Allscifi Scholar
Charles Smyth's Reviews

Esteemed Scholar: Charles Smyth Total Posts in Fritz Leiber 5 1. Favorite book and why? It's hard to choose just one, so I won't. But I'd say that Ill Met in Lankhmar along with Our lady of Darkness would keep me happy enough. 2. Least favorite book and why? The Dealings of Daniel Kesserich would qualify as my least favourite. It isn't a particularly bad book, but because it was retrospectively edited from a lost manuscript by another party it doesn't have the polish it would have had if Fritz Leiber had attended to it before his death. 3. Favorite scene in favorite book and why? I would regard the opening scene to Ill met in Lankhmar in which the thieves' Guild members are making their way from the robbery of the jeweller's to then be attacked by Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser as particularly well done. And the scene in Our lady of Darkness where Franz Westen is reacquainted with the girl from the second-hand book shop in which he bought the fateful book, of Tibault de Castries. 4. Favorite character and why? I can't think of there being a favourite character. But if I had to chose, at sword point, I'd probably pick the Gray Mouser. 5. Which character do you identify most with and why? The Gray Mouser. He's pretty resourceful, and about my height and temperament. 6. If you could see a sequel to one of the author's books, which would it be and what would it be about? I can't think of any that he hasn't already done. There would have been more Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stuff if he hadn't died. Robin Wayne Bailey did a sequel, Swords Against the Shadowlands, but it wasn't too hot, in my opinion. (see Amazon .com) 7. What do you like about author's writing style? Fritz Leiber had a very articulate and direct writing style. Maybe a bit theatrical by most of today's standards, but he avoided the use of indulgent vocabulary. Unlike some pretenders to the throne, who should know better. 8. What are your favorite themes of this author? Wine, women, and song. And a sense of wonder at unknown. 9. What could be most improved about this authors books? I would like to see his work more consistently presented. Different copyright in the States and in the UK makes for annoying variations across publications. Reviews Conjure Wife Our Lady of Darkness Ill Met in Lankhmar The Dealings of Daniel Kesserich The Wanderer Other great reviews I've written (click on a link below) Science Fiction Lynn Abbey Iain M. Banks C.J. Cherryh Science Fiction Dark Star Science Fiction Jane S. Fancher Science Fiction Forbidden Planet Science Fiction L.A. Graf K.W. Jeter Science Fiction The Running Man Science Fiction Norman Spinrad

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