F/SF

And so we come to an ending.
The twelfth and final anthology in the Thieves’ World series includes welcome stories from the regulars:
• Andrew J Offutt about Hanse, also known as Shadowspan, obtaining satisfying revenge for being sold into slavery at the end of Aftermath (the tenth anthology).
• Diana L Paxson featuring Lalo the limner and his apprentice, the trainee mage Darios, continuing to learn the power of his gift.
• C J Cherryh with another story of leave taking, of the remaining Stepsons, Straton, Critias and Randal, and Ischade, with cameos from Haught and Zip. And Shepherd, who says: “Our service is done. Time we were moving on.” An ending, and a beginning, emotional.
After that was just the dust, just the ghosts of buildings in what should have been bright day, the hill lost in haze and dust, yellow sand skirling along the streets.
• Robin Wayne Bailey, who furthers his tale of Chenaya, a Rankean god-ridden (Savankala) fighter, and although there are demons and bloodshed, there is a celebratory conclusion. There is also a lovely reference to the colt produced by a mischievous union of Chenaya’s father’s mare with Tempus’s full-blooded Trôs horse.
• Lynn Abbey, with a story of Walegrin (Illyra’s half-brother) and the changing nature of Sanctuary, as it becomes a trading port. Wedemir (Lalo the Limner’s son) becomes Walegrin’ lieutenant, and Walegrin “accommodates” good fortune after a Seeing by Illyra (half S’danzo seeress).
• Robert Lynn Asprin provides a short introductory story and completes the anthology with a story of Hakiem (the storyteller who introduced us to Thieves’ World and appears as a connecting character in many of the other anthologies), with cameos from Shupansea, Kadakithis and, significantly, Jubal.
There are also stories from other authors, including Jon DeCles who provides another story about the thespians introduced in the previous volume, and a somewhat thin standalone story by Duane McGowen.
Overall, as a conclusion to a wonderful series of “Swords & Sorcery” anthologies, this volume rounds out the ongoing stories in an uplifting and forward looking style.
Let me leave the last words to Hakiem/Asprin:
As, Jubal spoke, the storyteller was looking around the Vulgar Unicorn, trying to permanently brand every detail in his mind. It had suddenly occurred to him that this might be the last time he ever saw the place, the scene of the start and/or ending to so many stories over the past years. Even if he returned to Sanctuary, this tavern, as well as the town itself, would be different. As he knew all too well, each new beginning is also an ending, and on the road of life, there is no turning back. ( )