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Broadswords and Blasters Issue 1: Pulp Magazine with Modern Sensibilities
Pulp isn't dead! In this, the debut issue of Broadswords and Blasters, readers will encounter subterranean horrors, time traveling lovers, space Mafia, two-fisted private investigators, and torturers turned political activists.
- GenresSteampunkScience Fiction
97 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 13, 2019
Broadswords and Blasters is a blast from the past in many ways - a two-fisted return to pulp fantasy and sci-fi, and it's jolly good fun.
As ever with anthologies, some tales find favour more than others, and one or two definitely missed the spot for me. A bit too much wish-fulfilling sex here and there, and one story that if it was adapted into a roleplaying game would plausibly have the title Pincers & Penises. But hey.
One of the stories is a two-parter, the second part being in issue 2, which was probably a bit of a mistake to include but such are the lessons one learns when trying something new.
I really enjoyed the story The Executioner's Daughter, about a young woman trying to take on the hood of her father, while Dead Men Tell Tales was a clever little sci-fi tale by Dave D'Alessio.
Perhaps the best tale of all though was the sparkling Saturday Night Science, by Michael M Jones, a full-on interdimensional romp of a first date between two women geniuses with occasional teasing about light bondage included. It's witty, it's joyful and it's really quite touching by the end.
I like the joie de vivre and all out fun in this magazine - and the team's philosophy as spelled out in the foreword. At the time of writing, I think they are eight issues in - I'll certainly be back for more.
As ever with anthologies, some tales find favour more than others, and one or two definitely missed the spot for me. A bit too much wish-fulfilling sex here and there, and one story that if it was adapted into a roleplaying game would plausibly have the title Pincers & Penises. But hey.
One of the stories is a two-parter, the second part being in issue 2, which was probably a bit of a mistake to include but such are the lessons one learns when trying something new.
I really enjoyed the story The Executioner's Daughter, about a young woman trying to take on the hood of her father, while Dead Men Tell Tales was a clever little sci-fi tale by Dave D'Alessio.
Perhaps the best tale of all though was the sparkling Saturday Night Science, by Michael M Jones, a full-on interdimensional romp of a first date between two women geniuses with occasional teasing about light bondage included. It's witty, it's joyful and it's really quite touching by the end.
I like the joie de vivre and all out fun in this magazine - and the team's philosophy as spelled out in the foreword. At the time of writing, I think they are eight issues in - I'll certainly be back for more.
March 18, 2018
The blurb says that "pulp isn't dead", and I couldn't agree more. This is a great action-packed selection from the authors featured in this debut anthology issue, and a great job by the editors, Matthew X. Gomex and Cameron Mount. Well done, guys!
I have been getting into a number of anthology magazines in the last couple of years - and I truly hope they all prosper and thrive. What I love about them is the exposure to a range of different authors, as well as the bite-sized stories, which are so perfect for commuting trips or other short chunks of time.
This collection was somewhat outside of my normal reading zone, being fairly weighted towards fantasy, however I do enjoy sci-fi as a genre, so it wasn't too much of a stretch. And there was even a sci-fi take on a PI story here (my usual genre) - loved that one by Dave D'Alessio. And this is why it's so great to wander out of one's normal comfort zone - because this selection are all excellent pieces of writing. Heaps of action, solid characterisation, and some delicious twists. And did I mention excellent writing? Damned good, all of them.
So, despite not being my usual zone, I enjoyed this collection so much I now have Issue # 2 lined up on my TBR pile. And I'm going to keep reading it, as a regular addition to my anthology enjoyment.
Cheers,
ABP
I have been getting into a number of anthology magazines in the last couple of years - and I truly hope they all prosper and thrive. What I love about them is the exposure to a range of different authors, as well as the bite-sized stories, which are so perfect for commuting trips or other short chunks of time.
This collection was somewhat outside of my normal reading zone, being fairly weighted towards fantasy, however I do enjoy sci-fi as a genre, so it wasn't too much of a stretch. And there was even a sci-fi take on a PI story here (my usual genre) - loved that one by Dave D'Alessio. And this is why it's so great to wander out of one's normal comfort zone - because this selection are all excellent pieces of writing. Heaps of action, solid characterisation, and some delicious twists. And did I mention excellent writing? Damned good, all of them.
So, despite not being my usual zone, I enjoyed this collection so much I now have Issue # 2 lined up on my TBR pile. And I'm going to keep reading it, as a regular addition to my anthology enjoyment.
Cheers,
ABP
April 5, 2018
DISCLOSURE: My work has been paid for by, and published by, this periodical in a separate issue.
