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SFReader Forums > Book, Magazine, and eZine Publishers > Flashing Swords > Return of the Sword - discuss the book and stories

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Nik
Adept

Date Joined Feb 2007
Total Posts : 735

Posted 4/1/2008 10:34 PM (GMT -4)

One thing that has impressed me so far, after about 8 or 9 stories: the authors managed to keep my attention with stories set entirely within the context of combat. Meaning they deftly inserted those other things necessary to a good story (character development, dialog, etc.) within the confines of big ol' fights and epic battles. Very well done.

Nicholas Ian Hawkins

Forthcoming
"Knowledge and Dust," in Magic & Mechanica, from Ricasso Press, Spring 2008

Published
"What Heroes Leave Behind," in Return of the Sword, Flashing Swords Press, March 2008
"The Weald Maiden's Will," in Every Day Fiction, March 5, 2008
"Relativity," in FLASHSHOT, September 28, 2007

Visit my website, Trampler of Beautiful Phrases, at nihawkins.wordpress.com

crystalwizard
Forum Moderator

Date Joined Nov 2006
Total Posts : 4388

Posted 4/1/2008 11:59 PM (GMT -4)

So, now that a lot of you have had a chance to dig into this antho, I have some questions.

What's your favorite of the stories and why?

Who's going to sub stuff to Jason for his next antho?

Never meddle in the affairs of a wizard unless you are soggy and hard to light!

Managing Editor of Flashing Swords

Visit my art gallery on art wanted
All my books in print

Swashbuckler
One-man sword-and-sorcery machine

Date Joined Mar 2006
Total Posts : 1199

Posted 4/2/2008 1:43 AM (GMT -4)

I still have plenty to read, but after several stories I've enjoyed Nik's the most, I think. It was the character more than anything else -- especially as revealed in the small touches concerning his old flame, etc.

I hope to have something to sub to the next antho. I have a few stories with flying bunnies, and a few stories that fit the listed socio-economic parameters, but I don't think I have any on hand that have both a flying bunny AND one of the listed socio-economic parameters. So, I'll write something fresh if I get my sword and Sorceress 23 entry done in time to still contribute to Jason's project. I've got what I think is a rocking good story going for S&S23.

Steve Goble

Visit my blog, Swords Against Boredom, for news on published fiction and upcoming stories.

Nik
Adept

Date Joined Feb 2007
Total Posts : 735

Posted 4/3/2008 2:01 PM (GMT -4)

Steve, you got me smiling. Thanks so much.

I want to read the whole thing first before commenting--I'll report back. I will say that I'm very impressed so far and that Knight's essay on storytelling is one of the best, if not the best, I've read on the subject. It's so entertaining, I almost forgot I was learning.

Rob Santa
Sage

Date Joined Apr 2004
Total Posts : 1329

Posted 4/3/2008 2:36 PM (GMT -4)

I am holding in my hands the freshly delivered RotS and cannot get time to read it until the kids go to bed seven hours from now. What torment...

Rob Santa

Hopelessly Addicted Writer of Speculative Fiction

and CEO of Ricasso Press

Nik
Adept

Date Joined Feb 2007
Total Posts : 735

Posted 4/3/2008 2:41 PM (GMT -4)

Rob Santa said...
I am holding in my hands the freshly delivered RotS and cannot get time to read it until the kids go to bed seven hours from now. What torment...

Hmmmmm......got any Nyquil?

von Darkmoor
Dancer

Date Joined Dec 2005
Total Posts : 2864

Posted 4/3/2008 11:43 PM (GMT -4)

Cool - thanks for picking it up, Rob.
~~~~
Hey Mr. Goble!!!! There ain't no public announcement about the nest antho yet!!!! Or there wasn't. And there won't be any further discussion of it until the offical announcement on 1 JUNE 2008. The info out and about now is ONLY available to purchasers of RotS - giving them up to a 2.5 month head start on writing.

And I expect them all to put it to good use.

~~~~~~~~~~
Jason M. Waltz
Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Press (site soon to come)

First Book Released: The Return of the Sword

Assistant Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Magazine
~~~~~~~~~~
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz?

House von Darkmoor - where the real action is

von Darkmoor's thoughts - where it all began

~~~~~~~~~~
Eye of the Dragon Avatar courtesy of crystalwizard

Swashbuckler
One-man sword-and-sorcery machine

Date Joined Mar 2006
Total Posts : 1199

Posted 4/4/2008 3:58 AM (GMT -4)

Oops. CW's question threw me off there ... sorry to have spilled some beans, but at least I didn't spill ALL of the beans. So, yeah, people ought to be getting their hands on the antho if they want to start writing now.

Steve Goble

Visit my blog, Swords Against Boredom, for news on published fiction and upcoming stories.

crystalwizard
Forum Moderator

Date Joined Nov 2006
Total Posts : 4388

Posted 4/4/2008 4:11 AM (GMT -4)

Hey, there aren't any spilled beans. Just a teaser. More of one now since Jason pointed out that people who BUY A COPY of the book ('scuse me) get a couple months extra time to write.

Never meddle in the affairs of a wizard unless you are soggy and hard to light!

