Charles Gramlich

I received the book from the author with no expectation of a review. I voluntarily decided to review it. This is a book of short stories at most 4 pages in length that have some crazy endings. A Bit of a Twist is the perfect title for this anthology because I had no clue the story was going to go that way for almost all of them. The only story I didn't really like was the one about the alien, however, the ending made it slightly enjoyable. This would be a good book if you just want to read something short but entertaining.… (més)

The unconventional title of Mage, Maze, Demon as well as the subtitle “A Barbarian Sent On A Mission Of No Return” pretty much tells it all. The barbarian goes by the name “Bryle” and is a warrior fleeing for his life as the read begins. A wildfire is chasing him and every other living creature in the forest. The fire is right behind him as he flees into a cave. A previously unseen doorway swings closed behind him protecting him from the fire.

That also means that his way out is now closed. He is forced to find another way out of the cave and begins to explore. That exploration leads him downward into the mountain and to an incredible cavern. A cavern populated by one person--- a sorcerer. A sorcerer that wants his help and will grant Bryle his freedom if he accomplishes his task. Much is to be done if Bryle is going to successful in Mage, Maze, Demon by Charles Allen Gramlich.

Beyond the obvious maze and a demon involving a mage (sorcerer) of the tile, much is going on in this short fantasy tale by Charles Allen Gramlich. Bryle is a complicated character as it the tale itself with plenty of detail. Billed as the third entry in the Veridacal Dreams series inspired by the dream journals of Kyle J. Knapp, Mage, Maze, Demon follows the anthology The Lizard’s Ardent Uniform and Other Stories as the fantasy novella Treasure of Ice and Fire. Charles Allen Gramlich quickly pulls the reader into his tale firmly grounded in the sword and sorcery fare while throwing in a mystery element or two. The extensive details are what make this tale come alive for the reader. One hopes there will soon by another outing for Bryle.

Mage, Maze, Demon
Charles Allen Gramlich
http://charlesgramlich.blogspot.com/
Beat To A Pulp
http://www.beattoapulp.com
March 2016
ASIN: B01D58N6XG
eBook (also available in paperback)
35 Pages
$0.99

The Amazon Overlords state I picked this up on March 19, 2016. They do not tell me whether my “purchase” came by way of a free read or using funds in my Amazon Associate account. They still do not know everything and I do not either.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2016… (més)

Mage Maze Demon by Charles Allen Gramlich is published by “BEAT to a PULP”. It is a short story that delivers the uber-fast adventure pulp fiction readers expect. For the unfamiliar, "the pulps" were inexpensive magazines published ~1920’s that gave birth to Weird Fiction, Sword & Sorcery, Lost World stories; a time when fantasy, sci-fi, and horror were blended together. This one is Sword & Sorcery fare. As in Harvest of War, Gramlich writes concise poetic fiction. The title is a good summary of what Bryle the barbarian has conflict with. Although a short story adhering to pulp roots, I would have enjoyed the story even more if it were about twice it length. I was ready for more, and I suspect Gramlich has more ready for us.

Here is the opening to convey Gramlich’s style:
“The most vicious of all predators hunts in the forest. The barbarian flees. His name is Bryle. He dodges standing trees, leaps fallen logs, bulls past thorns and briars. A trio of gray wolves runs as well. They swiftly pull ahead. Bryle picks up the pace, though dares not run himself to exhaustion—as the wolves are doing. The wolves will tire; the thing that hunts them all will not.
…. It is fire that hunts. The forest roils with flames. Tendrils of crimson and orange whirl between the trees like the churning legs of a giant. Sap explodes into a shrapnel of embers, lashing Bryle now to the greatest effort he can muster. Sweat slimes him. His chest heaves. He passes a wolf from earlier. It staggers, bloody froth at its muzzle. Its heart must be near rupturing. Nothing can be done.”

Charles Allen Gramlich is the author of the Talera fantasy trilogy, the thriller Cold in the Light, and the SF novel Under the Ember Star. His stories have been collected primarily in three anthologies, Bitter Steel, (fantasy), Midnight in Rosary (Vampires/Werewolves), and In the Language of Scorpions (Horror). He is also the author of Write With Fire, a book about writing and publishing. His works are available in print and ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Wildside Press. Additionally, some of Charles's stories are available in novella length packets or as standalone ebooks from Amazon. These include Killing Trail (Westerns), Harmland (Noir/Horror), MicroWeird (Flash Fiction), and Harvest of War (Fantasy).… (més)

Charles Gramlich knows how to get you how to think, while layering and delivering a powerful punch. Cold in the Light has a strong Frankenstein vein. Creators and their creations show humanity’s strengths and weaknesses through what they create and why.

The Antagonist intrigued me the most. There are two groups of ‘whouns’ one of a nurturing nature, the other warkind. The antagonist is the leader of the warkind. Yet, he discovers he has both primitive and nurturing qualities. He doesn’t belong to either group. This separates him out and makes him a wild card. Nobody trusts him. This unbelonging is enough to drive him insane. He is torn between love and war. This story tore my heart to pieces, and will probably do the same to yours (in a good way). The suspense builds to explosion of an ending where readers will not be disappointed.

Any author who can make you fall in love with both protag and antag knows what he’s doing. I will definitely be purchasing and reading more of his work.
… (més)