The Imaginary Realms of
Gilbert M. Stack

Subtitle

Home

What's Coming Next?

Legionnaire 15 The Fall of Amatista

Recent Reviews

Small Town Heroes by Marion G. Harmon
Young Sentinels by Marion G. Harmon
Star Trek 2 by James Blish
Money Hungry by Joseph Browning and Suzie Yee
Villains Inc by Marion G. Harmon
Wearing the Cape by Marion G. Harmon
The Ruins of the Galaxy by J.N. Chaney and Christopher Hopper
Expanded Universe Volume 2 by Robert A. Heinlein
The Anglo-Saxons at War, 800-1066 by Paul Hill
Blood Passage by Malcolm Pierce
Spiderman: Hostile Takeover by David Liss
While the Clock Ticked by Franklin W. Dixon
Armageddon 2419 A.D. and the Airlords of Han by Phillip Francis Nowlan
 Darkness Falls by Les Martin
X Marks the Spot by Les Martin
Terror Peak by Edward J. McFadden, III
Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula by Christian Klaver
The Night Kings and Night Heirs by Roger Zelazny
Hellboy: The Bones of Giants by Christopher Golden
Andrea Vernon and the Big Axe Acquisition by Alexander C. Kane

The Sea of Grass

Fan Chris Grady sent me this video of him receiving his copy of The Sea of Grass

What Am I Working on Now?

1.  Currently I am writing the 15th Legionnaire novel, The Fall of Amatista. I've been working toward this point for 12 books now. Marcus and the legion are deep in Diamonte territory winning battles, but the fires in the passes have totally cut them off from their home city. Amatista must stand or fall against the largest army the Jeweled Hills have seen in decades on their own. 


2. I'm plotting my fifth Preternatural book, Red Caps.


3. I'm also thinking about two Winterhaven novels. One is the fourth book in the main series, tentatively titled, Blood Games and the other is a sequel to Crimson Steel Blades in the cadet series, Young Tavistock.


4. Another book simmering in the back of my mind is, Cartelite, the fifth novel of my new series, The Unity


5. And finally, I'm playing around with a complete rewrite of the first novel I ever started back in high school. Circles is the story of three friends--Vikings who died in the ninth century saving the world. Two of them went to Valhalla. The third...well it's not quite clear where he ended up. What's important is that all three are coming back to avert a twenty-first century Ragnarok that threatens earth and all the Norse realms.



Check Out My Free Newsletter

Thank you for contacting us. We will get back to you as soon as possible
Oops. An error occurred.
Click here to try again.

Contact Me

Comments about my books? Questions? Please contact me and let me know what's on your mind.  You can reach me at gilbertmstack@gmail.com or through the Guestbook on this site. 

Welcome to My Imagination!!

I'm an author of epic and heroic fantasy, paranormal adventures, historical fiction, and mysteries. I'm best known for my Legionnaire series (military heroic fantasy published online, in audio, and in print) and my Miss Pandora Parson mysteries originally published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. Take a look around and feel free to visit again. If you have any questions you can contact me through the Guestbook or at gilbertmstack@gmail.com. You can also find me at Goodreads.  

New Expansion Map for Legionnaire by Chris L. Adams

The extraordinary Chris L. Adams has created a blow up of the southern portion of the map of the Jeweled Hills in my Legionnaire series. If you look carefully at the original map, you will see that it is signed by Acting Magus Seneca who created the original map from what books and people told him about the Jeweled Hills. Now that he is traveling the territory with the legion, he is expanding to show some additional details that are pertinent to the legion's adventures. 

Join the March to Other Worlds 2023

Starting March 1, check in every day for The March to Other Worlds 2023 and a new review spotlighting a great depiction of another world. Most of these books come from science fiction and fantasy, but all of them have a great story to tell. You can also follow this on my author page on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/GilbertStackAuthor/

Now Available

Crimson Steel Blades


Young Willem has survived battles and assassinations, but his claim to his father’s lordship will not be secure until his formal Oathtaking at a ceremony attended by the Great Lords of the duchy. For those who still hope to push him aside, time is getting perilously short. Yet those who have already acted against him are not as dangerous as the great men who are coming; and those who wish him ill have so many ways to dispose of one irritating young man. Be it through the joust, the duel, or even open rebellion, Willem’s Oathtaking is going to be marred by Crimson Steel Blades.


This book can be found on Amazon and read for free on Kindle Unlimited


Now Available

Legionnaire 14 River of Death

As word of the Legion’s lightning conquest of Malaquita echoes across Diamonte, the Black Hat commander plans an even more audacious move. Rather than consolidate his gains in the west, Marcus launches a surprise strike downriver on Hessonita—the forward rallying point for Diamonte’s attempted counterattack. The key to his plan is speed and surprise—how close can they get before the city realizes its danger? If Hessonita has time to prepare a river defense, Marcus could lose the entire legion. Yet this time, the fog of war conceals dangers beyond human comprehension. Will the Camino de Gemas prove to be the route to victory or a river of death?


This book can be pre-ordered at $2.99 before March 13, 2023 on Amazon


Recent Releases

Dark Treacherous Hearts Is Now Available

Dark Treacherous Hearts


When Willem returned to Tavistock to claim his inheritance, he thought he only needed to convince his uncle to stand down and then prove his own value to his vassals on the field of battle. Unfortunately for Willem, his unexpected return interfered with too many other peoples’ plans. He belatedly realizes that if they can’t remove him face to face, they will find a less honorable way. As the young swordsman struggles to take a firm grip on the reins of power, he must discern who is truly loyal to him and which smiles conceal Dark Treacherous Hearts.


You can find Dark Treacherous Hearts on Amazon or free on Kindle Unlimited

Crimson Steel Blades Coming February 13, 2023

Steel Gray Eyes is Now Available

Steel Gray Eyes


The first book in my Winterhaven prequel series is available on Amazon .


Before he became the greatest knight in Winterhaven, Willem, the future Lord Tavistock was a seventeen-year-old orphan determined to claim his father's patrimony. The only thing standing in his way was every greedy and faithless man in the honor. The only support he could find was his two teachers, his naked sword, and a pair of Steel Gray Eyes. This is the story of how Willem set out on the road to become the most respected man in the Duchy of Winterhaven.


The remainder of the Young Tavistock trilogy is also written and ready to be released. Dark Treacherous Hearts will come out in January 2023 and Crimson Steel Blades will be published in February 2023.

Masks Is Here!

Preternatural 4 Masks is finally here. 


Hadrian’s Well has survived the zombie apocalypse but that doesn’t mean life is getting easier there. Record rainfalls have resulted in widespread flooding and something in the water is killing people. Or is it in the water? Part of the problem in Hadrian’s Well is that the preternatural isn’t always what it seems. Many wear masks that let them move about in human society like they’re normal people. Human threats also abound as politics within and without the town handicap Undersheriff Donovan as she struggles to track the monsters down. As the body count rises, will Donovan and her understrength department be able to look beyond the masks and stem another tide of terror?


You can find Masks at Amazon and Kindle Unlimited


Masks, the fourth book in the Preternatural Series, is finally here:


Hadrian’s Well has survived the zombie apocalypse but that doesn’t mean life is getting easier there. Record rainfalls have resulted in widespread flooding and something in the water is killing people. Or is it in the water? Part of the problem in Hadrian’s Well is that the preternatural isn’t always what it seems. Many wear masks that let them move about in human society like they’re normal people. Human threats also abound as politics within and without the town handicap Undersheriff Donovan as she struggles to track the monsters down. As the body count rises, will Donovan and her understrength department be able to look beyond the masks and stem another tide of terror?


You can find it on Amazon and free on Kindle Unlimited

Legionnaire 13
The Seduction of Malaquita

The Seduction of Malaquita

After a long and grueling fight in Angosto Pass, Marcus and his legionnaires finally catch a break. The Diamonte city of Malaquita is not only badly under garrisoned, it has no idea that the legion is on its doorstep. Yet driving out the Gota and capturing the city only creates more problems for the legion. The city is barren of supplies and could easily turn into a deathtrap if Marcus and his men remain to defend it, but if they can hold it through the coming harvests its strategic location will greatly bolster Amatista’s chances in the war. His only hope is to build an alliance with the most influential Gente in the city as he tried and failed to do in Morganita. His one tenuous asset to make this alliance happen is the cousin of the wife of his trusted friend, Senior Mago Efraín Estudioso, who married into the powerful Astrónomo family—but the Astrónomos have a terrible secret of their own that could transform them into Marcus’ vehement enemies. And now Marcus has accidentally spurned the high priest of Madre Tierra, making this one political seduction that seems destined to go very wrong!


You can find this book on Amazon and free on Kindle Unlimited


Among Us 3 Hunting Among Us

War is coming to Philadelphia as the unaging converge upon the city, threatening to take their battles out of the shadows and into the glaring light of the modern day. These horrors out of legend represent different houses and hold different agenda, but all agree that it is time for the rogue dynum, Trevalian de Treville and Mutswana the Hunter, to pay for the crime of refusing to bow to the great powers that rule this shadow society. And the blood brothers have never been more vulnerable. Trev has given his heart and his protection to a young mortal woman who refuses to understand the very real danger confronting them. Her insistence on publicly staying in Philadelphia has told the unaging world where they can find the hated duo. Can even the Iron Count and the Hunter survive when their enemies are Hunting Among Us?


