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The First Book of Lankhmar is one of a series of Fritz Leiber's stories, involving Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, which are among the best pulp fantasies ever written. Leiber was an intelligent and gifted writer who, throughout his adult life, used the sensitive barbarian hulk and the "not as clever as he thinks he is" urban rogue as voices for the two sides of himself. Some of the stories here are hilarious farces, others exciting adventures, a couple passionately sad tragedies of disappointment and lost love. Somehow Leiber manages to keep the same consistent tone in these stories, in which he was learning his craft, as those from later in his distinguished career. This omnibus compilation brings together four collections that deal with the earlier stages of the rogues' lives. The title correctly emphasis Lankhmar--the Alexandria-like metropolis where they experience many of their set backs and adventures--because over the years Leiber never took them away from it for very long. Particular highlights here include "Lean Times in Lankhmar", in which they discover the seamier sides of temple protection rackets, and "Ill Met in Lankhmar", in which we learn how they fall foul of the Thieves' Guild. --Roz Kaveney
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Some of the finest heroic fantasy ever written.' SF Chronicle 'One of my very favourite books, by one of my very favourite writers, starring two of the most delightful characters in the history of fantastic fiction.' Neil Gaiman 'Most fantasy writers, if asked, admit that Fritz Leiber is our spiritual father, and for the most part we're sweating to keep up, let alone overtake him.' Raymond E. Feist 'A writer who is, in my opinion, still the greatest of us all.' Michael Moorcock; 'The most literate and important sword and sorcery series.' Mike Ashley
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
OK, the title is hyperbolic but justified. Two things. One, these stories are Sword and Sorcery, more similar to Conan than to Lord of the Rings. Two, they're different from Conan in a number of ways, better in my opinion.
For those who've not heard of them, Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser are, respectively, a northern barbarian and a city slum kid who get together in the third story (the first two stories introducing them seperately.) Despite being two very different people they get on and after tragedy strikes in the third story go wandering off around the world engaging in various types of (usually illegal) business. Thus far they're similar to Conan. But the stories differ in being more cerebal, exotic and entertaining than Conan. Lets face it, Conan's response to any problem is to hit it. Fafhrd and the Mouser do hit things but, and this sounds terrible, are usually more thoughtful about it. What I'm trying to say here is that the appeal of Conan (and I am a fan of Conan) is his brute fury, his barbarian rage. That's not the case here, the characters are far more thoughtful and realistic, they do get angry but it isn't their central characteristic, there's more to them than that.
And the writing is wonderful. Leiber was able to describe the weird, the wonderful and the exotic in ways that hold your interest and never becomes overblown. The world in which Fafhrd and the Mouser live is magical and yet also deeply sordid and decadent and Fafhrd and the Mouser too are ocasionally engaged in sordid and reprehensible deeds. The result is to have a world and heroes which are both more realistic and more entertaining than most of the current crop of Fantasy writers.
These are the best of the Lankhmar stories. The second volume consists of later stories in which Leiber has clearly lost his edge. Despite that, I would reccomend volume 2 to anyone, as Leiber, even not at his best, is far superior to most of the current Fantasy writers around today. But this volume, the best of Leiber's Lankhmar stories - this one's a must.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The late Fritz Leiber, jr. (1910-1992) excelled in three realms of fiction: horror, science fiction and fantasy. In this omnibus volume you'll find the first part of his "sword & sorcery" saga (by the way, it was Mr Leiber who coined the phrase) about a rude and rough Northern barbarian, Fafhrd, and his friend the Grey Mouser, one of fantasy's true great characters. Mr Leiber's prose is, as I have stated, witty and literate, but lovers of sheer magic will find plenty to satisfy their wildest dreams: the action takes place in a remote universe of its own, the splendid city of Lankhmar is one of the really arcane towns in many worlds, and beautiful women, perilous enchanters, gods & demi-gods haunt these exuberant adventures. It's for lovers of the fantastic, macabre and out-of-this-world action stories -- epic fantasy at its artistic best.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I don't get why the Lankhmar stories are praised to high heaven. In theory I should have loved this. I'm a big fan of Sword and Sorcery books and Fritz Leiber was one of the founders, and invented the term 'Sword and Sorcery' itself.
However, when I started to read this my spirit began to sink. Rather than being the light-hearted and fun read I've seen them described, I found them ponderous and heavy-going, very much over-written and not a little dull.
The Lankhmar stories are also held up as being darker, more gritty than epic fantasies such as Lord of the Rings - I'm sorry, but it read to me more what a 14 year old boy's idea of being 'adult' or 'daring' was, wine, women and song (or something)with no experience of any of them. Finally the 'witty' style grated with me very fast.
Sad to say, this did nothing for me. My copy went to a charity shop and I won't be seeking out any more from Fritz Leiber
However, when I started to read this my spirit began to sink. Rather than being the light-hearted and fun read I've seen them described, I found them ponderous and heavy-going, very much over-written and not a little dull.
The Lankhmar stories are also held up as being darker, more gritty than epic fantasies such as Lord of the Rings - I'm sorry, but it read to me more what a 14 year old boy's idea of being 'adult' or 'daring' was, wine, women and song (or something)with no experience of any of them. Finally the 'witty' style grated with me very fast.
Sad to say, this did nothing for me. My copy went to a charity shop and I won't be seeking out any more from Fritz Leiber
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Just Bad
I used to read a lot of fantasy, and have read most of the 'greats' . This is not one of them , this book is awful. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. T. Eagling
High adventures, nice writing, but little consistency
This is not one book, but five books in one binding.
In fact, it's not even that. It's a few dozen short pulpy adventure tales, divided into five nominal books, bound... Read more
In fact, it's not even that. It's a few dozen short pulpy adventure tales, divided into five nominal books, bound... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Federhirn
Entertaining
A weighty tome of easy-going spell and hackfests, providing a good dose of entertainment in a light hearted manner. Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2006 by A. Johnston
A different kind of fantasy
One of the best things about Leiber is the way the incidental never gets out of hand. In one passage he recounts our heroes are not seen for a year, and bit by bit stories filter... Read more
Published on 13 May 2004 by "froggy449"
Swords and Sorcery at its best.
Bit of a throwback this one and something I would normally have read about twenty years ago, but still, this collection of 4 novels about the adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray... Read more
Published on 15 Sep 2003 by J. Neal
The Master
If you wanted proof of Michael Moorcock's contention that all the best, most vigorous epic fantasy prose is American, you only have to read Leiber. Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2002
A must for any collection
Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar books are in my opinion among the best fantasy ever written. Although the series gets off to a traditional and slow start, things soon pick up. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2001 by Mr. Paul S. Bird
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