Category: fant1970-90

Spellsinger (The Spellsinger Adventures Book 1)

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Quag Keep and return to Quag Keep by Andre Norton (Greyhawk- Dungeons & Dragons)

In 1979 Quag Keep was the first novel based on the world of Dungeons & Dragons by  Andre Norton. 25 year later in 2005 she published return to Quad Keep. Once, they were role-playing gamers in our world. They came Read more

The Doomfarers of Coramonde (Coramonde duology)

Just yesterday Sergeant Gil McDonald and his APC crew had been fighting their way out of an ambush in a Viet Nam jungle. In the middle of the enchange of fire some kind of magic had transported them to this Read more

Spellsinger (The Spellsinger Adventures Book 1)
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A musician is transported into a land of magic—from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Trek Into Darkness.

Jonathan Thomas Meriweather is a typical college student, interested in girls, music, and an occasional taste of reefer. But when a journey through an interdimensional portal lands him in a world of talking animals and ominous sorcery, he finds he is on a very different trip indeed. Here, when he plays a strange instrument called a duar, peculiar things happen: powerful magic that may be the only way to stop a dark force that threatens his new world—and his old one. Reluctantly, he finds himself teaming up with a semi-senile turtle wizard; a thieving, backstabbing otter; and a bewildered Marxist dragon to rally an army for the war about to come.

Spellsinger, the first in Alan Dean Foster’s eight-book Spellsinger series, introduces a world of magic and mayhem, where animals are people and plunging ahead no matter what the consequences may be the only way to survive.

Conan The Rebel by Poul Anderson

Conan The Rebel by Poul Anderson
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A grand adventure of the mighty thewed barbarian, from one of Fantasy’s biggest names

Conan, The name has inspired generations, one that resounds through time immemorial. Yet it all began with a handful of stories from Robert E. Howard. In the decades since, there have been feature films, television and comic book series, and numerous spin-off novels. In 1979, Poul Anderson—winner of a staggering eight Hugo and three Nebula Awards—wrote what is regarded as one of the finest adventures in the canon of Conan:

Conan the Rebel.

Conan the barbarian and Belit, his raven-haired beauty, lead a band of savage pirates striving to free Belit’s people from the iron grip of an evil reptile god and its cruel minions. Striking at the heart of tyranny, Conan must break the chains of oppression before eternal darkness claims them all.

Split Infinity (Apprentice Adept Book 1)

Split Infinity (Apprentice Adept Book 1)
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On the technological, decadent world of Proton, someone was trying to destroy Stile, serf and master Gamesman. His only escape lay through a mysterious “curtain” revealed by a loving robot.

Beyond the curtain lay Phaze—a world totally ruled by magic. There, his first encounter was with an amulet that turned into a demon determined to choke him to death. And there, he soon learned, his alternate self had already been murdered by sorcery, and he was due to be the next victim.

“Know thyself!” the infallible Oracle told him. But first he must save himself as he shuttled between worlds.

On Proton, his fate depended on winning the great Games.

On Phaze, he could survive only by mastering magic.

And if he used any magic at all, the werewolf and the unicorn who were his only friends were determined to kill him at once!

The Dragon and the George: The Dragon Cycle

The Dragon and the George: The Dragon Cycle
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One minute he was a college teacher, the next he was a dragon!

Jim Eckert leads a peaceful, happy campus life. He’s a college basketball player and an expert in mediaeval history. But his life has been disrupted by the disappearance of his girlfriend Angie. While taking part in a laboratory experiment on astral projection she just vanished.

In an attempt to find out what’s happened he submits himself to the equipment. A very unwise move.

Next thing he knows he’s in the Middle Ages. Worse, he’s no longer human. He’s in the body of a dragon. Worse still, Angie has been nabbed by another dragon and taken to the Loathly Tower. Obviously, Jim has no option but to give chase . . .

This first volume in Gordon R. Dickson’s hilarious fantasy series is perfect for fans of Piers Anthony and Terry Pratchett.

Conan the Warlord by Leonard Carpenter

Conan the Warlord by Leonard Carpenter
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pastiche of Conan by Leonard Carpenter

In the ancient land of Nemedia, Conan of Cimmeria agrees to impersonate Baron Eihnarson’s son and heir in order to escape a foul prison cell–at least until he can escape completely, with a pouch full of gold. Calissa, the Baron’s sensuous daughter, has other plans for Conan, as does Evadne, the voluptuous rebel maiden. Palace intrigues swirl–poison in the cup and the assassin’s dagger in the dark–and Conan must lead the army of Diander against the Cult of the Snake, the demon which burns and slays all whom it does not concert to half-serpent slaves of an ancient evil. In mouldering tombs the dead Lords of Einharson stir, and rise to strike down any who would threaten their line.

