NEW SWORD AND SORCERY AT KICKSTARTER

Fans of sword and sorcery should know that there's only a couple of days left on the Kickstarter campaign for Cullen Bunn's S&S fiction anthology, SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS. The subtitle, "A Swords & Socery Horror Anthology" promises a combination of the two. Follow the link at the end of this post for more info and to support.

From the Kickstarter page:

Outland Entertainment is proud to announce the first two publications in the Outer Shadows imprint—SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS and RAZE: MOTHER, MAIDEN, CRONE. Both books present a fresh exploration of the dark fantasy and horror genre.

ABOUT SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS

It was an age of adventure.

An age of sorcery.

An age of unrelenting horror.

Sword and sorcery and pulp horror go hand-in-hand. Sinister enchanters working  foul magic. Hideous beasts lurking in shadowy dungeons. Blasphemous elder gods uncoiling from forgotten and forbidden temples.

SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS, the first anthology from the Outer Shadows imprint of Outland Entertainment, features twenty-two stories with a bloody stake driven into the heart of both the horror and fantasy camps. Herein, you will find fantasy worlds, brave warriors, fabulous creatures, wondrous magic. But you will also uncover bloodcurdling chills, spine-tingling horror, and an examination of those things that truly terrify.

Each story features a unique take on the sword, sorcery, and horror genre. New heroes. New terrors. New worlds of high adventure and loathsome terror.

Within the pages of this tome you will find:

• Undead legions
• Restless horrors
• Shapechangers
• Fiendish sorcerers
• Sorcerous fiends
• Unspeakable monsters
• Undaunted warriors
• Magical swords
• Magical wrenches
• And much, much more

New visions of adventure and horror await within the pages of this one-of-a-kind anthology!

Excerpt from “The Dog in the Corner” by Stephen Graham Jones

Lorn had been born in a darkened hut, and the master had scooped his eyes out with a spoon fresh from the fire, so it would cauterize the holes. Because babies shouldn’t bleed from the face that much at birth. Not if they’re going to be their master’s best dog.

The reason for taking Lorn’s eyes so early was so he could learn to navigate the world by scent alone. Which real, actual dogs could do just fine, without having to lose their sight.

But people, the master explained after training, people need scent to be their eyes, if it has any hope of becoming sensitive enough to be used. What Lorn’s master was doing was shaping a dog that also had language. Teaching a boy to follow a trail with his nose was far easier than teaching a dog to speak—though, on his own, Lorn had sniffed out those experiments as well.

Excerpt from “Wrench and Sorcery” by Joe R. Lansdale

When we were both inside, standing in the dark, I said softly to Ajax, “Light up,” and it did. The wrench gave off a red beam that threw light down a long corridor paved with dark stone. The walls bordering it were solid and gray. The air smelled rotten with decay.

Olo said, “I would be alright going back to nineteen seventy-one, finishing up that transmission.”

“You can. I can’t. You know my score.”

Olo didn’t bail on me. We went on down the corridor, the stench becoming strong enough to dance with us.

Excerpt from “Tiger Claws and Crocodile Jaws” by Rena Mason

Glossy bone shards came into focus near her feet. She stepped back, making what had taken place somewhat clear. The soldiers. They’d been crushed, almost pulverized. It made little sense. Who? No. No man or even several men were capable of this slaughter. What? That’s what did this? Up until the time of their demise filled with screams, she’d heard nothing else but their voices. Moments ago, living breathing men stood here, fighters she may have known and had interacted with, and now she could scarcely tell they’d ever been men at all.

The soldiers’ blood and remains covered the trail, spilling down its sides. Dazed and trembling, Lek staggered over the gore until she could see through the trees and up at the night sky to get her bearings. Deep sorrow squeezed her heart. Staying in her cousin’s village no longer a wise idea, she’d have to take the southerly route she dreaded and pray that whatever had killed Kra Tàay and the soldiers had gone.

