“The Weird of Ironspell” by John R. Fultz Illustrations by Alex Sheikman ( CONCLUSION! ) 8. The Breaking of the Weird His name was a legend in every kingdom of Arboria although some scholars argued that he had never existed. Ironspell was a myth, an allegory, a fireside yarn that grizzled storytellers traded for ale and roasted meat. Long after the War of Darkness had ended, long after the Death Plague was wiped from the continent, and decades…
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It gives me great pleasure to announce what some of you may have already heard — the talented Ryan Harvey, author and Black Gate blogger extraordinaire, has placed third in the International Writers of the Future contest for the First Quarter of 2010. Judged by a panel of experts made up of well-known speculative fiction writers like Orson Scott Card, Anne McCaffrey, Eric Flint (to name just a few!) the Writers of the Future contest was established 27 years ago…
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“The Weird of Ironspell” by John R. Fultz Illustrations by Alex Sheikman 5. The Son of Ironspell The storm fell from the mountains like the wrath of an angry god. Thunder shook the earth and lightning split the sky, striking fires along the mountainsides. Rain fell in a driving flood, and the wind ripped trees from the earth’s bosom, smashing them to kindling. Servants pulled open the gates of Ironspell Keep, and two black steeds fitted for war…
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Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) Directed by Mike Newell. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton, Alfred Molina. I appear to be transforming into Black Gate’s “movie reviewer.” A natural development, considering that I’m a voracious film-goer who sees most new movies during their opening weekends (a benefit of living a block away from one of best multiplexes in Los Angeles), and that the studios have tossed quite a few fantasy spectacles our way so far this…
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“The Weird of Ironspell” by John R. Fultz Illustrations by Alex Sheikman 4. The Jewel and the Giant-King Yom was a city of magicians. Of all the kingdoms lying west of the Greyfold Mountains, only Yom boasted that its walls were defended by a legion of sorcerers, or that its wizard-king had slain a dozen ancient wyrms to free the Western Realms of the dragon plague. In the inky depths of night the city’s towers and ziggurats…
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After reading the Batman/Doc Savage Special, I didn’t imagine I would return to pick up any monthly Batman comics—or any monthly comics—for a span. I’m a trade paperback fellow who follows news of monthlies so I know what to buy in larger bound form when it reaches the bookstores. Then I saw the sneak of the cover for issue #2 of the limited series Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne. And I screamed “Solomon Kane!” and rushed to find out…
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Rogue Blades Entertainment (RBE) has published some terrific fantasy anthologies over the past few years, including Return of the Sword and Rage of the Behemoth, featuring original work from writers such as E.E. Knight, James Enge, Bill Ward, Michael Ehart, Thomas M. MacKay, S.C. Bryce, Steve Goble, Brian Ruckley, C.L. Werner, Harold Lamb, and many others. This week Rogue Blades publisher Jason M. Waltz announced the first annual RBE Challenge! Writing Contest. The competition is open to anyone, and the top…
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In the grand tradition of the classic heroic fantasy pulps comes “The Weird of Ironspell” — a series of all-new Sword-and-Sorcery adventures coming to you over the next few weeks, a new self-contained chapter every Wednesday right here at blackgate.com. The saga begins now… “The Weird of Ironspell” by John R. Fultz Illustrations by Alex Sheikman 1. Born of Stone The child would never know its father. In the amber glow of their hearth fires, villagers traded whispers about its…
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By Sylvia Volk Art by Aaron Starr From Black Gate 14, copyright © 2010 by New Epoch Press. All rights Reserved The raiders struck at twilight, perhaps an hour after the camels had been herded in for milking; in another hour, this work would be completed and the sheep would come in. Then the lambs, who stayed with the tents all day, would strain at their tethers and baa with hunger, and their ewes would come trotting eagerly along….
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Rogue Blades Entertainment, publisher of fine fantasy anthologies such as Return of the Sword and Rage of the Behemoth, announced a special promotion on some of their newest titles in the pages of Black Gate 14. Last week they made the details public on their website: Now that Black Gate subscribers are receiving their 14th issue, it’s time to reveal a very special offer brought to new readers in a combined effort by RBE and BG. From now until Black Gate 15 is released, anyone…
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