"This one needs to go in the list of all-time best S&S anthologies." ~ NOLAbert, Whetstone Discord
"This anthology drips and throbs like a torn-out heart, its stories embracing the dynamism and defiance that has boiled at the core of sword and sorcery since the days of the pulps. Neither Beg Nor Yield is a must-have book at the forefront of the genre’s current and much-debated renaissance." ~ Alec Worley, Agent of Weird
RBE believes S&S is an attitude that can be delivered in a multitude of genres. We do not believe the setting, atmosphere, or even the accoutrements, determine a story is Sword & Sorcery. Sure, all of that done right makes for quite the exciting and entertaining story…that could be S&S. However, it is the attitude of the protagonist(s) — and even the storyteller — that determines that. The S&S Attitude requires only that our protagonist have (1) an indomitable, passionate will to LIVE FULLY in the face of any and all odds (LIVE!ism–if you watched my Kickstarter video introducing the NBNY campaign you understand this concept) and (2) a nonchalant mercenary motivation by which s/he reward themselves wherein typically they willingly sacrifice any other gain in the pursuit of additional, further, more difficult, more dangerous, PERSONAL CHALLENGE. In other words, the S&S Attitude protagonist lives life to the max!
This title is RBE’s last publication. I wanted it to be the greatest Sword & Sorcery anthology of all time — my gift to readers. I think we nailed it with 20 spectacular tales from Dominating Storytellers, all thrillingly illustrated by a Talented Artist. This isn’t just my gift — it is a present from All of Us. We know you’ll enjoy it.
“We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.” ~ Charles Bukowski
“Life is not breath but action.” ~ Jean Jacques Rousseau
“Laugh or die.” ~ Angélique Kidjo
“‘I think of Life!’ Conan roared.” ~ Robert E. Howard in “The Pool of the Black One”
“I just want to live while I’m alive.” ~ Bon Jovi, “It’s My Life”
Features: Eadwine Brown, Adrian Cole, Glen Cook, Steve Dilks, Chuck Dixon, Phil Emery, Steven Erikson, John R. Fultz, Steve Goble, John C. Hocking, Howard Andrew Jones, William King, Joe R. Lansdale, David C. Smith, Jeff Stewart, Keith J. Taylor, Eric Turowski, Frederick Tor & Bill Ward, Lawrence A. Weinstein, and C.L. Werner. Cover art and interior illustrations by M.D. Jackson. Edited and foreword by Jason M Waltz.
PRINT: 180k words, 464 pages
US$25.00 6×9 TPB, ISBN 9798856374406
US$34.00 6×9 HC, ISBN 9798873171668
ELECTRONIC: US$8.00 Amazon Kindle