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twiggysmalls69's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
tamararama's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Having heard about the work of Fritz Lieber, I'll admit I had high hopes for my first foray into this particular sword and sorcery oeuvre. And I'll admit that maybe I should've tempered my expectations a little more, as I found myself somewhat let down by the pacing and stories in this first entry.
Overall, my impression of the work as a whole was that perhaps it does Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser a disservice to arrange these stories chronologically (or at least to read them that way.) I found the first two stories rather difficult to get into, a little plodding and expository. The third and final story in this volume, 'Ill-Met in Lankhmar', I found to be much more in the vein of what I wanted from this kind of sword and sorcery story (that is, adventurous and interesting and a little action-y.)
Stylistically, this had the linguistic depth and written tone I was wanting from this kind of fantasy story, and it scratched the itch for that older, American school of fantasy writing (and genre fiction in general) that I do really respect and enjoy. I know this somewhat confected and verbose style isn't for everyone, but I'll admit I'm a fan. Even the stories I found less than engaging weren't particularly badly written, and I do enjoy this written style of characterisation and development (though I won't pretend to be wholly comfortable with the old-fashioned/downright misogynistic way that women are treated by the text - but I knew about that going in.)
I think maybe I ought to have started with the next entry (Swords Against Death) which seems to be more of a collection of the short stories of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser's adventures, rather than being focused on trying to create an origin story for the pair. I probably would've gotten a lot more out of these origin stories (written later than many of the stories in subsequent volumes) if I were already familiar with these characters and this world.
Ultimately I'm not discouraged from giving more of these a go, because I did enjoy the style and substance, despite being somewhat unsated by this first volume.
Overall, my impression of the work as a whole was that perhaps it does Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser a disservice to arrange these stories chronologically (or at least to read them that way.) I found the first two stories rather difficult to get into, a little plodding and expository. The third and final story in this volume, 'Ill-Met in Lankhmar', I found to be much more in the vein of what I wanted from this kind of sword and sorcery story (that is, adventurous and interesting and a little action-y.)
Stylistically, this had the linguistic depth and written tone I was wanting from this kind of fantasy story, and it scratched the itch for that older, American school of fantasy writing (and genre fiction in general) that I do really respect and enjoy. I know this somewhat confected and verbose style isn't for everyone, but I'll admit I'm a fan. Even the stories I found less than engaging weren't particularly badly written, and I do enjoy this written style of characterisation and development (though I won't pretend to be wholly comfortable with the old-fashioned/downright misogynistic way that women are treated by the text - but I knew about that going in.)
I think maybe I ought to have started with the next entry (Swords Against Death) which seems to be more of a collection of the short stories of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser's adventures, rather than being focused on trying to create an origin story for the pair. I probably would've gotten a lot more out of these origin stories (written later than many of the stories in subsequent volumes) if I were already familiar with these characters and this world.
Ultimately I'm not discouraged from giving more of these a go, because I did enjoy the style and substance, despite being somewhat unsated by this first volume.
cameronkobesauthor's review against another edition
3.0
I read this because I'm a fan of George RR Martin, and Fritz Leiber was on a list of GRRM's favorite and most influential authors.
There are three stories in this book. The first, 'The Ice Women', is terrible. It's badly written, it's appallingly misogynist, and most surprising for the genre, it's boring. The second story, 'The Unholy Grail', is a little better. It's not great, but it's not terrible like the first. The third story, 'Ill Met in Lankhmar', is fun, silly, outrageous, all that you hope from sword-and-sorcery/pulp-fantasy. It almost makes up for the first one. I do mean to look for the next in the series.
There are three stories in this book. The first, 'The Ice Women', is terrible. It's badly written, it's appallingly misogynist, and most surprising for the genre, it's boring. The second story, 'The Unholy Grail', is a little better. It's not great, but it's not terrible like the first. The third story, 'Ill Met in Lankhmar', is fun, silly, outrageous, all that you hope from sword-and-sorcery/pulp-fantasy. It almost makes up for the first one. I do mean to look for the next in the series.
lizardskin's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jonathanpalfrey's review against another edition
3.0
Although I've long heard of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, it's only just now in 2016 that I've met them for the first time; and it was quite interesting to do so, although swords and sorcery isn't really my field.
For fiction of this vintage, it's quite well written, and doesn't seem dated. But Fritz Leiber was theatrically inclined and so is his fiction, somewhat exaggerated and over the top. His two heroes are quite engaging, although there's rather a lack of other likeable characters.
I suppose these stories were an influence on Terry Pratchett's Discworld, the setting being roughly similar, although his treatment of the material is different.
I see that some reviewers complain about the role of women in these stories, but I don't see much to complain about. This is mediæval fantasy; if you expect to read about 21st-century people behaving in 21st-century ways, you should confine yourself to reading stories set in the 21st century. There are women of strength and ability here, but they're not liberated or feminists, and it would be anachronistic if they were.
The men aren't typical of the 21st century, either. They're not meant to be.
I give the book a middling rating because I liked it well enough, although it seems unlikely to become one of my favourites. Not really my kind of thing. Maybe I'll read more books in the series, maybe not.
For fiction of this vintage, it's quite well written, and doesn't seem dated. But Fritz Leiber was theatrically inclined and so is his fiction, somewhat exaggerated and over the top. His two heroes are quite engaging, although there's rather a lack of other likeable characters.
I suppose these stories were an influence on Terry Pratchett's Discworld, the setting being roughly similar, although his treatment of the material is different.
I see that some reviewers complain about the role of women in these stories, but I don't see much to complain about. This is mediæval fantasy; if you expect to read about 21st-century people behaving in 21st-century ways, you should confine yourself to reading stories set in the 21st century. There are women of strength and ability here, but they're not liberated or feminists, and it would be anachronistic if they were.
The men aren't typical of the 21st century, either. They're not meant to be.
I give the book a middling rating because I liked it well enough, although it seems unlikely to become one of my favourites. Not really my kind of thing. Maybe I'll read more books in the series, maybe not.
cwebb's review against another edition
5.0
Fafhrd, der Barbar und Gray Mouser, der Dieb mit Magiekenntnisssen... klingt nach einem klassischen Fantasy-Duo? ist es auch. Fritz Leiber hat mit dieser Serie das Swords and Magic Genre mitbestimmt, und Teil Eins bekommt völlig zurecht fünf Punkte.
Es ist sehr witzig, wenn man Fafhrd begleitet, wie er von Schneemagie umgeben ist - oder sind es doch Frauen die aus Eifersucht Schneebälle auf die Männer werfen?
Es ist sehr witzig, wenn man Fafhrd begleitet, wie er von Schneemagie umgeben ist - oder sind es doch Frauen die aus Eifersucht Schneebälle auf die Männer werfen?
webjoram's review against another edition
3.0
Divertida, a veces dramática y en líneas generales bastante entretenida. Está novela no puede considerarse como tal, en realidad es un conjunto de tres relatos cortos que nos sirven para conocer a los protagonistas de la saga antes de su primer encuentro a partir del cual ser convierten en camaradas y amigos.
Lo mejor de esta novela es la ambientación y lo bien descritos que están Farfth y el Ratonero gris, dos granujas casi por obligación que se complementan perfectamente.
Lo peor es que al estar estructuradas en tres relatos cortos las tramas de los mismos son bastante simples.
En cualquier caso creo que le daré alguna oportunidad más y leeré alguna novela más de esta saga.
Lo mejor de esta novela es la ambientación y lo bien descritos que están Farfth y el Ratonero gris, dos granujas casi por obligación que se complementan perfectamente.
Lo peor es que al estar estructuradas en tres relatos cortos las tramas de los mismos son bastante simples.
En cualquier caso creo que le daré alguna oportunidad más y leeré alguna novela más de esta saga.
nlord's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lupuslibrorum's review against another edition
3.0
“Ill Met at Lankhmar” is a decent “D&D dungeon gone horribly wrong” story, decent enough to move this collection from my originally-intended 2 to 3 stars. Overall I wasn’t much impressed, though. A more in-depth review will have to wait for later. I do intend to read some more Fritz Leiber later, though. Maybe I’ll eventually find a story I really like.
bowilliams's review against another edition
5.0
Can't believe it took me so long to read this classic of nerdy fantasy. Totally lived up to expectation- super fun pulpy swords and sorcery.