''Thieves' World'' is an anthology of short stories edited by
Robert Asprin published in 1979, the first in the ''
Thieves' World'' anthology series.
Contents
''Thieves' World'' is a collection of stories set in the city of Sanctuary, a dying trading city on the southern tip of a peninsula, which has become a den of thieves.
"Introduction" by Robert Lynn Asprin
:The Emperor of the Rankan Empire sends his stepbrother
Prince Kadakithis to restore order to Sanctuary, accompanied by five elite guards dubbed Hell-Hounds.
"Sentences of Death" by
John Brunner John Brunner may refer to:
* Sir John Brunner, 1st Baronet (1842–1919), British industrialist and Liberal Member of Parliament
* John L. Brunner (1929–1980), Pennsylvania politician
* Sir John Brunner, 2nd Baronet (1865–1929), British Libera ...
:
Jarveena, a Yenized scribe, makes a deal with the wizard
Enas Yorl to foil the assassination of Prince Kadakithis and take revenge on a past enemy.
"The Face of Chaos" by
Lynn Abbey
:
Illyra, the half S'danzo seer, attempts to save a virgin bride from being sacrificed to consecrate a new temple for the gods.
"The Gate of the Flying Knives" by
Poul Anderson
:Minstrel
Cappen Varra journeys to a magical plane to rescue his kidnapped lover, aided by adventurer
Jamie the Red.
"Shadowspawn" by
Andrew 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 ...
:Young thief
Shadowspawn
''The Wheel of Time'' is a series of high fantasy novels by American author Robert Jordan, with Brandon Sanderson as a co-author for the final three novels. Originally planned as a six-book series, ''The Wheel of Time'' spans 14 volumes, in ...
(Hanse) becomes involved in a plot to steal the Rod of Authority from Prince Kadakithis.
"The Price of Doing Business" by Robert Lynn Asprin
:Crime lord
Jubal is lured into a trap as revenge for a death caused by his criminal network, but his life is saved by the Hell-Hound
Zalbar.
"Blood Brothers" by
Joe Haldeman:
:Bartender and underground criminal
One-Thumb meets his fate when betrayed by a wizard in a business deal.
"Myrtis" by Christine DeWees
:Aphrodisia House owner
Myrtis prevents the shutdown of her brothel by casting a love spell on Zalbar and revealing one of Sanctuary's deepest secrets.
"The Secret of the Blue Star" by
Marion Zimmer Bradley
:
Lythande must protect a perilous secret from being discovered by a rival wizard of the same order.
Essay: "The Making of Thieves World" by Robert Lynn Asprin
Reception
Greg Costikyan reviewed ''Thieves' World'' in ''
Ares Magazine'' #1.
Costikyan commented that "since fantasy role-playing involves the group production of a multi-hero fantasy story, role-playing fans especially will find ''Thieves' World'' enjoyable.
..The stories themselves range from mediocre to excellent, but all are worth reading."
reviewed ''Thieves' World'' for ''
Imagine'' magazine, and stated that "The result is an intriguingly different fantasy anthology. All those different viewpoints and flavours really do give Sanctuary three dimensions, if not more. Bradley's sentimentality is offset by Joe Haldeman's cynicism, Lynn Abbey's poignant mystery by Robert Asprin's shrewd morality."
''Thieves' World'' was nominated for the 1980
World Fantasy Award—Collection
The World Fantasy Awards are given each year by the World Fantasy Convention for the best fantasy fiction published in English during the previous calendar year. The awards have been described by book critics such as ''The Guardian'' as a "prest ...
.
Reviews
*Review by Don D'Ammassa (1986) in
Science Fiction Chronicle, #83 August 1986
References
{{reflist
1979 anthologies
Ace Books books
American anthologies
Fantasy anthologies
Thieves' World