Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Gonji: The Soul Within the Steel (Deathwind 2)

Gonji: The Soul Within the SteelGonji: The Soul Within the Steel by T.C. Rypel
S.E. Lindberg rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gonji: The Soul Within the Steel, Book 2: The Deathwind trilogy was really one book cut into three parts: so the story arc is spread out accordingly. I enjoyed Part-1 (Red Blade From the East) but was left wondering about character motivations; also my mind struggled to contain a geographic scope that seemed to only grow. The second installment pleasantly explored all the characters and mysteries posited in the first; geographically, it focused on one location essentially (Vedun city and the adjacent Castle Lenska). It delivered on every aspect I hoped, and the conflict/story leapt forward every chapter; it unveiled truths behind several key secrets & motivations behind the characters, and ramped up the adventure (which was at a high level anyway). Great adventure fantasy that is more dark & pulpy than it is historical. I like the content in Book-1 more now, and I can’t see how any reader could not stop at the end of Book-2. Take home message: if you decide to follow Gonji, just plan on reading the whole trilogy. I’m on to Book-3 to learn more about the mysterious Deathwind….

I copy/paste my review of the first book for completeness below; after I read the third portion, I’ll work to consolidate all into one review.

Gonji’s Deathwind (Book 1)– The Godzilla of Sword & Sorcery?
Some splendid reviews already exist for Gonji: Red Blade from the East, in particular Fletcher Vredenburgh’s January 21st 2014 Post on Blackgate is extremely thorough. This provides another summary, and some more complementary information.

Gongi Is A Unique, Entertaining Mashup: Gongi is a wandering, displaced warrior--a Ronin (master-less samurai) roaming 16th century Europe. This is not historical fiction, however. This is Sword & Sorcery in vein of R.E. Howard’s Conan…but it is a solidly unique take on the genre. Firstly, Gonji is a cross-breed of a Japanese warlord and Viking sword-maiden; rather than the Hyperborean continent of REH, Gonji explores a realistic version of Europe’s geography (Ottoman–Habsburg times). Plenty of creatures and magic infuse compelling fight scenes. I half expected Godzilla to emerge on multiple occasions!

Gonji is a mysterious, intelligent character. Stretching plausibility, he knows many languages (Japanese, Spanish, Italian, German, English, more?) sufficiently to converse with everyone. He is a bit moody too, which is ostensibly related to his mixed heritage (disciplined father, wild mother). His allegiances are difficult to predict, sometimes joining mercenary bands, sometimes rescuing weak townspeople. Generally, the blend of cultures and Gonji’s mysterious motivations are engaging.

By the end of this first installment, we know only that he is seeking the “Deathwind,” and we know he gets closer to this goal when he reached the city of Vedun, but otherwise the core of his quest is unclear. There is parallel conflict with some apparently evil occupiers of Vedun; but their motives are not clear by the end either, at times brutally dominating folk and at times letting them live in peace. I would have enjoyed a bit more clarification; the demarcation between the first and second book may just be due to the publication history.

Series: The initial Zebra books of the 1980’s essential split one long novel into a trilogy (I suspect the split was arbitrary). T.C. Rypel’s 1980 series has been released in a more complete forms (more books, eBooks, audiobooks). The newer releases from Borgo Press seem to have maintained this split. I’ll need to read the second and third books to confirm that, and I plan to do that. Actually, Rypel has a lot more Gonji in mind, and has books 4 and 5 available now. Books 1-3 are the original trilogy:
1) Gonji: Red Blade from the East: The Deathwind Trilogy, Book One
2) Gonji: The Soul Within the Steel
3) Gonji: Deathwind of Vedun: The Deathwind Triology, Book Three
4) Gonji: Fortress of Lost Worlds
5) Gonji: A Hungering of Wolves
Gonji  Red Blade from the East  The Deathwind Trilogy, Book One by T.C. Rypel Gonji  The Soul Within the Steel by T.C. Rypel Gonji  Deathwind of Vedun  The Deathwind Triology, Book Three by T.C. Rypel Gonji  Fortress of Lost Worlds by T.C. Rypel Gonji  A Hungering of Wolves by T.C. Rypel

Social Media, Cover Art, and Maps: T.C. Rypel is very accessible via Facebook(Gonji Page) and the Goodreads Sword and Sorcery Group. If you check those websites you can (a) communicate with him and (b) just read/learn fascinating tidbits. For instance, from these I learned the artwork of Serbian illustrator Dusan Kostic graces most of the new releases, which seem more appropriate than the 1980’s covers that seem to mirror the James Clavell books (contemporary for 1980’s works, but of different genre). Also, The Kindle editions of the Deathwind Trilogy books do not include artist Joseph Rutt's 1982 Maps that appear in the front of the print editions. Note that Joe Rutt also drew covers for Ted Rypels 1970's Outer Limits books.



Ohio Rocks: Incidentally, T.C. Rypel has Ohio roots, as do many Sword and Sorcery authors; in fact, 20% of the original Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America (SAGA, 1960-80s) came from my home state OH. The unassuming state of OH has ties to many relevant authors including including: David C. Smith, Andre Norton, Stephen Donaldson, John Jakes, Richard Lee Byers, Roger Zelazny, Dennis L. McKiernan, Steve Goble, and more.


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Friday, December 26, 2014

Jan-Feb 2015 Groupreads - "Gemmell's Legend" AND "Anthologies"

groupread jan-feb2015 LEGEND and ANTHOLOGIES 

The 2-topic, 2-month group reads have been selected for the Jan-Feb 2015 Sword & Sorcery group. Start off the new year with us!

(1) Anthologies (Link to Anthology Discussion Thread) : Since Sword & Sorcery was largely born through the short-story format, collections are an appropriate way to learn the genre and discover authors. Don’t know where to start? Ask the group for a recommendation, or check out the sampling of Anthologies, old and new, as shown in this group’s bookshelf. You are challenged (invited?) to track any one down and share your journey with the group. Feel welcome to add to the bookshelf if you know how, or ask for help to expand the list.

(2) David Gemmell's Legend ( Link to LEGEND Discussion Thread): This topic narrowly beating out “Sword’s and Orcs.” Actually any of Gemmell’s works will suffice for discussion, but the default will be his debut, and arguably his best work, Legend.

