Captured Beauty) by Milton Davis: A quick temper and an even quicker blade combined with a deep sense of honor make Changa a force to be reckoned with.
Awakening by Valjeanne Jeffers: I loved reading about Nandi, the strong heroine who defies tradition, choosing the warrior's path previously meant only for men. Her defiance and strength earn her the favor of the gods, and help her claim her rightful place in the world.
Skin Magic by P. Djeli Clark: Makamis' terrible curse has made him a fugitive. But soon he discovers that there are others like him, and that the curse is more than it seems. This story has vivid imagery and a well thought out idea.
Lost Song by Maurice Broaddus: Another tale of strength and heroism, filled with great battle scenes featuring the mysterious, wandering warrior, Dinga of the clan Cisse.
I highly recommend giving this anthology a read, you will be glad you did.
June 26, 2019
Though I am often disappointed with extremely uneven multi author amalgamations, I read them anyway in the hope of discovering new writers in niche genres. Outside of 'the new weird' in horror I usually regret it more than I discover cool new things. Fortunately, that was not the case here. This has got to be the first multi-author anthology in the fantasy genre that I have ever found to be of a consistently high quality. I was familiar with Saunders of course, as I am a big Imaro fan and that drew me here, but there were other stories in particular that stood out for really capturing the sword and sorcery genre particularly well. Special mention to 'Lost Son', 'The Demon in the Wall' (possibly my personal favorite and with a Vancean sense of humor), 'Changeling', and 'The Queen, the Demon and Mercenary.'
June 3, 2021
I was very disappointed with this anthology. I could count on one hand the amount of short stories that I enjoyed out of the numerous included in the book. Of course, P. Djeli Clark and Charles Saunders are my all time favorite authors so there were no surprises there when their works carried the entire anthology. In all honesty, I truly feel guilty ranking this book so low because I want to give other Black writers a chance especially within the soul and sorcery genre, however I have been constantly let down with the low quality writing, massive plot wholes, inattention to details and horrible characterization. I've learned my lesson. From now on I will just stick to my old dogs P. Djeli Clark and Charles Saunders.
June 17, 2016
Before we get into the meat-n-potatoes of this review, it's necessary that Sherman set the Wayback Machine for 1970's so we can indulge in a brief history lesson for context: Charles R. Saunders is a writer who like most of you reading this review fell in love with the work of Robert E. Howard, the creator of Conan, King Kull and Solomon Kane. REH is credited with being the creator of "sword and sorcery" a sub-genre of epic fantasy. Sword and sorcery concerns itself with stories driven by action, healthy doses of sex and violence and strong supernatural/magical elements.
So in love with sword and sorcery is he that Mr. Saunders sets about writing his own stories. And in doing so he determines to expand the genre by creating a black heroic fantasy character and set his adventures in a mythical Africa just as fabulous and dangerous as Howard's Hyborian Age. And with his stories of Imaro, Charles Saunders gives birth to what is now known as "sword and soul" which are fantasy stories with an African connection or featuring African characters
I've been a fan of Mr. Saunders and his work ever since I was a high school student back in the 70's and devouring heroic fiction at an appalling rate. And as the Wayback Machine brings us back to the present we can begin this review proper with the good news that sword-and-soul is not only thriving here and now, it is giving voice to a new generation of African American fantasy writers eager to explore the genre and continue to nourish it with their talents.
GRIOTS is an anthology of sword and soul stories co-edited by Mr. Saunders and Milton J. Davis who himself has long carved out his own territory in the genre. The fourteen stories in the book are:
"Captured Beauty" by Milton Davis. It's a great action story to lead off the book with. It's a simple plot having to do with rescuing a beautiful damsel in distress from the clutches of a vile villain. But what made this story stand out for me were the characterizations of the protagonist Changa and his employer, the merchant Belay and their relationship.
"Awakening" by Valjeanne Jeffers. It starts out with a little girl who has no desire to spend her adult days sitting around being ladylike and raising squalling brats while the men have all the fun being warriors. The girl, Nandi, grows up and finds out that there's a supernatural force in her life who also thinks that yeah, her being a warrior is a pretty good idea.
"Lost Son" by Maurice Broaddus is a story I wanted to like a lot more than I do as I like Mr. Broaddus' style of writing. But the story just seemed to end without resolution or even much of a point.
