Forget the Epic: Canadian Author Revives Pulp Fantasy

    TORONTO, ON, November 05, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Sit down, Gandalf. We have been besieged by epic fantasy stories for so long that what was once thrilling has become predictable and pompous. When the biggest thing gets tiring, we look back to find that missing feeling, that world we enjoyed and forgot. For indie author Kenneth Hautala, the answer is simple, and way more fun: pulp fantasy, "sword and sorcery."

It came from "weird fiction" magazines of the 1930's, and especially in its revival in the 60s through the 80s. "Sword and sorcery" was the subgenre of fantasy that spawned stories of legendary adventures soaked in blood and romance, of true heroes with unmatched talents fighting all-powerful monsters and magicians across foreign lands, and worlds. They were the Conans and Sinbads, the creations of authors unrecognizable to some, and inspirations to current genre masters. Robert E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and now we can dust off the cloak and dagger and carve Kenneth E. Hautala's name in the tomes. His newly released novel, Haruffa Tales, is written as a loving tribute to the genre. Pulp is back again. Here comes Haruffa.

In Haruffa Tales, published through FriesenPress, two renowned healers joyfully anticipate the birth of their long-awaited son, Haruffa, in the city of Madra. But after only a few short weeks, it becomes apparent that he is quite ill. Desperately petitioning the supernatural Aspects of Life, Death, and Time, the child's parents beg for help at any price. Their cries for mercy are duly heard and answered. The timing of Haruffa's birth is no accident: he is appointed and equipped to overcome the greatest threat to life upon the planet--the evil necromancer, Bruab, and his growing undead army. Haruffa stands prepared for his tremendous destiny, though it comes at a profound personal cost. As the story's Leviathan says, "What happens when immortals conspire to ensure an entire race isn't destroyed? Haruffa happens."

Sweeping across deserts, jungles and coasts, Haruffa Tales reveals a saga of a young man's evolution from child to man, and he embarks upon a winding, treacherous path that sees him through conquest after conquest until he comes face to face with the evil he has been commissioned to defeat. Saturated in the heroic adventure, fun, fight and romance of those sword and sorcery novels of old, Kenneth Hautala's Haruffa Tales is the tribute fantasy fans have been hoping for.

Haruffa Tales is available from the FriesenPress bookstore, Amazon, and most major online book retailers. The eBook edition is available for download for Kindle, iTunes, Google Play, Kobo, and Nook.

About the Author
As a carpenter and construction health and safety professional, Kenneth E. Hautala has a deep respect for the value of hard work and skill--a characteristic he applies to his life as a writer. An avid fisherman and outdoorsman, he lives in Newmarket, Ontario.

Contact Information:
Kenneth E. Hautala
www.haruffatales.com
Twitter: @Haruffa
Facebook: Ken Hautala

# # #