Fritz Reuter Leiber Jr. emerged as a distinctive voice among the younger writers associated with H.P. Lovecraft, initially making a significant mark with his horror fiction before exploring other genres. He established his signature style in his sword-and-sorcery tales, featuring the memorable duo of the large, sensitive barbarian Fafhrd and the agile, street-smart Gray Mouser, which he revisited throughout his career for both comedic and atmospheric effect. His science fiction often played with grand concepts, such as planetary destruction and societal upheaval led by unlikely heroes. Leiber's later works, including his notable horror novel, delved into profound personal struggles like depression and alcoholism, examining the emotional resonance within fantastic literature and demonstrating a remarkable capacity for reinvention that kept him at the forefront of his generation.
Focusing on the contrasting journeys of an inner-directed sorcerer and his outer-directed apprentice, this narrative explores themes of magic realism and dark fantasy. Fritz Leiber's storytelling weaves a rich tapestry of mystical elements and character development, showcasing his mastery in blending the fantastical with the psychological. The dynamic between the two characters highlights their differing approaches to magic and life, creating a compelling exploration of their unique paths.
Exploring the metaphor of modern life as a pyramid, this work delves into the constraints and structures that shape contemporary existence. The author draws parallels between the ancient Egyptian practice of burial and the ways in which society confines individuals within rigid frameworks. Through thought-provoking insights, the book encourages readers to reflect on their own lives and the societal constructs that may limit their potential and freedom.
From the moment when they first met, in the commission of the same, audacious theft, Fafhrd, the giant barbarian warrior from the Cold Waste, and the Gray Mouser, master thief, novice wizard and expert swordsman, felt no ordinary affinity. Forged over the gleam of sharpened steel as, back to back, they faced their foes, theirs was a friendship that would take them from adventure to misadventure across all of Nehwon, from the caves of the inner earth to the waves of the outer sea. But it was in the dark alleys and noisome back streets of the great fog-shrouded city of Lankhmar that they became legends.The First Book of Lankhmar includes the first four volumes of the hugely enjoyable Swords series.
After their legendary adventures in the northern wastes and beyond, Fafhrd, the giant barbarian warrior, and the Gray Mouser, master thief, novice wizard and expert swordsman, are back home in Lankhmar again, and looking for an easy time. But Lankhmar is under attack from a strange horde of invaders, including a two-headed dragon and an army of miniature wanderers ...Once those threats are seen off, a quest to the farthest reaches of Nehwon is in prospect. And then, in the last book of their adventures, Fafhrd goes sailing through the clouds, and the Mouser takes to the seas, before we finally bid a fond, if sad, farewell to Lankhmar. THE SECOND BOOK OF LANKHMAR includes the last three volumes of the hugely enjoyable series.
The burning wreck of a passenger jet with a missing cargo of gold and a desperate plea from a friend lead Tarzan of the Apes deep into intrigue in the jungles of Brazil. Soon the ape-man finds himself facing his most deadly nemesis yet: a criminal mastermind named Vinaro, whose enemies perish in mysterious explosions of gold and flame. But that may be only the beginning of Tarzan's challenges. For if he is to defeat Vinaro, Tarzan must confront him in the legendary golden city of Tucumai, from where no outsider has ever returned.
Twenty-two exciting stories from the twilight world of haunted houses and hair-raising spectres are contained in this spine-chilling anthology.Each tale is illustrated with specially commissioned drawings.
Professor Norman Saylor considered magic nothing more than superstition. Then he learned that his own wife was a practicing sorceress. But he still refuses to accept the truth...that in the secret occult warfare that governs our lives, magic is a matter of life and death. Filmed twice, as Weird Woman (1944) and Burn Witch Burn (1961), this tale of secret witchcraft on a modern college campus is as readable today as the day it was written. Fritz Leiber's classic story of terror CONJURE WIFE made into the American-International movie Norman Taylor thought it was absurd for his beautiful wife, Tansy, to believe in black magic. He made her throw her potions, charms and amulets into the fire. After all, he was a college professor, a rational man who didn't believe in superstition. Then, his troubles began ... phone calls in the dead of night, a student who threatened him with a gun, and a hideous gargoyle-like creature who stalked him about the campus, one whom he alone could see. Slowly, an atmosphere of palpable evil encircled him until the truth could no longer be denied. There were witches all around him, conniving for his soul, lusting for his body ... and he was powerless to defend himself. "Easily the most convincing and the most frightening of all modern horror stories" --Damon Knight
