Swords Against Darkness IV explained

Swords Against Darkness IV is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Andrew J. Offutt, the fourth in a series of five anthologies of the same name. It was first published in paperback by Zebra Books in September 1979, and reprinted by the same publisher in 1981; a Canadian reprint was issued by General Paperbacks, also in 1981.

Summary

The book collects eleven short stories and novelettes and one essay by various fantasy authors, together with a foreword in two parts and a "special word" by Offutt.

Contents

• "Foreword - In Two Parts" (Andrew J. Offutt)
• "Mai-Kulala" (Charles R. Saunders)
• "At the Sign of the Brass Breast" (Jeff P. Swycaffer)
• "The Reaping" (Ardath Mayhar)
• "The Ballad of Borrell" (Gordon Linzner)
• "Deux Amours d'une Sorciere" (Tanith Lee)
• "Of PIGS and MEN" (essay) (Poul Anderson)
• "Cryptically Yours" (Brian Lumley)
• "Dedication: A Special Word" (Andrew J. Offutt)
• "The Dark Mother" (Diana L. Paxson)
• "Wooden Crate of Violent Death" (Joey Froehlich)
• "The Fane of the Grey Rose" (Charles de Lint)
• "Sandmagic" (Orson Scott Card)
• "The Edge of the World" (Manly Wade Wellman)

Reception

The anthology was reviewed by David Dvorkin in Science Fiction & Fantasy Review, November 1979, Orson Scott Card in Science Fiction Review, February 1980, and Lin Carter in (1980).

Awards

The book was nominated, together with the succeeding volume, for the 1980 Balrog Award for Best Collection/Anthology.