Swords and Deviltry

Rating:
Summary: Quite Good.
Review: I enjoy many types fantasy/sci-fi and must say Leiber's series is a refreshing change from sprawling fantasy epics. Alas, that he is not as well known as he seemed to be 25 years ago. Fafhrd and Mouser are an original fantasy duo.

The next book, "Swords Against Death" is my favorite and I found it better to read that one before "Swords & Deviltry." Each book collects multiple stories and places them in storyline order rather than in the order they were written.

Cheers.

Rating:
Summary: Quite Good.
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book In Any Genré
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Swords and Deviltry
Review: It's a keeper, and a winner, and a sure-fire treat!

Swords and Deviltry is the multi-faceted introduction to that fantasy duo you've heard so much about: Fafrhd and the Gray Mouser. I say "multi-facted" because author Leiber appeals to several emotions in the reader, through the use of humour and wit, swashbuckling action more than capably described whenever a sword slides free of a scabbard or deep into pink flesh, horrific magic (often of the creeping-tendril variety--be it snow tendrils, or dark-magic nooses and lassos, clutching at our heroes), sexual delight somehow sneaked in between dangerous encounters (both Fafrhd and the Mouser seem to realize that you have your fun when you can, since, in the life of a thieving adventurer, tomorrow may suddenly not be another day!), and finally, bitter tragedy that affects the destiny of our staunch duo right from the very beginning.

The portion of this chronicle called 'Ill Met in Lankhmar' is easily the most memorable, and the most affecting. The city itself is spotlighted in all its unpredictableness, introducing Fafrhd and the Gray Mouser to each other in the midst of--what else?--a fight in the streets. Of course. Once they have dealt with mutual enemies, and decided they enjoy each other's company far too much to either kill each other or go their separate ways, our heroes seem to bond in a curiously unspoken fashion. It's a terrific first meeting, especially when the two lads' respective lovers--Vlana and Ivrian--make it a foursome, back at the Mouser's ostentatious pad. A foursome doing some squabbling, since Fafrhd wants to break his oath to Vlana concerning taking some revenge on high-ranking members of Lankhmar's own shady Thieves' Guild, while the Gray Mouser is busy promising the ladies, quite brashly, that it shall be done. The rest is history, and demonstrates the treachery of Lankhmar itself, as it teaches that drunken pleasure causing overconfidence in a hastily worked plan of subterfuge may produce disastrous results.

Backing up slightly, I must say that the portions of the book previous to the fireworks of 'Ill Met In Lankhmar'--called 'The Snow Women' and 'The Unholy Grail'--contain their own charm, as we see snatches of the lives of Fafrhd and Mouse (soon to prefer the Gray Mouser for a name, thank you) before they met...the lives they are quick to leave behind. Fafrhd is at odds with his own mother, a snow witch of Cold Corner, and others of her menacing coven, and makes still more enemies at home, until one could say he is forced to leave on the fly (it's alright with him; he always wanted to leave Cold Corner anyhow, and meet more civilized people). Meanwhile, in 'The Unholy Grail', Mouse ties up his own loose ends, at times pursuer, or then the pursued, of an evil Duke who has killed Mouse's wizardly mentor. It's a wilderness showdown that sees Mouse strapped to a torture-rack when all is said and done--in sorry trouble unless he's got one final trick up his sleeve.

Swords and Deviltry is robust fantasy, colourfully told, and highly rewarding if you enjoy two thieves as heroes. Magic, swordplay, desperate chases, ambushes, betrayal and retribution, sex, friendship, and the lure of Lankhmar's shadowy alleys of adventure, all meld together seamlessly. Fafrhd and the Gray Mouser cannot ever seem to really want to leave Lankhmar, and the reader may not wish to for a long while either.

Rating:
Summary: Most Underappreciated Fantasy Author
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: How Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser met
Review: Swords & Deviltry is the first of a series books chronicling the adventures of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. It is not a novel, but rather three connected stories. The first 'The Snow Women' tells of what prompts Fafhrd to leave the cold northern wastes and seek a different life in civilization. 'The Unholy Grail' tells of the first adventures of the Grey Mouser and the origins of his name. A Nebula was awarded to the third story 'Ill met in Lankhmar' and recounts the first meeting between the two heroes. While the first two stories are good, it is only when our heroes meet that the magic really begins. Leiber is an excellent writer and the Swords series is amongst the best of the genre.

Rating:
Summary: A true Classic
Review: The first book in one of the most influential series of all time is also a heck of a read. The first two stories are good, but it's the classic, award winning novella, "Ill met in Lankhmar" that makes this book a must read.

Rating:
Summary: True fantasy buffs--welcome to Newhon!
Review: 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.)

Rating:
Summary: True fantasy buffs--welcome to Newhon!
Review: 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.)