I recently found copies of the Thieves' World anthologies in a used bookstore, and have the first three (I've completed the first and am partway through the second). Also, I've heard reference to a Thieves' World RPG, with the first version from the 1980s having had a conversion to Traveller; can anyone tell me anything about this?
Thieves' World RPG
- Thread starter Jame
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Rhialto the Marvelous
SOC-13
TW was a Chaosium boxed set--not a standalone RPG but a city setting based on the anthologies, with stats for a dozen RPGs including Traveller.
After Lankhmar it's my favorite city to game in. The artwork was spectacular, the setting detail evocative without being overwhelming, and all fans of 76 Patrons will like the random encounter tables from Midkemia Press.
Not a cheap item any longer, alas, but worth getting.
After Lankhmar it's my favorite city to game in. The artwork was spectacular, the setting detail evocative without being overwhelming, and all fans of 76 Patrons will like the random encounter tables from Midkemia Press.
Not a cheap item any longer, alas, but worth getting.
RPGNow has some items for sale and they refer to the 1979 series...
http://www.rpgnow.com/advanced_sear...ption=1&search_in_author=1&search_in_artist=1
Don't know how good they are. You might try asking people on other boards who have the material to see how good it is.
This one seem highly rated...PDF too, you could be viewing this tonight!
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=19804&it=1
http://www.rpgnow.com/advanced_sear...ption=1&search_in_author=1&search_in_artist=1
Don't know how good they are. You might try asking people on other boards who have the material to see how good it is.
This one seem highly rated...PDF too, you could be viewing this tonight!
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=19804&it=1
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Thieves world rpg
Rpg now has for download a new version of thieves world for use with d20 and the OGL. There are 2 products Thieves world rulebook and thieves world players companion. I don't remember the manufacturer off the top of my head. Also there are 2 new print antholgies of stories set in the thieves world setting. Both came out late 2006 through mid 2007. Both the rpg and the new stories take place after ie future from the old stories.
I have the rule book and it's pretty good, never did get the players companion as I could never get my friends interested in the setting,
Thraxas
Rpg now has for download a new version of thieves world for use with d20 and the OGL. There are 2 products Thieves world rulebook and thieves world players companion. I don't remember the manufacturer off the top of my head. Also there are 2 new print antholgies of stories set in the thieves world setting. Both came out late 2006 through mid 2007. Both the rpg and the new stories take place after ie future from the old stories.
I have the rule book and it's pretty good, never did get the players companion as I could never get my friends interested in the setting,
Thraxas
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
I absolutely love the Thieves' World books, btw. They're exceptional. Not any one story. Not any one character. Not any one author. It's the "whole" that makes the stories so good.
Reading them is like watching a Television Series with a bunch of characters (like Deadwood).
I read the first book and thought, "Ah, it's OK. Not GREAT. But, I'll read another."
After I finished the second book, I said, "Man, this is getting kinda cool. I'll definitely read another."
By the time I finished the third book (and my favorite story, so far, The Vivisectionist), it was all over. I was hooked. Great series.
But, it took time to get there.
I'm not sure if you know, but there are several Theives World novels out there, too. They tend to coincide with the anthology at parts.
Janet Morris wrote a trilogy featuring one of my favorite characters, Tempus, that should be read after you read Book #5. Those three books are called: Beyond Sanctuary, Beyond The Veil, and Beyond Wizardwall.
You'll want to get those three.
Note that Morris also wrote some other books (sometimes co-authored with her son, Chris Morris) featuring Tempus--but these are not really set in the "Theives World" universe, so I don't count them (heck, one is set in modern-day Manhattan!).
Gordon R. Dickson wrote a story about Jamie The Red (from the first Theives World anthology), but it's not set in the Thieves World universe, either--again, I don't count it.
And, Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote several stories set outside the Theives World universe with her character Lythande. But, again, I don't count them because they're outside the TW universe.
But, the novels I would get (along with the 12 anthologies) are the two Shadowspawn books by Andrew Offutt: Shadowspawn, and Shadow of Sorcery. David Drake writes a mean book in Dagger.
So, the ones you'll want to complete your TW collection are: (1) The 12 TW anthologies; (2) The Morris trilogy above; (3) The Offutt duology above; and (4) Drake's book.
Plus, in 2002, an attempt was made to restart the Thieves World anthologies, but it looks like it failed. That series kicked off with a novel by Lynn Abbey called, simlpy, Sanctuary, followed by two anthologies: Turning Points, and Enemies of Fortune.
Plus, there are some free short stories by Poul Anderson featuring his Cappen Verra character that you can download here: http://www.thievesworld.info/novels/otherbooks.htm
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
From what I understand, Lythande's stories do not occur in the TW universe. I do like Lythande (especially his secret, which I won't divulge here--thought that was damn cool when I found it out), but I've only been reading TW stuff set in the TW universe.
If I'm wrong, and MZB's Lythande's stories are included in the same universe, then I'll go get 'em.
Unfortunate, if true, on the failure: while they weren't great (worth getting from a discount bin), the final story in EoF by Steven Brust promised a very interesting storyline, and some of the others were very good.
casquilho
SOC-13
I could have swarn they were, but let me check my old copy first before you head out. Will PM you once I get a chance to check it.
Daniel
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
You've got to give it time. Thieves World really needs a commitment of three books--read the first three to get absolutely hooked. The first book alone won't do it for you.
The reason: The universe if fascinating in that one author will end a short story ambiguously. Then, in the next book, or the book after that, those same events that didn't make a lot of sense to you all of a sudden are the center focus of a story by another author. It's like they planned to tell it to you over a couple of seasons of a TV show. If you only read one or two short stories, it's like watching one or two episodes of a good TV series--when you need to have watched the entire series.
Thieves World will definitely hook you, but you've got to give it time to do that. One book won't do it.
I think its some excellent fantasy told between those TW covers. It's a gritty, adult world. F&*cked up s&^t happens.
Take Tempus, for example. What a screwed up dude he is. He's the avatar of the God of War. In the TW mythology, the god rapes his sister every night. Tempus, as the avatar, cannot be killed. He can be hurt, but his wounds always heal. They don't always heal at the same pace, though--depending on Tempus' relationship with the god at that time.
And, Tempus, of course, cannot take a woman normally. He can only take one with rape.
What a dichotomy! Tempus is supposed to be one of the "good" guys (there really are no good guys in Thieves World). He's a member of the peackeeping forces in Sanctuary. Yet, when he wants a woman, he must go out into the night and rape one.
Incredible. Chilling, actually.
Or, take Hans called Shadowspawn. I love how you'll read one story about him from one author, and he's this feared thief. Many knives on him. Red leather garment. And, a bit younger than one might think for a thief of such reputation.
Then, you read another story that features Hans, this time from Hans' point of view, and you see that he's really just as scared as the rest of us. Sanctuary is a rough place, so he wears the red leather with all the knives and pays people to start "rumors" about himself so he'll get a "rep". Most of the time, he's just hoping his adversary won't draw his blade--Hans hopes his "rep" will keep him from drawing one of the many daggers he wears.
That kind of character building is why Thieves World was as successful as it was during its run.
It's a fantastic series. But, it's also for adults who don't mind adult themes. You'll find a lot of very "Rated R" or "Rated NC-17" stuff among those pages.
One story in the first book features a little girl, trying to make it in life, who had a torch placed on her chest that deformed her breast. It is described as looking like a "turd". My God! I thought when I read that. What a thing to have to live with!
You don't find stuff like that in a lot of fantasy.
I love Thieves World because of it. I love the "character" each of the characters have.
Sometimes the stories are typical fantasy fare. Sometimes, they're just about life in that universe. I remember one story that I loved had to do with the son of a fisherman on the dock. He was ashamed of his dad--how he always smelled of fish. He wanted to run with children of Sanctuary "upper crust", and he couldn't do that if they knew his dad was a fisherman on the wharf.
It's a great story about fathers and sons--it just happens to be set in a fantasy universe.
Or, there's the story in the first book about the blacksmith who cracks his anvil. The anvil had been in the family for generations. Where were they going to get another anvil? Sanctuary is at the edge of a desert, and the caravans don't come through the city as often as they used to. Even then, an anvil will have to be sent for--and how much will that cost.
This is another exceptional story about a family business and the hard times they face--that just happens to be set in a fantasy universe.
I can't say enough good things about Thieves World. As I said, the first book won't hook you. The second book might, but it'll probably be the third book before you start to see how incredible Thieves World truly is.
Plankowner
SOC-13
I have to agree with S4 here, the TW books are great when taken as a series.
I got mine through the SFBC so they came in Trilogies which made it much easier to get hooked. By the end of the first Trilogy, I was buying everything I could find about it.
I even have the TW RPG supplement somewhere... have to dig through my boxes and see if all the pieces are still there.
I got mine through the SFBC so they came in Trilogies which made it much easier to get hooked. By the end of the first Trilogy, I was buying everything I could find about it.
I even have the TW RPG supplement somewhere... have to dig through my boxes and see if all the pieces are still there.
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