Richard Stark’s Parker, Part 2: Parker the Barbarian!
Last time we discussed the character of Parker, Donald E. Westlake’s master thief and heist planner. This time, we’ll look at why we’re talking about Parker at all, here in the hallowed spaces of this fine magazine.
‘More Lovecraftian People and Places’
I had recently reviewed Ken Faig Jr.’s collection Lovecraftian People and Places (2022) from Hippocampus Press. In 2025, he came out with a sequel, More Lovecraftian People and Places. For those not aware, Ken Faig Jr.
A (Black) Gat in the Hand – Words of Wisdom from Black Mask‘s Joe Shaw
“You’re the second guy I’ve met within hours who seems to think a gat in the hand means a world by the tail.” – Phillip Marlowe in Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep (Gat — Prohibition Era term for a gun.
The Epic Science Fiction & Fantasy of Poul Anderson, Part Four: The High Crusade, Three Hearts and Three Lions, and The Queen of Air and Darkness
The High Crusade (Berkley Medallion, March 1978). Cover artist unknown Two other good novels by Anderson are The High Crusade (SF), a humorous look at 14th Century humans getting loose in the universe with a captured spaceship, and Three Hearts and Three Lions (Fantasy), which follows a modern (1950s) Earthman who is cast onto a parallel Earth where fantasy and magic are real.
The Real Superheroes of the Comics
If I say “comic book superhero” who do you think of? Superman? Iron Man? Batman? Wonder Woman? Spiderman? Captain Marvel? (The real one please, and don’t give me any of this “Shazam” crap.) Those and many others are all perfectly legitimate choices, of course, only they’re not really heroes — super or otherwise — are they? They’re adolescent daydreams, and no matter how dark or gritty they have gotten in the years since their shiny Golden or Silver Age peaks,...

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Forgotten Authors: George Griffith
George Griffith was born George Chetwynd Griffith-Jones on August 20, 1857 in Plymouth, England to George Alfred Jones and Jeanette Henry Capinster Jones. The family did not have roots to any specific place as his father’s role as a clergyman kept him moving from parish to parish.
A Heaven of Action: Mistress of Mistresses by E.R. Eddison
I heard her say, faint as the breath of nightflowers under the stars, “The fabled land of Zimiamvia. Is it true, will you think, which poets tell us of that fortunate land: that no mortal foot may tread it, but the blessed souls do inhabit it of the dead that be departed: of them that were great upon earth and did great deeds while they were living, that scorned not earth and the delights and the glories of earth, and...

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The Epic Science Fiction & Fantasy of Poul Anderson, Part Three: The Broken Sword, Hrolf Kraki’s Saga, and Conan
The Broken Sword (Ballantine Adult Fantasy #24, January 1971). Cover by George Barr Read Part One and Part Two of this article here at Black Gate. The Broken Sword is arguably the best book Anderson ever wrote, and it was the “first” novel length fantasy he published.
It’s Not That Deep – Silliness in Entertainment
Good afterevenmorn, Readers! I’m here to do something angsty, teenage me would be horrified by – defending “bad” entertainment. You know the ones – bad movies that are just a fun time to sit through, even if the only thing they have going for them is epic fight choreography, pulpy books with lead characters whose names are alliterations, and who rock their way through the pages with naught but their wry grins and cheesy one-liners.
‘Blood ‘n’ Thunder 2026 Special Edition’
Just prior to the Windy City Pulp and Paper Convention, we got the annual issue of Blood ‘n’ Thunder: the Blood ‘n’ Thunder 2026 Special Edition, from Ed Hulse’s Murania Press. This is the sixth such annual edition, going back to 2021, but this fanzine goes back 24 years.
A (Black) Gat in the Hand: A Terrific Little Noir – After Dark My Sweet
“You’re the second guy I’ve met within hours who seems to think a gat in the hand means a world by the tail.” — Phillip Marlowe in Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep 1990 was quite the year for hardboiled and Noir on the big screen.
