Welcome to the inaugural issue of Swords and Sorcery Magazine. I started Swords and Sorcery to be an outlet for the kind of fantasy I enjoyed when I was growing up—stories of magic and monsters and daring deeds done with sword in hand. Great traditional fantasy is still being published—I’m a big fan of Lois McMaster Bujold’s fantasy novels—but it is hard to find a market for short stories in today’s marketplace. I know plenty of people who are still writing them, though. To meet the needs of frustrated writers—and readers—of traditional fantasy Swords and Sorcery Magazine was born.
Swords and sorcery as a subgenre usually refers to the kind of horror fantasy stories epitomized by the Conan stories of Robert E. Howard. I would be happy to publish well written stories in that vein but my definition of swords and sorcery is broader. Any fantasy story set in a world with pre-industrial technology, without factories and steam powered machinery, fits my vision. The settings could be pseudohistorical or entirely imaginary. As the name suggests the stories may feature action or magic but neither is necessary.
This first issue features two stories with pseudohistorical medieval settings. “The Spoils of Chivalry” by Nathan Henderson examines the typical violence of traditional fantasy worlds from the point of view of a surviving victim. “Shelter from the Storm” by Bill West is a tale of harsh weather and honorable thieves. Enjoy!
I’d be happy to hear your comments about Swords and Sorcery Magazine. Email them to editor@SwordsandSorceryMagazine.com. I’m also looking for submissions for future issues. See the submissions page for more information on what I’m looking for.
Until next month,
Curtis Ellett
Editor, Swords and Sorcery Magazine