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Swords' Masters the Fourth,Fifth and Sixth Books of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Chilling look at what could be our future!
Earth loses it's orbit around the sun and everything on the planet freezes as it moves farther and farther away from sol. A family survives, huddled in one room covered with layers upon layers covering the entrance. They have to shovel the crystalized atmosphere and boil it over a fire to create breathable air in their little hut. Keep watch that the fire doesn't go out! Make sure the supply of air doesn't run low! Don't fall asleep if it's your watch, or you will all die! It is a chilling, well written story by Fritz Leiber. With all the disaster stories out there, about the end of civilization on our planet, here is a possibility that hasn't been considered too much. I give it a thumbsup for originality. ... Read more

Product Description
Collected in this volume are three of Fritz Leiber's works: the short novel "The Creature from Cleveland Depths" (originally published in "Galaxy" magazine in 1962); the humorous "Bread Overhead" (originally published in "Galaxy" magazine in 1958); and the short novel "No Great Magic" (originally published in "Galaxy" magazine in 1963). "No Great Magic" is part of Leiber's Change War series. ... Read more

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A plague of rats overrun Lankhmar, the capitol city and glittering gem of the land of Nehwon. Commissioned to guard a ship of grain from the cursed rodents, brother-in-arms Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser soon discover the plague has progressed to a fatal point. Mustering the strength of sorcery, they descend into the depths of Lankhmar and rise to battle in order to save the soul of the ill-fated city. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Enjoyable fantasy for Leiber fans
"Swords of Lankhmar" is the fifth volume in the adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Fans of Leiber need to know that fact but new readers can start right in with this book and catch up with the others if so motivated.

In city of Lankhmar our friends are hired to ride shotgun on a convoy of grain ships across the Inner Sea to the city of Movarl. The reason for the extra security is that previous convoys have not only failed to reach it's destination but have all disappeared without a trace.

During the voyage one of the ships is attacked by what appear to be highly intelligent rats. Only the intervention of a dragon with an appetite for those tasty rodents saves the ship and for than matter the entire convoy. Upon returning to Lankhmar the Grey Mouser and Fafhrd find that their report of events is ridiculed by the Prince as being preposterous and are sent from the council chamber disgraced.

As events unfold the Prince's foremost confidants are in league with the rodents who maintain a hidden civilization under Lankhmar. A reprehensible plot is stirring to replace human rule and substitute rats rule. Our hero's smell a rat, or rats and with swords and sorcery restore equilibrium to Lankhmar in the land of Nehwon.

Continues the legend, but rather blandly
The fifth book in the Lahnkmar series continues the story of Fafrd and the Grey Mouser. Somewhere along the way, the "special something" that made me start buying this series has been lost. I thought that the first two volumes were really well done, but somewhere between the third and the fourth books, the characters lost their uniqueness. This book feels like standard "dungeon crawling" fare. In fact, as far as I can tell, the overall story arc is not advanced one whit by this entry. Completists will want this book, but people who are just casual Lahnkmar fans can miss this book and not feel like they missed anything.

J.Ja ... Read more

Product Description
In regards to Fritz Leiber, I believe that publication of such unpublished and uncollected works only strengthens his literary greatness. Through fragments, drafts and practice writings, we can clearly see the evolution from Leiber, the amateur, to Leiber, the professional. We are exposed to the clear way in which he dedicated his life to the written word and trained his abilities to produce the award-winning masterpieces that we read even today. While some may object to such a volume, I ask them this--is not the dream just as important as the empire that had been built from it? Are not the blueprints and sketches as impressive as the buildings and the artwork? We must place all this into perspective, and see that publishing such works is not a smear upon Leiber's legacy. Rather, it completes a full circle. If we are asked to be thorough in the biography of an individual, then we must also do so for their bibliography.

-- Benjamin Szumskyj, from his Introduction ... Read more

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Bread Overhead
The Creature from Cleveland Depths
The Night of the Long Knives
No Great Magic
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This is a story, not book, collection by Lieber
And as such starts with 4 stars....

