Fritz Leiber

[Fried Egg]

I've heard so much about Fritz Leiber and it sounded like his work should be right up my alley. I finally found one of his Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser books: "Swords of Lankhmar" and exitedly tucked into it.

However, I found his style quite dry and difficult to engage with. The story had it's moments but ultimately, it was a disappointment. I wonder if he is better suited to the short story form (since I believe that much of his work, particularly about Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, are short stories) than novels? What I'm really hoping for is that someone will tell me this book is an exception and the rest of his work is work checking out.

Or, perhaps I just don't gel with his writing style?

[D_Davis]

I have tried numerous times to dive into Leiber's fiction, and each time I find myself struggling with his prose. I often find the synopsis of his stories to be exciting, but once I start reading them I get bored, confused, and turned off.

I appreciate and respect him as an author, but I just don't get on with his style much.

Some of the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories are pretty awesome though.

[Ian Whates]

Leiber remains one of my all-time favourite authors. Love his stuff (The Wanderer aside) and I rate the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories among the very finest fantasy ever written.

It may not have helped, FE, that you've started with a book in the middle of the series (I never have a problem with this, but I know some do) and with one which, unusually for the series, was written as a novel as opposed to a collection of previously published shorts.

[Omphalos]

I like Lieber's SF, but I absolutely love his fantasy, and considering that I am not a normal fantasy reader I think that is saying something. Someone here advised me to get the Millenium books of Lankhmar. I picked them up at U-Books in Seattle recently and while i have not read them through yet, what I have read is excellent.

I also just got some short fiction and I love Gonna Roll the Bones, and a few others.

Oh, and I liked the Wanderer plenty too.

[pyan]

What Ian said.

Try Swords and Deviltry, or Swords Against Death: the short story format is much easier to get into...

[clovis-man]

As alluded to earlier, Leiber's short fiction is among his best writing. Try A Pail of Air to get a good taste of it, especially as related to his SF offerings. The title story is among the best and it also includes "Gonna Roll the Bones".

For SF novels, A Specter is Haunting Texas is a good post apocalyptic, tongue in cheek, black humor tale that shows his unique style of cynicism. He led a difficult life and I think it is reflected in his jaundiced view of the cosmos.

[Connavar]

I have tasted his classic fantasy series and it was awesome story. His style is perfect for his kind of fantasy.


When i get my ordered Masterworks collection i can tell you more if i really enjoy his work.

[JQH]

Originally Posted by clovis-man

For SF novels, A Specter is Haunting Texas is a good post apocalyptic, tongue in cheek, black humor tale that shows his unique style of cynicism. He led a difficult life and I think it is reflected in his jaundiced view of the cosmos.

Is this in print at all, do you know? I've read part of it - it was serialised in a magazine years ago and I only read one installment.

Gather, Darkness is good too.

[clovis-man]

Originally Posted by JQH

Is this in print at all, do you know? I've read part of it - it was serialised in a magazine years ago and I only read one installment.

I believe it may be out of print, but several copies seem to be available on eBay:

fritz leiber, Fiction Books, Antiquarian Collectible items on eBay.com

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Omphalos

I like Lieber's SF, but I absolutely love his fantasy, and considering that I am not a normal fantasy reader I think that is saying something. Someone here advised me to get the Millenium books of Lankhmar. I picked them up at U-Books in Seattle recently and while i have not read them through yet, what I have read is excellent.

That may have been me, I'm their unofficial spokesperson don't you know?..

Needless to say I'm a keen Leiber fan, especially of his fantasy. Anyone read Dark Ladies? I liked it a lot.