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Broadswords and Blasters Issue 9: Pulp Magazine With Modern Sensibilities
R.A. Goli returns to Broadswords and Blasters with a tale of how far a mother will go for her daughter in “Griffon Eggs.” Rex Weiner, veteran writer probably best known as the creator of Ford Fairlane, graces us with “Camera Obscura,” a noir tale of a shady real estate developer’s fall into obsession. Ethan Sabatella hits us with a tale of ancient Nordic horror in “The Pole-House.” Cara Fox spins a steampunk revenge tale with a twist in “The Corsair’s Daughter.” Scotch Rutherford, the madman behind the crime/noir mag Switchblade, decides to drop by with “Termination Clause,” a blood-soaked bit of crime fiction. Matt Spencer is no stranger to anyone who knows us, having had a two-part story, “Island of Skulls,” back when we were just starting out. Well, Spencer is back, this time with another sword and sorcery tale distilled through hardcore punk rock circa 1981 in “Old Haunting Grounds.” C.W. Blackwell might be new to these pages, but it takes a steady hand to write a Western as weird as “Quarter Past Ordinary.” What happens when two master thieves fall in love, or at least lust? You probably end up with something like Vince Carpini’s “Courtship of the Queen of Thieves.” Finally, we round out the issue with returning author, Adam S. Furman, and his tale of supersoldiers, revolutions, and unexpected explosions, “Olympian Six.”
103 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 31, 2019
*review pending*
April 16, 2019
DISCLAIMER: This periodical has published my work in the past.
BS&B continues its upwards trajectory in issue nine.
As the magazine's reputation and readership grows, BS&B is drawing in an increasing number of highly credentialed authors. The highlight of this issue, for me, was CAMERA OBSCURA, a wonderfully flavorful and exquisitely written Haunted Hacienda tale crafted by Rex Weiner, best known as the creator of Ford Fairlane.
The overall feel of the issue is maybe a notch less experimental than I'm accustomed to from BS&B, but that's not a complaint. It arguably results in stories with a higher floor in terms of reader response. Fewer mad science experiments produce fewer unplanned explosions--and I say that as an author who's arguably shattered a few test tubes in these pages. It's weird, as you'd want BS&B to be, but it's PROFESSIONALLY weird. All contributors are writing to an excellent standard, everything's cleanly plotted and interesting, and all of the action pops. It's good, fun, well-crafted genre work across the board.
With nothing to criticize, I'll mention that in addition to the Weiner piece, I especially enjoyed Ethan Sabatella's THE POLE-HOUSE, with its exploration of Gaelic mythology, and Vince Carpini's COURTSHIP OF THE QUEEN OF THIEVES, in which the author demonstrates a special gift for metaphor and simile.
BS&B continues its upwards trajectory in issue nine.
As the magazine's reputation and readership grows, BS&B is drawing in an increasing number of highly credentialed authors. The highlight of this issue, for me, was CAMERA OBSCURA, a wonderfully flavorful and exquisitely written Haunted Hacienda tale crafted by Rex Weiner, best known as the creator of Ford Fairlane.
The overall feel of the issue is maybe a notch less experimental than I'm accustomed to from BS&B, but that's not a complaint. It arguably results in stories with a higher floor in terms of reader response. Fewer mad science experiments produce fewer unplanned explosions--and I say that as an author who's arguably shattered a few test tubes in these pages. It's weird, as you'd want BS&B to be, but it's PROFESSIONALLY weird. All contributors are writing to an excellent standard, everything's cleanly plotted and interesting, and all of the action pops. It's good, fun, well-crafted genre work across the board.
With nothing to criticize, I'll mention that in addition to the Weiner piece, I especially enjoyed Ethan Sabatella's THE POLE-HOUSE, with its exploration of Gaelic mythology, and Vince Carpini's COURTSHIP OF THE QUEEN OF THIEVES, in which the author demonstrates a special gift for metaphor and simile.
May 26, 2019
Broadswords and Blasters is a terrific package of top-drawer indie fiction for readers who enjoy a mix of genres that emphasize adventure and action. Its stories reflect their heritage of pulp magazine fare, freshly attuned to modern sensibilities of technology, voice, and culture.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews