The Fourth Book of Lost Swords: Farslayer's Story [Mass Market Paperback]

Fred Saberhagen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Farslayer's Story | Publication Date: March 15, 1990

Long, long ago, the Gods forged Twelve Swords of Power, each with a unique and deadly quality. They forged too well, for the swords could kill the Gods themselves. Then the swords were lost, scattered across the land; and many are they, both good and evil, who are desperate to find them again.

This story is of Farslayer, the sword that can kill from across and entire world. The game is fierce; the prize is the sword. The players are Black Pearl, and enscorcelled mermaid, and Cosmos her treacherous lover; Prince Zoltan and Prince Mark; the evil macrowizard Wood; and an enigmatic woman who arrives astride a griffin...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Saberhagen continues the saga of the 12 magical swords responsible for havoc in a distant time. The first three books of this series recounted the stories of the swords called Woundhealer, Sightblinder and Stonecutter. This volume is focused on Farslayer, which can kill anyone named by the person holding or throwing it. The feuding clans of Malolo and Senones use the weapon to destroy each other, leaving as survivors only youngsters bent on vengeance. Then come strangers hunting for the sword. One party consists of Chilperic and the demon Rabisu, sent by the Dark Master, the Ancient One, the wizard Wood; the others, on the side of light, are Zoltan and the Lady Yambu, from Tasavalta, home of the blades. Zoltan also seeks his love, Black Pearl, turned into a mermaid by a magician's curse. The battle between good and evil and the consequences of the blood feud pile up more bodies, leaving the land sorrier and poorer. In the midst of the bloodshed and death, Saberhagen's appealing characters soldier on.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Two rival families wage a war of attrition and vengeance for possession of "Farslayer," one of the 12 Lost Swords made by the gods and imbued with unearthly powers. A grim sense of fatality underlies the deceptive simplicity of the author's style in the latest volume of Saberhagen's popular fantasy series. Recommended.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (March 15, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812552849
• ISBN-13: 978-0812552843
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #568,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, Slow Start, April 5, 2000

By 

Victor Flores JR - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fourth Book of Lost Swords: Farslayer's Story (Mass Market Paperback)

I think I've read this whole series, or at least the books I can get my hands on that is. The books are excellent, with well-developed characters and interesting story line. The author uses a system of magic I haven't seen anywhere else, the universe is based on group belief, if enough people believe something it's real... as people lose belief it dies... Well Far slayer's story is about 2 feuding families who hate each other so much; they forget what they hate each other for. Far Slayer enters their world and the two families start killing each other off... There is a Romeo And Juliet thing going here too... it starts slow, but ends well... I enjoyed it very much... just hang in through the beginning and you'll be glad you did.

4.0 out of 5 stars Sexy, sexy mermaids, December 31, 2011

By 

Chief Lewal - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fourth Book of Lost Swords: Farslayer's Story (Mass Market Paperback)

This story is awesome for one reason: Cosmo Malolo's relationship with a mermaid. What goes on in that grotto? Fondling to be sure. What else? Who knows? Well, we can reasonably deduce given the limited options. But alas, relations with mermaids are looked down upon in the village. It's viewed as taking advantage, equivalent to molestation. But does that stop Cosmo? Oh hellll naw. He's gonna get him a piece of that mermaid fin. He doesn't even care. If two consenting adults want to service one another in a grotto, that's their business. Even if one of them has a condition that renders her lady-parts inoperable. You don't see people raising a ruckus when handicapped people have relationships with non-handicapped people. What's the difference?! WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

3.0 out of 5 stars A strange addition to the series., August 24, 2011

By 

plot hound (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fourth Book of Lost Swords: Farslayer's Story (Mass Market Paperback)

This book focuses on the futility of revenge.
Farslayer is shown not so much a sword to have as a sword to prevent you enemies from having since using it almost guarantees your own death.

There are a few good characters in the book and some of them display a great deal of cynicism, even the good guys.

There is not a lot of action since the focus is on finding the sword but the ending makes up for this with a huge mess of violence and death.

The ending leaves some open questions and no clear victor which is nice.

The heavy influence of the Emperor is in this book again and his ability to predict the future has never been explained so it looks like a crutch to help the plot along.

Another enjoyable instalment in the series.