Must-Reads to get into Sword & Sorcery

5 Titles/Publications to Start Your Journey into the Genre Right

Jan 10, 2024

close-up photography of gold-colored and black sword

Since last week’s post talked about how I got started with the Sword & Sorcery (or heroic fantasy) subgenre, naturally I thought I should give some recommendations in case any of my subscribers weren’t already familiar with some of the staples and newer additions to the field. So whether this is your first time hearing about Sword & Sorcery or you’re a veteran who might have missed a title or two, here are a mix of five Sword & Sorcery stories and Sword & Sorcery publications to add to your reading list!

1. The Phoenix on the Sword by Robert E. Howard

On An Underwood No. 5: By the Phoenix on This Sword I Rule! By Karen Joan Kohoutek

Published in pulp magazine Weird Tales’ December 1927 issue, this tale was the first Conan story in print. It was also the first Conan story, and perhaps the first Sword & Sorcery story, that I read. It has most of the hallmarks that go on to become staples in S&S fiction—a strong yet thoughtful protagonist with barbaric origins, an exotic, fantastic location, a supernatural monster summoned by means of profane sorcery, and a visceral, heavy-hitting combat scenes that will set readers’ imaginations ablaze. “Phoenix on the Sword” is written in an older style more reflective of standard of prose in the golden age of pulp fiction, but is by no means dull. It is a must-read for newcomers to the subgenre and most definitely the first story I would recommend to anyone.

2. Whetstone: Amateur Magazine of Pulp Sword and Sorcery

Whetstone is a contemporary digital publication of Sword & Sorcery that is 100% free! Featuring some of the best current movers and shakers in the genre today, but also having plenty of room for new writers looking to get their start in publishing short stories. Each story featured in Whetstone’s issues is quite short (most totaling up to ~2,500 words) so they are all punchy, episodic, and work perfectly as a quick read between work shifts, classes, or to decompress before going off to the Dreamlands. Whetstone recently released their eighth issue this past December and is still going strong, along with their sister publications Witch House (for Cosmic Horror writers and fans) and the recently-launched Way Station (for readers and writers of Space Opera). My story, “Fort of the Ravens” was also featured in their third issue back in 2021.

Once you’ve read the recommendations on this list (and gone out and done your own research on S&S), give it your best shot at writing a short story for Whetstone! What’s really great about this publication is that it has its own Discord server where its editors, readers, and contributors engage in daily discussions on S&S and other topics, and may sometimes help fellow writers on stories they’re working on. I’m a fairly active member on the server as well and would be excited to look over stories granted I find the time!

3. The Knight of the Swords by Michael Moorcock

The Knight of the Swords (Corum, #1) by Michael Moorcock | Goodreads

The first “non-Howardian” S&S novel that I read, The Knight of the Swords was my very first introduction to Michael Moorcock. I heard about his Elric series and how parts of it inspired Dungeons & Dragons but was more drawn to the Corum series as there was mention of it having drawn inspiration from Celtic mythology. What struck me immediately was how lean Moorcock’s prose was. It stands somewhat in contrast to Howard’s rollicking, detailed paragraphs but does not sacrifice flare or wonder in any way. If Howard’s stories are essentially transcribed versions of how bards or folk storytellers would narrate their tales, Moorcock’s stories are the original manuscripts of an ancient mythology that lets the reader imagine and interpret the saga in their own mind without needing to go into great detail. What I really enjoyed about The Knight in particular was that, even though it was part of a series, it could be read as a stand-alone novel that leaves the reader with enough questions about what could come next but still satisfied with the conclusion.

The Corum series definitely deserves a closer examination of its Celtic elements as it is one of the few Celtic fantasy stories I’ve read that succeeds in adapting its source material for a secondary world.

4. Crimson Quill Quarterly

I don’t have too much to say about this particular publication other than I have only good hopes for its launch, which, as of this post, is only just yesterday! It’s seeking to be a digital publication that is in the spirit of Weird Tales and other pulp magazine with plans to serialize works it accepts but also featuring stand-alone stories. I’m excited to see what stories Crimson Quill Quarterly will have in its flagship issue and what new fans and writers it will draw in.

Check out their site here and their first issue here!

5. The Valducan Series by Seth Skorkowsky

Although many, including the author himself, might classify these books as urban fantasy, I think that Seth Skorkowsky’s Valducan series very much embodies S&S conventions. Although the heroes are not musclebound barbarians or amazons who walked out of a Frazetta painting, they are still very relatable and have more grounded goals and personalities that you can find among traditional S&S heroes. What especially stands out about this series is that Skorkowsky puts sorceries in the swords featured in these books. Each weapon has its own unique power and name that forges an inseparable bond with its user—the fantasy names in this series also don’t veer to far into the unpronounceable territory but straddle a decent medium where they feel close enough to something that could logically exist in the lore of our world. I listened to all of these books on tape and it’s one of the few series that literally had me jumping out of my seat, so if you’re looking for S&S in the modern day, this series is the right fit for you.

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Comment which story or publication you’ll be reading to start your journey into Sword & Sorcery fantasy! S&S veterans, I highly encourage you to drop your own recommendations in the comments as well!