Quench Your Thirst for Savage Sword and Sorcery Action Adventure!

Three new tales of axe wielding barbarians, lusty wenches, and evil wizards! Literary Rebel is dedicated to bringing you a new crop of monthly fantasy fiction by talented authors. In this month's issue: Jeff Shelnutt introduces us to a pair of hapless heroes turned thieves which fans of Fritz Leiber are sure to enjoy, Chad A. B. Wilson delights with another tale from the life and adventures of Brock, and Matthew X. Gomez takes us on a swashbuckling adventure in a city of rogues.

"Does not disappoint!"

"Hack and slash goodness."

"Harkens back to the days of the pulp masters..."

Fans of Robert E. Howard, Lin Carter, Clark Ashton Smith, and Karl Edward Wagner will love this new fantasy fiction adventure magazine.

"Think William Gibson and Raymond Chandler in a blender with a splash of Phillip K Dick. Served ice cold and razor sharp." - Derek Farrell author of Death At Dukes Halt.

Tom Costigan is a washed-out mercenary, stuck cleaning dishes for a hole-in-the-wall bar despite his chrome arm and the computer in his head. While having a smoke break in the alley out back, he's approached by a former comrade. His former commander is putting the old team back together for a big corporate heist.

Tom isn't big on asking questions, and the money's attractive enough to make him jump for it. But when the hand-off to the buyers goes south and the bullets start to fly, Tom finds himself with a sealed container and the payout.

But the payout is encrypted, and he doesn't know what's in the container.

Even with the help of his hacker sister, will Tom be able to stay ahead of his former comrades, the buyers, and the people they stole from and why is everyone willing to kill for what looks like a bunch of silver goop?

Praise for Matthew X. Gomez

“Gave me a sense of Gomez truly starting to let himself off the leash, his own voice crystalizing into something special.”

“Matthew X Gomez’s literary heart and soul is in good ol’ fashioned rollicking pulp fiction, and his aptitude, craftsmanship/artistry, and infectious enthusiasm for the form are all on full display.”

“Gomez’s gifts as a writer deserve wider acclaim… an author worthy of your attention.”

“Reminiscent of Jim Butcher on steroids.”

“Gomez shines in his economical establishing of setting and genre, his heart-pumping, and vivid, action scenes, and his snappy dialog that can only be described as cool”

“His is worth the price of this admission alone. You can get crappy Taco Bell burritos that cost more than this book, and unlike this book, you'll regret that waste of cash and wish to God Almighty that you'd just listened to me, slapped a bunch of ramen in the pot, and spent your money on this instead.”

This night begins with something of a whimper. The window creaks open and out over the din of the city streets below, you notice smoke rising over the distant horizon. An orange glow, embers of a fire, signs of something to come. The ambitions of men. You gather your belongings and charge the window’s ledge. You’ve seen what men do and what they are capable of, and you know this may be your only chance to escape.

Only, you stop. You breathe. And you realize, why run? After all, this is but another tale in the annals of time—only one tale in this deceptive darkness. We all speak this common tongue that is in the heart of all men. Fleeing gives it power.

No. Instead, you muster your courage, take a step into the darkness, and you begin to read.

In this fourth issue of The Common Tongue Magazine, we’re exploring our shared world setting of Athuruin, delving into deeper dungeons, and reviewing the latest in dark fantasy novels! Take a ride with us through new worlds in this anthology masterpiece. See all the stories and poems submitted by our writers, and encounter useful articles written by our staff editors in this issue 4.

Short Stories

Melkart the Castaway

By MARK MELLON

When a powerful triton destroys his ship, the Phoenician giant Melkart washes up on a foreign shore-and is rudely welcomed by a tyrant who would enslave him!

Its Own Reward

By ROB FRANCIS

A pair of bounty hunters happen upon a large promissory note on their latest mark...enough to retire! But will the money prove more trouble than it's worth!?

The White Giant's Map

By RICHARD RUBIN

A fierce battle has annihilated the allies Fletcher has made on the alien world he now calls home! But a dying foe offers him a boon-a map to fabulous treasure!

The Chamber of Worms

By MATTHEW X. GOMEZ

Heinrick and Viona have been hired by a noble to retrieve a family heirloom from an abandoned manor house-but there's more to this job than meets the eye!

After the House of the Laughing God

By MICHAEL RAY

A gig to "rescue" a young magic user proves exceptionally fruitful for a merc who is up to his eyes in gambling debts! But will his success pay dividends or bring death?!

The Way He Should Go

By JOSHUA M. YOUNG

Rostam has spent many years studying under the monks of Uqbar and wandering the ruined world, but nothing could prepare him for discovering a precursor child!

Tilting the Wick

By J. COMER

Mankind's lost colony of Pendleton's World has been wracked by religious war-but a new discovery may either fan the flames of conflict or bring about a new era!

Slave or Die

By BENJAMIN COOPER

Convicted of a crime he has no memory of, prisoner T196-A3 has been sentenced to solitary labor on an automated penal installation where he must work or starve!

He Who Rides on the Clouds

By TREVOR R. DENNING

A cult has resurrected the worship of an ancient evil earth god! Can retired space cop Aleksis Leonard rescue the children being trafficked to feed the beast!?

To Rest Among the Stars

By SU-RA-U

It is the most dangerous job in the galaxy-hunting space dragons in the ether! But the humans who risk life and limb to do so are what make space travel possible!

Ecliptical Musings

By BILL SUBOSKI

A young woman is accosted by a group of thugs! Her rescuer, John Dellon, an eccen-tric billionaire and visionary, has a secret to share with her-if he finds her worthy!

Not Any Earthly Shade of Color

By DANNY NICHOLAS

One morning, Henry wakes up with a strange pattern of dots burned into his eyes! What could have caused them, and can he be rid of them before he's driven mad?!

In the Bowels of the Theatre

By MATT SPENCER

There is magic in the theatre, ancient and powerful-not just of the stage, but an elder and mighty god.... One which Sucunde would see freed and restored!

An Accumulation of Anguish

By JAMES LAM

It's Halloween Night-a time when ghosts, and ghouls, and monsters are afoot! But one young trick-or-treater may learn the hard way that some monsters are real!

The Horror of the Hills
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