“Cinema of Swords is an exhaustive, informative, thoroughly invigorating retrospective on motion pictures that contain swordfights. Author Ellsworth has brought humor and knowledge to the proceedings, and he knows his stuff. As a former college film history instructor myself, I was pleased to see some of my favorites included—and how could they not be? This bookhas it all!”
— Raymond Benson, author and film historian
“Cinema of Swords is the adventure lover’s guide to the streaming era. More than just an invaluable reference book, it's a browser's delight, with insightful, informative, and frequently laugh-out-loud entries on hundreds of swashbucklers, from Captain Blood to The Golden Voyage of Sinbad to Hawk the Slayer. It's a pleasure to read, and the one truly indispensable movie book of the last five years. Don't miss it.”
— John O'Neil, editor, BlackGate.com
“Cinema of Swords is a trustworthy and indispensable reference guide that’s also a wildly entertaining collection of essays, joyfully written by an author of remarkable wisdom, wit, and taste. But, be warned: these pages are filled with rabbit holes, and when you find yourself flipping through them to check on a single name or the title of a film, you might stumble in to a wonderland of adventures and swashbuckling cinematic gems. Side effects may include heroics, tragedy, torture, revenge, animated skeletal swordsmen, breathless chases, and daring escapes. Overuse may lead to double- or even triple-feature movie nights with friends. I recommend hot, buttered popcorn and Robin Hood Daffy as the opening cartoon short. Enjoy!”
— Wynne McLaughlin, narrative game designer, screenwriter, and novelist