The Sword Smith – Eleanor Arnason
Is “non-grand fantasy” a sub-genre? If it is, “The Sword Smith” is a charming exemplar. Limper is a great sword-smith, but he’s annoyed the king, and now he’s another man on the road, needing work, dealing with plain folks he meets in his travels. The “non-grand” is an advantage: Without gods and wizards and prophecies and maps propping up the story, the author must rely on solid writing and engaging characters* - and in this book that more than suffices.
- Okay, one of the most engaging characters is a very young dragon. But, as dragons go, she also counts as plain folks.