Banner credits:
L. Sprague de Camp's The Spell of Seven (1965 cover artist Virgil Finlay)
David Gemmell's Legend (2003 cover art credited to John Picacio by isfdb)
Legend (Drenai Saga, #1) by David Gemmell The Spell of Seven by L. Sprague de Camp 

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Nine Heroes Anthology review by S.E.

Nine Heroes: Tales of Heroic FantasyNine Heroes: Tales of Heroic Fantasy by Walter Rhein
S.E. rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nine Heroes: Tales of Heroic Fantasy delivers nine tales of heroism as promised. The writing style and types of hero are varied, as most anthology readers expect and desire.

I am biased toward deeper, intricate writing, so I devoured the Morris’ Homeric contribution that introduces Rhesos, a demi-god. The character is likely getting a dedicated novel in the near future. Check out Donny Swords on-line 2014 interview with Janet Morris to learn details. Black Sword is very thoughtful story that blends, myth, history, and fantasy.

I’m huge fan of Barczak’s peotic dark style (his Veil of the Dragon is a great read) though his entry was only a flash-fiction piece—I desired more. Butcher’s entry was timely interesting since I just read The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles; I liked Coel as a character, as well as exploring the land of Erana more, but he did not seem to be heroic in the story—I gather that he does become a hero in other Erana novels.

Author Fishing: In anthologies I hope to discover an author who intrigues me: R.A. McCandless sufficed. The plight and past of Pel Rogue was very engaging, and the character development most engaging. I'll have to look out for more McCandless.

Navigation warning for the Kindle: There was no linked table of contents, so if you want to skip to a chapter/author… you’ll have to scroll/search your way there. With only nine tales, this is workable; but anthologies should be available for non-linear reading.

Table of Contents (Heroes in parentheses)
(demi-god “Rhesos”) Black Sword by Janet E. Morris and Chris Morris
(insubordinate soldier “Kinter”) The Act of Sleepless Nights by Walter Rhein
(villager “Mattock”) To Kill a Myth by Jesse Duckworth
(dragon hunting “Rasi”) No Life Too Small by Douglas R. Brown
(nameless gladiator?) To Live by Tom Barczak
(champion “Seutzingol”) Dozen by shane porteus
(emerging thief “Coel”) Just One Mistake by A.L. Butcher
(warrior priest “Shoutte”) Witness to Death by Teel James Glenn
(servant of the peace “Pel Rogue”) Through the Sting of Fairy Smoke by R.A. McCandless


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Monday, December 8, 2014

Lindberg Holiday Card 2014


HAPPY HOLIDAYS, 2014!

Crafting Holiday cards has been a tradition in our family since ~1998.  Most of the cards are on display on a website, clicking on recent ones (2010 onward) provide links to how they were made. This year, Heidi pushed me away from the art board. To make this beautiful rendition of a Poinsettia plant, she blended her photography, batiking, and design skills. Here is how she did it:

Summary: Photography > Batik > Digital Design


Phase 1: From Picture to Cloth
Photograph Poinsettia > Print Copy Onto Paper
Expand in Copy Machine > Outline Edges on White Cloth

Heidi took the Poinsettia picture Dec. 2013 and has been eyeing it ever since. It was destined to be a template for some other craft.  Printing it Summer 2014, she used an enlarged copy to trace the outlines onto a cloth.  This enabled subsequent dying.
Phase 2: Selectively Color Cloth 
Trace Edges to Cloth - Mask Areas With Removable Wax
The art of batiking involves masking sections of the cloth with removable wax.  Using the photograph to guide which areas should be kept light (i.e. the white background), the artist protects the cloth with wax.  Then the artist dyes the entire cloth, setting the darkest areas first. The original wax is kept on, and more wax is applied on the next gradation of color. Then the cloth is dyes again.

Adding Color
  1. Masking & Dying & Drying (mask lightest areas first..i.e. white, pink, etc.)
  2. Applying new masks... Mask On Areas Desired To Be Lighter/Pinker…
  3. Repeat...darkening the exposed areas


Phase 3: Iterative Masking – Dying - Drying
Beware, annoying husband's hell-bent on documenting the process may photograph you with your hair "up." Crackled wax provides a cool, vein-like pattern. The wax can be removed by bathing the cloth in hot water...the wax melts and floats to the top.

Phase 4: Photoshop
Finally, the cloth is photographed and Adobe Photoshop is used to experiment with some lettering.

In this case, "Noel" in landscape mode wins! Then an inside needs to be made to match the front:

Print copies are sent to an online print company.  First proof arrived Nov 13th.  It looked fine, so it was approved.  A stack was ordered to arrive ~Nov-20th.  This allows a few weeks (over Thanksgiving) to prepare the cards and issue them prior mid-Dec.

This marks the 17th year of hand-crafted Holiday Cards!  Check out the others at:Team Lindberg Cards.  So that's it.  From our family to yours, have a great 2015!  Sincerely, Team Lindberg (Seth, Heidi, Erin, and Connor).

The Kids!

Cool Update: The McCrone Research group's card also features a poinsettia!




Monday, December 1, 2014

Sex and Sorcery - Light Beyond the Storm review

The Light Beyond the Storm ChroniclesThe Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles by A.L. Butcher
S.E. rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sex and Sorcery: The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles is a unique mash-up of erotic and fantasy fiction. One reason I read this was to lure me out of my comfort zone of Sword & Sorcery, and this was a fun route to take. If one were to take a typical dark fantasy novel with elves & grand battles, and replace all the warfare with steamy sex scenes, then you would get this book. In fact, this book has no real battle scenes with substantial duels or military tactics on display. This book may define a new sub-genre: "Sex and Sorcery."

The closest thing I have ever read to this would be Brian McNaughton's The Throne of Bones, which has copious amounts of ghoul sex (~zombie sex). "Throne" was not stimulating as much as it was horrific & weird. The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles likely reflects more traditional romance novels.