"In The Wake of Mist" by Kirk A. Johnson is another story I didn't get. Although I liked the imagery the writer evokes, that's all the impression the story made on me. A series of wonderfully described images that really didn't seem to go anywhere or evoke any sort of feeling in me.
"Skin Magic" by Djeli A. Clark kicks the anthology back into action mode with a story that has a healthy heap of horror. The main character is a thief on the run who has living tattoos on his skin that are portals to a nightmarish limbo through which Cthulhuian creatures can emerge into our world. The thief, barely able to control this horrible ability is pursued by the fearsome minions of a consortium of dark magicians who desire this power for their own purposes. As soon as I finished this story, I wanted to read a sequel right away.
"The Demon In The Wall" by Stafford L. Battle is one of my favorite stories in this anthology. Equal parts high adventure and comedy, it's an entertaining near parody of the genre. The sorceress Makhulu and her grandson, the warrior Zende are characters I'd love to see more of. The banter between them alone is worth reading the story for.
"The Belly of The Crocodile" by Minister Faust is a tale of sibling rivalry. And that's all I'll say about it because it's not a long story and its emotional punch is best served by reading it yourself.
"Changeling" by Carole McDonnell is a story that works just the way it is but if it were twice as long I wouldn't kick. This is about three sisters destined to marry and become queens of their own kingdoms. But the real prize is their native kingdom only one of them will inherit when their mother dies. It's got that `Once Upon A Time" feeling as it unfolds it's ultimately sorrowful tale. It's a story of Shakespearean tragedy that has a lot to say about human nature and the ugly power of jealousy.
"The General's Daughter" by Anthony Nana Kwamu is a good choice to follow "Changeling" as they have something in common. Both of them have more than their share of action but they also dig deeper into the emotional core of their characters to reveal who these people really are and why we should care about what happens to them. I really liked the emotional resonance I felt in both these stories after I finished them.
"Sekadi's Koan" by Geoffrey Thorne is another story I immediately wanted a sequel to as soon as I finished reading it. I got a very strong Roger Zelazny vibe in this tale of a gifted martial artist studying her deadly art at a school located...well, I'm not sure where it's located but I was so entertained I didn't care. And unlike some other stories where I got the impression that the writers themselves weren't sure of where their stories were happening, I didn't get that impression from Mr. Thorne. I got the feeling he knew exactly where and when his story was taking place but is saving that for what I hope will be future stories about Sekadi.
"The Queen, The Demon and The Mercenary" is by Ronald T. Jones and like "The Demon In The Wall" is a story that seems designed for nothing but the reader to have as much fun reading it as I'm sure the writer had writing it. The swaggering warrior Toulou sets out to rescue a suffering kingdom from the demon-wizard terrorizing the people and does it in style. Highly recommended.
"Icewitch" by Rebecca McFarland Kyle proves that you don't necessarily have to set a sword and soul story in an African setting. This story takes place in a frigid realm where a dark-skinned youth struggles to find acceptance among his mother's people who are lighter-skinned.
The only real problem I have with Melvin Carter's "The Leopard Walks Alone" is the ugliness of the names in the story. I tried saying them aloud and I swear I bruised my tongue. I realize it's a somewhat petty quibble but naming is important in fantasy stories. Difficult and harsh sounding names should be used sparingly.
And The Master himself, Charles Saunders finishes up the anthology with a tale of Imaro: "The Three Faced One" If you've never read an Imaro story or anything by Charles Saunders, this is an excellent introduction to both.
GRIOTS also boasts fourteen interior black and white illustrations by fourteen separate artists as well as biographical information about the writers and artists and introductory essays by the editors. The cover by Natiq Jalil is simply wonderful to look at.
So should you read GRIOTS? Absolutely. True, a few of the stories didn't turn my crank but most of them did. If you're a sword and sorcery fan looking for some heroic fantasy that takes place in realms other than the Medieval or ancient settings most sword-and-sorcery stories take place in then you most certainly should check this anthology out.
So in love with sword and sorcery is he that Mr. Saunders sets about writing his own stories. And in doing so he determines to expand the genre by creating a black heroic fantasy character and set his adventures in a mythical Africa just as fabulous and dangerous as Howard's Hyborian Age. And with his stories of Imaro, Charles Saunders gives birth to what is now known as "sword and soul" which are fantasy stories with an African connection or featuring African characters
I've been a fan of Mr. Saunders and his work ever since I was a high school student back in the 70's and devouring heroic fiction at an appalling rate. And as the Wayback Machine brings us back to the present we can begin this review proper with the good news that sword-and-soul is not only thriving here and now, it is giving voice to a new generation of African American fantasy writers eager to explore the genre and continue to nourish it with their talents.
