Ethshar? Some readers already recognize the name, but if you arenât one of them, perhaps a brief explanation is in order. âEthsharâ is the invented world that has been the setting for almost a dozen novels from the pen of Lawrence Watt-Evans. Its inhabitants donât call it that; they call it âthe World.â
For readers, though, thatâs not specific enough. The dominant nation on the World is the Hegemony of the Three Ethshars, while the largest, richest city, where most of the stories are set, is Ethshar of the Spices, so âEthsharâ is close enough. The name itself comes from words meaning âsafe harbor.â You donât need to have read any of the novels to enjoy the stories herein; each one should stand alone. And if you've read the novels, you will enjoy this return to the world of Ethshar with 11 stories... This is the first time they have all been collected in one book!