For NESS 2026 we still have 46 failed credit card charges, so you may wish to check if your pledge has gone through.
If it hasn't, you can comment beneath this update and we'll respond, or perhaps first you can check out this help page for ways you may be able to resolve the issue yourself: https://help.backerkit.com/category/616-payment
Meanwhile the wheels keep turning on NESS 2026 but, as you can imagine, there isn't a lot more we can show you so soon after the crowdfund has ended...though we have got the vintage SFF magazine issues already in envelopes, ready to ship to the lovely folk who each made the made the pledge that unlocked a key stretch goal for us!
We unlocked every stretch goal, made a big crazy chart, then hit every stretch goal on that and then doubled the international shipping discount, why not???
We unlocked every bonus story, piece of flash fiction, digital art background, a bonus poem, and Molly Tanzer's Jirel art booklet!
Right now backers are being charged for their pledges.
Backers will be charged for shipping approx. four weeks before fulfillment. This is also likely when surveys will be sent out to collect necessary information such as mailing addresses, though the surveys may come sooner.
Our current goal for fulfillment is "Q4 2026", so expect to be charged for shipping in September at the earliest. Backers in Canada will have a $10 USD shipping discount, all other backers living outside the United States will have a $20 USD shipping discount.
All backers are cordially invited to join our New Edge Sword & Sorcery Discord server through this link: https://discord.gg/HAjPqvxmDD
Though we'll be much quieter for a little while, if you'd like more regular updates and other fun info, we can be followed on Bluesky, Facebook, andInstagram. Keep an eye on them, or join our newsletter.
I still can't believe we did it...plus 18 more.
IN DETAIL
So everything wrapped, and then I napped, and several hours later....here I am! Normally I'd recuperate more before writing this update, however there's a very important, time-sensitive item further down I had to get out to you ASAP...
Fulfillment Schedule We're once again playing it safe by saying that issues will be shipped out in "Q4" aka "October, November, or December". Already we're about a month ahead of schedule compared to last year, however who knows what challenges the year may bring?
When we're closer to shipping we will do our best to provide a more specific shipping date.
Please do join The New Edge Sword & Sorcery Discord, a great online hang-out that I'd love to see your digital faces in, a fun spot to chat about the magazine, Sword & Sorcery in general, and otherwise connect with your fellow readers, writers, artists, and more.
It's also a breeding ground for goofs like how Meatball Subs Are The Only Real Sandwich, and the only time I get to eat one is when we've finished funding another publication.
Reader, I had a good time wrestling this massive beast earlier today...while appreciating it's probably a good thing I limit myself to how many I have in a year!
Of all our friends we linked to in In Short, if you check just one out please make it the crowdfund for our sword-siblings at SWORDS AGAINST!magazine, and get yourself that "Ace Double" zine co-produced by the two editorial teams!
The crowdfund ends at 12pm EST, tomorrow aka Sunday, March 15th.
I sort of still can't believe I made this very silly video on Friday. You get into a funny headspace near the end of these grand endeavors!
Alright, that's all from me for now. Please make sure to read through IN SHORT for the practical details of what's happening with charging backers for pledges, charging for shipping, our rough schedule and more.
We have other exciting book projects planned for the rest of 2026 and with the success of this crowdfund you've put us in the position to make them as great as we possibly can. Thank you.
Normally I'd be more loquacious however I'm writing this while still feeling very, very stunned by all that's transpired. So for now I'll just say...you've brought us to incredible new heights, and I promise we'll work very hard to show our gratitude for that.
Keep your swords sharp, and your sorcery numinous!
$10 USD off shipping for everyone else outside the USA
Two bonus stories
A bonus poem
Three bonus pieces of flash fiction
Phone & desktop backgrounds using art from each of our three issues
Six raises for Authors
Six raises for Artists...
There's still time to unlock more raises, getting us to TRIPLE pay for contributors...and the final stretch goal we can even conceive of reaching, DOUBLE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING DISCOUNT...
If you haven't already, please consider backing and sharing the campaign so we can pay our contributors as much as possible.
Meanwhile...
TONIGHT
Join us right here on the crowdfund page, up top where the trailer video sits, at 7pm EST to join our Final Friday Livestream party!
Not long after we start there will be a 20 min set of live music by Gloamwalker, followed a TTRPG liveplay of DCC: The Dying Earth as run by one of its designers, Julian Bernick!
And don't forget our crowdfund exclusives like...
All backers get a two-sided poster featuring fun retro-style S&S photography with live, costumed models!
Back issues are available at a discount as Add-Ons
There's a new video showing off our physical formats.
You unlocked 10c/word for our authors!
Our final livestream is this Friday at 7pm est, featuring a TTRPG session and perhaps more...
The crowdfund ends at 12pm EST, Saturday. There will be the absolute madness that is Overtime, but noon is the official end of things so you'll want to make sure to pledge before then.
We currently have 837 backers, can you help us get to 1000? What the heck will even happen if we do???
See below to learn more.
IN DETAIL
A MAGAZINE IN...HARDCOVER?
Seeing a conversation online between readers who couldn't decide if they wanted softcovers or hardcovers, we decided to help out by making this short video that shows off both formats!
NEW AUTHOR RAISE UNLOCKED!
You've just unlocked...
10c/word for our authors
Flash Fiction for the Timeworn Terra issue, written by James Enge, and...
A short story critique by Matthew John for the lucky backer who got us over the line!
Next up is the Artist Raise that will get...
Artists paid 150% of their starting rate
Matej Kollár's issue 10 cover art for all backers as digital backgrounds, and...
The backer who gets us across the line will be mailed this vintage November, 1973 issue of Fantastic magazine which features a shadowy tale of Fafhrd & the Grey Mouser.
LIVESTREAM - THIS FRIDAY AT 7PM EST
Julian Bernick will be running DUNGEON CRAWL CLASSIC: THE DYING EARTH for myself, some NESS pals, and some Swords Against! pals (Who are also NESS pals really but here we are, pals all around).
An RPG based on the fiction of Jack Vance, run by a triple threat DCC: The Dying Earth game designer, Timeworn Terra NESS author, and Swords Against! editorial staff member really feels appropriate for our final livestream!
You'll be able to watch this game, and perhaps more if we can arrange it, right at the top of the crowdfund page where the trailer normally sits.
FINALLY, DON'T FORGET...
...shipping isn't paid for until a month before fulfillment, approx. October this year, and in response to backer demand we have activated the Pay Over Time feature that splits pledges over $150 into four consecutive payments with no interest or other nonsense. Meanwhile Canadians get $5 USD off shipping, and everybody else outside the United States gets $10 off.
We believe strongly in doing our best for you, and certainly you're doing your best for us. It feels incredible to think of how much we'll be able to pay our contributors this year, and how well prepared we'll be to create the best magazine issues & books possible over the rest of 2026, all because you believe so strongly in what we're doing.
We have 837 backers and the snail knight is halfway down our giant chartof additional stretch goals.
Dare we dream of getting the snail knight all the way down? Dare we dream of going so far beyond 837 backers that we reach...
These final days are going to be a hell of a ride.
