The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser

Leiber, 1939 · #50 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 80/120

A towering northern barbarian and a small, quick thief roam the city of Lankhmar, stealing, drinking and getting into trouble with wizards.

Its strongest scores: creative details and mood. The five books below have the closest scores across all eleven criteria.

If you liked Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, read:

1. Gentleman Bastard

   Lynch, 2006 · #68 on the list · 74/120

   Locke Lamora and his crew con the nobility of the canal city of Camorr, until a mysterious killer starts taking apart its underworld.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

2. The Witcher

   Sapkowski, 1992 · #35 on the list · 85/120

   Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter, finds the men who hire him are often worse than the beasts. He is bound by destiny to a princess named Ciri.

   Close on mood, structure, creative details, real-world blend.

3. Vlad Taltos

   Brust, 1983 · #74 on the list · 72/120

   A human assassin climbs the underworld of an elf-like Dragaeran empire, with a witty familiar on his shoulder.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

4. Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn

   Williams, 1988 · #61 on the list · 77/120

   Simon, a kitchen boy at the Hayholt, is swept into a war as an undead elf-king returns to claim Osten Ard.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

5. Elric

   Moorcock, 1961 · #27 on the list · 88/120

   Elric, the albino emperor of Melniboné, is kept alive by drugs and by Stormbringer, a black sword that drinks souls. He brings ruin to those he loves.

   Close on mood, structure, further reading, creative details.

How the scores work: each book is rated 1 to 10 on eleven criteria; real-world blend and climax and fights count double, for a maximum of 120. See the full Fantasy 101.