I remember as a teen, when I first started to enjoy reading, I received a flyer from the Science Fiction Book Club and saw that remarkable, "SIX BOOKS FOR A PENNY," deal that I just couldn't refuse. So, I filled out my membership form, marked down the Order Codes for my SIX FREE BOOKS (Wow, wasn't I lucky!) and eagerly waited for that first shipment.

Well, a great deal of time has passed since then, and I've bought quite a few more books over the years-nearly 1,400 in my collection at last count. But I still remember fondly that first box of hardcover books with the wild cover art and the fantastic Inside-The-Flap Blurbs. One of those books was Robert E. Howard's THE HOUR OF THE DRAGON, which was my first real dose of Conan The Barbarian and Barbarian Style Fiction. I went on to read most of the Conan Series, collections put together after Howard's death by L. Sprague De Camp, and enjoyed every single one. These tales even inspired me to try my hand at barbarian fiction...but that was back when I was a teenager and I won't go any further than that on how it turned out.

Over the past few years, barbarian style fiction has no longer been available to a great degree, or at least it seemed that way to me. But then, as I began to learn of the wealth of great reading material available on the internet, I was introduced to the writing of Steven L. Shrewsbury. First through his amazing Dack Shannon character (appearing in 2002's NOCTURNAL VACATIONS, PublishAmerica, and the upcoming paperback release, BULLETPROOF SOUL, by Black Death Books) and his other enthralling stories, I began to follow this author and his work, both on line and in print. Shrewsbury has also made a name for himself in recent years with some fantastic barbarian style fiction, stories that harken back to the old days of Robert E. Howard's Conan and the pulp stories of our youth. That's why I relished the news when I heard that Double Dragon Publishing was putting out a collection of Shrewsbury's barbarian tales in E-Book Format titled, DEPTHS OF SAVAGERY.

This collection of carnage and bloodshed, swords and battle-axes, Celts and Picts, won me over from Page-One! 132 Pages of action sequences, ancient Gods, muscle-bound warriors and burly Vikings sets the tone throughout as these tales are told in the unique style that is immediately recognizable as Steven L. Shrewsbury's work. Thirteen tales are crammed tightly into this E-Book, tales that are historic in scope, mystic in vision and pounding of heart. I enjoyed this collection immensely, right from the very start with the amazing Cover Art by Deron Douglas. One of the high-points in DEPTHS OF SAVAGERY is the wonderful character, Dr. Elijah Blackthorn, who appears in four of the stories: "Shalt Thou Reign Forever (Vikings And The Head Of John The Baptist)," "Generation Clash," "Paradigm Vault," and "Annihilation Of An Epoch." The archeologist from the Miskatonic Institute of Technology (better known as MIT) is of Navajo and Nordic descent and possesses a peculiar ability-he is either blessed, or cursed (it is up to the reader to decide) with a very rare talent known as Pyschometry-the ability to witness the history behind a particular relic by merely a touch. Although it doesn't always work and there's no guarantee of what the good doctor will witness, he is often called upon by scholars, researchers and scientists to grab a hold of ancient items to see where history will lead.

Shrewsbury takes a certain love of ancient history and melds it perfectly into these tales. With mentions of Romans and Druids, Odin and Thor, Zulus and King Arthur, this collection takes the reader on a whirlwind tour throughout time, spanning the globe. His, "Black Ribbon Of Josephine," tells of barbarism in the Civil War (with a neat little twist at the end). His short-short, "Parting Shot," tells how the Black Death really came to Europe. His, "Not To Be," tells of royal family intrigue within the Kingdom of the Danes and his, "Spirit Of The Game," tells the story behind barbarism in a future Olympic Games.

All of these gems, my friends. A well-organized collection to say the least. Fans of action and adventure, fantasy and sorcery, barbarism and bloodshed will eat this stuff up. It moves along fast, reaching the end of its 132 pages too quickly for me. But, as I know from following Steven L. Shrewsbury's career, there is much, much more to come. Another favorite of mine, one of Shrewsbury's trademarks, is the use of historic quotes at the beginning of all of his stories. Within this collection are some great ones, too-quotes by Shakespeare, Balzak, Robert E. Howard, Frederich Nietzsche, Plato and even one from the Bible. My favorite of these, which marks the beginning of, "Black Ribbon Of Josephine," is a quote from Robert E. Howard's A WITCH SHALL BE BORN: "Not all men seek rest and peace; some are born with the spirit of the storm in their blood, restless harbingers of violence and bloodshed, knowing no other path..." A perfect precursor to the story that it opens for.

Overall, DEPTHS OF SAVAGERY was one fantastic E-Book, a grand collection of barbaric tales by one of today's up and coming authors. Steven L. Shrewsbury aims to please the reader when he writes, and please us he does. I will continue to look for more fiction of all types from this very talented writer. If you like what you see in this Review, you'll find yourself doing so as well. We want more, Mr. Shrewsbury! Get those fingers to typing!

The extremely prolific and renowned (for his Dack Shannon saga) author--has brought his constant fans a special treat filled with blood and guts. His dark and primal passion explodes in thirteen vicious tales of DEPTHS OF SAVAGERY. Likened to the timeless author Robert E. Howard's barbarism, Steven L. Shrewsbury is the reincarnated Howard.

The world mourned the loss of that dauntless fantasy author at such a tender age of thirty. Although, Howard left his fans a vast number of his tales as a legacy to his ageless memory; we are given a second chance with Steven L. Shrewsbury continuing where Howard left off. It is refreshing and an honor to have Howard resurrected once again through Shrewsbury's, DEPTHS OF SAVAGERY. Enjoy these thirteen tales of brutal-fueled barbarism.

Heroism relentlessly wields through these thirteen high-fantasy tales like a sharp two-edged sword; savage rape, murder, and pillaging that created more sacrilege than the legends told of the Celts wreaking havoc upon Rome abound through the depths of this barbaric assemblage.

Shrewsbury's tales of historical testimonials intertwined into fictitious fables are his forte and he pulls no bones about it. Renowned archeologist, Elijah Blackthorn deciphers the vellum scroll in: 'Shalt Thou Reign Forever' when the document, 'State of Abbot Galen Roget of the Monastery of St. Jude' is translated, it is believed Elijah has embellished the accounts.

You will be reeling as you picture the vivid scenes the imagination of this author takes you throughout this brutal account that Elijah Blackthorn deciphers for you. Your quest only deepens as Shrewsbury describes the depravity of barbaric ideals at all costs through a young man Toloric, 'Creating a Barbarian Man'.

Fierce fighting courses through the pages of this barbaric-fueled collection. Shrewsbury included one of my all-time favorite tales in this anthology: 'Rawboned Woman' filled with fury and woe; an emotional encounter and a shockingly sad demise.

Journey on through the bloody meadows of Shrewsbury's imagination in the DEPTHS OF SAVAGERY and take his hand as he leads you through each barbaric encounter with intriguing characters, fast moving plots, thick narrative and a voice that whispers in the same tone that is reminiscent of yesterday's Robert E. Howard.

I highly recommend this enthralling book! Shrewsbury does not disappoint his fans and readers and this collection is some of his best work and told in a powerfully masculine voice. Enjoy it, I did.