Not his best work, not his worst. I didn't give it 5 stars because you can download it for free from Project Gutenberg. ... Read more

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One of the most influential and critically acclaimed fantasy writers of all time, Fritz Leiber pioneered the sword-and-sorcery genre! In the ancient city of Lankhmar, two men forge a friendship in battle. The red-haired barbarian Fafhrd left the snowy reaches of Nehwon looking for a new life while the Gray Mouser, apprentice magician, fled after finding his master dead. These bawdy brothers-in-arms cement a friendship that leads them through the wilds of Nehwon facing thieves, wizards, princesses and the depths of their desires and fears. Superb writing and brilliant, believable characterizations highlight the first entry in Leiber's seminal series.About the Author

Customer Reviews (3)

A must read for all fantasy readers.
Hands down, the best fantasy series ever written.If you have not read this series of 7 books by the author; one more book, volume 8 written by a later author, then you must read these. Very well written, every chapter a new adventure.

A GOOD FANTASY READ
This particular books is actually three books in one.The books, or stories, follow the adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, now fantasy classics.Leiber is a natural story teller and actually quite a fine writer.I have enjoyed these books for years.There are three further stories to complete this tale, starting with Swords Against Wizardy and then The Swords of Lankhmar and finally Swords and Ice Magic.It does take some time to actually get into this series, but it is well worth the effort.Highly recommend these books.

Fine Fantasy
These were some of the first fantasy stories I read as a kid and I never get tired of rereading them. This author has created a world that, while somewhat old fashioned in its approach to womens roles, is addictive and fun. When I went back and reread these stories a few years ago I was surprised to find that I still loved them and had trouble putting them down. I recommend these stories to anyone wanting a break from the real world and some fun time with old fashioned heros. ... Read more

Product Description
Back to back they stand, eyeing their foes over the gleam of sharpened steel ... They are the two greatest heroes ever to walk the world of Nehwon: Fafhrd, the giant barbarian warrior from the Cold Waste; and the Gray Mouser, novice wizard, master thief and unparalleled swordsman.

From the moment of their fateful meeting, the legendary duo have adventured and misadventured across Nehwon, from the caves of the inner earth to the waves of the outer sea -- but most of all through the alleys and catacombs of fog-shrouded Lankhmar, greatest of Nehwon’s cities.Their lives are chronicled in four books, of which this is the second. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

One of the classics. . .
Even though I consider myself a fantasy fan extraordinaire, it took me over 20 years of reading to finally get to some of the seminal masterworks, namely the works of Fritz Leiber, in "Ill Met in Lankhmar" and "Lean Times in Lankhmar".Although I would not consider these books among my all, all-time favorites, I am certainly glad I finally got to them, if only for their historical significance.

I think that my favorite facet of these stories is trying to decide which characters and/or stories of more contemporary fantasy were based, to some degree at least, on Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser.My prime candidate is the delightful "Garrett, PI" series by Glen Cook.Mr. Cook's city of Tunfaire is every bit the den of iniquity that Lankhmar is.I'd also put the roguish, yet possessed of a heart of gold, Indiana Jones in this category.I could be dead wrong, and there are probably many others, but these are the ones that I was reminded of.

As I said, I'm glad I read the first two books and am anxiously looking forward to finding and reading the remaining tales of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser.

Bloody hell, man...
Sure, Fafhrd & the Mouser are great, but whose bright idea was to change the formerly cool and moody covers to these hideous new affairs?Now they look exactly like any number of mediocre fantasy littering the shelves, rather than being distinguished as the groundbreaking classics they are.Bah, I say!A thousand times bah!

Adept's Gambit an underappreciated center piece
The story Adept's Gambit is one of the most moody pieces intheFafhrd and the Gray Mouser series. It contains a Lovecraftianhorror/mystery, a comical opening (in true F&GM style) and a thrilling climax. It is the element of luck that plays such a refreshing part in Leiber's stories concerning the two heroes.He can give them heroic qualities galore but he keeps them grounded in semi-reality by never giving them ridiculous Conan-like abilities. Lean Times in Lankhmar is, for my money, the funniest thing Leiber ever wrote and possibly his best piece of narrative in the whole series. I'm think it's quite a feat to write a story that both mocks and celebrates religion and throws in some adventuring fun to boot.

