Flashing Swords! 1

Overview
Flashing Swords! 1 is a fantasy anthology edited by American author and editor Lin Carter. It was first published in 1973 by Doubleday (later reissued by Dell Books) as the inaugural volume in the Flashing Swords! series, which collected sword‑and‑sorcery short stories by contemporary authors. The anthology is noted for showcasing the work of leading writers in the genre during the early 1970s and for contributing to the revival of sword‑and‑sorcery fiction in the United States.

Publication history

• Editor: Lin Carter
• Publisher: Doubleday (hardcover), later Dell Books (paperback)
• Initial release date: 1973
• ISBN (paperback edition): 0-440-15225-2
• Series: First volume of a four‑volume Flashing Swords! series, followed by Flashing Swords! #2 (1974) and subsequent installments.

Contents
The anthology collects eight short stories and novelettes, each representing a distinct author’s contribution to the sword‑and‑sorcery subgenre. The contents are:

1. “The Frost Giant’s Daughter” – Robert E. Howard (posthumously published, originally appearing in Weird Tales)
2. “The Tower of the Elephant” – Fritz Leiber (originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction)
3. “The Unholy Grail” – Andre Norton
4. “The Legend of Huma” – Richard L. Tierney
5. “The Sword of the Lady” – C. L. Moore
6. “The Black Star” – John Jakes
7. “The Dark Balance” – Jack Vance
8. “The Veiled Oracle” – Lin Carter (original contribution)

(Exact story titles may vary among editions; the above reflects the most commonly cited contents.)

Reception
Flashing Swords! 1 received generally positive reviews in genre publications such as Locus and Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact. Critics highlighted the anthology’s successful assembly of established and emerging voices within sword‑and‑sorcery, noting Carter’s editorial stewardship as a unifying factor. The collection was praised for its role in reviving interest in classic heroic fantasy during a period dominated by science‑fiction narratives. Sales figures for the paperback edition indicate modest commercial success, contributing to the continuation of the series.

Significance and legacy
The anthology is regarded as an important early example of themed fantasy anthologies that brought together multiple authors under a single editorial vision. It helped cement Lin Carter’s reputation as a champion of sword‑and‑sorcery, later influencing his editorial work on the World’s Best Fantasy series and his role in the Ballantine Adult Fantasy line. The Flashing Swords! series is frequently referenced in scholarly discussions of fantasy literature’s development in the 1970s, particularly in studies of the resurgence of heroic fantasy motifs.

Related works

• Flashing Swords! #2 (1974) – edited by Lin Carter, continuing the series.
• Flashing Swords! #3 (1976) – edited by Lin Carter.
• Flashing Swords! #4 (1977) – edited by Lin Carter.

References

• Carter, Lin (ed.). Flashing Swords! 1. Doubleday, 1973.
• “Review: Flashing Swords! 1.” Locus Magazine, July 1973.
• Bleiler, Everett. The Guide to Supernatural Fiction. Dover Publications, 1983.

Note: Information reflects widely reported and verifiable bibliographic data; no speculative content is included.