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Renegade Swords #1
Renegade Swords
If you constantly crave tales of swashbuckling heroics and fiendish wizardry, Renegade Swords is for you! Eight fantastic tales have been selected for this anthology, each of them obscure or overlooked in some way. You don’t have to explore darksome crypts to discover incredible ancient treasures—you can find them in Renegade Swords!
Stories included:
“The House of Arabu” by Robert E. Howard
“Necromancy in Naat” (unabridged version) by Clark Ashton Smith
“The Woman of the Wood” (previously unpublished version) by A. Merritt
“The Slaughter of the Gods” by Manly Wade Wellman
“People of the Dragon” by Lin Carter
“The Pillars of Hell” by Lin Carter
“The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim” by Glenn Rahman and Richard L. Tierney
“Princess of Chaos” by Bryce Walton
Stories included:
“The House of Arabu” by Robert E. Howard
“Necromancy in Naat” (unabridged version) by Clark Ashton Smith
“The Woman of the Wood” (previously unpublished version) by A. Merritt
“The Slaughter of the Gods” by Manly Wade Wellman
“People of the Dragon” by Lin Carter
“The Pillars of Hell” by Lin Carter
“The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim” by Glenn Rahman and Richard L. Tierney
“Princess of Chaos” by Bryce Walton
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2020
178 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
D.M. Ritzlin
36 books54 followersD.M. Ritzlin founded DMR Books in 2015 with the aim of revitalizing sword-and-sorcery literature. DMR’s publications include reprints of classic material by authors such as Robert E. Howard and Clark Ashton Smith, as well as brand-new collections and anthologies by some of the finest fantasy writers active today.
A collection of his own stories, Necromancy in Nilztiria, was released in October 2020.
Nilztiria is a world of adventure and strangeness, peopled by lusty heroes and callous villains. The thirteen sword-and-sorcery stories presented in Necromancy in Nilztiria place the emphasis on sorcery and mix in a touch of gallows humor.
For more information on all of his projects, visit dmrbooks.com.
A collection of his own stories, Necromancy in Nilztiria, was released in October 2020.
Nilztiria is a world of adventure and strangeness, peopled by lusty heroes and callous villains. The thirteen sword-and-sorcery stories presented in Necromancy in Nilztiria place the emphasis on sorcery and mix in a touch of gallows humor.
For more information on all of his projects, visit dmrbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 5, 2020
First of all, get a load of that cover. It's arresting, and it tells you exactly what is in store for you within the pages of Renegade Swords. Brian LeBlanc has done a fine job! Very reminiscent of art adorning many paperbacks that many of us love.
Second, check out that line up.
The House of Arabu by Robert E. Howard - I have never read this one before. And the fact that I don't own it in some other printing makes it all the more sought after. A fine historical with an open ending for more adventures that never came.
Necromancy in Naat by Clark Ashton Smith - I first encountered this in Savage Heroes. The story presented there is vastly abridged but with the same ultimate ending. I'm not the biggest fan of CAS, although I am slowly warming to his work.
The Woman of the Wood by A. Merritt - This is a departure from the expected theme. A modern man discovers something magical in the wood, that he wants to defend at all costs. I really need to get around to reading more Merritt.
Slaughter of the Gods by Manly Wade Wellman - The final known Kardios story. Not particularly my favorite Kardios story but sits well with these other lesser known tales.
People of the Dragon & The Pillars of Hell by Lin Carter - Lin Carter?!? Really!?! Some love him, some hate him. These two tales are connected and part of an endeavor that Carter never finished. Both tales stand on their own, offering many of the things I really enjoy about this genre.
The Rune Sword of Jotunheim by Glenn Rahman and Richard L. Tierney - This was my favorite of the bunch. It's truly a shame there isn't more from this duo.
Princess of Chaos by Bryce Walton - I have previously never heard of this author or this story. It is another departure from the rest of the bunch. With breakneck pacing and non-stop action it harkens back to classic fiction from the pulps.
Another homerun for the folks over at DMR Books!
Recommended!
Second, check out that line up.
The House of Arabu by Robert E. Howard - I have never read this one before. And the fact that I don't own it in some other printing makes it all the more sought after. A fine historical with an open ending for more adventures that never came.
Necromancy in Naat by Clark Ashton Smith - I first encountered this in Savage Heroes. The story presented there is vastly abridged but with the same ultimate ending. I'm not the biggest fan of CAS, although I am slowly warming to his work.
The Woman of the Wood by A. Merritt - This is a departure from the expected theme. A modern man discovers something magical in the wood, that he wants to defend at all costs. I really need to get around to reading more Merritt.
Slaughter of the Gods by Manly Wade Wellman - The final known Kardios story. Not particularly my favorite Kardios story but sits well with these other lesser known tales.
People of the Dragon & The Pillars of Hell by Lin Carter - Lin Carter?!? Really!?! Some love him, some hate him. These two tales are connected and part of an endeavor that Carter never finished. Both tales stand on their own, offering many of the things I really enjoy about this genre.
The Rune Sword of Jotunheim by Glenn Rahman and Richard L. Tierney - This was my favorite of the bunch. It's truly a shame there isn't more from this duo.
Princess of Chaos by Bryce Walton - I have previously never heard of this author or this story. It is another departure from the rest of the bunch. With breakneck pacing and non-stop action it harkens back to classic fiction from the pulps.
Another homerun for the folks over at DMR Books!
Recommended!
October 3, 2021
DMR books has been aggressively publishing anthologies of forgotten sword & sorcery tales (some classic, some important more from their historical significance than their literary quality) combined with powerful new works. This anthology is in category A and it is truly a collection of gems.
It's rare and odd to say "forgotten" in conjunction with Robert E. Howard or Clark Ashton Smith, but I often felt like I was the only person in the world who sited "The House of Arabu" among favorites of the former's historical fantasies. A tale of ancient Mesopotamia, it's a stand-alone tale about a demon-haunted mercenary and his seeking of sorcerous advice to free himself. Howard's take on the setting is fantastic and this is a moody story with a fantastic resolution; I wish he'd continued with the setting.
