DNF'd at 25% while I liked some of the stories the changing styles and content put me off and this is the reason I tend to stay away from anthologies.

a great way to introduce yourself to new authors and new series. An almost guaranty that you will search for the rest of the authors and their writings.

An excellent and nearly complete collection which provides a very thorough overview of the history of swords and sorcery, and which includes some of the best and most representative examples.

I was really impressed with this book and cant wait to read more books from this author.

A great collection of fantasy stories by some great authors.

This is a combination of short stories by various authors, it is well written and the stories have very strong storylines which you can follow and immerse yourselves in. These stories have their individual style and characters that are mesmerizing, each is independent and each spin their own craft. You would find yourself one time in the epic era and next in mars so you get to visit different realms and worlds, a most enjoyable read.

Looking for a primer on Sword & Sorcery stories, tropes, and authors? Well, laying your hands on Swords Against Darkness is a good place to start. Paula Guran has gathered a collection of stories under a title appropriated from one of the S & S masters that provide a broad sweep of early middle, and current tales/authors. Is it a perfect collection? No, but there is enough variety that most readers will enjoy at least 70% of the book. So what are you waiting for? Dive into the book and find your favorite tale!

I can't review this book because I couldn't finish it. Just not for me

The math averages to 3.52. I'm rounding up to 4 stars.

This compilation worked a little better for me than the last one I read, but there are some issues. Almost none of these stories would qualify as short. 50 pages or more most of them. Be prepared for huge novellas. Not a quick read and some of the stories are BOOORING. They could have done with some pruning of pages and descriptions.

The best of the best:

1) The Conan one, "The Tower of the Elephant", by Robert E. Howard. I gave it 4 stars, but am reconsidering to 4.5. Classic, the father of S&S and it's very well written.

2) Hellsgarde" by C. L. Moore. Jirel of Joiry, like Conan, only female. Kick behind, creepy and 4.5 stars.

3) Tanith Lee and Mercedes Lackey, both 5 stars, of course. "Hero at the Gates" and "Out of the Deep" respectively.

4) Elizabeth Moon, "First Blood", 5 stars.

5) "Where Virtue Lives" by Saladin Ahmed, 5 stars.

6) Scott Lynch, I ALWAYS love his short stories, hate his books. "The Effigy Engine", 4.5 stars.

7) "Goats of Glory" by Steven Erikson, 10 stars. This was awesome and I need more. Kk thanx.

Only one that got one star was "Bluestocking" by Joanna Russ. DNF and absolutely hated the writing style, the MCs, everything.

So all in all, not a bad offering. I do recommend it to those who enjoy S&S and who would like to meet some new Sword and Sorcery authors. 4 stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors Prime Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

This is an amazing collection of Swords & Sorcery. Paula Guran has assembled an impressive list of classics and new voices in Swords Against Darkness. There's something for everyone, from those who have been reading S&S fantasy for years, to someone looking to find a new genre. I loved how Guran sorted the authors in this collection, Forging and Shaping (the seminal authors), Normalizing and Annealing (those how followed and shaped) and Tempering and Sharpening (bringing something new).

This is a perfect sampler of all that is good in sword and sorcery fantasy, from the classic tales of Conan, and Fafhrd & The Gray Mouser, to some excellent modern writers, some of whom I had never read before. One such is the wonderful James Enge, whose work I shall be checking out. The bonus for me was a brilliant short story by one of my favourite authors, Scott Lynch, in a totally different vein from his Gentlemen Bastards series but still full of his typical snappy dialogue and exotic settings. Highly recommended.

Not available for Kindle. Wasted my time.
Would be a good idea to advise not available

Apologies cannot review download only as I have a kindle or kindle app on my tablet