Where to start with Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar?
- Thread starter CrusaderX
- Start date
BadMojo
First Post
The Dark Horse collections are an excellent place to start. Very nice reprints and probably alot easier to find than the originals in decent condition.
"Swords & Deviltry" introduces you more to the characters than Newhon itself, but it's still cool and often funny stuff. "Ill met in Lanhkmar" is a classic though.
"Swords & Deviltry" introduces you more to the characters than Newhon itself, but it's still cool and often funny stuff. "Ill met in Lanhkmar" is a classic though.
Mouseferatu
Hero
And now that you know where to start, let me tell you where to end.
You do not want to read "The Mouser Goes Below," the last F&GM story Lieber ever wrote (to my knowledge). I don't know what happened to him as he got older, but the final story is dreck on a truly monumental scale. It's literally nothing but an excuse for the character to travel around the world, spying on all the various women he and Fafhrd have slept with, and watch as they have sex (usually lesbian sex) with other people.
It's not explicit enough to serve as true porn, if that's what you're looking for, but it's far too focused on the sex (and pretty much boring as all get-out) to serve as much of anything else.
You do not want to read "The Mouser Goes Below," the last F&GM story Lieber ever wrote (to my knowledge). I don't know what happened to him as he got older, but the final story is dreck on a truly monumental scale. It's literally nothing but an excuse for the character to travel around the world, spying on all the various women he and Fafhrd have slept with, and watch as they have sex (usually lesbian sex) with other people.
It's not explicit enough to serve as true porn, if that's what you're looking for, but it's far too focused on the sex (and pretty much boring as all get-out) to serve as much of anything else.
nikolai
First Post
Don't worry about having to start anywhere - S&S were written without any deliberate internal chronology for pulps and meant to be read out of order.
I'd start with "Swords Against Death". This is the second book in the series in terms of internal chronology. But it contains the best stories in the whole series (which are also the best S&S every written) and also the stories which were written first. The stories in Swords & Deviltry - the 'first' book - were written 30 years later and are very different.
The First Book of Lankhmar collects the first four books (Deviltry/Death/Mist/Wizardry) and is probably a cheaper way to get more story per buck.
Mouseferatu is spot on about the later stories being crap. Avoid books 6&7 until you've read the good stuff.
I'd start with "Swords Against Death". This is the second book in the series in terms of internal chronology. But it contains the best stories in the whole series (which are also the best S&S every written) and also the stories which were written first. The stories in Swords & Deviltry - the 'first' book - were written 30 years later and are very different.
The First Book of Lankhmar collects the first four books (Deviltry/Death/Mist/Wizardry) and is probably a cheaper way to get more story per buck.
Mouseferatu is spot on about the later stories being crap. Avoid books 6&7 until you've read the good stuff.
Wombat
First Post
I pretty much stick with the first five collections -- they are whopping great silly fun! Fafhrd, the Mouser, Ninguable, Sheelba & Co. are just so wondrously weird. The last two collections, sadly, fail to live up to the standards of the others.
I have a strange love for The Lords of Quarmal (found in the fourth collection -- Swords Against Wizardry) -- infighting underground, with lots of weird tunnels, a subterranean society, and bizarre mushrooms.
Great inspiration for many a cave-crawl!
I have a strange love for The Lords of Quarmal (found in the fourth collection -- Swords Against Wizardry) -- infighting underground, with lots of weird tunnels, a subterranean society, and bizarre mushrooms.
Great inspiration for many a cave-crawl!Olgar Shiverstone
Legend
Just dive in. There is a chronology (sort of) that begins with "Ill Met in Lankhmar" (which did win both Hugo and Nebula awards)... but you won't really miss anything if you don't read it first. I personally found "Swords Against Death" to be my favorite collection.
In some collection I've read an essay where Leiber lists his favorite F&GM stories, but I can 't seem to find it.
In some collection I've read an essay where Leiber lists his favorite F&GM stories, but I can 't seem to find it.
AFGNCAAP
First Post
I'd follow a lot of the advice here. Personally, I went the chronological route, and I was disappointed with parts of Swords and Ice Magic and all of The Knight and Knave of Swords.
The comics are something I've never read yet am still endeavoring to obtain a copy of the TPB. I'm really intertested in seeing Mignola's depictions of the Twain & the world of Nehwon.
Now, I did enjoy Swords Against the Shadowlands (by another author, whose name escapes me for the moment), but then again, I was starving for more tales of the Twain after completing the original series. I thought it more or less kept with the spirit of the stories, esp. how things easily got out of the reach/control of the heroes at certain times.
The comics are something I've never read yet am still endeavoring to obtain a copy of the TPB. I'm really intertested in seeing Mignola's depictions of the Twain & the world of Nehwon.
Now, I did enjoy Swords Against the Shadowlands (by another author, whose name escapes me for the moment), but then again, I was starving for more tales of the Twain after completing the original series. I thought it more or less kept with the spirit of the stories, esp. how things easily got out of the reach/control of the heroes at certain times.
Chaldfont
First Post
Mouseferatu said:
I totally agree with this. I was reading this and a co-worker saw it and said, "Wow! A new Fafhrd and Grey Mouser book! Can I borrow it when you are done?". I told him sure, but that Lieber must have grown into a dirty old man at some point, because the sex was gratuitous and didn't really add anything to the story.
I mean, chasing girls and your next jug of wine is what those stories are all about. But this one's just too much.
I can recommend Mignola's graphic novel. The art is classic Mignola (pre-Hellboy even) which is perfect for these stories. The writing really didn't do it for me, though. And their choice of stories was about 50/50. On one hand, they picked some of my most favorite stories, but some of the others seemed kind of like filler.
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Remus Lupin
Adventurer
My favorite story of all is the full-length novella that he wrote, "Swords of Lankhmar." You get some interesting rat-based encounters, some VERY funny dialogue. You get interesting romantic foils for the guys (including a transparent Newhon Goul, though for my money, Frix is far more intriguing!). It also has a sustained long-range plot, which is different from a lot of his shorter works, which often have little to no plot whatsoever.
Yes, the later stuff is dreck. I have the entire White Wolf series that came out a few years ago, and I think they're great, but I'm in no rush to get to that last volume.
Swords Against the Shadowland was ok, but it wasn't Leiber. And Mignola's GN is great, I was so excited to see it reissued this past year.
Yes, the later stuff is dreck. I have the entire White Wolf series that came out a few years ago, and I think they're great, but I'm in no rush to get to that last volume.
Swords Against the Shadowland was ok, but it wasn't Leiber. And Mignola's GN is great, I was so excited to see it reissued this past year.