A Taste of British Dark Fiction: The Sanctuary and Other Strange Stories by RB Russell
Co-owner of the distinguished British publishing house Tartarus Press, editor, author and music composer RB Russell has collected in one hefty volume most of his short stories. The book includes tales of very different type and content, which have in common one feature: good quality.
The Limits of Vision: Arthur C. Clarke’s Imperial Earth
When I began reading science fiction in the early 70’s, a handful of writers stood taller than any others, at least judging by the bookshelves at the thrift store around the corner from my middle school, where I spent my lunch money every day on used sf paperbacks.
Forgotten Authors: R.F. Starzl
Roman Frederick Starzl, who wrote as R.F. Starzl was born in Le Mars, Iowa on December 10, 1899 to John V.N. Starzl and Margaret (née Theisen). His grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Austria in 1895, along with their five children, including Starzl’s father.  While the family settled in Le Mars, Iowa, John moved to Chicago, where he owned a pharmacy.
Dark Muse News: The Legend of Top-Shelf Books Open Mic
Ever hear of the legend of Top Shelf Books? Gene Wolfe did! I first heard about the legendary Top Shelf Books from four people who had frequented that mythical venue. However, they were not together when they mentioned the place, and the interval between tellings was years and across many locations.
The Epic Science Fiction & Fantasy of Poul Anderson, Part Two
The Ace Flandry editions by Poul Anderson: Ensign Flandry, Agent of the Terran Empire, and Flandry of Terra (Ace Books, February 1979, January 1980, July 1979). Covers by Michael Whelan Read Part One of this article here.
‘A Work of Human Hands’ by William Preston
I have posted before on William Preston’s series of stories featuring his pastiche/homage to Doc Savage: The Old Man. This series is made up of five short stories that appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction from 2010 to 2024.
Richard Stark’s Parker, Part 1: The Master Criminal
This week we kick off an occasional new series of reviews of the Parker crime novels by Richard Stark. If you know Parker, you understand. If you aren’t familiar with him, trust me: You are in for a treat.
‘Adventurous Liberation: H.P. Lovecraft in Florida’
Recently, Bold Venture Press put out David Goudsward’s work Adventurous Liberation: H.P. Lovecraft in Florida, which focuses on the several trips of H.P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) to Florida. I have been looking forward to this work since it was mentioned in L’Affaire Barlow.
A (Black) Gat in the Hand: Ten Things I Think I Think (Gat Edition)
“You’re the second guy I’ve met within hours who seems to think a gat in the hand means a world by the tail.” — Phillip Marlowe in Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep I don’t think I’ve done a Ten Things I Think I Think, for A (Black) Gat in the Hand.
The Epic Fantasy of Poul Anderson, Part One: The Last Viking Trilogy
As a teenager reading SF and Fantasy, I had two go-to authors whose work never let me down. One was Andre Norton, who I’ve talked about a lot. The other was Poul Anderson (1926-2001), who I’ve barely mentioned so far.
My Favorite Martian
Has any writer of science fiction or fantasy ever had a more fertile imagination than Edgar Rice Burroughs? Anyone acquainted with his work will have no trouble reeling off the names of exotic and outlandish planets, continents, oceans, cities, animals, plants, races, gods, kings, princesses, heroes, and villains, ad infinitum.  Perhaps his most fecund setting was the first one he created — Barsoom (or Mars, as it’s even now called by the unenlightened), the site of eleven books written between...

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Forgotten Authors: T.L. Sherred
Thomas L. Sherred was born on August 27, 1915 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He wrote as T.L. Sherred. Sherred had a limited career as a science fiction author, publishing his first short story in 1947 with additional stories appearing in 1953, 1954, and 1972, for a total of six stories, four of which were collected in the 1972 collection First Person, Peculiar.
The Outsider: The Pride of Chanur by C.J. Cherryh
The Pride of Chanur (DAW Books, January 1982). Cover by Michael Whelan C.J. Cherryh has just lately announced the end of her writing career: For medical reasons, she can no longer manage a writing project.
