''Savage Heroes'' 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 excerpts by different authors.
In genre fiction, the term ''anthology'' typically categ ...
of
sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery (S&S) is a subgenre of fantasy characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent adventures. Elements of romance, magic, and the supernatural are also often present. Unlike works of high fantasy, the tale ...
stories edited by
Michel Parry
Michel may refer to:
* Michel (name), a given name or surname of French origin (and list of people with the name)
* Míchel (nickname), a nickname (a list of people with the nickname, mainly Spanish footballers)
* Míchel (footballer, born 1963), S ...
under the pseudonym of Eric Pendragon. It was first published in paperback by
Star Books in February 1977. The first U.S. edition was issued in hardcover and trade paperback by Taplinger in March 1980. The editor's pseudonym was dropped for the Taplinger edition.
Summary
The book collects nine novelettes and short stories by various early authors of sword and sorcery, together with an introduction by the editor.
Contents
*"Introduction" (
Eric Pendragon)
*"Jirel Meets Magic" (
Jirel of Joiry
Jirel of Joiry is a fictional character created by American writer C. L. Moore, who appeared in a series of sword and sorcery stories published first in the pulp horror/fantasy magazine ''Weird Tales''. Jirel is the proud, tough, arrogant and b ...
) (from ''
Weird Tales'', July 1935) (
C. L. Moore
Catherine Lucille Moore (January 24, 1911 – April 4, 1987) was an American science fiction and fantasy writer, who first came to prominence in the 1930s writing as C. L. Moore. She was among the first women to write in the science fiction and ...
)
*"The Spawn of Dagon" (
Elak of Atlantis
''Elak of Atlantis'' is a collection of sword and sorcery short stories by American author Henry Kuttner (1915-1958), gathering together all his tales featuring the title character. It was first published in trade paperback by Gryphon Books in Mar ...
) (from ''
Weird Tales'', July 1938) (
Henry Kuttner
Henry Kuttner (April 7, 1915 – February 3, 1958) was an American author of science fiction, fantasy and horror.
Early life
Henry Kuttner was born in Los Angeles, California in 1915. Kuttner (1829–1903) and Amelia Bush (c. 1834–1911), the ...
)
*"
Necromancy in Naat" (
Zothique) (from ''
Weird Tales'', July 1936) (
Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith (January 13, 1893 – August 14, 1961) was an American writer and artist. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Algernon Charles Swinburne ...
)
*"The Thief of Forthe" (Rald the Thief) (from ''
Weird Tales'', July 1937) (
Clifford Ball)
*"The Song at the Hub of the Garden" (Ryre) (first publication) (
Ramsey Campbell)
*"Alma Mater" (first publication) (
Daphne Castell)
*"In the Lair of Yslsl" (
Kane) (from ''Midnight Sun'', 1974) (
Karl Edward Wagner)
*"The Barrow Troll" (from ''Whispers'' no. 8, December 1975) (
David Drake
David A. Drake (born September 24, 1945) is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now a writer in the military science fiction genre.
Biography
Drake graduated Phi ...
)
*"The Temple of Abomination" (
Cormac Mac Art
Cormac mac Airt, also known as Cormac ua Cuinn (grandson of Conn) or Cormac Ulfada (long beard), was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He is probably the most famous of the ancient High King ...
) (from ''
Tigers of the Sea
''Tigers of the Sea'' is a collection of fantasy short stories by Robert E. Howard about the pirate Cormac Mac Art, a Gael who joins a band of Danish Vikings during the reign of King Arthur. (Historically, Cormac Mac Art is the name of a famous Hi ...
'', 1974) (
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard (January 22, 1906June 11, 1936) was an American writer. He wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. He is well known for his character Conan the Barbarian and is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subge ...
and
Richard Tierney)
Reception
The anthology was reviewed by Philip Stephensen-Payne in ''Paperback Parlour'' v. 1, no. 3, June 1977, W. Paul Ganley in ''Eerie Country'' no. 3, 1980, and
Theodore Sturgeon in ''Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone Magazine'' v.1, no. 1, April 1981 .
Notes
{{Reflist
1977 anthologies
Fantasy anthologies