Sword and sorcery books
Sword and sorcery books to start from. Open one to see books like it, or tell BookSense what you loved for four picks made for you.
Start here
New to the genre? These 5 are the books to read first.
The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian (Conan of Cimmeria, Book 1)
Robert E. HowardCollects the original 1932–1933 Weird Tales stories that established the archetype and core conventions of the subgenre.
Swords and Deviltry
Fritz LeiberIntroduces the picaresque partnership of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser in the sprawling city of Lankhmar.
Elric of Melniboné
Michael MoorcockSubverts classic barbarian tropes through a sickly, sorcerous emperor bound to a cursed blade.
Black God's Kiss
C. L. MooreCollects the 1930s novellas featuring Jirel of Joiry, the first major female protagonist in sword and sorcery.
Imaro
Charles SaundersRelocates sword and sorcery to an African-inspired setting, Nyumbani, blending folklore with traditional pulp action.
Chosen and described with AI from our notes on the genre.
More sword and sorcery books
- The Broken Sword
The Broken SwordPoul Anderson - Bloodstone
BloodstoneKarl Edward Wagner - Legend
LegendDavid A. Gemmell - The Stealer of Souls
The Stealer of SoulsMichael Moorcock - The Sword of Rhiannon
The Sword of RhiannonLeigh Brackett - The Hour of the Dragon
The Hour of the DragonRobert E. Howard - Tales of Neveryon
Tales of NeveryonSamuel R. Delany1979 - Dragonheart
DragonheartCharles Edward Pogue1996 - The Revenants
The RevenantsSheri S. Tepper1984 - Dragonslayer
DragonslayerWayland Drew1981 - Neveryóna
NeveryónaSamuel R. Delany1983 - The Traitor God
The Traitor GodCameron Johnston2018