The Dark Fantasy of Karl Edward Wagner, Part Two
In a Lonely Place (Warner Books, March 1983). Cover by Barclay Shaw Read Part One of this article, focused chiefly on Karl Edward Wagner’s Kane tales, here. Karl Edward Wagner and I shared certain similarities, which I’m sure meant nothing to him but which do mean something to me.
‘Paperback Fantastic’
Paperback Fantastic is a three-book series by Justin Marriott, creator of the fanzine Paperback Fanatic, which came out in 2022. Bill Cunningham of Pulp 2.0 did the covers. Each of the three volumes focuses on paperbacks and comic books tied to the theme, and many of the paperbacks reprint pulp fiction, hence their inclusion here.
Good Grief “Gamer Bros” Are Exhausting – A Very Annoyed Opinion
Goodafterevenmorn, Readers! I’m still in the world of video games. I’d rather not be. I’m gearing up for a book release right now. I’d much rather be talking about that. But the gaming news is slamming itself into my algorithm at the moment, and I need to talk about it.
‘The Adventure of the Voodoo Moon: The Complete Cases of the Lady From Hell’, Vol. 2
At the end of 2025, we got the second collection of the Lady From Hell series: The Adventure of the Voodoo Moon: The Complete Cases of the Lady From Hell, Vol. 2. This series ran 25 stories, all in Detective Fiction Weekly from 1935 to 1936.
A (Black) Gat in the Hand: Rory Gallagher and the Continental Op
“You’re the second guy I’ve met within hours who seems to think a gat in the hand means a world by the tail.” — Phillip Marlowe in Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep I just finished the intro for Volume 4 of Steeger Books’ The Continental Op series.
Three by John Bellairs
I write scary thrillers for kids because I have the imagination of a ten-year old. The center of my books is always the childhood of which I seem to have a nearly total recall. John Bellairs It’s perhaps fitting I follow up a years worth of writing about JRR Tolkien with something about John Bellairs‘ young adult stories.
Uh-oh: The Bride!
Sue Granquist, Black Gate’s own incomparable Goth Chick, died not quite seven months ago, and the hole she left here is impossible to fill. I don’t know about you, but my Thursdays just haven’t been the same.
Forgotten Authors: Philip Francis Nowlan
Philip Francis Nowlan’s name may not be remembered by many, but he may be the most influential science author I’ll discuss in this series. Born on November 13, 1888 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Nowlan earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania in 1910.
Dark Muse News: Battleborn Magazine Issues 2 and 3
Black Gate has covered the inception of Battleborn magazine as it spawned from an August 2025 crowdfunding on Indiegogo. Columnist and author Mark Rigney interviewed the champion and chief editor Sean CW Korsgaard over three segments: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
Saved by the Panther: Jonathan Maberry on storytelling, books, and how the Black Panther changed his life, Part Two
Read Part One of this interview here. Our wide-ranging interview with the legend Jonathan Maberry continues as the award-winning author discusses how Black Panther not only changed his life, but led to one of the most rewarding opportunities any writer could ask for.
‘The Bronze Gazette’ #98/99
In early 2026, we got a double issue of The Bronze Gazette: No. 98/99. Or maybe I should call it a flip issue. The same was done with No. 96/97, which I missed posting on. The Bronze Gazette is the premier Doc Savage fanzine, which was offered as a subscription for these “two” issues.
Roger Zelazny’s Jack of Shadows: Amber-Lite is Still Awesome
Jack of Shadows (Signet, August 1972). Cover by Bob Pepper A decade ago this summer, Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny was reissued in print, after many years languishing in obscurity even among the author’s most devoted fans.
‘Gil Cohen: Inside/Out’ (Archive Collection)
An interesting art volume I received is Gil Cohen: Inside/Out (Archive Collection), edited by Bob Deis and Wyatt Doyle and published by New Texture as part of the Men’s Adventure Library series of books.
