Why You Should Read "Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser" by Fritz Leiber

[@beefymario88]

How these two haven’t been adapted onto TV is beyond me. Seems like the perfect “monster of the week” adventure TV show to me!

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Absolutely, particularly the earlier books. Swords of Lankhmar would make a good movie too

[@GeorgeSagen]

The bleak shore...the bleak shore...the bleak shore

[@misomiso8228]

Yes these are fantastic. Was really surprised at how good they were, and you can see how both the characters influenced later fantasy tropes.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

They've ages very well.

[@MatthewKruse-ri8ep]

I love these characters. D&d as it was formed, at its inception, would not be the genre/ game setting that we got from Gygax and Arneson, had there never been the adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. They are a huge part of why early d&d and Ad&d were so filled with the character classes that they did. Barbarians. Thieves. Theif-Acrobats, Assassins, and Mage-thieves. City settings full of scum, intrigues, magic and treachery. Seriously, Fritz Leiber's Lankhamar/ Fafhrd & Mouser's whole vibe is part of the bedrock under d&d's foundation, as much as Poul Anderson, Robert E. Howard, and Jack Vance. If you love d&d, you gotta check these stories out.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

100%

[@Secretsquirrel724]

I read these back in the 1970's and they stood out as really good fantasy. Leiber really knew how to use his characters dynamically in a short story format. They have that edge at the end like Poe or Lovecraft.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Yes, he gets a lot of bang for buck from the format

[@SteveBonario]

The great friendship you mention around 4:00 is in large part due to Fafhrd and the Mouser being loosely based on the friendship of Leiber with Harry Otto Fischer, who you mention around 5:20. Lankhmar is also a loose representation of San Francisco, where Leiber lived for many years. I had the pleasure of knowing Leiber's son, Justin, when he was a professor at the University of Houston. I processed Leiber's personal papers when they were donated to the University of Houston's Special Collections, and it's fascinating to get a glimpse into an author's life via letters he wrote to friends. Leiber wrote many other books and stories, but the stories of F & M endure because of the characters themselves. My favorite of the series is Swords of Lankhmar, which is a full length novel featuring the wererats of the "undercity" of Lanhkmar.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Sorry for the delay in reply! I hadn't known about the friendship with Fischer being the basis for the heroes' friendship. As I say, I enjoyed Quarmall plenty so that's a nice side light. I should find a place for novels 5-7 on my reading plan!

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Swords of Lankhmar is also my favorite book. As I tried to think of a second favorite, I was pretty hard pressed. My initial thought was Swords Against Wizardry, with the exceptional stories, Stardock & Lords of Quarmall, but many other tales leapt to mind & I honestly don’t think I can choose.

[@lacyhart2043]

So good love this stuff

[@artofawr]

Fritz Leiber is soooo great. Love his stories. Love an author that ain't afraid to be funny and still manage to write high stakes. Beyond these stories being amazing I think reading Leiber is a cool exercise of seeing how he's influenced so many current writers of fantasy fiction.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Yeah Leiber is so influential, but widely forgotten. Hopefully he gets a second fame soon

[@lacyhart2043]

Like Howard and Robert Bloch Blake is good too

[@Sirwilliamf]

Thoroughly enjoyed the few I have read so far! I think I like the short story format better than the more common epic series and such. It lets you dip in and out easily. An under-apreciated legend!

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Absolutely. And the short stories also match our heroes having minor or silly adventures too!

[@tbasparagi]

I read Ill Met in Lankhmar, Lean Times in Lankhmar, Return to Lankhmar, and Farewell to Lankhmar about 10 years ago. I'm currently re-reading Ill Met in Lankhmar😍

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Excellent to hear! I love the "Swords in the Mist" collection best, but do like the stories round "Ill Met" a lot.

[@MichaelTheroff-fn1kx]

On your esteemed recommendation I've just ordered a used copy of the collection The Three of Swords, and I'm really looking forward to it.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Tell me what you think!

[@darklingeraeld-ridge7946]

Believe I read them in the early seventies, as a twelve year old. I had just had a fairly precocious journey through the Gormenghast trilogy. These were, again, something entirely other. I was unsettled by the humour, but there was something marvellous about the relationship, like a fantastic sit-com, always returning to it, with violence, sorcery and theft. Must re-read ‘em…. thanks.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

I love their friendship, one of the best in fantasy. The humour sometimes works for me and sometimes does not.

[@martinainscough9226]

One of my favorites as a young reader, also somewhat explains my proclivity for grey apparel. Cheers.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

The Grey Ainscough, terror of the Thieves' Guild?

[@johnquisenberry2402]

I have been a big fan of these stories since I was a teenager, I also loved Karl Edward Wagners Kane series of books.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Heard of but never read the Kane books - will have to put them on the list!

[@liberalhyena9760]

You mentioned the influence on D & D (they’re in Appendix N, of course) but not the numerous modules and settings for D & D and other RPG’s (there is currently a Lankhmar boxed set for DCC). I recall seeing one module that had not been very well researched by the illustrator, as the cover actually depicted the Mouser as a mouse. (A cat might have been forgivable but to be not only wrong but illiterate or dyslexic is another matter). BTW, I dare say you know this, but Leiber is pronounced LYE-ber, not Leeber.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Apparently some of the Lankhmar modules are actually pretty good! I'll have to get some and review them here.

[@DrBrothBaist]

The mouser is definitely fafids side kick.

[@HowVeryNovel]

I always love this idea of the writers who inspired the writers who in turn inspire the new writers. It's like this unending timeline of creative influence. Have never heard of this author or this series, but you have piqued my interest!

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

If you're starting fantasy reading next year, I'd definitely recommend this one on the list in the "Classic" category.

[@HowVeryNovel]

@@OwenEdwardsBooks I'll add it to my list :-D

[@rodneymccluskey3954]

There's some of the best books I've ever read in my life, well that said it's been 30 years 30 plus?

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Well, they held up for me!

[@darioscomicschool1111]

I didn't know It was a Book. I knew only the Comic.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Oh yeah, great books

[@CxR2262]

Well said, thanks!

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

You're welcome!

[@mathuxley7264]

Thanks for doing this, but I'm pretty sure it's pronounced 'mouser' as in 'mouse', rather than 'mauser' like the gun manufacturer. He's being likened to a cat that catches mice, (because he's agile and small), hence the name of his sword

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Wait, why would Fafhrd be pronounced "mouser"? They barely share any letters.

[@mathuxley7264]

@@OwenEdwardsBooks You have to really squint

[@LiamsLyceum]

Because I said so, that’s why.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

That's good enough!

[@furroy]

i know i read the first ones long long ago, i didn't know there were so many now, will have to dig them up

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Definitely. Tell me what you think on rereading.

[@The_Tuareg]

Two steps ahead of you mate.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Give me back my wallet

[@JeffMPalermo]

Ok sold!

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

This feels like a home run series for you. Tell me what you think when you get to it!

[@СерафимГанеев]

Bobads Bonads honestly

[@Roondawg_Valhalla]

666th view!

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Ha!