Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin

Twelfth printing; July 1985

This book contains seven short stories and an essay.

Spiders of the Purple Mage by Philip José Farmer — A woman from the poor section of town joins with a foreigner seeking revenge to break into the well-defended island fortress of a powerful mage.

Goddess by David Drake — A nobleman braves the perils of subterranean passages to avenge his sister’s death.

The Fruit of Enlibar by Lynn Abbey — A fortune-teller’s half-brother returns to town with an artifact whose secret he wants revealed.

The Dream of the Sorceress by A. E. van Vogt — A healer becomes an unwitting pawn in a battle between gods.

Vashanka’s Minion by Janet Morris — A man who serves the God of War spends an unpleasant day or so.

Shadow’s Pawn by Andrew J. Offutt — A master thief tracks down a God-weapon after becoming a victim of it.

To Guard the Guardians by Robert Lynn Asprin — The local crime boss and one of the prince’s personal guard each solve a problem for the other.

Essay: The Lighter Side of Sanctuary — A hilarious description of Sanctuary as if written by the local Chamber of Commerce.

Thieves’ World

Ace Fantasy Book, 17th printing, July 1985

Story 5: The Price of Doing Business by Robert Asprin

— Misplaced trust, murderous intent, and morality —

Story 6: Blood Brothers by Joe Haldeman

— Contraband, conjuration, and eternal death —

Interesting vocabulary:

coadjuvant

houppelande

croy:

“Half the money. He tried to croy me.”

I’m unable to find a definition for this word, but out of what information I could find, I suspect a meaning related to Scotland, in the sense of the stereotype of Scottish people being tight with money.

Marketplace

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Thieves’ World

Ace Fantasy Book, 17th printing, July 1985

Story 4: Shadowspawn by Andrew Offutt

— A thief, a theft, treachery, torture, and a truce —

Interesting vocabulary:

buskin

cupiditous - search the web to see various uses and definitions

falcate

horripilation

kohl

louted

wight (in the sense “brave man”)

Marketplace

Here’s the most recent edition.

Thieves’ World

Ace Fantasy Book, 17th printing, July 1985

Story 3: The Gate of the Flying Knives by Poul Anderson

— A theft, a daring rescue, and disengagement —

I like the imagery in these sentences:

Page 118:

“Beware! I deduce your thought. Choke it before it kills you.”

Page 121:

His fingers remembered to gather the coins.

Page 123:

The sole traffic on the Avenue of Temples was a night breeze, cold and sibilant.

Page 133:

“What, what, what,” the deacon gobbled.

Page 134:

When her grey eyes turned toward him, his heart became a lyre.

Marketplace

Here’s the most recent edition.

Thieves’ World

Ace Fantasy Book, 17th printing, July 1985

Story 2: The Face of Chaos by Lynn Abbey

— Ill omens, intertwined fates, and achievement —

Page 65:

“If you had already seen your fate—then you should have asked a different question, such as whether it can be changed […]”

Page 69:

“No, I have nothing to do with gods. I do not notice them, and they do not see me.”

Page 79:

“As long as everything is in my head, I’m certain everything is possible and that I will succeed.”

Marketplace

Here’s the most recent edition.