Stronger Collection of Stories than "Ill Met in Lankhmar"
Except for "Adept's Gambit," a very early story by Leiber, all of the tales here are among the best short stories I have read in fantasyfiction.While Leiber's style of writing at time leans towards being atrifle florid, he nonetheless offers some of the most richly phraseddescriptive narrative and inventive characters and settings one could find,and I think one would be hard-pressed to call any of his work tiring orlacking imaginative interest.These stories belong on the shelf of anyserious fantasy reader, so I am sad to see they've gone out of print.

Good, but patchy, given the current layout.
Ireally enjoyed the Cloud of Hate - Lean Times..., and Stardock - The two best thieves... - and The Lords of Quarmall sections, of this second book of the series, more than the Adept's Gambit - and associated parts. All of itwas good, but the lastly mentioned - mid section - was rather contrived andinconsistent in style, the thirty year gap in the creation of some of thelinking parts not helping. Maybe if they had been placed more strategicallythey would have worked better in the overall scheme. Anyhow, the moreappealing sections are important, since elements from them are usedextensively as future references within the last two books of the series,Return to Lankhmar, and Farewell to Lankhmar. So these must be read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Two Deserving Award Winners
Two classic works that have stood up well.

Anderson's tale follows Colonel Mackenzie of the Army of the Pacific States of America as civil war breaks out in the wake of the president usurping power.Decades after a nuclear war, the inheritors of the United States of America - rather like the European kingdoms after Rome's fall - are feudal, vie for power, and hope to recapture the technological and, perhaps, political glories of the past.Anderson's knowledge of history was deep, and he frequently mined it for plots.Here elements of the Middle Ages, the Rennaissance, and many a civil war show up.But, with the Espers, a religion that promises the development of man's latent psychic powers, something new in human history may have been brought into the mix.Hints may be found in the source of the title - Rudyard Kipling's poem "The Old Issue".

Pastoral, tragic, fast-moving, it's Anderson at his very best.

Leiber's story is something markedly different.(Though, for those looking for the hidden meanings behind the pairings in the Tor Doubles, I could suggest that Leiber and Anderson were friends, these were both Hugo winning stories, and both deal - on varying scales - with political struggles.)

The setting is a spaceship; Spar, the protagonist, is just a man who wants some teeth and better eyes.Old Doc says he may be able to use some old technology to give those to him.But then Spar gets involved with Crown, the local gangster.Oh, and people keep disappearing - maybe due to vampires.

With the surprise ending, the unconventional hero, and the story's lowlife, spacefaring setting, this story is still fresh and different.Its brand of future sleaze, space travel, and odd argot reminded me somewhat of Leiber's "Gonna Roll the Bones" from the same period.

Recommended for Leiber fans and those who like generation starship tales.

Classic Anderson
I can only voiuch for the Poul Anderson Novella, "No Truce with Kings" but I'll vouch for that a lot.
The plot first--California generations--probably centuries--after a nuclear exchange. A civil war is shaping up between a conservative faction, which supports localism, industrial feudalism and near isolationism and a "manifest destiny" element--reformist, modernizing and dedicated to the unification of North America by force of arms. The modernizers have clandestine help--from Outside?
The viewpoint characters are the more or less hereditary colonel of an infantry regiment on the conservative side and his sone in law and heir who has sided with the modernizers. Both are aware of the strengths of the other side's arguments, and the weaknesses of their own, and neither man wanted it to come down to this--but equally, neither man can stop it. And winning won't make either side right.

This one got, as I recall either a Hugo or a Nebula, and deserved it--the more so as Andersn doesn't shy from taking sides, and it's not the side he might have taken five or ten years earlier.

