Cormac Mac Art series
The Undying Wizard (1976) Cormac Mac Art, the son of an Irish king, forced to live the life of an outlaw after he is unjustly accused of a crime, is finally vindicated and then pursued by an evil wizard who has waited centuries to seek revenge.
The Sign of the Moonbow (1977) Syagrius, the last Roman commander in the West, accepts the aid of Cormac Mac Art and Wulfhere the Skull-Splitter in defending Sossions against Clovis. Tied in with the historical fact of Syagrius' defeat in 486, which ended Roman control of southern Gaul, and marked the end of his 10-year holdout after the fall of Rome, this final work in the series begun by Robert E. Howard ends Thulsa Doom's reign of terror as Cormac's arch-foe. With the lovely Samire at his side, the heroes do battle with Hengist, the Danish king and mortal enemy of Wulfhere, before reaching doomed Sossions. Andrew Offut also uses the novel to advance theories on the origins of the Irish race, tying in the Tulath de Danu, with their moonbow emblem, with Greek Diana, who also is identified with the crescent Moon. A good, light read, for those who like historical settings for swords & sorcery adventures.
The Mists of Doom (1977) This is a prequel to Howard's short stories and tells of the origins of Cormac. It has very good battle scenes and is an excellent introduction to the series. The narrative is such that it begins with a quest for vengeance and then, turns into potential cycles of prowess, exile, deceit, discovery, prowess and repeat.
The Tower of Death (1982) (with Keith Taylor) brings to life the young Cormac, newly exiled,filled with the grim determination to prove his manhood on the treacherous sea lanes of fifth century Europe. Along with Wulfhere the Dane, whose name is as feared as Cormac’s own, the Irish prince turns pirate and is too successful at his chosen vocation for his own good...
War of the Wizards series (with Richard K Lyon)
Demon in the Mirror (1977) begins the War of the Wizards Trilogy featuring the flame-haired Tiana Highrider, rapier wielding heroine extraordinaire. Much like Sonja, Tiana is brash and impulsive yet wise beyond the common perception of most. She is the foster daughter of a pirate captain named Caranga and captain of her own vessel, "Vixen." While she is a pirate captain, only the first chapter takes place on the open sea. The rest of Tiana's adventures take place inland searching for the dismembered body parts of the wizard Derramal. Her father Caranga also aids Tiana in her quest retrieving two of the pieces on quests of his own. While Demon in the Mirror is a rather short book (189 pages) it's absolutely filled with all the necessary action and adventure an epic fantasy tale embodies.
Web of the Spider (1981) Daring pirate captain! Bold-hearted adventuress! Brave and beautiful Tiana, enemy of the evil and powerful wizard Ekron, embarks on the most perilous of all her adventures at the helm of the Vixen. Armed with a black casket and its mysterious contents, as eyes track her from a distant storm-tossed island and fireballs roar from a crimson sky, Tiana, Highrider of Reme, journeys to an alien land where she will play out her awesom part in the deadly climax of the War of the Wizards!
War of the Gods on Earth series
The Iron Lords (1979) His true origin shrouded in mysteries, the youth Jarik fled with his un-sister, Torsy, to the harsh land of the Iron Lords. There he was schooled in the mighty arts of war. And there, guided by invincible gods to fulfill his twin destinies of great healer and savage avenger, he claimed the devastating Black Sword that would carve his legend in blood...a legend of a vengeance-thirst as dark and merciless as the magic weapon he wielded...born from the seeds of a manchild's Terror, sown so long ago.
The Lady of the Snowmist (1983) When the Lady of the Snowmist freed Jarik Blacksword of his god-bonds, She bound him forever with a blood-tie and battle-scar to the knowledge that gods warred with gods on the earth -- and why. . . Yet even She could not contain the boundless rage of Jarik's god-sword. Or his thirst to become, throughbattle, whole at last.
King Dragon (1980) From deep space came a signal, sent just under a thousand years before: a planet called Jauhar al-Ajr, third from its sun and of a type that could be made livable for human beings, was being terraformed as an experiment in observed evolution. Aboard the now ancient ship sent to colonize the planet were embryos modified by genetic engineering: feline, canine, ursine, saurian. And perhaps--but only perhaps--human. For a thousand years these creatures have developed on an alien world--into what? What strange quirks has the planet Jauhar al-Ajr imposed on the devlopment of the species that on Earth became cats, dogs, bears, lizards...and men. After a thousand years of isolation, Earth means to find out. The mission will be dangerous, but it will be the making of everyone aboard. A lost world in space, ready for exploration, the world of KING DRAGON.