Excerpt from “Wolfen Divine” by Hailey Piper

At his birth, Mother Wolf sinks her teeth through Mero’s membrane, and then his neck, to check the soul in his flesh and be sure it’s bound with hers. It is a love-bite, or some call it a soul-bite. Mother Wolf holds the hairy mewling infant down a moment, and when satisfied, she lets him go.

Only decades and betrayals later does Mero learn that all creatures do this, whether they know it or not. The soul-bite is universal. A fawn exiled by a moss-coated doe, a terror bird abandoning her nest of starved hatchlings, a jungle cat devouring fresh cubs, a grim-faced woman plunging her baby’s head into the sea and not letting go until the desperate wriggling ends—in every instance, a failure of unity from soul to soul.

Excerpt from “The Shadow in the Swamp” by Brian Keene

As darkness fully enveloped Murk, he considered using his sword. The weapon had been in his family for many generations, but it was far older than his family line. It had first been found by his great-great-great grandfather, who – unlike the rest of Kilmar’s family – had been said to have journeyed far from home. He’d recovered the sword in a city of the Ancients, located deep beneath the earth. It had been passed down from parent to child since then. Kilmar’s mother had given it to him when he and his friends first ventured forth from Yurk.

He leaned his head back against the wet stump and closed his eyes, trying to remember his mother’s face, or the sound of her voice. He opened his eyes again when he found that he couldn’t.

EDITED BY CULLEN BUNN

CULLEN BUNN is the writer of creator-owned comic books such as THE SIXTH GUN, HARROW COUNTY, BONE PARISH, THE DAMNED, THE EMPTY MAN, REGRESSION, THE GHOUL NEXT DOOR, and BASILISK. He has also written books such as DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE, UNCANNY X-MEN, and ASGARDIANS OF THE GALAXY for Marvel; SINESTRO and LOBO for DC; and SHADOWMAN and PUNK MAMBO for Valiant.

AUTHORS & TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE ATOLL OF SYRASH - Wile E. Young

Wile E. Young is an author who not only has a price on his head but also specializes in southern themed horror stories, both terrifying and bizarre. His novels include Catfish in the Cradle (2019), The Perfectly Fine House (2020), and the Magpie Coffin (2020). His short stories have been featured in various anthologies including the Clickers Forever (2018), Behind the Mask- Tales From the Id (2018), Corporate Cthulhu (2018) and And Hell Followed (2019).

THE SHADOW IN THE SWAMP - Brian Keene

Brian Keene writes novels, comic books, short stories, and nonfiction. He is the author of over fifty books, mostly in the horror, crime, fantasy, and non-fiction genres. They have been translated into over a dozen different languages and have won numerous awards. The father of two sons and the stepfather to one daughter, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania with his wife, author Mary SanGiovanni.

RED ROSE REIGN - Glenn Parris

Glenn Parris writes in the genres of sci-fi, fantasy, and medical mystery. Considered by some an expert in Afrofuturism, he is a self-described lifelong sci-fi nerd. His interest in the topic began as a tween before the term Afrofuturism was even coined.

THE PRINCE OF DUST AND SHADOWS - Jonathan Maberry

Jonathan Maberry is a New York Times best-seller, five-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, anthology editor, comic book writer, executive producer, magazine feature writer, playwright, and writing teacher/lecturer. He is the editor of Weird Tales Magazine and president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers. He is the recipient of the Inkpot Award, three Scribe Awards, and was named one of the Today’s Top Ten Horror Writers. His books have been sold to more than thirty countries. He writes in several genres including thriller, horror, science fiction, epic fantasy, and mystery; and he writes for adults, middle grade, and young adult.

WOLFEN DIVINE - Hailey Piper

Hailey Piper is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of several horror books, including Queen of Teeth, The Worm and His Kings, and No Gods for Drowning which shares its world with her Sword in the Shadows story. Her short fiction appears in Vastarien, Pseudopod, Cosmic Horror Monthly, and dozens of other publications. She lives with her wife in Maryland, where their occult rituals are secret. Find Hailey at www.haileypiper.com.

