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Old Gods and Other Tales
From the dust of ancient battlefields to the fluorescent glow of modern cubicles, the eternal dramas of human nature play out across eleven unforgettable tales.
In Byzantine halls where emperors fall to ambitious generals . . . on plague-ravaged battlefields where leper kings become legends . . . in shadowy London where playwrights wield words like weapons, the past refuses to stay buried and the old gods have merely learned to whisper more quietly.
With Old Gods and Other Tales Scott Oden delivers a masterful collection that spans millennia yet speaks to timeless truths. Meet Tisias, the silver-tongued thief whose greatest weapon is his wit. Witness the extraordinary courage of Baldwin IV, the Leper King whose diseased body housed a lion’s heart. Follow Martin Kestrel through a London where understanding the story itself becomes a form of power. Experience the vengeance of Meriones, a skeleton warrior animated by Hecate’s will and driven by memories of love and betrayal.
Old Gods and Other Tales is heroic historical fiction at its finest—proof that every page of history teems with drama waiting to be discovered, and that some stories refuse to be silenced until they find their voice.
The old gods have not died. They have simply learned patience.
In Byzantine halls where emperors fall to ambitious generals . . . on plague-ravaged battlefields where leper kings become legends . . . in shadowy London where playwrights wield words like weapons, the past refuses to stay buried and the old gods have merely learned to whisper more quietly.
With Old Gods and Other Tales Scott Oden delivers a masterful collection that spans millennia yet speaks to timeless truths. Meet Tisias, the silver-tongued thief whose greatest weapon is his wit. Witness the extraordinary courage of Baldwin IV, the Leper King whose diseased body housed a lion’s heart. Follow Martin Kestrel through a London where understanding the story itself becomes a form of power. Experience the vengeance of Meriones, a skeleton warrior animated by Hecate’s will and driven by memories of love and betrayal.
Old Gods and Other Tales is heroic historical fiction at its finest—proof that every page of history teems with drama waiting to be discovered, and that some stories refuse to be silenced until they find their voice.
The old gods have not died. They have simply learned patience.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2025
9 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Scott Oden
28 books390 followersScott Oden is a liar. He is a forger and a thief; a scoundrel and a spreader of gossip . . . which is all just a fancy way of saying Scott Oden is a writer. He is perhaps best known for his ability to mimic Robert E. Howard's style of prose -- though he does a passably good A.A. Milne, as well. His books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, earned him recognition as an Amazon Editor's Pick, and garnered a Gemmell Award nomination. Or so he says. Who can believe him, really? For all we know, he's just a triumvirate of raccoons with a trench coat and access to Chat GPT.
His notable works include Men of Bronze, Memnon, The Lion of Cairo, and the Grimnir Saga. His less notable works include Claude Moreau's Garden: dozens of cozy short stories about a magical village of mice living in a Provencal garden at the turn of the last century, and long, incendiary posts on Discord about why Cimmerians and Picts should never "get together".
The author lives in rural North Alabama, where he sometimes talks to trees and tries to befriend all the neighborhood dogs. The neighborhood cats can piss right off . . .
His notable works include Men of Bronze, Memnon, The Lion of Cairo, and the Grimnir Saga. His less notable works include Claude Moreau's Garden: dozens of cozy short stories about a magical village of mice living in a Provencal garden at the turn of the last century, and long, incendiary posts on Discord about why Cimmerians and Picts should never "get together".
The author lives in rural North Alabama, where he sometimes talks to trees and tries to befriend all the neighborhood dogs. The neighborhood cats can piss right off . . .
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 6, 2025
Oden gives us quite a variety of story types in this volume. This is a collection of short stories with no weaknesses. You get to enjoy historical fiction in some of the finest and innovative forms I’ve read in a while. Oden is branching out in different writing styles as of late, and while I will always enjoy his blood and thunder the best, his other work is stellar.
For example, Kestral is a playwright in a historical fiction London England setting. He is featured in a few shorts in this volume. The setting seems more sword and sorcery, yet the character is a delight as he battles adversaries with wits instead of steel. Very satisfying and I hope to see more.
The tales in Outremer are fantastic, especially the last one that brought a tear to my eye. Oden even gives us a hilarious office setting tale to finish the volume using sword and sorcery lingo. I laughed several times during that one. The best of the bunch is probably the title story, but I will let others decide on that one. I don’t want to spoil it. Highly recommend!
For example, Kestral is a playwright in a historical fiction London England setting. He is featured in a few shorts in this volume. The setting seems more sword and sorcery, yet the character is a delight as he battles adversaries with wits instead of steel. Very satisfying and I hope to see more.
The tales in Outremer are fantastic, especially the last one that brought a tear to my eye. Oden even gives us a hilarious office setting tale to finish the volume using sword and sorcery lingo. I laughed several times during that one. The best of the bunch is probably the title story, but I will let others decide on that one. I don’t want to spoil it. Highly recommend!
