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Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser #3-4
Lean Times in Lankhmar
Back to back they stand, eyeing their foes over the gleam of sharpened steel ... They are the two greatest heroes ever to walk the world of Fafhrd, the giant barbarian warrior from the Cold Waste; and the Gray Mouser, novice wizard, master thief and unparalleled swordsman. From the moment of their fateful meeting, the legendary duo have adventured and misadventured across Nehwon, from the caves of the inner earth to the waves of the outer sea -- but most of all through the alleys and catacombs of fog-shrouded Lankhmar, greatest of Nehwon’s cities. Their lives are chronicled in four books, of which this is the second.
Mass Market Paperback
First published December 12, 1991
About the author
Fritz Leiber
1,351 books1,073 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 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 15, 2020
These Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories are all *very* amusing, and this even more than most, with quite a few scenes that had me chuckling out loud. Leiber goes to great lengths to poke some large, gaping holes in organized (or barely organized as the case may be) religion, and pits Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser against each other with some great antics.
May 31, 2018
And so on to the next collected edition - now at this point I want say something that I find rather endearing about this series. As I said before you have the various adventures collected in what is now called the Swords series - however even though you have here the omnibus edition (as the Goodreads title shows, books 3 & 4) they are treated like separate books with the individual books getting their own contents pages detailing the various stories within. So rather than this being a modern edition - where at times you can have the revisions and imperfections corrected removing some of the quirks and idiosyncrasies which to me add to the character of the book (unless of course you find those editions where whole chapters have been missed out). Instead you have here a book which gives you all the same fun of discovery if you had the original publications.
Anyway on to the book itself.
If Ill met... set the scene - introduced to characters and set them on their path of adventures then Lean times... charts their heroic deeds (and yes mis-deeds) as they go from one adventure to other, remembering that the aim was to create characters which appealed to everyman (or woman - although remembering the times these books were written you do feel the undercurrents of a less that inclusive environment).
So now as I read these books (okay short stories) I can see the start of the sword and sorcery genre that many author attribute to the adventures of Fafhrd & the Grey Mouser.
Anyway on to the book itself.
If Ill met... set the scene - introduced to characters and set them on their path of adventures then Lean times... charts their heroic deeds (and yes mis-deeds) as they go from one adventure to other, remembering that the aim was to create characters which appealed to everyman (or woman - although remembering the times these books were written you do feel the undercurrents of a less that inclusive environment).
So now as I read these books (okay short stories) I can see the start of the sword and sorcery genre that many author attribute to the adventures of Fafhrd & the Grey Mouser.
December 6, 2007
A collection of short stories about a pair of fantasy adventurers, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Fafhrd is a looming barbarian of the far north; the Gray Mouser is a nimble thief of the south. The two contend with forces mundane and magical in their various wanderings, surviving by their wits and ready steel.
Fun stuff. Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are neat characters because, as far as fantasy heroes go, they're fairly despicable. They sometimes accidentally do good, but mostly they bang magical chicks, banter, steal stuff, and stab things to death. I can really relate to this.
In one of the stories, Fafhrd is enticed up some underwater stairs by one of the sea-king's adulterous wives, and he's ambushed by an octopus. With eight swords.
Genius.
It was hard to find a sample quote, because Leiber is pretty verbose, but this is a pretty good indicator of his style:
"Hasjarl took a backward step and stared horror-enchanted at his approaching nemesis, all motherly-cannibalistic above, all elfin-maidenly below, with his father's eyes to daunt him and with the cruel knife to suggest judgment upon himself for the girls he had lustingly done to death or lifelong crippledness."
Fun stuff. Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are neat characters because, as far as fantasy heroes go, they're fairly despicable. They sometimes accidentally do good, but mostly they bang magical chicks, banter, steal stuff, and stab things to death. I can really relate to this.
In one of the stories, Fafhrd is enticed up some underwater stairs by one of the sea-king's adulterous wives, and he's ambushed by an octopus. With eight swords.
Genius.
It was hard to find a sample quote, because Leiber is pretty verbose, but this is a pretty good indicator of his style:
"Hasjarl took a backward step and stared horror-enchanted at his approaching nemesis, all motherly-cannibalistic above, all elfin-maidenly below, with his father's eyes to daunt him and with the cruel knife to suggest judgment upon himself for the girls he had lustingly done to death or lifelong crippledness."
