When I read Swords and Deviltry, I was warned "the first story was written much earlier in Leiber's career than the other two" and, yeah, it's pretty obvious from a technical standpoint, but still enjoyable. (Then I go on Goodreads and read "modern audience" takes on it and I laugh and laugh.) Ill-Met is definitely the highlight though and really helps build hype for the next books.
A must for both sword and sorcery enjoyers and Appendix N explorers. Great review, always happy to see people talking about Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser!
Never read Sword & Deviltry, will give it a look, Otter. But just one small correction there is no book by the name of Conan the Barbarian, but there is one by the title of Hour of the Dragon.
That said, my idea of the ultimate mythological book (as it is more mythology than fantasy) would have to be the Silmarillion. What are your thoughts on it? And also what's the title of your work? I would love to note it down and review it.
"I only noticed this once or twice, myself, but it’s often at its worst during the action scenes. Whereas other fantasy writers of that era painted with broader brush strokes, Leiber tends to give us too much detail in these moments. While it isn’t bad or anything, the pacing can suffer for it at times."
Man, see, I love Leiber's lovingly detailed action sequences. The six (?)-page swordfight in "Jewels in the Forest" is genius, one of the best pieces of fight choreography translated to prose fiction that I have ever read. Leiber's background as both an actor and a fencer shines through; the directorly blocking, in which the reader can tell who is where in physical space and who is stabbing or attempting to stab whom, is masterful.
When I read Swords and Deviltry, I was warned "the first story was written much earlier in Leiber's career than the other two" and, yeah, it's pretty obvious from a technical standpoint, but still enjoyable. (Then I go on Goodreads and read "modern audience" takes on it and I laugh and laugh.) Ill-Met is definitely the highlight though and really helps build hype for the next books.
A must for both sword and sorcery enjoyers and Appendix N explorers. Great review, always happy to see people talking about Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser!
Never read Sword & Deviltry, will give it a look, Otter. But just one small correction there is no book by the name of Conan the Barbarian, but there is one by the title of Hour of the Dragon.
That said, my idea of the ultimate mythological book (as it is more mythology than fantasy) would have to be the Silmarillion. What are your thoughts on it? And also what's the title of your work? I would love to note it down and review it.
"I only noticed this once or twice, myself, but it’s often at its worst during the action scenes. Whereas other fantasy writers of that era painted with broader brush strokes, Leiber tends to give us too much detail in these moments. While it isn’t bad or anything, the pacing can suffer for it at times."
Man, see, I love Leiber's lovingly detailed action sequences. The six (?)-page swordfight in "Jewels in the Forest" is genius, one of the best pieces of fight choreography translated to prose fiction that I have ever read. Leiber's background as both an actor and a fencer shines through; the directorly blocking, in which the reader can tell who is where in physical space and who is stabbing or attempting to stab whom, is masterful.