‘The Devils Smelled Nice: The Complete Adventures of the Gadget Man,’ Vol. 2
Here we have the second volume of Lester Dent’s “gadget hero,” Clickell “Click” Rush: The Devils Smelled Nice: The Complete Adventures of the Gadget Man, Vol. 2. This one has the next six stories. This series was published in Street & Smith’s Crime Busters pulp in 1937-39, which was intended to be a sort of […]
A (Black) Gat in the Hand: Marvel Goes Noir. And NAILS It!!!
“You’re the second guy I’ve met within hours who seems to think a gat in the hand means a world by the tail.” – Raymond Chandler Spider-Noir is the best thing to happen to Marvel streaming since…well, Daredevil: Born Again.
Kane and the Dark Fantasy of Karl Edward Wagner
Karl Edward Wagner (1945 – 1994) is one writer I make a concerted effort to collect. I think I have almost his entire output, which is — unfortunately—not extensive. The man was a genius and I wish it was more.
Remembering Gerry Conway
Having ‘come into’ comics as a child in the very early 80s, the Bronze Age of Marvel was probably the genre-defining era for me. And given my dual penchant for Spider-Man and The X-Men, that meant that the two most defining voices of the Bronze Age were Gerry Conway and Chris Claremont.
Forgotten Authors: Rog Phillips
Roger Phillip Graham was born in Spokane, Washington on February 20, 1909 to John Alfred Graham and Abbie Susan (née McCalmont). His family moved often, spending time in Oklahoma, among other places. He returned to Spokane to attend Gonzaga College, from which he graduated in 1931 and did some graduate work at the University of Washington.
Courtship Customs: Marrying Mr. Darcy by Erika Svanoe and Erik Evensen
One of my local gaming friends told me about Marrying Mr. Darcy, and brought his copy to a recent session, where we played it. I thought it was a lot of fun and have acquired a copy. This is a game based on Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice.
Tales of Fantasy Rome: The Eternal City, edited by David Drake, Martin Greenberg, and Charles Waugh
The Eternal City, edited by David Drake, Martin Greenberg, and Charles G. Waugh (Baen Books, January 1990). Cover by John Rheaume The main reason I bought this collection was for the Howard story, “Kings of the Night.” This was back when I was striving to be a Howard completist.
‘bare*bones’ #21-24
I have been posting on the fanzine bare*bones, which is devoted to “unearthing vintage, forgotten, and overlooked horror, mystery, sci-fi, western, and weird film, paperbacks, comics, pulp fiction, and video.” It is produced by Peter Enfantino and John Scoleri through Cimarron Street Books.
The Horrifying Draw of Subnautica
Good afterevenmorn, Readers! Now that I’ve finished my play-thorugh of Far Cry 6, I have started playing a new game on my Friday night live streams. It is a survival exploration game that I am assured also has a story element (my livestreams are narrative games, largely).
‘The Brothers of the Snake: The Complete Chinatown Cases of Jimmy Wentworth,’ Vol. 3
I picked up the third volume in the Jimmy Wentworth series from Steeger Books. The Brothers of the Snake: The Complete Chinatown Cases of Jimmy Wentworth, Vol. 3, collects the next six stories in this series.
A (Black) Gat in the Hand: Elliot Gould’s Better Philip Marlowe
“You’re the second guy I’ve met within hours who seems to think a gat in the hand means a world by the tail.” – Phillip Marlowe in Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep Back in the Summer of 2020, A (Black) Gat in the Hand looked at some screen and radio productions for Raymond Chandler’s private eye, Philip Marlowe.
Saved by the Panther: Jonathan Maberry on storytelling, books, and how the Black Panther changed his life, Part 1
Since the publication of his first novel Ghost Road Blues, Jonathan Maberry has been a mainstay in genre fiction circles. Whether its for one of his multiple series, comic book writing, or the numerous anthologies he’s edited over the years, audiences have come to know and love his work.
Fauxnan the Barbarian, Part Three
A veritable cornucopia of dodgy barbarian and barbarian-adjacent movies that I have never watched before, and will probably never watch again. Enjoy Parts One and Two here and here. A Nymphoid Barbarian in Dinosaur Hell (1990) – USA I can’t help thinking that this one must have disappointed many a randy teenager when they smuggled it out of the video store, only to learn that ‘nymphoid’ doesn’t mean the same as ‘nymphomaniac,’ and were instead subjected to a good hour of aimless...