January 29, 2023
Even better than the first one. Exciting, funny, unique and more interesting than most modern fantasy. Favorite story is Stardock, with Adept's Gambit and The Lords of Quarmall close seconds.
May 25, 2022
I have met Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser in previous adventures. This was new to me though and a true pleasure. Your typical ax swinging northern barbarian clad in furs meets your typical medieval city rogue thrusting with a narrow sword and a dagger. How could that ever work? But it does, most of the time. We are usually in Erehwon but not always in Lankhmar – that tumultuous city. We travel on the Inner and Outer Sea to the far North, the East; climbing high towers and higher mountains, wandering below ground through the sub-levels of Quarmall and the caverns of Ningauble of the Seven Eyes. A wrong turn there and suddenly our heroes are on Earth – our Earth, in Lebanon, some time BCE.
Mr Leiber presents both short-stories and novellas in this small print 400+ pages. Some of these stories are related, some very peripherally related, some mention characters that appear only much later, some are not related at all, except that evil deeds are always afoot, magic is bubbling, violence immanent and a sharp blade, strength and quickness necessary if you are to survive.
This volume is divided into two books:
Swords in the Mist (Book 3 in the Swords Series) contains:
The Cloud of Hate a short-story in Lankhmar in winter.
Lean Times in Lankhmar a somewhat longer tale where the friends go their separate ways; Mouser becomes an extortionists enforcer and Fafhrd becomes an acolyte of the lesser god: Issek of the Jug...
Their Mistress, the Sea and When the Sea-King's Away in which Fafhrd and Mouser meet two sea nymphs and anger the god of the sea, to their peril.
The Wrong Branch in which the heroes come to earth, setting up:
Adept's Gambit a novella detailing the adventures the heroes encounter in helping Ningauble fulfill a prophecy.
Swords Against Wizardry (Book 4 in the Swords Series)
In the Witch's Tent a short story setting up
Stardock a novella in which Fafhrd returns to his homeland in the frozen north, dragging the Mouser with him. My favorite story in the collection. Amazing rigors met and overcome.
The Two best Thieves in Lankhmar are not who you would expect.
The Lords of Quarmall another novella and rather claustrophobic in the underground realm of Quarmall.
Swords and Deviltry is the first book of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser (Book 1 in the Swords Series). - Ill met in Lankhmar is the final story in this volume and tells of how Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser meet. A prequel as Mr Leiber had already been telling tales of the dynamic duo for many years.
Swords Against Death (Book two in the Swords Series)
Sitting in a street in Lankhmar, and freezing:
"'We are not dukes because we're no man's man,' Fafhrd replied smugly, settling his shoulders against the stone horse-trough. 'Even a duke must butter up a king, and demigods the gods. We butter no one. We go our own way, choosing our own adventures – and our own follies! Better freedom and a chilly road than a warm hearth and servitude.'
'There speaks the hound turned out by his last master and not yet found new boots to slaver on,' the Mouser retorted with comradely sardonic impudence..." p. 12
Coins in Lankhmar:
"...he averred that every tik collected, every bronze agol, every silver smerduk, every gold rilk, yes every diamond-in-amber gulditch!..." p. 35
A wrong turn in the caverns of Ningauble of the Seven Eyes and suddenly our heroes are on Earth!
"It took a week, and also encounter with a peaceful caravan of silk-and-spice merchants, before they realized that they were speaking to each other not in Lankhmarese, pidgin Mingol, and Forest Tongue, but in Phoenician, Aramaic, and Greek; and that Fafhrd's childhood memories were of the Cold Waste, but of lands around a sea called Baltic; the Mouser's not of Tovilyis, but Tyre; and that here the greatest city was not Lankhmar, but Alexandria..." p. 107
"'Son of a wizard and a witch,' he said, 'it seems that once again we must fall back upon our last resource.'
The Mouser did not turn his head, but he nodded it once, deliberately.
'The first time we did not come away with our lives, Fafhrd went on.
'The second time we lost our souls to the Other Creatures,' the Mouser chimed in, as if they were singing a dawn chant to Isis.
'And the last time we were snatched away from the bright dream of Lankhmar.'
'He may trick us into drinking the drink, and we not awake for another five hundred years.'
'He may send us to our deaths and we not to be reincarnated for another two thousand,
Fafhrd continued.
