...Toward that great city traveled Velan, the last of the Klatothian Tribe. Great of strength was he, dark of eye, grim of countenance. With a blade in his hands, he stole, he battled, he defended and he destroyed. He came with burning fire in his eyes, and a hard rage in his teeth, his thick boots eating miles of the earth. And truly, he never wore sandals, for those were for people who liked having their toes stomped…
New from James L. Grant: a tale of blood, swords, high fantasy, revenge, action, monsters, sorcery, and battle! Also, goats, figs, and other silly things. Velan the Reticent is the first in a planned arc of at least five novellas, parodying the CONAN series by Robert E. Howard. A first for Grant in many ways: this series is primarily available in e-book format, on both the Kindle and Nook, as well as available in PDF and a few other bizarre formats, including online Java reader, which is just, I dunno, man, weird. Electronic version is priced at $3.99, dead tree version for $8.35. No DRM, no hassle. This is the first work that Grant has self-published, since the novella market is kind of dry right now. All questions about the book can be sent to flemcomics@yahoo. Cover art by Amanda "Shinga" Bussell, who is awesome.
Continue to the old front page, for Grant's last novel, On The Banks Of Lethe, which is more of a horror serious bleh icky poo thing.
GOOD THINGS PEOPLE SAYS ABOUT VELAN:
"My first experience with parody barbarian lit is a success, thanks to the dexterous Mr. Grant. Delightful and well-written, dare-I-say-adorable characters, and a truly engaging story. I put a premium on my reading time, and Velan not only held my attention -- it was a damn good read. I'm so pleased, in fact, that I'll be demanding the second book presently. Where the hell is the second book? Time's a-wastin'!"
"I love it. If you like Howard’s Conan, or Burrough’s John Carter of Mars... If you like Pratchett’s Diskworld, you will probably like Velan... J has written a smart, funny, and proper sword & sorcery story that engages the reader and leaves you wanting more. I cannot wait for the next installment."
"If you like Conan and you like to laugh then Velan the Reticent by James L. Grant is the book you've been waiting for. For a Barbarian Age Parody that is laugh out loud hilarious Velan can't be beat!"
"Don't be fooled by the somewhat whimsical title; 'Velan the Reticent' is both more and less than a parody of Conan and other sword-and-sorcery tales. Nor is it a deconstruction, satire, or commentary on the genre. It is, plain and simply, a reinvention of the genre for a new generation- a generation less interested in tall tales and superhuman characters and more interested in keeping their fantasy grounded in common sense... The result is a quick, satisfying adventure story that's fun to read, made all the better by James Grant's crisp, clear writing style. The writing dragged me by the nose (because nothing more sensitive was in reach) from beginning to end in one sitting. The ending, although providing closure enough for one story, leaves the reader wanting more- in my case, demanding it. I'm looking forward to the next installment when it comes- and to getting all my friends hooked on the first one."
"Velan seamlessly blends the weighty tone of classic pulp fantasy with J. Grant’s unique brand of humor. To find a story that makes you laugh while forcing you to take it seriously is a rare and wonderful thing. Velan the Reticent is not to be missed."
- John Mørke, Freelance writer for White-Wolf's Exalted RPG
"Velan the Reticent is fun for the whole family...unless you're related to a bunch of pussies."
- Wednesday Lee Friday, Kiss Me Like You Love Me
"I very rarely read sword & sorcery or fantasy that isn't contemporary in nature/setting. So I was a bit worried that I might not get into this very much - fortunately, my worry stopped by the end of the first paragraph. Velan may be reticent, but he's also an extremely likeable protagonist with a wonderfully dry sense of humor, who moves with wit, wisdom and a certain feral grace through a dangerous yet enticing world where the usual fantasy tropes don't apply. Everything's a bit twisty, and the faint suggestion, never confirmed, of what might be a science fictional past to this world of magic and monsters makes Velan's and his companion's adventures all the more enjoyable... I am very much looking forward to reading more."
- Livia Llewellyn, Engines of Desire: Tales of Love & Other Horrors
"Any fan of Conan the Barbarian (graphic novels or movie) must read Velan the Reticient. Forget stereotypes and be ready for rules to break in Velan's path. The action scenes are tense and hard hitting, full of assassins and monsters. The dialogue is as witty and fast paced as Velan is strong. And if you're going to talk or laugh while Velan's asleep, stay out of rock throwing range."
- Robert Fox, Dead Come Home
"An entrancing journey through a world of insanity, laughter, and blood."
- Nathan Robert Brown, The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythology
Everything on this page is ©2011 James L. Grant. All rights reserved. All fish hammered.