Swords Against Darkness IV


Swords Against Darkness IV is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Andrew J. Offutt, the fourth in a series of five anthologies of the same name. It was first published in paperback by Zebra Books in September 1979, and reprinted by the same publisher in 1981; a Canadian reprint was issued by General Paperbacks, also in 1981.

Summary

The book collects eleven short stories and novelettes and one essay by various fantasy authors, together with a foreword in two parts and a "special word" by Offutt.

Contents

  • "Foreword - In Two Parts"
  • "Mai-Kulala"
  • "At the Sign of the Brass Breast"
  • "The Reaping"
  • "The Ballad of Borrell"
  • "Deux Amours d'une Sorciere"
  • "Of PIGS and MEN"
  • "Cryptically Yours"
  • "Dedication: A Special Word"
  • "The Dark Mother"
  • "Wooden Crate of Violent Death"
  • "The Fane of the Grey Rose"
  • "Sandmagic"
  • "The Edge of the World"

Reception

The anthology was reviewed by David Dvorkin in Science Fiction & Fantasy Review, November 1979, Orson Scott Card in Science Fiction Review, February 1980, and Lin Carter in The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 6.

Awards

The book was nominated, together with the succeeding volume, for the 1980 Balrog Award for Best Collection/Anthology.