u/TheComixkid2099

Won this in a drawing a week or so ago, and, after I finished it, I wanted to give my quick thoughts. Clocking in at a little over 300 pages, I think the best way to describe this would be "Kind of like A Song of Ice and Fire, but with more humor." The menace of the villains hanging at the fringe of our story, the mysteries that elude our protagonists all paired with the scope of this world and the tantalizing teases of what awaits in Book 2 should be more than enough to get readers hyped for Book 2 of Gods, Gold & Goblins!

I think everyone in this subreddit has asked "what elements make Sword & Sorcery," and what separates the subgenre from the rest of fantasy. While your mileage may vary on what does and doesn't count, I suspect anyone in here looking for a good, entertaining yarn won't be disappointed by this book. It doesn't feel exactly like what the founding fathers and mother laid down in the genre, but then, I don't want it to. I want the genre to evolve and grow into something new, but still familiar as part of the same wellspring. I think Roguerun does that. I hope you all will like it.

Also known as The Worst Secret Agent in the Galactic Union gets kidnapped 398 times and feels like he has absolutely no agency in his own story.

Sword and Planet, but I suspect (hope?) most people here don't see much of a difference, at least for discussion of the genre.

I kind of hated this book? I've heard it hyped a lot, and I really don't understand what people see in it. To be fair, I didn't hate this as much as the last S&S book I read, but that is an incredibly low bar to clear. And, I do wonder if a lot of the love for this world and character comes from the later books? I suppose we will see. In any case, I have the omnibus that collects the Skaith trilogy. If I only had the first book, I would not have sought out the others.

Erik John Stark goes to this backwoods planet to rescue his foster-father, and literally everyone on this planet wants to kill him because he poses a threat to their power, or use him for their own political schemes to oppose the existing power structure. It feels like Brackett had a 10 page story in mind, and she didn't know how to stretch that out into a full sized novel, so she repeatedly has different groups kidnap our hero and his traveling companions, just to stall for time. It does give us a chance to explore this world, and in fairness to Brackett, it feels like she really knows this world inside and out. I don't get the feeling she is just throwing stuff at the wall. This feels like a society she has given some thought to.

But, I'm sorry, world-building without a story is boring. And we just don't have enough story to sustain 143 pages, here. Part of the problem nagging at my brain is my lingering suspicion that S&S inherently works better in short form. Robert E Howard mostly stayed away from novels, Moorcock's early S&S stuff were short stories, and, for my money, when he did do novels, they tended to become a little monotonous. This story does not do anything to dissuade me of this notion. After about the third or fourth time someone kidnaps Stark, he said he was done with that, and the next time someone tried to take him, he would die fighting them...and then he gets kidnapped two more times.

I heard someone once say, as a writer, your goal is to figure out what your character wants, and then do everything in your power to prevent them from getting it. Well, Brackett does that, but it just gets incredibly tedious when it's the same thing every chapter. I really wish after maybe the second time Stark gets captured by someone, we could stay with that group a while, they could use him, somehow, to solve or remove one of their problems, and then that could create new problems, either for his kidnappers, or for some of their enemies, and then, somehow, Stark could stumble into another scenario that brings him one step closer to finding his foster-father.

As is, Stark feels more like a passenger in his own story, instead of the driving force that pushes it forward. That may not be entirely fair, he does make decisions, here and there, and there are times I do enjoy his character. When he endangers himself to save a woman who wants him dead. When he threatens to destroy a priceless musical instrument, and chose to leave it undamaged, even when he is betrayed, I really enjoy these elements of mercy he shows his enemies. It is an excellent example of "Show, don't tell" that gives me a great idea of who this guy is.

Unfortunately, those two bits I liked didn't make up for the rest of the book. We get a very abrupt ending, which upsets me, and I have the next two books. I can't imagine how someone would feel if they stumbled on this one in a thrift store or something, and then they didn't get any conclusion to much of the conflict set up, here. I don't know if I've read much S&S from the 1970s, so I don't know how common that was in the genre, at the time. But I was really hoping for more resolution than what we got.

I fully expect everyone to disagree with me on this one, with how much love I've seen for this on the internet. I genuinely would love for people to tell me why they like this book or series.

I have never read any non-Conan De Camp or Carter, so we will see how these are. I am looking forward to Lieber (and I think I only lack one of the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser books to complete the set)

Picking up from my post where I remade the first Iron Man movie as an epic fantasy story, today, I do the same with the Incredible Hulk.

