The Queen of the Swords Part Two

Simon Perrins (artist, graphic designer and co-host of Can I Pod With Madness) returns to Derry and Toms so we can finally conclude our re-read of the second Corum adventure, The Queen of the Swords.

Between wading gods, crackles from beyond the veil and other interventions from the old gods of chaos, we managed to get through books two and three of this adventure intact. So join us for small talk about Moorcock, fighting fantasy books, Loz's Lovecraft formula and our favourite close-harmony choir of chaos oddballs...

The artist whose name we couldn't remember, responsible for the Berkley edition covers as above, is David McCall Johnston.

Simon is, of course, the geezer behind the visual identity of BITR too. Find him on Instagram and check out his store.

Also, have a look at Karmanal of Zert by Blaze Atoms - Here's some info from their bandcamp page (sadly I can't find any evidence of their  "Swords & Space Wizards" demo - if you know of it... LET ME KNOW):

"This is an instrumental, almost completely mixed preview of the version of "Karmanal of Zert" that will appear on the upcoming "Swords & Space Wizards" demo in early May 2016. This recording is completely unadvertised and uploaded solely so Michael Moorcock himself can hear it. So if you found it, good job. :)

lyrics

all music conceived, composed and arranged by Aaron DiDonato

all guitar, bass, and drums performed and recorded by Aaron DiDonato

lyrics (when vocals are added) adapted from the chapter "The Frozen Army" in the book "The Queen of the Swords" by Michael Moorcock (1971)

Looming in the distance
Over the valley now, come the hopping things
Bouncing, several-legged creatures
Multiversal nomads, indestructible beings

Knowing not of mortality
Pledging no allegiance to Law or Chaos
Knowing not true existence
Having no souls

The Karmanal of Zert are coming
The Karmanal of Zert, yeah, are coming for you
The Karmanal of Zert are coming

Here they come - look up and see

They lope down the slopes of the hills
Seeking the Champion Eternal they’ve been sent to kill – to kill
Altering the fates of untold civilizations
On untold planes of existence – parallel dimensions of the Earth

Massive fangs clash, huge eyes roll
Many tentacles lash, fighting for Cosmic control
Doing the bidding of the Chaos Lords
While in another time and plane they are fighting for Law

Fighting for no purpose, no sought-after end
Fighting indifferent to consequence

The Karmanal of Zert always sing before they feast – always
The Karmanal of Zert always sing before they feast – hear them sing

Maim
Slay
Feast

The Queen of the Chaos Swords’ laughter fills the sky

Maim
Slay
Feast

The Queen of the Chaos Swords’ laughter fills the sky
As the Eternal Champion prepares to die

Prepare to die

Hear the Karmanal of Zert sing
Hear them, hear them (repeat)

Hear them, hear the Karmanal of Zert sing"