'He may show us Pan, or offer us to the Elder Gods, or whisk us beyond the stars, or send us into the underworld of Quarmall,' the Mouse concluded.
There was a pause of several moments.
Then the Gray Mouser whispered, 'Nevertheless, we must visit Ningauble of the Seven Eyes...'" p. 118-119
Ningauble of the Seven Eyes is the prime mover in several adventures. He seems to enjoy pushing our heroes into trouble.
"And Ningauble began to sort in his mind the details of the Mouser's story, treasuring it the more because he knew it was an improvisation, his favorite proverb being, 'He who lies artistically, treads closer to the truth than ever he knows...'" p. 130
The Mouser casts a spell:
"Of a sudden in the dark of his head, he felt contact with another and a larger darkness, a malefic and puissant darkness, of which light itself is only the absence. He shivered. His hair stirred. Cold sweat prickled his face. He almost stuttered midway through the word 'slewerisophnak...'" p. 372
"...burning would have been small pain indeed to what the poor girl must suffer now for her transgression. He rather hoped she had slain herself by knife or poison, thought that would doom her spirit to eternal wandering in the winds between the stars that make them twinkle..." p. 377
"...the door of the storeroom opened wide and there loomed in it an uncouth man who seemed the very embodiment of battle's barbarous horrors. He was so tall his head brushed the lintel, his face was handsome yet stern and searching-eyed; his red-gold hair hung tangledly to his shoulders; his garment was a bronze-studded wolf-skin tunic; longsword and massy short-handled ax swung from his belt..." p. 379 Fafhrd as he appears to one meeting him for the first time.
Good times for the reader if unending trouble and danger for our reluctant heroes. All they really long for are the simple things; plenty of gold and wine and women, and distraction from boredom.
Mr Leiber presents both short-stories and novellas in this small print 400+ pages. Some of these stories are related, some very peripherally related, some mention characters that appear only much later, some are not related at all, except that evil deeds are always afoot, magic is bubbling, violence immanent and a sharp blade, strength and quickness necessary if you are to survive.
This volume is divided into two books:
Swords in the Mist (Book 3 in the Swords Series) contains:
The Cloud of Hate a short-story in Lankhmar in winter.
Lean Times in Lankhmar a somewhat longer tale where the friends go their separate ways; Mouser becomes an extortionists enforcer and Fafhrd becomes an acolyte of the lesser god: Issek of the Jug...
Their Mistress, the Sea and When the Sea-King's Away in which Fafhrd and Mouser meet two sea nymphs and anger the god of the sea, to their peril.
The Wrong Branch in which the heroes come to earth, setting up:
Adept's Gambit a novella detailing the adventures the heroes encounter in helping Ningauble fulfill a prophecy.
Swords Against Wizardry (Book 4 in the Swords Series)
In the Witch's Tent a short story setting up
Stardock a novella in which Fafhrd returns to his homeland in the frozen north, dragging the Mouser with him. My favorite story in the collection. Amazing rigors met and overcome.
The Two best Thieves in Lankhmar are not who you would expect.
The Lords of Quarmall another novella and rather claustrophobic in the underground realm of Quarmall.
Swords and Deviltry is the first book of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser (Book 1 in the Swords Series). - Ill met in Lankhmar is the final story in this volume and tells of how Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser meet. A prequel as Mr Leiber had already been telling tales of the dynamic duo for many years.
Swords Against Death (Book two in the Swords Series)
Sitting in a street in Lankhmar, and freezing:
"'We are not dukes because we're no man's man,' Fafhrd replied smugly, settling his shoulders against the stone horse-trough. 'Even a duke must butter up a king, and demigods the gods. We butter no one. We go our own way, choosing our own adventures – and our own follies! Better freedom and a chilly road than a warm hearth and servitude.'
'There speaks the hound turned out by his last master and not yet found new boots to slaver on,' the Mouser retorted with comradely sardonic impudence..." p. 12
Coins in Lankhmar:
"...he averred that every tik collected, every bronze agol, every silver smerduk, every gold rilk, yes every diamond-in-amber gulditch!..." p. 35
A wrong turn in the caverns of Ningauble of the Seven Eyes and suddenly our heroes are on Earth!
