Besting the Beast and Other Fantasy Tales
by Scott Forbes Crawford
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Pub Date Aug 01 2024 | Archive Date Jul 24 2024
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Description
Adventure and dread, two-fisted action and eldritch wonder – all to be yours in these five tales.
From Scott Forbes Crawford, author of Silk Road Centurion comes a collection of tales to thrill and bewitch. Previously published in SNAFU: Holy War, Bards and Sages, Sword and Sorcery Magazine and elsewhere, these stories of hard-bitten fighters and crafty innocents will spirit you off to realms of peril and awe:
“Besting the Beast” – After the onslaught of a demonic horde, a former bandit who left his savage ways behind him finds they may be of use after all.
“Half-baked Hero” – When a bodyguard encounters an outlandish client, she faces a choice between her past and future, vengeance and honor.
“Heart of a Samurai” – In the tradition of Japanese ghostly tales, a proud warrior learns the limits of his purity, courtesy of a cat.
“The Carving of a Warrior” – A young woman crossing a monster-infested forest must sculpt a new destiny if she is to survive.
“A Thief’s Work” – A novelette of intrigue and conspiracy in a city enslaved to the magical drug Sorcel. Can a burglar recruited into the resistance free her people?
Plus an excerpt from Silk Road Centurion, the chronicle of a Roman soldier fighting to make a life on the ancient Chinese frontier, called “a riveting action-packed novel” by Asian Review of Books.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
Praise for Crawford's novel Silk Road Centurion
“A grand adventure I simply couldn’t put down. Compelling and powerful, it’s a testament to heroism, loyalty, and brotherhood. One of the finest things I read all year.”
—Howard Andrew Jones, author of The Desert of Souls and Lord of a Shattered Land
“A masterly tale. With powerful prose, Crawford brings to life the challenges and struggles of one man to stay alive, and find meaning in a dangerous world. Bracing and real.”
—Justin Hill, prize-winning author of the Conquest trilogy and Shadow of the Eighth (Warhammer 40K)
“Silk Road Centurion feels historic while maintaining a page turning sense of adventure.”
—Brian Murphy, author of Flame and Crimson: A History of Sword-and-Sorcery
“This novel makes for compulsive reading due to its many colorful characters and twisting plot points.”
—Taipei Times
“Exceptional character development and rich and evocative worldbuilding … The story is a page-turner as the prose pulsates with tension, dangers, and near-death experiences.”
—Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite
“Each phase of Manius’ journey was filled with masterful plots brimming with detail, and mind-steeped emotional turmoil. Prepare for a breathtaking trek into the steppes and feel the wind as you gallop through the pages.”
—Paul Bennett, Hoover Book Review
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9133965337096 |
| PRICE | |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 1132234
I've been looking for more short story collections because I've been very into them recently, so I was very happy that I was accepted for this ARC because of the short stories and because they are based in a time period and country, I like to read from. This is a great collection that is a quick read, but I think it is worth your time. Each story is different but has a similar writing style that connects them to be a cohesive collection without feeling repetitive. “Heart of a Samurai,” “The Carving of a Warrior,” and “A Thief’s Work” are my favorites from the collection. Those three really shined with the world and characters that are within the short story. The pacing is quick and keeps you moving throughout the stories without feeling rushed, which is great for short stories. I recommend this collection if you are looking for a short story collection that is a quick and fun read.
Maliha R, Reviewer
Surprisingly Good. I was given a chance to read an ARC and this was my very first. Appreciate the author's trust in my fair and honest review.
I love short stories and if it's about monsters then even better. The imagination and creativity in the different types of monsters that I came across through Scotts words was thrilling.
This was the first time I read anything from Scott Forbes Crawford but was impressed by how he was able to express so much in so little, from character building to intense storylines as well as how engaging and satisfying each plot was in this Beastly collection was.
The Asian inspiration is apparent and enjoyable. My favourites were "Half baked hero" and "Heart of a Samurai."
It was a Good Read!
Jackie M, Reviewer
I really enjoyed these mythic short stories! I received an ARC from NetGalley, and am glad I was able to snag this one. A few short stories inspired by folklore, by favorites were “The Heart of a Samurai” in the tradition of Japanese ghostly tales (with a cat), and “A Thief’s Work,” where we follow a female thief who joins the resistance to save her people from a sorcerer. These are short, easy reads, and the stories drop you right into the action.
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