Ex Libris Kirkland

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Subtitle The Adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser
First Written 1970
Genre Fantasy
Origin US
Publisher Ace
My Copy library paperback
First Read January 01, 2026

Swords and Deviltry



It does have a banger of a climax though!

Noted on January 6, 2026

Oh: just looked at wikipedia and that’s exactly what it is, a collection of three novellas. The next book is also short story collection. They’re not in the order they were published or written. Huh.

Noted on January 6, 2026

This is a dramatic, pulpy, uneven fantasy book from the 70s. Fun for the most part? Not great but the pulpy parts work well. And apparently there are many books covering this duo (Fafhrd and Gray Mouser), but this one is dedicated to their two individual origin stories and meeting; it feels like a couple of novellas smashed together, and gets better in the third section when they actually meet. I’m on the fence about reading the next in the series. Probably would land as an audiobook for me?

Noted on January 6, 2026

The Mouser deftly kicked a rat that thrust black head and shoulders from his hole.

After each had enthusiastically complimented the other on his girl, Fafhrd said diffidently, "Just between ourselves, do you think there might be anything to your sweet Ivrian's notion that the small dark creature with Slivikin and the other Guild-thief was a wizard's familiar, or at any rate the cunning pet of a sorcerer, trained to act as go-be-tween and report disasters to his master or to Krovas or to both?"

The Mouser laughed lightly. "You're building bug-bears — formless baby ones unlicked by logic-out of nothing, dear barbarian brother, if I may say so. May well have been a stray catling or a big bold rat-like this damned one!" He kicked again.

Quoted on January 6, 2026

She knew that a woman can get wrinkles in her mind as well as her skin.

Quoted on January 6, 2026


Ex Libris Kirkland is a super-self-absorbed reading journal made by Matt Kirkland. Copyright © 2001 - .
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