The book's primary conflict regards the mistreatment of elven women, which are subjugated to rape and slavery by humans. A human magician who sympathizes becomes the savior of many elves. What can be jarring (to a "virgin" erotic fiction reader at least) is the willingness of the victimized women to satisfy their savior with the same carnal tricks the bad humans desire. The good human is also older than the elf he saves/falls-in-love-with; this coupling inflamed two-decades of sexual harassment training "no-no's" I have received by various employers. I eventually forgave this discomfort since this was (a) a fantasy book and (b) the human was not being deceptive as an influential mentor.

There were hints that love-making may empower sorcery, but the connection was not explicit. This is just the beginning of a series, and I would welcome the notion of the sexual energy fueling magic being developed more. A small quibble: the author's voice strangely sneaks into all of the dialogue (across characters). They all...pause as they...consider a synonym...or...recast their words.

In all, an entertaining read. Not recommended for young adults due to content; not recommend for those seeking bloody battles. This is recommended for fantasy readers who desire some...spice in their reading.




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Monday, November 24, 2014

Cook's "The Black Company" - Review by S.E.

The Black Company: The First Novel of 'The Chronicles of The Black Company'The Black Company: The First Novel of 'The Chronicles of The Black Company' by Glen Cook
S.E rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gritty, Mysterious Adventure: Glen Cook’s Chronicles of the Black Company starts off a lengthy series with a large following (which I have finally joined). Thanks to a Sword & Sorcery group read on Goodreads I did not entirely miss a series born in 1984, which I had naively figured was just another fantasy series. I mistakenly thought it was just tales about silly comrades, with more brawn than brain, going from one job to another. The Company is not just some band of brutes going from one mission/employer to the next; it is a professional army for hire that has a history longer than most States/Kingdoms. Expect lots of intricate gritty warfare infused with warrior magicians dolling out spells that liquefy mountains and topple the sky. By reading these chronicles, you are (more or less) reading the Annals; well, you almost become part of the Company.

This first-person narrative is compelling: Our narrator, Croaker, is a physician and warrior, but he has the singular duty of recording the Annals of the Company. Below are a number of quotes to convey his voice. His succinct observations add an unexpected, very satisfying, level of intelligence. The Annals (as physical books) are rarely mentioned/accounted for; however, the storytelling was so engaging I often overlooked the notion that Croaker appears bookless.

Pleasantly mysteries adventure: Cook throws the reader into the deep-end from the start. Strangely even this reprint has no map (which would have been welcome to orient readers). The scale of adventure ranges from skirmishes, to grand battles, to sorties with selected members. The Company seems to range in size from one hundred men to a few thousand. Their employees and their enemies are many and complex.It becomes clear that the conflicts are many and intertwined, but thankfully consistent. Without spoiling anything, I can reveal that it will take 50% of the book to communicate that the Lady is the primary employer of the Company, and her secondary commanders are the Taken (usually undead/possessed sorcerers) which also battle one another. All these are in battle with another army led by the Rebel (and his Circle of eighteen). Somehow Cook manages to dose out just the right amount of information to keep you hooked.

Characters are interesting and a strength They have concise names whether they be the narrator (Croaker), an enemy (Rebel, or Dominator), a Company member (Captain, Lieutenant), or sorcerer (One-Eye, Catcher, Lady, etc.). We learn about everyone via Croaker’s narration which is often profound. One-Eye and Goblin are two of the Company’s few sorcerers (Silent being another Key one); they continually have contests of antagonistic sorcery, like brothers. Then there is a new addition who joins early on named Raven who has a truly mysterious backstory. Croaker voted to enlist him saying, “I voted aye. I smelled a mystery and did not want it to get away.” Which is what I feel now about these book. There are many mysterious left in the series of the Black Company … and I do not want them to get away!

Cover Confusion/Caution TOR used the beautiful Raymond Swanland cover for both (a) a release of Book #1 Black Company and (b) and Omnibus edition of Books 1-3 of the series. I recommend just buying the omnibus from the start (same cover, almost same price, more books).
Raymond Swanland Black Company

Croaker’s Voice (Various, disconnected quotes)

We all have our pasts. I suspect we keep them nebulous not because we are hiding from our yesterdays but because we think we will cut more romantic figures if we roll our eyes and dispense delicate hints about beautiful women forever beyond our reach.

When I reflect on my companion’s inner nature I usually wish I controlled one small talent. I wish I could look inside them and unmask the darks and brights that move them. Then I take a quick look into the jungle of my own soul and realize that I cannot. Any man who barely sustains an armistice with himself has no business picking around in an alien soul.

One-Eye is at least a hundred years old. The Annals mention the wizened little black man’s tempers throughout the last century. There is no telling when he joined. Seventy years’ worth of Annals were lost when the Company’s positions were overrun at the Battle of Urban. One-Eye refuses to illuminate the missing years. He says he does not believe in history.

One-Eye cheats. But never when Raven is playing.

Silent smiled, shrugged, stalked over to the stone pile and seated himself. He was done with the question game. Of all the Company he is the least concerned about the image he portrayed in the Annals. He does not care whether people like or hate him, does not care where he has been or where he is going. Sometimes I wonder if he cares whether he lives or dies, wonder what makes him stay.

I am a haunted man. I am haunted by the Limper’s screams. I am haunted by the Lady’s laughter. I am haunted by my suspicion that we were furthering the cause of something that deserves to be scrubbed from the face of the earth. I am haunted by the conviction that those bent upon the Lady’s eradication are little better than she…I am haunted by the clear knowledge that, in the end, evil always triumphs.

My last glimpse of Catcher was of a weary person slumped in unhappiness. I guess it is hard for them to live up to their reputations. We all want people to like us.





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Saturday, November 15, 2014

Soap, Disease, and Dragons - Visiting Norman OK

Talking art, books, and synesthesia with illustrator and artist of Viel of the Dragon 
  1. SOAP: 

  2. This month I visited Norman OK, with the primary goal of attending a consortia on surfactants run by chemical engineering professors at Oklahoma University (IASR).  I am not the only scientist attending who has an artistic side; in fact Professor John Scamehorn has ventured into producing film (he is leading a steampunk web series no less, due out in late 2015).
  3. DISEASE: 

  4. Before the consortia began, I managed to connect with writer/illustrator Tom Barczak who resides in Norman. I had interviewed Tom Barczak early this year (July 2014)
    Over some Starbuck's coffee we discussed art, writing, and disease. Of course, my own series fictionalizes the alchemical humors, posing them as a source of necromancy; an imbalance of humors was called a Dyscrasia (a word popular in 1880). 