You can find this book on Amazon and free on Kindle Unlimited. 

The Unity 4 Empyreal


Jewel’s new husband wants her to be a properly low-key and obedient Armenite wife. Her brother-in-law wants to humiliate her and steal her fortune to further his own ambitions. Her old crewmates want her to rescue them from their sentence of servitude. And worst of all, the microscopic menites swarming inside of Jewel want to transform her into something her husband’s enemies believe is an abomination against The Unity while his allies hope they are fashioning her into its salvation. With no one to truly depend upon but herself, the Cartelite princess must withstand these competing demands, and—In order to avoid galactic war—learn what it truly means to be an Armenite empyreal.


You can find this book on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

The Miss Pandora Parson Series


I'm happy to announce that I have been able to make three more stories in my Miss Pandora Series available for my fans. This series of crime stories set in the Old West was originally published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. They focus on a lady gambler named Pandora Parson, a bare knuckle boxer, Corey "Rock Quarry" Callaghan, and his trainer, Patrick Sullivan. As you might imagine, they get into a lot of trouble while basically trying to mind their own business and make a living in a rough and tumble world. 


The series is available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. Links are below:

Pandora's Luck

Pandora's Defense

Pandora's Journey

Pandora's Fort

Pandora's Ghost Town

Pandora's Demon

Written Gems

I’m excited to announce the creation of a new discussion group on Goodreads dedicated to the wonderful but often underappreciated works that form the roots of Fantasy and Science Fiction today. This will include such greats as: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Lord Dunsany, Robert E. Howard, H.G. Wells, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, H.P. Lovecraft, and more—plus the occasional author you may have never read (but will be very glad you did).


These authors not only influenced the development of their genres but are still frankly fun to read today. We want to explore these works together and seek out more—and we’re inviting you to join us in our endeavor.


Joining me in this noble cause are authors William L. Hahn and Chris L. Adams. Will is an expert in epic fantasy and Chris is an authority on the pulp classics of the first half of the twentieth century. Together we’ll explore a new work each month, seeking to understand not only what made the novel fun in the past, but why it has endured, and what it has to offer for audiences today.


If you’re interested, why don’t you take a look at Written Gems on Goodreads where you’ll find more information about our group?


We have the following discussion threads:

A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Khaled: A Tale of Arabia by Francis Marion Crawford

Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny

Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein

The Stars, My Brothers by Edmond Hamilton

The Island of Dr. Moreau by H. G. Wells


We also keep a thread running on Great First Lines


We hope you’ll join us.

Some Noteworthy Reviews

Legionnaire 1 The Fire Islands

My only complaint is that the novel is too short!

The historical detail is incredibly well-done. The details of Roman combat techniques, weaponry, and social organisation all match what I have internalised over the years. (I am not a historian, so it's possible that I've missed some things, but it all rang true to my ears).

I also really like the vaguely Polynesian language. Another of my obsessions is, particularly, Maori culture. The language the indigenous Fire Islanders used is clearly from the same branch as Hawaiian, Te Reo Maori, etc. This level of detail was something I really appreciated and gravitated towards.

The writing is excellent. It's clean and descriptive. The plot moves along quickly, and enough background details are filled in that I had a clear sense of the political situation in Aquila as it applies to those stationed on the Fire Islands. The main character is human - his flaws are pointed out with a bit of a sledgehammer, but it was only one hit!

I would have liked to have more details about the history of the Fire Islands and their peoples. I would also have liked to learn more about how our hero established himself - why his choices were so drastically different than those of the other Tribunes. I am wildly curious about how his relationship with Nani came to be, and my sense is that his relationship with the cook is far more complex and interesting than this book revealed.

I will definitely continue to follow this series - it's a wonderful balance of historical fiction, fantasy, with dual cultures that are equally complex, and I loved that supernatural elements were present, but not overly dominant in the story. I have no idea what to call this genre, but I love it and I want to read more of it!


Reviewed by Buttercup77, Amazon

Two More Reviews

My story, Hearts of Ice, and my Pandora Series, each picked up favorable mentions recently.  

Aside from wishing that the novella was longer, Barb at Night Owl Reviews said: "... the ending was a surprise and I was not expecting that... All in all, the story was good."

My Pandora Series at Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine was mentioned in the comments to a Bill Crider blog on western crime fiction at Criminal Element. Richard Prosch said: "Another terrific bunch of Old West mystery stories is Gilbert M. Stack's Pandora series. The new one (Number 10, I think) is in the latest Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine this month." 

 

Archived Issues of the Newsletter Can Be Found Here

Visitor