Thieves' World (book)

Thieves' World is an anthology novel edited by Robert Asprin published in 1979, the first in the Thieves' World anthology series.

Contents
Thieves' World is a collection of stories set in the city of Sanctuary, a dying trading city on the southern tip of a peninsula, which has become a den of thieves.

"Introduction" by Robert Lynn Asprin
 * The Emperor of the Rankan Empire sends his stepbrother Prince Kadakithis to restore order to Sanctuary, accompanied by five elite guards dubbed Hell-Hounds.

"Sentences of Death" by John Brunner
 * Jarveena, a Yenized scribe, makes a deal with the wizard Enas Yorl to foil the assassination of Prince Kadakithis and take revenge on a past enemy.

"The Face of Chaos" by Lynn Abbey
 * Illyra, the half S'danzo seer, attempts to save a virgin bride from being sacrificed to consecrate a new temple for the gods.

"The Gate of the Flying Knives" by Poul Anderson
 * Minstrel Cappen Varra journeys to a magical plane to rescue his kidnapped lover, aided by adventurer Jamie the Red.

"Shadowspawn" by Andrew Offutt
 * Young thief Shadowspawn (Hanse) becomes involved in a plot to steal the Rod of Authority from Prince Kadakithis.

"The Price of Doing Business" by Robert Lynn Asprin
 * Crime lord Jubal is lured into a trap as revenge for a death caused by his criminal network, but his life is saved by the Hell-Hound Zalbar.

"Blood Brothers" by Joe Haldeman:
 * Bartender and underground criminal One-Thumb meets his fate when betrayed by a wizard in a business deal.

"Myrtis" by Christine DeWees
 * Aphrodisia House owner Myrtis prevents the shutdown of her brothel by casting a love spell on Zalbar and revealing one of Sanctuary's deepest secrets.

"The Secret of the Blue Star" by Marion Zimmer Bradley
 * Lythande must protect a perilous secret from being discovered by a rival wizard of the same order.

Essay: "The Making of Thieves World" by Robert Lynn Asprin

Reception
Greg Costikyan reviewed Thieves' World in Ares Magazine #1. Costikyan commented that "since fantasy role-playing involves the group production of a multi-hero fantasy story, role-playing fans especially will find Thieves' World enjoyable. [...] The stories themselves range from mediocre to excellent, but all are worth reading."

Thieves' World was nominated for the 1980 World Fantasy Award—Collection.

Reviews

 * Review by Don D'Ammassa (1986) in Science Fiction Chronicle, #83 August 1986