  5. Tom, ever fascinated with sensing strange/beautiful things, discussed Synesthezia.  This ailment is a modern one, and refers to a secondary stimulus of senses.  For instance, a subset is called Chromesthesia, in which listening to sounds will trigger recoloring of whatever is being viewed by eye: one could be looking at a white wall and it would change to red or blue as certain music is played.  Great material for magic/fantasy! I can't wait to see how Tom translates his insights.

DRAGONS

Tom has a wonderful illustrated, poetic series that begins with 
Veil of the Dragon (reviewed May 2014). He is just now releasing an audio book voiced by Neil Hellegers. Check out the below video trailer.  If you like dark, poetic fantasy, you'll enjoy this.


Saturday, November 8, 2014

Beauty in Ruins reviews Spawn of Dyscrasia

"In a post-apocalyptic sort of fantasy world where the 'good' guys are undead necromancers and hybrid monsters, the remaining humans must make difficult choices to ensure that there's a future for any of them... It's all very well-constructed, with an interesting system of magic to drive the plot forward, but it's hardly what one would call your typical heroic, uplifting fantasy. In fact, it's as much a horror novel as it is a fantasy novel, but it's in that clash of genres that Lindberg distinguishes himself."
Beauty in Ruins provides comprehensive book reviews on speculative fiction, and just dissected Spawn of Dyscrasia. I highly recommend following the Beauty in Ruins website.  Below is copy of most of the review:

"I didn't think it was possible, but this is an even darker fantasy than the novel that opened the saga. It's a story full of death and decay, of pain and pressure. In a post-apocalyptic sort of fantasy world where the 'good' guys are undead necromancers and hybrid monsters, the remaining humans must make difficult choices to ensure that there's a future for any of them.

Just to give you an idea of what you're getting into here, the story opens with a dying young woman, her body and soul slowly being consumed by the necromancer she serves. Her own ghost picks a replacement from out of the crowd, damning one of her oldest friends to the same sort of helpless, hopeless, inevitable doom. That friend, Helen, dutifully accepts the charge laid upon her and prepares to embark upon a future of sacrificing herself to save Lord Echo, the necromancer, in an effort to preserve her people.

Like the first volume, this is a very dark, very bleak, very sort of hopeless future, one in which the monsters have already won. It's all very well-constructed, with an interesting system of magic to drive the plot forward, but it's hardly what one would call your typical heroic, uplifting fantasy. In fact, it's as much a horror novel as it is a fantasy novel, but it's in that clash of genres that Lindberg distinguishes himself. This reads very much like an epic fantasy novel in terms of language and imagery, but one dealing with a dark, gruesome, horrific sort of subject matter. It's a gorgeous, textured, intricately layered story where every word counts, and where no phrase is wasted. Make no mistake, it makes for heavy reading, but you feel the weight of every word.

While I would have liked to see Helen play more of a heroic role, rather than serve as damsel in distress or sidekick, this is not really a world where humans have a significant role to play. It is a world filled with hybrid monsters and ruled by god-like beings, a world in which power is infected by an insidious sort of disease. Having said that, she's an admirable character, for all the flaws of her situation, and she does have her moments, especially as we approach the climax.

Overall, I found the pacing and flow much stronger, compared to Lords of Dyscrasia. It's a clearer, more consistent tale, one with those narrative bridges that I felt were lacking in the first book. As sequels or follow-ups go, Spawn of Dyscrasia is one of those rare novels that tops its predecessor in almost every way, which definitely bodes well for future installments. If you're open to something new, and have the patience to really pay attention to the narrative as much as the plot, then by all means pay Lindberg's world a visit - you'll be impressed at what he's able to accomplish in so few carefully chosen words, and you'll certainly appreciate the visit."
- Bob Milne 2014

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Chronicles of Hate - Adrian Smith Graphic Novel Review by S.E.

Chronicles of HateChronicles of Hate by Adrian Smith
S.E. Lindbergrating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a daring, impressive work of art: 100pages of monochrome, gritty fantasy. Besides the introduction (a page of beautiful, epic text), those pages average ~one word /page. Adrian Smith relies on his graphic skills to tell the story and does admirably.

In short, Mother Earth is defiled and is bound beneath the ground; humanity falls from any grace it may have had. Men enslave other men, and a brutal Tyrant rules over many. Mother Earth’s spirit engages Worm, the protagonist, who is tasked to free her [or bring back her power somehow]. Her magic has seeped into vegetation since her demise, so sentient fungi and roots play a role. She transforms or communicates to Worm as a white butterfly too.

Adrian Smith's illustrations are generally splendid. If you ever looked into any Warhammer/Games Workshop art (which Adrian has made many) and wished you could immerse yourself in a similar world (this is not part of Warhammer’s TM Olde World), this is your chance.
HATE

Enjoying/understanding this took some concentration and rereading of the prologue, which may turn off some but I found enjoyable.  If I understood this correctly, Worm is out to find a key to unlock Mother Earth's chains/cage. Regardless of the low-text approach, I expected to have a better understanding of what to expect in the second volume by the time I reached the end. The number and motivations of the different, conflicting factions is still unclear. Vol. #2 promises to develop this more, which will prompt a reread of this. I plan to purchase the next as soon as it is available.


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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Rheology in the Real World - Rheology Panel Oct 2014

Society of Rheology 2014 
The microscopist/material scientist in me has enjoyed SoR since 2005.  It was a pleasure to participle in the Industrial Panel this round. Here is the news blurb:

27 October 2014 American Institute of Physics News

AIP and SOR proudly partnered in their annual look at industrial applications of rheology at SOR’s annual meeting in Philadelphia on October 5. Entitled “Rheology in the Real World,” this panel session featured speakers from the Dow Chemical Company, NIST, the University of Queensland, Medimmune, and Procter & Gamble. The standing-room-only audience was filled with students eager to learn from SOR members working in industry or industrial applications of rheology. The reception that followed the panel discussion was particularly lively. AIP and SOR are grateful to Maryam Sepher (Chevron), Amy Shen (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology), Gerry Fuller (Stanford), and Matthew Reichert (Dow) for organizing this successful event.