Abdias Stane stoking the flames of war in my Iron Man remake wasn't terribly difficult for him, because many people in this lose confederation of kingdoms still greatly mistrust the people across the sea thanks to the war from a couple of generations ago. (A lot of the details of the war, such as the Hydra and their capabilities, are thought to be hyperbole by the general populace, but the war itself and the foul taste it conjures in memories is real enough.)

As such, a few years ago, Thaddaeus, a high ranking commander in the King's Army, sought ways to fight the enemy, should the need arise. Maybe recreating the legends of a warrior who fought for the kingdoms in the war. He enlisted the help of a master from the Alchemist's Guilds, Hrodebert, whose family once bore the banner for the King's army, generations past.

Hrodebert fell in love with Thaddaeus' daughter, Elisheva, but it didn't work out, thanks to an accident with the chemicals Hrodebert was working with. Somehow, the accident transformed Hdorebert into an Orc, much like the ones allegedly ensorcelled by the Hydra generations ago (some of the legends of the war really are just legends). Unlike the Orcs of legend, though, this Orc has rudimentary understanding of human speech and emotions, but it is easily enraged, which happens frequently, as most humans' gut-instinct when they see a 12-foot monstrosity like this is to attack it.

Hrodebert went into hiding, as much because he feared what he had become, and didn't want to cause harm to others, especially Elisheva, but also because Thaddaeus wants to use Hrodebert in his Orc form, especially after the fallout from our Iron Man movie. Antonius and his friends tried their best to make it clear Abdias was acting out of self-interest in trying to start up a war, and that there was no need for the people on this side of the sea to worry themselves. But Thaddaeus is hardly known for his even temper. If there's no need for war at the moment, there likely will be, soon. As far as he's concerned, Hrodebert's experiment was a rousing success, and Hrodebert may very well be a traitor who refuses to aid his kingdom as he was hired to do.

Hrodebert went underground, trying to reverse the experiment. He took pity on an abused stable hand named Samouēl, and enlisted him as an assistant who would pick up supplies for him. Though Samouēl is ridiculed elsewhere for his low wit, he is smarter than he seems, and soon figures out Hrodebert is a fugitive, and why he is on the run. Seeking some retribution against those who have mocked him his entire life, Samouēl attempts to recreate Hrodebert's initial experiment, though it has a different effect on him, greatly increasing his intellect, instead of his strength.

But his vengeance can still be wrought, though on a much grander scale than he had intended when he was slow-witted Samouēl. Thaddaeus receives an anonymous tip (from Samouēl) on the whereabouts of Hrodebert, sending Hrodebert into one of his Orc-rages that he had managed to suppress for so long. Samouēl then surrenders himself to Thaddaeus, claiming Hrodebert's mind has become unhinged from his transformations, and he threatened to kill Samouēl and his family unless Samouēl aided him. But, good news for Thaddaeus, Samouēl knows the secret to Hrodebert's experiment.

Before Samouēl betrayed Hrodebert, he got in touch with a pit fighter named Aemilius, whose grandfather was from one of the nations across the sea. On Samouēl's instructions, Aemilius offers his assistance to Thaddaeus, probably saying his family was killed in the Orc's recent rampage, and he wants revenge. Thaddaeus fast-tracks Aemilius to the front of the line to become one of his Orcs who work for the crown, and, with Samouēl's increased intellect, it works, even better than Hrodebert's original experiment, as Aemilius retains all of his intelligence, as opposed to Hrodebert.

Meanwhile, Hrodebert, with no other options, sought out Elisheva, who abandoned her father after Hrodebert's experiment, to work in an orphanage or some fantasy-world equivalent. He has always known where she was, but didn't want to seek her out until he could rid himself of the Orc. But he is desperate, and comes to her to help hide him. But the hiding doesn't last long, as Aemilius, no longer following Thaddaeus' orders, begins rampaging. He wants to be the strongest one there is, and Samouēl wants everyone in the world to suffer, in payment for his suffering. So, everyone is happy.