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Forgotten Authors: Pauline Ashwell
Pauline Whitby was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire on January 25, 1926 to the headmaster and headmistress of Merchant Taylors’ School in Ashwell, the village from which she would gain her pseudonym. Whitby had a younger sister named Marie.
Dark Muse News: The Fish in Jonah’s Puddle (To Say Nothing of the Demon) by Byron Leavitt
The Fish in Jonah’s Puddle (To Say Nothing of the Demon) by Byron Leavitt (Brain Waves Press, 2026.) Cover created by Miblart with interior illustration by the author. A contemporary, cosmic-horror take on portal fantasy! The Fish in Jonah’s Puddle (To Say Nothing of the Demon) is a young-adult, portal fantasy written by Byron Leavitt.  It’s a contemporary, cosmic-horror take on the sub-genre that was a gateway for many of us.
‘Trumpets From Oblivion’ by H. Bedford-Jones
Trumpets From Oblivion is a historical action/adventure series by H. Bedford-Jones that appeared in Blue Book Magazine. This thirteen-part series ran from November 1938 to November 1939 and was cover-featured four times.
‘Fire in the Tall Grass’
I picked up a small book by L.S. Goozdich, Fire in the Tall Grass. Published by Veritas Entertainment, this is the first adventure with Noah Redford, set after World War I. Since the book is small, I think this one is most likely a novelette.
Lin Carter’s Year’s Best Fantasy Stories
While people disagree on the quality of Lin Carter’s writing, most people agree he was a fine editor and tireless supporter of the fantasy field. Volumes edited by Carter brought quite a few new authors to my attention, as well as feeding me a steady diet of works by writers I already loved.
Thundarr the Barbarian: Demon Dogs and Lords of Light
Thundarr the Barbarian (21 episodes; 1980-81) Created by Steve Gerber (Howard the Duck; The Defenders). The look of the main characters was designed by Alex Toth. After he was unavailable to continue working on the series, Jack “King” Kirby was brought in, at the recommendation of Gerber and Mark Evanier (who would later write a biography of Kirby).
‘Semi Dual, Occult Detector,’ Vol. 5
The fifth volume in the chronological reprinting of Semi Dual stories from Steeger Books came out last year. I am holding off on the three Semi Dual serials that were reprinted from later in the series.
A (Black) Gat in the Hand: All My Steeger Books Intros
It’s mid-May, and I’ve been in something of a hardboiled mood lately. So with Summer looming, here’s a Black (Gat) in the Hand. More Pulp is coming, like a gumshoe with a gasper and a rod. I am fortunate to be part of a star-studded roster of writers who provide intros to Pulp reprints from Steeger Books.
Roger Zelazny, Master Craftsman of Fantasy
There are few authors whose works bring me greater joy than Roger Zelazny. Zelazny was a master of craft and style who could present in a terse style that seamlessly evolves into evocative prose without any awkwardness or jarring transitions.
Superman/Tarzan: Sons of the Jungle by Chuck Dixon and Carlos Meglia
From Dark Horse Comics and DC comes Superman Tarzan: Sons of the Jungle, written by Chuck Dixon with interior art by Carlos Meglia. Cover art on the original issue covers was by Humberto Ramos. This is a 3-issue comic arc that riffs off the original Tarzan story by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Forgotten Authors: Paul W. Fairman
If Paul W. Fairman’s name is known, it is likely as an editor or the ghostwriter who wrote several of the juvenile novels published under Lester del Rey’s name when the latter author suffered from writers block.
Not So Juvenile: Star Man’s Son / Daybreak 2250 A.D. by Andre Norton
I started intentionally looking for science fiction to read in elementary school. Our city library had one big room full of fiction for young readers, from preschool through high school, so I found books that were meant for readers older than I was — but I enjoyed reading them, even if I didn’t understand everything that happened to their protagonists.
