"This is a very through history of Sword and Sorcery, almost to a fault.

I was never bored while reading the book but it is very comprehensive.

You get the origins of Sword and Sorcery, what defines the genre, biographies of the major early writers, way too many book suggestions for the TBR, and a complete history of the genre up to present day.

It is really well done."

"Incredible research, a must read for any fan of sword and sorcery."

"My only regret with this book: I wish I started reading it on a Friday versus a Monday. Had I started reading on a Friday, I would have missed sleep if needed to read straight through; however, I started it on a Monday evening and had to settle for stealing chapters whilst working and before needed work-week sleep.

I admit my vision is rose colored. The author is nearly my age and came upon his love for Swords & Sorcery (he actually prefers swords and sorcery—I am not as picky) in an almost identical way as I. He even shares my adoration of Heavy Metal tunes.

That being said, if you have a taste for the likes of REH, KEW, Lieber, C.L. Moore, etc., or you are curious where those stories by Joe Abercrombie come from: give this a read.

My favorite parts:

� I enjoyed, very much, the chapter on the influence of S&S on Heavy Metal music. If Mr Murphy wrote another book about that subject, I would pre-order it!

� He wrote of a few works I have not read and I am now enticed to seek those out."