Daniel (@dungeondive) dives into three foundational L. Sprague de Camp anthologies that serve as a roadmap through sword & sorcery literature. Swords & Sorcery (1963) opens with Howard’s “Shadows in the Moonlight,” showcasing Conan’s protective relationship with a well-written female slave character. The Spell of Seven (1965) features standout stories like Fritz Leiber’s “The Bazaar of the Bizarre”—a lighthearted adventure featuring Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser—and Clark Ashton Smith’s “The Dark Eidolon,” a twisted tale of magical revenge written with grotesque, evocative prose.
Warlocks and Warriors (1965) emerges as Daniel’s favorite with exceptional stories including Henry Kutner’s “Thunder in the Dawn,” a 70-page novella set in the Atlantean era, and Roger Zelazny’s “The Bells of Shoredan,” featuring the character Dilvish the Damned. Daniel examines how these stories reflect their historical contexts—particularly depression-era survival themes and potential Vietnam War allegories—while maintaining their entertainment value. He also critiques problematic elements like the racial coding in some Howard stories.
Which of these classic sword & sorcery stories sounds most appealing to you, and are there any overlooked gems from the genre you’d recommend to Daniel?