The Book of Swords

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Hero archetypes

Heroine archetypes

Protagonist archetypes

Tropes

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Synopsis

New epic fantasy in the grand tradition—including a never-before-published Song of Ice and Fire story by George R. R. Martin! Fantasy fiction has produced some of the most unforgettable heroes ever conjured onto the page: Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian, Michael Moorcock’s Elric of Melniboné, Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Classic characters like these made sword and sorcery a storytelling sensation, a cornerstone of fantasy fiction—and an inspiration for a new generation of writers, spinning their own outsize tales of magic and swashbuckling adventure. Now, in The Book of Swords , acclaimed editor and bestselling author Gardner Dozois presents an all-new anthology of original epic tales by a stellar cast of award-winning modern masters—many of them set in their authors’ best-loved worlds. Join today’s finest tellers of fantastic tales, including George R. R. Martin, K. J. Parker, Robin Hobb, Scott Lynch, Ken Liu, C. J. Cherryh, Daniel Abraham, Lavie Tidhar, Ellen Kushner, and more on action-packed journeys into the outer realms of dark enchantment and intrepid derring-do, featuring a stunning assortment of fearless swordsmen and warrior women who face down danger and death at every turn with courage, cunning, and cold steel. FEATURING SIXTEEN ALL-NEW STORIES: “The Best Man Wins” by K. J. Parker, read by John Lee “Her Father’s Sword” by Robin Hobb, read by Katharine McEwan “The Hidden Girl” by Ken Liu, read by Kim Mai Guest “The Sword of Destiny” by Matthew Hughes, read by Elliott Hill “‘I Am a Handsome Man’ Said Apollo Crow,” by Kate Elliott, read by Steve West “The Triumph of Virtue” by Walter Jon Williams, read by Elliott Hill “The Mocking Tower” by Daniel Abraham, read by Richard Brewer “Hrunting” by C. J. Cherryh, read by John Lee “A Long, Cold Trail” by Garth Nix, read by Nicholas Guy Smith “When I Was a Highwayman” by Ellen Kushner, read by Kirby Heyborne “The Smoke of Gold Is Glory” by Scott Lynch, read by Ralph Lister “The Colgrid Connundrum” by Rich Larson, read by Mark Deakins “The King’s Evil” by Elizabeth Bear, read by Julia Whelan “Waterfalling” by Lavie Tidhar, read by Mark Deakins “The Sword Tyraste” by Cecelia Holland, read by Steve West “The Sons of the Dragon” by George R. R. Martin, read by Ralph Lister And an introduction by Gardner Dozois, read by Arthur Morey

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Is The Book of Swords appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 16 and up.

Anthology of sword and sorcery stories featuring battle violence, blood, and death typical of the genre. Some stories may contain mature themes and strong language consistent with adult epic fantasy.