SOR AIP Panel
"Rheology in the Real World" organizers and panelists. Standing, from the left - Gerry Fuller, Matthew Reichert, Maryam Sepher, Amy Shen. Seated, from the left - Seth Lindberg (Procter & Gamble), Catherine Jackson (Dow Chemical Company), Michael Boehm (University of Queensland), Kalman Migler (NIST), Jai Pathak (Medimmune).

Friday, October 24, 2014

Elak of Atlantis and Black Company - Nov-Dec Groupread Topics


Please join the Sword & Sorcery Group on Goodreads as we read the following topics over the next two months (Nov Dec 2014):




Banner Art Credits
-Paizo edition of Elak of Atlantis, by Andrew Hou - 2007 (left)

Elak of Atlantis by Henry Kuttner The Return of the Black Company (The Chronicles of the Black Company, #7-8) by Glen Cook

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Gonji: Red Blade from the East - Book Review by S.E.

Gonji: Red Blade from the EastGonji: Red Blade from the East by T.C. Rypel
S.E.Lindberg rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gonji’s Deathwind – The Godzilla of Sword & Sorcery?
Some splendid reviews already exist for Gonji: Red Blade from the East, in particular Fletcher Vredenburgh’s January 21st 2014 Post on Blackgate is extremely thorough. This provides another summary, and some more complementary information.

Gongi Is A Unique, Entertaining Mashup: Gongi is a wandering, displaced warrior--a Ronin (master-less samurai) roaming 16th century Europe. This is not historical fiction, however. This is Sword & Sorcery in vein of R.E. Howard’s Conan…but it is a solidly unique take on the genre. Firstly, Gonji is a cross-breed of a Japanese warlord and Viking sword-maiden; rather than the Hyperborean continent of REH, Gonji explores a realistic version of Europe’s geography (Ottoman–Habsburg times). Plenty of creatures and magic infuse compelling fight scenes. I half expected Godzilla to emerge on multiple occasions!

Gonji is a mysterious, intelligent character. Stretching plausibility, he knows many languages (Japanese, Spanish, Italian, German, English, more?) sufficiently to converse with everyone. He is a bit moody too, which is ostensibly related to his mixed heritage (disciplined father, wild mother). His allegiances are difficult to predict, sometimes joining mercenary bands, sometimes rescuing weak townspeople. Generally, the blend of cultures and Gonji’s mysterious motivations are engaging.

By the end of this first installment, we know only that he is seeking the “Deathwind,” and we know he gets closer to this goal when he reached the city of Vedun, but otherwise the core of his quest is unclear. There is parallel conflict with some apparently evil occupiers of Vedun; but their motives are not clear by the end either, at times brutally dominating folk and at times letting them live in peace. I would have enjoyed a bit more clarification; the demarcation between the first and second book may just be due to the publication history.

Series: The initial Zebra books of the 1980’s essential split one long novel into a trilogy (I suspect the split was arbitrary). T.C. Rypel’s 1980 series has been released in a more complete forms (more books, eBooks, audiobooks). The newer releases from Borgo Press seem to have maintained this split. I’ll need to read the second and third books to confirm that, and I plan to do that. Actually, Rypel has a lot more Gonji in mind, and has books 4 and 5 available now. Books 1-3 are the original trilogy:
1) Gonji: Red Blade from the East: The Deathwind Trilogy, Book One
2) Gonji: The Soul Within the Steel
3) Gonji: Deathwind of Vedun: The Deathwind Triology, Book Three
4) Gonji: Fortress of Lost Worlds
5) Gonji: A Hungering of Wolves
Gonji  Red Blade from the East  The Deathwind Trilogy, Book One by T.C. Rypel Gonji  The Soul Within the Steel by T.C. Rypel Gonji  Deathwind of Vedun  The Deathwind Triology, Book Three by T C Rypel Gonji  Fortress of Lost Worlds by T.C. Rypel Gonji  A Hungering of Wolves by T.C. Rypel

Social Media, Cover Art, and Maps: T.C. Rypel is very accessible via Facebook(Gonji Page) and the Goodreads Sword and Sorcery Group. If you check those websites you can (a) communicate with him and (b) just read/learn fascinating tidbits. For instance, from these I learned the artwork of Serbian illustrator Dusan Kostic graces most of the new releases, which seem more appropriate than the 1980’s covers that seem to mirror the James Clavell books (contemporary for 1980’s works, but of different genre). Also, The Kindle editions of the Deathwind Trilogy books do not include artist Joseph Rutt's Maps that appear in the front of the print editions.



Ohio Rocks: Incidentally, T.C. Rypel has Ohio roots, as do many Sword and Sorcery authors; in fact, 20% of the original Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America (SAGA, 1960-80s) came from my home state OH. The unassuming state of OH has ties to many relevant authors including including: David C. Smith, Andre Norton, Stephen Donaldson, John Jakes, Richard Lee Byers, Roger Zelazny, Dennis L. McKiernan, Steve Goble, and more.

View all my reviews

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Lords of Dyscrasia: Darkly bold and literate fantasy

Recent 5-star review of Lords of Dyscrasia on Amazon!  

5.0 out of 5 stars Lords of Dyscrasia: Darkly bold and literate fantasy -1st in a seriesOctober 9, 2014
By 
This review is from: Lords of Dyscrasia (Kindle Edition)


S.E. Lindberg leads us on an amazing adventure into character and danger with his first in a series, "Lords of Dyscrasia." Lindberg's work is dark, violent; sometimes beautiful, sometimes lyrical; always thoughtfully written. For an emerging writer, Lindberg takes many chances, and almost always succeeds. He is a more thoughtful writer than many, exploring the psyches of humans and their gods. Lindberg is a chemist, and in this story disease corrupts the the characters and their faith in themselves and one another. I loved it, but I am hesitant to characterize it. Is Lords of Dyscrasia it high fantasy, heroic fantasy? You decide.

A dyscrasia is a term the ancient Greeks used to describe imbalance of the four humors needed for life. In Lords of Dyscrasia, these medicinal or physical humors manifest as muses for artisans, dispensers of magical power, and the manifestations of disease. Lindberg twists this sophisticated ancient construct into an unexpected shape, as is his wont.