THE SEVENTH QUEEN - Heath Amodio

Heath Amodio is the co-creator and co-writer of The Heathens (Aftershock) and the Croatoan with Cullen Bunn. He founded the TV and Film production company Hustle & Heart Films with Cullen in 2018, where they've developed and sold three shows so far.

THE 19th LEGION - Josh Roberts

Josh Roberts is a writer who loves comic books, science fiction & fantasy, werewolves, and good bourbon. He will tell you he was raised by wolves, but he actually grew up in Missouri, so same difference, really. He is also essentially a scientist.

PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN - Allison Pang

Allison is the author of the Abby Sinclair UF series, the steampunk fantasy IronHeart Chronicles and the graphic novel/webcomic Fox & Willow. She has also published several short stories that range from horror to humor to tragically melancholy and she particularly enjoys twisting fairy tales for her own dark purposes.  She likes elves, LEGO and LEGO elves. And bacon.

DOBROGOST - Jonathan Janz

Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels and numerous short stories. His work has been championed by authors like Joe R. Lansdale, Jack Ketchum, and Brian Keene; he has also been lauded by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and School Library Journal. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novel Children of the Dark was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Horror Book of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children.

THE SUTURE KINGS - Mary SanGiovanni

Mary SanGiovanni is an award-winning American horror and thriller writer of over a dozen novels, including The Hollower trilogy, Thrall, Chaos, The Kathy Ryan series, and others, as well as numerous novellas, short stories, comics, and non-fiction.  Her work as been translated internationally.  She has a Masters degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, Pittsburgh, and is currently a member of The Authors Guild, The International Thriller Writers, and Penn Writers.  She was a co-host on the popular podcast The Horror Show with Brian Keene and her own podcast-turned-blog on cosmic horror, Cosmic Shenanigans, and is currently a cohost of The Ghost Writers Podcast. She has the distinction of being one of the first women to speak about writing at the CIA Headquarters in Langley, VA, and offers talks and workshops on writing around the country. Born and raised in New Jersey, she currently resides in Pennsylvania.

THE CASTLE CAUCHEMAR - L.C. Mortimer

L.C. Mortimer loves ghosts, zombies, and monsters. Her work features diverse characters who explore unexpected places and find monsters they didn't plan to meet. Mortimer especially loves any type of horror story that has a mysterious twist. Her latest series, Stay Dead, features the zombie apocalypse and a group of cruise ship survivors. Mortimer lives in Kansas with her family.

THE BEAST OF BEL’HAMI - Mike Oliveri

Mike Oliveri is a writer, martial artist, dad, motorcyclist, and cigar aficionado. Not necessarily in that order.

SHADES OF RUIN - Scott Schmidt

Scott Schmidt is a creator of comic books, writer of pulp fiction, reader of westerns, player of retro games and drinker of good beer.

BONES AND ALL - JimmyZ Johnston

JimmyZ Johnston is the writer of comic books such as Warlock 5, The Tick, and The Micronauts. He is also a game designer.

THE DOG IN THE CORNER - Stephen Graham Jones

Stephen Graham Jones is the NYT bestselling author of nearly thirty novels and collections, and there’s some novellas and comic books in there as well. Most recent are My Heart is a Chainsaw and The Babysitter Lives and Earthdivers. Up in February is Don’t Fear the Reaper, and at some point after that, I Was a Teenage Slasher. Stephen lives and teaches in Boulder, Colorado.

THE SPIRITUAL OUTCAST OF OSANOBUA’S GARDEN - Justin C. Key

Justin C. Key is a speculative fiction writer and psychiatrist. His short stories have appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, and Crossed Genres. He graduated from Clarion West in 2015 and earned his MD from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai two years later.