People are already asking why this story hasn't been included in the NESFA series yet. Buy it and you'll wonder why too.

... Read more

Product Description
Fritz Leiber and H.P. Lovecraft: Writers of the Dark presents Lovecraft's letters to Leiber, an impressive selection of Leiber's fiction which shows Lovecraft's influence, and a selection of Leiber's essays on Lovecraft and Matters Lovecraftian. Features an introduction by Ben J. S. Szumskyj and an afterword by S.T. Joshi. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Essential for devotees of Leiber and Lovecraft
Fritz Leiber and HP Lovecraft aren't usually thought of as having any similarities. After all, Leiber is best known for the extraverted character-driven fantasies about Fahfrd and the Grey Mouser while Lovecraft is remembered for his profoundly eerie blend of psychological horror and science fiction. Yet the two men corresponded extensively for the last few months of Lovecraft's life, and Lovecraft had kind words to say about the earliest Fahfrd and Mouser story. Clearly, there is more here than meets the eye of the casual fan and this book illuminates the artistic relationship between these two great authors.

The first third of the book reproduces Lovecraft's letters to both Leiber and his wife. Many negative words have been written about Lovecraft's personality elsewhere. I was amazed to see how patient, generous, kind, and selfless Lovecraft really was in these letters. Lovecraft was terminally ill and frustrated in his own career but instead of brushing off Leiber, he welcomed the younger writer and gave him advice as a father to a son. I left this section of the book with a deeper respect for Lovecraft as a person, and was in awe as to the type of mentor he might have been.

The second third of the book consists of Leiber's Lovecraft-influenced short fiction. This is in a very different vein from his better-known fantasy material, although it also includes the very first Fafhrd and Mouser tale - the "Adept's Gambit." Leiber is a far more accessible and humanistic author than Lovecraft ever was, and the bulk of the short stories here can be easily enjoyed by any reader. They are eerie, and they are haunting - but easier for a newcomer to appreciate. The final two stories "Arkham to the Stars" and "Terror from the Depths" are more explicitly Lovecraftian in both setting and style. "Arkham" is a cross-over of sorts featuring characters from multiple Lovecraft stories. "Terror" is a sequel to Lovecraft's own "The Whisperer," featuring once again the investigative literature professor Dr Wilmarth. These stories are certainly enjoyable on their own, but the reader will not be able to fully appreciate them unless he has also read the requisite Lovecraft books Leiber uses as source material. It's hard for me to choose a favorite story here, but I lean toward "Terror."

The final third of the book consists of Leiber's analyses of Lovecraft's writing and his memories of the man. Leiber provides thoughtful analysis of his friend's strengths and weaknesses and helps to place Lovecraft within perspective in the worlds of horror and science fiction. This section is repetitious, but it also provides some of the most meaningful insights into Lovecraft that I have ever read.

This isn't the place to begin your acquaintance with either Leiber or Lovecraft but you will learn more about both men as a result of reading this book.
... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fiction / Science Fiction / Adventure; Fiction / Science Fiction / High Tech; Fiction / Science Fiction / General; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good Post-apocalyptic read
Well Fritz Leiber has penned another good yarn.Its sort of cool that stories out of print are re-released to awaiting fans, because to me its like Leiber is still alive and I can wait for other books of his I havent read.
Well to the story, it is a tale of survival in outlaw lands after nuclear destruction but it is also a character study.It also deals with issues Leiber was going through when he wrote this (12 step program refrences) and because of this some might not understand parts of the book.
The characters are not as interesting as Gather Darkness (another book by Leiber) but the story while not tidy and neat, does get credit for ingenuity and reach.
Also it is a short story or novellette in length so it would be better as a book in compilation (maybe combined with Gather Darkness).But for a Fritz Leiber fan a must read. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume assembled six of Leiber's classic works: "Dr. Kometevsky's Day," "The Big Trek," "The Enchanted Forest," "Deadly Moon," "The Snowbank Orbit," and "The Ship Sails at Midnight." ... Read more