Conan the Champion by John Maddox Roberts

Conan the Champion by John Maddox Roberts
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pastiche of Conan by John Maddox Roberts known for his SPQR serie of historical mystery set in the final years of the Roman Republic

Stranded in the furthest northern reaches of Brythunia, Conan the Cimmerian pledges himself as the champion of the haughty, beautiful Queen Alcuina. Soon the mighty barbarian is enmeshed in a war with two kings, who want Alcuina’s lands, and the evil wizard Iilma, who plots to rule the entire northland and has his own foul designs on the queen’s body. From the blood-drenched snows of the Brythunian forests to the sorcerous Shifting Lands the battles rage. The dead rise to slay, and victory can only come from Conan the Champion.

The Warlock in Spite of Himself (The Warlock of Gramarye Book 1)

The Warlock in Spite of Himself (The Warlock of Gramarye Book 1)
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SCIENCE AND SORCERY DO NOT MIX–EXCEPT ON GRAMARYE

Skeptical, cynical Rod Gallowglass is a spacefaring man of science who does not believe in magic. He’s also an operative of the agency SCENT, tasked with finding lost colony planets, then guiding them toward democracy and eventual membership in the galactic community.

But when he stumbles across the strange new planet Gramarye, he’s shocked to discover a medieval society full of witches and warlocks, elves and monsters. How is it even possible? Worse, Rod’s advanced technology quickly gets him labeled a warlock, despite his constant denials.

Moreover, the Kingdom is in political turmoil, with a young girl-queen on the brink of civil war with her rebellious lords. Rod slowly discovers off-world organizations are behind the unrest, trying to subtly corrupt Gramarye away from democratic rule. His mission is threatened at every turn by fascists, anarchists, and double-dealing royalists playing vicious political power games for the future of the most unique–and perhaps most important–planet in the galaxy.

Aided only by a coven of teenage witches, a ragtag army of beggars, and his epileptic robot horse Fess, Rod decides the only way to thwart these destructive influences—-both native and off-planet—-is for him to become a part of the local fabric and lead Gramarye as one of their own. But to do so, Rod Gallowglass must put aside his own convictions and beliefs, and become a warlock, in spite of himself.

Kane saga by Karl Edward Wagner

Kane saga by Karl Edward Wagner
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Where once the mighty Kane has passed, no one who lives forgets. Now, down the trail of past battles, Kane travels again. To the ruins of a devastated city peopled only with half-men and the waif they call their queen. To the half-burnt tavern where a woman Kane wronged long ago holds his child in keeping for the Devil. To the cave kingdom of the giants where glory and its aftermath await discovery. To the house of death itself where Kane retrieves a woman in love.

The past, the future, the present – all these are one for Kane as he travels through the centuries.

Contents:
“Undertow”
“Two Suns Setting”
“The Dark Muse”
“Raven’s Eyrie”
“Lynortis Reprise”
“Sing a Last Song of Valdese”

Legion from the shadow (Bran Mac Morn)

Legion from the shadow (Bran Mac Morn)
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see also : Conan: Road of Kings, another pastiche of Howard by Karl Edward Wagner

Karl Wagner wrote this pastiche of Robert E. Howard’s pictish king, Bran Mac Morn during the heyday, resurgence, or whatever it was of Howard reprints in paperback. Wagner wove a tale of swords and sorcery around the very real disappearance of the Roman 9th Legion in Britain and what a tale it is. Despite his success as a writer of heroic fantasy, Wagner always considered himself more a writer of horror than of sword and sorcery. As was his trademark at the time (and predating the “splatterpunks”) there’s particularly shocking and gruesome scene in this book that will surprise you and stick with you. Bran Mac Morn is, unfortunately, not well known among Howard’s great fantasy characters.

This book was intended to be the first of a series and a second, “Queen of the Night” was written but never published in English due to it becoming entangled in the bankruptcy of Zebra Books for whom it was written (although there are rumors that it appeared in Germany). Pity. Some publisher would do us all a service by extracting “Queen of the Night” from limbo. In addition to his own novels and stories of Kane, Wagner went on to write one more Howard pastiche, a celebrated Conan novel titled “Road of Kings.” And although that book is equally worth your attention, “Legion From the Shadows” ranks as an outstanding example of what a pastiche should a work true to the spirit of the original author’s work while respectfully and creatively furthering the mythology of the character. If you’re a Howard fan or a Karl Wagner fan and this book isn’t on your self you have a gap there that seriously needs filling.

 

Conan: Road of Kings

Conan: Road of Kings
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Often regarded as one of the best Conan pastiches

see also : Legion from the shadow, another pastiche of Howard by Karl Edward Wagner

Facing the gallows for defending his honor-by killing the captain of the guard-the mighty Conan jumps feet first into a rescue attempt of one of his fellow prisoners. When Conan learns his rescuers are the daring Rebels of the White Rose, he joins their blood-soaked insurrection.

But Conan’s struggles are only beginning, for the road to the throne is defended by the Final Guard–indestructible warriors made of stone. Conan must draw steel against these indomitable foes and pray that Krom will guide his blade both strong and true.