Neither Beg Nor Yield

So, the other day I received a monster through the mail.

It’s an anthology called Neither Beg Nor Yield and I received both the paperback and the hardcover editions. In its print edition, it is a 464 page monster of an anthology, and it is chock full of amazing Sword & Sorcery goodness.

Now, I am a bit biased because A:) I have known the anthology’s editor, Jason Waltz for a very long time and B:) I am the cover artist and the book’s illustrator. That, however, gives me a unique perspective on the whole book, and puts me in a unique position to review it. It is also the reason that I have waited for the print edition to become widely available to do this review. I believe that the print edition shows off the illustrations better than the e-versions. They were designed in such a way as to work with the text on the page. You can see them in the e-versions, but I believe that the print version is the best way to experience this amazing anthology. There are links to both versions at the end of this review.

This book is a true gift to Sword & Sorcery fans and I can tell you that it has absolutely been made with great love and respect for the genre.

From the very beginning, Jason Waltz tells you that this is undiluted Sword and Sorcery. From his introduction to the book, It’s Not Gentle: “…to quote General George S. Patton Jnr., “Make the other bastard die” Waltz outlines his thoughts on what a good Sword & Sorcery tale is and then sets out to prove it.

And each tale does, in one way or another.

I’m going to review every story, and that is because this collection has an embarrassment of riches. Each tale is a heart pounding success, and each deserves a mention. Honestly, you cannot go wrong with this outstanding collection of tales.

Hunter and Prey by C. L. Werner kicks off the anthology with a tale from feudal Japan and Werner does not disappoint with this tale of two foes, a deadly (and very creepy) demon and his fiercest enemy.

Prince of Dragons by William King is the origin story for his hero Kormac. The sole survivor of an attack by the Prince of Dragons, Kormac is trained to be a Guardian, a warrior dedicated to fighting monsters and demons. The Dragon King, however, a demon with a hatred of humanity, has promised to kill the boy one day. The resolution of this is a bit of mind bending, but it’s a cracking tale nonetheless.

Suspension in Silver by Eric Turowski is different in that it is set in modern times in, of all places, a tattoo parlour. The story is no less an S&S tale for that. The modern day “Barbarian” is a member of a motorcycle gang and his opponents are werewolves. This tale cleverly updates the S&S tropes without disrespecting the genre.

Soldier, Seeker, Slayer by John C. Hocking tells a heartbreaking tale of a warrior in thrall to a unique weapon desperate to find the daughter that he has lost. Strong willed and single minded, the hero battles a physical opponent, but also the sorcerous opponent who has invaded his own mind.

Harvest of the Blood King by Steve Dilks is a longer tale about a fantasy version of Roman Britain with two heroes who fight against an army of enemies who have a deadly eldritch horror as an ally. This is a powerhouse tale that comes to an absolutely epic conclusion.

The Stone from the Stars by Chuck Dixon features two protagonists, Hagen and Pilsner, whose exchanges with each other are as entertaining as the adventure in which they are embroiled, facing off against a nameless horror from beyond.

Evil World by John R. Fulz is a tragic tale of a land invaded by monsters and a hero bred by magic to defeat them and take back the land for his people, but is the price he has to pay too high?

Reckoning by Keith J. Taylor is a rollicking nautical adventure about revenge. A group of warriors join the crew of a ship captained by a man the protagonist has sworn vengeance against. A very tense but fun tale.

Golden Devils of the Crypt by Phil Emery is an adventure tale of a barbarian who take a cosmic journey along with an astrologer.

The Undead of Sul-Atet by David C. Smith is a tale of a bargain made and a price that may be too high. A very tense tale which moves towards a satisfying conclusion.

The Shades of Nacross Hill by Frederick Tor features his character Kaimer in an adventure taking place within the city of Skovolis. Kaimer and a couple of untrustworthy associates attempt a bit of grave robbing, but the ghosts in Nacross Hill don’t always stay dead!

The Organ Grinder’s Monkey by Joe R. Lansdale is probably the most unusual story in this collection. Not a traditional Sword and Sorcery tale, it is a tale of Greasy Bob which takes place in an unusual universe that features elements of the modern world (wrenches and Ford Trucks) as well as weird and funky fantasy elements. It is the least serious of the stories in this collection, but it is still an S&S story at heart.

Vengeance, by Wind and Tide by Eadwine Brown Is another rollicking nautical adventure with a group of mercenaries led by a pirate captain Azirah whose quest for vengeance leads her to a secret magical island.

Isekai Sengokumonogatari by Glen Cook is a weird adventure story set in a fantasy version of feudal Japan in which the hero encounters magical beings and elemental creatures in a quest that is not what it at first seems.

Bona Na Croin by Jeff Stewart weaves Irish mythology and bold heroes in the tale of a mad king who awakes an ancient evil and the sell-sword who has to decide which is the side of right.

Virgins for Khuul by Steve Goble features his character Calthus, known as The Slaughter Lord of Thaal. Calthus is bored and looking for a fight but the one he finds is almost too big for him.

The Last Vandals on Earth by Steven Erikson is, I think, my favorite story in this collection. He tells a bittersweet and heartbreaking story about the last members of the Vandal race. Their heroes are long gone and all that remain struggle valiantly in a brave bid to be remembered by history.

The Barbarian’s Lawyer by Lawrence A. Weinstein is a surprising story and one of the anthology’s standouts. Barbarians often run afoul of the law and if you can’t fight your way out of jail, what do you do? Hire a good lawyer, of course. This tale is light hearted but in no way silly at all. Most importantly, it works as a Sword & Sorcery tale and it has a very nice little twist at the end.

Reflection From a Tarnished Mirror by Howard Andrew Jones is a story about Hanuvar, the hero of his novels LORD OF A SHATTERED LAND and THE CITY OF MARBLE AND BLOOD. This is an intense tale of sorcery and identity theft. It is an outstanding story.

Maiden Flight by Adrian Cole is probably my favorite tale from this collection, at least I was very happy with the way the illustration turned out and that is my favorite of all the ones I did for this collection. A viking warrior is fated to be collected by a Valkyrie and taken to Valhalla, but when the Vakyrie suffers a mishap the tables are turned and he must rescue her. But if he saves her, then his days are numbered. A very satisfying tale.

So there you have it, short reviews of each tale but, trust me, every one of them makes purchasing the entire collection worth it.

You can get the e-version here and you can order a print copy (my preferred version) here.