September 12, 2025
I absolutely loved this collection of historical fiction, fantasy, and sword and sorcery tales, especially the historical fiction. I enjoyed some stories more than others but as a whole this was an excellent read.
The Prince of Cups (4/5)
The Lion of Montgisard (5/5)
A Stage By Any Other Name (4/5)
The Bones Remember (5/5)
Old Gods (5/5)
The Wordsmith’s Gambit (5/5)
The Purple Shroud (5/5)
The Unburied (4/5)
The Final Performance (3/5)
The Eternal Jest (5/5)
Three-Tabbed Doom (4/5)
The Prince of Cups (4/5)
The Lion of Montgisard (5/5)
A Stage By Any Other Name (4/5)
The Bones Remember (5/5)
Old Gods (5/5)
The Wordsmith’s Gambit (5/5)
The Purple Shroud (5/5)
The Unburied (4/5)
The Final Performance (3/5)
The Eternal Jest (5/5)
Three-Tabbed Doom (4/5)
September 12, 2025
Prince of Cups
The story felt like it was given the basic set-up of A Scandal in Bohemia and then was settled with James Bond’s scene playing baccarat in Thunderball, all overlaid with a sense of atmospheric sorcery. The juxtaposition of great characters with the atmosphere of the sorcerous card game is where this story derives its strength. The plot is straightforward, and you know the protagonist is going to win (he literally wins every hand in the story from the opening mundane gambling game to the sorcerous one at the end), so that’s not where the meat of the story is. It’s in Scott Oden’s masterful use of language and ability to create atmosphere and mood, making the sorcerous game a moment of wonder for the reader, even if it didn’t feel difficult or wonderous for the characters playing it (much like the scene in Thunderball would have felt for the characters). I was surprised this was written with so little tension. Because the stakes were so minute for the players (but probably lethal for baron, who was not playing) and the solution so peacefully amiable, it felt like cozy fantasy. It was about the atmosphere, not the stakes.
The Lion of Montgisard
The second story is The Lion of Montgisard, told by Balian the Younger, Lord of Ibelin. Scott Odin returns to his roots in historical fiction, and this tale was FANTASTIC. He captured the massive battle excellently. I felt the overwhelming odds. I felt the fervor of the knights as they rallied. The way he describes the battle, I almost could have been there. It’s basically just a telling of how the battle of Montgisard was won.
Scott Oden’s style in this story is muscular, gritty, and steeped in the atmosphere of ancient and medieval worlds, where myth bleeds seamlessly into history. He writes with a reverence for pulp adventure, channeling Robert E. Howard’s raw energy, yet grounds his tales in meticulously researched settings that feel lived-in and authentic. His prose is vivid and cinematic, carrying the cadence of epic saga and battlefield song, while his characters are drawn in shades of gray, embodying both savagery and tragic depth. Oden’s work doesn’t romanticize the past; instead, it revels in its strangeness, brutality, and wonder, crafting stories where gods, monsters, and men collide in landscapes haunted by both myth and memory. This was fun to read. This was Scott Odin at the top of his game.
A Stage By Any Other Name
I didn’t like this story. It pains me to say that. But I didn’t. I simply didn’t understand why Martin Kestrel was going after Drake. He owed Drake money, so I assume he borrowed it. Nothing in the story indicates that Drake wanted anything from him other than the money owed plus interest, so Martin Kestrel’s activities seem unfair, to say the least. And then the story just… ends. There is zero resolution to anyone’s issues. No character arcs are completed. No plot arcs are completed. No questions I have about the plot are answered.
The Bones Remember
This story is inspired by one of my favorite movies, Jason and the Argonauts. This is the story of the skeleton that had a shield emblazoned with a stylized octopus. "The Bones Remember" channels the raw, primal energy of Scott Oden’s historical adventures while layering it with a brooding, almost mythic gravitas. This tale was brutal yet lyrical, where steel clashed not just against flesh but against fate, gods, and the weight of personal history. The characters were driven by vengeance, survival, or grim destiny. Unlike more high-flown epic fantasy, Oden kept the focus tight and visceral, suffusing the narrative with blood, sweat, and the aura of ancient legend, creating a story that felt both timeless and savage, like fragments of a lost saga whispered around a fire.
Old Gods
Speaking of Scott Oden’s ability to write fantasy, we come to the title piece of this collection, and it is an absolute highlight of this collection. Wow. This story was amazing and worth the price of the whole collection. This story is visceral, atmospheric, and steeped in the weight of myth and history. It blends the muscular cadence of classic pulp adventure with the immersive detail of historical fiction and mythology, crafting prose that is both raw and lyrical. This story’s world feels ancient, brutal, and lived-in, evoking the clash of steel, the stench of blood, and the whisper of forgotten gods. Characters are drawn with stark intensity who embody both savagery and tragic humanity. Oden’s voice resonates like an old saga retold, equal parts elegy and battle-cry, where every sentence feels etched in iron and shadow. This story was just spectacular. Great choice for title story. This is peak Scott Oden.
The Wordsmith’s Gambit
This story is less a story but the continuation of “A Stage By Any Other Name,” which would have made me less frustrated if it had just been part of that story. I really thought the earlier story left every single thread unresolved... but this one doesn't resolve anything from the first story and just adds more unresolved questions. I did not like this story.
The Purple Shroud
This story was EXCELLENT. Scott Oden has given us another historical fantasy that also serves as an examination of leadership as a form of death. Brilliant in concept and execution.
The story takes place in 969, with Nikephoros II Phokas on the throne of the Byzantine Empire, and tells of his assassination at the hands of John Tzimiskes. The characters in the story were realized well. I understood their motives and who they were as persons. As is usual with Scott Oden’s historicals, the whole thing smacked of realism. I’d love to just go on and on, but if you re-read my paragraph praising “The Lion of Montgisard,” every word in the paragraph applies to this story as well. The only thing I can really add to that description is that this one has philosophical depth to it, almost like one of Robert E. Howard’s Kull stories.
The Unburied
This is a story about a war-weary soldier on his way home with his compatriots, so it starts out almost as a feel-good story, with the soldier ready to be done with soldiering for a while, ready to be home with his family. He misses his wife and child. It starts out like one of the letter-writing episodes of M*A*S*H, but set in ancient times. Honestly, I was getting into it and forgot it was going to be a zombie story, so the plot twist worked. Again, imagine one of the heart-felt letter-writing episodes of M*A*S*H, but then… Zombies! Or imagine if the last episode had the 4077th returning home from Korea, to find out America was overrun with zombies… It was such an effective twist, changing the tone of the story from heartfelt homecoming to action-horror.
Brilliant.
The Final Performance
It was an okay story. Better than the other two Martin stories, but it has two severe pacing problems. One, everyone talks like they are in an episode of “Deadwood” (less the cussing). I can understand why Martin the playwright speaks so eloquently, with large words and long sentences, but why do all the characters speak this way? It would go a long way to make Martin sound different from everyone else if everyone else spoke plainly and to the point. This is a problem in the other two stories, but this one took it to the next level. It really slowed down the reading. Two, I was often eye-rolling as Martin and the Hulk talked instead of the Hulk getting down to business and forcing Martin to flee, fight, or do something other than jabber on about philosophies and theories. Unfortunately, it’s not like the philosophical examination we see in the exemplary The Purple Shroud: This is all noise and distraction, with no introspection involved. There’s no heart in these discussions - and I literally do not understand why the monster-man indulged him in conversation.
This story also still has the fundamental flaw of the other two stories. It feels like Martin is plowing a path of destruction just because someone loaned him some money he needed. His friend had his soul sucked out, and why? Because Martin owed a money-lender some money? Why was Martin libeling the sorcerous money-lenders in the first place? Because they loaned him money? The fiends! How dare they! And Martin is getting off scott-free.
The Eternal Jest
I liked this story, too. It takes place in three different decades, which was an interesting development. It was philosophical and brutal, both in action and in terms of the impact of the philosophy of service. It examines the male ego and false notions of bravery/cowardice in a wonderful way. Part one is about the fall of Acre and a boy who is sent running in order to live while others die. Part two is set ten years later, and shows a leper knight giving his life so others might live. Part three ties the story together, bringing that boy from part one to the location and memorial of the leper knight of part two, and the man-who-was-the-boy learns something vital about life, bravery, service, and what it all means. Everything gels together in this story. Everything clicks. The philosophy is driven home with impact. The action feels energetic and raw, vivid and cinematic. The past plays about, strange and brutal, impacting the present with tragic depth. It has a realism that hits home.
And Now for Something Completely Different… Three-Tabbed Doom
Now we get a humorous story that makes an office worker into a would-be sword & sorcery hero. This story was great. Part “Office Space” and part homage to Robert E. Howard, this story made me laugh and appreciate life. The name of the story is an homage to "Three-Bladed Doom" by REH.
Conclusion
I loved all the stories that didn’t feature Martin Kestrel.
Each of the other stories were steeped in the atmosphere of myth imposing itself onto history. They all felt lived-in and authentic, brought to life with vivid language, interesting characters, real situations, and brutal struggles just to live. The stories have a tragic depth to them, with a haunting cadence that resonates even after you finish the last word.
In stark contrast, the three Martin Kestrel stories are a prolonged revenge story without a reason for the revenge, without a sense of tragic depth, and unreal situations without any sense of that brutal will to live long enough to see revenge extracted. Imagine if we were given John Wick or First Blood, but starting the story when he goes after revenge without ever telling us why, offering no sense that John Wick or John Rambo felt wronged, then you have the situation here with these stories – and then take away the violence and make it all talking, trickery, and compromises that favor the guy hurting everyone for no reason. Even though the classic Cask of Amontillado doesn’t tell us what Fortunado did to wrong Montresor, Poe does make it clear, absolutely clear, that Montresor felt wronged. That’s essential for a revenge story, the sense of a wrong being righted; that is what is missing from the Martin Kestrel stories. All we have is a debt owed to a money-lender, and that is no basis for revenge. And then, once the revenge starts to happen, everyone starts doing inexplicable things in response. Nothing about these three stories felt lived in or authentic. It all felt contrived.
Skip the three Martin Kestrel stories, and delight in the other ones, that is my advice. The other stories in the volume are beyond reproach and are excellent stories that need to be read by fans of the genre. I'm giving the volume four stars on the basis of the other stories, and am just ignoring the Martin Kestrel stories.
The story felt like it was given the basic set-up of A Scandal in Bohemia and then was settled with James Bond’s scene playing baccarat in Thunderball, all overlaid with a sense of atmospheric sorcery. The juxtaposition of great characters with the atmosphere of the sorcerous card game is where this story derives its strength. The plot is straightforward, and you know the protagonist is going to win (he literally wins every hand in the story from the opening mundane gambling game to the sorcerous one at the end), so that’s not where the meat of the story is. It’s in Scott Oden’s masterful use of language and ability to create atmosphere and mood, making the sorcerous game a moment of wonder for the reader, even if it didn’t feel difficult or wonderous for the characters playing it (much like the scene in Thunderball would have felt for the characters). I was surprised this was written with so little tension. Because the stakes were so minute for the players (but probably lethal for baron, who was not playing) and the solution so peacefully amiable, it felt like cozy fantasy. It was about the atmosphere, not the stakes.
The Lion of Montgisard
The second story is The Lion of Montgisard, told by Balian the Younger, Lord of Ibelin. Scott Odin returns to his roots in historical fiction, and this tale was FANTASTIC. He captured the massive battle excellently. I felt the overwhelming odds. I felt the fervor of the knights as they rallied. The way he describes the battle, I almost could have been there. It’s basically just a telling of how the battle of Montgisard was won.
Scott Oden’s style in this story is muscular, gritty, and steeped in the atmosphere of ancient and medieval worlds, where myth bleeds seamlessly into history. He writes with a reverence for pulp adventure, channeling Robert E. Howard’s raw energy, yet grounds his tales in meticulously researched settings that feel lived-in and authentic. His prose is vivid and cinematic, carrying the cadence of epic saga and battlefield song, while his characters are drawn in shades of gray, embodying both savagery and tragic depth. Oden’s work doesn’t romanticize the past; instead, it revels in its strangeness, brutality, and wonder, crafting stories where gods, monsters, and men collide in landscapes haunted by both myth and memory. This was fun to read. This was Scott Odin at the top of his game.
A Stage By Any Other Name
I didn’t like this story. It pains me to say that. But I didn’t. I simply didn’t understand why Martin Kestrel was going after Drake. He owed Drake money, so I assume he borrowed it. Nothing in the story indicates that Drake wanted anything from him other than the money owed plus interest, so Martin Kestrel’s activities seem unfair, to say the least. And then the story just… ends. There is zero resolution to anyone’s issues. No character arcs are completed. No plot arcs are completed. No questions I have about the plot are answered.
The Bones Remember
This story is inspired by one of my favorite movies, Jason and the Argonauts. This is the story of the skeleton that had a shield emblazoned with a stylized octopus. "The Bones Remember" channels the raw, primal energy of Scott Oden’s historical adventures while layering it with a brooding, almost mythic gravitas. This tale was brutal yet lyrical, where steel clashed not just against flesh but against fate, gods, and the weight of personal history. The characters were driven by vengeance, survival, or grim destiny. Unlike more high-flown epic fantasy, Oden kept the focus tight and visceral, suffusing the narrative with blood, sweat, and the aura of ancient legend, creating a story that felt both timeless and savage, like fragments of a lost saga whispered around a fire.
Old Gods
Speaking of Scott Oden’s ability to write fantasy, we come to the title piece of this collection, and it is an absolute highlight of this collection. Wow. This story was amazing and worth the price of the whole collection. This story is visceral, atmospheric, and steeped in the weight of myth and history. It blends the muscular cadence of classic pulp adventure with the immersive detail of historical fiction and mythology, crafting prose that is both raw and lyrical. This story’s world feels ancient, brutal, and lived-in, evoking the clash of steel, the stench of blood, and the whisper of forgotten gods. Characters are drawn with stark intensity who embody both savagery and tragic humanity. Oden’s voice resonates like an old saga retold, equal parts elegy and battle-cry, where every sentence feels etched in iron and shadow. This story was just spectacular. Great choice for title story. This is peak Scott Oden.
The Wordsmith’s Gambit
This story is less a story but the continuation of “A Stage By Any Other Name,” which would have made me less frustrated if it had just been part of that story. I really thought the earlier story left every single thread unresolved... but this one doesn't resolve anything from the first story and just adds more unresolved questions. I did not like this story.
The Purple Shroud
This story was EXCELLENT. Scott Oden has given us another historical fantasy that also serves as an examination of leadership as a form of death. Brilliant in concept and execution.
The story takes place in 969, with Nikephoros II Phokas on the throne of the Byzantine Empire, and tells of his assassination at the hands of John Tzimiskes. The characters in the story were realized well. I understood their motives and who they were as persons. As is usual with Scott Oden’s historicals, the whole thing smacked of realism. I’d love to just go on and on, but if you re-read my paragraph praising “The Lion of Montgisard,” every word in the paragraph applies to this story as well. The only thing I can really add to that description is that this one has philosophical depth to it, almost like one of Robert E. Howard’s Kull stories.
The Unburied
This is a story about a war-weary soldier on his way home with his compatriots, so it starts out almost as a feel-good story, with the soldier ready to be done with soldiering for a while, ready to be home with his family. He misses his wife and child. It starts out like one of the letter-writing episodes of M*A*S*H, but set in ancient times. Honestly, I was getting into it and forgot it was going to be a zombie story, so the plot twist worked. Again, imagine one of the heart-felt letter-writing episodes of M*A*S*H, but then… Zombies! Or imagine if the last episode had the 4077th returning home from Korea, to find out America was overrun with zombies… It was such an effective twist, changing the tone of the story from heartfelt homecoming to action-horror.
Brilliant.
The Final Performance
It was an okay story. Better than the other two Martin stories, but it has two severe pacing problems. One, everyone talks like they are in an episode of “Deadwood” (less the cussing). I can understand why Martin the playwright speaks so eloquently, with large words and long sentences, but why do all the characters speak this way? It would go a long way to make Martin sound different from everyone else if everyone else spoke plainly and to the point. This is a problem in the other two stories, but this one took it to the next level. It really slowed down the reading. Two, I was often eye-rolling as Martin and the Hulk talked instead of the Hulk getting down to business and forcing Martin to flee, fight, or do something other than jabber on about philosophies and theories. Unfortunately, it’s not like the philosophical examination we see in the exemplary The Purple Shroud: This is all noise and distraction, with no introspection involved. There’s no heart in these discussions - and I literally do not understand why the monster-man indulged him in conversation.
This story also still has the fundamental flaw of the other two stories. It feels like Martin is plowing a path of destruction just because someone loaned him some money he needed. His friend had his soul sucked out, and why? Because Martin owed a money-lender some money? Why was Martin libeling the sorcerous money-lenders in the first place? Because they loaned him money? The fiends! How dare they! And Martin is getting off scott-free.
The Eternal Jest
I liked this story, too. It takes place in three different decades, which was an interesting development. It was philosophical and brutal, both in action and in terms of the impact of the philosophy of service. It examines the male ego and false notions of bravery/cowardice in a wonderful way. Part one is about the fall of Acre and a boy who is sent running in order to live while others die. Part two is set ten years later, and shows a leper knight giving his life so others might live. Part three ties the story together, bringing that boy from part one to the location and memorial of the leper knight of part two, and the man-who-was-the-boy learns something vital about life, bravery, service, and what it all means. Everything gels together in this story. Everything clicks. The philosophy is driven home with impact. The action feels energetic and raw, vivid and cinematic. The past plays about, strange and brutal, impacting the present with tragic depth. It has a realism that hits home.
And Now for Something Completely Different… Three-Tabbed Doom
Now we get a humorous story that makes an office worker into a would-be sword & sorcery hero. This story was great. Part “Office Space” and part homage to Robert E. Howard, this story made me laugh and appreciate life. The name of the story is an homage to "Three-Bladed Doom" by REH.
Conclusion
I loved all the stories that didn’t feature Martin Kestrel.
Each of the other stories were steeped in the atmosphere of myth imposing itself onto history. They all felt lived-in and authentic, brought to life with vivid language, interesting characters, real situations, and brutal struggles just to live. The stories have a tragic depth to them, with a haunting cadence that resonates even after you finish the last word.
In stark contrast, the three Martin Kestrel stories are a prolonged revenge story without a reason for the revenge, without a sense of tragic depth, and unreal situations without any sense of that brutal will to live long enough to see revenge extracted. Imagine if we were given John Wick or First Blood, but starting the story when he goes after revenge without ever telling us why, offering no sense that John Wick or John Rambo felt wronged, then you have the situation here with these stories – and then take away the violence and make it all talking, trickery, and compromises that favor the guy hurting everyone for no reason. Even though the classic Cask of Amontillado doesn’t tell us what Fortunado did to wrong Montresor, Poe does make it clear, absolutely clear, that Montresor felt wronged. That’s essential for a revenge story, the sense of a wrong being righted; that is what is missing from the Martin Kestrel stories. All we have is a debt owed to a money-lender, and that is no basis for revenge. And then, once the revenge starts to happen, everyone starts doing inexplicable things in response. Nothing about these three stories felt lived in or authentic. It all felt contrived.
Skip the three Martin Kestrel stories, and delight in the other ones, that is my advice. The other stories in the volume are beyond reproach and are excellent stories that need to be read by fans of the genre. I'm giving the volume four stars on the basis of the other stories, and am just ignoring the Martin Kestrel stories.
November 23, 2025
If you have just one Sword & Sorcery/Sandal/Soul book to read this year (although why such a limit might be imposed upon you is beyond my comprehension), then may this book be it. It contains stories of shattering violence, numbing horror, chilling intrigue, fearsome machinations. Above all, it contains wisdom— in all its grime and glory, poverty and purity.
And it also has a brilliant comic piece at the end, perhaps encouraging us to invoke similar mayhem at our places of servitude. By Crom, What a result that would produce!
'Nuff said. Read the book, man. Else you would be missing something seriously good. Get it?
Highly recommended.
And it also has a brilliant comic piece at the end, perhaps encouraging us to invoke similar mayhem at our places of servitude. By Crom, What a result that would produce!
'Nuff said. Read the book, man. Else you would be missing something seriously good. Get it?
Highly recommended.
November 5, 2025
Old Gods and Other Tales by Scott Oden was published August of this year and is a collection of 12 short stories which show the range that Oden is capable of. Oden's stories here are packed with vivid prose and ooze atmosphere.
PRINCE OF CUPS - I really enjoyed the atmosphere, language, and mood of the story. Oden's first two sentences in this story. "He was a bastard in every sense. A dagger-man and a sneakthief, a braggart and a liar." immediately drew me in. Oden shows a lot of creativity here. The opponents wage battle not with swords but with playing cards. The tale is rampant with creativity - there were several examples where a sentence could serve as a launchpad for another tale. The final denouement was wholly satisfying.,
THE LION OF MONTGISARD is a tale told by Balian the Younger, Lord of Ibelin. Oden returns to historical fiction with this tale and his writing prowess really shines here. The charge of the Leper King in the Battle of Montgisard was electrifying; the prose described the battle in such a way that made you feel as if you were there. This story brings to mind the writing of Robert E. Howard and Harold Lamb.,
A STAGE BY ANY OTHER NAME is another example of Oden flexing his muscles and showing his range. This tale is the first tale featuring Martin Kestrel, playwright. There are no swords or cards, but words and deception are the flavors of the day. I really enjoyed the setup here and can't wait to see where Oden goes with the character. The character choice is original and brings with it a fresh set of writing challenges. It is reminiscent to a degree of John C. Hocking's Archivist tales, as both writers are featuring protagonists that break the traditional sword & sorcery mold.
THE BONES REMEMBER - I remember one night here on the server, Scott had just finished watching Harryhausen's Jason & the Argonauts and asked if we would be interested in reading about the fate of one of those now famous skeletons that appear in the movie. The response was a resounding yes but if I'm being completely honest, as cool and creative as the idea seemed, I had doubts that it could be pulled off in a satisfactory matter. I should not have doubted this wordsmith. This is indeed a tale of that skeleton whose shield bore a stylized octopus. Not only did Scott pull it off, it is thus far my favorite tale in the book. It's a tragic tale with words evoking vivid imagery. This tale bleeds old school sword & sorcery like a gaping wound. It left this reader transfixed. A perfect tale from beginning to end that leaves the reader wholly satisfied. In my humble opinion, it is this very tale that shows you that Scott Oden studied at the altars of masters but yet writes in his own voice.,
OLD GODS Once I began reading this tale I soon realized my mistake of declaring the previous tale as my favorite in this collection. Old Gods certainly vies for first place in that regard. Scott Oden presents us with the character Athalaric the Vandal. Oden asks; "You wanted blood & thunder? I'll give you blood and thunder!" And quite literally, that is exactly what he does in this old school sword & sorcery treat. The violence depicted here is like a dash of cold water to the face. The beginning scene is riveting and reads like a big screen movie. All I can say is, I want more tales featuring Athalaric the Vandal.,
THE WORDSMITH'S GAMBIT is the second tale featuring Martin Kestrel, the playwright. Oden has a way of delivering sword & sorcery goodness right to your doorstep quicker than an Amazon delivery driver. As evinced by this excerpt:,
"Bleeding Christ," Jonas muttered. "They're sending you to Newgate."
Kestrel peered over his shoulder at the crude map. "The prison?"
"The dead cells beneath it," Jonas clarified grimly. "Ancient chambers predating the Tower itself. No sane Londoner ventures there willingly - too close to the old Roman temples and their buried secrets." Once presented with THAT portion of the plot device I couldn't stop turning pages. What do I think of Martin Kestrel? I like how Kestrel breaks most sword & sorcery tropes and appreciate Oden flexing his creative chops here. Of Kestrel, the supporting character of Anne says it most succinctly; "You're more dangerous without sword or sorcery than most men armed with both"
THE PURPLE SHROUD - a grim tale of politics and power that corrupts - a very obtuse description and only one layer - this story deserves a greater explanation but I want you to read it. It is very very good,
THE UNBURIED - just when you thought Scott could no longer surprise you with his range, he throws in a zombie story. Dark and tragic, causing you to recall all of the biggest scenes that had made The Walking Dead so great, this one is another banger.,
THE FINAL PERFORMANCE is the third tale of Martin Kestrel, playwright and wraps up the storyline that has been running throughout the three Kestrel tales. The tale serves to setup an arch nemesis for Kestrel and promises the possibility of further Kestrel stories.,
THE ETERNAL JEST - one of my absolute favorites in this collection and in my top three. A tale that follows the lives of three men and tells of duty, honor, and service to others. This is Scott Oden in top form.,
THREE-TABBED DOOM - is absolutely hysterical and something completely different. The Office meets Conan and it's a hoot.,
If you're a sword & sorcery fan, or if you worship at the altar of Robert E. Howard and Harold Lamb, you owe it to yourself to get yourself a copy of this book to add to your collection. You will love the stories found within. If the genre is important to you, Scott Oden is a strong voice in this field. Support his art and work with this purchase. Why? Because, by Crom, we want more!
PRINCE OF CUPS - I really enjoyed the atmosphere, language, and mood of the story. Oden's first two sentences in this story. "He was a bastard in every sense. A dagger-man and a sneakthief, a braggart and a liar." immediately drew me in. Oden shows a lot of creativity here. The opponents wage battle not with swords but with playing cards. The tale is rampant with creativity - there were several examples where a sentence could serve as a launchpad for another tale. The final denouement was wholly satisfying.,
THE LION OF MONTGISARD is a tale told by Balian the Younger, Lord of Ibelin. Oden returns to historical fiction with this tale and his writing prowess really shines here. The charge of the Leper King in the Battle of Montgisard was electrifying; the prose described the battle in such a way that made you feel as if you were there. This story brings to mind the writing of Robert E. Howard and Harold Lamb.,
A STAGE BY ANY OTHER NAME is another example of Oden flexing his muscles and showing his range. This tale is the first tale featuring Martin Kestrel, playwright. There are no swords or cards, but words and deception are the flavors of the day. I really enjoyed the setup here and can't wait to see where Oden goes with the character. The character choice is original and brings with it a fresh set of writing challenges. It is reminiscent to a degree of John C. Hocking's Archivist tales, as both writers are featuring protagonists that break the traditional sword & sorcery mold.
THE BONES REMEMBER - I remember one night here on the server, Scott had just finished watching Harryhausen's Jason & the Argonauts and asked if we would be interested in reading about the fate of one of those now famous skeletons that appear in the movie. The response was a resounding yes but if I'm being completely honest, as cool and creative as the idea seemed, I had doubts that it could be pulled off in a satisfactory matter. I should not have doubted this wordsmith. This is indeed a tale of that skeleton whose shield bore a stylized octopus. Not only did Scott pull it off, it is thus far my favorite tale in the book. It's a tragic tale with words evoking vivid imagery. This tale bleeds old school sword & sorcery like a gaping wound. It left this reader transfixed. A perfect tale from beginning to end that leaves the reader wholly satisfied. In my humble opinion, it is this very tale that shows you that Scott Oden studied at the altars of masters but yet writes in his own voice.,
OLD GODS Once I began reading this tale I soon realized my mistake of declaring the previous tale as my favorite in this collection. Old Gods certainly vies for first place in that regard. Scott Oden presents us with the character Athalaric the Vandal. Oden asks; "You wanted blood & thunder? I'll give you blood and thunder!" And quite literally, that is exactly what he does in this old school sword & sorcery treat. The violence depicted here is like a dash of cold water to the face. The beginning scene is riveting and reads like a big screen movie. All I can say is, I want more tales featuring Athalaric the Vandal.,
THE WORDSMITH'S GAMBIT is the second tale featuring Martin Kestrel, the playwright. Oden has a way of delivering sword & sorcery goodness right to your doorstep quicker than an Amazon delivery driver. As evinced by this excerpt:,
"Bleeding Christ," Jonas muttered. "They're sending you to Newgate."
Kestrel peered over his shoulder at the crude map. "The prison?"
"The dead cells beneath it," Jonas clarified grimly. "Ancient chambers predating the Tower itself. No sane Londoner ventures there willingly - too close to the old Roman temples and their buried secrets." Once presented with THAT portion of the plot device I couldn't stop turning pages. What do I think of Martin Kestrel? I like how Kestrel breaks most sword & sorcery tropes and appreciate Oden flexing his creative chops here. Of Kestrel, the supporting character of Anne says it most succinctly; "You're more dangerous without sword or sorcery than most men armed with both"
THE PURPLE SHROUD - a grim tale of politics and power that corrupts - a very obtuse description and only one layer - this story deserves a greater explanation but I want you to read it. It is very very good,
THE UNBURIED - just when you thought Scott could no longer surprise you with his range, he throws in a zombie story. Dark and tragic, causing you to recall all of the biggest scenes that had made The Walking Dead so great, this one is another banger.,
THE FINAL PERFORMANCE is the third tale of Martin Kestrel, playwright and wraps up the storyline that has been running throughout the three Kestrel tales. The tale serves to setup an arch nemesis for Kestrel and promises the possibility of further Kestrel stories.,
THE ETERNAL JEST - one of my absolute favorites in this collection and in my top three. A tale that follows the lives of three men and tells of duty, honor, and service to others. This is Scott Oden in top form.,
THREE-TABBED DOOM - is absolutely hysterical and something completely different. The Office meets Conan and it's a hoot.,
If you're a sword & sorcery fan, or if you worship at the altar of Robert E. Howard and Harold Lamb, you owe it to yourself to get yourself a copy of this book to add to your collection. You will love the stories found within. If the genre is important to you, Scott Oden is a strong voice in this field. Support his art and work with this purchase. Why? Because, by Crom, we want more!
December 17, 2025
Tales of swords, sorcery and ancient dust
Great heroic read in the literary tradition of R. E. Howard and H. A. Lamb. Every word is sharp as a sword, and every line is blazing hot as a desert wind.
Here you can find a bunch of the swashbuckling adventures set in Antiquity, in the dark age of the fall of Rome, medieval crusades, or even in the fairy-inhabited alternate London. The characters are strong and tough, but memorable and unique.
This collection demonstrates many sides of the author's talent. Every fan of sword&sorcery or historical heroics will get something he or her will enjoy. And I mean it.
Great heroic read in the literary tradition of R. E. Howard and H. A. Lamb. Every word is sharp as a sword, and every line is blazing hot as a desert wind.
Here you can find a bunch of the swashbuckling adventures set in Antiquity, in the dark age of the fall of Rome, medieval crusades, or even in the fairy-inhabited alternate London. The characters are strong and tough, but memorable and unique.
This collection demonstrates many sides of the author's talent. Every fan of sword&sorcery or historical heroics will get something he or her will enjoy. And I mean it.
August 29, 2025
OLD GODS AND OTHER TALES is a top-tier collection of short stories that span multiple genres, from historical fiction to sword & sorcery, all of them full of action and adventure. The historical fiction stories are steeped in accuracy, so real that you can clearly imagine what it must have been like to live and die during ages long passed.
Not all of it is historical, however: my favorite story in this collection is a sequel of sorts to JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS told from the perspective of one of the skeleton warriors. Another favorite is a trio of stories that are woven together in a tale of the crusades that led to the fall of Acre and tell a story of redemption and honor.
Oden's wide range is on full display in this book. The sword and sorcery elements are as good as anything that graced the pulp shelves of the 1930s and beyond. Scott Oden writes more like Robert E. Howard than any pastiche authors I've ever read, capturing the essence of Howard's style of adventure storytelling.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone who craves pulp adventure stories featuring well-written action scenes, immersive world-building, and excellent plotting.
Not all of it is historical, however: my favorite story in this collection is a sequel of sorts to JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS told from the perspective of one of the skeleton warriors. Another favorite is a trio of stories that are woven together in a tale of the crusades that led to the fall of Acre and tell a story of redemption and honor.
Oden's wide range is on full display in this book. The sword and sorcery elements are as good as anything that graced the pulp shelves of the 1930s and beyond. Scott Oden writes more like Robert E. Howard than any pastiche authors I've ever read, capturing the essence of Howard's style of adventure storytelling.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone who craves pulp adventure stories featuring well-written action scenes, immersive world-building, and excellent plotting.
September 14, 2025
After finishing Men of Bronze, I picked up Scott Oden's new short story collection, Old Gods And Other Tales to continue my current author binge. I thoroughly enjoyed every story.
A few highlights for me:
"The Bones Remember"
This was a nice surprise. I love the 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts. Let's just say if you liked the scene where Jason fights off a bunch of skeletons, then this one might be for you.
"The Eternal Jest"
A story that spans one family's bloodline through their time in the Holy Lands, I really enjoyed the themes and action here. Honor & death, never gets old.
"Three-Tabbed Doom"
Wow. This was the shortest tale in the collection, but quite possibility my personal favorite, and absolutely hilarious. I actually read it out loud to a friend, and also to my wife.
A few highlights for me:
"The Bones Remember"
This was a nice surprise. I love the 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts. Let's just say if you liked the scene where Jason fights off a bunch of skeletons, then this one might be for you.
"The Eternal Jest"
A story that spans one family's bloodline through their time in the Holy Lands, I really enjoyed the themes and action here. Honor & death, never gets old.
"Three-Tabbed Doom"
Wow. This was the shortest tale in the collection, but quite possibility my personal favorite, and absolutely hilarious. I actually read it out loud to a friend, and also to my wife.
October 3, 2025
Another fine set of stories from Scott Oden. From a magical London to a Leper King and a warrior skeleton. The only con I have reading Scott is he makes me aware of how little I know about ancient times but that does not stop me from enjoying spending time with stories set there.
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