Daniel (@dungeondive) concludes 2021’s sword & sorcery coverage with Roger Zelazny’s Dilvish, the Damned—a collection that ranks among his favorite works alongside the Elric saga. Though marketed as a novel, this book is honestly a gathering of loosely chronological short stories written across decades (1964-1981), with loose plot threads and no cohesive narrative arc.
Dilvish, a half-elf swordsman and rogue, escapes 200 years of hellish torture to pursue revenge against the wizard who imprisoned him. But the narrative frequently abandons this vengeance quest for disconnected adventures featuring Dilvish and Black, his demonic metal horse. The horse’s ability to disguise itself as an inert statue while remaining an active entity creates compelling dynamics unlike typical sword & sorcery companionship.
Zelazny consistently subverts expectations. These stories take bizarre, Elric-like turns that Daniel never anticipates yet appreciates far more than anything he might have predicted. The standout tale, “The Places of Ach,” showcases Zelazny’s wit and banter alongside genuinely surprising plot developments. Characters behave naturally but unexpectedly, breaking genre conventions with refreshing unpredictability.
Which unusual companion dynamics in sword & sorcery—like Dilvish and Black—stick with you most, and why?