Echoes of Valor III

Echoes of Valor III is a 1991 fantasy anthology edited by Karl Edward Wagner, featuring eight classic short stories from prominent authors of the genre. The collection includes works from Robert E. Howard, Henry Kuttner, Manly Wade Wellman, Jack Williamson, and Nictzin Dyalhis. The anthology presents a mix of sword-and-sorcery, dark fantasy, and historical adventure tales from the early to mid-20th century. Each story comes with commentary providing context about the authors and the works' significance in fantasy literature. The book contains several rare and previously hard-to-find stories, including three works by the enigmatic author Nictzin Dyalhis. Wagner's selection spans different styles within the fantasy genre, from Howard's action-packed adventures to Williamson's supernatural horror. These stories represent foundational works that helped establish core elements of modern fantasy writing, with themes of heroism, darkness, and mythological power running throughout the collection. The anthology serves as both entertainment and a historical record of fantasy's development as a genre.

Many readers find this third anthology in the Echoes series collects rare and hard-to-find sword & sorcery stories that provide historical value to the genre. Readers appreciate: - The inclusion of Robert E. Howard's previously unpublished "The Shadow of the Beast" - Henry Kuttner's "Dragon Moon" receiving its first reprint since 1941 - The detailed background notes on each story's publication history Main criticisms: - The physical book quality does not match the price point - Some stories feel incomplete or unpolished compared to authors' other works - Limited availability makes it difficult to find copies Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: Not enough reviews for rating Several reviewers note the anthology serves an important archival purpose but may appeal more to genre historians and completists than casual readers. Multiple reviews mention the high secondary market prices ($100+) making it inaccessible to many interested readers.

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🗸 Nictzin Dyalhis, one of the featured authors, was so mysterious that for many years scholars debated whether he was a real person or a pseudonym - he was eventually confirmed to be real but had lived as a recluse in Pennsylvania. 🗸 The book's editor, Karl Edward Wagner, was not only an editor but also a celebrated horror writer who created the immortal anti-hero Kane, often compared to Michael Moorcock's Elric. 🗸 Robert E. Howard, whose work appears in the collection, was just 30 years old when he died in 1936, yet he had written over 800 stories across multiple genres in his short career. 🗸 The anthology helped preserve several stories that had previously only appeared in rare pulp magazines like Weird Tales, which were printed on cheap paper that deteriorated quickly. 🗸 The "golden age of pulp fiction" referenced in the book primarily spans the 1920s-1950s, when pulp magazines sold for as little as 10 cents and could reach circulations of over one million copies.