About the book: 2011 / You are holding in your hands a unique collection that represents all facets of the sword and sorcery genre, which originated at the intersection of high epic fantasy and gangster action. Typically, the main character is a soldier of fortune, a mercenary, or an adventurer. There are a lot of bladed weapons and hot beauties, cunning witchcraft and simple-minded thirst for profit, robbed treasuries and angry dragons, merry drinking sessions and life-and-death battles. The most striking heroes of this genre not only remain on the pages and screens for many years, but also serve as a source of inspiration for new works. The anthology “Swords and Dark Magic” includes stories from both recognized masters, the founding fathers of the genre, and authors who have greatly contributed to the revival of reader interest in this literature in recent years. The names of Michael Moorcock, Tim Lebbon, Glen Cook, Gene Wolfe, Michael Shea, Tanith Lee, Steven Erickson, Robert Silverberg speak volumes to the sophisticated science fiction fan.