82 replies to this topic

[Axerules]

BTW, Howard also got a novel accepted by Paizo, IIRC.

Yup.

Plague of Shadows

I don't know the Pathfinder game(s), but they sound a bit more sword-&-sorcery than straight D&D.

I'll certainly be checking Howard's novel - if I like it I'll probably try others in the line.

It is available for preoder, as mentioned by John O'Neill on the Black Gate blog: http://www.blackgate...-for-pre-order/

[emerald]

H.A.Jones got himself a very nice review in Publisher's Weekly for Desert of Souls...

The Desert of Souls
Howard Andrew Jones, St. Martin's/Dunne, $24.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-312-64674-5
As richly textured as an antique rug, this fantasy-mystery sweeps readers into ancient Baghdad. Asim, captain of Master Jaffar's guard, and the wily scholar Dabir, who is hopelessly in love with Jaffar's niece Sabirah, track stolen golden artifacts into the shifting sands that hide the ruins of legendary Ubar, entry to the land of the djinn. Asim's dazzling swordplay, his Muslim piety, and his unwavering loyalty to his friend balance Dabir's bittersweet devotion to Sabirah as the pair battle forbidden magic that forces them to slice away layers of their own spirits. Their antagonist, evil Zarathustrian sorcerer Firouz, poses moral questions that deepen this multicolored Arabian-nights tale, as does the plight of pretty, quick-witted Sabirah, who prizes scholarship and lives for the moment while facing the fate of a political marriage. A captivating setting and well-realized characters make this a splendid flying-carpet ride. (Feb.)

You know what's extra cool about this?
There aren't any qualifiers. No "remarkably strong writing for a Sword and Sorcery story" or "the author manages to avoid the cliches riddling the heroic fantasy genre", just straight up appreciation for a good story well told and no excuses made or given for the genre.
Things really are getting better for Sword & Sorcery. And I think Jones, editor, author and perserver of Harold Lamb's legacy, is one of the reasons why.

[emerald]

And I just spotted this bit of support from a knowledgeable fellow you may well have heard of...

?An Arabian Nights adventure as written by Robert E Howard. It is exciting, inventive, and most of all fun.?
-- Dave Drake, author of The Legion of Fire

[deuce]

And I just spotted this bit of support from a knowledgeable fellow you may well have heard of...

"An Arabian Nights adventure as written by Robert E Howard. It is exciting, inventive, and most of all fun."
-- Dave Drake, author of The Legion of Fire

That is ALL kinds of cool.

[deuce]

H.A.Jones got himself a very nice review in Publisher's Weekly for Desert of Souls...

The Desert of Souls
Howard Andrew Jones, St. Martin's/Dunne, $24.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-312-64674-5
As richly textured as an antique rug, this fantasy-mystery sweeps readers into ancient Baghdad. Asim, captain of Master Jaffar's guard, and the wily scholar Dabir, who is hopelessly in love with Jaffar's niece Sabirah, track stolen golden artifacts into the shifting sands that hide the ruins of legendary Ubar, entry to the land of the djinn. Asim's dazzling swordplay, his Muslim piety, and his unwavering loyalty to his friend balance Dabir's bittersweet devotion to Sabirah as the pair battle forbidden magic that forces them to slice away layers of their own spirits. Their antagonist, evil Zarathustrian sorcerer Firouz, poses moral questions that deepen this multicolored Arabian-nights tale, as does the plight of pretty, quick-witted Sabirah, who prizes scholarship and lives for the moment while facing the fate of a political marriage. A captivating setting and well-realized characters make this a splendid flying-carpet ride. (Feb.)

You know what's extra cool about this?
There aren't any qualifiers. No "remarkably strong writing for a Sword and Sorcery story" or "the author manages to avoid the cliches riddling the heroic fantasy genre", just straight up appreciation for a good story well told and no excuses made or given for the genre.
Things really are getting better for Sword & Sorcery. And I think Jones, editor, author and perserver of Harold Lamb's legacy, is one of the reasons why.

Couldn't agree more, JCH.

