Farewell to Lankhmar

Rating:
Summary: A Satisfying Conclusion To The Series
Review: As the stories contained within this last book of the tales of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser all revolve around Rime Island, they follow a much more linear and chronological order than the earlier three volumes, and are sequentially tied to the last two stories that concluded the previous "Lean Times in Lankhmar." In some ways more tightly written and plotted than some of the earlier tales, I found "Farewell" a satisfying conclusion to the "twain's" adventures, despite having grown somewhat weary of Leiber's over-worked writing style. While I agree with an earlier commentator that the tales here lack some of the roving action and fanciful--some might say farfetched--episodes contained within earlier tales, I was not entirely disappointed by their absence. Nor did I detect the melancholia noted by another; only a recognition of aging on the part of the heroes that added a new and realistic dimension to their characters--afterall, all good things must come to and end.

I did find the sexual episodes in "The Mouser Goes Below" somewhat off-putting and indulgent, with their soft porn appeal to masochism and sadism, and felt they were largely irrelevant and distracting to the plot. But as the "boys" sexual prowess and escapades have always been indulged within the tales, I imagine they will retain continued appeal for fans of the series, regardless of their juvenile and chauvinistic pandering.

Rating:
Summary: A Satisfying Conclusion To The Series
Review: As the stories contained within this last book of the tales of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser all revolve around Rime Island, they follow a much more linear and chronological order than the earlier three volumes, and are sequentially tied to the last two stories that concluded the previous "Lean Times in Lankhmar." In some ways more tightly written and plotted than some of the earlier tales, I found "Farewell" a satisfying conclusion to the "twain's" adventures, despite having grown somewhat weary of Leiber's over-worked writing style. While I agree with an earlier commentator that the tales here lack some of the roving action and fanciful--some might say farfetched--episodes contained within earlier tales, I was not entirely disappointed by their absence. Nor did I detect the melancholia noted by another; only a recognition of aging on the part of the heroes that added a new and realistic dimension to their characters--afterall, all good things must come to and end.

I did find the sexual episodes in "The Mouser Goes Below" somewhat off-putting and indulgent, with their soft porn appeal to masochism and sadism, and felt they were largely irrelevant and distracting to the plot. But as the "boys" sexual prowess and escapades have always been indulged within the tales, I imagine they will retain continued appeal for fans of the series, regardless of their juvenile and chauvinistic pandering.

Rating:
Summary: Still Alive and Well
Review: No one could write 'em like Fritz. He invented the term 'sword and sorcery' to describe these two fine heroes, who have become the archetype and prototype of all sword-slinging heroes. A little frayed and beginning to go gray, our adventurers are lured to cold Rime Isle by the promise of adventure fit for a hero, and women to match. But across their future falls a cold shadow, and even heroes age and die. As an evil villain, I find these books irresistable. The delicious evil girls, tempting and dangerous! Hisvet creeps me out but oh, that Frix! I tried to date her but she turned me down flat. What, you haven't READ this? Don't let your kids read it...bad influence...they might turn out like me.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful end to the series
Review: This was the first Fritz Leiber book that I ever read, and titled as THE KNIGHT AND KNAVE OF SWORDS. C.J. Cherryh points out in an Interzone interview, that F.L. had a wonderful talent for delivering the contents of his stories with such a sophisticated, slickness that you didn't know it was coming till it happened. One of the better examples of this quality is in the story, THE MOUSER GOES BELOW. There is a section where The Mouser is privy to a pain and pleasure scene between the rat-queen, Hisvet, and her two maids, threesie and foursie. At the climax to this, The Mouser, being highly stimulated by the action is accosted by Death's sister, Pain, who relieves him drop, by excruciating drop. It's the way that the Pain character is reintroduced from earlier, and then used within a switch of related contexts. The former being comically erotic, the latter, a piece of pure horror. Sequences such as this, clearly demonstrate why F.L. was such a highly awarded writer, as is detailed in the dust jacket.

My only gripe with this publication is the omission of the last few pages that ended THE CURSE OF THE SMALLS AND THE STARS in THE KNIGHT AND KNAVE OF SWORDS version, which I was familiar with. I think it would have been more complete with that addition, as it completes the story more agreeably, instead of leaving it slightly hanging.

Rating:
Summary: Not a magical ending alas
Review: What is wrong with this book, which pales against the superb vibrant, middle of the series titles Swords Against Death, Swords in a Mist, and The Swords of Lankhmar, all towering classics of fantasy? Firstly there is little sophistication,mystery or magic here, Leibers style has deteriorated sharply into dull, long winded self mockery in his advancing years. Secondly Rime isle is a sadly boring, mundane place quite unfitted for our two oh so worldy wise heroes to end their days. Thirdly those self-same heroes themselves have deteriorated into middle age tedium, most alarmingly, rather like their creator appears to have done. If you dont mind all that, then buy the book.