Cover by Zoltan

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly has been published, like clockwork, every quarter since June 2009. And every eight issues, like clockwork, the editors of HFQ assemble a Best of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly volume, as a way to celebrate another milestone and promote their worthy magazine.

These books are top-notch examples of modern sword & sorcery (and I’m not just saying that because I was invited to write the introduction for Volume I.) In his review of Volume I, Fletcher Vredenburgh wrote:

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly is… the most consistent forum for the best in contemporary swords & sorcery. Some may think I’m laying it on a little thick, but The Best of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly: Volume 1, 2009-2011, a distillation of the mag’s first three years, should prove that I’m not.

Volume III has just arrived, with a dynamic cover by Zoltan and stories by Charles Gramlich, P. Djéli Clark, Adrian Simmons, David Farney, and many others — plus an introduction by Darrell Schweitzer, and original art for each story by Miguel Santos, Justin Pfiel, Garry McCluskey, Robert Zoltan, and others. It’s an all-around gorgeous package, and a fine reminder that Heroic Fantasy is still a vibrant genre in the 21st Century. Here’s the complete Table of Contents.

Sword and Sorcery Is What I Mean When I Point My (Insert Cutlery of Choice) At It, Darrell Schweitzer
“A Whisper in Ashes,” Charles Gramlich
“Don Quixote’s Quandary,” Colleen Anderson
“A Lonely Grave on the Hill,” Cesar Alcázar
“Corinth,” Gerald Henson
“The Region Linuis,” Lorna Smithers
“The Last First Time,” Colin Heintze
“Fortune-Teller,” E.L. Schmitt
“The Sword,” Cullen Groves
“Mouth of the Jaguar,” Evan Dicken
“A Matter of Goats,” Ben Fenwick
“The Tomb Robber’s Tale,” Sean P. Robson
“Lady Cardula and the Gryphon,” Shawn Scarber
“At the Sign of the Midpoint Tavern,” the editors
“Chiron,” Gary Every
“Shadows and Foxfire,” R. Michael Burns
“With a Golden Risha,” P. Djéli Clark
“Auspicious Events at Swift Creek Farm,” Adrian Simmons
“Witch and Palidin,” Reilly S. Blackwell
“Crazy Snake and the Ciguanaba,” Eric Atkisson
“The Madness of the Mansa,” Cullen Groves
“The Reeds of Torin’s Field,” Andrea G. Stewart
“Shamans,” David Farney
About the Artists
About the Editors
Kickstarter Contributors

The Best of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Volume II (2017)

Our previous coverage includes:

New Treasures: The Best Of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Volume 1 by John O’Neill
The Best of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly: Volume 1, 2009-2011, compiled by the Editors of HFQ by Fletcher Vredenburgh
The Finest in Modern Sword & Sorcery: The Best of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly: Volume 2, 2011-2013
Discussing All Things Fantasy, Past, Present, and Future: An Interview with Adrian Simmons and David Farney of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly by Joe Bonadonna
Sign up to Support Heroic Fantasy Quarterly through Patreon!

If you haven’t had the opportunity to try the magazine, why not check out one of their recent issues? Their entire back catalog (42 quarterly issues, and counting!) is available free online.

The editors have also created a Patreon where those who love quality fantasy can make meaningful contributions. Here’s HFQ editor and Black Gate blogger Adrian Simmons:

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly has brought new voices in sword and sorcery, adventure fiction, and historical fiction to the people since 2009. On our shoestring budget we have hit our goal of publishing three stories and two poems every three months AND started working in artwork, AND starting working in audio; and with more funds we could do much more.

Even just a few dollars a month can have a huge impact. Make a contribution to HFQ here, to help ensure one of the best modern fantasy magazine can continue for years to come. And check out their latest issue here.