Standalones
The Galactic Rejects (1967) Stranded on an unknown planet, two men and a girl from Earth devise a carnival act to disguise their special powers and better fit in with the natives.
Evil Is Live Spelled Backwards (1970) "LET THERE BE LICENSE!" Satan spoke, and the orgy began, the writhing figures making weird patterns in the deserted churchyard.... A scene from medieval fantasy? No - 21st-century America, battleground between a religious tyranny that dominates the nation and a bizarre Satanist cult that uses the only weapons it has to fight for freedom. The Satanists are moving more daringly, the Government striking back more harshly - and the moment is coming when the word will flash out for the final battle: "This is Armageddon - repeat, ARMAGEDDON."
The Great 24-Hour Thing (1971) For one great, orgiastic day, every man on Earth could have sex with anyone he wanted!
The Castle Keeps (1972) more ambitiously depicts through an acid examination of Survivalist shibboleths the violent disintegration of Western culture through Overpopulation and Pollution; survivors, who live in armored Keeps, keep the world at bay. This is pretty much everything I hate about conservative libertarians. The characters were more one dimensional than an Ayn Rand novel. The main protagonist went to town, complaining about renting a “minik” for the day, when he only needed it for an hour, because he won’t use “public conveniences” (transport), presumably because it’s for communists.
Messenger of Zhuvastou (1973) In hot pursuit of his beautiful "fiancee", playboy Morris Keniston arrives on the mysterious and hostile planet Sovold. Before he can sample its violent lifestyle and bizarre terrain, or combat the amoral whims of its courts (and blue-haired courtesans) he needs to adopt a suitable disguise. So, with shaved head and skin dyed beige, he dons the yellow-crested helmet and green cloak of a Messenger of the mighty empire of Zhuvastou. Armed only with a heavy sword he is ready to set out on his urgent quest. It most resembles L Sprague de Camp's Krishna series, even having the obligatory "Z" in the title: a technologically backward planet where these Earth people wander around in disguise, with some vague and frequently-sidestepped injunction against technological uplift. But Offutt doesn't manage the characterization or de Camp's mildly comic tone.
The Black Sorcerer of the Black Castle (1974) A Satire of Howard's Conan. Kimon the Konerian sets out to free the Princess Sabell, she alone knows the location of the Jewels of Chthon. Offutt exaggerates Howard's use of the word 'black' and it's many synonyms in this limited release chapbook. Illustrated by Ken Raney.
Chieftain of Andor (1976) aka Clansman of Andor Robert Cleve does not belong. On Earth, he is out of his depth – a semi-barbarian, an atavist in the modern world. But one day, he answers an ad that will change his life forever. He is offered an opportunity to live in another man’s body – on another planet, many parsecs away. A man with no ties, decisive mind, and sound body, Cleve is selected to take over the body of warrior chief Doralan Andrah, who is pivotal on his world of Andor, but whose mind is dying. Cleve’s adjustment to the semi-primitive world is hard and fast – just how Cleve thrives. He quickly adapts to the new body and skills, learning to become the warrior he knew he always could be. But his memories of Earth and our treatment of sorcery leaves him vulnerable in a way he never anticipated. Soon, he finds himself surrounded by a cloud of confusion, assaulted from all sides by unfamiliar and unalloyed powers. His odyssey begins into the deepest depths of Andor, but he is woefully underprepared for the nameless terrors that await him…
Conan series
Conan the Mercenary (1985) Conan is in Shadizar pursuing his career as a thief when he stumbles across a noble woman being robbed. He saves her life and she decides to hire him as a bodyguard, which pays much better than thievery. Conan is thrilled to find that she is cousin to a foreign queen, for he needs a crowned noble to break the curse which traps his soul. He follows her to Khauran and finds that the queen is cavorting with a suspicious young nobleman of questionable lineage. He also finds that his first foray into life as a palace guard is not to his liking. There is too much palace intrigue and not enough assassins. It's boring. His boredom is broken when he is drugged and betrayed, then he comes up with one his most clever plans to reveal the culprit. He kills a bunch of bandits, argues theology with some drunks, and engages in a bit of pedophilia. A short novel with 50 pages of illustrations. Much of the book is spent describing the elaborate clothing of rich noble women. And people are once again subject to horripilation. Entertaining but lacking the amount of action normally found in a Conan novel.