Lindberg is a bold and literate guide to a uniquely-imagined world, with a deep love for fantasy conventions and equally for surprises. When the soul of a dying queen becomes infused into the blood of a human artisan, the soul of the queen passes through his blood and into his offspring, preserving the bloodline... I'll say no more about Ante and the adventures swirling around him.

As I said, Lindberg takes chances; he's full of energy that infuses this book with passion. The raw power of story, when mixed with a literate intelligence and a taste for beauty, make this writer one to read early and follow on his quest for perfection. I can't wait to see what Lindberg does next, in Spawn of Dyscrasia... although I think I have an inkling....

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Heraclix and Pomp by Forrest Aguirre - Interview by S.E. Lindberg

Forrest Aguirre Bio & Previous Interviews:

Aguirre with Totenkopf

Forrest's short fiction has appeared in over fifty venues, including Asimov's, Gargoyle, Apex, and Polyphony. He is a World Fantasy Award winner for his editorial work, with Jeff VanderMeer, on the Leviathan 3 anthology. His novel, Heraclix& Pomp is releasing now by the Underland Press imprint of Resurrection House (Oct, 2014). Forrest Aguirre has been interviewed several times already (see selection below), but this aims to cover some new ground.The primary theme across all S.E.Lindberg Interviews  is “Beautiful Weird Art/Horror” and there is plenty of that in Heraclix & Pomp. 
  1. 2003: Interview by Trent Walters, capturing Forrest Aguirre’s creative process  and interest in Africa.
  2. 2013: Forrest Aguirre’s Fantastic Fugue – Interview by Bill Ectric, including Aguirre’s use of a real pen to hand write first drafts.  
  3. 2014: Lost in the Forrest: An Interview with Forrest Aguirre – Dan Schwent: The literary inspirations and RPG origins of H&P.
"As a child, I always thought I would die at age 36..." F.Aguirre 2014

How does weird fiction deliver beauty?

What about dark, surreal subjects do you find beautiful? You have a sustained interest in weird fiction, including being the editor of the 2002 Leviathan #3 and #4, collections you described as being "darkly beautiful surreal stories."  The paradox of finding beauty in dark things is the topic we want to explore here: what about dark, surreal subjects do you find beautiful?

FA: Before we begin, let me say that I find beauty in light, as well. I’m a bit of a brooder, admittedly, but I love, for instance, going to our city’s flower garden. I just happen to be willing to peek behind the petals at that dead frog lying on the wood chips and am able to appreciate the irony and pathos there, as well. I think the beauty in the dark and surreal is twofold. First, there is the notion of contrast. Sameness, to me, is not beautiful. Unfortunately, it’s not ugly, either. If it were ugly, at least it would be interesting. It’s contrast that I find intriguing. 

I’ll give an example (that may or may not work for you): a few years ago, my family and I had been out watching my two oldest boys running in a cross country race. It was a beautiful fall afternoon. The leaves were saturated with yellow and red, it was a cool, pleasant day, with blue skies and a few wisps of white cloud here and there. We came home and, as dusk fell, dark clouds started marching in across the western sky. These were odd, though, not your usual rain clouds. They were thin and tall, reminding me a lot of the famous Hubble space telescope shot of the “Pillars of Creation”.  I don’t know that I have seen anything like that before or since. The sun set, the stars came out, and the clouds kept floating in like some sort of dark ghost sentinels. The sky between each pillar was so clear that I could see the stars with no obstruction other than where the clouds occluded them. Then, as I watched, lightning arced from one of the clouds to another, then back again, across the stars! It was one of the most majestic views of the universe I have ever had, from my little vantage point on my front doorstep. I was stunned. Filled with awe. It’s this sort of contrast, lightning arcing between two dark clouds across a field of stars, that I find so compelling. It is unexpected, strange, and fills the viewer with simultaneous respect and terror. This is what I seek in the “darkly beautiful surreal”. 

Second, and the example I just gave leads into this, there is an expansiveness about the dark that is begging to be filled. When we’re filled with awe or wonder, it’s not about what we see, but about what we don’t see. When we stare into the void and the void stares back, the viewer is the source of both actions. Imagination fills in the gaps that the senses can’t grasp, and darkness leaves much to the imagination. White emptiness won’t do for this triggering of the imagination. While a blank page might be filled with awe-inspiring imagery, it’s not the white page that generates the artist’s ideas. It is in the dark recesses of his or her mind that the image is formed, then that emerging image is plotted onto the page. This creation from the imagination engages the viewer. 

This is why people of an artistic bent often enjoy books more than movies. How often have you heard someone say “I didn’t like the movie as well as the book because the way it was shown in the movie wasn’t what I had imagined”? When all the images are provided for you, you are merely a witness. When your mind creates art of its own volition, in the spaces left for you by the author, you become a participant in the art. Weird fiction just provides more quick focus for the imagination. By providing unusual imagery, it homes in on the experience of feeling the strange. I think of Mieville’s Perdido Street Station as a good example of this. Because we begin by focusing on Lin, who has a scarab beetle for a head, and we are introduced to a well-described artificial construct, a gaunt bird-like being who has had his wings sawed from off his back, and other minor, bizarre characters, it is easy for the imagination to populate the rest of the city with all manner of strange beings. We extrapolate, we expand, and our expansions are simultaneously bound and freed by the weirdness that has been provided us by the author. This, in our minds, creates a strange kind of beauty: a contrast to the “normal” world in which we live. I, for one, am appreciative of the gift of being able to enter this dark world and take in its beauty.

Comment on “art” born from death? Were you affected by hermetic muses?

“Think that you are not yet begotten, that you are in the womb, that you are young, that you are old, that you have died, that you are in the world beyond the grave; grasp in your thought all of this at once… then you can apprehend God.”  Hermes Trismegistus, Hermetica

Heraclix & Pomp opens with a quote from the father (god?) of mysticism, Hermes Trismegistus. Although the Thrice Great Hermes purportedly wrote 100-300 AD (long before the 1700’s in H&P), hermeticism enabled the connection of the intangible of nature (god, life, death…) with artificial, human powers (art, thaumaturgy, theurgy) and was influential during Europe’s Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment.  Indeed, before the 20th century, most scientists were also artists since they had to record their observations without photographs or computers (Da Vinci, Ernest Haeckel, Robert Hooke, etc.), so the scientists were the ultimate creators.   Assembling and resurrecting a human via necromantic rites (i.e., Heraclix’s birth) certainly demonstrates mystical beauty. Can you comment on “art” born from death?  Were you affected by hermetic muses?


