Karavansara

East of Constantinople, West of Shanghai


by 9 Comments

Provisions run

This morning I went to the local discount to buy provisions, having planned last night a shopping list capable of covering two weeks for two people living in the middle of nowhere. A friend gave me a lift, and we drove for the 6 km to the supermarket.

I have read, in the past days, reports about how the lockdown is doing wonders for the environment – the water is clear and full of fish in the canals of Venice, and wild animals are roaming the deserted streets of the cities, like in a movie. In South-East Asia, towns are being taken over by monkeys, like a page from Sinbad’s Voyages. And from what I saw, the countryside here in Astigianistan is feeling the benefit – crows, ravens, blackbirds, pheasants… I spotted a lot of birds close to the road, where the low traffic is not scaring them anymore.

I had my paper with me – because there are checkpoints, and you have to explain why you’re not at home, and where are you going.
Hint: going out to buy provisions is OK, going out for a drink and then a nightclub is not.

Continue reading →


by 2 Comments

Volcano Goddesses, Golden Dawns and Sorcerer Popes

It’s Sunday, the countryside is silent and dreary, yesterday people in decontamination suits walked the streets of our village decontaminating the area – a scene out of too many SF/horror movies – and today I decided I’ll be lazy, recharge my batteries and go through a collection of Athena Voltaire comics a friend sent me – I’ve been through Athena Voltaire and the Volcano Goddess this morning, I’ll devote the afternoon to Athena Voltaire and the Sorcerer Pope, leaving Athena Voltaire and the Golden Dawn for the evening
Because I meed a little of high-octane pulp adventure in my life.

And here’s a gallery of covers, for your entertainment (If you’ve not read the Athena Voltaire comics… you should)


by Leave a comment

Magic by numbers: Fifty-two

Today is Friday the 13th. The countryside is silent and deserted, and there is not a soul around. We are all sitting tight waiting for the second shoe to drop. At five pm my weekend will begin, and I will have a cup of tea and start a book. I have allowed too long external circumstances to spoil my everyday life. Like Steve Perry said, we’ve got to be good to ourselves.

A few days back I spotted a special offer on Amazon, and for less than three bucks (including delivery) I got me a paperback copy of The Magic Toyshop, by Angela Carter, in the classic Virago Modern Classics edition.
I have so far missed this novel, and what struck me was this: this book came out in the year of my birth, ergo we are both 52 at the moment – and for a strange coincidence, Angela Carter died at 52, in 1992, when I was 25, and living in the UK.
Not bad, as the premise for the decision to read a book about magic and reality.

Which is meaningless, of course – we can find patterns everywhere, but I liked the idea of reading Carter again, I liked the cover, the price, and I always found Carter’s language incredibly compact and yet light – so this will be a good opportunity to learn something new.
And read a good book.
WE should always have a good book to read, or a good story to tell.


by 4 Comments

Gunthar, Warrior of the Lost World

In the last few years, lovers of sword & sorcery had the opportunity to meet Gunthar, Steve Dilks savage adventurer, as he started in the footsteps of older and better known barbarians in three action-packed adventures. We saw him meet the Purple Priestess of Asshtarr, and then turn his attention to the Jaguar Queen, before he finally tackled the Devil from Beyond.

A muscular hero that still shows intelligence, cunning, and a sort of grim humor, Gunthar is a classic sword & sorcery hero, and manages to capture the old excitement of the pulps while bringing to the table a few more modern ideas. And right now, fans and newcomers can get their fix of s&s action in the character’s first collection, Gunthar – Warrior of the Lost World, published by Carnelian Press, that brings together Priestess, Queen and Devil, and throws in The Lord of the Black Throne for good measure. Three hundred pages of solid sword & sorcery, in a nicely illustrated volume with a beautiful cover.

While the shadow of a certain Cimmerian adventurer looms obviously large over Gunthar and his world, it is quite possible that a notorious Lemurian barbarian is also keeping an eye out for the young lad – and yet Steve Dilks is his own writer, and he gives us more than a mere pastiche or homage. One feels his many influences, but also appreciates his steady hand. His stories are fun, smart, and travel at a furious pace, filled with blazing swords and dark magic and beautiful, dangerous women, and he manages to bend the rules enough to do something original, while not breaking them. You’ve got to be good to manage that.

I got my copy as a gift from one of my Patrons (thank you!), and it’s been a pleasant diversion in these busy, surreal days. Indeed, it jumped to the top of my to-read pile, and it forced me to find the time to give it my undivided attention. It’s been refreshing, like taking a much-needed vacation.

An excellent addition to any sword & sorcery fan’s shelf.
We want more.


by Leave a comment

What makes us human (hint: it has to do with books)

On my Italian blog I have just posted a rather lugubrious post about the fact that, considering I was walking in Asti’s market square one week ago, and that Asti was a city in which a number of COVID-19 cases have been reported, I am currently counting the days, and feeling a shiver every time I cough or I sneeze.
Did I catch it?
Am I infected?
Will I die?

The virus has a 14-days incubation period, so I am currently halfway through, and counting.

Continue reading →


by 4 Comments

Two hundred five thousand and five hundred and thirty

The morning started nicely, with the news that a pitch I mailed 36 hours ago, for a 10.000-words story set on the Mongolian border has been accepted, and the editor would like to see a full treatment before they give the go ahead. This is a great opportunity to work on a very high-profile project, and also, it’s a fun story I am planning to write, so there.

As I was updating my files (I keep a spreadsheet record of all the stories and the pitches I mail out), I decided to make a quick check, and calculated how many words I mailed out in total in 2019.

205530

This is of course not counting the stories I published for my patrons, those I self-published under my name or other aliases, my contract work for the historical magazine Savej and other non-fiction sales, and my ghost-writing work. I do not have a precise count of all that, but a quick ballpark figure places my total output in 2019 into the 450.000 words total.

Not bad.
Not bad at all.