THE SHADOW FROM THE VAULTS - Charles R. Rutledge

Charles R. Rutledge is the author of Dracula's Return, and co-author of three novels in the Griffin and Price supernatural suspense series, written with James A. Moore. His short stories have appeared in over thirty anthologies. He owns entirely too many editions of the novel Dracula, keeps actual soil from Transylvania on his desk, and is seldom seen in daylight.

THE GOD OF ROT - James A. Moore

JAMES A.  MOORE is a best-selling fantasy and horror author. He has been nominated for the Bram Stoker award four times and won the Shirley Jackson Award with Christopher Golden, for editing The Twisted Book of Shadows anthology. He has written novels for the Aliens franchise, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and Predator, in addition to writing extensively for the award winning World of Darkness roleplaying games and for Marvel Comics. His original fiction includes the Blood Red series of vampire novels, the Serenity Falls Trilogy with his recurring anti-hero the immortal Jonathan Crowley, the critically acclaimed Seven Forges series of fantasy novels and the grimdark Tides of War trilogy and, with Charles Rutledge, the Griffin & Price series of crime-horror novels.

THE WAYFARING STRANGER - Steven L. Shrewsbury

Steven L. Shrewsbury, from Central Illinois, enjoys football, history, politics and good fiction. Over 300 of his short stories have been published in print or digital media. His small press novels include OVERKILL, HELL BILLY, THRALL, BAD MAGICK, BEDLAM UNLEASHED, STRONGER THAN DEATH, HAWG, TORMENTOR, GODFORSAKEN, PHILISTINE and BLACK SON RISING. His works also include the weird western novella The Black Bible of Juarez. These titles run from horror to historical high fantasy. He tries to drown out the rumors that he is Robert E. Howard reincarnated with beer.

TIGER CLAWS AND CROCODILE JAWS - Rena Mason

Rena Mason is an American horror and dark speculative fiction author of Thai-Chinese descent and a three-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award. Her co-written screenplay RIPPERS was a 2014 Stage 32 /The Blood List Presents®: The Search for New Blood Screenwriting Contest Quarter-Finalist. She is a member of the Horror Writers Association, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, The International Screenwriters' Association, ScienceFiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and the Public Safety Writers Association. She is a retired operating room RN and currently resides in the Great Lakes State of Michigan.

THE SCORPION AND THE CROW - Aaron Conaway

Aaron Conaway was born and raised in Southwest Missouri, weaving stories out of the dark woods, rolling fields, and lonely country roads to entertain family and friends. Living in Kansas City, Missouri now, Aaron makes up stories more than he eats, eats more than he sleeps, and has been given to frequent a Ferris wheel when occasion permits. Aaron authors urban fantasy in The Timberhaven Chronicles, horror in The Michael Gideon Collection, and is the creator of Jan the Vagabond, a comic book destined for his Wandering Wizard Comics imprint. He is also the co-founder of New Vision Comics Collective, where he writes the Harrowed Earth novella series and the anthology comic book Vision Tales, drawn by NVCC’s co-founder Daniel Moler.

WRENCH AND SORCERY - Joe R. Lansdale

Champion Mojo Storyteller Joe R. Lansdale has written novels and stories in many genres, including Western, horror, science fiction, mystery, and suspense. He has also written for comics as well as "Batman: The Animated Series." As of 2020, he has written 50 novels and published more than 30 short-story collections (maybe 40 by now?!) along with many chapbooks and comic-book adaptations. His stories have won ten Bram Stoker Awards. a British Fantasy Award, an Edgar Award, a World Horror Convention Grand Master Award, a Sugarprize, a Grinzane Cavour Prize for Literature, a Spur Award, and a Raymond Chandler Lifetime Achievement Award. He has been inducted into The Texas Literary Hall of Fame, and several of his novels have been adapted to film.

Go to the SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS Kickstarter page HERE.