"It took a week, and also encounter with a peaceful caravan of silk-and-spice merchants, before they realized that they were speaking to each other not in Lankhmarese, pidgin Mingol, and Forest Tongue, but in Phoenician, Aramaic, and Greek; and that Fafhrd's childhood memories were of the Cold Waste, but of lands around a sea called Baltic; the Mouser's not of Tovilyis, but Tyre; and that here the greatest city was not Lankhmar, but Alexandria..." p. 107
"'Son of a wizard and a witch,' he said, 'it seems that once again we must fall back upon our last resource.'
The Mouser did not turn his head, but he nodded it once, deliberately.
'The first time we did not come away with our lives, Fafhrd went on.
'The second time we lost our souls to the Other Creatures,' the Mouser chimed in, as if they were singing a dawn chant to Isis.
'And the last time we were snatched away from the bright dream of Lankhmar.'
'He may trick us into drinking the drink, and we not awake for another five hundred years.'
'He may send us to our deaths and we not to be reincarnated for another two thousand,
Fafhrd continued.
'He may show us Pan, or offer us to the Elder Gods, or whisk us beyond the stars, or send us into the underworld of Quarmall,' the Mouse concluded.
There was a pause of several moments.
Then the Gray Mouser whispered, 'Nevertheless, we must visit Ningauble of the Seven Eyes...'" p. 118-119
Ningauble of the Seven Eyes is the prime mover in several adventures. He seems to enjoy pushing our heroes into trouble.
"And Ningauble began to sort in his mind the details of the Mouser's story, treasuring it the more because he knew it was an improvisation, his favorite proverb being, 'He who lies artistically, treads closer to the truth than ever he knows...'" p. 130
The Mouser casts a spell:
"Of a sudden in the dark of his head, he felt contact with another and a larger darkness, a malefic and puissant darkness, of which light itself is only the absence. He shivered. His hair stirred. Cold sweat prickled his face. He almost stuttered midway through the word 'slewerisophnak...'" p. 372
"...burning would have been small pain indeed to what the poor girl must suffer now for her transgression. He rather hoped she had slain herself by knife or poison, thought that would doom her spirit to eternal wandering in the winds between the stars that make them twinkle..." p. 377
"...the door of the storeroom opened wide and there loomed in it an uncouth man who seemed the very embodiment of battle's barbarous horrors. He was so tall his head brushed the lintel, his face was handsome yet stern and searching-eyed; his red-gold hair hung tangledly to his shoulders; his garment was a bronze-studded wolf-skin tunic; longsword and massy short-handled ax swung from his belt..." p. 379 Fafhrd as he appears to one meeting him for the first time.
Good times for the reader if unending trouble and danger for our reluctant heroes. All they really long for are the simple things; plenty of gold and wine and women, and distraction from boredom.
August 1, 2019
The entire story was off kilter by establishing the premise that Fafhrd and Mouser had a falling out, which seems all but impossible to start with in the first place. Throw in the minor deity worship and master extortioners, and you're quite confused even after the story is over.
December 17, 2007
This is much the same as Swords against Death, I really liked the title story, some of the others dragged a little. Still a fun read.
March 30, 2010
Strange, arcane, and mysterious. This adventuresome duo certainly have some strange travels. I like it. =)
October 17, 2020
40 years after "TSR Presents Dieties and Demigods" for "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons", (don't forget the "Advanced"!) I finally read from the source. That D&D book was culled from mythologies from around the world; religions, really, and... Fritz Leiber. He does have a fascinating conception of how humans might become gods, or make others into gods, simultaneously as a fraud, and "deeper" truth. In the end its a bit of an ontological exploration of what is sacred and what is not, which raises it above most fantasy fiction, and sparked the old TSR gang's imaginations. I'm afraid Leiber probably reached his zenith in this one story, I'm probably not going to read more, although I'm glad this is among the two or three stories of his I finally got to. In afraid I'm not going to raise Leiber's own divinity status much in this plane! 😉. Is that a "spoiler"? IDK. He might have been able to stretch this out into a true Tolkien epic, maybe he did and i just haven't come across the later books. But each story is clearly just one rung aimed at stretching out a series and wringing out more $, like the thief Mouser, and that takes away from the magic. The author clearly identifies with the characters, the writing itself, parallels the starting of a "religion", at least a religion as an agnostic might think of a Christ (or Mithras) cult in Ancient Rome. Brilliant idea, yet left me wanting more. Lieber seems to have no pure "transcendence", no end goal. Its a post-modern conception of divinity, where being worshipped as a god bends reality but does nothing more; no real meaning in sight. And so it also leaves a sour aftertaste. As if the author knows his writing isn't going to earn him a decent living, and that fact poisons the writing, at least it did for me. Unlike Terry Pratchet, for whom absurdity is a little more lighthearted, even at its darkest; maybe for Pratchett especially so, when indulging in gallow's humor. Well, it looks like I've run out of semicolons, I'll have to wrap this up! I've put way too much effort into this, typing on a virtual keyboard on a tablet. But, it's my attempt at immortality through the internet, so burn a sacrifice or two for me, see where that gets us! 😊
March 15, 2021
A 1996 omnibus reprint of Fritz Leiber's delightful Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories from the 1960's--specifcally Swords in the Mist and Swords Against Wizardry.
Compared to the previous edition (of Leiber's first two collections in the series) I felt that a few of the stories suffered a little in pacing and clarity--for me those were "Adept's Gambit" and "Stardock". To be sure they are fine stories, but I tended to be more distracted here than in other parts. Another criticism, influenced by a reader in the 2020's looking back at the predictable attitudes toward female characters in heroic fiction circa 1960--but I wouldn't say it ruins the stories. Just know it's there and then strap in for some fun. Still, it would be interesting to compare style and attitudes of these swashbuckling capers with Leiber's contemporary, Ursula K. Leguin, and her folksy, more philosophical Wizard of Earthsea fantasy.
Several of the stories are little more than vignettes, but the atmosphere that Leiber conjured is heady and immersive throughout. What's probably best about these sword and sorcery classics is the comedic quality of our heroes-paragon and their tendency to bumble into and out of danger and glory. Nowhere in the collection is this more apparent than the titular "Lean Times in Lankhmar" a con job gone horribly right and something that I would want to emulate in my own fantasy role-playing games. Also of note was the final story, the novelette/novella length "Lords of Quarmall," seemingly an even darker response to Robert E. Howard's famous "Red Nails," with more decadence, depravity, and horror in an isolated, subterranean lost city, locked in perpetual conflict with itself. It's a not entirely comfortable blend of bizarre dark fantasy, high adventure, and black comedy.
Compared to the previous edition (of Leiber's first two collections in the series) I felt that a few of the stories suffered a little in pacing and clarity--for me those were "Adept's Gambit" and "Stardock". To be sure they are fine stories, but I tended to be more distracted here than in other parts. Another criticism, influenced by a reader in the 2020's looking back at the predictable attitudes toward female characters in heroic fiction circa 1960--but I wouldn't say it ruins the stories. Just know it's there and then strap in for some fun. Still, it would be interesting to compare style and attitudes of these swashbuckling capers with Leiber's contemporary, Ursula K. Leguin, and her folksy, more philosophical Wizard of Earthsea fantasy.
Several of the stories are little more than vignettes, but the atmosphere that Leiber conjured is heady and immersive throughout. What's probably best about these sword and sorcery classics is the comedic quality of our heroes-paragon and their tendency to bumble into and out of danger and glory. Nowhere in the collection is this more apparent than the titular "Lean Times in Lankhmar" a con job gone horribly right and something that I would want to emulate in my own fantasy role-playing games. Also of note was the final story, the novelette/novella length "Lords of Quarmall," seemingly an even darker response to Robert E. Howard's famous "Red Nails," with more decadence, depravity, and horror in an isolated, subterranean lost city, locked in perpetual conflict with itself. It's a not entirely comfortable blend of bizarre dark fantasy, high adventure, and black comedy.
June 8, 2017
Great collection of Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories. This book reprints both Swords in the Mist and Swords Against Wizardry. Some of the highlights include "Lean Times in Lankhmar", which is the best story in the book, and features Fafhrd finding religion. The conclusion to the story is very funny. Other great stories include "When the Sea-King's Away", "Stardock", "The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar" and "The Lords of Quarmall".
Not every story is perfect though. "The Adepts Gambit" was actually the first Fafhrd and Gray Mouser story that Leiber wrote, and it shows. It is a bit of slog to get through. The introduction states that H. P. Lovecraft read an early version of the story and suggested edits.
If you enjoy sword and sorcery style fantasy this is a great book to check out.
Not every story is perfect though. "The Adepts Gambit" was actually the first Fafhrd and Gray Mouser story that Leiber wrote, and it shows. It is a bit of slog to get through. The introduction states that H. P. Lovecraft read an early version of the story and suggested edits.
