Lankhmar Book 1: Swords And Deviltry [Paperback]

Fritz Leiber (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lankhmar | Publication Date: January 9, 2007

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Fritz Leiber (1910-1992) was equally adept at writing science fiction, fantasy and horror. His works were honored with the Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy awards. He was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and received the Gandalf Grand Master Award for fantasy writing. The Big Time is his most famous SF novel. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (January 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595820795
• ISBN-13: 978-1595820792
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,548 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book In Any Genré, May 12, 2003

By 

Brian Glass (Zanesville, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swords and Deviltry : Book 1 of the Adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser (Mass Market Paperback)

I've heard of the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series for as long as I've been reading fantasy but never bothered to pick them up. I'm always leery of starting long series. I took the opportunity with the new reprints of this series to jump in and start from the beginning. I'm not disappointed in the least.

While all the familiar fantasy trappings are here (the evil wizards, thieves guilds and helpless princess) they are done in a fresh way that makes this older series look more modern than most of the new books out. The cities are well developed and rich with a detailed history that is drawn with a quick sentence or two. Just the description of a mason's office adds a depth that automatically gives the city deep dimensions.

The characters are described as "anti-heros" but they act with honor and a code of conduct. they aren't perfect by any means but are drawn realistically.

The real beauty of the book isn't the swords and sorcery action although there is plenty of that. The great thing about this book is the relationships explored here. Fritz Leiber explores mother/son relations, the yearning of a young boy for a missing father and the longing for escape every teenager growing up in a small town feels. He describes the pain of fear Ivarian feels so exquisitely it almost breaks your heart.

The most amazing thing to me is that Mr. Leiber packs such a dense, rich narrative in only 217 pages. This book feels a lot more entertaining than several of the epic fantasies I've read in the past few years. Like another of my favorite authors, Ray Bradury, Fritz Leiber is succinct and to the point and truly a great storyteller.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True fantasy buffs--welcome to Newhon!, February 19, 2001

By 

the_smoking_quill (South Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swords And Deviltry (The First Book of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser) (Paperback)

This is the first of the Fafhrd and Grey Mouser books. It includes the origin story for each hero, as well as _Ill Met in Lanhkmar_, a classic novella that no true fantasy fan can afford to miss. It is truly exceptional.

Leiber can write circles around most fantasy writers, just as the Mouser's trusty blades Scalpel and Cat's Claw forever carve deadly arcs of steel lightning around so many hapless foes . . . Welcome to friendship, adventure and dialogue of the first water--welcome to Newhon!

(Note: This one is followed by Swords Against Death & Swords in the Mist. All 3 are available in a book-club edition called The Three of Swords, which is a great intro to Leiber's fantasy world and to "low" fantasy in general.)

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Underappreciated Fantasy Author, March 27, 2004

By 

"jradoff" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swords And Deviltry (The First Book of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser) (Paperback)

Poor Fritz Leiber. He has never truly received the credit he deserves for fostering the fantasy genre. Along with the old Conan stories and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, this is amongst the most influential works of fantasy fiction.
Fascinating worldbuilding, intrigue and exciting characters abound in these tales, all told with Leiber's exceptional artistic skills. Not only are the plots and personalities compelling, but Leiber has a magical rhythm to his storytelling and descriptions. This is one of the few stories that is on my "reread" list.

Pick this up and you'll love the stories--and when you look at the copyright date of these tales, you'll come to appreciate just how much Leiber has affected the fantasy authors that have come since.