Swords Against Tomorrow: A Wickedly Sharp Collection of Yesterday

I can’t say I get the title. The rather generic — but perfectly acceptable — introduction by Robert Hoskins does not clarify. But what is important is not the title but the contents. And what contents! The great Poul Anderson leads off with a story I’ve never encountered before, Demon Journey. Apparently it was originally… Continue reading Swords Against Tomorrow: A Wickedly Sharp Collection of Yesterday

The Play is the Thing. Plus Savage Journal Entry 39.

The theater has been on my mind lately for a number of reasons. Most immediately is that the HA appeared in her school’s production of Willy Wonka. I attended the show yesterday, the final show of the three day run. Quite a lot of ferrying too and from from school and late nights. I think… Continue reading The Play is the Thing. Plus Savage Journal Entry 39.

Intro to Sword and Sorcery: Five Names You Should Know. Resurrected Post.

November 24, 2019 Intro to Swords and Sorcery: Five Names You Should Know Perhaps you are new to this planet, or have been living in a bomb shelter all your life with limited reading material. Maybe you recently stumbled upon a trove of Molly Hatchet album covers at a garage sale, with those paintings by… Continue reading Intro to Sword and Sorcery: Five Names You Should Know. Resurrected Post.

Remedial Fantasy for the Chronically Lazy: A Top Five List. Resurrected Post.

April 8, 2018 Remedial Fantasy For the Chronically Lazy: A Top Five List A couple of weeks ago I moderated a panel on the essential science fiction writers of the Golden Age. The premise was which writers should someone read if he were interested in acquiring a grounding in sci-fi but possessed either limited time… Continue reading Remedial Fantasy for the Chronically Lazy: A Top Five List. Resurrected Post.

Fritz Leiber, The Touchstone of Appendix N. Resurrected Post.

December 6, 2015 Fritz Leiber, The Touchstone of Appendix N I intend to write today about Fritz Leiber. But first, I want to acknowledge Jan’s Paperbacks for once again arranging a book signing for me. My hat is off to you ladies. What more can be written about Fritz Leiber? He was one of the… Continue reading Fritz Leiber, The Touchstone of Appendix N. Resurrected Post.

Top Ten Most Influential Fantasy Writers of the Twentieth Century. Resurrected Post.

February 8, 2015 Top Ten Most Influential Fantasy Writers of the Twentieth Century The wellsprings of modern fantasy run deep. Very deep. People could write books about it. And they have. So if I have the temerity to toss my two-cents worth into the conversation I’d best limit the scope. I’m limiting myself to author’s… Continue reading Top Ten Most Influential Fantasy Writers of the Twentieth Century. Resurrected Post.