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Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 11
This is the eleventh volume in our popular Swords & Tales of Heroic Fantasy series of anthologies in the footsteps of Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith and other pioneers of the sword and sorcery genre.
The stories and authors included this time
Silence for Snakes by Harry Elliott
Midwinter by David A. Sutton
Tomb Robbers by Susan Murrie Macdonald
Blackshield Manor by Marc Edward Star
The Eggshell Carver by Tais Teng
The Eternal The Man Who Hunted Death by Andrew Darlington
The Gwailou Ship by Geoffrey Hart
Good Fortune by Ũũmbi (Mungai M’mbogori)
The Wyrm’s Tongue by Daniel Mahoney
Wardark and the Sands of Serpanam by Craig Herbertson
The cover and all of the interiior illustrations are by award-winning artist Jim Pitts.
The stories and authors included this time
Silence for Snakes by Harry Elliott
Midwinter by David A. Sutton
Tomb Robbers by Susan Murrie Macdonald
Blackshield Manor by Marc Edward Star
The Eggshell Carver by Tais Teng
The Eternal The Man Who Hunted Death by Andrew Darlington
The Gwailou Ship by Geoffrey Hart
Good Fortune by Ũũmbi (Mungai M’mbogori)
The Wyrm’s Tongue by Daniel Mahoney
Wardark and the Sands of Serpanam by Craig Herbertson
The cover and all of the interiior illustrations are by award-winning artist Jim Pitts.
- GenresFantasySword and Sorcery
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 28, 2025
Well, if you're looking for solid Sword and Sorcery, you won't find it in volume 11. After some seriously good issues lately, I found this on quite average. Out of the 9 stories there were some good ones. Silence for Snakes by Harry Elliott, Midwinter by David Sutton, The Wyrm's Tongue by Daniel Mahoney, and Wardark and the Sands of Serpanam were all solid sword and sorcery tales. The rest were fantasy (mostly not heroic). I would definitely recommend for those 4 stories, plus Riley keeps the kindle price under $4.
November 23, 2025
Swords and Sorceries 11 begins with a dedication by David A. Riley, to its inspiration, the late Charles Black
We open with SILENCE FOR SNAKES by frequent contributor Harry Elliott, returning for our entertainment to the Undervalley. The terrible trio of Strumm, Hakker, and Silver ally with the Lochagos, Kirho, reluctant leader of the Men of the Middel who has a big problem with a big wall and the Red Men. Elliot has a nice turn of phrase which often made me smile and he’s adept in the mix of action and the light humour of the classic modern fantasy. Enjoyable.
MIDWINTER by David A. Sutton is a tale on the aftermath of The Battle of Arfderydd fought in the 6th Century in the Brythonic kingdom. As one might expect from an author who has more awards than Walt Disney has Oscars, it’s a mature effort with echoes of George MacDonald and elements of a prose poem suitable to this time and place. Delightful stuff.
In TOMB ROBBERS by Susan Murrie Macdonald, Evon and Arun wish to advance their careers as petty pickpockets. Electing to rob the tomb of the king’s favourite wife, they sally into the odorous royal catacombs. It’s a light-hearted yet visceral tale introducing the death-worm, a highly original monster.
BLACKSHIELD MANOR by Marc Edward Star is tale of a seller of swords; not a mercenary who sells his sword but a merchant who sells swords. It’s a world of relics, of temples of cartels and has a feel of deism, paganism, of warlocks and sacraments and a strangely catholic underbelly. Moorcock liked a nasty sword and there are plenty here.
Tais Teng has an easy redolent prose and a fine talent with dialogue. THE EGGSHELL CARVER feels like a story that could be heard at the feet of Scheherazade. A poor eggshell carver gets lucky, or maybe not. It has that agreeable Vancian feel and perhaps that’s why it is my favourite amongst a very strong collection.
ETERNAL ASSASSIN: THE MAN WHO HUNTED DEATH by Andrew Darlington says it all in the title. Sicarius, the man known as the Eternal Assassin is, indeed, searching for death. As one would expect from a veteran this is an accomplished tale with at times beautiful prose and occasional poetry. There is an inevitable comparison with some Moorcockian themes and tropes, but the story has its own voice. Another favourite rivalling Tais Teng.
THE GWAILOU SHIP by Geoffrey Hart illustrates the sheer strength of the Swords and Sorceries series, stretching the theme to a historical drama of Chinese piracy. Zheng Yi Sao who married the infamous Chinese pirate Zheng Yi after escaping a Canton brothel went on to plague the seas herself. Good tale and an instant departure from what some might consider the norm for Sword and Sorcery.
I like a desert and a ruined temple and Ũũmbi begins his tale with a well-paced description of both in GOOD FORTUNE. Kach, hero of this tale, meets Morani, a high-ranking member of the Osan Trader’s Guild, who awaits Suk. He’s very unpopular with Suk. It’s a short, sweet tale.
In THE WYRM’S TONGUE by Daniel Mahoney, five bad-ass warriors are seeking Wyrm, a craggy mountain of a man. Or so it would seem. Encountering a farm and a woman with three sons they bash one on the head. This is a mistake as the one bashed, Cole, has been taking extracurricular lessons.
WARDARK AND THE SANDS OF SERPANAM by Craig Herbertson is the fourth in the Wardark saga. This time Wardark is battling men, Gobeln and the desert itself. Will he survive? He’s done it before or he wouldn't be here.
Illustrated by Jim Pitts in his inimitable style, this is another top-class effort from Parallel Universe Publications which should be a must for lovers of the genre. Again the great strength of the anthology is its diversity.
We open with SILENCE FOR SNAKES by frequent contributor Harry Elliott, returning for our entertainment to the Undervalley. The terrible trio of Strumm, Hakker, and Silver ally with the Lochagos, Kirho, reluctant leader of the Men of the Middel who has a big problem with a big wall and the Red Men. Elliot has a nice turn of phrase which often made me smile and he’s adept in the mix of action and the light humour of the classic modern fantasy. Enjoyable.
MIDWINTER by David A. Sutton is a tale on the aftermath of The Battle of Arfderydd fought in the 6th Century in the Brythonic kingdom. As one might expect from an author who has more awards than Walt Disney has Oscars, it’s a mature effort with echoes of George MacDonald and elements of a prose poem suitable to this time and place. Delightful stuff.
In TOMB ROBBERS by Susan Murrie Macdonald, Evon and Arun wish to advance their careers as petty pickpockets. Electing to rob the tomb of the king’s favourite wife, they sally into the odorous royal catacombs. It’s a light-hearted yet visceral tale introducing the death-worm, a highly original monster.
BLACKSHIELD MANOR by Marc Edward Star is tale of a seller of swords; not a mercenary who sells his sword but a merchant who sells swords. It’s a world of relics, of temples of cartels and has a feel of deism, paganism, of warlocks and sacraments and a strangely catholic underbelly. Moorcock liked a nasty sword and there are plenty here.
Tais Teng has an easy redolent prose and a fine talent with dialogue. THE EGGSHELL CARVER feels like a story that could be heard at the feet of Scheherazade. A poor eggshell carver gets lucky, or maybe not. It has that agreeable Vancian feel and perhaps that’s why it is my favourite amongst a very strong collection.
ETERNAL ASSASSIN: THE MAN WHO HUNTED DEATH by Andrew Darlington says it all in the title. Sicarius, the man known as the Eternal Assassin is, indeed, searching for death. As one would expect from a veteran this is an accomplished tale with at times beautiful prose and occasional poetry. There is an inevitable comparison with some Moorcockian themes and tropes, but the story has its own voice. Another favourite rivalling Tais Teng.
THE GWAILOU SHIP by Geoffrey Hart illustrates the sheer strength of the Swords and Sorceries series, stretching the theme to a historical drama of Chinese piracy. Zheng Yi Sao who married the infamous Chinese pirate Zheng Yi after escaping a Canton brothel went on to plague the seas herself. Good tale and an instant departure from what some might consider the norm for Sword and Sorcery.
I like a desert and a ruined temple and Ũũmbi begins his tale with a well-paced description of both in GOOD FORTUNE. Kach, hero of this tale, meets Morani, a high-ranking member of the Osan Trader’s Guild, who awaits Suk. He’s very unpopular with Suk. It’s a short, sweet tale.
In THE WYRM’S TONGUE by Daniel Mahoney, five bad-ass warriors are seeking Wyrm, a craggy mountain of a man. Or so it would seem. Encountering a farm and a woman with three sons they bash one on the head. This is a mistake as the one bashed, Cole, has been taking extracurricular lessons.
WARDARK AND THE SANDS OF SERPANAM by Craig Herbertson is the fourth in the Wardark saga. This time Wardark is battling men, Gobeln and the desert itself. Will he survive? He’s done it before or he wouldn't be here.
Illustrated by Jim Pitts in his inimitable style, this is another top-class effort from Parallel Universe Publications which should be a must for lovers of the genre. Again the great strength of the anthology is its diversity.
February 3, 2026
Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume Eleven
Parallel Universe Publications
Edited by David A Riley
Cover and interior art by Jim Pitts
November 2025
Eleven volumes and counting. What an admirable feat. What a wonderful shelf of books this makes. All dress right dress and uniform; such a splendid sight!
David Riley curates the very best of the stories submitted to him within the limited timeframe of the submission window. Often our tastes do not overlap. Which is not a criticism. Each of his anthologies in this series are well-rounded and boast a variety of fiction, broadly encompassing the spectrum of heroic fiction. If you have read or perused several of the volumes, you will observe several of the same authors. You may attribute this to many factors, but I would assume nothing. Riley publishes a near flawless publication consistently and hopefully for many more years to come.