[Libaax]

Im gonna tell my bookstore to order the hardcover for me i cant wait to read more Arabian Nights S&S. Specially after Lion of Cairo im hooked badly to similar setting,S&S

[deuce]

Just finished The Desert of Souls. Asim and Dabir are a classic fantasy-adventure duo. HAJ writes great action, the magic is believable and he's got the setting (the Harun al-Rashid caliphate) down. The villains are very well done. Jones' evocation of the lost city of Ubar is awesome, IMO. The best S&S novel of 2011, so far.

*BTW, Jones throws in a Howardian "Easter Egg" towards the end.

Edited by deuce, 05 February 2011 - 08:44 AM.

[Howard]

Deuce, thanks for a great review. I'm delighted to hear you liked it, because you're the kind of reader I was aiming for.

And thank all of you for your support and interest.

Warm Regards,

Howard Andrew Jones

[deuce]

Publisher John O'Niell has declared "Howard Andrew Jones Month" over on the Black Gate blog:

http://www.blackgate...ew-jones-month/

[deuce]

Another glowing review of The Desert of Souls:

http://www.blackgate...esert-of-souls/

[deuce]

Part One of an interview with HAJ:

http://networkedblogs.com/en99w

[emerald]

HAJ has an interview up at TOR.
It's good stuff and fun to read, but he says some grand things about REH that really hit the proverbial nail squarely on the proverbial head. Almost feel like I should post this on the REH thread. Dig it...

"Every adventure writer should spend some time studying the best of Robert E. Howard?s work. That man had an incredible narrative drive. And his prose is extremely vivid?he brings an entire scene to life with just a few phrases. He was so talented I could, and have, draft entire essays about his strengths as a writer, but I?ll just mention a few aspects that really impress me. For instance, I don?t know that anyone else has ever been capable of so clearly portraying the clash of entire armies as REH could, seamlessly moving his camera across the battle between knots of figures and important protagonists. When you write and edit all the time it?s hard not to turn off that ?word architecture? part of your brain where you?re constantly analyzing the words. Howard?s one of the few authors whose work can still sweep me up so completely that I fall through the words and into the story. REH could craft lovely prose poetry when he wanted, but he knew when to sharpen focus and let the verbs do the heavy lifting. He was one of the best adventure writers we have, and I wish more fantasy writers would look deeper into his canon. Some of his lesser known stories are just as good, and even better, than the best of his Conan work. We?re fortunate that the recent Del Rey books have collected so much of it."

See the whole thing here...

http://www.tor.com/b...jones-interview

[deuce]

HAJ has an interview up at TOR.
It's good stuff and fun to read, but he says some grand things about REH that really hit the proverbial nail squarely on the proverbial head. Almost feel like I should post this on the REH thread.

Indeed.

[deuce]

The excellent sword-and-sorcery site that HAJ once edited:

http://www.swordandsorcery.org/

[ThuleanWarrior]

The excellent sword-and-sorcery site that HAJ once edited:

http://www.swordandsorcery.org/

I've seen that site before. Very nice. It would be great if someone was still updating and adding to it.

[deuce]

Another interview with HAJ:

http://whatever.scal...jones/#comments

[Howard]

The excellent sword-and-sorcery site that HAJ once edited:

http://www.swordandsorcery.org/

I've seen that site before. Very nice. It would be great if someone was still updating and adding to it.

I still "own" the site, but I've been too busy with Lamb, Black Gate, and my writing to keep it up. I'd like to revitalize it some day, but it would be an immense effort, requiring a team of helpers. Until I get a little more free time, alas, it will have to lie fallow.

[Howard]

HAJ has an interview up at TOR.
It's good stuff and fun to read, but he says some grand things about REH that really hit the proverbial nail squarely on the proverbial head. Almost feel like I should post this on the REH thread.

Indeed.

Thanks for keeping track of all my interviews! I appreciate the help spreading the word.

Any time someone asks me by whom I was influenced, you can bet that Lamb and REH are going to get mentioned, and will be discussed in glowing terms. In the TOR interview in particular I was given a lot of room, so I gave REH a big paragraph of praise.

[Fierro]

Congratulations, Howard ? you've done a lot of yeoman's work and now it's your turn to shine.

[Howard]

Congratulations, Howard ? you've done a lot of yeoman's work and now it's your turn to shine.

Thank you, Fierro!