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A READER'S GUIDE TO SWORD & SORCERY THIEVES WORLD

Robert Lynn Aspirin, Poul Anderson and other writers got a neat idea. What if, like the Cthulhu Mythos, they had a world in which they could write Fantasy stories about the same characters, places and events? And so the Shared World anthology was born in the late 1970s. Thieves' World was the first and the best of the lot. Plenty of heroic fantasy of different hues from out-and-out Sword & Sorcery to more subtle forms. The game was so much fun it even attracted writers who never wrote anything even close to S&S in their long careers such as A. E. van Vogt, John Brunner and Joe Haldeman. For another group of young writers it set them in their careers like David Drake, Diana L. Paxson, Janet Morris, Diane Duane and others.

Original Anthologies edited by Robert Lynn Aspirin & Lynn Abbey

1. Thieves' World (1979) which contains:

2. "Introduction" by Robert Lynn Asprin
3. "Sentences of Death" by John Brunner
4. "The Face of Chaos" by Lynn Abbey
5. "The Gate of the Flying Knives" by Poul Anderson
6. "Shadowspawn" by Andrew J. Offutt
7. "The Price of Doing Business" by Robert Lynn Asprin
8. "Blood Brothers" by Joe W. Haldeman
9. "Myrtis" by Christine DeWees
10. "The Secret of the Blue Star" by Marion Zimmer Bradley
11. "The Making of Thieves’ World" by Robert Lynn Asprin

12. Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn (1980) which contains:

13. "Introduction" by Robert Lynn Asprin
14. "Spiders of the Purple Mage" by Philip José Farmer
15. "Goddess" by David Drake
16. "The Fruit of Enlibar" by Lynn Abbey
17. "The Dream of the Sorceress" by A. E. van Vogt
18. "Vashanka’s Minion" by Janet Morris
19. "Shadow’s Pawn" by Andrew J. Offutt
20. "To Guard the Guardians" by Robert Lynn Asprin
21. "Essay: The Lighter Side of Sanctuary" by Robert Lynn Asprin

22. Shadows of Sanctuary (1981) which contains:

23. "Introduction" by Robert Lynn Asprin
24. "Looking for Satan" by Vonda N. McIntyre
25. "Ischade" by C. J. Cherryh
26. "A Gift in Parting" by Robert Lynn Asprin
27. "The Vivisectionist" by Andrew J. Offutt
28. "The Rhinoceros and the Unicorn" by Diana L. Paxson ·
29. "Then Azyuna Danced" by Lynn Abbey
30. "A Man and His God" by Janet Morris
31. "Essay: Things the Editor Never Told Me" by Lynn Abbey

32. Storm Season (1982) which contains:

33. " Editor’s Note" by Robert Lynn Asprin
34. "Storm Season Introduction" by Robert Lynn Asprin
35. "Exercise in Pain" by Robert Lynn Asprin
36. "Downwind" by C. J. Cherryh
37. "A Fugitive Art" by Diana L. Paxson
38. "Steel" by Lynn Abbey
39. "Wizard Weather" by Janet Morris
40. "Godson" by Andrew J. Offutt
41. "Epilog" by Robert Lynn Asprin

42. The Face of Chaos (1983) which contains:

43. " Introduction" by Robert Lynn Asprin
44. "High Moon" by Janet Morris
45. "Necromant" by C. J. Cherryh
46. "The Art of Alliance" by Robert Lynn Asprin
47. "The Corners of Memory" by Lynn Abbey
48. "Votary" by David Drake
49. "Mirror Image" by Diana L. Paxson

50. Wings of Omen (1984) which contains:

51. " Introduction" by Robert Lynn Asprin
52. "What Women Do Best" by Chris & Janet Morris
53. "Daughter of the Sun" by Robin Wayne Bailey
54. "A Breath of Power" by Diana L. Paxson
55. "The Hand That Feeds You" by Diane E. Duane
56. "Witching Hour" by C. J. Cherryh
57. "Rebels aren’t Born in Palaces" by Andrew J. Offutt
58. "Gyskouras" by Lynn Abbey
59. "A Fish Without Feathers Is Out of His Depth" by Robert Lynn Asprin
60. "A Special Note from the Editors" by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey

61. The Dead of Winter (1985) which contains:

62. "Introduction" by Robert Lynn Asprin
63. "Hell to Pay" by Janet Morris
64. "The Veiled Lady, or A Look at the Normal Folk" by Andrew J. Offutt
65. "The God-Chosen" by Lynn Abbey
66. "Keeping Promises" by Robin Wayne Bailey
67. "Armies of the Night" by C. J. Cherryh
68. "Down by the Riverside" by Diane Duane
69. " When the Spirit Moves You" by Robert Lynn Asprin
70. "The Color of Magic" by Diana L. Paxson
71. "Afterword" by Andrew J. Offutt

72. Soul of the City (1986) which contains:

73. "Power Play" by Janet Morris
74. "Dagger in the Mind" by C. J. Cherryh
75. "Children of All Ages" by Lynn Abbey
76. "Death in the Meadow" by C. J. Cherryh
77. "The Small Powers that Endure" by Lynn Abbey
78. "Pillar of Fire" by Janet Morris

