Swords & Dark Magic: The New Sword and Sorcery

Swords & Dark Magic: The New Sword and Sorcery is a fantasy anthology edited by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders that showcases contemporary authors working in the sword and sorcery subgenre. The collection features 17 original stories from established writers like Michael Moorcock, Glen Cook, and Gene Wolfe alongside contributions from newer voices in fantasy. The stories range from traditional sword-wielding adventures to darker tales incorporating elements of horror and noir. Many entries put fresh spins on classic sword and sorcery tropes like barbarian warriors, evil sorcerers, and ancient magic while maintaining the action-oriented spirit of the genre. The anthology serves as both a celebration of sword and sorcery's pulp fiction roots and an examination of how modern authors are evolving the form. Through its mix of established and emerging voices, the collection suggests the ongoing vitality and adaptability of this fantasy subgenre in the 21st century.

Readers found this anthology to have uneven quality across its 17 stories. The strongest entries come from Joe Abercrombie, Glen Cook, and Gene Wolfe, while many other contributions failed to engage readers. Likes: - Stories maintain authentic sword & sorcery feel - Blend of established authors and newer voices - Abercrombie's "The Fool Jobs" delivers humor and action - Cook's Black Company story adds to the series lore Dislikes: - Several stories lack excitement or memorable characters - Too many stories focus on atmosphere over plot - Some entries feel like fantasy rather than sword & sorcery - Weak ending stories that "fizzle out" Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (854 ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (31 reviews) One frequent reader comment notes the anthology works better for sampling new authors than as a cohesive collection. Multiple reviews mention skipping certain stories entirely after losing interest.

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks A quest across a dark fantasy realm pits a young hero against ancient magic and monstrous forces in the tradition of classic sword and sorcery tales.

Elric: The Stealer of Souls by Michael Moorcock The saga of an albino sorcerer-emperor with a cursed sword chronicles dark adventures through a multiverse of demons, gods, and dying civilizations.

The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian by Robert E. Howard The original collected tales of Conan present pure sword and sorcery with battles, sorcerers, and ancient ruins in a primal fantasy world.

The Black Company by Glen Cook A military fantasy following mercenaries through dark campaigns merges gritty combat with sorcery and complex political intrigue.

Jirel of Joiry by C. L. Moore The complete collection of Jirel stories features a fierce warrior woman battling supernatural forces and dark magic in medieval France.

🗡️ The anthology features 17 original sword & sorcery tales from both veteran authors and newer voices in the genre, including Michael Moorcock, Glen Cook, and Joe Abercrombie. 📚 Co-editor Jonathan Strahan has won multiple World Fantasy Awards and has edited over 70 science fiction and fantasy anthologies throughout his career. ⚔️ This collection helped spark a revival of sword & sorcery fiction in the 2000s, showcasing how the subgenre could be modernized while maintaining its pulp roots. 🏰 The book includes a new story featuring Michael Moorcock's iconic character Elric of Melniboné, marking a return to the character after many years. 📖 Several stories in the collection deliberately subvert traditional sword & sorcery tropes, offering fresh perspectives on a genre originally popularized by Robert E. Howard in the 1920s and 1930s.