GRIOTS is an anthology of sword and soul stories co-edited by Mr. Saunders and Milton J. Davis who himself has long carved out his own territory in the genre. The fourteen stories in the book are:
"Captured Beauty" by Milton Davis. It's a great action story to lead off the book with. It's a simple plot having to do with rescuing a beautiful damsel in distress from the clutches of a vile villain. But what made this story stand out for me were the characterizations of the protagonist Changa and his employer, the merchant Belay and their relationship.
"Awakening" by Valjeanne Jeffers. It starts out with a little girl who has no desire to spend her adult days sitting around being ladylike and raising squalling brats while the men have all the fun being warriors. The girl, Nandi, grows up and finds out that there's a supernatural force in her life who also thinks that yeah, her being a warrior is a pretty good idea.
"Lost Son" by Maurice Broaddus is a story I wanted to like a lot more than I do as I like Mr. Broaddus' style of writing. But the story just seemed to end without resolution or even much of a point.
"In The Wake of Mist" by Kirk A. Johnson is another story I didn't get. Although I liked the imagery the writer evokes, that's all the impression the story made on me. A series of wonderfully described images that really didn't seem to go anywhere or evoke any sort of feeling in me.
"Skin Magic" by Djeli A. Clark kicks the anthology back into action mode with a story that has a healthy heap of horror. The main character is a thief on the run who has living tattoos on his skin that are portals to a nightmarish limbo through which Cthulhuian creatures can emerge into our world. The thief, barely able to control this horrible ability is pursued by the fearsome minions of a consortium of dark magicians who desire this power for their own purposes. As soon as I finished this story, I wanted to read a sequel right away.
"The Demon In The Wall" by Stafford L. Battle is one of my favorite stories in this anthology. Equal parts high adventure and comedy, it's an entertaining near parody of the genre. The sorceress Makhulu and her grandson, the warrior Zende are characters I'd love to see more of. The banter between them alone is worth reading the story for.
"The Belly of The Crocodile" by Minister Faust is a tale of sibling rivalry. And that's all I'll say about it because it's not a long story and its emotional punch is best served by reading it yourself.
"Changeling" by Carole McDonnell is a story that works just the way it is but if it were twice as long I wouldn't kick. This is about three sisters destined to marry and become queens of their own kingdoms. But the real prize is their native kingdom only one of them will inherit when their mother dies. It's got that `Once Upon A Time" feeling as it unfolds it's ultimately sorrowful tale. It's a story of Shakespearean tragedy that has a lot to say about human nature and the ugly power of jealousy.
"The General's Daughter" by Anthony Nana Kwamu is a good choice to follow "Changeling" as they have something in common. Both of them have more than their share of action but they also dig deeper into the emotional core of their characters to reveal who these people really are and why we should care about what happens to them. I really liked the emotional resonance I felt in both these stories after I finished them.
"Sekadi's Koan" by Geoffrey Thorne is another story I immediately wanted a sequel to as soon as I finished reading it. I got a very strong Roger Zelazny vibe in this tale of a gifted martial artist studying her deadly art at a school located...well, I'm not sure where it's located but I was so entertained I didn't care. And unlike some other stories where I got the impression that the writers themselves weren't sure of where their stories were happening, I didn't get that impression from Mr. Thorne. I got the feeling he knew exactly where and when his story was taking place but is saving that for what I hope will be future stories about Sekadi.
"The Queen, The Demon and The Mercenary" is by Ronald T. Jones and like "The Demon In The Wall" is a story that seems designed for nothing but the reader to have as much fun reading it as I'm sure the writer had writing it. The swaggering warrior Toulou sets out to rescue a suffering kingdom from the demon-wizard terrorizing the people and does it in style. Highly recommended.
"Icewitch" by Rebecca McFarland Kyle proves that you don't necessarily have to set a sword and soul story in an African setting. This story takes place in a frigid realm where a dark-skinned youth struggles to find acceptance among his mother's people who are lighter-skinned.
