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Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser #4
Épées et sorciers
Rayon : SF Editeur : Temps futurs Date de parution : 1982 Description : In-8, 246 pages, broché, occasion, très bon état. Envois quotidiens du mardi au samedi. Les commandes sont adressées sous enveloppes bulles. Photos supplémentaires de l'ouvrage sur simple demande. Réponses aux questions dans les 12h00. ATTENTION : Les expéditions de plus de 2 kilos se voient appliquer un supplément de port. Un envoi en Mondial Relay est possible en France et en Europe. IMPORTANT : Le service économique d'envoi de livres à l'international "livres et brochures" prendra fin au 1er juillet 2025. Clients internationaux, profitez des derniers mois de ce tarif très avantageux. N'hésitez pas à vous renseigner avant de passer commande. Librairie Le Piano-Livre. Merci. Référence catalogue 60636. Please let us know if you have any questions. Thanks
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First published July 1, 1968
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About the author
Fritz Leiber
1,193 books1,018 followersFritz Reuter Leiber Jr. was one of the more interesting of the young writers who came into HP Lovecraft's orbit, and some of his best early short fiction is horror rather than sf or fantasy. He found his mature voice early in the first of the sword-and-sorcery adventures featuring the large sensitive barbarian Fafhrd and the small street-smart-ish Gray Mouser; he returned to this series at various points in his career, using it sometimes for farce and sometimes for gloomy mood pieces--The Swords of Lankhmar is perhaps the best single volume of their adventures. Leiber's science fiction includes the planet-smashing The Wanderer in which a large cast mostly survive flood, fire, and the sexual attentions of feline aliens, and the satirical A Spectre is Haunting Texas in which a gangling, exo-skeleton-clad actor from the Moon leads a revolution and finds his true love. Leiber's late short fiction, and the fine horror novel Our Lady of Darkness, combine autobiographical issues like his struggle with depression and alcoholism with meditations on the emotional content of the fantastic genres. Leiber's capacity for endless self-reinvention and productive self-examination kept him, until his death, one of the most modern of his sf generation.
Used These Alternate Names: Maurice Breçon, Fric Lajber, Fritz Leiber, Jr., Fritz R. Leiber, Fritz Leiber Jun., Фриц Лейбер, F. Lieber, フリッツ・ライバー
Used These Alternate Names: Maurice Breçon, Fric Lajber, Fritz Leiber, Jr., Fritz R. Leiber, Fritz Leiber Jun., Фриц Лейбер, F. Lieber, フリッツ・ライバー
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
March 12, 2020
This fourth book in the Fafrd and Gray Mouser saga is even better than the first three.
The two short pieces. though slight, are amusing, and the two novelettes "Stardock" (a mountain-climbing quest for invisible jewels) and "The Lords of Quarmall" (a dynastic struggle between two vicious brothers who seek to dominate a joyless underground world) are filled with excitement.
And--as always--there is an abundance of wine, women, swordplay and sorcery.
Want to read
May 5, 2020This hardcover is numbered 40 of 300.
copies, each signed by John Pelan and Jim & Ruth Keegan.
"Swords Against Wizardry", the story unfolds behind the curtain in the Witch’s Tent. Fafhrd and Gray Mouser are there to consult a sorceress who holds the secret to their escape, but when would they ever need to escape?
The book includes “In the Witch’s Tent,” “Stardock,” “The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar,” and “The Lords of Quarmall.” In addition, there is a lengthy biographical piece, “Fafhrd & Me” by Fritz Leiber, three other short essays by Fritz Leiber, plus Leiber’s obituary
copies, each signed by John Pelan and Jim & Ruth Keegan.
"Swords Against Wizardry", the story unfolds behind the curtain in the Witch’s Tent. Fafhrd and Gray Mouser are there to consult a sorceress who holds the secret to their escape, but when would they ever need to escape?
The book includes “In the Witch’s Tent,” “Stardock,” “The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar,” and “The Lords of Quarmall.” In addition, there is a lengthy biographical piece, “Fafhrd & Me” by Fritz Leiber, three other short essays by Fritz Leiber, plus Leiber’s obituary
January 12, 2025
Whether our roguish heroes are questing in the mountains of the Northern wastes, or in a dank, underground sorcerer’s kingdom, whether they fight side by side and back to back, or separately on opposing sides, their stories are always first rate fun. Fritz Leiber’s prose and descriptive power stands out as uniquely excellent in a genre where those traits are not usually expected.
In the Witch’s Tent
About to embark on a Northern quest, Fafhrd and Gray Mouser seek the services of a seer in her tent. While there, they are attacked through the tent by rivals, and counter attack by unmooring the tent and charging off still inside it. This serves as a short introduction to the next tale.
3 1/2 ⭐️
Stardock
A long tale of our heroes quest in the wastes of the North. Fafhrd and Gray Mouser must scale Stardock, a forbidding, snow covered mountain, to capture a treasure of gems. Along the way they are haunted by nighttime dream maidens, assailed by rivals searching for the same prize, attacked by invisible, flying assailants, menaced by stampeding mountain goats, endangered by vicious, fur covered serpents, and romanced by invisible princesses, all while constantly striving against the mountain itself, a near impossible climb that continually pelts them with deadly falling rocks. An often outrageous adventure that carries you along with it frenetic, fun energy.
4 ⭐️
The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar
This tale is an interlude between the two longer stories of the collection. It finds Fafhrd and Gray Mouser individually attempting to fence their portion of the treasure of invisible star gems they obtained from their quest up Stardock. It also reveals why, despite their frequent quest that result in significant treasure, they usually find themselves broke. Swindled and shamed, the heroes prepare for their next adventure.
4 ⭐️
The Lords of Quarmall
Fafhrd and Gray Mouser are hired (unbeknownst to each other) each to be a champion for rival brother sorcerers in a deadly battle for succession. This long, complex tale spends much time concentrating on the rival sorcerers, time when neither of our heroes are on stage. For this reason, it is not among my favorite of these stories.
3 ⭐️
In the Witch’s Tent
About to embark on a Northern quest, Fafhrd and Gray Mouser seek the services of a seer in her tent. While there, they are attacked through the tent by rivals, and counter attack by unmooring the tent and charging off still inside it. This serves as a short introduction to the next tale.
3 1/2 ⭐️
Stardock
A long tale of our heroes quest in the wastes of the North. Fafhrd and Gray Mouser must scale Stardock, a forbidding, snow covered mountain, to capture a treasure of gems. Along the way they are haunted by nighttime dream maidens, assailed by rivals searching for the same prize, attacked by invisible, flying assailants, menaced by stampeding mountain goats, endangered by vicious, fur covered serpents, and romanced by invisible princesses, all while constantly striving against the mountain itself, a near impossible climb that continually pelts them with deadly falling rocks. An often outrageous adventure that carries you along with it frenetic, fun energy.
4 ⭐️
The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar
This tale is an interlude between the two longer stories of the collection. It finds Fafhrd and Gray Mouser individually attempting to fence their portion of the treasure of invisible star gems they obtained from their quest up Stardock. It also reveals why, despite their frequent quest that result in significant treasure, they usually find themselves broke. Swindled and shamed, the heroes prepare for their next adventure.
4 ⭐️
The Lords of Quarmall
Fafhrd and Gray Mouser are hired (unbeknownst to each other) each to be a champion for rival brother sorcerers in a deadly battle for succession. This long, complex tale spends much time concentrating on the rival sorcerers, time when neither of our heroes are on stage. For this reason, it is not among my favorite of these stories.
3 ⭐️
July 1, 2024
More of Leiber's finely-crafted tales of adventure featuring barbarian Fafhrd (whose bluff exterior hides one frequently given to flights of fancy or romance) and thief Mouser (who would describe himself, not altogether with cause, as the more practical of the pair).
In this case, we have two quite long stories and one shorter linking piece. First, in "Stardock", F & GM find themselves on the far side of the Cold Waste scaling the mountain Stardock, whose peak pierces the very firmament. (There were these parchment poems, see, that promised to the one brave enough to scale Stardock great rewards, both pecuniary and amorous ...)
Then, in the bridging piece "The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar", our heroes attempt to dispose of any pecuniary rewards they may have recovered with ... varying degrees of success.
And then finally, in "The Lords of Quarmall", longest of the three stories, they find themselves recruited separately and secretly to aid one or the other of the two sons of Quarmal, Lord of Quarmall, an unpleasant and mostly underground city, who seek champions from distant lands as they conspire against each other and their father. It's an altogether horrible place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there ...
In this case, we have two quite long stories and one shorter linking piece. First, in "Stardock", F & GM find themselves on the far side of the Cold Waste scaling the mountain Stardock, whose peak pierces the very firmament. (There were these parchment poems, see, that promised to the one brave enough to scale Stardock great rewards, both pecuniary and amorous ...)
Then, in the bridging piece "The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar", our heroes attempt to dispose of any pecuniary rewards they may have recovered with ... varying degrees of success.
And then finally, in "The Lords of Quarmall", longest of the three stories, they find themselves recruited separately and secretly to aid one or the other of the two sons of Quarmal, Lord of Quarmall, an unpleasant and mostly underground city, who seek champions from distant lands as they conspire against each other and their father. It's an altogether horrible place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there ...
June 11, 2020
What a treat these stories always are! Timeless sword & sorcery adventures with Leiber's deft touch of wry humor under it all. So much to love, the elegant prose, the dark and foreboding settings, the playful banter between our two lovable knaves, and of course the wonderfully amusing twists and turns as Leiber delivers his droll and unexpected outcomes.
January 18, 2025
Swords Against Wizardry is the chronologically the fourth collection of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser adventures, though it was published in 1968, a couple of years before the first two books. It contains two novellas and two short stories, the first of which, In the Witch's Tent, serves more as an introductory/framing piece. It appears in this book as an original, though the other three all were first published in Fantastic Stories magazine in the mid-1960s. Stardock is a good mountain-climbing-for-treasure tale, and the other short story, The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar, is a very funny and clever linking piece that explains where the treasure went and why they have to keep adventuring. Hint: the titular two-best pair aren't our favorite rogues.) The final story, The Lords of Quarmall, is the longest and is a collaboration between Leiber and his long-time friend Harry Otto Fischer. Fischer wrote ten-thousand words of the story in 1936 or '37, and Leiber finished it almost three decades later. It's an interesting and enjoyable (if somewhat convoluted) story but doesn't have quite the same feel of the later works and has some assumptions and attitudes that have aged less well. Leiber's writing is polished and lyrical, and this fourth volume is an enjoyable part of the series though not among my favorites.
October 11, 2017
It was hard to put my finger on at first, but reading these in sequence, it becomes obvious that something has changed with the writing of the fourth Fafhrd and Gray mouser anthology. Maybe the thing that's changed is after all it's less of an anthology. This time around it feels like the stories have been written in order and are meant to follow one another. The bulk of the book is taken up by two longer pieces, and the last especially seems to be preparing the writer (and his audience) for the Nehwon novel that's to come, not so much thematically, but in the way that it focuses as much on other characters as it does on our two heroes, and, for the first time, without really diminishing them much, they've become rather subservient to the setting.
In brief: the last story, "The Lords of Quarmall", is fantastic, and absolutely one of the best things in the canon of Fafhrd and Mouser. However, I have to be blunt and say that while it was still an enjoyable reading experience, I didn't like the rest of the book quite as much.
We begin with "In the Witch's Tentt": essentially a short introductory story with a strong vein of humour describing how Fafhrd persuades his companion that before they embark on their next great quest, they should consult the oracular powers of a local witch in some drab northern town. I thought Mouser's heckling of the witch and her trance was pretty funny, as was the brief hints that kids like to haul off the tents of witch's and boil them so they can get high off the fumes that have seeped into the skin from all the years of fore- and spell-casting. In short order everything's overturned and our notorious twain are once again on the run from a bunch of bravos out for their blood. It's familiar territory, in other words. And their quest takes them to the mountains of Fafhrd's homeland, and...
"Stardock". I'm quite torn about this one. The first half is gorgeously written. I don't know if Leiber had any experience in mountain climbing, but I sure felt that he must have after reading this. The descriptions of the towering, forbidding mountain vistas just about set my brain on fire, as did the glorious interaction between the two protagonists, Fafhrd unrepentently full of awe and near-worship of his natural surroundings; Mouser just as much so but completely, doggedly and "ah that's just so fucking Mouser isn't it?" unwilling to admit it. I feel like Leiber knows these people so well by this point that they practically write themselves, and in this case the ease with which the characterisation flows from the text is admirable and they never cease to be a joy to be around, even Mouser with his occasional arsehole tendencies. So the two of them struggle and beat their way to the top of the great mount Stardock, where the gods built models of stars to be launched into space. They must face some formidable obstacles along the way, including poisonous snow-serpents covered in fur. Oh, and they travel with a cat, and it's adorable. But here they go with the concupiscent fantasies again, and what do you know? They get to the top of this impossibly great mountain and walk right into--a Star Trek TOS episode? It sure seems that way. Stardock is populated by a race of invisible near-immortals. Their race is dying out and their great monarch wants to capture the seed of mighty warriors to fertilise their women. His daughters though ahve other ideas, much more agreeable to Fafhrd and Mouser, while their brother thinks this is some kind of heresy. Didn't this happen to Captain Kirk at some point? I'm probably conflating two episodes in my head, but I swear there's one that's almost like this. In any case, Fafhrd and Mouser get an amusing night of pleasure out of it and are then cast out into the snow with a loot of promised treasure, all of which, of course, is invisible. Not much is made of the idea of invisible immortals and how they could basically enslave or wipe out everyone else if they wanted to. Basically, the great story of man VS the Invisibles has yet to be written. Fafhrd and Mouser's mortal rivals are conveniently done away with and we never do find out what, if anything, happens to the "evil brother". The story is rather slow in pacing yet still seems rushed in key areas; in this particular case, I think the destination should have been given equal importance to the journey. I must add though that despite my ambivalence toward "Stardock", the level of self-awareness in the writing is still really high, and that means that any absurdities in the text are something Leiber is very conscious of and uses for the purpose of amusing his audience.
"The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar" are not Fafhrd and the Gray mouser, in case you wondered. They're two women who get the best of our heroes in this short, rather perfunctory story. It's a silly one; not nearly up to the standard of "Lean Times in Lankhmar", which is probably the tale I could most relate this one to. Fafhrd and Mouser are growing distant from one another at the outset and it's sad this time. They want to pawn off their invisible jewels at a high price, but there's the obvious problem that noone can see them. Mouser's solution is to sell them to a blind guy. Fafhrd has been promised a night in the sack with a beautiful woman who wants to buy them and bed him. They meet at a bar and make fun of each other for a while, then shove off to perform their separate schemes. When they meet again, things are a little more sober, and their respective "I told you so!" moments are soured by the fact that things didn't go so well for either of them. Well, what d'you expect. By this point I think that because they are smart they especially are having to admit that they've lost their touch a bit.
But now we come to the final, most epic-length story, and if anything, it's the reason to have this book, because it's simply great and does really make up for any shortcomings that can admittedly be found in the previous work. By the kind of mad coincidence that seems to often direct the lives of these two, both Mouser and Fafhrd have ended up in the underground kingdom of Quarmall, a place that's been hinted darkly at throughout all the preceding books. They each become the champion of rival brothers, who have been more or less set against each other by their wizard father, the ruler of Quarmall. I was electrified by the depiction of the place, and especially of Quarmal, the great long-lived patron of Quarmall himself. The atmosphere almost made me think of Gormenghast, but with a lot more death and torture. There are lovingly rendered descriptions of truly grotesque people, and i do mean grotesque on both a physical and mental plane. There are weird courting customs, sorcerous battles, pustulent plagues, a history of the community as told by the King of the Cockroaches, eerie slaves, and the taste of mushrooms is in everything. Don't think it's all dour grimness though: there are at least half-a-dozen laugh-out-loud passages, and the greatest punch-the-air moment of all is when Fafhrd and Mouser finally meet, after being basically unaware of each other for the first 4/5 of the story, and stage a mock duel. The only real drawbacks I can see in this marvelous story are: the women are pathetic, which doesn't really bother me much, possibly because I'm a man, but maybe also because the situations surrounding the three female characters in this piece are exploited for maximum humour potential; and Quarmal, though great to read about, seems a rather terrible place, and a part of me really wanted to see it wiped off the face of the earth (or Nehwon) permanently. While Fafhrd and mouser ride off into the sunset, each with a girl on his saddle, and better yet, they're fast friends again, it does feel that the status quo is maintained in Quarmall and things will carry on as they have for hundreds of years. Sometimes though that's the way with these stories. While Leiber succeeds in making us love his heroes, he also shatters the concept of heroism. These guys are frustrating and oft-frustrated, and usually they're happy to just get out with their skins intact and, hopefully, with a nice prize of some kind. Mouser is eminently practical and sensible; Fafhrd has an iron-clad sense of both justice and romanticism. They're both formidable swordsmen. But these things are seldom enough to shatter kingdoms or break age-old traditions.
If you've made it this far and enjoyed yourself, you simply will have to read this. I mean, the last story is incredible, and the rest are puerile fun dashed with a helping of beauty, at least in the case of "Stardock". And you should read the next book, too. I continued all the way to the end of the series, and I have no regrets, but even I have to admit that things start to get very silly, though leiber never completely loses his touch. I couldn't really give this more than three stars because the first half just isn't equal to "The Lords of Quarmall" and is probably a bit below most of the earlier stories as well. On the strength of "Quarmall", though, I'm still wondering if I should bump up the rating a star.
In brief: the last story, "The Lords of Quarmall", is fantastic, and absolutely one of the best things in the canon of Fafhrd and Mouser. However, I have to be blunt and say that while it was still an enjoyable reading experience, I didn't like the rest of the book quite as much.
We begin with "In the Witch's Tentt": essentially a short introductory story with a strong vein of humour describing how Fafhrd persuades his companion that before they embark on their next great quest, they should consult the oracular powers of a local witch in some drab northern town. I thought Mouser's heckling of the witch and her trance was pretty funny, as was the brief hints that kids like to haul off the tents of witch's and boil them so they can get high off the fumes that have seeped into the skin from all the years of fore- and spell-casting. In short order everything's overturned and our notorious twain are once again on the run from a bunch of bravos out for their blood. It's familiar territory, in other words. And their quest takes them to the mountains of Fafhrd's homeland, and...
"Stardock". I'm quite torn about this one. The first half is gorgeously written. I don't know if Leiber had any experience in mountain climbing, but I sure felt that he must have after reading this. The descriptions of the towering, forbidding mountain vistas just about set my brain on fire, as did the glorious interaction between the two protagonists, Fafhrd unrepentently full of awe and near-worship of his natural surroundings; Mouser just as much so but completely, doggedly and "ah that's just so fucking Mouser isn't it?" unwilling to admit it. I feel like Leiber knows these people so well by this point that they practically write themselves, and in this case the ease with which the characterisation flows from the text is admirable and they never cease to be a joy to be around, even Mouser with his occasional arsehole tendencies. So the two of them struggle and beat their way to the top of the great mount Stardock, where the gods built models of stars to be launched into space. They must face some formidable obstacles along the way, including poisonous snow-serpents covered in fur. Oh, and they travel with a cat, and it's adorable. But here they go with the concupiscent fantasies again, and what do you know? They get to the top of this impossibly great mountain and walk right into--a Star Trek TOS episode? It sure seems that way. Stardock is populated by a race of invisible near-immortals. Their race is dying out and their great monarch wants to capture the seed of mighty warriors to fertilise their women. His daughters though ahve other ideas, much more agreeable to Fafhrd and Mouser, while their brother thinks this is some kind of heresy. Didn't this happen to Captain Kirk at some point? I'm probably conflating two episodes in my head, but I swear there's one that's almost like this. In any case, Fafhrd and Mouser get an amusing night of pleasure out of it and are then cast out into the snow with a loot of promised treasure, all of which, of course, is invisible. Not much is made of the idea of invisible immortals and how they could basically enslave or wipe out everyone else if they wanted to. Basically, the great story of man VS the Invisibles has yet to be written. Fafhrd and Mouser's mortal rivals are conveniently done away with and we never do find out what, if anything, happens to the "evil brother". The story is rather slow in pacing yet still seems rushed in key areas; in this particular case, I think the destination should have been given equal importance to the journey. I must add though that despite my ambivalence toward "Stardock", the level of self-awareness in the writing is still really high, and that means that any absurdities in the text are something Leiber is very conscious of and uses for the purpose of amusing his audience.
"The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar" are not Fafhrd and the Gray mouser, in case you wondered. They're two women who get the best of our heroes in this short, rather perfunctory story. It's a silly one; not nearly up to the standard of "Lean Times in Lankhmar", which is probably the tale I could most relate this one to. Fafhrd and Mouser are growing distant from one another at the outset and it's sad this time. They want to pawn off their invisible jewels at a high price, but there's the obvious problem that noone can see them. Mouser's solution is to sell them to a blind guy. Fafhrd has been promised a night in the sack with a beautiful woman who wants to buy them and bed him. They meet at a bar and make fun of each other for a while, then shove off to perform their separate schemes. When they meet again, things are a little more sober, and their respective "I told you so!" moments are soured by the fact that things didn't go so well for either of them. Well, what d'you expect. By this point I think that because they are smart they especially are having to admit that they've lost their touch a bit.
But now we come to the final, most epic-length story, and if anything, it's the reason to have this book, because it's simply great and does really make up for any shortcomings that can admittedly be found in the previous work. By the kind of mad coincidence that seems to often direct the lives of these two, both Mouser and Fafhrd have ended up in the underground kingdom of Quarmall, a place that's been hinted darkly at throughout all the preceding books. They each become the champion of rival brothers, who have been more or less set against each other by their wizard father, the ruler of Quarmall. I was electrified by the depiction of the place, and especially of Quarmal, the great long-lived patron of Quarmall himself. The atmosphere almost made me think of Gormenghast, but with a lot more death and torture. There are lovingly rendered descriptions of truly grotesque people, and i do mean grotesque on both a physical and mental plane. There are weird courting customs, sorcerous battles, pustulent plagues, a history of the community as told by the King of the Cockroaches, eerie slaves, and the taste of mushrooms is in everything. Don't think it's all dour grimness though: there are at least half-a-dozen laugh-out-loud passages, and the greatest punch-the-air moment of all is when Fafhrd and Mouser finally meet, after being basically unaware of each other for the first 4/5 of the story, and stage a mock duel. The only real drawbacks I can see in this marvelous story are: the women are pathetic, which doesn't really bother me much, possibly because I'm a man, but maybe also because the situations surrounding the three female characters in this piece are exploited for maximum humour potential; and Quarmal, though great to read about, seems a rather terrible place, and a part of me really wanted to see it wiped off the face of the earth (or Nehwon) permanently. While Fafhrd and mouser ride off into the sunset, each with a girl on his saddle, and better yet, they're fast friends again, it does feel that the status quo is maintained in Quarmall and things will carry on as they have for hundreds of years. Sometimes though that's the way with these stories. While Leiber succeeds in making us love his heroes, he also shatters the concept of heroism. These guys are frustrating and oft-frustrated, and usually they're happy to just get out with their skins intact and, hopefully, with a nice prize of some kind. Mouser is eminently practical and sensible; Fafhrd has an iron-clad sense of both justice and romanticism. They're both formidable swordsmen. But these things are seldom enough to shatter kingdoms or break age-old traditions.
If you've made it this far and enjoyed yourself, you simply will have to read this. I mean, the last story is incredible, and the rest are puerile fun dashed with a helping of beauty, at least in the case of "Stardock". And you should read the next book, too. I continued all the way to the end of the series, and I have no regrets, but even I have to admit that things start to get very silly, though leiber never completely loses his touch. I couldn't really give this more than three stars because the first half just isn't equal to "The Lords of Quarmall" and is probably a bit below most of the earlier stories as well. On the strength of "Quarmall", though, I'm still wondering if I should bump up the rating a star.
May 23, 2015
Swords Against Wizardry: Our two lovable rogues ascend mighty mountains, are challenged by female thieves, and hire out as mercenaries for rival princes
Originally posted at Fantasy Literature
This is the fourth collection of stories in Fritz Leiber’s FAFHRD AND THE GRAY MOUSER series, and is better than the previous volume, Swords in the Mist. It features four stories: “In the Witch’s Tent” (1968), “Stardock” (1965), “The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar” (1968), and “The Lords of Quarmall” (1964). My personal favorites are “Stardock” and “The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar.” The first story is just a short framing piece, so I’ll focus on the main three stories.
“Stardock” is a fast-paced and amazingly-written adventure in which Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser climb Stardock, an imposing ice-covered mountain that is the Newhon equivalent of Everest, in a quest to retrieve a pouch of gems that legend holds were made by the gods as test-models for the stars, which were then cast off after creation (hence the mountain’s name, Stardock, where the stars were first launched into the sky). As Kat’s review has mentioned, the writing is eloquent and top-notch, especially impressive when used to describe the harrowing ascent of the mountain, which he likens to a cold and imposing woman:
Begin first at her feet. That glimmering skirt falling from her snowy hips, which are almost as high as the Obelisk — that’s the White Waterfall, where no man may live. Now to her head again. From her flat tilted snowcap hang two great braids of swelling snow, streaming almost perpetually with avalanches, as if she combed ‘em day and night — the Tresses, those are called. Between them’s a wide ladder of dark rock, marked at three points by ledges. The topmost of the three ledge-banks is the Face — d’you note the lower ledges marking eyes and lips?
The climb itself is terrifying and reminds me of the movie Vertical Limit. Leiber must have spent some time researching mountain-climbing to get the details right. And once they get closer to the summit, they encounter a number of adversaries, including rival gem-hunters, furry serpents and a tribe of invisible people, including two tempting young maidens who claim that Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are there to provide their seed to strengthen the tribe’s gene pool! Well, what are two rogues to do? After this improbable interlude they reach their ultimate goal, the gems that were cast off by the gods…
In “The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar,” our two heroes are back in Lankhmar with the spoils of their climb to Stardock, a collection of jewels that are invisible by day but sparkle by night. On the way back they tire of each other’s company and decide to split the loot. The story details their attempts to separately find buyers for these unique gems. When they encounter two female counterparts, their plans quickly go awry, and the title of the story takes on added significance. This story is classic fun as the tables are turned.
The final story “The Lords of Quarmall” was actually first conceived by Harry Fischer, Leiber’s close friend who first conceived of the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser characters (modeled after the two friends), back in 1937. However, it languished and was not completed until the 1960s when Leiber was organizing the stories and offered to finish the tale.
The story is about a strange and sinister underground kingdom called Quarmall, which is ruled over by the ancient sorcerer Lord Quarmall, his Master Magician Flindach, and his two opposed and yet equally vile sons Gwaay and Hasjarl. Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are hired separately by the two sons to support their respective bids to seize power as their aging father weakens.
It’s interesting that the story spends more time with the two sons, who are both cruel, ambitious, and insanely hateful of each other and their father as well. For me, this made it very hard to enjoy the story since the main characters are so unpleasant and our two heroes are relegated to the sidelines for much of the story. I suspect this is partly because this was written before Leiber had really established the tone and pattern of the series. It is weaker for having the two rogues in auxiliary roles, though the latter half of the story picks up nicely, again not a surprise since this is where Leiber took over writing. The final clash of the two brothers, the duel between Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, and the surprise ending are classic Leiber, and redeem what was initially a bit hard to get into.
Overall, Swords Against Wizardry is another excellent entry in the series, second only to Swords Against Death. There are still three more volumes in the series, but the next two, Swords of Lankhmar and Swords and Ice Magic, are not as good as the first four according to the reviews I’ve read, and the final book The Knight and Knave of Swords features the two adventurers settling down to retire on Rime Isle reminiscing about old times, and who wants to read about that? Clearly Leiber himself was reflecting back on his two beloved characters and their amazing 50-year run, but that is not itself justification for a final collection of stories. So I prefer to stick with the first four volumes when our heroes are hot-blooded, hungry for adventure, and full of ironic observations.
Originally posted at Fantasy Literature
This is the fourth collection of stories in Fritz Leiber’s FAFHRD AND THE GRAY MOUSER series, and is better than the previous volume, Swords in the Mist. It features four stories: “In the Witch’s Tent” (1968), “Stardock” (1965), “The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar” (1968), and “The Lords of Quarmall” (1964). My personal favorites are “Stardock” and “The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar.” The first story is just a short framing piece, so I’ll focus on the main three stories.
