Dedication
This book is dedicated to Harry Otto Fischer, Poul Anderson and Paul Turner. We have already talked about Fischer in the introduction to Swords and Deviltry, and his contribution to the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser mythos appears in this book.
Poul Anderson was a Golden Age science fiction and fantasy writer who won 7 Hugo Awards and 3 Nebula Awards. He was a founding member of the Society for Creative Anachronism in 1966. along with Fritz Leiber, Anderson was a founding member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers’ Guild of America (SAGA), a group of authors who tried to promote the respectability of the sword and sorcery genre. Like Leiber, Anderson appears in the famous “Appendix N” of the 1st edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide, recognizing authors and stories that influenced the creation and development of that game. Anderson is in Appendix N for his novels Three Hearts and Three Lions, The High Crusade, and The Broken Sword; Leiber is listed for his Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser tales.
Paul Turner was very active in science fiction and fantasy fandom as a member of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS). LASFS is the oldest continuously operating science fiction and fantasy club in the world, having celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2009. Leiber was a member of LASFS and regularly attended weekly meetings in the 1950s and 60s. In 1964, Paul Turner suggested that the Society start a building fund to acquire their own clubhouse, and with his stewardship by 1974 had done just that.
Author’s Introduction
According to Leiber, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser have been together about a decade now. The rest is an explanation as to which bits of “The Lords of Quarmall” were written by Fischer; we will cover that when we get to that story.
In the Witch’s Tent
This is another framing sequence intended to transition us from the last story to the next. It is original to this collection. On their way to their next adventure, the lads stop in a witch’s tent for some oracular advice. The two key things to take from this fragment are the Mouser’s throwaway line that at least they’re not leaving Nehwon, as the did on their last adventure, and that they are far north in cold, mountainous territory.
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Not my favorite of the series. Stardock left me kinda cold. Leiber was creating based on his love of mountain climbing which fit well with Fafhrd’s background. I find the “colder” adventures like Stardock and Rime Isle just dont appeal as much to me. But they do show Leiber’s worldbuilding skills and variety.
I looked up the original members of SAGA: Lin Carter, L. Sprague de Camp, John Jakes were the founding three. Later added were Fritz Leiber, Jack Vance and Michael Moorcock. Finally Poul Anderson and Andre Norton were entered. What a great group! Man, i bet they had some fun get togethers and discussions!
Posted by j hardy | August 8, 2011, 11:02 am