Hrodebert reluctantly comes out of hiding to stop Aemilius' rampage, but, thanks to a slow-to-act chemical Samouēl dosed him with before his last rampage, Hrodebert is unable to summon his Orc-self. That is, until Elisheva deliberately puts herself in danger, gambling that this will enrage Hrodebert enough to instigate the transformation. Aemilus taunts Hrodebert that, with his brains and brawn, he is the more powerful adversary, but eventually, Hrodebert out-rages Aemilius, defeating him, and leaving Thaddaeus with egg on his face in the process. Samouēl has managed to disappear in all the confusion, leaving Thaddaeus looking even more the fool when he tries to pin the blame on the former stable hand.

While the day is saved, Hrodebert still doesn't trust himself in the heart of the city, and reluctantly leaves Elisheva, knowing it is unlikely they will ever be reunited. Thaddaeus faces possible punishment for his part in the birth of the abomination that rampaged in the outer rim of the kingdom. He is visited by Niklaus, the Fury of the Crown, who gently encourages him to call off his hunt for Hrodebert. Hrodebert has saved the kingdom, and deserves a rest, or, if he does prove to be the threat Thaddaeus wanted to turn him into, Thaddaeus will need more than weapons to go against the Orc. He will need...a Shield.

That's it. I hope you all enjoyed this, and I may just come back next week for more in this series.

The guy from Fire and Ice kills Sonja in an alternate reality where she is comically evil?

This is from a story where Sonja is forced to reflect on choices she has made in life. Then we get this issue, quite possibly one of the most sickeningly violent comics I have read. I think I have seen Garth Ennis exercise more restraint than this issue. Plus, if the point is for Sonja to think about what she has actually done, why show her a What If of what she never actually did?

Anyway, enjoy this panel with what I thought was a fun, unexpected cameo.

Antonius of House Stark is a minor noble, a Duke or a Baron, whose family made their fortune a hundred times over with their ownership of the mines, and heavy involvement with the Smith's Guilds. While Antonius appears vapid and carries little responsibilities, he does have a good head for numbers, and his good-business sense has propelled his family's fortunes even higher since his parents died under mysterious circumstances seventeen years ago.

Helping Antonius run the business arrangements of House Stark is Ginevra, an adept of the Merchant's Guild. She is secretly in love with the lord of the house she has sworn fealty to, but knows it's not a good idea to get involved, with his casual philandering. Not to mention, it might not look good for the Lord of the House to be seen publicly fraternizing with someone of low birth, at least that's what she thinks.

Among Antonius' honored staff is Sir Ya'aqov of House Rhodes, a House that once rivaled House Stark in power, but fell out of favor generations ago. Sir Ya'aqov was fostered at the towers at Starkhold as a child, and is the closest thing Antonius has to a real friend. He is now Antonius' Captain of the Guard, though some may whisper that he hasn't earned his position.

And, there's Abdias Stane, brought into the Stark alliance before Antonius was born, when Antonius' father, Hávarðr, saved his life. Abdias does not come from a noble family, but was raised to his station by Hávarðr. He was trained in strategy and tactics and was a bonded servant of the Hydra, the eldritch cult of demonianists who warred with the loose confederation of kingdoms sixty-three years ago. Maybe Hávarðr was in a mercurial mood when he arranged for Abdias to be spared his appointment with the gallows, or maybe he had some way of knowing of the mental prowess of those trained in the strategic arts by the Hydra, and wanted someone like that on his side. [Think how the Great houses in the Dune universe have Mentats working for them.] Either way, for decades, Abdias served the same role Ginevra now serves, aiding Hávarðr and then Antonius with various deals to line the pockets of House Stark.

While Antonius shirks many of his responsibilities, one he does take serious is developing relationships with potential new clientele, which could make him and his all the wealthier. Ginevra and Ya'aqov both discourage Antonius from going to meet with representatives from The Institution of the Rings, a little-known guild across the sea. Spurious rumors suggest this alliance of merchants might have even dealt with the remnants of the Hydra, though Antonius doesn't take this seriously. As far as he's concerned, the Hydra is little more than a myth, even though it was still active in his father's lifetime.

Antonius is betrayed during his expedition. He is felled by a volley of Alchemical Firepots, which badly burn him, making it difficult for him to even breathe. Across the sea, House Stark is in chaos. Normally, in any other noble house, even so far from the throne, the heir to the house would set about fairly quickly in securing an heir, in case something like this happens. But Antonius, again, frivolous, not interested in doing what others want him to do. He's also been busy making his house richer, and trying to find a bride who isn't part of a nest of vipers who would want to drain the family's coffers wasn't high on his list of priorities. It's finally discovered the next heir to the seat of power is none other than Abdias, who was named heir after the many times he aided Hávarðr, at least before Antonius was born. While he was pushed to second in line to the House Seat, Antonius never officially rescinded his father's decree, and so Abdias now rules House Stark.

