Illustration for “The Demon Cat” by Vincent di Fate

Fans of DMR Books and heroic fantasy fiction need no introduction to Keith J. Taylor. He’s been writing about his most popular character, the Irish bard Felimid mac Fal, since the 1970s. While most of the bard’s exploits have been chronicled in novel form, there are a small number of short stories as well. Two of them will be included in Renegade Swords IV.

“The Demon Cat” is the first, chronologically, of Felimid’s adventures, and originally appeared in the Winter 1989/1990 issue of Weird Tales. “On Skellig Michael” takes place much later in Felimid’s life, but was published many years before as part of the classic Swords Against Darkness anthology series. Neither story has been reprinted since their initial publications, but that will change in September when Renegade Swords IV is released!

Two of Taylor’s stories previously appeared in Renegade Swords II: “The Unlawful Hunter” and “The Haunting of Mara,” which both feature Felimid’s father Fal. Renegade Swords II is currently discounted as part of DMR Books’ summer sale, as is Renegade Swords III.