Heroic Fantasy Quarterly–Q50

Welcome to ISSUE #50!  To make this special deluxe issue happen we adventured across the world, from dusty tombs to steamy jungles, from remote wilderness to crowded urban settings, we’ve spun up S&S gold and pillaged the coffers of Weird Tales, all for you!  We get you through the final push of 2021 with five stories, and three poems.  Dig in!

 

Fiction Contents

The Reprieve, by Darrell Schweitzer, with artwork by Andrea Alemanno.  A new story of Sekenre the Sorcerer!  Riverland is a world full of wandering gods, decadent kingdoms; and in the lands of the dead, an ancient scholar and a cunning prince are embroiled in the centuries-long plots of sorcerers.

The Lost Prince, by Milton Davis, with artwork by Miguel Santos.  Young Prince Zakaria is hounded by treachery and murder, barely finding a sanctuary among the fierce Haggar tribesmen.  Now the young man must decide on loyalties and choose which of the difficult paths to his future he must tread.

The Carnival Job, by Mark Finn, with artwork by Miguel Santos.  Gods Week in the city-state of Alvara  is a time of feasting and celebration, and amid the competing festivities of the nobles master-thief Larcen has one chance to pull off a heist to guarantee his freedom and set his gang up with loot!  HFQ has been a goblin-friendly port for years, and Finn brings ‘em in this exciting tale!

Father-of-Rivers, by Gregory Mele, artwork by Justin Pfiel.  Return the alternate history Meso-American Azatlán world!  Captain Sarrumos and the crew of the Wave-Serpent (see Komazotz in issue #41)  leave the open sea and venture upriver, entangling themselves in a world of shifting alliances, hidden shrines, nameless tribes and a lurking ancient evil.

The Orb of Semerkhet, by Jeremy Farkas, artwork by Gary McClusky.  The second adventure of the fierce gladiator/warrior Sathano  (see Sathano the Slayer, issue #46).  The desert holds man secrets and many horrors, but when the blades of Dune Riders are at your back, you go big or end up in a shallow desert grave.

 

 

Poetry Contents

Shaft Tomb, by  Ann Schwader, artwork by Simon Walpole. Ann returns to HFQ with a great poem of the fathomless depths of time that surround the eternal resting place of antediluvian beings.

How the Rose Princes Came to Life, by Elizabeth McClellan, with artwork by Andrea Alemanno .   The schemes of treacherous noblemen run afoul of the end-goals of witches in this powerful poem.

The Bowsprit Mermaid and the Stemhead Dragon, by Katherine Quevedo, with artwork by Simon Walpole.  Ancient mariners would often imbue their ships with personalities and spirits, and Quevedo brings the story of two ships passing on the seas to life.

 

Artwork

We tapped Jereme Peabody to craft banner art appropriate for our offerings.  “Rough Seas” fits the bill—like the sea serpent’s vast body lies below the waves, we have a history of great stories and poems stretching back over 50 issues, and what you see today is just our latest offering.

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.

 

Goings On

David Farney:  Mines the Spice to fold space and time for Heroic Fantasy Quarterly.

Adrian Simmons:  Real-life adventuring in the woods and a major renovation of his lair has kept Adrian away from the hard work of fiction.  Still, he managed to get his story “What Waits Beyond the Fifth Door” in the initial issue of Witch House.

James Rowe:  Continues the hard work of editing for HFQ and taking on a full teaching load.

Arien Skiba:  Congratulations are in order for Arien, as she graduated from veterinarian school and got snapped up almost immediately!

 

Tales From Around the Fire

Need more S&S fiction?  Allow us to point the way to Swords and Sorceries # 3 .

Sexy Fantastic #6 is now available, with #7 on the way!

Brothers-in-Arms Tales From the Magician’s Skull has launched a kickstarter to fund their next several issues.  Pull on that rope, my friends!

Like what we do?  Of course you do!  Back us on Patreon to get more!