Reading heroic fantasy allows you to enter other worlds and identify with special heroes. Some live by the sword, others are crafted in magic. Some heroes defeat tyrants, find love, and face creatures that are seemingly unbeatable. If the stories are well-written, they will leave you amazed, just as the stories in Lords of Swords do.

Lords of Swords contains thirteen stories, mostly by some of the world's most popular and highly acclaimed writers. First I have to mention Tanith Lee's sad and uplifting masterpiece, "The Woman in Scarlet," which is the story of a magic sword and its relationship with its owner.

In John C. Hocking's exciting story, "Vali's Wound," a young Viking meets a Valkyrie and has to fulfill her wish in order to save his friend.

In another excellent story, "Something Dwells 'Neath Hannah Town" by D.K. Latta, a lady and the head of the guardsmen have to face the city's original inhabitants, the mysterious creatures living under the city.

I also like Howard Andrew Jones' story "Line of Blood," in which a female warrior, Raas, defends the heir of the throne. Portraying this courageous and clever woman, Jones creates a really strong female character, who is also a very likeable one.

However, my personal favourite is the story by a young writer called Beth Shope. "Dragon's Eye" is her first published story, but it is brilliantly written, and it will probably be remembered by fans of the genre for a long time.

Other authors represented in this anthology include Barbara Tarbox, Nancy Virginia Varian, Joseph A. McCullough, Ray Kane, Vera Nazarian, Jonah Lissner, David L. Felts and E.E. Knight. The book contains some of the finest stories that the genre has to offer, with nicely drawn characters that are easy to identify with. They are heroes who have to avenge some wrong; people who have to fight for their freedom, their lives or for their loved ones, though some of them are also attracted by enchanted or cursed treasures.

As you read this book, you enter a world where swords can be magical and can even have consciousness. A world of kingdoms, where you can be the champion of a king or a god. This is a place where you can be a pirate, a warrior or a sorcerer, even if you are a woman. You can get to places where nothing is impossible, tyrants can be defeated, and prophecies are fulfilled.

If you like Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, or other great masters of fantasy, then this book is for you. Don't miss it.

Reviewed By Ilona Hegedus
© August 2005