The Book of Swords
Ratings10
Average rating3.2
New epic fantasy in the grand tradition--including a never-before-published Song of Ice and Fire story by George R. R. Martin! Fantasy fiction has produced some of the most unforgettable heroes ever conjured onto the page: Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian, Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melnibon�, Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Classic characters like these made sword and sorcery a storytelling sensation, a cornerstone of fantasy fiction--and an inspiration for a new generation of writers, spinning their own outsize tales of magic and swashbuckling adventure. Now, in The Book of Swords, acclaimed editor and bestselling author Gardner Dozois presents an all-new anthology of original epic tales by a stellar cast of award-winning modern masters--many of them set in their authors' best-loved worlds. Join today's finest tellers of fantastic tales, including George R. R. Martin, K. J. Parker, Robin Hobb, Ken Liu, C. J. Cherryh, Daniel Abraham, Lavie Tidhar, Ellen Kushner, and more on action-packed journeys into the outer realms of dark enchantment and intrepid derring-do, featuring a stunning assortment of fearless swordsmen and warrior women who face down danger and death at every turn with courage, cunning, and cold steel. FEATURING SIXTEEN ALL-NEW STORIES: "The Best Man Wins" by K. J. Parker "His Father's Sword" by Robin Hobb "The Hidden Girl" by Ken Liu "The Sword of Destiny" by Matthew Hughes "'I Am a Handsome Man,' Said Apollo Crow" by Kate Elliott "The Triumph of Virtue" by Walter Jon Williams "The Mocking Tower" by Daniel Abraham "Hrunting" by C. J. Cherryh "A Long, Cold Trail" by Garth Nix "When I Was a Highwayman" by Ellen Kushner "The Smoke of Gold Is Glory" by Scott Lynch "The Colgrid Conundrum" by Rich Larson "The King's Evil" by Elizabeth Bear "Waterfalling" by Lavie Tidhar "The Sword Tyraste" by Cecelia Holland "The Sons of the Dragon" by George R. R. Martin And an introduction by Gardner Dozois
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Series
0 released books#7 - A Long, Cold Trail in Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz
Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz is a 0-book series first released in 2010 .
Series
16 primary books19 released books#- Her Father's Sword in The Realm of the Elderlings
The Realm of the Elderlings is a 19-book series with 16 primary works first released in 1985 with contributions by Robin Hobb, Paolo Bacigalupi, and Aliette de Bodard.
Series
0 released books#3 - The Sword of Destiny in Baldemar
Baldemar is a 0-book series first released in 2017 .
Series
1 primary book#1.5 - The Triumph of Virtue in Quillifer
Quillifer is a 1-book series first released in 2017 with contributions by Walter Jon Williams.
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ReviewI'm not much of a short story person, but I keep being drawn to picking up these Gardner Dozois anthologies. After having mixed results with some of his others, this one may be my favorite. It's likely due to theme. I love sword stories. Most of these are fantasy stories, but not all of them. I liked the vast majority of them, and only really disliked one of them. My favorites of the bunch are The Mocking Tower by Daniel Abraham and Hrunting by C.J. Cherryh.I enjoyed the Scott Lynch story, though not as much as his story in [b:Rogues 20168816 Rogues George R.R. Martin https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1404616147s/20168816.jpg 27565413]. I haven't been a fan of the George R.R. Martin “history” Song of Ice and Fire stories, so I went into this one with low expectations. It was probably the best of three I've read. I didn't find myself bored, but I'd still have preferred a style closer to the novels.Overall I give this anthology a ★★★½☆ (which is simply the average of all my ratings below)Ratings The Best Man Wins by K.J. Parker - ★★★★☆Her Father's Sword by Robin Hobb - ★★★★☆The Hidden Girl by Ken Liu - ★★★★☆The Sword of Destiny by Matthew Hughes - ★★★½☆“I am a Handsome Man,” said Apollo Crow by Kate Elliott - ★★★★☆The Triumph of Virtue by Walter Jon Williams - ★★☆☆☆The Mocking Tower by Daniel Abraham - ★★★½☆Hrunting by C.J. Cherryh - ★★★½☆A Long, Cold Trail by Garth Nix - ★★★★☆When I Was A Highwayman by Ellen Kushner - ★★★☆☆The Smoke of Gold is Glory by Scott Lynch - ★★★★☆The Colgrid Conundrum by Rich Larson - ★★★★☆The King's Evil by Elizabeth Bear - ★★★½☆Water falling by Lavie Tidhar - ★★★½☆The Sword Tyraste by Cecilia Holland - ★★★☆☆The Sons of the Dragon by George R.R. Martin - ★★★☆☆
I've been reading various anthologies by Gardner Dozois since I was about 9 years old. He has a well deserved reputation as one of the best editors in modern fantasy. I was thrilled with this collection of sword and sorcery stories.
I have to admit that I didn't read all of the stories in this collection. I'm holding off on the Robin Hobb story until I finally get around to reading her books.
My favorite stories in this collection are “The best man wins” by KJ Parker, “The Mocking Tower” by Daniel Abraham, and “The Smoke of Gold is Glory” by Scott Lynch. I'm a fan of rogues and mentors and trick endings.