High Fantasy in the Tolkien tradition: The Iron Tower Trilogy by Dennis L. McKiernan
The Iron Tower Trilogy: The Dark Tide, Shadows of Doom, and The Darkest Day (Signet, August 1985, September 1985, and October 1985). Covers by Alan Lee I recently posted some of my thoughts about High Fantasy.
Fanzine focus: ‘The Paperback Fanatic’
This time I look at a fanzine that just recently ended, The Paperback Fanatic. Produced by Justin Marriott, it focused on, of course, paperback book collecting. It’s one of several such fanzines he has put out over the years.
Mortal Kombat II – A Movie Review
Good afterevenmorn, Readers! This past Saturday, I headed out with a few of my martial arts students, past and present, to watch the second installment of the recent Mortal Kombat adaptations. I’m not going to lie, the draw for me was the involvement of Karl Urban as Johnny Cage.
‘Pontine Dossier, Millennium Edition,’ Vol. 1, No. 6
After the release of The Singular Papers of Solar Pons, the next collection of new stories by David Marcum, we got the next issue of the scholarly journal devoted to Solar Pons: The Pontine Dossier, Millennium Edition, Vol.
Ten Things: Tubi TV Edition
So, last week, I talked about ten movies that you can stream for free over on Tubi. I could easily list ten or twenty more. There’s a lot of good stuff there. I’m also watching TV shows on Tubi. Of course, a multiple season show takes a lot longer to work through, than a single movie.
Fauxnan the Barbarian, Part Two
A veritable cornucopia of dodgy barbarian and barbarian-adjacent movies that I have never watched before, and will probably never watch again. Enjoy Part One here. Gor (1987) – USA/Italy Another nail in the Cannon coffin lid, this effort to start a franchise based on the uncomfortable series of novels by John Norman spawned one sequel, and then went belly up before things could get worse.
An Obscure 70s Fantasy: The Vanishing Tower, by Michael Moorcock
The Vanishing Tower (DAW Books, June 1977). Cover by Michael Whelan Here’s another in my series of reviews of “mostly obscure” 1970s/1980s books — the last one was of Evangeline Walton’s The Children of Llyr.
Forgotten Authors: Miles J. Breuer
Miles J. Breuer was born in Chicago on January 3, 1889, but the family moved to Crete, Nebraska when he was four years old so his father could attend medical school. He attended the University of Texas and went on to medical school at Rush Medical Center.
Dark Muse News: Sword & Sorcery Chain Story (#19-#23)
In August 2025, we hailed the emergence of a second Chain Story project championed by Michael A. Stackpole. This is a Sword & Sorcery-focused, contagious set of connected (“chained”) stories. Each is: A standalone tale Readable in any order Free to read! Interconnected via a theme involving a Crown We round up groups every several weeks, but check the Chain Story website.
‘The Man With the Rubber Face’ by H. Bedford-Jones
The Man With the Rubber Face reprints the entire series of stories starring John Cabot, the titular “man with the rubber face,” in his crusade against criminals. Written by H. Bedford-Jones, this series ran in Mystery magazine.
A Sword & Planet Graphic Novel: Bigfoot: Sword of the Earthman by Josh S. Henaman, Andy Taylor, and Tamra Bonvillain
Dipping back into the Sword & Planet genre for the day, here’s one of the odder items I have. Bigfoot: Sword of the Earthman, subtitled as “The Galaxy’s Greatest Action-Adventure Hero.” As far as I can tell, Josh Henaman is the writer, with Andy Taylor (Penciller), Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist), and Adam Wollet (Letterer).
‘Fighting Heart of Man,’ Vol. 1
I picked up The Fighting Heart of Man, Vol. 1, published by Veritas Entertainment. This small volume, 4- by 7-inches, has 11 stories by Nathanael Hummel and L.S. Goozdich. These stories are very short, sometimes being vignettes.
Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood: Robin Hood Begins, Kingdom of Heaven Ends
Robin Hood (Unrated Director’s Cut) (156 minutes; 2010) Written by Brian Helgeland. Directed by Ridley Scott. What is it? What it is, is a criminally underrated film. Maybe it would’ve been more successful if they had titled it Robin Hood Begins.
Argosy Library, Series XIX
On Black Friday weekend 2025, Steeger Books put out their next sets of Argosy Library volumes, Series XVIII and XIX, getting closer to 200 volumes. As always, with each series, we get 10 books of great and sometimes overlooked fiction that appeared in the early pulps.
Ten Things: Tubi Edition
It’s been over a month since I shared a Ten Things? Heavens to Murgatroyd (any Snagglepuss fans out there?). I talked here about how fed I up I was with all the streaming apps which I needed to watch different things.
Half A Century of Reading Tolkien Part Ten: Beren and Lúthien edited by Christopher Tolkien
So it was, but it is said that in recompense Mandos gave to Beren and to Lúthien thereafter a long span of life and joy, and they wandered knowing thirst nor cold in the fair land of Beleriand, and no mortal Man thereafter spoke to Beren or his spouse.
Fauxnan the Barbarian
A veritable cornucopia of dodgy barbarian and barbarian-adjacent movies that I have never watched before, and will probably never watch again. Deathstalker (1983) – USA/Argentina Inspired by a recent foray into the Conan the Cimmerian Barbarian: The Complete Weird Tales Omnibus, I suddenly had a hankering for more of the same, and so here we are.
Pulp comics: Return to Lands Unknown
In 2025, writer-artist Mike Mignola did an original hardcover graphic novel, Bowling With Corpses and Other Strange Tales From Lands Unknown. Not set in the “Hellboy Universe,” this was a collection of short stories written and drawn by Mignola, set in “Lands Unknown,” a new dark fantasy setting of his.
Forgotten Authors: Nictzin Dyalhis
Some science fiction authors like to cloak their histories in mystery, not content to keep the fiction in their writing. Lester Del Rey claimed he was born Ramon Felipe Alvarez-del Rey and that his family was killed in a car crash, although his sister confirms his birth name was Leonard Knapp and the accident only killed his first wife.
Murder and Courtship: Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers
In Strong Poison, Sayers gives Peter Wimsey a love interest, and makes this central to the story. Traditional mystery writers had avoided this kind of plot (Irene Adler, for example, was clearly not romantically involved with Sherlock Holmes, however profound an impression she made on him).
A Vintage Horror Collection: Young Blood, edited by Mike Baker
Young Blood (Zebra Books, March 1994). Cover uncredited Young Blood, from Zebra 1994, Edited by Mike Baker. Cover looks like a photo: Artist unknown. Here’s another book I picked up originally because it had a Robert E.
‘Barnstormers: The Adventures of Kiki and Bridget’
I recently picked up a pair of books from Matthew Bieniek: Barnstormers: The Adventures of Kiki and Bridget. Set in 1925 during the post-World War I barnstormer era, this is the kind of story we might have gotten in the aviation pulps.
Late to the Game – My First Ever D&D Campaign
Good afterevenmorn, Readers! So… I’m a nerd. I know, surprising, right? What might actually be surprising, though, is that I’ve never actually played a game of Dungeons & Dragons.
‘First Passage’ by Robert E. Howard
You may not be aware that the home of Robert E. Howard in Cross Plains, Texas, is in need of vital repairs. This has been reported by the Robert E. Howard Foundation on its website and in videos on YouTube.
When is a Sidewalk Fully Dressed? – The Hudsucker Proxy
The Coen Brothers are among the finest filmmakers of my lifetime. Joel and younger brother Ethan started with Blood Simple in 1984, writing, directing, and producing together for the next few decades. And they produced some of the era’s best films.
The Cornerstones of High Fantasy: E. R. Eddison, J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephen R. Donaldson, J. K. Rowling, and George R. R. Martin
I’ve defined Heroic Fantasy (HF) as a type of fiction in which a heroic (bigger than life) figures use a combination of physical strength and edged weapons (Swords, Axes, Spears) to face bigger than life foes.