“Stardock” is a fast-paced and amazingly-written adventure in which Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser climb Stardock, an imposing ice-covered mountain that is the Newhon equivalent of Everest, in a quest to retrieve a pouch of gems that legend holds were made by the gods as test-models for the stars, which were then cast off after creation (hence the mountain’s name, Stardock, where the stars were first launched into the sky). As Kat’s review has mentioned, the writing is eloquent and top-notch, especially impressive when used to describe the harrowing ascent of the mountain, which he likens to a cold and imposing woman:
Begin first at her feet. That glimmering skirt falling from her snowy hips, which are almost as high as the Obelisk — that’s the White Waterfall, where no man may live. Now to her head again. From her flat tilted snowcap hang two great braids of swelling snow, streaming almost perpetually with avalanches, as if she combed ‘em day and night — the Tresses, those are called. Between them’s a wide ladder of dark rock, marked at three points by ledges. The topmost of the three ledge-banks is the Face — d’you note the lower ledges marking eyes and lips?
The climb itself is terrifying and reminds me of the movie Vertical Limit. Leiber must have spent some time researching mountain-climbing to get the details right. And once they get closer to the summit, they encounter a number of adversaries, including rival gem-hunters, furry serpents and a tribe of invisible people, including two tempting young maidens who claim that Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are there to provide their seed to strengthen the tribe’s gene pool! Well, what are two rogues to do? After this improbable interlude they reach their ultimate goal, the gems that were cast off by the gods…
In “The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar,” our two heroes are back in Lankhmar with the spoils of their climb to Stardock, a collection of jewels that are invisible by day but sparkle by night. On the way back they tire of each other’s company and decide to split the loot. The story details their attempts to separately find buyers for these unique gems. When they encounter two female counterparts, their plans quickly go awry, and the title of the story takes on added significance. This story is classic fun as the tables are turned.
The final story “The Lords of Quarmall” was actually first conceived by Harry Fischer, Leiber’s close friend who first conceived of the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser characters (modeled after the two friends), back in 1937. However, it languished and was not completed until the 1960s when Leiber was organizing the stories and offered to finish the tale.
The story is about a strange and sinister underground kingdom called Quarmall, which is ruled over by the ancient sorcerer Lord Quarmall, his Master Magician Flindach, and his two opposed and yet equally vile sons Gwaay and Hasjarl. Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are hired separately by the two sons to support their respective bids to seize power as their aging father weakens.
It’s interesting that the story spends more time with the two sons, who are both cruel, ambitious, and insanely hateful of each other and their father as well. For me, this made it very hard to enjoy the story since the main characters are so unpleasant and our two heroes are relegated to the sidelines for much of the story. I suspect this is partly because this was written before Leiber had really established the tone and pattern of the series. It is weaker for having the two rogues in auxiliary roles, though the latter half of the story picks up nicely, again not a surprise since this is where Leiber took over writing. The final clash of the two brothers, the duel between Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, and the surprise ending are classic Leiber, and redeem what was initially a bit hard to get into.
Overall, Swords Against Wizardry is another excellent entry in the series, second only to Swords Against Death. There are still three more volumes in the series, but the next two, Swords of Lankhmar and Swords and Ice Magic, are not as good as the first four according to the reviews I’ve read, and the final book The Knight and Knave of Swords features the two adventurers settling down to retire on Rime Isle reminiscing about old times, and who wants to read about that? Clearly Leiber himself was reflecting back on his two beloved characters and their amazing 50-year run, but that is not itself justification for a final collection of stories. So I prefer to stick with the first four volumes when our heroes are hot-blooded, hungry for adventure, and full of ironic observations.
August 2, 2019
Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser climb a mountain in search of treasure and sell their swords in a face off between two brothers in an underground realm.
These two adventures make up the bulk of the book, with some entertaining short pieces thrown in to fill the gaps. The mountain-based story, “Stardock,” is beautifully written but awfully slow-moving. The highlight of the book is “The Lords of Quarmall.” Our heroes are separated for much of the story, but plot developments bring them together for a rousing finale full of magic and swordplay. Considerable time is spent with other characters, giving the story an epic feel and it concludes with an action-packed, satisfying finale.
These two adventures make up the bulk of the book, with some entertaining short pieces thrown in to fill the gaps. The mountain-based story, “Stardock,” is beautifully written but awfully slow-moving. The highlight of the book is “The Lords of Quarmall.” Our heroes are separated for much of the story, but plot developments bring them together for a rousing finale full of magic and swordplay. Considerable time is spent with other characters, giving the story an epic feel and it concludes with an action-packed, satisfying finale.
May 24, 2016
I finished this book and honestly I have to rate it lower than any previous Fafhrd and Mouser book that
I've read.The banter between the two is still like friends,though there is some rivalry.
But the first half of the book is so slow.There were times I had to read a designated number of pages
before I would take a break.
But it paid off in the second half.We had wizards living in the same area and plotting against each other.
I've read.The banter between the two is still like friends,though there is some rivalry.
But the first half of the book is so slow.There were times I had to read a designated number of pages
before I would take a break.
But it paid off in the second half.We had wizards living in the same area and plotting against each other.
October 19, 2011
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.
The time has come for sorcery and swords.
After a somewhat disappointing third volume in the Lankhmar series, Fritz Leiber is back to form in Swords Against Wizardry. This book contains four stories about Fafhrd the big red-headed barbarian, and The Gray Mouser, the small wily magician-thief. Three of the stories come from the pulp magazine Fantastic and the first story was created for this volume as an introduction. The stories fit so well together that they almost feel like a novel.
“In the Witch’s Tent” is a very short introductory story in which Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser visit a witch who prophesies about the events to come in the next story.
In the novella “Stardock” (1965, Fantastic), our heroes and an ice-cat companion climb the forbidding mountain Stardock where they hope to find “a pouch of stars.” This story is slow in the beginning when the boys are climbing, but once they conquer Stardock, things get pretty exciting and, after leaving some incubating DNA behind, they leave the mountain with a bag of jewels that can only be seen at night. All of Fritz Leiber’s stories are gorgeously written, but “Stardock” has some of my favorite lines:
Fafhrd said dreamily, “They say the gods once dwelt and had their smithies on Stardock and from thence, amid jetting fire and showering sparks, launched all the stars; hence her name. They say diamonds, rubies, smaragds — all great gems — are the tiny pilot models the gods made of the stars... and then threw carelessly away across the world when their great work was done.”
I wish I could play those lines for you from the audio version read by Jonathan Davis. It’s beautiful.
“The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar” (1968, Fantastic) is a fun short story that takes place after the boys return to the city after their conquest of Stardock. Apparently they got sick of each other on the way home (that happens occasionally and is a clue to the type of story that comes next), so they split up the jewels and went their separate ways. Both are trying to sell their share of the jewels, which is a problem because these gems can only be seen at night. When the story begins, the reader assumes that “The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar” refers to Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, but we all learn soon enough that what the Mouser says is true: Deal with a woman — surest route to disaster.
“The Lords of Quarmall" (1964, Fantastic) is one of my favorite Leiber novellas. Having split up for a time, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser have, unbeknownst to them, each been hired to be the champion of two horrible brothers who hate each other and who want their father’s throne. The brother who hired the Mouser lives in subterranean caves underneath the brother who hired Fafhrd. Even though we can guess how the story will end, this is a creative tale with a grand setting. Fritz Leiber’s fantastic imagination is on full display in this story, and it beautifully highlights the sweet relationship these two rogues have with each other.