79. Blood Ties (1986) which contains:

80. " Introduction" by Robert Lynn Asprin
81. "Lady of Fire" by Diana L. Paxson
82. "Sanctuary Is for Lovers" by Janet & Chris Morris
83. "Lovers Who Slay Together" by Robin Wayne Bailey
84. "In the Still of the Night" by C. J. Cherryh
85. "No Glad in Gladiator" by Robert Lynn Asprin
86. "The Tie That Binds" byDiane Duane
87. "Sanctuary Nocturne" by Lynn Abbey
88. "Spellmaster" by Andrew J. & Jodie Offutt
89. "Afterword" by C. J. Cherryh

90. Aftermath (1987) which contains:

91. "Introduction" by Robert Lynn Asprin
92. "Cade" by Mark C. Perry
93. "Wake of the Riddler" by Janet Morris
94. "Inheritor" by David Drake
95. "Mercy Worse Than None" by John Brunner
96. "Seeing Is Believing (But Love Is Blind)" by Lynn Abbey
97. "Homecoming" by Andrew J. Offutt

98. Uneasy Alliances (1988) which contains

99. "Introduction" by Lynn Abbey
100. "Slave Trade" by Robert Lynn Asprin
101. "The Best of Friends" by C. J. Cherryh
102. "The Power of Kings" by Jon DeCles
103. "Red Light, Love Light" by Chris Morris
104. "A Sticky Business" by C. S. Williams
105. "The Promise of Heaven" by Robin Wayne Bailey
106. "The Vision of Lalo" by Diana L. Paxson

107. Stealers' Sky (1989) which contains:

108. "Introduction" by Robert Lynn Asprin
109. "Night Work" by Andrew J. Offutt
110. "The Incompetent Audience" by Jon DeCles
111. "Our Vintage Years" by Duane McGowen
112. "Quicksilver Dreams" by Diana L. Paxson
113. "Winds of Fortune" by C. J. Cherryh
114. "The Fire in a God’s Eye" by Robin Wayne Bailey
115. "Web Weavers" by Lynn Abbey
116. "To Begin Again" by Robert Lynn Asprin

Novels and Collections

117. Beyond Sanctuary (1985) by Janet Morris
118. Beyond the Veil (1985) by Janet Morris
119. Beyond Wizardwall (1986) by Janet Morris
120. Shadowspawn (1987) by Andrew J Offutt
121. Dagger (1988) by David Drake
122. Deathknight (1990) by Andrew J Offutt
123. The Shadow of Sorcery (1993) by Andrew J Offutt
124. Lythande (1986) by Marion Zimmer Bradley
125. Tempus (1987) by Janet Morris
126. City at the Edge of Time (1988) by Janet Morris
127. Tempus Unbound (1989) by Janet Morris
128. Storm Seed (1990) by Janet Morris
129. Sanctuary (2002) by Lynn Abbey

Other Short stories

130. "The Valor of Cappen Varra" (1957) by Poul Anderson (Fantastic Universe, January 1957)
131. "Bitch" (1987) by Marion Zimmer Bradley (Fantasy & Science Fiction, February 1987)
132. "The Walker Behind" (1987) by Marion Zimmer Bradley (Fantasy & Science Fiction, July 1987)
133. "The Malice of the Demon" (1988) by Marion Zimmer Bradley (Fantasy & Science Fiction, September 1988)
134. "Here There Be Dragons?" (1995) by Marion Zimmer Bradley in Excalibur, 1995
135. "The Stars Are Tears" (1996) by Robin Wayne Bailey in Bending the Landscape: Fantasy 1997
136. The Gratitude of Kings (1998) by Marion Zimmer Bradley & Elisabeth Waters
137. "The Lady of the Winds" (2001) by Poul Anderson (Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/November 2001)
138. "A Tale of Two Cities" (2005) by Lynn Abbey - in The Thieves' World Player's Manual

Omnibuses

139. Sanctuary 1982.
140. Cross-Currents 1984.
141. The Shattered Sphere 1986.
142. The Price of Victory 1989.
143. First Blood 2003.

New Anthologies edited by Lynn Abbey

144. Turning Points (2002) which contains:

145. "Introduction" by Lynn Abbey
146. "Home Is Where the Hate Is" byMickey Zucker Reichert
147. "Role Model" by Andrew Offutt
148. "The Prisoner in the Jewel" by Diana L. Paxson
149. "Ritual Evolution" by Selina Rosen
150. "Duel" by Dennis L. McKiernan
151. "Ring of Sea and Fire" by Robin Wayne Bailey
152. "Doing the Gods’ Work" by Jody Lynn Nye
153. "The Red Lucky" by Lynn Abbey
154. "Apocalypse Noun" by Jeff Grubb
155. "One to Go" by Raymond E. Feist
156. "Afterword" by Lynn Abbey

157. Enemies of Fortune (2004) which contains:

158. " Introduction" by Lynn Abbey
159. "Widowmaker" by C. J. Cherryh & Jane Fancher
160. "Deadly Ritual" by Mickey Zucker Reichert
161. "Pricks and Afflictions" by Dennis L. McKiernan
162. "Consequences" by Jody Lynn Nye
163. "Good Neighbors" by Lynn Abbey
164. "Gathering Strength" by Selina Rosen
165. " Dark of the Moon" by Andrew Offutt
166. "Protection" by Robin Wayne Bailey
167. "Legacies" by Jane Fancher & C. J. Cherryh
168. "Malediction" by Jeff Grubb
169. "The Ghost in the Phoenix" by Diana L. Paxson & Ian Grey
170. "The Ballad of Shemhaza" by Steven Brust