An orderly clan of travelers appeared in the desolate southern reach of Sand-Folk country. These southrons called themselves Scions of the Dawn, for they sought earnestly the spot where the Wright founded the earthly realm at the dawn of days. Their elder elected to guide them north through the dunes, for he dreamt that the tallest of the Fangs held the answers they yearned for.

Year 31

Codex: Scions of the Dawn

The Scions of the Dawn were a small clan of desert-folk nomads, of unknown provenance, who appeared in the wandering wastes early in the first epoch. They attracted a reputation as obsessively devout followers of the Wright, uncommon among the Children of Dust in those days.

The Scions were the eighth of thirteen clans to join Len Ghremson’s exodus from the wastes into the valley below the Fangs. They settled thereafter in the western quarter of Danoh-town. Of all the clans that departed the capital in subsequent generations, the Scions of the Dawn were the last, establishing themselves on the mountain lake at the far end of the valley. There they instructed the descendants of the Wind Hunters and Prowler Kin in matters of faith and Wright-worship.

Author Note

It’s hard to overstate how pleased I am it’s spring y’all. Without further preface, here are my recommendations, updates, and public service announcements for April:

3 Recommendations

• Luke Warfield’s got a new story posted, “Roughin’ It —Part 1 of 2: A Yarn from the Greatness Grand Almanacs.” I think I’ve mentioned before, Luke’s worldbuilding and storytelling blend the fantastic and historical in a way that feels similar at heart to the Vaporous Realms, but the nitty gritty details and resulting “yarn” are very, wonderfully different.

• Kathrine Elaine has built a fantasy world, alternately charming and brutal, worthy to occupy a corner of your imagination—and it will, given the opportunity. If you’re only familiar with her lighterhearted fantasy fare, the immersive three-part story “Everlasting” may surprise you.

• I confess I haven’t made time for more than a couple of the Black Knight’s serials (and he’s prolific) in the long while I’ve subscribed to Shadows and Space. But even in passing, his sprawling worlds, action-packed tales, and bold viewpoint make an unmistakable impression. I can’t help but notice his storytelling style, often akin to being tossed headfirst into a rollicking tabletop RPG session, gets better all the time. That includes his ongoing serialization of Wynd of Cleansation.

2 Publishing Updates

• With a big comicon on the near horizon (and assorted monthly events thereafter), I’m throwing myself into a miniature-crafting frenzy for a fortnight. This coming week, In late May [thanks to the impulsive decision to publish a new edition of the Zshurii story as a paperback novella, in record time, for imminent in-person events], be on the lookout for a poll to gauge which style you find most appealing for Vaporous Realms at War minis: (mostly) carved or (mostly) crafted. I’ll feature a current sample of each. Thanks in advance!

• For paid subscribers, I’m actively finishing the Vaporous Realms at War character profiles for the Watchers introductory scenario. Egwae and the Herald of Livyat remain virtually unchanged, but within a few days, they’ll be joined by a slew of less familiar characters: Kel the Accuser, Rhaet the Destroyer, Læw the Hunter, C’heseh the Scribe, Tenah the Steward, a generic Watcher Captain, the Chaos Broodflogger, the Chaos Infiltrator, and the lowly Chaos Raider. A proper book with the updated beta rules and Watchers scenario is coming together at last (ETA June, more info in May).

1 PSA

• If you’ve got a Draft2Digital account for free, no-frills ebook formatting, and/or for book distribution, you probably saw the recent memo about monthly account fees for low earners. If you missed it, check your inbox (or your account). They’ll only charge you if you’ve got books in distribution through them, but they’ve created a one-button solution to unpublish everything and avoid those nasty fees. Happily, we’ve resolved the difficulty KDP was having with the Steelhearts anthology paperback cover, so it’s back in print on Amazon after a brief lapse.

Happy reading, folks!