The only real problem I have with Melvin Carter's "The Leopard Walks Alone" is the ugliness of the names in the story. I tried saying them aloud and I swear I bruised my tongue. I realize it's a somewhat petty quibble but naming is important in fantasy stories. Difficult and harsh sounding names should be used sparingly.
And The Master himself, Charles Saunders finishes up the anthology with a tale of Imaro: "The Three Faced One" If you've never read an Imaro story or anything by Charles Saunders, this is an excellent introduction to both.
GRIOTS also boasts fourteen interior black and white illustrations by fourteen separate artists as well as biographical information about the writers and artists and introductory essays by the editors. The cover by Natiq Jalil is simply wonderful to look at.
So should you read GRIOTS? Absolutely. True, a few of the stories didn't turn my crank but most of them did. If you're a sword and sorcery fan looking for some heroic fantasy that takes place in realms other than the Medieval or ancient settings most sword-and-sorcery stories take place in then you most certainly should check this anthology out.
July 24, 2022
3 stars.
As with all anthologies, some of the stories really worked for me and others were a miss. The concept of Sword and Soul as a genre is wonderful, and I'm glad Davis included a section in the beginning of the book that explained its origins and the motivations behind its creation. Though the definition given in Griots is more fleshed out, the bare bones definition is, "Sword and Soul is Sword and Sorcery and epic fantasy based on African history, culture and traditions."
I loved the setting of all of the tales, and the deities/gods that were present were refreshingly different and vividly realized. It certainly felt like I had a new rich world to dive into, and I want more of that. However, the cohesiveness of the collection left me a little confused. Some of the stories read very YA and skewed much younger, but then others in the collection were very decidedly not for younger audiences. I understand the desire to showcase multiple types of voices and writing styles of Black authors, but as a whole, the anthology felt a bit fractured.
Some of the standout stories for me were:
Skin Magic by P Djeli Clark (not a huge surprise as I love their Dead Djinn series already):
A man has ink that writhes under his skin, but unless he can learn to harness the power he wields, it may just ruin him.
The Belly of the Crocodile by Minister Faust:
A very interesting piece of writing told from the perspective of an antagonist; a villain origin story of sorts.
The Three Faced one by Charles R Saunders:
Fantastically written story of a god-touched hero as he stumbles across a conflict between two groups in a forgotten corner of the world. Is this simply human nature at work, or is there a supernatural element to this dispute?
While my overall rating for this is still a 3, the stories I enjoyed, I REALLY enjoyed. So I'm definitely going to be checking out the individual work of those authors as well as reading the Anthology that was released after this one: Griots - Sisters of the Spear.
As with all anthologies, some of the stories really worked for me and others were a miss. The concept of Sword and Soul as a genre is wonderful, and I'm glad Davis included a section in the beginning of the book that explained its origins and the motivations behind its creation. Though the definition given in Griots is more fleshed out, the bare bones definition is, "Sword and Soul is Sword and Sorcery and epic fantasy based on African history, culture and traditions."
I loved the setting of all of the tales, and the deities/gods that were present were refreshingly different and vividly realized. It certainly felt like I had a new rich world to dive into, and I want more of that. However, the cohesiveness of the collection left me a little confused. Some of the stories read very YA and skewed much younger, but then others in the collection were very decidedly not for younger audiences. I understand the desire to showcase multiple types of voices and writing styles of Black authors, but as a whole, the anthology felt a bit fractured.
Some of the standout stories for me were:
Skin Magic by P Djeli Clark (not a huge surprise as I love their Dead Djinn series already):
A man has ink that writhes under his skin, but unless he can learn to harness the power he wields, it may just ruin him.
The Belly of the Crocodile by Minister Faust:
A very interesting piece of writing told from the perspective of an antagonist; a villain origin story of sorts.
The Three Faced one by Charles R Saunders:
Fantastically written story of a god-touched hero as he stumbles across a conflict between two groups in a forgotten corner of the world. Is this simply human nature at work, or is there a supernatural element to this dispute?
While my overall rating for this is still a 3, the stories I enjoyed, I REALLY enjoyed. So I'm definitely going to be checking out the individual work of those authors as well as reading the Anthology that was released after this one: Griots - Sisters of the Spear.
September 5, 2019
anthologies are a mixed bag, especially when its with different authors all collectively sharing their work, that being said im giving an extra star because the ones that worked for me were really good, and it’s really cool to see sword and sorcery done with a cultural infusion of African history and traditions, even the stories that may not have worked as well for me, there’s a ruggedness, a certain beauty in atmosphere captured in all of em. worth it for the charles saunders story at the end alone imo
October 28, 2015
My review here:
https://onelastsketch.wordpress.com/2...
