Lankhmar in Publication Order 7 Claws from the Night
Claws from the Night is Fritz Lieber's seventh published tale featuring Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. It was published in 1951, in Suspense as Dark Vengeance. Today you can find it as the 8th chapter in the second volume of the collected editions, Swords Against Death.
Please note that we are still three short stories and a novella away from the origin stories that make up the current volume one of the collected adventures!
This is a great little story about a plague of thieving birds and a strange young woman who seems to have some kinship with them. It is only the second story to take place in the city of Lankhmar. I don't have a lot to say about it, except that it's full of atmosphere and has a nice, tight little plot.
Monday, July 24, 2017
Saturday, July 8, 2017
On Escaping Bookalanches
The most claustrophobic experience I've had in a bookstore. I had to go sideways through most aisles and the stacks were leaning in at the tops. Here are books I was tempted by but didn't buy. Is it just me or does Waldo sound like the inspiration for Wall-E? (I was later informed that robotic arms in space are called Waldos because of Heinlein.)
New Orleans, French Quarter. Arcadian Books
New Orleans, French Quarter. Arcadian Books
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
On Awful Sentences
Lankhmar in Publication Order 8 The Seven Black Priests
The Seven Black Priests is Fritz Lieber's eighth published tale featuring Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. It was published in 1953, in Other Worlds. Today you can find it as the 7th chapter in the second volume of the collected editions, Swords Against Death.
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are traveling overland in a wintry, hilly area ("the Bones of the Old Ones") when they catch the gleam of a gem twinkling in the afternoon sun. In the process of getting away with it, they are attacked by ... you guessed it ... seven black-skinned priests.
This isn't the best story, but it has interesting moments, especially the eery description of the landscape. It might best be described as one long chase scene. Also, it has the distinction of beginning with possibly the most awkward first sentence of any story I've ever read:
“Eyes like red lava peered from a face black as dead lava down the sheer mountainside at the snowy ledge that narrowed off into chilly darkness barely touched by dawn.”
If you want a much better, but spoilery description, read this: http://dochermes.livejournal.com/6598.html.
The Seven Black Priests is Fritz Lieber's eighth published tale featuring Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. It was published in 1953, in Other Worlds. Today you can find it as the 7th chapter in the second volume of the collected editions, Swords Against Death.
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are traveling overland in a wintry, hilly area ("the Bones of the Old Ones") when they catch the gleam of a gem twinkling in the afternoon sun. In the process of getting away with it, they are attacked by ... you guessed it ... seven black-skinned priests.
This isn't the best story, but it has interesting moments, especially the eery description of the landscape. It might best be described as one long chase scene. Also, it has the distinction of beginning with possibly the most awkward first sentence of any story I've ever read:
“Eyes like red lava peered from a face black as dead lava down the sheer mountainside at the snowy ledge that narrowed off into chilly darkness barely touched by dawn.”
If you want a much better, but spoilery description, read this: http://dochermes.livejournal.com/6598.html.
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