Len, son of Ghrem, took a notion to offer the Wright a gift, as he’d watched his brother Sceg doing. In secret, Len placed a portion of his garden yield upon a great rock and set it alight, so the lord of the heaven-realm might see and smell the tribute. The fruits and grasses smoked and smoldered but would not catch flame. Len’s temper fouled, and he stoked a sore demeanor toward his brother and the Wright.

Year 30

Year 32

Author Note

Once more, I’ve been laboring hard behind the scenes without sharing much, if anything. The main culprit this time is an exceptionally hard, fast pivot in my work life, which made March a perfect whirlwind for my household. Happily, the dust is settling, springtime is upon us, and the Vaporous Realms will consume most of my attentions for the foreseeable future.

Here are my recommendations, updates, and public service announcements for March:

3 Recommendations

• D. S. Brandt (aka The Man Behind the Screen) made a welcome appearance with “A Lord’s Wake,” part of his Pearldiver’s Adventures series.

• Nick Thurston has returned with the intrepid inspector Loucet in his ongoing Shadow of Doubt series.

• If you appreciate the fantastic imagination of the Brothers Krynn but prefer digesting their tales as shorter snippets, check out the Annals of Livania stories.

2 Publishing Updates

• Above, you’ll see I’ve got a prototype for the restyled Vaporous Realms at War miniatures. Not efficient enough yet, but at least I’ve got a feel for what I’m after (and something to show for it).

• I’ve further updated the publishing schedule. There are also several events on our summer schedule now, if you’re in the Southeastern U. S. and can afford to take your car out of the driveway.

1 PSA

• I’ve discovered that Patrick Lawrence, here on Substack, is from my neck of the woods. If you’re not subscribed to Ringfolk, it’s well worth your while. He recently posted an excellent essay on “Frodo’s ‘Failure,’” and he’ll be taking us on a Return of the King read-through journey in April.

Happy weekend reading, y’all!

In those days, desert-folk of sundry clans lingered on the northwest marches of the wastes, where the Fangs and the river valley below dwindled into the sands. These children of the sunset dunes filled their waterskins and gazed wistfully on the verdant western hills and meadows. But from time to time, fearful valley-folk drove them off.

Year 29

Year 31

Codex: Children of the Sunset Dunes

The Children of the Sunset Dunes were a seminomadic clan of desert-folk foragers that formed at the edge of the wandering wastes, near the valley of the Fangs, early in the first epoch. Though greater in number than Durbrhos’s Wanderers, they were likewise varied in origin.

Under the chieftain Hrogg, the clan was seventh of the thirteen to follow Len Ghremson out of the wastes and into the valley. They initially resided in the northern quarter of Danoh-town upon its founding, but their yearning to roam—and discord with their Bone Jackal neighbors—prompted many Children of the Sunset Dunes to settle the banks of the river below.

Author Note

As it happens, I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth.

But the past couple months have been so busy—including updates to the website (Substack) content, organization, and a few posts behind the paywall—I missed the Annals and public updates for January. Thanks to everyone for staying subscribed, free or otherwise, during the past several, slow-posting months.

Happily, I’m rarin’ to go now. Things that have been in the works, off and on and mostly behind the scenes, are getting to the point I can share and publish a lot more Vaporous Realms stuff a lot more frequently (and with an emphasis on quality).

Here are my quickish recommendations, publishing updates, and public service announcements for February:

3 Recommendations (Among My Restacks in Notes)

• Kailani B. has worthwhile things to say and says them well, including in her essay, “What Would the American Tolkien Look Like?”

• A. K. Preston recently concluded his long-running series of short sci-fi/fantasy snippets, The Helm of Seven (latter link takes you to Part 38)!

• maryh10000’s exploration of The Odyssey (the poem) has been fun, unlike the eponymous hero’s journey. The series has reached Book XXII with “Battle and Executions.”

3 Publishing Updates (Vaporous Realms)

• In case you missed it, the website (Substack) posts and permissions were thoroughly updated at the end of 2025. As of today, the Vaporous Realms at War rules, scenario notes, and profiles are now updated, too.

