''Swords Against Darkness III'' is an
anthology
In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs or excerpts by different authors.
In genre fiction, the term ''anthology'' typically categ ...
of
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
stories, edited by
Andrew J. Offutt
Andrew Jefferson Offutt V (August 16, 1934 – April 30, 2013) was an American science fiction, fantasy, and erotic fiction author. He wrote as Andrew J. Offutt, A. J. Offutt, and Andy Offutt. His normal byline, andrew j. offutt, has all his nam ...
, the third in a series of five anthologies of the same name. It was first published in paperback by
Zebra Books
Zebra Books is an imprint of American publisher Kensington Publishing Corp. As the company's flagship imprint until the late 80s, it currently publishes women's fiction, romantic suspense and bestselling historical, paranormal and contemporary ro ...
in March 1978.
Summary
The book collects thirteen short stories and novelettes, one poem and one essay by various fantasy authors, together with a foreword by Offutt.
Contents
*"Foreword" (
Andrew J. Offutt
Andrew Jefferson Offutt V (August 16, 1934 – April 30, 2013) was an American science fiction, fantasy, and erotic fiction author. He wrote as Andrew J. Offutt, A. J. Offutt, and Andy Offutt. His normal byline, andrew j. offutt, has all his nam ...
)
*"The Pit of Wings" (
Ramsey Campbell
Ramsey Campbell (born 4 January 1946) is an English horror fiction writer, editor and critic who has been writing for well over fifty years. He is the author of over 30 novels and hundreds of short stories, many of them winners of literary awa ...
)
*"The Sword of Spartacus" (
Richard L. Tierney
Richard Louis Tierney (August 7, 1936 – February 1, 2022) was an American writer, poet and scholar of H. P. Lovecraft, probably best known for his heroic fantasy, including his series co-authored (with David C. Smith) of Red Sonja novels, fe ...
)
*"Servitude" (
Wayne Hooks)
*"Descales' Skull" (
David C. Smith)
*"In the Balance" (
Tanith Lee
Tanith Lee (19 September 1947 – 24 May 2015) was a British science fiction and fantasy writer. She wrote more than 90 novels and 300 short stories, and was the winner of multiple World Fantasy Society Derleth Awards, the World Fantasy Lifetime ...
)
*"Tower of Darkness" (
David Madison)
*"The Mantichore" (
David Drake
David A. Drake (born September 24, 1945) is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now a writer in the military science fiction genre.
Biography
Drake graduated Phi ...
)
*"Revenant" (poem) (
Kathleen Resch)
*"Rite of Kings" (
Jon DeCles)
*"The Mating Web" (
Robert E. Vardeman
Robert Edward Vardeman (sometimes called Vardebob) (born 1947) is an American science fiction fan and writer.
Career
Robert E. Vardeman was born in Mineral Wells, Texas, but is a longtime resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He graduated from ...
)
*"The Guest of Dzinganji" (
Manly Wade Wellman
Manly Wade Wellman (May 21, 1903 – April 5, 1986) was an American writer. While his science fiction and fantasy stories appeared in such pulps as ''Astounding Stories'', ''Startling Stories'', ''Unknown'' and ''Strange Stories'', Wellman is ...
)
*"The Hag" (
Darrell Schweitzer
Darrell Charles Schweitzer (born August 27, 1952) is an American writer, editor, and critic in the field of speculative fiction. Much of his focus has been on dark fantasy and horror fiction, horror, although he does also work in science fictio ...
)
*"A Kingdom Won" (
Geo W. Proctor)
*"Swordslinger" (
M. A. Washil)
*"On Thud and Blunder" (essay) (
Poul Anderson
Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001) was an American fantasy and science fiction author who was active from the 1940s until the 21st century. Anderson wrote also historical novels. His awards include seven Hugo Awards and ...
)
Reception
The anthology was reviewed by
Darrell Schweitzer
Darrell Charles Schweitzer (born August 27, 1952) is an American writer, editor, and critic in the field of speculative fiction. Much of his focus has been on dark fantasy and horror fiction, horror, although he does also work in science fictio ...
in ''Science Fiction Review'', July 1978, Mark Mansell in ''Science Fiction Review'', November/December 1978, and
Lin Carter
Linwood Vrooman Carter (June 9, 1930 – February 7, 1988) was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor, poet and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft (for an H. P. L ...
in ''
The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 5'' (1980).
Awards
The book placed tenth in the 1979
Locus Poll Award for Best Anthology.
References
1978 anthologies
Fantasy anthologies
Zebra Books books
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