Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar: Whats your favorite story?

[PaulKemp]

I love Fafhrd & The Grey Mouser.

I think my fave story would have to be "Lean Times in Lankhmar" -- it's all about the Second Coming of Issek of the Jug!

But I love most of those stories; the later ones (Rime Isle, etc.) don't do much for me, but the first six collections are grand.

So let's grab a jug at The Silver Eel!

Seconded. I thought Lean Times (which is more novella than short story) the best of the bunch. And funny as the Nine Hells.

The Eel it is!

 

[LizardWizard]

I don't remember the story names so I'll refer to the contents:
-Fafhrd becoming a devotee of Issek. I've never laughed so much in my life.
-Fafhrd's and Mouser's journey to Simorgia. Very creepy and Lovecraftian.
-The infestation of furtive birds stealing valuables from the Lankhmarian nobility. A very simple but completely unexpected plot.
-The Grey Mouser's descent into the catacombs of Lankhmar and the world of rats. A good fantasy archetype done in Leiber's usual ironic manner.

 

[jester47]

I don't remember the story names so I'll refer to the contents:
-Fafhrd becoming a devotee of Issek. I've never laughed so much in my life.

Lean Times

-Fafhrd's and Mouser's journey to Simorgia. Very creepy and Lovecraftian.

either the bleak shore or the sunken city can't really tell.

-The infestation of furtive birds stealing valuables from the Lankhmarian nobility. A very simple but completely unexpected plot.

Claws from the Night

-The Grey Mouser's descent into the catacombs of Lankhmar and the world of rats. A good fantasy archetype done in Leiber's usual ironic manner.

The Swords of Lankhmar

Aaron

 

[Olive]

I think my fave story would have to be "Lean Times in Lankhmar" -- it's all about the Second Coming of Issek of the Jug!

This is the only Lankhmar story I actually like, and I liked it a lot.

 

[jester47]

I was thinking about what an ideal story arc for a Lankhmar Movie might be and it seemed that the best was to do Ill Met, Thieves House and Swords of Lankhmar as sort of one story (or elements thereof). Lean Times was pretty good.

Aaron.

 

[The Grackle]

What is everyones favorite Lankhmar story?

The Swords of Lankhmar. This book has great villains; the 13 white rats, the sadistic/deluded leader of Lankhmar, The 1/2 rat queen Mouser is trying to put the moves on, and her father the grain merchant. All great.

Also, I love the arrival of the time-traveling, German-speaking zoologist. It's that kind of bizarre randomness that makes Leiber so good.

 

[LizardWizard]

2 jester47:
Thank you for reminding .
I've checked, the story about Simorgia is actually Bleak Shore .

 

[Teflon Billy]

Double post

 

[Teflon Billy]

Which one is it where they attack the Thieves Guild disguised as beggars?

I liked that one.

The later ones were kind of crappy...I recall one where Mouser was Buried alive, but could still breathe and kind of move around (strangley). It didn't make a lot of sense, and kind of dwelt on the notion of someone taking being able to move for granted :\

I think it might have been that same story where they were trying to help a girl who was a sexual plaything aboard a ship accomplish some goal.

Even that was better than the short story I read in a Lieber collection that just seemed to involve the two of them sailing around the ocean and bullshitting about the nature of the world.

 

[jester47]

Which one is it where they attack the Thieves Guild disguised as beggars?

I liked that one.

Thats either Ill Met or Thieves House.

The later ones were kind of crappy...I recall one where Mouser was Buried alive, but could still breathe and kind of move around (strangley). It didn't make a lot of sense, and kind of dwelt on the notion of someone taking being able to move for granted :\

I think it might have been that same story where they were trying to help a girl who was a sexual plaything aboard a ship accomplish some goal.

Have not read that one. I think it is in Knight and Knave of Swords.

Even that was better than the short story I read in a Lieber collection that just seemed to involve the two of them sailing around the ocean and bullshitting about the nature of the world.

Sounds like the Ocean of stars- One of my NOT favorites.
I would suggest reading some more of them. The ones suggested here are pretty darned good.

Aaron.