Illustration from *Eldritch Dream Quest* by Roy Morgans

In 2020, DMR Books released the first volume of the reprint anthology series Renegade Swords. With rare stories by luminaries of fantasy fiction like Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, A. Merritt, and Manly Wade Wellman, it proved to be an immediate hit, and is still DMR’s most popular title. Two more volumes followed in 2021 and 2022 before the series went on hiatus. We’re proud to announce it will make its long-awaited return in September—even better, Renegade Swords IV will feature an obscure sword-and-sorcery story by Michael Moorcock!

Moorcock is best known for his “Eternal Champion” cycle of stories, which encompasses almost all of his fantasy work. “The Dark Rider,” however, is a standalone tale of Dark Age Britain. It was originally published in the fanzine Eldritch Dream Quest in 1960, predating the first Elric story by two years, and has only been reprinted once since then in another fanzine, The Time Centre Times. As both zines had limited circulation, it’s likely that many Moorcock aficionados haven’t had a chance to read “The Dark Rider” before. That will change very soon!

This is not Moorcock’s first appearance in Renegade Swords; the second volume included two tales of Rackhir the Red Archer, who was featured in the cover art. Renegade Swords II is currently discounted as part of DMR Books’ summer sale, as is Renegade Swords III.

More stories in Renegade Swords IV will be announced over the coming days and weeks!