FA: Death is the ultimate darkness, the ultimate mystery. As I stated before, the human brain has a way of filling in the gaps created by mystery. Now, the mystery of Heraclix is his past: what was he before he died and was reborn? The death itself is of little or no consequence. It was what happened before death that concerns him.  But, it is only as he travels through the veil of death and into Hell that Heraclix really begins to understand who he (or they) was (or were). I suppose losing one’s memory is a kind of death, in an abstract way. And memory and forgetfulness, change and rediscovery, were the main themes behind Heraclix’s journey. He is not who he thought he was, but he doesn’t know who he was. So many concern themselves about what is coming, about the inevitability of death. Heraclix is concerned with what came before life, a question which many people are even more terrified to explore than the fear of death. 

Pomp, on the other hand, has no innate concept of death. It is only when she realizes that there might be an end to her existence, that it is possible for her to die, that she begins to even understand a concept of time. Her question is: can one understand time, unless one is faced with death, the possible cessation of time? So death itself is merely a trigger to this question. She is not so concerned about what happens after we die. But because of death, the here and now becomes acute and comes into sharper focus. She can’t be as carefree and whimsical as she used to be, because she does not have an infinite amount of time available to her, or at least she realizes now that this is the case. Furthermore, death is the ultimate consequence. As a result of her brush with death, Pomp begins to realize that there are consequences to one’s actions, consequences that affect her and others. So the prospect of death creates empathy within her, as well.

These existential problems can inform art, though they don’t necessarily have to do so. Again, death is a mystery. And art that is drawn from death or that portrays death, allows the imagination to expand and fill in the gaps of knowledge that are inevitably caused by our inability to see beyond death or beyond birth, as in Heraclix’s case.

 "...art that is drawn from death or that portrays death, allows the imagination to expand and fill in the gaps of knowledge that are inevitably caused by our inability to see beyond death or beyond birth, as in Heraclix’s case." F.Aguirre 2014

Do you consider Mattatheus Mowler an artist?

Your necromancer Mowler is reminiscent of Mary Bryce Shelly’s Victor Frankenstein, the infamous artist and scientist, who pieced together body parts to create life via alchemy.  In her prologue, Shelly described how her muse worked though her:
“I saw-with shut eyes, but acute mental vision-I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together.  I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion.   Frightful must it be; for supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world.  His success would terrify the artist...” (Mary Shelly, The Modern Prometheus 1818)

Were you affected by haunting muses?   Do you consider your character Mattatheus Mowler an artist?

FA: Mattatheus Mowler is motivated by fear. I don’t know that he would consider himself an artist, though he does have an artistic flair. He’s an artist, I suppose, in that he’s an actor, but all of his actions are based on his fear of death. If he’s an artist, he’s an accidental artist, except in the theatrical arts, where he is very intentional!

Do you have a curio cabinet at home, full of Etsy-purchased art? Where did you procure that Totenkopf (death’s head Fez)?

Like Mowler, you don a peculiar Fez cap. The juxtaposition of skull-and-crossbones on the timely headpiece (popular in the 18th century) represents the necromancer, indeed the entire book, well. You claim not to be an artisan as much as you are a writer, but you have a fascination with artifacts; collecting them seemed integral our creative process, at least in (your many virtual "treasuries" on Etsy).  Why brainstorm in a real marketplace of artifacts? Do you have a curio cabinet at home, full of Etsy purchased art? Where did you get that death’s head Fez?
Aguirre's Etsy Treasuries 
FA: Well, I’m not a hoarder, as such. The Etsy lists served many purposes. They helped me visualize things a bit better when I required some focus. They helped me to get the word out about the novel to people who might not otherwise get direct exposure to it. Finally, I just plain love Etsy and want to support the artists there. Since I can’t just go and buy everything on Etsy, I thought I’d give some of these Heraclix & Pomp related pieces a “signal boost”. I don’t know that I can take credit, but some of the pieces in those lists have sold since

 I posted them on my treasuries list. I do have a sort of curio cabinet or cabinets in my writing area. I collect a lot of knick-knacks that serve as writing prompts, distractions, or objects that spur the imagination. I have, among many other things, a small “crystal” (read: cheap clear resin) skull, a number of retro-rayguns, several metal miniatures (killer robots, martians a’la “Mars Attacks,” creatures from the Lovecraft mythos), a few European Renaissance-era and early modern silver coins, a meteorite, a bird cage filled with origami ravens (and a copy of Poes “The Raven” in paperback), and so forth. My Totenkopf was purchased from fez-o-rama.com. I couldn’t afford to buy an authentic Totenkopf (I think starting bids for these were around $2500 on ebay, last I checked). So the $50 I spent on my Totenkopf was well worth the price. They don’t make that particular style any more, but I do know that they recently put up another skull-emblazoned fez. And that reminds me, it’s not a “pirate fez” as I’ve heard so many people say. It’s a decidedly germano-slavic design. I am trying to educate the world about this, but it often feels like I am spitting into the wind. Cretins . . .

Is "mortality" one of your muses? Is there beauty in impermanence?

Heraclix & Pomp explores the boundaries of life and death, which a presumptive interviewer may assume is reflective of a mid-life crisis plaguing the rapidly again author.  Having recently celebrating 45yrs of youth, is "mortality" one of your muses? Is there beauty in impermanence?

FA: As a child, I always thought I would die at age 36. I have no idea where I got this notion from, but it was stuck in my head, nonetheless. As I approached my 36th birthday, I was less and less worried about the prospect. On that birthday, I woke up, looked around and thought “well, that’s over”. My mother’s mother lived to be 96, and since my father was adopted and I don’t know his biological parents, I have no idea what my genetic longevity could be like. For all I know, I’ll live to be 100 or I’ll die on the way to dinner tonight. I think that, more than mortality being a muse, adventuring into the unknown is one of my muses. And going into middle age and, hopefully, old age, is a bit of an adventure. I’m enjoying the ride.