Note on the epub I got from Kobo: One of the stories is rendered unreadable because of a formatting error. Still a great anthology, but you might want to buy a different version.
EDIT: According to the editor, the Kobo version has now been fixed.
https://onelastsketch.wordpress.com/2...
Note on the epub I got from Kobo: One of the stories is rendered unreadable because of a formatting error. Still a great anthology, but you might want to buy a different version.
EDIT: According to the editor, the Kobo version has now been fixed.
June 8, 2013
Loved the African folklore and the action. Great combo!
May 22, 2022
I have to admit I came into this anthology with pretty high expectations. I was late to the Imaro party, and read the series for the first time last year and fell in love. As a huge fan of Sword and Sorcery I was excited to see a new take on the genre: Sword and Soul.
I think everything in this collection was solid, but a lot of it just didn't quite click with me, and a lot of it that did I had a feeling of "I really like this but..."
All that being said n there were some really phenomenal stories in here, and I think this is a must for any S&S fan. The collection has a lot creativity, even if some of it is rough around the edges.
The highlight to me was Skin Magic by P. Djeli Clark. I think this is easily in the top 5 Sword and Sorcery stories written in the last couple decades. Its masterpiece and you should pick up this collection to read this alone. It's really smoky, touches the soul, and also has the feeling of adventure juxtaposed against the horror of sorcery.
The editors Milton Davis & Charles Saunders (RIP) contributions were very good. Saunders story in particular I enjoyed. Imaro gets himself into a weightlifting/strongman contest for the right to wrestle a demon. It's just over the top and fun, even if it has Saunder's melancholic tone. It's a really good time.
A couple others I enjoyed were - In the Wake of the Mist by Kirk Johnson. I really liked how dreamlike it was, though I admit at times it was a bit confusing. The Demon in the Wall by Stafford L Battle was a fun time, albeit at times a bit crass. The General's Daughter by Anthony Kwamu had a very classic fantasy vibe to it. And finally The Queen, the Demon, and Mercenary was really enjoyable, even if the resolution fell a little flat.
Again, I think I might have gone into this with too high expectations, given how much I loved Imaro. But if you're looking for stories like Imaro, or some S&S with a new flavor to it, there's a lot to enjoy here.
I think everything in this collection was solid, but a lot of it just didn't quite click with me, and a lot of it that did I had a feeling of "I really like this but..."
All that being said n there were some really phenomenal stories in here, and I think this is a must for any S&S fan. The collection has a lot creativity, even if some of it is rough around the edges.
The highlight to me was Skin Magic by P. Djeli Clark. I think this is easily in the top 5 Sword and Sorcery stories written in the last couple decades. Its masterpiece and you should pick up this collection to read this alone. It's really smoky, touches the soul, and also has the feeling of adventure juxtaposed against the horror of sorcery.
The editors Milton Davis & Charles Saunders (RIP) contributions were very good. Saunders story in particular I enjoyed. Imaro gets himself into a weightlifting/strongman contest for the right to wrestle a demon. It's just over the top and fun, even if it has Saunder's melancholic tone. It's a really good time.
A couple others I enjoyed were - In the Wake of the Mist by Kirk Johnson. I really liked how dreamlike it was, though I admit at times it was a bit confusing. The Demon in the Wall by Stafford L Battle was a fun time, albeit at times a bit crass. The General's Daughter by Anthony Kwamu had a very classic fantasy vibe to it. And finally The Queen, the Demon, and Mercenary was really enjoyable, even if the resolution fell a little flat.
Again, I think I might have gone into this with too high expectations, given how much I loved Imaro. But if you're looking for stories like Imaro, or some S&S with a new flavor to it, there's a lot to enjoy here.
Read
January 15, 2022I feel a bit weird marking this is "read", as I only completed P. Djeli Clark's story: "Skin Magic", which I technically read and listened to through Realm.FM. But I did not have any other way to track my reading as there is not a standalone version of this story that I could find on goodreads. But I digress.