Managing Editor of Flashing Swords

Visit my art gallery on art wanted
All my books in print

Jared Evers
Neophyte

Date Joined Feb 2008
Total Posts : 104

Posted 4/4/2008 1:23 PM (GMT -4)

I had been planning to buy myself a copy of RotS for my upcoming birthday anyhow, but decided to get it ordered today. I think I may just have something to submit when the time comes, and RotS should be a helpful reminder of how good stories are written.

Hazimel
Jack of Shadows

Date Joined Oct 2006
Total Posts : 215

Posted 4/4/2008 5:53 PM (GMT -4)

I am seriously lagging on my reviews, but I promise that every story in the book will get an entry. Started a new job and it is much more demanding than my previous one. Hope I get used to it soon so I don't feel so burnt at the end of the day.

Check out my story "Cold Snap" in Lords of Justice from Carnifex Press. It's an anthology of kick-ass super hero novellas.
I Dream of Dragons, a writing blog

von Darkmoor
Dancer

Date Joined Dec 2005
Total Posts : 2864

Posted 4/5/2008 9:27 PM (GMT -4)

Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome review of Return Of The Sword by Richard Marcus at Blogcritics.org http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/04/05/100727.php

~~~~~~~~~~
Jason M. Waltz
Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Press (site soon to come)

First Book Released: The Return of the Sword

Assistant Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Magazine
~~~~~~~~~~
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz?

House von Darkmoor - where the real action is

von Darkmoor's thoughts - where it all began

~~~~~~~~~~
Eye of the Dragon Avatar courtesy of crystalwizard

von Darkmoor
Dancer

Date Joined Dec 2005
Total Posts : 2864

Posted 4/5/2008 9:32 PM (GMT -4)

Hazimel said...
I am seriously lagging on my reviews, but I promise that every story in the book will get an entry. Started a new job and it is much more demanding than my previous one. Hope I get used to it soon so I don't feel so burnt at the end of the day.

No explanation necessary, Bryan - we're fully appreciative of your words thus far. Get acclimated to the job, then come back fresh and ready to rock through the rest of them!

~~~~~~~~~~
Jason M. Waltz
Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Press (site soon to come)

First Book Released: The Return of the Sword

Assistant Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Magazine
~~~~~~~~~~
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz?

House von Darkmoor - where the real action is

von Darkmoor's thoughts - where it all began

~~~~~~~~~~
Eye of the Dragon Avatar courtesy of crystalwizard

crystalwizard
Forum Moderator

Date Joined Nov 2006
Total Posts : 4388

Posted 4/5/2008 9:58 PM (GMT -4)

von Darkmoor said...
Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome review of Return Of The Sword by Richard Marcus at Blogcritics.org http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/04/05/100727.php

Oh how VERY cool! That's a fantastic review.

Did that man get a hard copy for review or a .pdf?

von Darkmoor
Dancer

Date Joined Dec 2005
Total Posts : 2864

Posted 4/6/2008 12:21 AM (GMT -4)

hard copy and he solicited it!

~~~~~~~~~~
Jason M. Waltz
Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Press (site soon to come)

First Book Released: The Return of the Sword

Assistant Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Magazine
~~~~~~~~~~
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz?

