Those 5 Wellman books Published by Night Shade Press are excellent.
I first heard about Wellman probably 15 years ago in the back of "Hellboy: The Crooked Man" where Mignola talks about Silver John being an inspiration for that story. Crooked Man was one of my favorite Hellboy comics, so I looked into Wellman and then I ended up spending probably wayyyyy too much money for those Nightshade books, but I don't care, they're wonderful.
I particularly like the story about the Civil War soldier who is gifted the magic bullet that will kill him by his witch girlfriend, meaning nothing else will kill him... and how that isn't exactly a good thing. Fantastic tale.
I was introduced to Wellman by my friend J who has a great eye for the "forgotten." He's introduced me to a ton of literature and films. Like the professor (Martin Johnson) I mention frequently, he always reminds me to look back at the old and undiscussed if you are looking for fresh ideas.
Wellman's writings, and those of Jack Williamson, got me to expand what I considered to be "fantasy" and in wonderful ways.
Currently in the middle of listening to the second Powder Mage book, "The Crimson Campaign," and really enjoying the story, world, and characters. Since I got hooked on "GreedFall" a few years ago, I've been interested in more industrial-era fantasy settings as it is a nice refresh from the stock, imaginary medieval period a lot of authors limit themselves to. Using it as inspiration for a TTRPG campaign sounds like a great idea, I sometimes wonder if the author ever wanted this to be a game at any point.
My own D&D campaign is a Gunpowder fantasy game entitled "Against the Clockwork Orthodoxy." It pits the Empire of Dorn, which is really a confederation of Principalities with a recognized "Emperor," against The Clockwork Orthodoxy. It's a setting where the Gods left the world about 1,500 years ago, though the Churches of the Faded still teach of the Gods.
While both the Empire and Orthodoxy have gunpowder weapons available to them, the Orthodoxy is the only one with Gearborn and high level technology. They had a massive industrial revolution begin about a decade ago when their leader discovered a being that lived in the spaces between worlds and let it take his body as a vessel. The Orthodoxy has a new religion and is slowly but surely becoming a hive mind as it incorporates its citizens as Cogs.
The Empire discovered magic around the same time. Magic was something that is much preached about in the Church, and tales of its use are everywhere in the Theogony of Sun and Moon (the Bible of the Church), but no one knows why it has returned. They do think it has something to do with the odd shadows that turn up in some doorways, the people disappearing in the woods, and the infants who parents are claiming have "changed" since they were born.
It's a setting inspired by the Powder Mage books, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and a host of other sources including the war between Corellon Lorethian and Llolth in the old Greyhawk lore.
Those 5 Wellman books Published by Night Shade Press are excellent.
I first heard about Wellman probably 15 years ago in the back of "Hellboy: The Crooked Man" where Mignola talks about Silver John being an inspiration for that story. Crooked Man was one of my favorite Hellboy comics, so I looked into Wellman and then I ended up spending probably wayyyyy too much money for those Nightshade books, but I don't care, they're wonderful.
I particularly like the story about the Civil War soldier who is gifted the magic bullet that will kill him by his witch girlfriend, meaning nothing else will kill him... and how that isn't exactly a good thing. Fantastic tale.
I was introduced to Wellman by my friend J who has a great eye for the "forgotten." He's introduced me to a ton of literature and films. Like the professor (Martin Johnson) I mention frequently, he always reminds me to look back at the old and undiscussed if you are looking for fresh ideas.
Wellman's writings, and those of Jack Williamson, got me to expand what I considered to be "fantasy" and in wonderful ways.
Currently in the middle of listening to the second Powder Mage book, "The Crimson Campaign," and really enjoying the story, world, and characters. Since I got hooked on "GreedFall" a few years ago, I've been interested in more industrial-era fantasy settings as it is a nice refresh from the stock, imaginary medieval period a lot of authors limit themselves to. Using it as inspiration for a TTRPG campaign sounds like a great idea, I sometimes wonder if the author ever wanted this to be a game at any point.
My own D&D campaign is a Gunpowder fantasy game entitled "Against the Clockwork Orthodoxy." It pits the Empire of Dorn, which is really a confederation of Principalities with a recognized "Emperor," against The Clockwork Orthodoxy. It's a setting where the Gods left the world about 1,500 years ago, though the Churches of the Faded still teach of the Gods.
While both the Empire and Orthodoxy have gunpowder weapons available to them, the Orthodoxy is the only one with Gearborn and high level technology. They had a massive industrial revolution begin about a decade ago when their leader discovered a being that lived in the spaces between worlds and let it take his body as a vessel. The Orthodoxy has a new religion and is slowly but surely becoming a hive mind as it incorporates its citizens as Cogs.
The Empire discovered magic around the same time. Magic was something that is much preached about in the Church, and tales of its use are everywhere in the Theogony of Sun and Moon (the Bible of the Church), but no one knows why it has returned. They do think it has something to do with the odd shadows that turn up in some doorways, the people disappearing in the woods, and the infants who parents are claiming have "changed" since they were born.
It's a setting inspired by the Powder Mage books, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and a host of other sources including the war between Corellon Lorethian and Llolth in the old Greyhawk lore.