Those who backed both this crowdfund and our collaborators, Swords Against!, will be receiving a fun double-zine featuring a unique short story on each side from an author being published in each respective magazine this year.
Paul over at Swords Against! just recorded this fun little video of a proof copy and we wanted to share it with you. Physical format backers of both campaigns will get one, and all backers of both campaigns will receive the digital edition.
...that BLUE FIRE will ship at the same time as NESS 2026, so if you back both we'll just slip your copy of Blue Fire in the same package with your NESS issues?
So instead of paying full shipping for it, BLUE FIRE will only add a couple of bucks to your NESS shipping. And you may wish to consider grabbing a copy of this historic, first ever Jirel novella since...
A new digital novelette, DARK SEA SILVER, has also come out. Meet a mysterious giantess and her large boat for only a few bucks, here: https://newedgeswordandsorcery.com/product/dark-sea-silver-digital/
IN DETAIL
At this point there isn't a lot to say except that we've been chugging along, watching our green progress bars for various stories...
Authors!
...and illustrations move along! Names have been cropped out so it doesn't feel like we're shaming anybody.
Artists!
We feel on track, and if all goes well then our next update should be in late July to let you know we've sent finished files off to our printer.
By the way...to get them in the issue WE WILL NEED YOUR LETTERS BEFORE JULY 1ST.
So we'd like to remind you that SWORD & STATIONERY will become a new feature in every issue, a chance for you to have your thoughts shared with others in a classic, analog fashion which pulp scholars may read decades from now...
...but only if we get some letters! Here's some guidelines:
Ideally your letter will involve S&S, NESS, and/or writing & publishing...but if you want to ask one of us about our favorite dinosaur it's possible you'll find out!
Questions are more likely to get an answer, but sharing your thoughts on a story, pitching wild theories, and other statements are welcome.
Letters over 200 words long may be edited down for length.
WHAT ROUGHT BEAST? is Goatskin's latest novella-length adventure, a stand-alone tale of were-beasts, Weird Frontiers, and bloody revolution. It features interior art by Linnea Sterte and fantasy cartography by Caster Jones. It is officially released TODAY in digital and mass-market paperback formats: https://newedgeswordandsorcery.com/product-tag/what-rough-beast/
BLUE FIRE is the first ever Jirel of Joiry novella, written by Molly Tanzer, with interior art by Saprophial, Clade Mirya, and fantasy cartography by Caster Jones. Currently crowdfunding, this book has unlocked every stretch goal so far - double art, international shipping discount, spray edges (backers vote on the color), and a one page comic by Clade Mirya - and it still has over two weeks to go! Join us for the ride and don't miss those crowdfund exclusives: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/blue-fire-a-jirel-of-joiry-novella
Today is a BIG release day as there's also a 17,000 word novelette by Audrey Stollings coming out, DARK SEA SILVER. It stars breakout character Lathra, a suspiciously long-lived giant of a woman with many mysterious plans…and one humungous boat.
PHEW!
Magazine progress, novellas, a novelette, letters to the magazine...today's a wild day in the land of mighty thews! Don't forget, if you missed the magazine crowdfund our pre-order store is open.
Alright, we'll be in touch again in late July when we've got everything off to the printer! Until then...
DID YOU KNOW WE'RE ADDING A LETTERS PAGE TO THE MAGAZINE?
SWORD & STATIONERY will become a new feature in every issue, a chance for you to have your thoughts shared with others in a classic, analog fashion which pulp scholars may read decades from now...
...but only if we get some letters! Here's some guidelines:
Ideally your letter will involve S&S, NESS, and/or writing & publishing...but if you want to ask one of us about our favorite dinosaur it's possible you'll find out!
Questions are more likely to get an answer, but sharing your thoughts on a story, pitching wild theories, and other statements are welcome.
Letters over 200 words long may be edited down for length.
Letters received by before before May 1st have the best chance of being included in one of this year's issues.
Our goal is for this bring some of the great community spirit we have on our Discord out into the wider, NESS-reading world, and we hope to hear from you!
For NESS 2026 we still have 46 failed credit card charges, so you may wish to check if your pledge has gone through.
If it hasn't, you can comment beneath this update and we'll respond, or perhaps first you can check out this help page for ways you may be able to resolve the issue yourself: https://help.backerkit.com/category/616-payment
Meanwhile the wheels keep turning on NESS 2026 but, as you can imagine, there isn't a lot more we can show you so soon after the crowdfund has ended...though we have got the vintage SFF magazine issues already in envelopes, ready to ship to the lovely folk who each made the made the pledge that unlocked a key stretch goal for us!
