Thieves World. Where to start

[Dagger75]

Looking for a new series of books to read. Took the recomendations and read GRR Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series (twice) and thought I would check out Thieves World.

Whats the first book? Anybody have a list of books in the series? Can I still find the books?

Thanks for the help.


PS: GO LIGHTINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stanley Cup Finals tied at 3. Tampa can bring the cup to FLORIDA!!!

 

[Crothian]

First book is called Thieves World. You might be able to find it in a used book store or get the newlt relkeased book called First Blood. First Blood is a rerelease of the first two Thieves World Books (Thieves World and Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn). The books in order are:

Thieves' World (#1)
Edited by Robert Asprin
First published 1979 by Ace Books

Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn (#2)
Edited by Robert Asprin
First published 1980 by Ace Books

Shadows of Sanctuary (#3)
Edited by Robert Asprin
First published 1981 by Ace Books

Storm Season (#4)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin
First published 1982 by Ace Books

The Face of Chaos (#5)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1983 by Ace Books

Wings of Omen (#6)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1984 by Ace Books

The Dead of Winter (#7)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1985 by Ace Books

Soul of the City (#8)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1986 by Ace Books

Blood Ties (#9)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1986 by Ace Books

Aftermath (#10)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1987 by Ace Books

Uneasy Alliances (#11)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1988 by Ace Books

Stealer' Sky (#12)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1989 by Ace Books

 

[Crothian]

Those are the twelve orginal ones. There are also some novels that deal with characters from the book and the setting bty various authers. And finally there are new books coming out just now.

 

[Dagger75]

First book is called Thieves World. You might be able to find it in a used book store or get the newlt relkeased book called First Blood. First Blood is a rerelease of the first two Thieves World Books (Thieves World and Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn). The books in order are:

Thieves' World (#1)
Edited by Robert Asprin
First published 1979 by Ace Books

Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn (#2)
Edited by Robert Asprin
First published 1980 by Ace Books

Shadows of Sanctuary (#3)
Edited by Robert Asprin
First published 1981 by Ace Books

Storm Season (#4)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin
First published 1982 by Ace Books

The Face of Chaos (#5)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1983 by Ace Books

Wings of Omen (#6)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1984 by Ace Books

The Dead of Winter (#7)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1985 by Ace Books

Soul of the City (#8)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1986 by Ace Books

Blood Ties (#9)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1986 by Ace Books

Aftermath (#10)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1987 by Ace Books

Uneasy Alliances (#11)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1988 by Ace Books

Stealer' Sky (#12)
Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
First published 1989 by Ace Books

That was fast and thanks for the nice list.

 

[buzzard]

Actually a wise question ask would likely be 'where to stop?'

The series starts out quite well, and shows a huge amount of promise. Then Janet Morris comes along and introduces powergaming into the shred world. This leads to one-upmanship and it all goes to hell. You'll note that the number of contributing authors goes down as the series progresses. I rather suspect this is because authors became disgusted with the silly competition and gave up.

I read the whole series. I have a weakness that often compels me to do that. At least I used to. In the words of Ramirez "I would spare you that pain."

I'd say go about as far as Shadows of Sanctuary. At the most look for where Adrew Offut stops contributing (his character was my favorite).

buzzard

 

[Crothian]

Offut wrote a few noviels about Shadowspawn (his character). Those novels were pretty good.

What I suggest is just read the stories. If one story doesn't do it for you, skip to the next one. There are some that are just silly and dumb, but even in the later books there are some really good ones.

 

[Mark]

I have to generally agree with what has been said above. Start at the beginning and see how far you go before you decide the series has lost interest for you. I slogged through all of them all but really had a lot of time on my hands back then and simply hoped the series might regain some of its original glory, which it never did.

I was never that big a fan of Shadowspawn, but Offut was pretty good at weaving a story so those novels did hold some interest for me. They were a better read, IMO, than some of the later short story books in the ongoing series.

If you picked up the first half dozen or so in the series at new book prices you would probably not be kicking yourself, but get anything else through used book channels, if at all, I'd suggest.

 

[AFGNCAAP]

A lot of the assessments here on the series are quite accurate: I too slogged through the entire series, hoping that it'd redeem itself. In an odd way, it did--in the very last book.

The whole chain of stories that spawned off the introduction of Tempus Thales (the key offender--it seems that his antics pull the entire setting down with him) are, IMHO, what destroyed the series. Hanse Shadowspawn gets involved with the guy, even--and it winds up messing with him, too. There were a few interesting character ideas in the later books, but overall, the later books deal with the whole political/civil strife in the city, focused around the various factions there (of which Tempus is a key member/player in one).

The first of the new books is pretty good--many of the old characters are dead &/or gone. In fact, it's a sort of "changing of the guard" for the city. The new series may show some promise--I still need to finish reading the most recent book of the new series.

If anything, the book series may be enjoyable the first time through, but may not survive a reread at all.

 

[Magistus71]

The first of the new books is pretty good--many of the old characters are dead &/or gone. In fact, it's a sort of "changing of the guard" for the city. The new series may show some promise--I still need to finish reading the most recent book of the new series.

When did the new Book come out?

 

[jesseghfan]

A lot of the assessments here on the series are quite accurate: I too slogged through the entire series, hoping that it'd redeem itself. In an odd way, it did--in the very last book.

The whole chain of stories that spawned off the introduction of Tempus Thales (the key offender--it seems that his antics pull the entire setting down with him) are, IMHO, what destroyed the series.

I do agree that Tempus did much to contribute to the downfall of the series (along with the witch/vampire chicks (Roxanne and what is her name?)).

On the other hand, I very much enjoyed the non-Thieves World Tempus books. The later stuff about him, where he could be the center of attention (as befits a demi-god), without overshadowing/overpowering those around him, I found rather fun. His exploring his power, curse, relationships with other Beings of Power, his quest for peace in the City outside Time- all very Moorcockian (wow, what a word), without the ultimate feeling of futility and depression Elric creates. In fact, he and Elric are much the same. Deadly to normal folk around them, moving on almost a higher plane of existence, etc. I almost wonder if Tempus was an intended exploration as a Universal Champion who overcomes the negative baggage that goes with the role.

Throw in his thoughts and views on being a champion of mankind and his relationship with his troops/followers, and I would reccommend Morris' later Tempus books more than I would _her_ stuff in Thieves World.