Thieves' World®

A classic series for a new generation of fantasy adventure fans, Thieves' World® paved the way for the shared-world anthology tradition with epic worldbuilding, unforgettable characters, and nonstop action thanks to the legendary authors who contribute to it. The series's groundbreaking debut features stories by John Brunner, Lynn Abbey, Poul Anderson, Andrew J. Offutt, Robert Lynn Asprin, Joe Haldeman, Christine DeWees, and Marion Zimmer Bradley, who populate the lawless city of Sanctuary with orphans and wizards, fortune tellers and emperors, merchants and madams, spies, assassins, and, of course, thieves.

Belly up to Thieves' World®'s favorite bar for tales told by such fantasy stars as Philip José Farmer, David Drake, Janet Morris, and others. In the second shared-world anthology of the Thieves' World® series, we see "the gods themselves taking a hand in the fight for the hearts, minds and souls of the citizens of Sanctuary" (Fantasy-Faction). Via contributions from Philip José Farmer, David Drake, Lynn Abbey, A.E. van Vogt, Janet Morris, Andrew J. Offutt, and Robert Lynn Asprin, you'll revisit the nefarious characters of Sanctuary, including One-Thumb, the proprietor of the Vulgar Unicorn; Regli, a nobleman; Illyra, the seer; Hanes, the thief; the crime lord, Jubal; and introducing Tempus Thales, the immortal mercenary. "It's the best kind of sequel, the kind which was not meticulously planned from the start, unlike the deliberate megafranchises being created today, which may be plotted out for a decade in advance of the launch. . . . An important book in the series . . . Many elements which will be exploited to huge degree and cast a huge shadow over later pages are introduced here for the first time. . . . In some ways, it provides an anticipatory, even direct, model for the grimdark of the nineties which would follow." -World of Antra

Dark divinations spell trouble for a lawless city in this shared-world fantasy anthology edited by the New York Times–bestselling author of Sanctuary. "Amusingly 'low' fantasy adventure, varied enough to appeal to those who have had their fill of Tolkien and want funnier, nastier stuff." -Kirkus Reviews Surviving is a full-time occupation for the citizens of Sanctuary. A city shaped by magic, evil, and political intrigue, she has weathered natural disasters and man-made calamities for ages. The great priest, Molin Torchholder preserved her history and secrets. All his knowledge has since passed along to Cauvin, a stonemason who is now a reluctant advisor to Sanctuary's current master, the Irrune chieftain Arizak. Beckoned to the palace, Cauvin hears a troubling prophecy. The shadows are coming, bringing with them sorcery, the likes of which the city hasn't seen in decades. Sanctuary has reached a turning point. With new dangers on the way and a dead man haunting his thoughts, Cauvin must find a way to ensure his home's continued survival . . . Welcome back to Sanctuary and prepare to meet an eccentric cast of characters like Halott the Necromancer, Latilla the daughter of the legendary artist Lalo the Limmer, Dysan the short and scrappy thief, and Jake the Rat! The shared-world anthology returns with stories by Raymond E. Feist, Dennis L. McKiernan, Mickey Zucker Reichert, Diana Paxson, Jody Lynn Nye, Lynn Abbey, and many more. "Shapechangers, wizards, cutpurses, and assassins share the spotlight in stories by Lynn Abbey, Raymond Feist, Andrew Offut, and others. Fans of the original 'Thieves' World' series should enjoy this volume, a sequel to Abbey's novel Sanctuary and a harbinger of other volumes to come. A good choice for most fantasy collections." -Library Journal

The third Thieves' World® anthology-with stories by fantasy's favorite authors-curated by the New York Times-bestselling author of the Myth series. Times are hard, and the citizens of Sanctuary are not their greedy, immoral, grifting selves. But desperate times call for desperate measures, which means the bad guys are about to up their game. No one is safe from Sanctuary's evil charms-not the fish in the waters, not the prince's own Hell Hound guards, not even Satan himself.

A whirlwind of fantasy action and adventure descends on Thieves' World®-as related by C. J. Cherryh, Diana L. Paxson, Andrew J. Offutt, and others. Welcome back to Sanctuary, "the city where anything could happen, where characters created by some of the best fantasy writers of the generation crossed paths and shared adventures" (Black Gate). The Thieves' World® series continues with a story line created by Robert Lynn Asprin, C. J. Cherryh, Diana L. Paxson, Lynn Abbey, Janet Morris, and Andrew J. Offutt. In Storm Season, immortal warrior Tempus Thales and his nemesis, the crime lord Jubal, go head to head in fast-paced exploits that bring the simmering tension between them to a boil.

War looms over Sanctuary in the fifth Thieves' World® anthology compiled by the New York Times-bestselling author of the Phule's Company series. The invasion by the Beysibs, an amphibious humanoid race, brings unusual prosperity to the city of Sanctuary. But underneath the glittering façade lies a ticking time bomb, for the nefarious residents of Sanctuary don't take kindly to an invasion-well-meaning or otherwise . . . Join Janet Morris, C. J. Cherryh, Robert Lynn Asprin, Lynn Abbey, David Drake, and Diana L. Paxson as their stories unravel the fates of Sanctuary's favorite liars, thieves, assassins, and warriors.

Sixth in the magical, action-packed shared-world series: "Thieves' World® has grown into a real presence in the fantasy genre" (Fantasy-Faction). Under the rule of a humanoid race, the city of Sanctuary finds itself divided. Rebels and assassins stalk the shadows, bringing chaos to the streets-which is nothing new to the lawless locals. But even they will have to put aside their differences to unite against their common enemy. An accomplishment easier said than done in a city where everyone is out for themselves . . . Stories by Chris and Janet Morris, Robin W. Bailey, Diana L. Paxson, Diane Duane, C. J. Cherryh, Andrew J. Offutt, Lynn Abbey, and Robert Lynn Asprin add to the legend and lore of this "surprisingly rich and deep world" (Book Riot). "In the sixth book of the collection, the friction between the residents of Sanctuary and the invading Beysib heats up and makes for some exciting reading . . . Offutt's character Shadowspawn gets some good coverage, and a few fresh new characters also get some play . . ." -Fantasy-Faction "'The Hand That Feeds You' {by Diane Duane} is one of the best stories in the entire collection to date." -brianbookreviews.blogspot.com

The dead rise in the seventh volume of the shared-world fantasy, co-edited by the New York Times—bestselling author of the Myth Adventures series. As winter descends on the fractured city of Sanctuary, it's expected that the rainy season will cool the air. But tensions are simmering. The Emperor is dead, and the rightful heir to the throne is in town. The city is a battlefield, and armed factions war for control of the streets. While the Rankan Empire faces a crisis, the original Stepsons have returned to take back what is theirs. And then there is the matter of a witch and an army of undead... Things are heating up in this action-packed world of sword and sorcery. Prepare yourself for adventure in this shared-world anthology featuring stories by some of fantasy's best authors, including Janet Morris, C. J. Cherryh, Diane Duane, Robin W. Bailey, Andrew Offutt, Diana L. Paxson, Lynn Abbey, and Robert Lynn Asprin.

Dark magical forces are afoot in the eighth entry of the shared-world fantasy series. An ominous black storm from hell rages down on the city of Ranke. Its streets are full of lethal hail, and its walls are coated with ash. As the new Emperor and his mercenary Tempus wonder what can be done to stop it, a shade manifests before them on behalf of the gods with a decree: Travel to the city of Sanctuary and destroy the globes of the Nisibisi power... Meanwhile, Sanctuary is riddled with crime, blood feuds, and warring factions. An army of mercenaries is all that stands between the city and chaos. And the witch once known as Death's Queen, Roxane, lives in a hovel by the river. She no longer holds as much power as she once did, but even she can sense that trouble is on its way... Brace yourself for adventure in this shared-world anthology featuring six stories by three of fantasy's best authors: Lynn Abbey, Janet Morris, and C. J. Cherryh.

A ruined city rebuilds in the ninth entry of this shared-world fantasy series. Hakiem, storyteller and adviser, surveys the city of Sanctuary from a palace window and is heartbroken by what he sees. The city of outlaws and adventurers now lies in shambles, ravaged by war, plague, riots, and magical destruction, and many citizens are dead or wounded. Hakiem is not the only one thinking of leaving . . . Now, without gods or magic, the people of Sanctuary face the task of rebuilding their homes and their lives. It will be their toughest struggle for survival yet. Featuring stories from some of fantasy's best authors, including Robert Lynn Asprin, Diana L. Paxson, Janet and Chris Morris, Robin W. Bailey, C. J. Cherryh, Diane Duane, Lynn Abbey, and Andrew and Jodie Offutt.