Any tips on how to incorporate humor into Dark Art without ruining the ambience?

Trailblazing weird authors (i.e., Clark Ashton Smith, Howard Phillips Lovecraft) considered their dark fiction beautiful, but they steered away from incorporating humor.  You style seems is indeed “weird” but you include doses of intellectual laughs.  For instance, Pomp’s idiosyncrasies and mischief are a welcome contrast to H&P’s darker settings.  Any tips for writers who want to incorporate humor without ruining the ambiance

FA: Once I had Pomp firmly planted in my head, she did the rest. I’ve always had a strong sense of humor, partially because I lived in England during my teenage years and developed a dark, python-esque sense of humor while I was there. But for Heraclix & Pomp, I didn’t set out to write something humorous. Pomp just sort of took me there. I love Pomp’s whimsy. It’s a healthy contrast to so many grim things happening. The character of Von Graeb also brought a lighter touch to the novel, I think. He’s not hilarious, but he is good-natured, the kind of guy you like to be around at a social gathering: real, but willing to laugh at life. I think many works today are very sarcastic in their humor, and I can appreciate that, in fact the science fiction novel that I’m working on right now, Solistalgia, has a character with as sarcastic a sense of humor as anyone could have. But cynicism mingled with laughter has become endemic in fiction nowadays. In the case of writing Heraclix & Pomp, I wanted to keep the cynicism at a fairly low level, compared to my normal work. Again, Pomp and Von Graeb helped me out a great deal. They kept things lighter than they otherwise would have been, had I let my natural grim sense of humor have its way.

How does your Humanities and African History degrees (Brigham Young University and Madison-WI respectively) inform your weird fiction? 

Your The Butterfly Artist involved Africa, but many of your other works have a European focus (Cloaks of Vermin and Fish, Archangel Morpheus, and Heraclix & Pomp. You even went extraterrestrial with Swans over the Moon.   It seems your interests are shifting from Africa…to Europe…to divine realms.  How did your Humanities and African History degrees lead you on your journey?  Where are you going next?

FA: Keep in mind that I was raised as a bit of a gypsy. My dad was a sergeant in the US Air Force. I was born in Germany, lived in the Philippines (which I still can’t spell, after all these years - thank you, autocorrect), Italy, England, and even Nebraska, for a time. I’ve lived all over the US except the Deep South. And I mean lived in these places, not just visited. It would take me some time to enumerate the countries I’ve visited. So, from my birth, I’ve had a bit of the wanderlust. It’s just how I was raised. I’m amazed when I look back at my time living in Wisconsin. 18 years, it’s been. In my first 18 years of life I had lived in four different countries and four different states: Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wyoming. 

When I went to college at BYU (in Utah, for those unfamiliar with BYU), I studied humanities with a history emphasis. Most of my history classes were in European History, medieval, renaissance, and modern. It wasn’t until the summer between my junior and senior year, when I did my senior thesis on the Battle of Tanga in German East Africa, that I began to become interested in Africa. That’s what led me to apply to UW-Madison and pursue a Master’s in African History. After I ran out of funding and ambition, I quit grad school and worked in the “real” world (where I am still gainfully employed) and writing fiction whenever I could manage it. We write what we know, so, of course my travels and my studies inform my work. As I mentioned earlier, I’m working on a science fiction novel set, where else? In space. I guess I’ve moved beyond this planet, for a short time, anyway. But I’ll be back. I have a feeling that Heraclix and Pomp might just return at some future point. There are no guarantees, but I hear that there were some interesting things happening between the time of their first adventures and now, maybe something in colonial Africa or in the American west. I’ll ask them if they were involved.

Creative Processes

You already covered your writing process in other interviews, and revealed that H&P evolved, in part, from role playing games, and that you prefer to write the first draft of a story with a real ink pen (see interview list above).  Would you like to comment more on your creative process?

FA: It probably goes without saying that writing, for me, is a holistic experience. I typically burn incense when writing and am rarely without a dark chocolate bar of some kind nearby when I write. Music is critical, too, as you can see from the acknowledgements in Heraclix & Pomp. Each of my characters has his or her own soundtrack, really, and when I need to get into character quickly, I turn on the appropriate music to tune in to that character. Lighting is also an influence for me. My writing area is admittedly dim, as harsh lights tend to blind my imagination, a bit. I am a visual and kinesthetic learner/creator, so this is fairly important to me. I guess, in summation, writing is a whole body, immersive experience. Writing is one of my “happy places,” and you don’t get to your happy place without preparing for the journey!


"Each of my characters has his or her own soundtrack, really, and when I need to get into character quickly, I turn on the appropriate music to tune in to that character." F.Aguirre 2014

Do you find any of your own weird fiction as beautiful?   

FA: I do. And I don’t say that to be vain. There’s something in my blood, probably from my mother, that compels me to create. I don’t have the talent or the patience to be an artist (though my kids are wonderful artists), and though I’ve done acting in the theatrical realm a couple of times, I find that the preparation and execution of acting requires me to “stuff down” my personality. It’s a real chore. Creating through writing, though, comes quite naturally. The experience of writing is a drug, a hallucinogen that brings beautiful things out of my mind. Sometimes, I’m able to capture them and show others, sometimes not. But when I can, I’m not afraid to acknowledge their beauty. I can sometimes look at a sentence and say “That, Forrest, is a great sentence. You rule!” This is to counteract the many times when I have to overcome the sense of inadequacy that arises from those times when I know I haven’t quite captured what I’ve seen or heard in my thoughts. Take your victories as you can, I say. Don’t be afraid to acknowledge the beauty you create. But do be willing to acknowledge when someone else, usually an editor, finds an even better way to express what it is that you thought you had expressed well in the first place. Be proud. Be humble. Just be both at the appropriate times. There’s no shame in creating something beautiful and feeling a sense of satisfaction in not only the creative act itself, but in the results of your efforts. You’ve made the world a more beautiful place for yourself and others. Congratulations!

Thanks Forrest Aguirre for sharing! 

Heraclix and Pomp is available Oct,. 2014.  Check it out now.