Heroic Fantasy Quarterly–Q36

Happy May, June, and July! HFQ issue #36 is here to bring you adventure all through the summer.  And what adventure we have for you!  Three stories, three poems, and three new pieces of artwork.

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Fiction Contents

More Blood than Bone , by Erin Wagner. Magic carved in tooth and bone is the weapon of choice in this story about two islands locked in conflict and the young writer of bestiaries caught between two heritages. High-seas adventure and ink-stained back-room dealings in a tale of black-market magic!

Lady and the Dwarf , by Rebecca Brinker. Before she was the Evil Queen of legend, she was a lady in lust. For power. For wealth. For adoration. Her husband, the Dwarf, king of the forest, provided it all until ‘all’ wasn’t enough. Luxury never is without the envy of others. Against his desire, they travel to a neighboring kingdom where loyalties are tested as the Queen discovers how one magic mirror, and her obsession for flattery, can break a man into seven pieces.  Illustration by Simon Walpole.

Canvas Tears, by Steve Rodgers , Civilization has been laid low by traitors with a magic ink that bestows incomprehensible power. Now, Amis and Terraud must hunt down the last of the men who brought down their city, even if it means confronting the sorcery of giants. Illustrated by Karolína Wellartová.

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Poetry Contents

Great Bear God, by Gary Every. Rituals and magic upon the Siberian Steppes.  Бог; еще медведь!  Illustrated by Miguel Santos.

Chase of the Blue Blood, by S. K. Naus.  An entire tale that turns the narrative of rescuing the princess on its head.

What You’ve Become, by Gretchen Tessmer. Staring into the abyss while slaying monsters comes with certain risks, all explored in this excellent poem.

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Artwork

Simon Walpole returns with artwork for “The Lady and the Dwarf”. Simon is a freelance illustrator who works primarily in pencil, pen and watercolours and whose work can be seen at his website Hand-drawn Heroes.   Simon also has multiple works in our Best-of Volume 2, and “Crazy Snake and the Demons of Ometepe” from issue #34.

We want to welcome Karolína Wellartová as our newest artist, with her work for “Canvas Tears”. Carol Wellart is a Czech artist, painter creating images predominantly with the wildlife themes, nature studies and the literary characters. She’s inspired by the curious shapes and a materials from the nature, but the main source still comes from literature. Check out more of her work at her website.

Miguel Santos returns to our electronic pages with his illustration for the poem The Great Bear God.  His illustrations at HFQ can be found in  “Seven Moves on an Ordrulk Board”, “Spatha Stercae“ and “Dragon in Amber”.  He has several illustrations in the HFQ Best-of Volume 2, as well.

Jereme Peabody continues his series of interconnected banners for us, building on Issue #34’s “Journey’s Beginning”, Issue 35’s “Giant Attack” and now “At the Summit”. Our adventurers have faced giants and cruel nature and now have arrived at their penultimate goal!

Jereme is a software engineer in the DC area and is also a freelance concept artist working mostly on video games and books.  He started his artistic career dabbling with sculpting, pencils, and even still-life oil painting.  As tablets became available, he crossed over from traditional art to digital by first digitally painting still-lifes, then through experimentation and practice, transitioned to landscapes and fantasy.

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Goings On

David Farney: David continues to be a wellspring of generosity and solid advice.  A lodestone in a loaded world!

Adrian Simmons: Adrian has not been idle over the last quarter.  His science fiction story “The Wait is Longer Than You Think” is the May story at Giganotosaurus.  On the nonfiction side of things, His quartro-decadal-review contines at Black Gate with a review of the November 1969 issue of Analog.; and the upcoming review of the November 1969 Venture, and an upcoming wrap-up of the first round of reviews.

Outside of the world of writing, Adrian spent two glorious days reading and relaxing at Queen Wilhelmina Lodge high atop the ridges of the Ouachita Mountains before spending three glorious days hiking in those mountains. Black bears were encountered!

The editor, adventuring.

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James Rowe:  James has been keep on keepin’ on, doin’ the Songs of Eretz biz with some new poems (“The Guardsman of Qalaloom”, “What is Owed to Guests Unbidden“) and is currently negotiating an interesting talk on philosophy and esotericism, date and topic to be determined, with the folks he recently met from Morbid Anatomy’s exhibition at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

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Rumors from the Inn!

It is a golden age for S&S and adventure fiction fans! The HFQ best-of Volume 2 is still selling strong and easily available from Amazon; and after a remarkably successful kickstarter, Goodman Games has released Tales from the Magician’s Skull #1. Great things have been said about both—and said at the same convenient review.

We are happy to give HFQ alum Michael Liguori (“Beast Hunter’s Song” ad space for his first novel, Virtue and Vengeance, published by Hydra Publications.

An empire left in ruin. A warrior fueled only by revenge. A once powerful general turned reclusive cripple, and a gifted strategist intent on treachery. Epic fantasy meets gritty adventure in M.A. Liguori’s sweeping debut!