The eleventh Thieves’ World anthology, published in 1988, is the fifth I have read consecutively and although the stories might feel underwhelming compared to the “fireworks” of earlier volumes, I am enjoying these slighter tales, as we know the end is nigh for these anthologies of loosely connected stories based in Sanctuary.
Lynn Abbey’s introduction is a story featuring Hakeim and Shupansea, the Beysa, illustrating their changed circumstances since their beginning in the storyline.
Robert Lynn Asprin’s story surprisingly reintroduces Hanse, also known as Shadowspawn, a character of Andrew Offutt who we saw being taken by slavers at the end of the previous anthology. At that time I mused whether we would see Hanse again before the end of the series, but I needn’t have worried. We also learn that Jubal wishes to meet with Kadakithis, the nominal Prince-Governor of Sanctuary, which potentially indicates storylines being drawn together.
C J Cherryh gives us a story with Straton and Critias as objects of another’s vengeance, and Moria, Stilcho and Ischade being drawn into the story, with Ischade showing more compassion than expected. This is a happy story for Sanctuary.
Jon DeCles, a new author for Thieves’s World, provides an amusing interlude introducing theatrical protagonists into Sanctuary, who unrealistically (I know it’s fictional) haunt The Vulgar Unicorn to study the patrons’ characters, without harm befalling them. The actors are building a theatre and performing a play for Prince Kadakithis.
Chris Morris (husband of Janet) tells a story concerning a couple of new characters, one in the Mageguild and the other in Aphrodisia House on the Street of Red Lanterns, which also involves earlier characters Randal, the Stepsons’ only mage, and the Shepherd, an Ilsigi character (god?). One cannot but feel that this is a filler, linking up to existing storylines (and that it is now politically incorrect in its portrayal of prostitution).
C S Williams, another one-off author in the Thieves’ World anthologies, tells a good story of Chollandur and his glue shop in the Maze, but there are small roles for Markmor (degrading his powers), Ahdio and Strick. It’s a rather simple but pleasant humorous tale.
Robin Wayne Bailey treats us to a gruesome story set in the Promise of Heaven, which has sentimental characters for Sanctuary, including Dayrne, one of Chenaya’s gladiators, with cameo roles for Chenaya, Kadakithis, Shupansea and Molin Torchholder.
Finally, Diana L Paxson gives us a further story of Lalo the Limner. ( )

F/SF