Smith's "Necromancy in Naat" has been reprinted a lot, but usually in an abridged form. Yadar, a princely nomad, searches for his love Dalili, only to discover her on the Island of Naat... and the horrors of the island...and boy they are! The unabridged version here isn't just longer, it has a subtly different tone and I think, if you know the tale, you'll prefer this version -- if you don't know it, you are in for a treat.
Manly Wade Wellman had a sixty year career and was incredibly prolific. "The Slaughter of the Gods” was new to me, and although it didn't blow my mind, it restored by confidence in MWW. I have always loved his John the Balladeer tales, set in Appalachia, and often found his more classic Sword & Sorcery very hit or miss, particularly his Kardios tales, of which this is the last (and the rest of which were recently published by DMR). Kardios is a harpist with long black hair, a strong, bronzed muscled physique and little fear, who may have been the actual cause of the destruction of Atlantis -- due to an impropriety with the divinely-ordained chaste priestess-queen. He wanders the world simply seeking adventures in classic s&s fashion with a bit more wry humor. Of the six tales the first and last are really fun, the others too repetitive and a too goofy to really take as more than fluff. Here we have the last and totally forgotten SEVENTH tale, and if you like the Kardios tales, you'll love it. If like me, you like Kardios more than the stories he is in...you'll actually like this one. I nice end to the sequence.
Lin Carter was a master anthologist and essayist, whose fiction was VERY hit or miss, ranging from really good if derivative homage (Green Star novels) to pastiche (Conan tales) to painfully bad fan-fic. I think he gets less credit than he deserves (his Thing in the Crypt is actually a great Conan tale that links the Cimmerian right to the old Norse sagas and is deeply evocative) and unlike, say De Camp, who had a twee cynicism about the material he was using to pay the rent, Carter was a real fan. The two Carter stories here won't blow your socks off, but they're strong.
For me, however, this collection is worth it for one story: “The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim” by Glenn Rahman and Richard L. Tierney. Tierney's Simon of Gitta tales, more than anything I have read, have the most pacing, sensibilities and feel of Robert E. Howard's merging of historical fiction with Mythos-style horror. Rahman wrote one novel, the underappreciated Roman/Mythos "Heir of Darkness", and his hero teamed up with Tierney's Simon for the fantastic "Garden of Lucellus". Little did I know that the two wrote one other story together, which we see here. Although not a further pairing of their two core heroes, it has the sensibilities of that work, and this was really a great read!
(Note to DMR -- the Simon of Gitta material is all back out of print and Mr. Tierney is 80ish and has abandoned prose writing. It would sure be nice to have one final compilation volume.)
This is really a wonderful collection for any sword and sorcery nut!
It's rare and odd to say "forgotten" in conjunction with Robert E. Howard or Clark Ashton Smith, but I often felt like I was the only person in the world who sited "The House of Arabu" among favorites of the former's historical fantasies. A tale of ancient Mesopotamia, it's a stand-alone tale about a demon-haunted mercenary and his seeking of sorcerous advice to free himself. Howard's take on the setting is fantastic and this is a moody story with a fantastic resolution; I wish he'd continued with the setting.
Smith's "Necromancy in Naat" has been reprinted a lot, but usually in an abridged form. Yadar, a princely nomad, searches for his love Dalili, only to discover her on the Island of Naat... and the horrors of the island...and boy they are! The unabridged version here isn't just longer, it has a subtly different tone and I think, if you know the tale, you'll prefer this version -- if you don't know it, you are in for a treat.
Manly Wade Wellman had a sixty year career and was incredibly prolific. "The Slaughter of the Gods” was new to me, and although it didn't blow my mind, it restored by confidence in MWW. I have always loved his John the Balladeer tales, set in Appalachia, and often found his more classic Sword & Sorcery very hit or miss, particularly his Kardios tales, of which this is the last (and the rest of which were recently published by DMR). Kardios is a harpist with long black hair, a strong, bronzed muscled physique and little fear, who may have been the actual cause of the destruction of Atlantis -- due to an impropriety with the divinely-ordained chaste priestess-queen. He wanders the world simply seeking adventures in classic s&s fashion with a bit more wry humor. Of the six tales the first and last are really fun, the others too repetitive and a too goofy to really take as more than fluff. Here we have the last and totally forgotten SEVENTH tale, and if you like the Kardios tales, you'll love it. If like me, you like Kardios more than the stories he is in...you'll actually like this one. I nice end to the sequence.
Lin Carter was a master anthologist and essayist, whose fiction was VERY hit or miss, ranging from really good if derivative homage (Green Star novels) to pastiche (Conan tales) to painfully bad fan-fic. I think he gets less credit than he deserves (his Thing in the Crypt is actually a great Conan tale that links the Cimmerian right to the old Norse sagas and is deeply evocative) and unlike, say De Camp, who had a twee cynicism about the material he was using to pay the rent, Carter was a real fan. The two Carter stories here won't blow your socks off, but they're strong.
For me, however, this collection is worth it for one story: “The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim” by Glenn Rahman and Richard L. Tierney. Tierney's Simon of Gitta tales, more than anything I have read, have the most pacing, sensibilities and feel of Robert E. Howard's merging of historical fiction with Mythos-style horror. Rahman wrote one novel, the underappreciated Roman/Mythos "Heir of Darkness", and his hero teamed up with Tierney's Simon for the fantastic "Garden of Lucellus". Little did I know that the two wrote one other story together, which we see here. Although not a further pairing of their two core heroes, it has the sensibilities of that work, and this was really a great read!
(Note to DMR -- the Simon of Gitta material is all back out of print and Mr. Tierney is 80ish and has abandoned prose writing. It would sure be nice to have one final compilation volume.)
This is really a wonderful collection for any sword and sorcery nut!
February 18, 2021
Not enough good things are said about this book. It’s not for those without an introduction to S&S, more like a treat for the initiated. It even features a Lin Carter story that is good. Good! Lin Carter.
The cover is 5 stars.
The cover is 5 stars.
September 27, 2022
Renegade Swords is an anthology of eight stories that are obscure or have been overlooked. As with most anthologies, I enjoyed some stories more than others but they were all enjoyable reads.