I enjoyed my time reading this story, though it was clear to me that this was one of his earlier works. Which is not a bad thing since P. Djeli Clark is quite a talented writer in my opinion. I just wanted more from the portals and monsters aspect of the markings on Makami. That only seemed to come together for me at the very end. And also, I would have loved more of Kahya. Her character was intriguing to me. But I recognize that what I am asking for is a novel, and this is intentionally a short story.
I am looking forward to reading more from the author's backlist.
3 stars
I enjoyed my time reading this story, though it was clear to me that this was one of his earlier works. Which is not a bad thing since P. Djeli Clark is quite a talented writer in my opinion. I just wanted more from the portals and monsters aspect of the markings on Makami. That only seemed to come together for me at the very end. And also, I would have loved more of Kahya. Her character was intriguing to me. But I recognize that what I am asking for is a novel, and this is intentionally a short story.
I am looking forward to reading more from the author's backlist.
3 stars
November 13, 2021
I only got this to read Skin Magic by P. Djèlí Clark and this is a review of that story.
I was hoping for more of the similar and i wasn't disappointed.
Once again we're thrown right into North-African/Middle-Eastern folk lore kind of stuff with Djèlí's incredible writing that just keeps dragging you along without a pause.
Djèlí's writing is so refreshing, and i'm so looking forward to reading many more of his stories in the future.
I was hoping for more of the similar and i wasn't disappointed.
Once again we're thrown right into North-African/Middle-Eastern folk lore kind of stuff with Djèlí's incredible writing that just keeps dragging you along without a pause.
Djèlí's writing is so refreshing, and i'm so looking forward to reading many more of his stories in the future.
January 14, 2020
This anthology was a song that kept on singing for me. It's a must read for any fan of fantasy and a vital introduction to sword and soul and afrofuturism genres. World's like Ki Khanga and Nyumbani, need to be part of our national imagination, and can serve as inspiration to us all.
August 9, 2024
None of these writers and stories are good. Very disappointing. It seems like they just found some amateur writers to fill this book up with. I’ve read Charles Saunders Imaro series in the past, which is mid-level S&S, and none of these authors or stories could even approach that passable level of writing. If you want good S&S stories, stick to the legends like Howard, Leiber, Wagner and Moorcock.
March 12, 2018
Came for the Imaro short story, stayed for the rest. Typical mixed-bag anthology but I’m a supporter of the movement and Wakanda fans will find a lot to enjoy here.
May 6, 2019
Some of the stories were much better than others. I didn't read all of the stories, but I'm marking it as Finished to get it off of my Goodreads page.
June 22, 2019
It’s always hard to rate anthologies, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
January 30, 2022
NICE BOOK.
Read
August 17, 2012Started this one awhile ago and got distracted part way through, then came back and finished it just recently. It is a collection of short stories in an emerging subgenre of fantasy called "soul and sorcery", which is an Africentric re-imagining of the often highly Eurocentric subgenre of "sword and sorcery." The use of African imagery, ideas, landscapes, and storytelling in place of the clicheed knights and feudal lords and what have you is certainly interesting, and on its own was enough to make me glad I read it. However, beyond that I feel pretty ambivalent about the collection, largely because it has been a long time since I've been much of a fan of sword and sorcery, and even when I was more interested in it my preference was for its more epic forms rather than short stories. Don't get me wrong, there were a handful of the stories in this book that I really enjoyed -- the story by one of the editors, Charles Saunders, makes me want to check out some of the rest of his plentiful, decades-long output -- but by and large the sword/soul and sorcery standards of bulging muscles, bloody battles, mystical spells, and distressed damsels in the absence of three dimensional character development just doesn't do it for me, regardless of whether it is set in imaginary medieval Europe or imaginary medieval Africa. Probably worth picking up if you are a committed sword and sorcery fan, though.
October 2, 2016
Great Intro to the Genre
For anyone who wants to know what sword and soul is about, this is where you start. Every single story was awesome (however a few were difficult to follow). It is all the "what if" moments you had about Africa and literature. I would have liked to see more modern soul and sword but I suppose that can be another project. All in all excellent.
For anyone who wants to know what sword and soul is about, this is where you start. Every single story was awesome (however a few were difficult to follow). It is all the "what if" moments you had about Africa and literature. I would have liked to see more modern soul and sword but I suppose that can be another project. All in all excellent.
November 13, 2013
Mixed bag. Stories by Charles Saunders and Milton Davis were excellent. Others were okay.
September 7, 2016
Really good. Really.
May 20, 2015
really liked some of these, meh on others.
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