the third adventure of Eunostos, although chrono-
logically the first, set during a much happier time
when his existence was not a source of wonder-
ment. Swann’s last novel, Queens Walk in the Dust
(1977), was published posthumously and is not as
polished as his other books.
Swann’s fantasies generally avoid physical vio-
lence. Much of the conflict results from the differ-
ing attitudes of people, either individually or as a
culture, and the damage inflicted is more likely to
be emotional and psychological. His depictions of
the ancient world are unrealistically romanticized,
but the results are frequently charming. Despite his
popularity, he was rarely imitated and never very
successfully, and he remains a distinct if muted
voice in the genre.
“The Sword of Welleran”Lord Dunsany
(1908)
Lord DUNSANYwas a master at condensing a story
to its essentials. This short fantasy epic would have
occupied many another writer for at least three vol-
umes without adding anything significant to the
central plot. The setting is the city of Merinma,
which once dominated the land for many miles in
every direction but which has become decadent
after the death of Welleran and its other legendary
heroes. Now it is withdrawn and isolated from the
lands it once ruled, which are dominated by various
barbarian leaders. These violent tribes have
avoided striking back at their one-time oppressor
despite the almost casual defensive system that is
all that remains of Merinma’s former might, dis-
suaded because they have long believed that the fa-
mous heroes of Merinma, Welleran being the fore-
most, are immortal and still protect the city. The
heroes themselves helped preserve this superstition
by choosing to throw themselves into an inaccessi-
ble ravine when their time came, so that no one
has ever seen their bodies. Only Welleran’s famous
sword remains to show the man ever really lived.
The outsiders’ fear begins to ebb over the
years until finally two condemned criminals agree
to slip into Merinma and find out the truth. They
arrive and discover that the figures they have
feared are statues and that the heroes are long
gone, and they return to report the good news in
exchange for a pardon. Once they know the truth,
the various tribes set aside their current rivalries to
create a unified army with which to conquer the
city they have long feared. It seems likely they will
succeed, but the spirit of Welleran and his fellows
quite literally return from the dead. Dismayed by
what they see and frustrated by their inability to
intervene directly, they invade the dreams of the
locals, bestirring them to take up the old arms and
wait in readiness, and one particular young man,
Rold, is chosen by Welleran himself to seize the fa-
bled sword and lead the attack.
Although the battle goes in their favor and
the enemies of Merinma are routed, Dunsany de-
liberately dilutes the sense of triumph. Rold is ap-
palled by the carnage and wonders what they were
fighting for that was worth so many lives. In only a
few pages, Dunsany created one of the enduring
classics of heroic fantasy, a model for the many
writers who would follow in his footsteps.344 “The Sword of Welleran”