I can’t heap enough praise on the audio version of the Lankhmar books. Jonathan Davis is one of the best voice performers and these are some of his best performances. If you listen to audiobooks, don’t miss this series. If you don’t listen to audiobooks, listen to these and you’ll be converted.
The time has come for sorcery and swords.
After a somewhat disappointing third volume in the Lankhmar series, Fritz Leiber is back to form in Swords Against Wizardry. This book contains four stories about Fafhrd the big red-headed barbarian, and The Gray Mouser, the small wily magician-thief. Three of the stories come from the pulp magazine Fantastic and the first story was created for this volume as an introduction. The stories fit so well together that they almost feel like a novel.
“In the Witch’s Tent” is a very short introductory story in which Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser visit a witch who prophesies about the events to come in the next story.
In the novella “Stardock” (1965, Fantastic), our heroes and an ice-cat companion climb the forbidding mountain Stardock where they hope to find “a pouch of stars.” This story is slow in the beginning when the boys are climbing, but once they conquer Stardock, things get pretty exciting and, after leaving some incubating DNA behind, they leave the mountain with a bag of jewels that can only be seen at night. All of Fritz Leiber’s stories are gorgeously written, but “Stardock” has some of my favorite lines:
Fafhrd said dreamily, “They say the gods once dwelt and had their smithies on Stardock and from thence, amid jetting fire and showering sparks, launched all the stars; hence her name. They say diamonds, rubies, smaragds — all great gems — are the tiny pilot models the gods made of the stars... and then threw carelessly away across the world when their great work was done.”
I wish I could play those lines for you from the audio version read by Jonathan Davis. It’s beautiful.
“The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar” (1968, Fantastic) is a fun short story that takes place after the boys return to the city after their conquest of Stardock. Apparently they got sick of each other on the way home (that happens occasionally and is a clue to the type of story that comes next), so they split up the jewels and went their separate ways. Both are trying to sell their share of the jewels, which is a problem because these gems can only be seen at night. When the story begins, the reader assumes that “The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar” refers to Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, but we all learn soon enough that what the Mouser says is true: Deal with a woman — surest route to disaster.
“The Lords of Quarmall" (1964, Fantastic) is one of my favorite Leiber novellas. Having split up for a time, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser have, unbeknownst to them, each been hired to be the champion of two horrible brothers who hate each other and who want their father’s throne. The brother who hired the Mouser lives in subterranean caves underneath the brother who hired Fafhrd. Even though we can guess how the story will end, this is a creative tale with a grand setting. Fritz Leiber’s fantastic imagination is on full display in this story, and it beautifully highlights the sweet relationship these two rogues have with each other.
I can’t heap enough praise on the audio version of the Lankhmar books. Jonathan Davis is one of the best voice performers and these are some of his best performances. If you listen to audiobooks, don’t miss this series. If you don’t listen to audiobooks, listen to these and you’ll be converted.
January 12, 2015
The publisher says:
Demons and evil gods inhabit the untenable peak of the mountain called Stardock. They guard a magnificent trove of treasure that lies at the heart of the dangerous peak, and the brave warriors known as Fafhrd and The Grey Mouser have decided that they will fight to make the riches their own!
As their quest leads them from adventure to adventure, the two heroes find themselves at the threshold of the magical and mysterious kingdom of Quarmall. As they attempt to breach the defenses of ancient and evil sorceries, Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser must learn that where treasure lies, treachery often follows.
My thoughts on the book:
Another great read from Fritz Leiber! I do love his command of the English language and use of words which I didn't know existed, but that I can understand immediately from their use in the text. For example, the "caprid stench" of a group of mountain goats. (By the bye, if you haven't spent time with goats, you have no idea how insulting it is to be told you smell like a goat. They are pungent animals!)
Also loved the huge, warm-blooded, furry snakes that the two heroes face half-way up their mountain climbing expedition. The climb is very well realized--I have a bit of a thing about heights and I had to keep taking little breaks from reading, to let my breathing & heart rate subside a bit. I was especially happy that there was no need for them to climb down, as that might have done me in.
I can't help but love Fafhrd, the large Viking-like rogue and I certainly see many parallels between him and Howard's Conan. Both authors, Leiber and Howard, wrote beautifully and told tales of honourable, but incorrigible "barbarians." I also appreciate that Fafhrd and the Mouser occasionally need to breaks from each other's company, while remaining loyal to their bond.
Cross-posted at my blog, The Next Fifty, at:
http://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.ca...
Demons and evil gods inhabit the untenable peak of the mountain called Stardock. They guard a magnificent trove of treasure that lies at the heart of the dangerous peak, and the brave warriors known as Fafhrd and The Grey Mouser have decided that they will fight to make the riches their own!
As their quest leads them from adventure to adventure, the two heroes find themselves at the threshold of the magical and mysterious kingdom of Quarmall. As they attempt to breach the defenses of ancient and evil sorceries, Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser must learn that where treasure lies, treachery often follows.
My thoughts on the book:
Another great read from Fritz Leiber! I do love his command of the English language and use of words which I didn't know existed, but that I can understand immediately from their use in the text. For example, the "caprid stench" of a group of mountain goats. (By the bye, if you haven't spent time with goats, you have no idea how insulting it is to be told you smell like a goat. They are pungent animals!)
Also loved the huge, warm-blooded, furry snakes that the two heroes face half-way up their mountain climbing expedition. The climb is very well realized--I have a bit of a thing about heights and I had to keep taking little breaks from reading, to let my breathing & heart rate subside a bit. I was especially happy that there was no need for them to climb down, as that might have done me in.
I can't help but love Fafhrd, the large Viking-like rogue and I certainly see many parallels between him and Howard's Conan. Both authors, Leiber and Howard, wrote beautifully and told tales of honourable, but incorrigible "barbarians." I also appreciate that Fafhrd and the Mouser occasionally need to breaks from each other's company, while remaining loyal to their bond.
Cross-posted at my blog, The Next Fifty, at:
http://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.ca...
January 11, 2022
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are always a ton of fun. Stardock rocked, love a mountain climbing story, but The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar took the cake. There was even a cameo from Joanna Russ's Alyx.
January 31, 2013
This is the first of the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series--or the first one I've read so far--where each story seemed to hit the mark. Previous books seemed to contain one or two really good stories, with lesser material filling the rest.
"The Lords of Quarmall" has the distinction of being the best story of the series so far, edging out "Bazaar of the Bizarre" and "Lean Times in Lankhmar". It is all the better for the scaffolding originally written by Harry Otto Fischer, which Leiber filled out and completed many years later. Those portions are the most interesting, and it's a shame that Fischer never produced anything else.
"The Best Thieves in Lankhmar" is intriguing for its implications that for all their talents, in terms of actual thievery Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are at best skilled amateurs. To get to be the best, you have to approach it as a business.
"The Lords of Quarmall" has the distinction of being the best story of the series so far, edging out "Bazaar of the Bizarre" and "Lean Times in Lankhmar". It is all the better for the scaffolding originally written by Harry Otto Fischer, which Leiber filled out and completed many years later. Those portions are the most interesting, and it's a shame that Fischer never produced anything else.
"The Best Thieves in Lankhmar" is intriguing for its implications that for all their talents, in terms of actual thievery Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are at best skilled amateurs. To get to be the best, you have to approach it as a business.
May 7, 2023
Kurzweilige Fantasy für Zwischendurch, mit einem raffinierten Ende
August 9, 2013
I have heard from multiple sources that I shouldn't read the later books in the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series, because the quality goes down precipitously and it'll retroactively ruin my enjoyment of previous books. Now, that may actually be true, but I was happy to learn that even if it is, Swords Against Wizardry does not count as a later book for the purposes of that rule.
Much like Swords and Deviltry, there are only a few stories in this book. Two of them, "In the Witch's Tent" and "The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar," were obviously written as bridging stories to link the various original short stories together. "In the Witch's Tent" is nothing special, and even though I read it yesterday I can barely remember what happened in it, but "The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar" actually stands alone as a worthwhile story. It's a quick story about how no matter how hard the preparations, there's always someone out there who can pull a fast one, and I would have been happy to read it even though it's mainly there to return things to status quo so that the duo have to go find a new scheme to get rich.
"Stardock" is where one of the best parts of the book lay. Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser return to Fafhrd's childhood stomping grounds, seeking to climb the unclimable mountain and find the gems left on the top, from the time when the gods were fashioning the stars. I've gone mountain climbing a few times, and at least from my perspective, this story captured the feel of climbing very well. Sure, when you reach the top, it's all the glory and majesty of creation, and spectacular views, and a brilliant sense of accomplishment, but when you're actually trudging or climbing up the mountainsides, none of that applies. I think my favorite moment in the whole story was when the Mouser thought they were almost at the top only to find out that not only is there still more to go, there's a seemingly-insurmountable obstacle that they have to cross right at the "end."
Of course, if it were just a story about climbing a mountain it would be boring, and so there's plenty else to spice up the story, from mysterious assailants to rival teams of treasure hunters.
The last half of the book is taken up with "The Lords of Quarmall," which is the better of the two main stories even with how much I liked "Stardock." For one, there's the language:
I think "The Lords of Quarmall" benefits a lot by having Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser on opposite sides. Much like "Lean Times in Lankhmar," pitting the pair against each other and swapping viewpoints helps keep the story moving and the reader wondering how the confrontation is going to be resolved. It's true that this removes the banter between them that does so much for most of Leiber's stories, but as "Lean Times in Lankhmar" showed, the pair's personalities can do plenty to carry the action even if they aren't in the same room until the end.
I was pleasantly surprised by Swords Against Wizardry, and while there may be a cliff to run off in the future, I'm glad I haven't reached it yet. If you've ever been interested in sword and sorcery in any capacity, read this book.
Previous Review: Swords in the Mist.
Next Review: The Swords of Lankhmar.
Much like Swords and Deviltry, there are only a few stories in this book. Two of them, "In the Witch's Tent" and "The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar," were obviously written as bridging stories to link the various original short stories together. "In the Witch's Tent" is nothing special, and even though I read it yesterday I can barely remember what happened in it, but "The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar" actually stands alone as a worthwhile story. It's a quick story about how no matter how hard the preparations, there's always someone out there who can pull a fast one, and I would have been happy to read it even though it's mainly there to return things to status quo so that the duo have to go find a new scheme to get rich.
"Stardock" is where one of the best parts of the book lay. Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser return to Fafhrd's childhood stomping grounds, seeking to climb the unclimable mountain and find the gems left on the top, from the time when the gods were fashioning the stars. I've gone mountain climbing a few times, and at least from my perspective, this story captured the feel of climbing very well. Sure, when you reach the top, it's all the glory and majesty of creation, and spectacular views, and a brilliant sense of accomplishment, but when you're actually trudging or climbing up the mountainsides, none of that applies. I think my favorite moment in the whole story was when the Mouser thought they were almost at the top only to find out that not only is there still more to go, there's a seemingly-insurmountable obstacle that they have to cross right at the "end."
Of course, if it were just a story about climbing a mountain it would be boring, and so there's plenty else to spice up the story, from mysterious assailants to rival teams of treasure hunters.
The last half of the book is taken up with "The Lords of Quarmall," which is the better of the two main stories even with how much I liked "Stardock." For one, there's the language:
Once, the Lords of Quarmall ruled over broad meadows and vast seas; their ships swam between all known ports, and their caravans marched the routes from sea to sea. Slowly from the fertile valleys and barren cliffs, from the desert spots and the open sea the grip of Quarmall loosened; not willingly but ever forced did the Lords of Quarmall retreat. Inexorably they were driven, year by year, generation by generation, from all their possessions and rights; until finally they were confined to that last and stauchnest stronghold, the impregnable castle of Quarmall. The cause of this driving is lost in the dimness of fable; but it was probably due to those most gruesome practices which even to this day persuade the surrounding countryside that Quarmall is unclean and cursed.I am incapable of writing a Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser review without using the word "evocative," and now here's this book's entry--"The Lords of Quarmall" is fantastically evocative. The entire vast underground complex, from the vast fans eternally walked by slaves bred into stupidity to the death-masks of the lineage of the Lords of Quarmall to the entire level abandoned between the warring brothers, is full of rich imagery and amazing description of the underground kingdom that the Lords of Quarmall have been reduced to.
I think "The Lords of Quarmall" benefits a lot by having Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser on opposite sides. Much like "Lean Times in Lankhmar," pitting the pair against each other and swapping viewpoints helps keep the story moving and the reader wondering how the confrontation is going to be resolved. It's true that this removes the banter between them that does so much for most of Leiber's stories, but as "Lean Times in Lankhmar" showed, the pair's personalities can do plenty to carry the action even if they aren't in the same room until the end.
I was pleasantly surprised by Swords Against Wizardry, and while there may be a cliff to run off in the future, I'm glad I haven't reached it yet. If you've ever been interested in sword and sorcery in any capacity, read this book.
Previous Review: Swords in the Mist.
Next Review: The Swords of Lankhmar.
February 1, 2012
The fourth in the series of sword and sorcery adventures continues to enchant me with the mix of humor and bloody action, beautiful language a unbridled imagination. It doesn't feel dated at all, in fact I think it has a timeless quality of essential storytelling, able to speak across generations and age groups.
"In the Witch's Tent" is quite short, and serves as a prologue to the long novella that follows. It does a good job of reaquainting the reader with the laidback and amoral duo of lovable scoundrels - the redheaded giant barbarian Fafhrd, and the sprightly, grey clad Mouser.
"Stardock" is one of my favorites stories so far from Leiber. The colourful prose turns lyrical as Fafhrd describes the mountains of the Cold Waste of Nehwon - majestic land of his childhood exploits, a stepladder to the sky used by the ancient gods to throw up the hand of jewels that would become the stars. Our heroes quest to recover some of the gods beauty takes them climbing the mosst dangerous icy slopes of the mountains where they have to face not only hostile weather, avalanches, bandits and fatigue, but also mysterious magical creatures of light and wind. Even when hanging by the tip of their fingers, the duo keeps up the playful banter and soon a couple of lovely maidens will show up and will probably have the feminists readers up in arms.
"The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar" is another funshort piece, a bridge to the last and longest novella in this collection. Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser are back in their usual haunts, and the feminists will hopefully be mollified when our heroes are cut down to size. I picked here one example of why I love Leiber prose:
"Through the Mazy avenues and alleys of the great city of Lankhmar, Night was a-slink, though not yet grown tall enough to whirl her black star-studded cloak across the sky, which still showed pale, towering wraiths of sunset."
"The Lords of Quarmall" is a satifying long and moody piece, building a memorable underground setting, rich in magic and mystery. Leiber uses here mirrorred parallel stories, coming together in a rousing finale. The damsel in distress archetype, yearning for a well muscled shoulder to lean on, is back in force, our duo as usual succumbing joyfully to temptation.
After four books, the sword and sorcery offer from Fritz Leiber is still fresh and guiding me to pick the next book soon.
"In the Witch's Tent" is quite short, and serves as a prologue to the long novella that follows. It does a good job of reaquainting the reader with the laidback and amoral duo of lovable scoundrels - the redheaded giant barbarian Fafhrd, and the sprightly, grey clad Mouser.
"Stardock" is one of my favorites stories so far from Leiber. The colourful prose turns lyrical as Fafhrd describes the mountains of the Cold Waste of Nehwon - majestic land of his childhood exploits, a stepladder to the sky used by the ancient gods to throw up the hand of jewels that would become the stars. Our heroes quest to recover some of the gods beauty takes them climbing the mosst dangerous icy slopes of the mountains where they have to face not only hostile weather, avalanches, bandits and fatigue, but also mysterious magical creatures of light and wind. Even when hanging by the tip of their fingers, the duo keeps up the playful banter and soon a couple of lovely maidens will show up and will probably have the feminists readers up in arms.
"The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar" is another funshort piece, a bridge to the last and longest novella in this collection. Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser are back in their usual haunts, and the feminists will hopefully be mollified when our heroes are cut down to size. I picked here one example of why I love Leiber prose:
"Through the Mazy avenues and alleys of the great city of Lankhmar, Night was a-slink, though not yet grown tall enough to whirl her black star-studded cloak across the sky, which still showed pale, towering wraiths of sunset."
"The Lords of Quarmall" is a satifying long and moody piece, building a memorable underground setting, rich in magic and mystery. Leiber uses here mirrorred parallel stories, coming together in a rousing finale. The damsel in distress archetype, yearning for a well muscled shoulder to lean on, is back in force, our duo as usual succumbing joyfully to temptation.
After four books, the sword and sorcery offer from Fritz Leiber is still fresh and guiding me to pick the next book soon.
December 9, 2019
The first story of this collection did not overly grab me, being set far away from the main attraction of the city of Lankhmar, to a comparatively unremarkable mountain range. After that it's back to the wretched hive of old, for a short and sneaky tale about outwitting and being outwitted - not one of the best, lacking a good climax. The third was a little confusing to follow, but memorable enough once I got the hang of it, and featured some great shenanigans with the lead characters being completely unaware of one another... ending hilariously when they finally do learn of this. It was my favourite.
December 24, 2015
I rated this one in the inclusive volume, Swords' Masters.
February 16, 2009
Fritz Leiber invented the term "sword and sorcery", and he was the finest author the genre has ever had. In fact he was, in my opinion, the finest author of fantasy period. I rank him above Tolkien, Howard and Moorcock, never mind Martin or Jordan. I've read him described as a "master prose stylist", and the description is apt indeed. Fritz Leiber was, simply, a terrific, extremely talented writer with a true love of language and a prodigious, playful, incredibly unique style. The odd, absurd, weird, and terrifying, he was a maestro of storytelling, a humorist, and a weaver of weird tales and action-packed adventures. He was the best, period, and anyone with any interest at all in fantasy who neglects Leiber is cheating himself.
June 27, 2018
Short stories written between 1964 and 1968 for the magazines Fantastic and Fantastic Stories of Imaginations, it reads like a novel . In this tale Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser go off for some treasures in the snowy mountains of Fafrd's homeland. One of the original and greatest duos in literary history.
November 5, 2016
The short "In the Witch's Tent" is great... and so is the long "The Lords of Quarmall"! "Stardock", the other long-format offering in this volume tends to move very slowly, following our heroic duo as they scale the titular mountain peak Stardock. "The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar" is a fun ride.
August 28, 2012
Probably my second favorite of all the Lankhmar collections, right after Swords Against Death. Not a bad one in the bunch -- I just prefer those in Swords Against Death by a little.
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October 27, 2015I'm pretty sure "Stardock" is my favorite Fafhrd & Gray Mouser story. --MK
April 20, 2017
"Stardock" is fairly impressive, and the other three stories are worth reading as well.
March 13, 2018
Vast improvement over volume 3. This and volume 2 are my favorites so far.
December 5, 2023
This is the best Fritz Leiber I have read since “Swords and Deviltry”! As I look at the publishing dates, it may be that Leiber was still a bit green at his craft in the previous books, as the prequel and “Swords Against Wizardry” were written in the same year.
We follow our heroes as they climb a great mountain Stardock; the mountain that Fafrd’s father died trying to scale. Of course, they run in to magical foes, wanton ladies, and high adventure on the snowy peaks.
The second set of stories follows the team into the dark caverns of Quarmall. Here we meet a new culture from the lands of Lankmar, with a father and set of brothers lording over their kingdom of magic and slaves.
The plot moves along well, and while I have often gotten bogged down with these novels and struggled to get through them, this one kept me intrigued and I was able to pound it out in just a week.
This was a lot of fun, and got me excited to keep going with this series!
We follow our heroes as they climb a great mountain Stardock; the mountain that Fafrd’s father died trying to scale. Of course, they run in to magical foes, wanton ladies, and high adventure on the snowy peaks.
The second set of stories follows the team into the dark caverns of Quarmall. Here we meet a new culture from the lands of Lankmar, with a father and set of brothers lording over their kingdom of magic and slaves.
The plot moves along well, and while I have often gotten bogged down with these novels and struggled to get through them, this one kept me intrigued and I was able to pound it out in just a week.
This was a lot of fun, and got me excited to keep going with this series!
January 21, 2023
Probably my favorite Fafhrd and Gray Mouser collection to date. Two novellas: "Stardock" and "The Lords Of Quarmall." Each novella is preceded by short humorous stories that set the stage for the longer the stories to follow. Both novellas are excellent, but my favorite is "The Lords Of Quarmall," which is often bat-shit crazy. Being longer, it allows for Leiber's imagination to take off. Two sorcerer - prince brothers who hate each other, living in an underground kingdom divided in two areas (Upper & Lower). Each has hired a mercenary champion (Fafhrd and Gray Mouser, natch). Neither of our favorite anti-heroes know of the other's presence. Funny, gross, horny, bloody, it's all Pulp. Highly recommended.
December 14, 2023
Cuarto volumen de esta saga de aventuras, en este libro se presentan dos historias principales y he de decir que la primera de ellas, el ascenso a Stardock me sorprendió mucho, básicamente es la narración de una escalada, pero tuvo tan atento como Andy Weir contando como un tío cultivaba patatas, cuando algo está bien narrado, da igual lo que te interese el tema, siempre resulta interesante. La segunda historia es también muy curiosa, presentándonos un reino contenido en unas torres subterráneas en su mayor parte, y las luchas intestinas de los herederos del señor (eso es menos novedoso). Un libro entretenido como todos los de esta saga que he leído.
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August 31, 2024Heroic analogs for Leiber and his goy best friend wander around a magical New York, drink heavily, make poor romantic decisions. Would it shock anyone to discover these were inspiration for City Dreaming?
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