• Take a gander at the revised publishing schedule and Vaporous Realms at War overview. Because of twists and turns in life and business, I’m spreading out the estimated publishing schedule; this spring doesn’t look conducive to churning out new novellas. It’s better I’m honest about that. There will be more emphasis on tabletop content and miniatures the first half of the year, with the new Len novella and sequels getting renewed focus thereafter.

• A corrected version of the Steelhearts anthology paperback is now working its way through the internet to the online retailers. By March, it’s likely safe to order and expect a corrected version. In the meantime, the ebook has been corrected for a while.

3 Publishing Updates (Other Folks)

• Kathrine Elaine has published One Hundred Refusals, which I had fun reading last year, as a novel. Congrats!

• The first volume of Mercedes de Santiago’s Legend of Sinardia will be published soon in English. Keep an eye out for updates on her Substack!

• Steve Rzasa is about to launch a Kickstarter campaign for The Null Razor Heist: An Eon City Caper, a “cyberpunk crime thriller.” Follow the campaign page for updates!

Happy reading, y’all.

• new mechanics based on moral alignment

• fixing Ranged Attack

There is an updated, longer version behind the paywall, but a further expanded version will also be available in an upcoming crowdfund campaign (ETA March 2026).

I’ve also made updated versions of all previously shared character profiles, to reflect the new rules and mechanics, and will post those presently (for paid and complementary subscribers). Again, if you don’t have paywall access, look for character profiles, ventures (scenarios), and novella-based campaigns in future crowdfunds.

This is the year Vaporous Realms at War takes off; the board is set, so to speak, to put a good beta version out into the wider world. (Yes, this is all beta, despite the 2E moniker.) Thank you for humoring my early forays into the tabletop sphere, and for your continued interest and support!

Winter 2026 Vrw Quick Rules 2e 3page

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Hampton Comicon, Hampton, Va. February 21, 2026

Longshot Comic & Toy Show, Roanoke, Va. March 21, 2026

Tidewater Comicon, Virginia Beach, Va. May 16–17, 2026

Myths & Monsters Market, Suffolk, Va. May 24, 2026

Artisan Caravan, Suffolk, Va. July 26, 2026

Wandering Book Caravan, Suffolk, Va. August 23, 2026

Atlantic Shores Craft Fair, Chesapeake, Va. September 26, 2026

Hampton Comicon Ten-Year Celebration, Hampton, Va. October 17–18, 2026

A stout, jovial fellow, who called himself Dubrhos, lumbered out of the far east, alongside a toothless prowler. The Wind Hunters suspected Livyat had warped his mind, and the Sand-Folk thought him sun-touched. Wherever Dubrhos wandered, he welcomed exiles and the disaffected to his tents and campfires, with a hearty laugh. None dared cross him, for they feared the foreclaws of his feline companion.

Year 28

Year 30

Codex: Dubrhos’s Wanderers

Dubrhos’s Wanderers were a loosely structured clan of desert-folk that arose in the wandering wastes early in the first epoch.

They were eleventh of the thirteen clans to follow Len Ghremson out of the wastes and into the valley below the Fangs. Their disparate origins and free-spirited ethos contributed to the varied and lively character of Danoh-town’s eastern quarter. But the consolidation of royal and priestly power late in the first epoch compelled most of their descendants to join the knoll-folk in the central valley.

Author Note

Goodness gracious, y’all—this was a heck of an autumn, and not in the way I’d like to repeat. Never in my life have seasonal illnesses, nearly unbroken for over three months, wrought such havoc on my productivity and plans. Lord willing, I’m finally back to my creative endeavors in a sustained way. And I’m especially grateful for everyone who’s subscribed (or stayed subscribed) in recent weeks.