Thieves' World spin-offs
Shadowspawn (1987) Mignureal is the daughter of the first person to show Hanse kindness in his harsh upbringing. He was once a lonely and ostracized orphan who was denied food by all those around him save her mother. A sort of whimsical tale about two people traveling from their homeland, across a desert and all the perilous conditions they fall into.
Deathknight (1990) He is honour-bound to preserve the peace – at any cost… Falc of Risskor is feared, respected and obeyed throughout the land. Known as Deathknight, he is an infamous member of the Sons of Ashah – honour-sworn men who preserve the peace had protect the citystates of Sij. Feared. Respected. Obeyed. And perhaps hated… The Deathknight is about to realise just how true that is. When knights of the Order start being killed, Falc must bring justice and seek revenge on the brutal murderer With an unlikely companion and a loyal darg, Falc ventures across the land to seek vengeance, and avoid being killed himself. On the way, he will have to encounter those who know him, those who hate him, and those who want to kill him. His task is a difficult one, but will Falc uncover the truth and protect the Order? And what else will he learn along the way?
The Shadow of Sorcery (1993) The most popular character in the Thieves' World series returns. Shadowspawn is more than a mere thief. He is lord of the night, king of adventure. In his latest quest to find the fabled Rings of Senek, Shadowspawn is plunged into a labyrinthine maze where demons lurk--and where deadly illusions trap the unsuspecting.
Anthologies
Swords Against Darkness (1977) Contains the following: "Nekht Semerkeeht", this was a decent story. I really liked the attitude of the lost conquistador. I can fully imagine them being like that. The action is quick paced and the ending is almost tragic enough to make me laugh. "Tale of Hauk", pretty much a modern rendition of a classic story a Norse Saga hero taking on a Draugr. Vergy good. "The Smile of Oisia", great story of a theft just gone awry. I particularly enjoyed one of the heroes having to roll the dice with Chance herself. "Pride of the Fleet" Awesome story, never seen the ending coming until right at the end. She was the kind of heroine I would of liked to have more stories of though. "Straggler from Atlantis", I loved this story. I just wish there was a little more to it. "The Ring of Set", excellent story. Wish I could get a hold of a ring like that, well, maybe not..... "Largarut's Bane" A very good story. I think the daughter was my favorite character of the entire story. "Dragons Teeth", now this was an awesome story. Action, magic, and WTF! Interesting times on the Roman frontier. "The Sustenance of Hoak", rounds out the stories in impressive fashion. I couldn't imagine the horror of living in a place like Hoak, but neither could the ones living it, now isn't that a conundrum?
Swords Against Darkness II While not quite as strong overall as the first volume, this book still contains many fine stories, and an interesting mix of authors. The first is a Witch World story by Andre Norton, that I found had a fine atmosphere, but the plot was rather weak and uninspired, though their were many elements of interest for me in the world building, and many mysteries she opens up that I hope she solves in other Witch World stories. Ramsey Campbell's Ryre story in this volume is magnificent, and I look forward to reading all the stories involving this character. Many Wade Wellman's Kardios story is fun and well written and highly enjoyable. David M. Harris' Coming of Age in Zamora is one of the weaker stories of this volume, by the end I came to enjoy it, as it is a humorous and ribald tale well told. Richard Teirney's Simon of Gitta story is well told and well written. Then we have a story by Tanith Lee, well written with many of her distinctive trademarks and a very unique voice. The story by Dennis More, a pseudonym for Keith Taylor is also well done. andy j. offutt's entry in this volume is fairly decent, not my favorite, but pretty good, some inventive bits and some nice twists. Worth the price of admission, yet again.
Swords Against Darkness III The contents are all good, and the poetry is short and quick to read (but probably good if you like that sort of thing). Drake, Wellman, Campbell and Madison were the best stories in the book, I think, and Poul Anderson's essay an interesting look behind the scenes.
Swords Against Darkness IV (1979) . So far the instalments had been quite enjoyable, each with a solid table of contents, and this one looked to offer up the same level quality. Included are Charles R. Saunders tales set in ancient Africa instead of pre-historic Europe.
Swords Against Darkness V Slightly weaker than the earlier volumes, but Ramsey Campbell returns with a great story.
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