House von Darkmoor - where the real action is

von Darkmoor's thoughts - where it all began

~~~~~~~~~~
Eye of the Dragon Avatar courtesy of crystalwizard

DraperJC
Fictional

Date Joined Aug 2007
Total Posts : 57

Posted 4/6/2008 12:56 AM (GMT -4)

I'm stunned at what a good review it is. I think we've got two more sales just today from it already.

(EDIT: Flying bunnies... I just can't stop laughing. I can hear Tim the Sorcerer saying, "What? He's a killer! Big vicious fangs!)

Joshua 24:15b "As for me and my house..."

My blog, full of writing lessons, reviews, and the occasional travelogue: Scriptorius Rex

crystalwizard
Forum Moderator

Date Joined Nov 2006
Total Posts : 4388

Posted 4/6/2008 2:17 AM (GMT -4)

I know of one sale specifically from the review. I hope we get many sales, and I really hope a lot of people leave good, positive comments for the review.

Never meddle in the affairs of a wizard unless you are soggy and hard to light!

Managing Editor of Flashing Swords

Visit my art gallery on art wanted
All my books in print

Bill Ward
Biblioholic

Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 1572

Posted 4/6/2008 5:20 PM (GMT -4)

Great review, nice to see S&S reviewed by someone that gets it, for a change.

billwardwriter.com

MysticWino
anarchist fringe monkey boddhisatva

Date Joined May 2007
Total Posts : 1527

Posted 4/8/2008 7:06 PM (GMT -4)

I'm digging in now that I made that looming deadline.
I'm having a time of it keeping things straight at the moment, though. I loved Raven Kill, and now I love it even more because of a certain other story that is basically the same tale told in a different place by a different story-teller. You'll understand fully when you read FS #10 in light of your copy of RotS.
I was looking forward to fiction by E. E. Knight; I'll read his essay relishingly (almost said 'with relish', but my tummy rumbled and I had a laughing fit - sorry).
I'm really looking forward to Michael Ehart's tale now as well as Angeline's. And all the others. I suck at playing favorites, btw. Like wine, the one I'm with now is the best I've ever had . . .
Have to say, though, that I'm thrilled speechless over Jason's foreword and story intros.

Read me soon in The Return of the Sword!
Blog: http://bitterhermit.wordpress.com
Buy wine: http://fringemonkey.org
Poetry Blog: http://fringemonkey.wordpress.com

Hazimel
Jack of Shadows

Date Joined Oct 2006
Total Posts : 215

Posted 4/8/2008 9:02 PM (GMT -4)

There are a couple more reviews up on the blog now.

It's very difficult to pick a favorite, but if I were on the wrack and had to choose, it would be Bill Ward's "Wyrd of War", though "Fatefist", "Raven Kill" and "What Heroes Leave Behind" are all fantastic. I've enjoyed them all though, and doing these reviews has been a fun, educational project.

And... I'm not even halfway through! Excellent. *evil cackle*

Check out my story "Cold Snap" in Lords of Justice from Carnifex Press. It's an anthology of kick-ass super hero novellas.
I Dream of Dragons, a writing blog

DraperJC
Fictional

Date Joined Aug 2007
Total Posts : 57

Posted 4/9/2008 12:02 AM (GMT -4)

I'm thinking my favorite is The Hand That Holds the Crown. Hard to choose though; for example, Ulam-Bator keeps growing on me the more I think about it.

Joshua 24:15b "As for me and my house..."

My blog, full of writing lessons, reviews, and the occasional travelogue: Scriptorius Rex

von Darkmoor
Dancer

Date Joined Dec 2005
Total Posts : 2864

Posted 4/9/2008 12:09 AM (GMT -4)

MysticWino said...
Like wine, the one I'm with now is the best I've ever had . . .
Have to say, though, that I'm thrilled speechless over Jason's foreword and story intros.

Nice line there, the wine one . . . good comparison.

Thanks for the other line, David. Means a lot. I had a guy who bought the book last week, call me yesterday and tell me that I should patent a sentence in my forward, the one about heroes doing the ordinary in extraordinary times. Made me smile, too. You guys are too good to me.

~~~~~~~~~~
Jason M. Waltz
Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Press (site soon to come)

First Book Released: The Return of the Sword

Assistant Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Magazine
~~~~~~~~~~
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz?

House von Darkmoor - where the real action is

von Darkmoor's thoughts - where it all began

~~~~~~~~~~
Eye of the Dragon Avatar courtesy of crystalwizard

nathan
Sage

Date Joined Mar 2006
Total Posts : 2111

Posted 4/9/2008 2:27 PM (GMT -4)

DraperJC said...
I'm thinking my favorite is The Hand That Holds the Crown.

Ah, now see...can a guy ask for more?

(but if you change your mind keep it on the down low as I have so little else to live for

)

Thanks much sir.

VIEW IMAGE
"Writing the wet dreams of teenage boys" - Lindsey Llyod, Tangent Reviews

Tarantino himself has been forward and unapologetic about his influences. In a 1994 interview with Empire magazine, he said, "I steal from every single movie ever made. If people don't like that, then tough tills, don't go and see it, all right? I steal from everything. Great artists steal, they don't do homages."

MysticWino
anarchist fringe monkey boddhisatva

Date Joined May 2007
Total Posts : 1527

Posted 4/9/2008 4:05 PM (GMT -4)

Pardon me while I yank this crow-tasting foot out of my mouth and restate something:

yesterday, I wrote,

I loved Raven Kill, and now I love it even more because of a certain other story that is basically the same tale told in a different place by a different story-teller. You'll understand fully when you read FS #10 in light of your copy of RotS.

It never occured to me that this would be taken as anything but praise for Raven Kill - well, actually, I meant to praise both these stories in light of each other. Great story-telling in both cases. They complement each other in a seriously serendipitous way that really lights me up!

If "Raven Kill" was your favorite, or among your favorites, in RotS, then you really must buy FS#10 to read the other story. That story alone is worth the cover! And then there's whole brilliant ToC full of other great work.

So please don't misread this as meaning that I like Raven Kill more because of any shortcomings in the FS#10 story; it is patently NOT the matter. I enjoyed the heck out of both of them. And tonight I'm going back to read them side-by-side.

Read me soon in The Return of the Sword!
Blog: http://bitterhermit.wordpress.com
Buy wine: http://fringemonkey.org
Poetry Blog: http://fringemonkey.wordpress.com

von Darkmoor
Dancer

Date Joined Dec 2005
Total Posts : 2864

Posted 4/11/2008 4:36 AM (GMT -4)

they are both great stories, you are correct David. while Jeff's gets to ride the RotS blazing meteor, the other gets a certain someone as his artist - and gets an equally blazingly cool sketch!

~~~~~~~~~~
Jason M. Waltz
Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Press (site soon to come)

First Book Released: The Return of the Sword

Assistant Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Magazine
~~~~~~~~~~
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz?

House von Darkmoor - where the real action is

von Darkmoor's thoughts - where it all began

~~~~~~~~~~
Eye of the Dragon Avatar courtesy of