Which brings me to some end-of-year updates and forecasts:

1. Because I’ve been so spotty in posting this past year, and had to delay a lot of the paid-only content I’d planned, I extended all paid subscriptions by several months. I appreciate y’all so much! (Please message me directly if you’re not sure when your sub renews now.)

2. Going forward, the Vaporous Realms site and archives will be better organized: certain kinds of posts will always be free, others will always be paid, and there will be a thorough (and hyperlinked) overview of the site contents.

3. In the next few days, Steelhearts campaign backers and Vaporous Realms paid subscribers will get access to a version of the anthology ebook with typos and errors corrected.

4. Before Christmas, paid and complimentary subscribers will get a new version of the Annals, redrafted for the upcoming Legend of Len the Wanderer. A full draft of the new prologue, in a new style, ought to be ready before New Year’s.

5. I’m planning regular, short livestreams for the new year, for Vaporous Realms and my editing Substack. Livestreams and synopses will be available to everyone, but recordings will be paid perks.

6. A detailed Vaporous Realms at War beta rulebook, and much-improved miniatures, are in development for a January–February release. A crowdfund for The Legend of Len the Wanderer (and possibly its sequel) is tentatively set for this spring.

7. I’m forgoing a monthly “top reads” list this time, because I’ve been enjoying all the same writers and serials (and restacking my favorites more often). That said, shout-outs to Bill Hiatt for his addictive fantasy and mythology serials and to J. M. Robinson for his thought-provoking theological essays focused on reenchantment. For what it’s worth, I think both writers have been in especially fine form lately.

Happy reading, folks—and Merry Christmas!

A band of Wind Hunter pilgrims, beset by dust-storms, became separated from their clan-folk. Through clouds of sandy vapor, two Wind Trackers among their number glimpsed a star in the dome above, which they perceived to be a beacon of the unseen realm. By following this light, they escaped the onslaught of storms and were preserved. That same night, both Trackers dreamt of a coming chief of chiefs, from the threshhold of the heavenly kingdom. The pilgrims, calling themselves the Desert Stars, elected to wander henceforth with an eye to the heavens instead of an ear to the winds.

Year 27

Year 29

Codex: Desert Stars

The Desert Stars were a desert-folk clan of the wandering wastes, originating as an offshoot of the Wind Hunters.

Last among the desert-folk to ally themselves to Len Ghremson, they were one of three lesser clans that claimed space in the eastern quarter of Danoh-town. By the end of the first epoch, their descendants had migrated west of the city and numbered among the knoll-folk.

Author Note

Thank you all, so much, for staying subscribed and for taking the time to read my little snippets and updates when you’re able. It’s taken me a lot longer than some folks to pass the hundred-subscriber mark, but I appreciate y’all a great deal. I’m keeping my sights set on finishing the new Len novella by year’s end, amid persistent editorial busyness and the onset of the sick season.

This month is also my truncated fall event season, which poses its own challenges. I know “it used to be better” is an old refrain of the comic con and craft fair circuits, but based on what I’ve experienced the past year and a half, I believe it, at least for small and mid-sized events. We’re keeping a tight rein on our finances, too, so I get that most folks’ impulse spending habits have changed. But I’m not keen on devoting my life to making books and tabletop games for an ever-shrinking pool of interested folks with substantial discretionary income, or on my livelihood being entirely internet-based. As I recommit time to the creative and retail sides of things, affordability is near the forefront of my strategizing.

Practical musings aside, here’s a non-exhaustive list of recommendations from my past several weeks on Substack:

1. The Man Behind the Screen’s The Jarl’s Son—having reached its intense climax and fitting finale

2. Nick Thurston’s The Isles of Esgarona—vividly depicted, approachable, and intriguing

3. A. K. Preston’s The Tombs of Elysium—eerie, horror-tinged military science fiction, with moral substance

4. Bill Hiatt’s The Story of Creation as Told to Musaeus by Dionysus—clever and entertaining

5. Joe’s (of the Brother’s Krynn) Brotherhood of the Gemstone—sprawling adventure for those ready to immerse themselves in a grand mythic narrative

6. Patrick Lawrence’s “Power as Burden, Not a Privilege”—an incisive commentary on morality and heroism in The Lord of the Rings

7. With a special mention of GMaia’s newly released, seasonally inspired tabletop adventure, “Promenade Macabre.” (And a Yuletide module, for which I got to preview an early draft, is on the horizon!)

Happy reading, y’all!

In this year, Len son of Ghrem saw the flock his brother Sceg tended, and he resolved to plant a garden great enough to fill a mountain meadow. So he did, in secret. Yet, Sceg happened upon Len’s field of seedlings, which whelmed him over with dismay and foreboding. Len observed his brother’s dearth of enthusiasm and forgave him not a whit.

Year 26

Year 28

Author Note

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Steelhearts heroic fantasy anthology I edited and published, with the backing of and contributions from Redd Oscar, , Kathrine Elaine, , and , is scheduled for release tomorrow (October 15), print on demand, from the usual suspects. I’ll make a quick post with links once I’ve confirmed the release on particular retailers.(The ebook and the remaining Kickstarter paperback run are already available.)

Regarding recommendations, I thought I’d offer something different from my habitual list of favorite posts from my favorite Substack writers over the past month (and a half):

1. I don’t always get to listen to livestreams and podcasts, but I’m glad I caught the Brothers Krynn interview with Bill Hiatt on mythmaking.

2. The Ynysfall Codex is a quality fantasy collaboration featuring several writers I’ve recommended before. Browse it here.

3. If you’re looking for longer-form indie fantasy fiction, consider these books:

   1. In the Giant’s Shadow by D. S. Brandt

   2. The Last Daughter of Wolves by

   3. Crown of Blood by D. L. and J. C. Chaput

   4. (and I’m sneaking in one serial here) The Mage Hunter by

Thank you for your time, as ever. And thanks to those who’ve checked out my ongoing updates to the Vaporous Realms at War tabletop rules and character profiles. Happy reading, y’all!

The full version of the Vaporous Realms at War tabletop tactical RPG rules are available to paid and complimentary subscribers, but I wanted everyone to have access to the basics in their current form, if interested. (See the download below.)

The tabletop game will be an optional component of most Vaporous Realms story-world books going forward, beginning with the revised and expanded story of Len the Wanderer that’s creeping along behind the scenes. (And yes, I’m keen on honoring my previous promise to send a free copy to everyone I know purchased the original Dustsong novella.)

Vrw Quick Rules One Sheet 2025

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It also features the latest version of the “Watchers” story from the Vaporous Realms, with narrative additions conducive to Vaporous Realms at War tabletop play.

If you already received the ebook by backing the Kickstarter, note that this version has a few minor changes to the copyright page, afterword, and scene break symbols, in addition to fixing a typo.

[BookFunnel download link removed. Paid and complimentary subscribers, check out this December 2025 post for the latest version of the ebook, with several additional errors corrected.]

This ebook is also available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and elsewhere. Surplus signed-and-numbered copies of the U.S. Kickstarter paperback are available direct from our shop. The POD version of the paperback is scheduled for release on Amazon and Barnes & Noble on October 15, 2025. [Note: by the end of January 2026, the POD paperback will be updated to correct several errors.]

After much ado, the post-Kickstarter publication of Steelhearts: An Anthology is upon us.

If you don’t recollect, this is the heroic fantasy anthology sponsored earlier this year, bringing me on as lead editor and crowdfund manager. The volume features exceptional stories by , , , , and .

The ebook (with a few updates)1 is available now from your friendly global monolithic online retailer—and numerous other digital booksellers, familiar and obscure.

A few leftover copies, signed and hand-numbered, from the original U.S. Kickstarter print run, are available now in my online shop. Out of respect to our generous crowdfund backers, these limited-run copies are priced similarly to Kickstarter, including shipping. [Update: we’ve lowered the price to $21.] But it’s exactly what our U.S. backers and authors received, including a bonus character sticker. [Clarification: these remain available primarily to those in the U. S. If you’re outside the U.S. and would like one, let me know. We’ll have to work out an appropriate shipping fee for your location.]

