Lankhmar Book Knight Swords Adventures
In this seventh book of the series, those intrepid heroes and adventurers, Fafhrd and his partner, the Gray Mouser at first appear to have matured and grown settled in their new domestic ways. Even their men (reformed berserks and thieves) have settled in around them to enjoy the few simple delights that life in a fabled Northern seaport far removed from the flesh pots of Lankhmar have to offer. The heroes have repaired their ship and maintained their weapons, but a severe lack of adventure seems to be their lot. The heroes' new ladies seem very understanding--in fact, perhaps too much so. Our heroes are lulled into a sense of serenity which may actually contribute to their initial gullibility and failure to recognize danger when they it tempts them. Into their tranquil existence comes evil in the form of two old foes sworn to avenge themselves against our two heroes for past transgressions against them. The book is broken into three distinct episodes. In the first vignette, Fafhrd is almost seduced by an alluring but strange seeming woman, and in the next vignette, the Gray Mouser is equally muddled by another mysterious female. In these first two adventures, the heroes experience relatively solitary adventures. While each refers to his friend, they don't physically interact with each other during each adventure. Each must resolve his own trial without any help from his partner. The third (and longer)adventure reunites them. It ruptures the peace of the two heroes and their friends existence, and forces the Mouser to visit some long-forgotten foes and friends at a cost too dear to pay. In this adventure, each hero learns, or supposes facts about the others fate that at first seem trivial, but later turn out to be crucial for the continued existence of their partner. Each saves the other from a terrible fate. It all works out perfectly at the end thanks to the undimmed creative talents of Fritz Leiber, who has not lost his deft hand at resolving seemingly impossible situations with a satisfying coincidental conclusion to the tale. He ties together seemingly unrelated events into a satisfying whole. Even though this is the final chapter in Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser's careers as penned by the late master himself, Leiber's skills have not dimmed in the slightest. The reader is left happily looking forward to further adventures with these two heroes. Leiber surprises each of them with a son and a daughter whom they had not suspected they had sired, and who will presumably carry on the torch for them if they ever drop it. It leaves the reader happily expecting more adventures to come. This is a well done and satisfying end to the long and lucky careers of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Any reader who has enjoyed the six previous collections of stories will be happy, and any new readers will not be too confused or disappointed by any obscure references or long expositions. This book should be read and enjoyed by everyone who admires well-written sword and sorcery adventures. I recommend it.
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