Woundhealers Story continues the story of the 12 God-Forged magical swords begun in the First Book of Swords. The first three swords books, in turn, have some significant connections to the Empire of the East trilogy. The Lost Swords books series continues on for eight highly engaging volumes. There is also a collection of novelettes, an Armoury of Swords, wherein Saberhagen invited other authors to play in the Swords universe. All of the Swords volumes contain Saberhagen's fast paced, but careful plotting, many memorable characters and scenes, clever situations and dilemmas based on the varied powers and limitations of the swords, moments of sheer dread and terror built on malevolence of the demons, romance, wit, subtle satire during the occasional encounters with the Blue Temple (worshipers of wealth) and the rival Red Temple (purveyers of gambling, drugs, and prostitution), fascinating villains, ranging from dread wizards and the admirably resourceful Baron Amnitor, to the semi-tragic Prince Muran of the Mindsword's story, and engaging protagonists, ranging from children caught up in intrigues of their elders, an array of male and female heros, and on to the mysterious Emperor. I'd read these volumes originally when they first appeared, and recently, spurred on by _An Armory of Swords_ went back and re-read them in a blitz. Marvelous, engaging work. Worth both reading, and, as I found, worth re-reading. For example, I found a fascinating resonance between the unanswered questions at the end of the Third Book of Swords, and the final revelations about the Emperor. But Saberhagen is best experienced with the surprises intact. He makes the journey as rewarding as the end. Woundhealer's tale begin's with Prince Mark's attempt to acquire the healing sword in order to heal his blind son Adrian. All of the Lost Swords books involve Prince Mark and/or his relations in power struggles related to the swords, and various parties who seek to control them, with one exception, that being Stonecutter's story, which stands apart as a Holmes-like fantasy mystery. Recommended.