If you enjoy sword and sorcery style fantasy this is a great book to check out.
October 29, 2024
Second book in White Wolf's collection of Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories.
If you're familiar with the duo, then all I can say is this is a decent collection of their stories with cover art by Mike Mignola (creator of Hellboy). Probably out of print by now.
If you aren't, the stories are the adventures of Fafhrd (a tall stocky barbarian) and Gray Mouser (a shorter swordsmen), a duo of friends/True Companions/Battle Brothers in a sword and sorcery world. They may steal treasure from the tombs of elder gods or scale dangerous mountains. Do odd jobs for sorcerer princes or mob bosses.
Like the Conan stories, but a lot more fun.
If you're familiar with the duo, then all I can say is this is a decent collection of their stories with cover art by Mike Mignola (creator of Hellboy). Probably out of print by now.
If you aren't, the stories are the adventures of Fafhrd (a tall stocky barbarian) and Gray Mouser (a shorter swordsmen), a duo of friends/True Companions/Battle Brothers in a sword and sorcery world. They may steal treasure from the tombs of elder gods or scale dangerous mountains. Do odd jobs for sorcerer princes or mob bosses.
Like the Conan stories, but a lot more fun.
May 19, 2019
This is some great Fantasy insanity. Collecting "Swords in the Mist" and "Swords Against Wizardry," Leiber takes Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser through plenty of strange and wonderful adventures, with his usual grim humor and wistful sadness. My favorite story of the bunch is 'Stardock,' which features some really hair-raising, acrophobia inducing mountaineering. I feel like I'm repeating myself a bit here, but Fantasy fans should definitely track down Leiber's books and revel in them.
August 24, 2020
A good read this is really a short story how it got listed as an over 400 page book I don't know
but nevertheless it's very good
starting with the break up of our team
fafhrd and the grey mouser
And it becomes a hilarious chain of events
but nevertheless it's very good
starting with the break up of our team
fafhrd and the grey mouser
And it becomes a hilarious chain of events
August 18, 2018
Tremendous continuation of tales.
September 6, 2024
Excellent; many of the stories collected here are the full five-star complement--Lean Times, Quarmall, Stardock--and Adept's Gambit is interesting. Some of the very finest sword & sorcery.
April 7, 2019
My first Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser story. It’s very much unlike any other sword and sorcery I’ve read so far. Odd sense of humor, a lot of the prose is kind of world-building and scheming, not much action. I had fun with this, particularly because after going through an incredible amount of trouble to rob a holy man of his fortune, the protagonists come up empty handed regardless. Tragicomic.
March 20, 2024
I have a love of these two that goes back to reading the DC Sword of Sorcery Simonson/Chaykin comics as a kid, was overjoyed to find the paperbacks in the library soon after - when you're a kid it's always about discovery.
If any franchise could be a hit on prestige TV this could be the next one. You just need to fit actors that can be sardonic as all hell; no short supply, surely.
If any franchise could be a hit on prestige TV this could be the next one. You just need to fit actors that can be sardonic as all hell; no short supply, surely.
September 4, 2008
This review is for the whole Lankhmar series. What can you say about the guy who coined the phrase "Sword and Sorcery". Besides, Fafhrd and Grey Mouser are two of the most legendary characters in literature.
May 1, 2011
This volume collects books 3 and 4 of the series. Volume 3 is entirely brilliant ("Adept's Gambit" being a work of genius), and volume 4 is something of a mixed-bag, concluding with the highly underwhelming "Lords of Quarmall."
August 13, 2012
If you want to know classic sword and sorcery type fantasy, you have to read Fritz Lieber's works. The tales of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are great romps. Not all of the stories are very exciting, but that's probably common with short story collections.
April 26, 2008
One of the definitive works of Swords and Sorcery. The characters will remain with you forever.
April 29, 2010
Entertaining short stories to fill the breaks. Really enjoying!
October 31, 2011
I've reviewed these separately at FanLit: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/fant...
January 4, 2012
The fact that Mike Mignola did the cover art for this series only illustrates how original and fantastic (pun intended) this series is.
May 1, 2017
Frist published in 1959. Fafhrd and the Mouser go their separate ways for some unknown reason, by the end of the story they are both back together sailing away from Lankhmar. The Gods within the city of Lankhmar will never be the same.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews