A great pulp and fantasy read - Broadswords and Blasters Issue 2!

Pulp across the spectrum is the name of the game here, and the editors deliver a great selection of work, once again.  I really enjoyed Issue 1 of Broadswords and Blasters, so what does one do then?  Get online and buy further issues, of course!  So I’ve now read # 2 and # 3, with two more on my TBR pile.
So here’s my wrap for # 2.  The cross representation of different types of pulp is in full swing again, ranging from fantasy to sci-fi to crime to western.  Yes, I did say western: “A Western Promise” by Calvin Demmer is one of my favourites, with the tough man hero having to keep an awful promise whilst fighting aliens – just excellent.
And I’m loving being taken outside of my normal reading zones.  I think I mentioned that in my review of Issue 1, but it was certainly reinforced this issue, too.  It's even inspired me to put pen to paper, away from my usual hard-boiled PI yarns.
I enjoyed all the stories here.  If I were to pick other highlights for me, they were the stand alone tough female protagonist yarns: “The Oath Breaker” by Grey Harlowe, and “The Eye of the Sun” by D.J.Tyrer.  I love a kick-arse female lead, and these both served that up.  Being a crime writer, the crime sample did it for me, “Kane and Grable” by Michael T. Best, with an ex-girlfriend of an entirely different type!  And then up there as equal top billing for me was “The Soul Plantation” by Sara Codair.  This was a human/alien story turned on its head, but in the great tradition of an allegory which stirs your inner thoughts and stays with you. 
So, Mr Gomez and Mr Mount, bravo again for editing such an excellent magazine.
My review of Issue 3 will follow in a few days.
Cheers,
ABP