And it’s time for you to find out what I’ve been listening to. I know you’ve been anxiously waiting since last month. Now, if you read last two blog posts. Which I’m SURE you did….you know I watched 26 Marvel movies. While that was fun (and ridiculously indulgent), it did cut a bit into my listening (and reading). But I still managed to get in some of both. So, awaaaay we go.

THE DESERT OF SOULS – Howard Andrew Jones

If you follow me on Facebook, you’ve seen me talking about my Black Gate buddy Howard Andrew Jones, who recently revealed he’s battling a fast-acting brain cancer. I’ll write more about that topic, but I decided it was time to get back to some of his work.

A couple years ago, he wrote an epic fantasy, The Ring Sworn trilogy. He switched publishers, and the third book of his latest trilogy, The Chronicles of Hanuvar, is due out October 1. It seems destined to go down as one of the best in modern sword and sorcery.

I really like his Arabian fantasy stories featuring Dabir and Asim. I’m re-reading the short story collection, The Waters of Eternity (an absolute steal in digital). But on a trip to visit him a few weeks ago, I decided to re-listen to the first novel, Desert of Souls.

Robert E. Howard is about the only Adventure stuff I read. I never got into H. Rider Haggard, and I’m familiar with Ali Baba and Aladdin (no, not from Disney). But these sword and sorcery mysteries, are good reads.

Jones roots his stories in the real ancient Middle East, but enhances it with his own original fantasy elements. In Desert of Souls, a murder in 8^th century Baghdad leads to a search for a desert version of Atlantis. This is sword and sorcery, but with the epic stakes of high fantasy. The enemies are far more than ordinary men.

There was a second novel, The Bones of the Old Ones. I’m listening to that now. Some ancient ones are bringing a bitter winter to Mosul, with the familiar threat to the world. I like that it’s a fire wizard in book one, and it’s ice magic in the second one.

If you want some sword and sorcery not set in the typical ‘medieval-type’ world (which I prefer), I absolutely recommend these. Jones is an excellent writer, and I like the scholarly Dabir and the fighting Asim. The reality of ‘what sells’ forced Howard to not complete his third novel with the pair. I would have liked another one.

I like the short story collection best, and I’m hoping there will be another collection of the other published ones. They are more about the duo solving crimes or mysteries, but are still sword and sorcery tales.

CONTINUING ON WITH…

Leaphorn & Chee – Tony Hillerman

And speaking of Hillerman, I can’t count how many times I have listened to his fantastic police procedurals, set out in the Four Corners Navajo reservation area. They’re among my favorite series’. I’ve talked about Hillerman several times, including here, and here, and here.

In last month’s post, I talked about my most recent dive back into the series. And I simply can’t stop when I do. Along with re-watching two of the PBS movies which Robert Redford got made, I listened to six more books: Skinwalkers, The Ghostway, A Thief of Time, Coyote Waits, Talking God, and Sacred Clowns.

I’m not done, as I’m going to continue on with at least a few more. I never tire of these. I need to write an essay on the three PBS movies, as well as the ill-fated The Dark Wind.

I also listened, once again, to his stand-alone journalistic mystery, The Fly on the Wall. This is one of my five favorite novels, and I really need to write about it some day.

Egil & Nix – Paul Kemp

Last month I talked about Paul Kemp’s first Egil and Nix novel, which is the most faithful successor to Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, we will ever see. I went ahead and re-listened to the second book, A Discourse in Steel. I like this the better of the two. I have not read the third one yet, and I suspect I will go ahead and get that as well. It’s a good sword and sorcery series, and I would think a must for fans of Leiber’s duo.

SPQR – John Maddox Roberts

I started listening to Roberts’ Roman historical mysteries after he passed away this past May. I am still working in these fantastic novels. I thoroughly enjoy these excellent novels, which have been paired with the perfect narrator.

I bought most – but not all – of them during the big annual Super Sale on Audible. I have eight of thirteen, and am listening to them out of order. I always prefer to read and listen in order, but sometimes that’s just how it works out. It’s not a problem.

I cannot recommend these books enough. He was working on a fourteenth when he passed, and I hope it finds its way to satisfactory completion and publication. I like everything about these. And at seven hours, they’re not as long as the fantasy books I’m listening to as well.

Prior Audio Posts:
What I’ve Been Listening To: Sepetember, 2024
What I’ve Been Listening To: August, 2024
What I’ve Been Listening To: July, 2024
What I’ve Been Listening To: September 2022
May I Read You This Book?

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Bob Byrne’s ‘A (Black) Gat in the Hand’ made its Black Gate debut in 2018 and has returned every summer since.

His ‘The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes’ column ran every Monday morning at Black Gate from March, 2014 through March, 2017. And he irregularly posts on Rex Stout’s gargantuan detective in ‘Nero Wolfe’s Brownstone.’ He is a member of the Praed Street Irregulars, founded www.SolarPons.com (the only website dedicated to the ‘Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street’).

He organized Black Gate’s award-nominated ‘Discovering Robert E. Howard’ series, as well as the award-winning ‘Hither Came Conan’ series. Which is now part of THE Definitive guide to Conan. He also organized 2023’s ‘Talking Tolkien.’

He has contributed stories to The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories – Parts III, IV, V, VI, XXI, and XXXIII.

He has written introductions for Steeger Books, and appeared in several magazines, including Black Mask, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, The Strand Magazine, and Sherlock Magazine.