The Enduring Legacy of Jack Kirby: Kamandi, Fantastic Four, Conan, and Much More
Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth by Jack Kirby (DC Comics, October 1972 and February 1973). Covers by Jack Kirby Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth, written and illustrated by Jack “King” Kirby (1917-1994), has long been an inspiration to my creative works.
Forgotten Authors: G. Peyton Wertenbaker
Green Peyton Wertenbaker was born on December 23, 1907 in New Castle, Delaware. He attended the University of Virginia. After graduation, he worked as a technical writer and eventually a journalist in addition to writing fiction.
Dark Muse News: There’s something about Return to Silent Hill – It’s Mary!
The movie Return to Silent Hill (2026) is an adaptation of the psychological horror Silent Hill 2 (SH2) video game that was rebooted by Konami under Bloober Team in 2024. This ‘return’ film is directed by Christophe Gans, who championed the original 2006 film (which loosely adapted the first video game released in 1999).
‘The Mardi Gras Mystery’ by H. Bedford-Jones
The Mardi Gras Mystery is an interesting novella by H. Bedford-Jones that appeared in Short Stories in the August 1920 issue. I got the edition reprinted by Steeger Books in its H. Bedford-Jones Library.
S. E. Lindberg is One of the most unique voices in Modern Sword & Sorcery
Lords of Dyscrasia by S. E. Lindberg (IGNIS Publishing, July 7, 2011). Cover by S. E. Lindberg One of the most unique voices working in Sword & Sorcery today is S. E. Lindberg. I met Seth a few years back and we’ve corresponded frequently as well as running into each other here at Black Gate, where he is the Managing Editor, and at Goodreads.
‘RevERBerate’ #3
We got the third issue of RevERBerate, a fanzine devoted to Edgar Rice Burroughs, in January 2026. Like the previous ones, this one is again 48 pages, printed on high-quality, glossy stock, perfect-bound with color cardstock covers.
Excalibur: The Holy Grail of King Arthur Movies
Excalibur (141 minutes; 1981) Written by Rospo Pallenberg and John Boorman. Directed by John Boorman. Loosely based on Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory. What is it? A classic telling of the story of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, the quest for the Holy Grail, and the magical sword Excalibur.
‘Steel True, Blade Straight 2022 Annual’
I picked up the first of a new annual journal from Belanger Books, done in conjunction with the Arthur Conan Doyle Society: Steel True, Blade Straight 2022 Annual. It is subtitled “A Journal of Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle-Inspired Stories, Poems, and Scholarship.” At this time, there are annuals for 2023, 2024-25, and 2025-26.
John Cleese Does Sherlock Holmes (and better, the first time)
I reinstalled Elder Scrolls Online, which is a rabbit hole I jump down periodically. I usually do side, and zone, quests. But when I decide to follow some of the main storyline, I am delighted to come across John Cleese’s Sir Cadwell.
Another Classic Sword & Sorcery Anthology: The Barbarian Swordsmen, edited by Sean Richards (AKA Peter Haining)
The Barbarian Swordsmen (Star, 1981). Cover by Gino D’Achille The Barbarian Swordsmen, edited by Sean Richards, Star publishers, a British press, 1981, cool cover by Gino D’Achille. A collection of Sword & Sorcery (S&S) tales that likely wouldn’t exist except for Robert E.
Robert E. Howard Days, 2026, and The Emerging Writers Workshop
After what seems like strange aeons of dreaming about it, Mark Finn, Jason Waltz, and  I (Adrian Simmons) have pulled the trigger on running an in-person Sword & Sorcery writing workshop.  Added bonus, we’re holding it in the heart of S&S history, Cross Plains Texas, Robert E.
Pulp comics: Hellboy Universe in 2026
As a follow-up to my prior posting on the Hellboy-related comics, here are the comics that have come out so far in 2026 and those I am aware are coming. All are from Dark Horse Comics under Mike Mignola‘s new imprint: Curious Objects.
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