Coolest weapon from literature?

[Sulimo]

Grond

 

[WattsHumphrey]

I may be a little odd in my opinions, but the coolest weapon in my opinion has to be the stiehl from The Druid of Shannara.

 

[ajanders]

Favorite Sword

Durendal, from Le Chanson de Roland.
The sword which cannot be broken.

I also seem to remember a book or series of books with a matched set of short swords named Leo and Aquila. but I do not remember the name of the book(s)
Does anyone else?

 

[derverdammte]

Long live Tarma and Kethry!

I love Mercedes Lackey, and the Oathbound and The Oathbreakers were the first two really "serious" fantasy books I every read. I'm glad to see someone else reads her books.

And yes, in the later books in the series, when Need "awoke" she was one of the most interesting characters in the series.

Funny, when you mentioned a sword named "Need," the first thing I thought of was Sigfried's song from the opera "Sigfried" -- "Notung!" And what did Sigmund say about it? "Neidliches Schwert"? Forgive me, my German is nonexistent. I'm pretty sure that was "Sword of Need," though.

 

[derverdammte]

Re: Favorite Sword

Durendal, from Le Chanson de Roland.
The sword which cannot be broken.

In Moorcock's Eternal Champion stories, wasn't Durendal just another aspect of the Black Sword, just as Roland was another incarnation of the Champion? I definitely remember Oliphaunt being the Grail, in any case.

 

[BluWolf]

Wasn't it actually named Needful?

 

[mseds99]

I vote for Cuchulain's weapon, the Gae Bolga. I know that's spelled wrong.

 

[Tsyr]

Tsyr, Did you mean Ice from The Song of Ice and Fire books? Was it even magic or just a really well crafted sword? I am not sure.

I guess my bet would be on Stormbringer.

It's a toss up, I guess. I've always figured it was probably a +1 sword or therabouts, but it could just be masterwork. But, then, I didn't say it had to be magical, just named. I was just using magic weapons as examples.

 

[Squire James]

I should also point out Changeling from C.J. Cherryh's Morgaine series. Literally a Sphere of Annhilation in the form of a sword, wielded by someone who knew what she was doing. Even Elric with Stormbringer would have cause to fear her!

 

[2WS-Steve]

The Holy Hand Grenade?