The Bardic Depths & Holly Black’s Fantasy Novel Picks

Plus Top Songs Sung by the Drummer

Last week the melodic progressive rock group The Bardic Depths released the album What We Really Like In Stories. It is “a themed album about authors and the stories they told” and is based on the book Mythic Realms by Brad Birzer. This Progradar review provides an informative overview of the album. Appendix N fans might especially be interested in the Robert E. Howard-themed song “The Feast Is Over.”

I found the band’s video for the song “You’ve Written Poetry My Boy” about Ray Bradbury especially engaging:

Holly Black’s List of Fantasy Novels Ripe for Rediscovery

I enjoyed this Reactor article by fantasy author Holly Black of “10 Iconic Fantasy Novels Ripe for Rediscovery.” These days it’s refreshing just to have a list-style article written by a knowledgeable human with personality and unique opinions, rather than written by AI. She included thoughtful commentary on each book recommendation, some of which are favorites of mine and some of which I have not read. I especially got a kick out of the following quotes about Critical Hit Parader patron saint Michael Moorcock and his novel Elric of Melniboné:

“Moorcock wrote lyrics for Blue Öyster Cult and Hawkwind and has a deep dislike for Winnie the Pooh — that’s what you’re getting into here.”

“READ THIS IF: There’s a heavy-metal soundtrack playing in your head at all times or a voice telling you to kill everything you love.” 

Top Songs Sung by the Drummer

I appeared on a recent episode of The Contrarians in which we each named our five favorite songs that were sung by the drummer. A stipulation was that we couldn’t pick songs in which the drummer was the main lead singer for the band. You can see my picks in the video below:

A Personal Note

I’m writing this week’s newsletter from a hospital room where my wife is being treated following her ninth stroke. She is also a cancer survivor and is the toughest, most positive person I’ve ever met. For now I’m finding working on Critical Hit Parader content to be a welcome distraction, but if that changes, the newsletter may go on hiatus for a bit.