37 thoughts on “FORGOTTEN BOOKS #193: THE LEIBER CHRONICLES Edited by Martin H. Greenberg”

1. Todd Mason November 2, 2012 at 7:36 am

   Thanks, sir…you are too kind. I never did pick up this book, though it is the largest single slice through Leiber’s short-fiction career yet published, in part because I was bitter. As copublisher and -editor of an admittedly slight but nonetheless actually printed magazine, with a few subscribers and all (not quite a fanzine, perhaps more an ambitious semipro) I’d tried to secure reprint rights to the three playlet autobiographical stories, which have to date (iinm) still never been published together in one site, and for a vignette which had not been reprinted at that time since its 1963 first appearance in F&SF, and Leiber’s agent simply refused to quote a price for this in 1989…since he was busy trying to shop this, as it turned out, which also sinned in at least these ways: it managed to gather only two of those voice-plays and not the vignette (and referred to “The Winter Flies” by its Ed Ferman title “The Inner Circles”…otherwise, Leiber, who was facing the last slide at about this time, had allowed it to be published only under its proper title, aside from its appearance in THE BEST FROM F&SF volume for its period); it had a less than thrilling package, I felt, and was too much like a slightly augmented version of THE BEST OF FL, albeit one which reasonably represented Leiber’s ’60s and ’70s short work and included the absolutely necessary ’40s work (aside from “Adept’s Gambit”). Also, in 1990, I was a bit strapped again…I would’ve made a point of putting together said reprint fees, but a $40 or so hardcover of material I already had in other formats wasn’t too tempting, given my residual irritation. I’d say the average quality of this one isn’t Quite up to that of THE SECRET SONGS (the title story of which is the missing play-story here), but it is otherwise very close, and that it’s the mostest of Leiber’s short fiction does definitely count for something. And this one does make a good gift for conversion purposes…

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   1. george Post authorNovember 2, 2012 at 8:57 am

      Wow, I didn’t know your backstory to THE LEIBER CHRONICLES. Sorry if I triggered any Bad Memories. Sooner or later, some small press will publish a complete set of Leiber’s works. White Wolf published omnibus collections of Leiber’s fantasy novels. Night Shade Books recently published a collection of Leiber’s hard-to-find work. But someone needs to bring all of it together, even in ebook format.

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2. Todd Mason November 2, 2012 at 9:22 am

   Yeah, White Wolf did a creditable job with the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser series, though in a sense it was mostly a hardcover recapitulation of what Ace had done. No, no, no real pain resurrected…both this book (which as I recall wasn’t the best-proofread volume ever) and the more recent SELECTED STORIES are fine collections…but you’re absolutely right, a complete works responsibly published is more than called for here.

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   1. george Post authorNovember 2, 2012 at 12:53 pm

      I wish a small publisher or academic press would do for SF and Fantasy what the Library of America does for Literature, Todd. I would buy every volume they published.

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3. Sergio (Tipping My Fedora) November 2, 2012 at 9:29 am

   Thanks for highlighting this one George – I don’t have a copy and of course am now trying to figure out if I can really afford it – very tempting indeed!

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   1. george Post authorNovember 2, 2012 at 12:54 pm

      I saw some copies of THE LIEBER CHRONICLES online in the $35 range, Sergio. Pricey, but worth it.

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4. Richard R. November 2, 2012 at 12:33 pm

   I wonder if the White Wolf volume(s) can be found, and at what price. Hmm…

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   1. george Post authorNovember 2, 2012 at 12:58 pm

      I have the entire White Wolf set, Rick. I bought them one by one as they were released. I’m sure you’ll find them at ABE.com for under $10 a copy.

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5. Richard R. November 2, 2012 at 12:50 pm

   Yes, I see them, but they are too rich for my diet. Oh well.

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   1. george Post authorNovember 2, 2012 at 4:42 pm

      If I find them in my used bookstore rambles, I’ll send them your way, Rick,

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6. Todd Mason November 2, 2012 at 6:56 pm

   Were you much of a customer of the Gregg Press series, George? I’m only sorry I didn’t pick up more of them when I had the chance to do so more easily…

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   1. george Post authorNovember 2, 2012 at 7:21 pm

      I have a fair number of Gregg Press books, Todd. But, like you, I wish I’d purchased more. They show up online with high price tags.

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7. Drongo November 2, 2012 at 11:02 pm

   Despite a plethora of of paperback editions by various publishers, those Gregg Press hardcovers were my introduction to the Parker novels. Also my first exposure to Walter M. Miller’s short fiction. Local public library shelves used to contain a fair number of Gregg Press books 15 years ago. They seem to have vanished into the ether since then.

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   1. george Post authorNovember 3, 2012 at 11:01 am

      If you’re interested in the complete catalogue of Gregg Press, Drongo, check this out: http://www.kathryncramer.com/gregg_update.html

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8. Drongo November 3, 2012 at 11:33 am

   Thank you, George.

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   1. george Post authorNovember 3, 2012 at 6:25 pm

      I am here to serve, Drongo.

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9. Carl V. November 3, 2012 at 3:54 pm

   I owe my discovery of Fritz Leiber to Mike Mignola and Dark Horse comics. Several years ago they released a graphic novel based on the first few Fafrhd stories and I enjoyed it so much I immediately bought the first reprint of the novels that Dark Horse was putting out and I’m so glad that I did. I’ve collected all the Dark Horse reprints and have read the first two, maybe three. The stories sit there with the Conan stories and the John Carter stories in my affections. They are a lot of fun. I’ve also read some other Leiber short stories that I really enjoyed and his Hugo winning The Big Time, which was far from a perfect novel but one that I nevertheless like a great deal. Its been years since I’ve read it and ever so often something will crop up that will remind me of the story.