The mercenary Stepsons leave Sanctuary behind in this tenth volume of the shared-world fantasy anthology series. As Tempus and his mercenary army, the Stepsons, depart from war-torn Sanctuary, there are some who view it as a return to normal. Yet what is normal in this city of thieves and adventurers? Laborers arrive to help in the rebuilding efforts, but some of these able-bodied men are disappearing. An assassin seeks revenge for his brother, and others aim to instill peace in the community while vicious rivalries emerge from Sanctuary's rubble. And a struggle for power seems to be brewing... If this is your kind of "normal," then enter an action-packed world of sword and sorcery in this shared-world anthology featuring stories by some of fantasy's best authors: Robert Lynn Asprin, Mark C. Perry, Janet Morris, David Drake, John Brunner, Lynn Abbey, and Andrew Offutt.

The struggle to rebuild Sanctuary continues in the eleventh entry in this shared-world fantasy series. The storms of war have passed Sanctuary by, and ordinary folk are confident the worst is behind them. Citizens work to restore their lives as the reconstruction brings new life to the city in more ways than one. However, it's not sunny skies for everyone. Some residents are opting to settle old debts by the sword, and others are still vanishing off the streets. Meanwhile, Shupansea, ruler of the Beysib, is troubled by bloody nightmares, wondering what they could mean... Dive into the action-packed shared world of sword and sorcery, featuring stories by some of fantasy's best authors, including Lynn Abbey, Robert Lynn Asprin, C. J. Cherryh, Jon DeCles, Chris Morris, C. S. Williams, Robin W. Bailey, and Diana L. Paxson. "It's a collection to be raced through, to see what will happen. And it's a collection to drag one's feet through, lest the end come too soon." -Fantasy-Faction

The twelfth entry in the shared-world fantasy series finds wrongs righted, debts paid, and the city swathed in a mysterious dust storm. With the completion of its new wall, Sanctuary seems peaceful and prosperous. The Beysib and Rankan invaders now favor diplomacy over military action. The wharves that once hosted only fishermen are now full of trade ships carrying merchandise to the city, and the streets, once full of warring factions, are calm. But soon warriors are preparing for battle as strong winds out of the desert bring swirling clouds of sand and dust, enveloping the city in chaos. It is the perfect time for thieves to strike . . . The original shared-world fantasy adventure series ends with this collection, featuring stories by some of fantasy's best authors like Robert Lynn Asprin, Andrew Offutt, John DeCles, Duane McGowen, Diana L. Paxson, C. J. Cherryh, Robin W. Bailey, and Lynn Abbey.

Books seven, eight, and nine of the shared-world series that's "a bold and daring experiment in fantasy storytelling" (Fantasy-Faction). An army of undead, warring criminal factions, power-hungry witches, and magical destruction await in the city of Sanctuary with this collection co-edited by Robert Lynn Asprin, New York Times—bestselling author of the Myth Adventures series. Get caught up in the action-packed adventure of this shared-world series, featuring stories from some of fantasy's best authors likeLynn Abbey, Robert Lynn Asprin, Robin W. Bailey, C. J. Cherryh, Diane Duane, Janet and Chris Morris, Andrew and Jodie Offutt, and Diana L. Paxson.

Volumes ten, eleven, and twelve bring the original, classic shared-world fantasy series to a close with an action-packed ending. As the storms of war blow past Sanctuary, the city rebuilds. Citizens work to put their lives back in order. Rights are wronged, debts are paid, and vengeance is pursued. But laborers are disappearing, a battle is brewing, and a sandstorm is blowing in from the desert, ready to envelop the city in chaos . . . Get lost in the adventure with this collection co-edited by Robert Lynn Asprin, New York Times–bestselling author of the Myth Adventures series, featuring colorful stories by fantasy's best authors like Lynn Abbey, Robin W. Bailey, John Brunner, C. J. Cherryh, Jon DeCles, David Drake, Duane McGowen, Janet Morris, Mark C. Perry, Andrew Offutt, Diana L. Paxson, and C. S. Williams. Praise for the Thieves' World® series "It's a collection to be raced through, to see what will happen. And it's a collection to drag one's feet through, lest the end come too soon." -Fantasy-Faction "Game of Thrones has come to an end. . . . [Here's] a fantasy series to fill the void. . . . You'll be pulled into political intrigues, watch new gods replace old, and witness fortunes rise and fall and rise again." -Book Riot "Sanctuary was the city where anything could happen, where characters created by some of the best fantasy writers of the generation crossed paths and shared adventures." -Black Gate

