Status Updates From Flame and Crimson: A Histor...

Murphy examines the influence of S&S on gaming (role-playing games), music (metal), and movies. Murphy has harsh words for most of the low-budget S&S films, but I like them, even Deathstalker.

Continuing with the S&S development from the 80s to today (well to 2018 or so).

Chapter 7: Decline and Fall

A somewhat irritating chapter. I align myself with Carter’s views on S&S. I’m not really interested in themes, issues, or deep subtext. I’m not sure why entertainment gets a bad rap, but art is treated with reverence.

Chapter 5: Renaissance

The chapter focuses on the 1960s and 1970s with a focus on Jack Vance, Poul Anderson, & Karl Edward Wagner. There’s also some discussion of L. Sprague de Camp’s The Tritonian Ring, Ramsey Campbell’s Ryre stories, and the Thieves World anthologies. A side bar examines S&S art.

Focused on the 50s and 60s starting with the Arkham House and Gnome Press editions. Murphy explains the importance of Fritz Leiber and Michael Moorcock’s contributions to the genre. The chapter ends with a description and discussion of the Lancer Conan Saga.

Chapter 4, on WEIRD TALES, is excellent, both in examining the pulp periodical and a series of authors found within it: Howard, Lovecraft, Smith, Moore, Kuttner. It closes with an interesting discussion on heroic vs. 'anti-'heroic Sword n Sorcery.

The chapter is focused primarily on Clark Ashton Smith, C. L. Moore, and Henry Kuttner, although Clifford Ball is mentioned briefly. The sidebar at the end of the chapter on heroic versus anti-heroic sword-and-sorcery was interesting. The quibble over genre definitions is a familiar battlefield. The terms can be both helpful and confusing.