Fritz Leiber’s iconic sword-and-sorcery adventurers Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser share the pages with drunkard-turned-unlikely-hero Spar in this pairing of award-winning novellas Gentleman barbarian Fafhrd, son of a northern Snow Witch, flees his family’s homeland to join a foreign lover and escape his mother’s control. Cynical thief the Gray Mouser has a mysterious past, but no one doubts his deadly skill at swordsmanship. When the two meet, each recognizes a kindred spirit in the other. No gem dealer’s stock is safe and no gambler will go unfleeced while Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser live—but the deadly chain of events that forges their adventurous partnership means they are truly ill met in Lankhmar. Spar has no memory of his early life, no hope for a better future, no concerns other than how to obtain his next drink. A good day is one when he can avoid the abuse of his barkeep boss aboard the Windrush. But when a mysterious talking cat starts putting ideas into Spar’s head, things begin to change. There’s a larger universe out there than Spar has ever dreamed of. His destiny beckons—if only he can escape the ship of shadows.