Fritz Leiber
Fritz Leiber (1910-1992) was an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, one of the most respected and influential authors in all three genres. He coined the term 'sword and sorcery' and won many of the field's top awards over a long and varied career.
Leiber is most famous for his Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories — witty, swashbuckling fantasy adventures that helped define the sword-and-sorcery genre — and for acclaimed science fiction and horror novels. Most of his best-known work remains under copyright, but a couple of his early magazine stories have entered the public domain.
The library offers those early public-domain stories: 'A Pail of Air,' a memorable tale of survival after Earth is flung from the sun, and 'Coming Attraction,' a chilling vision of a decaying future America. Both show his imaginative range and sharp intelligence.
Our editions present these early works clearly. Read a story free, and read or listen with a membership.
Fritz Leiber in the library · 2 works
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Coming Attraction
Audiobooks by Fritz Leiber
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Frequently asked questions about Fritz Leiber
What did Fritz Leiber write?
Leiber wrote fantasy, science fiction, and horror. He is most famous for the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser sword-and-sorcery stories, and for novels like The Big Time and Our Lady of Darkness. He won numerous Hugo and Nebula Awards. Most of his celebrated work remains under copyright.
Which Fritz Leiber works are available here?
The library offers two of his early stories that are now in the public domain: 'A Pail of Air' and 'Coming Attraction.' Both first appeared in science-fiction magazines around 1950. His famous Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series and later novels remain under copyright and are not included.
What is 'A Pail of Air' about?
'A Pail of Air' imagines a future in which Earth has been torn away from the sun and drifts through frozen space, its atmosphere fallen as snow. A small family survives in a sealed shelter, going out to collect frozen air to melt for breathing. Told through a child's eyes, it's a moving, ingenious story of survival and hope against a bleak cosmic backdrop.
Did Fritz Leiber invent 'sword and sorcery'?
Leiber coined the actual term 'sword and sorcery' to describe the heroic-fantasy-adventure genre, and his Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser tales are among its defining works, alongside Robert E. Howard's Conan. He was hugely influential across fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Those famous Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories, however, remain under copyright.
Where should I start with these works?
'A Pail of Air' is the perfect starting point — a short, vivid, and moving science-fiction classic. 'Coming Attraction' offers a darker, satirical vision of the future. Both are quick reads that show his imagination.
Why aren't his famous stories available here?
Because his best-known work, including the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series, remains under copyright. Only a couple of his early stories have entered the public domain, and those are what the library can legally offer. We're clear about which titles are included.
Where can I read these works for free?
Leiber's early public-domain stories are freely available. Older editions keep the original text. Here you can read a story free in clear modern English, and read or listen with a membership.
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