If you are a bibliophile, as you get older, you will become subject to a grand disenchantment. Where once the universe seemed rife with wonder and endless potential, and behind every cover of a dusty second hand book could lurk a fantastic tale that would take the reader upon a soaring odyssey into realms or … More [Booktalk] Radix; Jodorowski’s Gamma World
Disclaimer: Sponsored content. Many legends of the pulp era were immortalized in the Appendix N. Some are household names even to this day; what D&D fan has not heard of Cthulhu or Conan? Others, while being larger then giants in that age, languish today in relative obscurity. Abraham Merrit was a literary titan from a … More [Booktalk] The Ship of Ishtar (Centennial Edition)
Of the myriad anthologies, collections and tales published by DMR Books one are the noteworthy Chronicles of Caylen-Tor. Written by Baal-Saagoth lyricist Byron A. Robberts, the chronicles detail the adventures of Caylen-Tor, a barbarian hero and mercenary in a world of distant antiquity who gains and loses kingship of the Tribes of the Northern Kingdoms, … More [Booktalk] The Chronicles of Caylen-Tor Vol. I, II & III
Sword & Sorcery and historical fiction have an interesting relation in that the origins of the one are partially rooted in the other. R.E. Howard was at least partially inspired by the historical adventure stories of Harold Lamb. The early weird tales were very often set in the real world, albeit in ages of forgotten … More [Booktalk] War on Rome I – Arminius, Bane of Eagles by Adrian Cole
Keeping track of the books I read every year should prove illuminating. RPG books do not count. Books in italics were rereads, either because I had started the series long ago and never finished it or because I’d read them to my wife. I’ve rated them for ease of reference, based mainly on how much … More [Booktalk] 2024 Reading List
In booktalk we have considered old works of Sword & Sorcery and some modern works that have a hint of the power and energy of the olden days but it is legitimate to ask if the genre has any lifeblood left in it. Enter Samhain Sorceries, the superlative collection of contemporary S&S tales centred around … More [Booktalk] Samhain Sorceries
Disclaimer: Dr. Ritzlin of DMR books sent me a (different) e-book and asked me to review it and I accepted but I ended up buying this collection (and several others) and reviewing it instead because I enjoyed it so much. The other one will be pending. Despite the appreciation of Appendix N and Sword & … More [Booktalk] Heroes of Atlantis & Lemuria
The second volume in the Thieves World: First Blood omnibus is in every way an expansion on the previous volume. The city and its major players have been introduced, now it is time to broaden its horizons. The resulting tales take place in locations both within and beyond Sanctuary, expand on elements briefly hinted at … More [Booktalk] Thieves World – First Blood Pt. II; Tales of the Vulgar Unicorn
The genre of Sword & Sorcery, founded by the Triumvirate of Howard, Lovecraft and Smith in the 20s and 30s, enjoyed a lifespan of almost half a century before it went all but extinct in the mid 80s. Just before that time, however, a fascinating project was conceived. Under the auspices of Robert Lynn Asprin … More [Booktalk] Thieves World; First Blood Pt. I
Its about time for another one of these. The Godsblade was not the only DMR title I purchased. The other one was Necromancy in Nilztiria, by none other then this year’s NAP finalist D.M.Ritzlin! With the mainstream publishing industry suffering a slow, drawn-out collapse as a result of archaic business models, political co-option and assorted … More [Booktalk] Necromancy in Nilztiria by D.M.Ritzlin
Age of Dusk 