HEROIC FANTASY QUARTERLY – ISSUE 1

Hello and welcome to the first issue of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly! Within the Featured Article section you’ll find links to stories and poems submitted by five fantastic writers — fantastic and bold for taking a chance on a new publication. But they weren’t the only ones who took a chance; we humbly thank the hundreds of other talented writers around the world who submitted to HFQ.

From these writers we distilled dozens of outstanding offerings down to a fistful, with which we’re optimistic Heroic Fantasy Quarterly is punching above its rookie weight. In fiction we’re thrilled to offer straight-ahead adventures in three remarkable vintages. Click on the titles to read.

Fiction Contents

BLACK FLOWERS OF SEVAN, by James Lecky
Rising star Lecky delivers classic sword and sorcery across a desert frontier. This story will stay with you.

MAN OF MOLDANIA, by Richard Marsden
Marsden brings it in an historical setting. Just when you thought dragon-slaying-heroes were all washed-up, Marsden gives a fresh perspective.

BEYOND THE LIZARD GATE, by Alex Marshall
Marshall comes in at the bell, a Brit holding his own against Irish and American contributors and throwing a potent punch of epic fantasy sure to satisfy the most bloodthirsty of fans.

Poetry Contents

ANSEL’S ARMY, by Elizabeth Barrette
In a word: universal.

LEO PASSIMUS REMEMBERS HIS FIRST VOYAGE, by Danny Adams
The truth as to why most of us don’t go adventuring in the first place.

We’d like to acknowledge David Clark for his invaluable assistance in HFQ website troubleshooting and for pulling our bacon out of the fire with no more than a moment’s notice — you’re a good and generous man (and fellow proud Celt!) to whom we owe many pints. We also send sincere thanks to Justin Sweet for granting permission to HFQ to display his artwork at an agreeable price; we hope our contributors’ stories and poems inspire him to create more fantastical works upon canvas or screen.

Finally, thanks in advance to readers. If you enjoy this issue of HFQ, please help to get the word out. Email a link or post a link on your blog. Print a story and recycle it by passing it on to someone else. We’re sure there are plenty of people, like you, who prefer action over inaction and big-talk to inner dialogue. In short, help introduce Heroic Fantasy Quarterly to people who’ll appreciate getting caught in the flow of tales well told.

Word.

David Farney & Adrian Simmons
Co-proprietors/Editors, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly