Lean Times in Lankhmar: The Adventures of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser

Except for "Adept's Gambit," a very early story by Leiber, all of the tales here are among the best short stories I have read in fantasy fiction. While Leiber's style of writing at time leans towards being a trifle florid, he nonetheless offers some of the most richly phrased descriptive narrative and inventive characters and settings one could find, and I think one would be hard-pressed to call any of his work tiring or lacking imaginative interest. These stories belong on the shelf of any serious fantasy reader, so I am sad to see they've gone out of print.

I really enjoyed the Cloud of Hate - Lean Times..., and Stardock - The two best thieves... - and The Lords of Quarmall sections, of this second book of the series, more than the Adept's Gambit - and associated parts. All of it was good, but the lastly mentioned - mid section - was rather contrived and inconsistent in style, the thirty year gap in the creation of some of the linking parts not helping. Maybe if they had been placed more strategically they would have worked better in the overall scheme. Anyhow, the more appealing sections are important, since elements from them are used extensively as future references within the last two books of the series, Return to Lankhmar, and Farewell to Lankhmar. So these must be read.

This book includes two of the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser books. Swords in the Mist and Swords against Devilry. In the former is a short novel called Adept's Gambit. Which happens of F & GM's world of Nehwon and on ours during Hellenistic times. Like most of F & GM's stories it combines swashbuckling action with comedy and horror

Fun, exiting, I have read it three times in two years. I love to imagine the world in which Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser run around, drink, get women, and fight harrowing duels with any villian one can imagine.

Leiber is a classic Fantasy writer. He's right up there with Moorcock. His characters and plots are detailed, and he's not afraid to stray away from the typical "knight-in-shining armor" character.