''Savage Scrolls, Volume One: Thrilling Tales of Sword-and-Sorcery'' is an
anthology
In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs, or related fiction/non-fiction excerpts by different authors. There are also thematic and g ...
of
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures.
The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...
short stories in the
sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery (S&S), or heroic fantasy, is a subgenre of fantasy characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent adventures. Elements of Romance (love), romance, Magic (fantasy), magic, and the supernatural are also ...
subgenre, edited by
Jason Ray Carney. It was first published in trade paperback and ebook by
Pulp Hero Press in November 2020,
[Entry at fantasticfiction.com](_blank)
and takes its title from ''Savage Scrolls, Volume One: Scholarship from the Hyborian Age'' (2017), an earlier volume of literary criticism by Fred Blosser from the same publisher. Each was projected to be the first in a series; no further volumes of the Blosser title were forthcoming, but a second volume of the Carney title "is already in the works,"
[McLain, Bob. "Publisher's Note," in Carney, Jason Ray, ed. ''Savage Scrolls, Volume One: Thrilling Tales of Sword-and-Sorcery''. Pulp Hero Press, 2020.] with at least four projected in all.
[ONeill, John.]
Crimson Mists and Uncrowned Kings: Savage Scrolls, Volume One, edited by Jason Ray Carney
" Review at blackgate.com, January 20, 2021.
Summary
The book collects eight sword and sorcery tales of protagonists traditional in and new to the subgenre, the former including
Henry Kuttner
Henry Kuttner (April 7, 1915 – February 3, 1958) was an American author of science fiction, fantasy fiction, fantasy and horror fiction, horror.
Early life
Henry Kuttner was born in Los Angeles, California in 1915. Kuttner (1829–1903) and ...
's
Elak of Atlantis and Prince Raynor,
David C. Smith's Oron, and
James Enge
James Enge is the pseudonym of James M. Pfundstein, an American fantasy author. His best known work is the ongoing ''Morlock the Maker'' series. His first novel in the series, ''Blood of Ambrose'', was nominated for the World Fantasy Award in 20 ...
's Morlock the Maker. Some are by the authors associated with the original works and others are pastiches by later writers. Two of the stories,
Adrian Cole's "The Tower in the Crimson Mist" and Steve Dilks's "Tale of the Uncrowned Kings," were recycled from the publisher's aborted anthology ''
Flashing Swords! #6'' (July 2020).
Contents
*"Publisher's Note" (
Bob McLain)
*"Introduction" (
Jason Ray Carney)
*"Tower in the Crimson Mist" (Elak of Atlantis) (
Adrian Cole)
*"Tale of the Uncrowned Kings" (Erich Von Tormath and Zaran) (
Steve Dilks)
*"The Eyes of the Scorpion" (Shamal the Warrior) (
Steve Lines)
*"Born of the Serpent" (Oron) (
David C. Smith)
*"Under the Basilisk Moon" (Prince Raynor) (
Fred Blosser)
*"Slave Girls for Sacrifice" (Avok the Cytheran) (
D. M. Ritzlin)
*"Crypt of Stars" (Hanuvar of Volanus) (
Howard Andrew Jones
Howard Andrew Jones (July 19, 1968 – January 16, 2025) was an American speculative fiction and fantasy author and editor, known for ''The Chronicles of Hanuvar'' series, ''The Chronicles of Sword and Sand'' series and ''The Ring-Sworn'' trilog ...
)
*"Laws for the Blood" (Morlock the Maker) (
James Enge
James Enge is the pseudonym of James M. Pfundstein, an American fantasy author. His best known work is the ongoing ''Morlock the Maker'' series. His first novel in the series, ''Blood of Ambrose'', was nominated for the World Fantasy Award in 20 ...
)
*"About the Storytellers"
Reception
John ONeill at blackgate.com extols the list of contributors and remarks of the book "I'm delighted to say it's a thoroughly professional production."
Notes
{{reflist
2020 anthologies
Fantasy anthologies