I would like to thank the editor for advance copies of the first two issues

Publisher - available via https://newedgeswordandsorcery.com

Price - per Issue Digital $5 Paperback $18

Sword and Sorcery tends to get classed as pulp and imagined to be the earlier form of fantasy. But actually there is plenty of evidence it never really died and is actually alive and attacking the hordes of the dead. Firm evidence of this is within New Edge Sword and Sorcery Magazine which has launched its first two issues recently and just launched the crowdfunder for the next two issues and I was lucky to have a preview of the first two and a very good time was had.

The magazine has a mixed format juggling short fiction with a desire to show the diversity of voices within the current sword and sorcery environment, look backs at the past (often with a focus on those who may not have been well known in the last renaissance of it) and interviews and reviews. It’s got a very good mix

In the first two issues I was particularly impressed by

Come Lay The Crone to Rest by Margaret Killjoy (illustrated by Gary McCluskey) - two knights and a witch in an intriguing poly relationship go to retrieve the body of the witch’s grandmother. The premise is a witch’s body left unburied changes reality - deliciously creepy and inventive.

Sister Chaos by Bryn Hammond (illustrated by Dan Rempel) King of the Scarlet Jacket Bandits and her lover a playwright find themselves in trouble escaping after a recent robbery. A impressive alternate steppes style land and culture present themselves, a potentially possessed goat and magic are new challenges to untangle. It’s light dives between funny and dramatic and just possibly sets up a unique team for more adventures.

Chak Much by Jesus Montalvo (Illustrated by Carlos Castilho)- takes us to Mexican Sword and Sorcery with a Mayan based take where a rebellious hero who tends to be needed for missions even when the powerful dislikes him finds himself in a serious dangerous mission far in the mysterious jungle. A sombre tale of resilience and not giving up no matter the cost.

Tears of Eb by Sarah A Macklin is a huge amount of fun an ancient mystery with a Sherlock Holmes style ancient seeker named Hogodai and royal Guard Ibora seek the vanished noble daughter of Ibora’s employer. The two women have to work together and they’re very engaging - Hagodai is all

About observation but also knows magic while Ibora is warrior skills mixed with some less wise decisions. Another tale that suggests more could follow.

The Pillars of Silence by Prashanth Srivatsa (illustrated by Hardeep Aujla and Gary McCluskey) tells the tale of frustrated Blademaster Savithri who is mysteriously summoned to an apparently wealthy and happy village to sort out a problem that is not explained. An intriguing mystery of monsters, secrets and needing some clever thinking by our warrior. Works really well and would love to see what happened next.

The Folk of the Forest by Michael Moorcock (illustrated by Sapro) did I mention this was a new Elric short story? Yep this follows young Elric meeting mighty yet small powers in the forests who know a lot more about him than they let on.

In non fiction Bryan Murphy explains why it’s important using examples of past and present. Cora Buhlert gives us the fascinating history of Cele Goldsmith Lapli the editor of Amazing and Fantastic magazines in the late 50s and helped deliver the second book in the genre and it’s a fascinating tale painting the period and her role in it. I also enjoyed Milton J David talking about the late Charles R Saunders and his huge role and career. While Jonathan Olfert discusses neurodivergence in the genre

The reviewer Kris Vyas-Myall review The Return of the Sorceress by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Overall I really enjoyed the presentation selection and variety of content and think those Sword and Sorcery fans should rush now to pick up sword and magazine to have a lot of fun

And it would be remiss of me not to mention their Kickstarter for the next two issues https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/c78f5027-721a-4611-a6a9-b97595b23f64/landing

Have fun!