The post-Kickstarter paperback (with updates) is delayed till mid-month or so by technical difficulties. Both of our distribution channels for the internationally available post-Kickstarter paperback have been unusually disagreeable when it comes to our cover file. I know some folks outside the U.S., including our contributing authors on the Continent, have been waiting for the paperback. It will be available for purchase everywhere at some point in October. I’ll send out an update when I have a specific release date. [Update: It’s available now, but January 2026 is our first chance to upload a version that has several small errors corrected.]

Thanks for your time and support—and happy reading!

One day, the chief of the Children of the Palm told his exasperated wife, "Surely, if I fail to heed your words, it's because I'm far too distracted by your handsome visage and sun-blessed looks!" From that moment on, she spoke nary a word to her husband, and she garbed herself in a hooded tunic of palm fronds that covered her head to toe, except about the eyes. Several of the other women-folk did likewise, though she did not ask them to, for they admired her greatly.

Later that year, the chief fell prey to a prowler as he walked into the brush by the light of the moon. The elders of the clan would not permit the chief's wife, a woman of much wisdom but little patience, to lead in his stead. A few of the younger women, and their husbands and little ones, were of a different mind, and she led them from the clan oasis into the wastes. They called themselves Waetii's Folk, for that was her name.

Year 25

Year 27

Codex: Waetii’s Folk

Waetii's Folk were a desert-folk clan of the wandering wastes. They were a matriarchal offshoot of the Children of the Palm, known for their exceptionally modest attire and for their retiecence with outsiders.

Waetii's Folk were sixth of the thirteen clans that followed Len Ghremson out of the wastes. They made their home in the western quarter of Danoh-town. After Waetii returned to the dust, the Children of the Palm reabsorbed her clan inside a generation.

Author Note

It’s been a while, y’all. Going on seven weeks—it’s about as long as I’ve ever gone without posting here since I first got rolling. It’s been a tough stretch for me and my house, which overlapped with the final prepublication crunch for the Steelhearts anthology. Thank you, including those of you who’ve subscribed since I last posted anything, for your patience.

I’m happy to say that the Kickstarter campaign sponsored for the anthology was a success, reaching nearly 300 percent of its minimum goal. I belatedly wrapped up the editorial work to my satisfaction, secured my wife’s help with formatting and design, got the ebook delivered to backers by mid-month, and got the paperback to print. Seven months into this endeavor, I’m very pleased with what we’ve all accomplished—and of course, that includes authors , , , , and . Both the ebook and a print-on-demand paperback will be available internationally, in the usual sorts of places, in the first week of October (after the Kickstarter paperbacks have been delivered). We’ll make an announcement when that auspicious day arrives.

All that to say, I’m glad to be back posting here. In just a bit, my paid subscribers (for whom I’m especially thankful) will receive the definitive, expanded version of my “Watchers” story, partly restyled. Since I’m actively writing again, I’ll be sharing WIP excerpts and/or bonus tabletop character profiles with paid subscribers most weeks. And my monthly rhythm of free posts (like this) and profiles will get back on track.

Below are my carefully cultivated reading recommendations from early July through yesterday. My top nine fiction selections are first, followed by six essays worth your while:

1. The Brothers Doom by Luke Warfield

2. The Mage Hunter (ongoing) by Redd Oscar

3. The Pearldiver's Adventures (ongoing) by The Man Behind the Screen

4. Conquest and Glory (ongoing) by Harold Ember

5. "A Conspiracy of the Heart" by BamBoncher

6. Akiniwazisaga 2: The Inheritance Thieves (excerpted chapters) by M. D. Boncher

7. "The Fall of Agárion" by Mercedes de Santiago

8. One Hundred Refusals (ongoing) by Kathrine Elaine

9. The Haunting of Guaritori Diolco (ongoing) by Bill Hiatt

10. "A Generation of Media Illiterates" by Reynagus

11. "Eucatastrophes and the Triumph of Hope Against Despair" by The Brothers Krynn

12. "In Praise of Imagination" by GMaia

13. "Goodness of God Is Sovereign Over My Story" by Stephanie Loomis

14. "What Were Castles Actually For?" by Eric Falden

15. "Telemachus Calls the Assembly" by maryh10000

Happy reading, folks!