Across the sea, a scholar and dabbler in the mystic arts, Yīn Shèn, saves Antonius, though Antonius is bitter and wishes the old man hadn't bothered. Yīn Shèn would see the Institution of the Rings destroyed for the crimes they have perpetrated across this region. While Antonius seems ambivalent about what they do in this part of the world, when Yīn Shèn tells him they plan to move their operations across the sea, near Antonius' homeland, Antonius agrees to do whatever he can to stop them.

Yīn Shèn performs an alchemical incantation that binds Antonius with heavy armor plating, made from the same weaponry his family profited from for generations. He is now the weapon he once sold. The various runes Yīn Shèn carved into the armor will allow Antonius to use his own knowledge from when he was slumming it with the Smith's guild to add new weapons to his new exoskeleton, depending on the need of the mission.

When Antonius targets some of the operations of the Institution of the Rings, their representatives quickly find him and Yīn Shèn, who we discover was once a strategist for the Institution of the Rings, in the same way Abdias was for House Stark. After a miscalculation on Yīn Shèn's part, his family were left in a dangerous region that was targeted by weapons supplied by House Stark. Yīn Shèn fled, hoping to use Antonius for his own revenge. The Rings weren't planning any immediate actions across the sea, though Antonius does find out they were informed of Antonius' own schemes against them before his business meeting, alerting Antonius someone back home betrayed him. Yīn Shèn is executed, and the Institution of the Rings want to use Antonius for their own schemes, and also as insurance against, you guessed it, Abdias, who wanted Antonius out of the way. They think they can secure House Stark as a permanent ally they can keep in control if they keep Antonius alive, and threaten to parade him around if Abdias doesn't do what they want.

But, Antonius escapes and makes it back home, just as Abdias is about to inflame a war overseas, which will make House Stark even wealthier, as they will supply the weapons, and it will keep the Institution of the Rings busy enough that they won't be hassling him. Antonius reveals himself to Ya'aqov and Ginevra, and Ya'aqov will have to subtly see which soldiers are aligned with what Abdias is doing, and which will still follow Antonius when he reveals himself. This will put to rest any doubts about Ya'aqov's skills when he's able to kick some butt and take some names when everything hits the fan. When Antonius confronts Abdias, we find out, even when Hávarðr was still alive, Abdias always hated Hávarðr and his family. He had been trained and molded his entire life for one single purpose that was taken from him. And just as he became comfortable in his new role Hávarðr had provided for him, Abdias begins to feel like a third wheel, with Antonius and Ginevra running House Stark's business even better than he ever did.

Antonius offers Abdias a chance to flee, if Antonius never sees him again, he will forget the betrayal Abdias has visited on the family that treated him as one of their own. But Abdias is familiar with the same ancient arts Yīn Shèn used to save Antonius, and he constructs an armor similar to what Antonius now wears, and a fight commences. But, thanks to some trial and error from when Antonius was fighting the agents of the Rings across the sea, Antonius is aware of a bad combination of the runes, and Abdias is hoisted by his own petard. All the while, Captain Ya'aqov was able to race out and convince the General leading the forces to withdraw, while Ginevra convinces the Banking Guild to freeze the accounts of House Stark, until an investigation could be performed on the legality of Abdias' fanning the flames of war.

Antonius swears things will change with House Stark's relationship with the rest of the kingdom, and how they operate. He wants to use his wealth to fund education and the arts, even though he knows this will earn him some enemies among the more hawkish members of the governing families. But his change of heart will earn him new allies, as Ya'aqov and Ginevra's contacts are both secret agents of Niklaus, the Fury of the Crown, who knew Hávarðr Stark, long ago. Niklaus says, if Antonius is serious about using his connections and wealth to help protect the kingdom, he will be in touch, but he may call on Antonius for more direct assistance in the future.

(That's all I've got. I don't know if this will be something I will pursue much further, but I thought this would be a fun, weird What If? type situation. Hope you all enjoyed this one.)

>!I'm only half-joking. If you did something that is Doctor Who in everything but name, with a super low budget that forced writers to focus on clever writing over spectacle, I suspect a fair number of people would be all over that.!<