Originally published in 1970, Fritz Leiber's Swords and Deviltry is a collection of four short stories. As with previous novels in the universe, Swords and Deviltry follows The Fafhrd and Gray Mouser, the strange duo who travel across the fantastical world of Nehwon. During their travels, the duo encounters strange and sometimes violent situations, situations which they must successfully navigate to make it out alive.
As its title suggests, the first story in the novel entitled "Induction" introduces readers to Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser's relationship. It explains why it is unique and why they have remained friends for so many years. But their adventures quickly start. In the second short story of the novel, entitled "The Snow Women, "Leiber gives readers a window into the early life of Fafhrd – and how he met his first "lady love." Fafhrd, Leiber explains, was born into the so-called Snow Clan, who live in the plains of the Cold Waste. Once every five years, Fafhrd and his tribe travel to the Cold Corner, a place where they trade with merchants. There, Fafhrd meets Vlana Lefay, and the two fall madly in love with each other.
The second story in the novel, which is titled "The Unholy Grail," conversely follows the Gray Mouser. The Mouser grew up in the realm of Duke Janarrl, a place where magic is prohibited. But an exiled wizard goes to the realm fairly frequently and practices banned magic, much to the chagrin of the Duke and the residents of the realm. The Mouser is the Duke's apprentice, and the two begin to cause trouble in the realm. As a result, chaos ensues, and the Mouser is forced to kill the Duke with his magic. Naturally, this causes him many issues and forces him to flee – but not before meeting and falling in love with the Duke's daughter, Ivrian.
The final short story of the novel, titled "Ill Met in Lankhmar," follows the Mouser and Fafhrd, who have found each other after losing their first loves because of their defiance to the Thief's guild. They bond over their loss and ally themselves with each other because of their shared grief.
