The Sword & Sorcery Anthology

Terrifying barbarians, cunning mages, and daring heroes run rampant through these exceptional examples of the exciting sword and sorcery genre. In “Tower of the Elephant,” Conan takes up jewel thievery but proves to be far better with his sword. “The Flame Bringers” finds antihero Elric infiltrating a band of bloodthirsty mercenaries and outwitting a powerful sorcerer. “Become a Warrior” is the unexpected tale of a child who loses all she holds dear, only to gain unforeseen power and unlikely revenge. Further entries come from early legends such as Jack Vance and Catherine Louise Moore, the next wave of talents including Fritz Leiber and Michael Moorcock, and modern trendsetters like George R.R. Martin, Karl Edward Wagner, and David Drake. This essential, fast-paced anthology is a chronological gathering of influential, inventive, and entertaining fantasy—sure to appeal to action-oriented fans.

Contents

“Introduction: Storytellers: A Guided Ramble into Sword and Sorcery Fiction” by David Drake

“The Tower of the Elephant” by Robert E. Howard

“Black God’s Kiss” by C. L. Moore

“The Unholy Grail” by Fritz Leiber

“The Tale of Hauk” by Poul Anderson

“The Caravan of Forgotten Dreams” by Michael Moorcock

“The Adventuress” by Joanna Russ

“Gimmile’s Song” by Charles R. Saunders

“Undertow” by Karl Edward Wagner

“The Stages of the God” by Ramsey Campbell (writing as Montgomery Comfort)

“The Barrow Troll” by David Drake

“Soldier of an Empire Unacquainted With Defeat” by Glen Cook

“Epistle From Lebanoi” by Michael Shea

“Become a Warrior” by Jane Yolen

“The Red Guild” by Rachel Pollack

“Six From Atlantis” by Gene Wolfe

“The Sea Troll’s Daughter” by Caitlín R. Kiernan

“The Coral Heart” by Jeffrey Ford

“Path of the Dragon” by George R. R. Martin

“The Year of the Three Monarchs” by Michael Swanwick