Experience "a bold and daring experiment in fantasy storytelling" with the first three books in the bestselling Thieves' World® series (Fantasy-Faction). Created by the New York Times–bestselling author of the Myth series, as well as the Phule's Company series, Thieves' World® brings together classic fantasy's finest authors to flesh out the shared world with their own unforgettable characters and epic worldbuilding. The first three books include stories by Lynn Abbey, Poul Anderson, Robert Lynn Asprin, Marion Zimmer Bradley, C. J. Cherryh, David Drake, Philip José Farmer, Joe Haldeman, Janet Morris, Andrew J. Offutt, and others. They introduce you to the nefarious citizens of the city of Sanctuary, including One-Thumb, the proprietor of the Vulgar Unicorn tavern; Regli, a nobleman; Illyra, the seer; Hanes, the thief; Jubal, the crime lord; and Tempus Thales, the immortal mercenary. "Game of Thrones has come to an end. . . . [Here's] a fantasy series to fill the void. . . . You'll be pulled into political intrigues, watch new gods replace old, and witness fortunes rise and fall and rise again." - Book Riot "Sanctuary was the city where anything could happen, where characters created by some of the best fantasy writers of the generation crossed paths and shared adventures." -Black Gate

Invasion, war, and rebellion roil the city of Sanctuary in this three-book collection compiled by the New York Times-bestselling author of the Myth series, as well as the Phule's Company series. The shared-world series comes alive with stories by Lynn Abbey, Robert Lynn Asprin, Robin W. Bailey, C. J. Cherryh, David Drake, Diane Duane, Chris and Janet Morris, Andrew J. Offutt, and Diana L. Paxson.

A priest rushes to pass along his memories of a dangerous city as death and a vengeful cult draw near in this fantasy novel by a New York Times bestseller. "Fans of Thieves' World will relish this sprawling epic, rich with sword and sorcery archetypes, from one of its cocreators. . . . The gates to this famed city are reopened, assuring all that more adventures are just around the corner." -Publishers Weekly Return once again to the den of thieves, swordsmen, wizards, priests, and gods known as Sanctuary . . . Sanctuary is a city shaped by ages of heroes and villains. In her lifetime, she has weathered catastrophes and welcomed prosperity. She has seen fire, storm, plague, invasion, madness, and gods at war. Yet her present-day citizens have no time for memories for they are too busy trying to survive. Only Lord Molin Torchholder, the ancient and wise architect of the city's glory, knows the whole truth about Sanctuary. But when an attempt on his life leaves him fighting to keep death at bay, he must find an heir for all his knowledge of the city's history. Aiding him in his struggle are Cauvin, a not-too-bright stonemason's apprentice, and Bec, his spirited younger brother. Soon, Molin's chronicles of the past unfold, but their time grows shorter. An evil long thought dead has returned to Sanctuary's streets, eager to write more history . . . with blood. "The originator of the popular 'Thieves' World' novels, the first shared-world fantasy environment, has returned to a world where vice and decadence coexist with heroism and self-sacrifice in a heady blend of atmosphere and adventure that should appeal to fans of the original series as well as newcomers. Highly recommended." -Library Journal "Although this is primarily an adventure story, and a pretty good one at that, it is also a richer and more detailed novel . . . the book is both more ambitious and more rewarding than most similar fantasy adventures, as well as providing a nostalgic return to the Thieves' World." -Science Fiction Chronicle

A shipwreck's cargo shakes up a magical city in this shared-world fantasy anthology edited by the New York Times–bestselling author of Sanctuary.   "Editor Abbey . . . has gotten high-quality contributions from mostly well-known fantasy hands, and she interweaves them so deftly that the book reads like a novel." -Booklist   Welcome back to Sanctuary, a den of thieves, swordsmen, sorcerers, fanatics, and gods. Her residents will do whatever it takes to survive . . .   Whether he likes it or not, Cauvin the surly stonemason leads a double life as advisor to the current ruler of Sanctuary. The memories of the late priest, Molin Torchholder, now inhabit Cauvin's mind, giving him unparalleled expertise on most issues, but it's his own memories that drive him to investigate the murder of a local merchant.   Meanwhile, a treacherous storm has left a shipwreck off Sanctuary's shore. In a city of necromancers, assassins, urchins, knaves, and thugs, some are desperate to get their hands upon the bountiful cargo of exotic treasures and arcane secrets. But one man's boon is often another man's curse . . .   This shared-world anthology features stories by Lynn Abbey, Stephen Brust, C. J. Cherryh, Jeff Grubb, Mickey Zucker Reichert, Dennis McKiernan, Andrew Offutt, Robin Wayne Bailey, Diana Paxson, Jody Lynn Nye, Selina Rosen, and Jane Fancher.   "The grim city of Sanctuary and its often-grimmer inhabitants provide plenty of fantasy fun." -Publishers Weekly   "The recurring characters here work a winning charm." -Kirkus Reviews