Around this time, the creeper-folk grew restless on their isle. They agreed amongst themselves that they would brave the Sea of Livyat once more. Whichever of their number was first to reach the northern shore, whether by raft or other means, would become their chieftain. So it was that Sharkin Blessed-with-Hair-Everywhere-But-His-Crown rode the waves in a dugout and became the first hegemon of the creeper-folk.

The beast-folk observed this from the shadows beyond the frostbitten shoreline, and they bided their time.

Year 24

Year 26

Codex: Beast-folk

Beast-folk was the common name for sundry sorts of earthly beings indigenous to the Elder and Fledgling Worlds. The folk of the Lost Kingdom called them savages, as distinct from barbarians, or foreign folk. These savages inhabited many corners of the earthly realm before the arrival of human-folk. They roamed the land with their near kin, or sometimes on their lonesome, but seldom in proper clans or tribes.

Settlement by the Redeemed, the Waveborne, or the Westerlings often brought ruin upon the beast-folk. Whether as cause or consequence, these simple-minded beings proved especially vulnerable to the manipulations of Livyat and the Accursed. The creeper-folk viewed the beast-folk as their mortal foes and hunted them with a vengeance.

It has been much disputed whether the beast-folk were more human or critterish—and whether they had souls, spirits, both, or neither.

Author Note

The Kickstarter crowdfund (sponsored by the Brothers Krynn) continues apace for the Steelhearts fantasy anthology I've been editing. Incredibly, we've passed the 200 percent funding mark. (Mind you, this doesn't mean all of the Brothers Krynn's related expenses are covered, but y'all have made a huge dent.) I got to commission a bonus sketch for the book from my favorite indie illustrator, Ekaterina Glazkova! The next stretch goal, at 300 percent, would mean I add a reimagined version of the Zshurii novella to the end of the anthology. So I suppose I'd better finish up the formatting and proofreading and get to rewriting.

On a related note, my posting here and on the M.B. Heywood editorial Substack will continue to be lighter than I’d like until the anthology is all ready for publication in late July. (And whether or not it makes it into the anthology, that new version of the Zshurii story will ultimately make its way here, for all paid and complimentary subscribers.)

Because I'm on a (working) vacation this week, my customary list of reading recommendations is abbreviated—but they're good ones, y’all!

Other than that, I wish my countrymen and -women a happy, safe Fourth on the morrow. And bless our cousins in Canada and the U.K., whose forebears tried their honorable darnedest to make us pay our taxes.

Now, my recommendations:

1. M. D. Boncher's serialized Akiniwazasaga novel, a dark Christian historical fantasy

2. Harold Ember's delightful Conquest and Glory serial—a Redwall for ancient Rome

3. Redd Oscar's The Mage Hunter serial, if you want the feel of a Sherlockian mystery but the aesthetic of a DnD adventure

4. Kathrine Elaine's One Hundred Refusals serial, for lighthearted shenanigans and cheekiness with a moral compass

5. Victoria Jensen's promising start to No More Than a Legend

6. Patrick Lawrence new Two Towers read-through

7. Eric Falden's insightful essay, "The Moment I Learned to Love Fantasy"

8. Stephanie Loomis's ongoing "Goodness of God" devotional series

And for the cartoon aficionados, I wanted to share that David Perlmutter is significantly discounting subscriptions to his Substack this summer.

Happy reading, folks!