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   1. george Post authorNovember 3, 2012 at 6:27 pm

      If you haven’t read it, you should try Fritz Leibers Hugo Award winner, THE WANDERER, Carl. It’s a terrific novel!

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10. Carl V. November 4, 2012 at 4:35 pm

    I’m not sure if I have that one already or not but I’ll keep an eye out for it.

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    1. george Post authorNovember 4, 2012 at 5:08 pm

       For my money, THE LEIBER CHRONICLES is the best Fritz Leiber collection ever published, Carl. Of course, I have all the other paperback collections Todd Mason mentioned in his review, too. But someone needs to collect all of Fritz Leiber’s work. Maybe Night Shade Books or Subterranean…

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11. Todd Mason November 6, 2012 at 3:15 am

    While THE WANDERER is my least-favorite of his novels, it’s still fun. I’d say LEIBER CHRONICLES doesn’t benefit by reprinting the minor sf stories included in THE BEST OF (“Sanity” and “Wanted: An Enemy”), but again, it gains points for having the Mostest. And even the minor stories do carry the torch for Leiber’s personal pacifism.

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    1. george Post authorNovember 6, 2012 at 8:42 am

       I wish the stories in THE LEIBER CONTRONICLES had introductions by someone knowledgeable (like you!), Todd. Yes, it has the mostest, but no Introduction, no Afterward, no reference to his novels, it’s not perfect.

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12. Todd Mason November 11, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    I suspect his agent might’ve been giving Greenberg agita, as well. Greenberg, after all, loved to write intros and story notes.

    Someone more knowledgeable than me! But you or I certainly could’ve done a better job than none at all. (Might be another reason I didn’t pick it up, though I hadn’t remembered that aspect.)

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    1. george Post authorNovember 12, 2012 at 9:14 am

       The lack of introductions to the stories isn’t a fatal flaw, Todd, but it sure detracts of the potential of this fine anthology.

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13. Johan April 20, 2013 at 6:47 am

    Is the cover art, with the hand and magic ball, depicted from one of the stories inside?

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    1. george Post authorApril 20, 2013 at 7:25 am

       Yes, Johan. The hand and the magic ball is based on the Leiber story “Bazaar of the Bizarre.”

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14. Johan April 20, 2013 at 7:26 am

    Ah, I remember now! The cover art could be freely inspired from “Two Sought Adventure” (aka “The Jewels in the Forest”).

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15. Johan April 20, 2013 at 7:29 am

    Oh! OK, Thanks George! That was probably more exact than my recollection! “The Jewels in the Forest” had some flowing mercury that reflected the heavens similarly.

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    1. george Post authorApril 20, 2013 at 6:09 pm

       Johan, “The Jewels in the Forest” does indeed have a similar scene with jewels, mercury, and that haunting hand!

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16. Johan April 21, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    “The Jewels in the Forest” is my favorite Fritz Leiber story, so far. Not that I have read many, . . . only from the Fafhrd & Gray Mouser books (and also, Our Lady of Darkness, a long long time ago).

    The cover art of this book is obviously most grandly delicious, and evocative. I am going to look for this collection. Only hope the infamous typos are not so bad, as to cause misunderstandings.

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    1. george Post authorApril 21, 2013 at 1:09 pm

       Johan, I love the cover on THE LEIBER CHRONICLES, too! THE LEIBER CHRONICLES is a must for Leiber fans, despite the typos. Copies can be found at the usual Internet book sale sites.

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17. Mike April 14, 2014 at 11:38 pm

    So I realize this may be years to late, but Im trying to recall what I believe was a story from this book.
    It was about a man who lived on I believe the 14th floor of his apartment. At night, he would hear strange noises while he would try to sleep.
    Eventually, when he is traveling in the elevator, it… either stops short or goes to far, and opens onto a hidden 13th “floor”, which was no more than a gap.
    There, small creatures which had been making the noises he heard at night drag him into the gap. I dont remember how it ends.

    I just ordered this book, because I believe that story is found in it. If it is, would any of you happen to know the title?

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    1. george Post authorApril 15, 2014 at 11:33 am

       Mike, I vaguely remember a Fritz Leiber story similar to the one you describe. I’ll root around in my basement and see if I can find the story you’re referring to. THE LEIBER CHRONICLES is a good bet.

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18. Satampra December 20, 2015 at 4:32 am

    Hello !

    I have been looking for ‘The Button Molder’ by Fritz Leiber for a long time. I think that you have got this story.

    Would you be so kind to scan ‘The Button Molder’ for me ?

    I’d be very grateful for your attention.

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    1. george Post authorDecember 21, 2015 at 1:41 pm

       Satampra, my copy of THE LEIBER CHRONICLES now resides at SUNY at Buffalo Special Collections library. I’m sure if you contact your Public Library or a nearby University library, they should be able to find a copy of “The Button Molder” for you.

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19. Johan February 27, 2017 at 3:23 pm

    Does somebody know which story is depicted on the back of the book? An astronaut buried in sand, with only his hand sticking up.

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    1. george Post authorFebruary 27, 2017 at 5:04 pm

       Johan, Todd Mason might know the answer to your question.

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