“The House of Arabu” by Robert E. Howard
Pyrrhas the Argive is a barbarian who has ended up in Mesopotamia after much wandering. He finds himself cursed and being stalked by a night spirit named Lilitu. He visits an evil sorcerer as well as the realm of the dead in order to learn how to lift the curse and discover who placed it on him. As with most Howard stories the story moves quickly and the battles were well written.
This story wasn’t published until after Howard’s death. It appeared in Avon Fantasy Reader #18 in 1952 and was renamed “The Witch from Hell’s Kitchen” for some reason. I think the original title is much better. I enjoyed this but not as much as most of the other Howard stories that I’ve read. On the other hand I would have liked to read more stories about Pyrrhas.
“Necromancy in Naat “by Clark Ashton Smith (unabridged version)
Prince Nadar searches for his betrothed Dalili, after she is kidnapped by bandits and sold into slavery. He eventually tracks her down to Naat, an island ruled by necromancers. Once on the island he has to deal with three necromancers and a blood drinking weasel-like creature.
Smith’s writing is filled with unique vocabulary and phrases which help to create a dream-like atmosphere. The story has a haunting and bittersweet ending, which I was not expecting at all.
This story is part of the Zothique cycle, set on Earth’s last continent in the far future.
I read one Ashton Smith story from The Best of Clark Ashton Smith years ago but I don’t remember much about it and never read any further. This story had a much stronger impression on me. I’m looking forward to reading more.
“The Woman of the Wood” by A. Merritt
A WWI veteran recovering from his experiences in the war is staying at a French inn. He has an experience in the woods which leads him into a confrontation with a man and his two sons who live nearby. I’ve known about A. Merritt for years but this is the first thing I’ve ever read by him. It’s not sword and sorcery like the other stories but I enjoyed it. I liked the writing and the atmosphere.
“The Slaughter of the Gods” by Manly Wade Wellman
This is the last of the Kardios of Atlantis stories. Kardios makes his way to a city supposedly ruled by seven gods. The gods are actually creatures controlled by a beautiful sorceress. Not my favorite Kardios story but I liked the ending. As he’s deciding where to go next, he thinks of one of the characters from a previous story.
“People of the Dragon” by Lin Carter
Tribesmen in a prehistoric world face hardship when the weather changes to freezing. After the young narrator’s grandfather has a vision, the tribe migrated south. When a group out hunting doesn’t return, the narrator and his friend investigate. What they find is very creepy.
I like the story and how it’s narrated by one of the characters, but I did not like the writing style. More on that below.
“The Pillars of Hell” by Lin Carter
This story continues the adventures of the tribe from the previous story. As they are traveling through a desert, guards begin disappearing at night. This time the narrator is the son of the narrator from the previous story. More creepiness as he finds out what’s been happening to the guards.
I have really mixed feelings about these two stories. They’re both exciting and well paced but the writing style is filled with archaic English vocabulary and sentence structure. Phrases like “Ever and anon,” “at the time whereof I speak,” and “Wither at this dark hour?” popped up so often that it just put me off.
I’m aware he didn’t always write in this style and probably did so in these stories for effect, but it didn’t work for me. I couldn’t help but compare the writing to Clark Ashton Smith, who’s unique style I quite enjoyed.
“The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim” by Glen Rahman and Richard L. Tierney
This is a Norse sword & sorcery tale in which Hadding the Norsemen and Afhild the giantess have to deal with a demon with a little help from Odin. A rollicking good story.
“Princess of Chaos” by Bryce Walton
This is a fun sword and planet story. Moljar, born of a Terran woman and a Martian outlaw, is fighting in an arena on Venus when it’s attacked by Mistmen. The cat-like Princess Alhone says she will free him if he will get help and he agrees. Fast paced and exciting.
My story ratings:
“The House of Arabu” by Robert E. Howard (4/5)
“Necromancy in Nat” by Clark Ashton Smith (5/5)
“The Woman of the Wood” by A. Merritt (4/5)
“The Slaughter of the Gods” by Manly Wade Wellman (3.5/ 4)
“People of the Dragon” by Lin Carter (4/ 5)
“The Pillars of Hell” by Lin Carter (3.5/5)
“The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim” by Glen Rahman and Richard L. Tierney (4/5)
“Princess of Chaos” by Bryce Walton (4/5)
“The House of Arabu” by Robert E. Howard
Pyrrhas the Argive is a barbarian who has ended up in Mesopotamia after much wandering. He finds himself cursed and being stalked by a night spirit named Lilitu. He visits an evil sorcerer as well as the realm of the dead in order to learn how to lift the curse and discover who placed it on him. As with most Howard stories the story moves quickly and the battles were well written.
This story wasn’t published until after Howard’s death. It appeared in Avon Fantasy Reader #18 in 1952 and was renamed “The Witch from Hell’s Kitchen” for some reason. I think the original title is much better. I enjoyed this but not as much as most of the other Howard stories that I’ve read. On the other hand I would have liked to read more stories about Pyrrhas.
“Necromancy in Naat “by Clark Ashton Smith (unabridged version)
Prince Nadar searches for his betrothed Dalili, after she is kidnapped by bandits and sold into slavery. He eventually tracks her down to Naat, an island ruled by necromancers. Once on the island he has to deal with three necromancers and a blood drinking weasel-like creature.
Smith’s writing is filled with unique vocabulary and phrases which help to create a dream-like atmosphere. The story has a haunting and bittersweet ending, which I was not expecting at all.
This story is part of the Zothique cycle, set on Earth’s last continent in the far future.
I read one Ashton Smith story from The Best of Clark Ashton Smith years ago but I don’t remember much about it and never read any further. This story had a much stronger impression on me. I’m looking forward to reading more.
“The Woman of the Wood” by A. Merritt
A WWI veteran recovering from his experiences in the war is staying at a French inn. He has an experience in the woods which leads him into a confrontation with a man and his two sons who live nearby. I’ve known about A. Merritt for years but this is the first thing I’ve ever read by him. It’s not sword and sorcery like the other stories but I enjoyed it. I liked the writing and the atmosphere.
“The Slaughter of the Gods” by Manly Wade Wellman
This is the last of the Kardios of Atlantis stories. Kardios makes his way to a city supposedly ruled by seven gods. The gods are actually creatures controlled by a beautiful sorceress. Not my favorite Kardios story but I liked the ending. As he’s deciding where to go next, he thinks of one of the characters from a previous story.
“People of the Dragon” by Lin Carter
Tribesmen in a prehistoric world face hardship when the weather changes to freezing. After the young narrator’s grandfather has a vision, the tribe migrated south. When a group out hunting doesn’t return, the narrator and his friend investigate. What they find is very creepy.
I like the story and how it’s narrated by one of the characters, but I did not like the writing style. More on that below.
“The Pillars of Hell” by Lin Carter
This story continues the adventures of the tribe from the previous story. As they are traveling through a desert, guards begin disappearing at night. This time the narrator is the son of the narrator from the previous story. More creepiness as he finds out what’s been happening to the guards.
I have really mixed feelings about these two stories. They’re both exciting and well paced but the writing style is filled with archaic English vocabulary and sentence structure. Phrases like “Ever and anon,” “at the time whereof I speak,” and “Wither at this dark hour?” popped up so often that it just put me off.
I’m aware he didn’t always write in this style and probably did so in these stories for effect, but it didn’t work for me. I couldn’t help but compare the writing to Clark Ashton Smith, who’s unique style I quite enjoyed.
“The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim” by Glen Rahman and Richard L. Tierney
This is a Norse sword & sorcery tale in which Hadding the Norsemen and Afhild the giantess have to deal with a demon with a little help from Odin. A rollicking good story.
“Princess of Chaos” by Bryce Walton
This is a fun sword and planet story. Moljar, born of a Terran woman and a Martian outlaw, is fighting in an arena on Venus when it’s attacked by Mistmen. The cat-like Princess Alhone says she will free him if he will get help and he agrees. Fast paced and exciting.
My story ratings:
“The House of Arabu” by Robert E. Howard (4/5)
“Necromancy in Nat” by Clark Ashton Smith (5/5)
“The Woman of the Wood” by A. Merritt (4/5)
“The Slaughter of the Gods” by Manly Wade Wellman (3.5/ 4)
“People of the Dragon” by Lin Carter (4/ 5)
“The Pillars of Hell” by Lin Carter (3.5/5)
“The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim” by Glen Rahman and Richard L. Tierney (4/5)
“Princess of Chaos” by Bryce Walton (4/5)
August 20, 2021
Renegade Swords collects several reprints of old sword & sorcery stories that haven't been reprinted in decades. It's a solid collection, most stories are a solid 7/10 for me but the final story was an absolute highlight.
The House of Arabu by Robert E. Howards follows an ancient hero traveling through Mesopotamia. He is beset by a curse, believing its cause to be a priest he killed in a previous adventure. His slavegirl tells him about a sorcerer out in the desert who can help him, and he sets out on an adventure to rid himself of the curse. Howard possibly intended to use this protagonist in other stories, but it's the only one he actually wrote. That's why this story is lesser known than the tales of Conan, Kull, Solomon Kane, Bran MacMorn, etc, but it's the same classic Howard quality.
Necromancy in Naat (unabridged) by Clark Ashton Smith is classic Smith. Set in his fantasy world of Zothique, it follows the adventures of a nomad king trying to find his wife who has been sold by slave traders. His adventure leads him to the isle of Naat, which is ruled by necromancers. In its first printing, some elements of the story were changed by the editor (as they often did with Smith's, due to his tendency towards tragic endings), but this anthology prints Smith's original unabridged unchanged manuscript. One of my favorites in this anthology, but I'm a massive fan of CAS so I'm biased.
The Woman of the Wood by A. Merritt isn't really sword and sorcery as such. It follows the adventure of a modern (1920s) man who learns to speak with trees and encounters a family of woodcutters who have been waging a war against the forest for generations. The trees ask him for help since they can't fight back on their own. A decent story with an interesting premise that mixes fantasy and adventure with a contemporary setting.
The Slaughter of the Gods by Manly Wade Wellman follows the Atlantean hero Kardios (whose other adventures are printed in Heroes of Atlantis & Lemuria, also by DMR books) as he enters a city ruled by gods. One of these gods wants to win him as an ally, but he's of course too independent to accept. This one has some nice violent action and even some eroticism - pure sword & sorcery goodness!
People of the Dragon and Pillars of Hell by Lin Carter are prehistoric adventures following the tribe of the dragon on their journey from the cold north to more fertile southern lands. Carter planned to set each story of this saga in another generation of the tribe, but he only wrote these two. The protagonist of Pillars of Hell is the son of People of the Dragon's protagonist. Both stories have the stone-age tribe encounter supernatural enemies that almost destroy them, until the protagonist comes up with a way to prevail. Decent stories, among the better work Carter has written.
The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim by Rahman and Tierney is set in the mythical age of Norse gods, when the Aesir still warred with the Vanir. The protagonist is a viking jarl whose companion is a giantess who wants to marry him and can change her size through magic. The two are beset by an evil elven sorcerer who is hostile towards the Aesir and wants to use the titular sword to kill the gods, and of course they fight to stop him. Great viking age adventure romp, my third-favorite story next to Smith's and the final one...
Princess of Chaos by Bryce Walton is a completely over the top sword & planet story featuring a half-martian gladiator, a female mutant sidekick, interdimensional cat-people, Venusian seas inhabited by giant crocodiles, several fights both with savage melee weapons and advanced rayguns... it's a wild ride. It's my favorite story of the anthology for how utterly wild it is. You never know what's coming next, because anything can happen in this one. Lots of fun! This is what pulp is all about!
The House of Arabu by Robert E. Howards follows an ancient hero traveling through Mesopotamia. He is beset by a curse, believing its cause to be a priest he killed in a previous adventure. His slavegirl tells him about a sorcerer out in the desert who can help him, and he sets out on an adventure to rid himself of the curse. Howard possibly intended to use this protagonist in other stories, but it's the only one he actually wrote. That's why this story is lesser known than the tales of Conan, Kull, Solomon Kane, Bran MacMorn, etc, but it's the same classic Howard quality.
Necromancy in Naat (unabridged) by Clark Ashton Smith is classic Smith. Set in his fantasy world of Zothique, it follows the adventures of a nomad king trying to find his wife who has been sold by slave traders. His adventure leads him to the isle of Naat, which is ruled by necromancers. In its first printing, some elements of the story were changed by the editor (as they often did with Smith's, due to his tendency towards tragic endings), but this anthology prints Smith's original unabridged unchanged manuscript. One of my favorites in this anthology, but I'm a massive fan of CAS so I'm biased.
The Woman of the Wood by A. Merritt isn't really sword and sorcery as such. It follows the adventure of a modern (1920s) man who learns to speak with trees and encounters a family of woodcutters who have been waging a war against the forest for generations. The trees ask him for help since they can't fight back on their own. A decent story with an interesting premise that mixes fantasy and adventure with a contemporary setting.
The Slaughter of the Gods by Manly Wade Wellman follows the Atlantean hero Kardios (whose other adventures are printed in Heroes of Atlantis & Lemuria, also by DMR books) as he enters a city ruled by gods. One of these gods wants to win him as an ally, but he's of course too independent to accept. This one has some nice violent action and even some eroticism - pure sword & sorcery goodness!
People of the Dragon and Pillars of Hell by Lin Carter are prehistoric adventures following the tribe of the dragon on their journey from the cold north to more fertile southern lands. Carter planned to set each story of this saga in another generation of the tribe, but he only wrote these two. The protagonist of Pillars of Hell is the son of People of the Dragon's protagonist. Both stories have the stone-age tribe encounter supernatural enemies that almost destroy them, until the protagonist comes up with a way to prevail. Decent stories, among the better work Carter has written.
The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim by Rahman and Tierney is set in the mythical age of Norse gods, when the Aesir still warred with the Vanir. The protagonist is a viking jarl whose companion is a giantess who wants to marry him and can change her size through magic. The two are beset by an evil elven sorcerer who is hostile towards the Aesir and wants to use the titular sword to kill the gods, and of course they fight to stop him. Great viking age adventure romp, my third-favorite story next to Smith's and the final one...
Princess of Chaos by Bryce Walton is a completely over the top sword & planet story featuring a half-martian gladiator, a female mutant sidekick, interdimensional cat-people, Venusian seas inhabited by giant crocodiles, several fights both with savage melee weapons and advanced rayguns... it's a wild ride. It's my favorite story of the anthology for how utterly wild it is. You never know what's coming next, because anything can happen in this one. Lots of fun! This is what pulp is all about!
February 11, 2022
The quality of the stories in this collection varies wildly, but most are at least readable and there are a few hidden gems.
November 6, 2024
Renegade Swords I
Renegade Swords II
Renegade Swords III
The House of Arabu by Robert E. Howard
Pyrrhas , the blue-eyed, golden-haired barbarian Argive, a general of mercenaries for King Eannatum , has been accursed by
Necromancy in Naat by Clark Ashton Smith
Yadar , nomadic prince of the Zyra, treks relentlessly after
The Woman of the Wood by A. Merritt
Renowned chemist "McKay" is tired and possibly haunted after the horrors of World War, finding peace and healing through the perceived conscientious being of all things, especially the trees. Will the trees
The Slaughter of the Gods by Manly Wade Wellman
Atlantean Kardios is probably as manly as they get. Quick to sing, quick to labor, quick to kill, quick to adventure, and most definitely quick to indulge in the fairer sex, monster or not. In Sambarra, Kardios surmises the situation and teaches a quick lesson that
People of the Dragon by Lin Carter
Junga and Charn , Northerners raised in the southern land of Thune, make a perilous journey to
- I - Out of the North
- II - The Plains of Thune
- III - The Vision of Zorm
- IV - The Horror in the Pit
- V - Father of Slime
- VI - Junga the Light-Bringer
The Pillars of Hell by Lin Carter
Ever-wandering further south from their lost land, the People of the Dragon are
- I - In the Land of Silence
- II - Men who Vanish in the Night
- III - Death Strikes from the Shadows
- IV - The Fangs of Gorah
- V - The Watcher in the Night
- VI - At Moon's-Rising
- VII - The Madness of Jugrid
The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim by Glenn Rahman and Richard L. Tierney
Hadding Halfdanson and Alfhild , the sorcerous giant, investigate the mysterious death of
Princess of Chaos by Bryce Walton
Sci-fi is not necessarily my cup of tea but it can interest me. This story still clung to the sword-and-sorcery feel but within the science-fiction vain, as the editor states.
Renegade Swords II
Renegade Swords III
The House of Arabu by Robert E. Howard
Pyrrhas , the blue-eyed, golden-haired barbarian Argive, a general of mercenaries for King Eannatum , has been accursed by
Necromancy in Naat by Clark Ashton Smith
Yadar , nomadic prince of the Zyra, treks relentlessly after
The Woman of the Wood by A. Merritt
Renowned chemist "McKay" is tired and possibly haunted after the horrors of World War, finding peace and healing through the perceived conscientious being of all things, especially the trees. Will the trees
The Slaughter of the Gods by Manly Wade Wellman
Atlantean Kardios is probably as manly as they get. Quick to sing, quick to labor, quick to kill, quick to adventure, and most definitely quick to indulge in the fairer sex, monster or not. In Sambarra, Kardios surmises the situation and teaches a quick lesson that
People of the Dragon by Lin Carter
Junga and Charn , Northerners raised in the southern land of Thune, make a perilous journey to
- I - Out of the North
- II - The Plains of Thune
- III - The Vision of Zorm
- IV - The Horror in the Pit
- V - Father of Slime
- VI - Junga the Light-Bringer
The Pillars of Hell by Lin Carter
Ever-wandering further south from their lost land, the People of the Dragon are
- I - In the Land of Silence
- II - Men who Vanish in the Night
- III - Death Strikes from the Shadows
- IV - The Fangs of Gorah
- V - The Watcher in the Night
- VI - At Moon's-Rising
- VII - The Madness of Jugrid
The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim by Glenn Rahman and Richard L. Tierney
Hadding Halfdanson and Alfhild , the sorcerous giant, investigate the mysterious death of
Princess of Chaos by Bryce Walton
Sci-fi is not necessarily my cup of tea but it can interest me. This story still clung to the sword-and-sorcery feel but within the science-fiction vain, as the editor states.
February 14, 2021
This is an anthology of sword and sorcery tales that are claimed to be lost, undiscovered gems. As with most anthologies, some are better than others, and I found that most have some pretty glaring flaws as far as the writing goes. That said, they were enjoyable. I’d have to say “the woman of the wood” had to be my favorite, published in 1926 by some sort of king of fantasy named A. Merritt that i didn’t know ever existed - I kind of always thought that other than myth and medieval literature and such Tolkien started this wild thing known as the genre fantasy-this is a tale of literary value. Period. It is extremely well written, allegorical, complete with fine minutia. For anyone that’s ever loved nature or instead struggled with keeping a yard weed free, I’d recommend it. “The house of Arabu” was a good starter tale for this collection and it sort of set the tone and tenure...I.e. barbarian men that dare descending quick justice as they face supernatural danger that usually is commanded by human foley. “Necromancy in Naat” was alright by me due to the way it wrapped up sort of bitter sweet, with technically the quest complete, but the details...ahh. “The slaughter of the gods” was a fine bit of sword and sorcery with another unfortunate key note to this anthology and probably the genre to some degree. Sexism. One looses track of how many curvaceous, firm, etc. descriptions of women find their ways into these tales. Now, women can and are more than just that in these tales-they can be deadly too, often the villian, but one gets a sense that to many of these writers in that was secondary to their sexual aesthetics. So yeah. Also, often the heroes succeed to easily. Yeah, yeah; who wants to read a tale about a barbarian hero who doesn’t instantly succeed in vanquishing the bady and getting the girl? Only often these tales are over the top that way, thus my 3 star rating. In almost all cases the writing is pretty good, with wonderful descriptions, vibrant word choices, etc. ...but the fantasy fans of yesteryear enjoyed pulp fiction style works apparently. Anyway, those criticsisms go strong for that tale and most in the anthology. The Lin Carter works were one of my favorite works in this collection. Here is a multigenerational tribal sword and sorcery, or rather stone and sorcery tale. While they do tend to be sort of formulaic, overall the writing was enticing and I just loved seeing the story of the tribe progress from one generation to the next. Now, a quick thought on word choice here...at one point the tribal protagonist refers to himself as a savage, which doesn’t work as at thus point in the tale they have not met anyone non-tribal. I doubt tribal people would have thought of themselves as tribal or barbarian. This sort of problem occurs a lot in these tales, where the writer takes their modern mind set and paints it across the tale, basically getting in the way of their own writing. Hurts the suspension of disbelief. Anyway, “the rune-sword of Jotunheim” was thoroughly enjoyable, though here to the writers’s Christian mindset blurs over the tale. Far as I’m aware there were not demons or devils in Norse mythology. Also, Helheim was not the firey inferno that Christian Hell was. I was originally going to comment that the god-tribe interactions seemed off to, but perhaps this was written to take place during the original Vanir/Aesir war? If so I guess it works a touch bit better. Anyway, “princess of chaos” was the last and to my mind the weakest of the collection. There were a few interesting parts here and there, but there was just to much action with to little substance. In conclusion I’d recommend this work to fantasy fans that won’t be offended by a few things in the writing being a bit off or mysogisnistic. It wasn’t terrible and it was fun to read writing by some of the greats I never really learned about. I’d be derelict if I failed to note that I am writing this review from my 2021 perch-these writers had no internet and likely inferior libraries to what we have these days, so for the times they wrote in they were probably very multi-cultural, egalitarian tales of adventure, just a thought.
April 25, 2020
I’m glad DMR published this collection of lesser known S&S tales. They’re not all gems...but some good lost stuff here. A must for genre fans.
1 - The House of Arabu. It’s hard for me to believe this REH story wasn’t 1) published in his life time or 2) not widely considered one of his best stories. It’s really amazing. That atmosphere and descriptions are among his best if not his best. The ending is very Howard though idk if it fits with the tone of the rest of the story. There is one part that’s a little cringe, it it’s Howard after all . Seriously this is an amazing lost treasure. 5/5
2- The Necromancers of Naat- Glad to get the unabridged version here. Anyone who is a REH fan has a natural hatred of Farnsworth Wright and his editing and selection. So I’m glad this story, as Clark Ashton Smith intended it to be, has been released. CAS was one of the big 3 of pulp but his name hasn’t endured as much as Howard or Lovecraft. Which is a pity because his stuff, from what I’ve read, is marvelous. This is a brilliantly poetic and gothic story. Pure lost treasure. 5/5
3- The Woman of the Wood. The only A.A. Merritt book I’ve read is the Ship of Ishtar, which is widely considered the first S&S story. I liked it but didn’t love it. This story is going for a spirit of the forest thing, that has been done a lot better by other authors. It’s ok. 3/5
4 - The Slaughter of the Gods - When DMR released Wellman’s Kardios stories I feel in love. They were a comical light-hearted S&S. My only complaint was there were only 5. Lo and behold there was a 6th that not even his estate knew about. Well, unfortunately, it’s just not as good as the others. Though I was happy to see Kardios one last time. 3.5/5
5 - People of the Dragon - I have a love hate relationship with good old Lin Carter. I’ve read like 30 books by him. Most aren’t so great but every once in awhile he does something fantastic. He has a way of being better than the some of his parts. I could write an essay on him...anyways this story. It’s Stone Age S&S and actually fairly good though occasionally the narration seems out of touch with it’s Stone Age time. It was nothing special but again managed to be better than the sum of its parts. 4/5
6 - The Pillars of Hell - The second of Carter’s aborted Stone Age S&S series. It’s not quite as good as the first but I wish he did more.... 3.5/5
7- The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim - Never heard of this writing duo. It’s a magical Viking story. It’s got great action but I thought it was just ok. 3/5
8 - Princess of Chaos - So I love Planet Stories trashy 50s sci-fi. It gave birth to some real gems, like Eric John Stark. I’ve been going through armchair media’s rereleases of some of this mags stuff. In particular I enjoy Dwight V Swain. So anyways, sword and planet is my favorite sub genre. This early 50s style of sword and planet starting to cusp into sci-fi is great. This story has kinda flimsy writing. But it’s got a ton of imagination and swashbuckle. It’s too bad this author didn’t do more. It’s not great but it is fun. 3.5/5
Overall I’d say only 2 of the 8 are lost treasures, but the other 6 are still some good equipment that DMR found deep in the dungeons of forgotten pulp fiction.
1 - The House of Arabu. It’s hard for me to believe this REH story wasn’t 1) published in his life time or 2) not widely considered one of his best stories. It’s really amazing. That atmosphere and descriptions are among his best if not his best. The ending is very Howard though idk if it fits with the tone of the rest of the story. There is one part that’s a little cringe, it it’s Howard after all . Seriously this is an amazing lost treasure. 5/5
2- The Necromancers of Naat- Glad to get the unabridged version here. Anyone who is a REH fan has a natural hatred of Farnsworth Wright and his editing and selection. So I’m glad this story, as Clark Ashton Smith intended it to be, has been released. CAS was one of the big 3 of pulp but his name hasn’t endured as much as Howard or Lovecraft. Which is a pity because his stuff, from what I’ve read, is marvelous. This is a brilliantly poetic and gothic story. Pure lost treasure. 5/5
3- The Woman of the Wood. The only A.A. Merritt book I’ve read is the Ship of Ishtar, which is widely considered the first S&S story. I liked it but didn’t love it. This story is going for a spirit of the forest thing, that has been done a lot better by other authors. It’s ok. 3/5
4 - The Slaughter of the Gods - When DMR released Wellman’s Kardios stories I feel in love. They were a comical light-hearted S&S. My only complaint was there were only 5. Lo and behold there was a 6th that not even his estate knew about. Well, unfortunately, it’s just not as good as the others. Though I was happy to see Kardios one last time. 3.5/5
5 - People of the Dragon - I have a love hate relationship with good old Lin Carter. I’ve read like 30 books by him. Most aren’t so great but every once in awhile he does something fantastic. He has a way of being better than the some of his parts. I could write an essay on him...anyways this story. It’s Stone Age S&S and actually fairly good though occasionally the narration seems out of touch with it’s Stone Age time. It was nothing special but again managed to be better than the sum of its parts. 4/5
6 - The Pillars of Hell - The second of Carter’s aborted Stone Age S&S series. It’s not quite as good as the first but I wish he did more.... 3.5/5
7- The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim - Never heard of this writing duo. It’s a magical Viking story. It’s got great action but I thought it was just ok. 3/5
8 - Princess of Chaos - So I love Planet Stories trashy 50s sci-fi. It gave birth to some real gems, like Eric John Stark. I’ve been going through armchair media’s rereleases of some of this mags stuff. In particular I enjoy Dwight V Swain. So anyways, sword and planet is my favorite sub genre. This early 50s style of sword and planet starting to cusp into sci-fi is great. This story has kinda flimsy writing. But it’s got a ton of imagination and swashbuckle. It’s too bad this author didn’t do more. It’s not great but it is fun. 3.5/5
Overall I’d say only 2 of the 8 are lost treasures, but the other 6 are still some good equipment that DMR found deep in the dungeons of forgotten pulp fiction.
March 17, 2024
⚔️Renegade Swords is a cool collection of old sword & sorcery stories. It has adventures from authors like Howard, Smith, Carter, Rahman, Tierney, and Walton. These stories have magic, monsters, and epic battles.
🛡️"The House of Arabu" is about Pyrrhas, a barbarian cursed in ancient Mesopotamia, who must make a deal to save his life.
🛡️In "Necromancy in Naat," Yadar, a prince, goes on a tough journey to save his love from slavers and necromancers.
🛡️"The Woman of the Wood" follows "McKay," a chemist finding peace in nature after a war. He must decide if he's being called to be a savior.
🛡️"The Slaughter of the Gods" tells the story of Kardios, who faces monsters pretending to be gods and learns a lesson about fighting back.
🛡️"People of the Dragon" and "The Pillars of Hell" are about Junga and Charn saving their people through dangerous adventures.
🛡️The Pillars of Hell" follows the People of the Dragon on a dangerous journey south to find their lost land, where they face evil forces and mystical spirits.
🛡️"The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim" follows Hadding and Alfhild investigating mysterious deaths with the help of powerful beings.
🛡️"Princess of Chaos" is a sci-fi story about Moljar, a gladiator seeking revenge with the help of a telepathic mutant in a world of intense battles and technology.
⚔️Overall, Renegade Swords is a great book for fans of action-packed adventure. It has a mix of well-known and lesser-known stories that are all exciting and engaging. If you like classic sword & sorcery tales, this collection is for you.
🛡️"The House of Arabu" is about Pyrrhas, a barbarian cursed in ancient Mesopotamia, who must make a deal to save his life.
🛡️In "Necromancy in Naat," Yadar, a prince, goes on a tough journey to save his love from slavers and necromancers.
🛡️"The Woman of the Wood" follows "McKay," a chemist finding peace in nature after a war. He must decide if he's being called to be a savior.
🛡️"The Slaughter of the Gods" tells the story of Kardios, who faces monsters pretending to be gods and learns a lesson about fighting back.
🛡️"People of the Dragon" and "The Pillars of Hell" are about Junga and Charn saving their people through dangerous adventures.
🛡️The Pillars of Hell" follows the People of the Dragon on a dangerous journey south to find their lost land, where they face evil forces and mystical spirits.
🛡️"The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim" follows Hadding and Alfhild investigating mysterious deaths with the help of powerful beings.
🛡️"Princess of Chaos" is a sci-fi story about Moljar, a gladiator seeking revenge with the help of a telepathic mutant in a world of intense battles and technology.
⚔️Overall, Renegade Swords is a great book for fans of action-packed adventure. It has a mix of well-known and lesser-known stories that are all exciting and engaging. If you like classic sword & sorcery tales, this collection is for you.
April 16, 2023
While DMR has done a terrific job in terms of reviving S & S keeping with the modern sensibilities, this collection of the older so-called 'lost classics' was rather inconsistent.
1. 'The House of Arabu' by Robert E. Howard: This was a cracking read, with hidden depths.
2. 'Necromancy in Naat' by Clark Ashton Smith: A languid, soporific, overlong work that went no-where.
3. 'The Woman of the Wood' by A. Merritt: Not S & S, but an awesome story.
4. 'The Slaughter of the Gods' by Manly Wade Wellman: A simple, naive tale.
5. 'People of the Dragon' by Lin Carter: Very boring.
6. 'The Pillars of Hell' by Lin Carter: Even more boring.
7. 'The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim' by Glenn Rahman and Richard L. Tierney: Brilliant.
8. 'Princess of Chaos' by Bryce Walton: S & P story that's sublime in its OTT-ness.
If you can neglect the boring stuff, there are some really good tales. Let's see, how the next volume turns out to be.
1. 'The House of Arabu' by Robert E. Howard: This was a cracking read, with hidden depths.
2. 'Necromancy in Naat' by Clark Ashton Smith: A languid, soporific, overlong work that went no-where.
3. 'The Woman of the Wood' by A. Merritt: Not S & S, but an awesome story.
4. 'The Slaughter of the Gods' by Manly Wade Wellman: A simple, naive tale.
5. 'People of the Dragon' by Lin Carter: Very boring.
6. 'The Pillars of Hell' by Lin Carter: Even more boring.
7. 'The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim' by Glenn Rahman and Richard L. Tierney: Brilliant.
8. 'Princess of Chaos' by Bryce Walton: S & P story that's sublime in its OTT-ness.
If you can neglect the boring stuff, there are some really good tales. Let's see, how the next volume turns out to be.
July 29, 2023
A mixed bag of a collection. Howard's "The House of Arabu" is very good, Clark Ashton Smith's expanded "Necromancy in Naat" is amazing, Lin Carter's "People of the Dragon" & "The Pillars of Hell" are pretty good, and "The Rune Sword of Jotunheim" by Glenn Rahman and Richard L. Tierney is good. "The Woman of the Wood" by A. Merritt is also good if not exactly Sword & Sorcery. "Slaughter of the Gods" by Manly Wade Wellman was bad, with a really blunt prose, more like a caricature of Conan than anything else. "Princess of Chaos" by Bryce Walton was Sword and Planet, so not exactly my cup of tea (really dislike pulpy sci-fi).
November 8, 2023
A very enjoyable set of short stories that are all sword and sorcery based.
I enjoyed some more than others. The last story was a bit meh. The rest are worth your time and I will definitely check out the next book in the series.
No sleep lost to reading, but that's because I read most of the stories to completion in a sitting.
It feels fresh and new, even though many of them are older.
So if you like Conan, go ahead. It's good.
I enjoyed some more than others. The last story was a bit meh. The rest are worth your time and I will definitely check out the next book in the series.
No sleep lost to reading, but that's because I read most of the stories to completion in a sitting.
It feels fresh and new, even though many of them are older.
So if you like Conan, go ahead. It's good.
December 18, 2020
A collection of pulp sword and sorcery tales
The main course of this is a lost Robert E. Howard tale but much of it is a little repetitive warrior vs wizard pulp. The Howard story is powerful, though, a horror fable set in a convincing historical setting that sets it apart from the others.
The main course of this is a lost Robert E. Howard tale but much of it is a little repetitive warrior vs wizard pulp. The Howard story is powerful, though, a horror fable set in a convincing historical setting that sets it apart from the others.
December 30, 2024
3.5 rounded up because, well, Howard, and Smith and Merritt. Also includes a couple of good tales by Lin Carter, and a couple of fun pieces involving a dire mission on behalf of the Aesir, and a planetary adventuring barbarian. If sword & sorcery is one of your pleasures, there's a lot here to like.
August 23, 2020
The genre entries may skew older here but you most likely havent read most of these yet. This is a collection that, not counting the first two entries, finds the neglected and more inventive novelties of the past. The final story in particular is a realm gem.
July 7, 2021
Sword and Sorcery well defined
Riveting action and dark heroes struggling against the weird and wonderful, evil sorceresses and mad gods, all to live a meager existence. I couldn't stop reading once I started a story.
Riveting action and dark heroes struggling against the weird and wonderful, evil sorceresses and mad gods, all to live a meager existence. I couldn't stop reading once I started a story.
June 27, 2025
Fun, old school S&S from the 70s. I liked the Lin Carter stories the best. A few clunkers, but overall an enjoyable foray into the weird sci-fi fantasy of my misspent youth. Felt a lot like an old Heavy Metal Magazine, which I loved (and got in trouble for reading when my mom caught me!)
October 19, 2020
Uneven quality
Some excellent stories but the last one was poor by comparison. Not bad overall, but far from a home run.
Some excellent stories but the last one was poor by comparison. Not bad overall, but far from a home run.
April 5, 2023
A very good anthology of Sword and Sorcery tales by some of the great names of weird fiction. Obviously some are better than others but all provide a good read
May 12, 2023
Eight fantastic tales from Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, Lin Carter, and others.
September 28, 2023
[Rating: 3.5/5.0]
Very uneven short story collection, but it's short and doesn't overstay its welcome. "Princess of Chaos" by Bryce Walton is the head and shoulders stand-out here, though I also quite liked "The Woman of the Wood" by A. Merritt.
Very uneven short story collection, but it's short and doesn't overstay its welcome. "Princess of Chaos" by Bryce Walton is the head and shoulders stand-out here, though I also quite liked "The Woman of the Wood" by A. Merritt.
August 4, 2023
Fabulous reprint collection of several rare and obscure sword & sorcery tales.
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