Volume eleven has ten stories, many by authors that have graced these pages previously. Often with recurring setting or characters. Some of the standouts to me were:
Silence for Snakes by Harry Elliot
An Undervalley story. A fortified wall and siege impede our hero's journey west. A mad plan is put into action bringing the trio a little closer to understanding their foe.
Black Shield Manor by Marc Edward Star
There was a passage from this story that I liked, "It is a dagger, crafted by malice, hardened by the blood of innocents, the sacrifice of infants--all for a singular purpose. To depose an even greater evil."
The Eggshell Carver by Tais Teng
A tale of the Inland Sea. These tales always have a fairy tale/parable feel to them. A tale of murder, the pursuit of immortality, the hubris of the mighty, and one crafty eggshell carver.
Good Fortune by Uumbi
Another passage that tickled my humor. "Morani's eyebrows drew down, "My only prayer right now is for the depths to open up and swallow him whole." Kach laughed softly, "I suspect that would have happened long ago, if only the god of the underworld wasn't so scared of him."
The Wyrm's Tongue by Daniel Mahoney
This was perhaps my favorite from the collection! I heartily recommend it and sincerely hope there is more to read about Cole and Wyrm in the future. Although the beginning is disjointed and somewhat confusing, it is ever so worthwhile to finish the story. I couldn't help but compare it to many of the works written by David Gemmell. I am certain Wyrm and Druss would have gotten on swimmingly.
I did not call out every single story. That does not discount them. They just didn't appeal to me personally. Midwinter by David Sutton is very brief and pertains to a hermit who has lost his power and his faith. You will probably recognize his identity once you begin the story. Tomb Robbers by Susan Murrie Macdonald features a pair of ne'er-do-wells who learn some hard truths about tombs and their guardians. The Eternal Assassin: The Man who Hunted Death by Andrew Darlington is exactly what the title suggests. The immortal Assassin journeys to the ends of the world to find death in his domicile. The Gwailou Ship by Geoffrey Hart is a tale of pirates who seek a prize that is hungrier than their avarice. A bit of the mythos. Finally, Wardark and the Sands of Serpanam by Craig Herbertson is the continuation of the trials of Wardark under the geas of a sorcerer.
Parallel Universe Publications
Edited by David A Riley
Cover and interior art by Jim Pitts
November 2025
Eleven volumes and counting. What an admirable feat. What a wonderful shelf of books this makes. All dress right dress and uniform; such a splendid sight!
David Riley curates the very best of the stories submitted to him within the limited timeframe of the submission window. Often our tastes do not overlap. Which is not a criticism. Each of his anthologies in this series are well-rounded and boast a variety of fiction, broadly encompassing the spectrum of heroic fiction. If you have read or perused several of the volumes, you will observe several of the same authors. You may attribute this to many factors, but I would assume nothing. Riley publishes a near flawless publication consistently and hopefully for many more years to come.
Volume eleven has ten stories, many by authors that have graced these pages previously. Often with recurring setting or characters. Some of the standouts to me were:
Silence for Snakes by Harry Elliot
An Undervalley story. A fortified wall and siege impede our hero's journey west. A mad plan is put into action bringing the trio a little closer to understanding their foe.
Black Shield Manor by Marc Edward Star
There was a passage from this story that I liked, "It is a dagger, crafted by malice, hardened by the blood of innocents, the sacrifice of infants--all for a singular purpose. To depose an even greater evil."
The Eggshell Carver by Tais Teng
A tale of the Inland Sea. These tales always have a fairy tale/parable feel to them. A tale of murder, the pursuit of immortality, the hubris of the mighty, and one crafty eggshell carver.
Good Fortune by Uumbi
Another passage that tickled my humor. "Morani's eyebrows drew down, "My only prayer right now is for the depths to open up and swallow him whole." Kach laughed softly, "I suspect that would have happened long ago, if only the god of the underworld wasn't so scared of him."
The Wyrm's Tongue by Daniel Mahoney
This was perhaps my favorite from the collection! I heartily recommend it and sincerely hope there is more to read about Cole and Wyrm in the future. Although the beginning is disjointed and somewhat confusing, it is ever so worthwhile to finish the story. I couldn't help but compare it to many of the works written by David Gemmell. I am certain Wyrm and Druss would have gotten on swimmingly.
I did not call out every single story. That does not discount them. They just didn't appeal to me personally. Midwinter by David Sutton is very brief and pertains to a hermit who has lost his power and his faith. You will probably recognize his identity once you begin the story. Tomb Robbers by Susan Murrie Macdonald features a pair of ne'er-do-wells who learn some hard truths about tombs and their guardians. The Eternal Assassin: The Man who Hunted Death by Andrew Darlington is exactly what the title suggests. The immortal Assassin journeys to the ends of the world to find death in his domicile. The Gwailou Ship by Geoffrey Hart is a tale of pirates who seek a prize that is hungrier than their avarice. A bit of the mythos. Finally, Wardark and the Sands of Serpanam by Craig Herbertson is the continuation of the trials of Wardark under the geas of a sorcerer.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews