Cyclopaedia 13 – Sword and Sorcery Overview
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Cyclopaedia 13 – Sword and Sorcery By T.R. Knight (InnRoads Ministries * Article Series) Overview with its mix of the supernatural into the stories. The term "Sword and Sorcery" was coined by author Michael Moorcock in a letter to the You can think of J.R.R. Tolkien defining one fanzine Amra. He wanted a name for the side of heroic fantasy (high fantasy) and unique fantasy stories written by Robert E. Robert E. Howard defining the other (sword Howard, specifically his Conan and Kull and sorcery). Where high fantasy is uplifting series. Moorcock and author Fritz Leiber got with reluctant heroes seeking truth, fighting into a bit of a debate on the topic leading to for right, and working alongside others in this comment by Fritz Leiber which sets the their quests, sword and sorcery focuses on a term solidly for years to come and is still single hero of action, self-motivated, defining looked at as a founding statement. their own morality, fighting against all odds in a world of gods, horrors, and the “I feel more certain than ever that this field supernatural. should be called the sword-and-sorcery story. Elements that Define This accurately describes the points of culture-level and supernatural element and Sword and Sorcery? also immediately distinguishes it from the cloak-and-sword (historical adventure) With sword and sorcery a sub-genre of story—and (quite incidentally) from the heroic fantasy, how does it stand out? What cloak-and-dagger (international espionage) elements are core to a sword & sorcery story too!” (Source: Amra, July 1961) story? Sword and Sorcery emerged and gained its Destiny popularity in the pulp fantasy magazines of Gods Are Real the 1930s. Specifically, Weird Tales published Horror Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Cimmerian Riddles and Kull of Atlantis stories which strongly Romance defined and embodies the genre to this day. Solo Hero Soon to follow were the famous Fafhrd and Sorcery the Gray Mouser from Fritz Leiber and the Swords first notable sword and sorcery heroine, Jirel Stalwart Warrior from C.L. Moore. Supernatural Evil So what makes the sword and sorcery genre Following are sources of information unique? Up until the 1930s when Howard pertaining to Sword and Sorcery to assist started writing his stories, most heroic prospective game masters, game designers, fantasy literature was mythology, writers, and storytellers in knowing where swashbuckling, or fairy tales. Sword and to start their research. sorcery was influenced by those as well as Middle Eastern tales such as Arabian Nights Cyclopaedia 13 – Sword and Sorcery Page 1 of 4 Articles The Coming of Conan By Howard, Robert E. and de Camp, L. The Demarcation of Sword and Sorcery Sprague By McCullough V, Joseph Source: https://www.blackgate.com/the- Complete Book of Swords demarcation-of-sword-and-sorcery/ By Saberhagen, Fred The Irish-American Identities of Robert E. Conan Howard and Conan the Barbarian By Howard, Robert E., de Camp, L. Sprague, By Dowd, Christopher and Carter, Lin Source: New Hibernia Review, v20 n2 (2016): 15-34 Conan - comic series By Thomas, Roy and Smith, Barry A sheep in wolf's clothing? The problematic representation of women and the female Darkness Weaves body in 1980s sword and sorcery cinema By Wagner, Karl Edward By Wright, Andrea Source: Journal of Gender Studies, v21 n4 Dark Valley destiny: The life of Robert E. (2012 12 01): 401-411 Howard By de Camp, L. Sprague Books The Dragon Lord By Drake, David Black God’s Kiss The Dreaming City by Moore, C.L. By Moorcock, Michael The Blade Itself The Dying Earth By Abercrombie, Joe By Vance, Jack Blood and Thunder: The Life and Art of The Empire of the Necromancers Robert E. Howard By Smith, Clark Ashton By Finn, Mark Foundation Camber of Culdi By Lackey, Mercedes By Kurtz, Katherine Gods in the Darkness The Chronicles of Amber By Wagner, Karl Edward By Zelazny, Roger Imaro Chronicles of the Black Company By Saunders, Charles By Cook, Glen Cyclopaedia 13 – Sword and Sorcery Page 2 of 4 Jared of Joiry The Tale of Satampra Zeiros By Moore, C.L. By Smith, Clark Ashton Kill: Exile of Atlantis Tarnsman of Gor By Howard, Robert E. By Norman, John Knights of Dark Renown Thieves’ World By Gemmell, David By Asprin, Robert Lynn Legend The Traveler in Black By Gemmell, David By Brunner, John Literary Swordsmen and Sorcerers: The Two Sought Adventure Makers of Heroic Fantasy By Leiber, Fritz By de Camp, L. Sprague The Worm Ouroboros Red Sonja - comic series By Eddison, E.R. By Thomas, Roy Return of Nevèrÿon Games By Delany, Samuel R. Age of Conan: Unchained - Computer Game The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane Astounding Swordsmen & Sorcerers of By Howard, Robert E. Hyperborea - RPG Barbarians of Lemuria – RPG Stormbringer Conan Exiles - Computer Game By Moorcock, Michael Conan: Hyborian Quests - Tabletop Game Conan: The Roleplaying Game - RPG The Storm Lord Dark Souls - Computer Game By Lee, Tanith Diablo - Computer Game Elder Scrolls - Computer Game Sword and Sorceress Fable - Computer Game By Bradley, Marion Zimmer Heavenly Sword - Computer Game Kingdom Monster: Death - Tabletop Game Sword and Sorcery Lankhmar: City of Thieves - RPG By de Camp, L. Sprague Mistborn: Birthright - Computer Game Robert E. Howard’s Conan - RPG The Sword Edged Blonde Stormbringer - RPG By Bledsoe, Alex Sword & Sorcery - Tabletop Game The Savage World of Solomon Kane - RPG The Swords of Lankhmar Warriors & Warlocks - RPG By Leiber, Fritz The Witcher - Computer Game Cyclopaedia 13 – Sword and Sorcery Page 3 of 4 Cinema Locations Ator, the Fighting Eagle Barbarian Festival The Barbarians http://barbarianfestival.net/ The Beastmaster BeastMaster - TV Frazetta Art Museum Berserk - Anime http://www.frazettaartmuseum.com/ The Black Cauldron Clash of the Titans Robert E. Howard Home Claymore - Anime http://crossplainstx.com/howard/museum. Conan the Adventurer - Cartoon htm Conan the Barbarian Conan the Destroyer Robert E. Howard Days Conquest https://www.facebook.com/RobertEHoward Deathstalker Days/ Dragonheart Dragonslayer World Fantasy Convention The Dungeonmaster http://www.worldfantasy.org/index.php/pa Excalibur st-conventions/list-of-conventions/ Fire and Ice The Golden Voyage of Sinbad People Gor Hawk the Slayer Robert Lynn Asprin He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - Leigh Brackett Cartoon Marion Zimmer Bradley Hercules - The Legendary Journeys – TV Lin Carter Historic World of Arslan - Anime Conan Kriemhild's Revenge L. Sprague de Camp Krull Elric of Melniboné Kull the Conqueror Frank Frazetta Ladyhawke Robert E. Howard Legend Fritz Leiber Red Sonja Michael Moorcock Solomon Kane C.L. Moore The Sword and the Sorcerer Andre Norton Sword of the Valiant Basil Poledouris Thunder the Barbarian - Cartoon Clark Ashton Smith Wizards and Warriors - TV Arnold Schwarzenegger Xena - Warrior Princes - TV Yor, the Hunter from the Future Cyclopaedia 13 – Sword and Sorcery Page 4 of 4 .