Berserker Bear is here!

I thank editor Karl Rademacher for including “Berserker Bear” in the Winter 2024 issue of Silver Blade Magazine! Bogerd, my favorite aging Viking, makes another spectacularly unsuccessful attempt to stay out of trouble. When a berserk bear is on the loose, one can hardly blame him for failing. 

Here’s the link: https://www.silverblade.net/2024/03/berserker-bear/

Tall Tale TV produced a Bogerd podcast!

I thank editor Chris Herron for producing this oral rendition of “Bogerd’s Bad Day”. It was published in a print anthology years ago and I appreciate him giving Bogerd another ride!

I’ve long admired San Francisco’s Fritz Leiber, master of sword and sorcery fantasy. His Fafhrd & Mouser were reluctant heroes — rascally, sybaritic and not a little lazy. He often dropped them in over their heads and let them flounder most realistically before stumbling through to victory. I’ve sought to emulate Fritz’s humor with my Bogerd character. Here is the Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_F7GG9HfXk

Here’s the Tall Tale TV website with the print version as well as the recording: https://talltaletv.com/bogerds-bad-day/

The Ogre’s Secret! Bogerd Climbs!

My very first Bogerd story – The Ogre’s Secret – found a home in Broadswords and Blasters, issue 6. Friend and raconteur Ed McKean gave me an idea for this one long ago. John Miller and I worked together a few years back on teaching materials intended to drop students into a Minecraft world of vikings and castles. That project inspired me to look at this story again and get it up to speed.  It’s a romp and nothing more, but I hope you’ll enjoy it!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FJLFGDQ/

Youth Imagination Features Bogerd!

I’m pleased and honored that Editor Sue Babcock chose to feature Demon’s Due in the current issue of Youth Imagination. The story details another adventure of Bogerd, my middle aged viking character. I’ve long admired Fritz Leiber and especially his berserker Fafhrd. Bogerd is what Fafhrd might be like should he achieve grandfatherhood. The link is below:

https://youthimagination.org/index.php/item/166-demon-s-due-by-robert-walton

Aurora Wolf Publishes a Bogerd Story!

 

Interested in Viking Berserker stories? My Bogerd is a berserker, but a decent one and a grandfather, too – perhaps something like Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd in his declining years? I thank editor Michael Pennington for including it in this issue of Aurora Wolf!

Gimp’s Daughter

Bogerd the Viking!

Well, Bogerd’s an older viking than this guy, but a viking still. I’ve long admired Fritz Leiber’s writing and especially his characters Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. I eventually couldn’t get the idea of a grandpa Fafhrd out of my mind, so I created Bogerd. I’ve written four stories for him set in and around Nordheim, his fantasy city. Bogerd’s Bad Day is the first to be published. I thank editor Michelle Lawrence for including it in her new anthology:  New Legends – Caster, Castle, Creature. Here’s the Amazon link if you’re interested:

Viking!

The era of Viking raids and invasions that began in the 9th Century is among the least understood and most neglected periods of history. John Miller and I are taking a shot at opening this period for 7th grade students through another Minecraft unit.  I’ll add a link when we have one, but here’s a writing prompt to sample until then.

Ragnar

            The spear’s tip glinted in sunlight as it flew toward me and I entered battle time – every second became a minute and each minute, an hour. I stepped left as the bright point neared me. I let it pass my head and snatched the shaft with my right hand.

            The man who’d thrown it turned and ran. I twirled the spear, reversed it and threw it one motion. It sped true and plunged into the back of the fleeing man’s right let. He screamed and fell.

            I walked to him. He wore a steel cap and a leather jerkin. He whimpered in pain and reached behind him to touch the spear’s shaft. He whimpered again, trying to decide if he should try to pull the spear free.

            I saved him the trouble. He screamed when I jerked it out. He rolled onto his back and held his hands out to me. I pulled Leg-biter from its sheath. The cowardly soldier opened his mouth to beg for his life, but I acted before he could speak. I plunged my father’s father’s sword through his heart.

            I am Ragnar, Viking. I am sword-thegn to Gofraid and sail in his longship Barden. We raid with Ivar the Boneless. Loot and slaves will be mine after Gofraid declares a sharing. Land is promised to me after we reach the English city of York. Something moved beneath a bush to my left. I whirled and faced the threat.

            A pale girl with dark hair recoiled beneath branches covered with red berries. She was a child, nine or ten. Her thin limbs trembled when I took a step toward her. I stared into her eyes – black eyes, not blue like mine. I pointed my sword at her. Blood dripped from its tip.