The first issue of B&B is, as one would expect, very much an experimental venture. As such, there are parts that are a bit rough around the edges. The editing isn't always up to the standard of the later issues, with typos and misspellings noticeable in places. The signature emphasis on Weird Pulp and wild, original concepts isn't always as evident here as it will be later on. And while the stories are mostly well-plotted and executed, some sections tend towards the sophomoric. A dose of phallic humor and ribald language are often useful in heroic fiction, as there's a thirteen-year-old boy in all of us. But there's bits of this issue where the reek of Axe body spray gets a little thick for me.
That said, the high points here are quite good, and make the issue worth the price for any pulp fan. I was personally fond of Nicholas Ozment's "Skin Deep," an original and well-told tale of coming of age in a warrior culture. I also enjoyed Josh Reynolds' alt-historical Lovecraft homage and Rob Francis' "Thicker Than Water," which has a bit of a Joe Abercrombie feel to it.
The first issue of B&B is, as one would expect, very much an experimental venture. As such, there are parts that are a bit rough around the edges. The editing isn't always up to the standard of the later issues, with typos and misspellings noticeable in places. The signature emphasis on Weird Pulp and wild, original concepts isn't always as evident here as it will be later on. And while the stories are mostly well-plotted and executed, some sections tend towards the sophomoric. A dose of phallic humor and ribald language are often useful in heroic fiction, as there's a thirteen-year-old boy in all of us. But there's bits of this issue where the reek of Axe body spray gets a little thick for me.
That said, the high points here are quite good, and make the issue worth the price for any pulp fan. I was personally fond of Nicholas Ozment's "Skin Deep," an original and well-told tale of coming of age in a warrior culture. I also enjoyed Josh Reynolds' alt-historical Lovecraft homage and Rob Francis' "Thicker Than Water," which has a bit of a Joe Abercrombie feel to it.
December 30, 2018
Broadswords and Blasters aims to recapture the spirit of pulp fiction without the bigotries that haunt so much of the classics. They themselves aren't satisfied by their first issue, and it is shaky, but I can see what they hope to do with it. Most of the stories in this one are straight pulp-style adventures which are all right but nothing special; they might not be openly bigoted, but neither do they stand out and tend to be erased when it comes to people of color or LGBT people. What does stand out and is single-handedly responsible for keeping my interest going was Michael M. Jones's "Saturday Night Science", a quirky tale of a disabled lesbian geek and her misadventures with a screwball lesbian mad scientist. This one story is strong enough that it can launch an entire series, and it's the promise of more like this that I collect Broadswords and Blasters. I don't regret the decision at all.
March 18, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyable new pulp stories - that's how I would like to describe this anthology. It contained the following stories (ratings in parentheses):
1. 'Skin Deep' by Nicolas Ozment: 5/5
2. 'Dead Men Tell Tales' by Dave D'Alessio: 4/5
3. 'The Executioner's Daughter' by R.A. Gali: 2/5
4. 'Pension Plan' by Dusty Wallace: 3/5
5. 'Saturday Night Science' by Michael M.Jones: 5/5
6. 'Island of Skulls' by Matt Spencer: 3/5
7. 'The Waters So Dark' by Josh Reynolds: 4/5
8. 'Thicker than Water' by Rob Francis: 4/5
Recommended.
1. 'Skin Deep' by Nicolas Ozment: 5/5
2. 'Dead Men Tell Tales' by Dave D'Alessio: 4/5
3. 'The Executioner's Daughter' by R.A. Gali: 2/5
4. 'Pension Plan' by Dusty Wallace: 3/5
5. 'Saturday Night Science' by Michael M.Jones: 5/5
6. 'Island of Skulls' by Matt Spencer: 3/5
7. 'The Waters So Dark' by Josh Reynolds: 4/5
8. 'Thicker than Water' by Rob Francis: 4/5
Recommended.
August 30, 2023
A bunch of neo pulpy stories. I enjoyed it. I am a novel reader, short stories have never been a huge part of my reading repertoire, but I needed it this time.
March 21, 2023
Broadsword and Blasters 01, 4/5
"Skin Deep" by Nicholas Ozment, 4.5/5
"Dead Men Tell Tales" by Dave D'Alessio, 5/5
"The Executioner's Daughter" by R.A. Goli, 4/5
"Pension Plan" by Dusty Wallace, 3.5/5
"Saturday Night Science" by Michael M. Jones, 3/5
"Island of Skulls, pt 1" by Matt Spencer, 4/5
"The Waters So Dark" by Josh Reynolds, 4/5
"Thicker Than Water" by Rob Francis, 3.5/5
"Skin Deep" by Nicholas Ozment, 4.5/5
"Dead Men Tell Tales" by Dave D'Alessio, 5/5
"The Executioner's Daughter" by R.A. Goli, 4/5
"Pension Plan" by Dusty Wallace, 3.5/5
"Saturday Night Science" by Michael M. Jones, 3/5
"Island of Skulls, pt 1" by Matt Spencer, 4/5
"The Waters So Dark" by Josh Reynolds, 4/5
"Thicker Than Water" by Rob Francis, 3.5/5
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews