Book Review: Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser: The Cloud of Hate and Other Stories by F. Leiber et al.

Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser: The Cloud of Hate and Other Stories based on characters by Fritz Leiber, written by Denis O'Neil, and art by Howard Chaykin and Walter Simonson and others

In 1973, DC Comics started a new series called "Sword of Sorcery." The first issues were about Fritz Leiber's fantasy action duo, beefy barbarian Fafhrd and scampish rouge The Gray Mouser. They live in Nehwon, "a timeless land, a placeless place, which may--or may not--be of the planet Earth." They are the greatest swordsman of the land and are always in search of great adventures, strong drink, and soft women. Issues 1 through 5 are gathered in this volume.

The stories blend fun action with fantasy plots, mostly based on stories by Leiber. In the titular "The Cloud of Hate," the boys follow a foggy mist that has pulled a dagger out of a dead body and is carrying it across the town of Lankhmar. It's Mouser's blade, so naturally they have to get it back. Also, doubtless the fog has stolen more valuable things that they can plunder. My favorite story was probably "Revenge of the Skull of Jewels" with its fun fight scenes and good dialogue. The jewel-encrusted skull of a thief wants to get back to Lankhmar's theives' guild, causing all sorts of complications and horrors.

An imaginative diversion, perfect light summer reading!