Coinspinner's Story

Lost Swords #5

by Fred Saberhagen

A host of strange characters--Prince Nurat of Culm, the evil macrowizard Wood, Prince Adrian, and Trilby--become involved in a desperate struggle to possess a sword of chance known as Coinspinner

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Science Fiction, Sword and Sorcery, Science Fiction Fantasy, High Fantasy

244 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1989

About the author

Fred Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his ''Beserker'' and Dracula stories.

Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.

From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.

Reviews

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and odd tale, the ending seemingly rushed but to little ill affect.

[Jefferson Coombs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the Sword books in high school. I remember liking them and enjoying having the magic revolve around the weapon rather than a person. In this series I remember liking some books more than others so some of them should probably be rated 4 stars but I don't remember which were the better ones, it has been too many years. This will be the same review for all of the books in the series except for the last two which were published after I left high school and so were not read at the same time.

[Ahimsa · Rating 1 out of 5]

By far the worst in the series.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on the sword Coinspinner which has the ability to bring great luck to its owner but also doesn’t stay in its owner’s possession super long so the luck is fleeting. The story focuses on the theft of another sword while mainly following various characters temporarily owning and losing Coinspinner. Young Adrian, son of Mark, gets the bulk of the focus in this novel which is set during his apprenticeship as a mage. The evil mage Wood gets coverage as well being the principle antagonist but we also get some well developed new characters and their adventures and stories and a surprise gray dog into the fray as well.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it, I think mostly because I feel that coinspinner is the mightiest of the swords.
Unfortunately the series as a whole has for some time undertaken a kind of carefree feel, as if each book don't matter much in the big scale of things that happens in the world, can't say that I like it, some more important things should begin to happen soon.
Anyway, this is the sword of luck, so expect a lot of chaos in this book indeed. Chaos is awesome in books. Who doesn't like chaos?
Coinspinner can even run away from Shieldbreaker, so there, mightiest sword of the bunch

[Patricia Hamill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fifth Book of Lost Swords: Coinspinner's Story is excitement embodied in the written word.

Prince Murrat, a visiting diplomat from neighboring Culm, begs Princess Kristin to allow him to borrow Woundhealer so that he can bring it back to heal his ailing sovereign. When she firmly refuses, the Prince puts his own Sword, Coinspinner, a god forged sword that unfailingly puts the odds in it's owners favor (so long as they possess it), into play and steals the Sword of Love.

Coinspinner's web of luck, however is fickle and good fortune soon abandons Prince Murrat when he lends it to a bitter young relative who decides to keep it for his own benefit. Relying on the Sword in a game of chance, the young man soon loses it to the dread wizard Wood, who wields Sheildbreaker, a sword immune to Coinspinner's influence.

Wood immediately turns the sword against young Adrian, Prince Mark and Princess Kristin's eldest son, who is on a magical quest in the City of Wizards with a fellow student, Trilby. Caught in a web of enchantment enhanced by a web of luck woven by Coinspinner, Adrian and Trilby are nearly destroyed. But Coinspinner, always on the move, decides to take itself away from Wood at the last instant.

My favorite element of this story is the way the characters are influenced by Coinspinner, even as they try to use it to their own favor. For a lucky sword, this one seems determined to abandon it's owners at the most inopportune times. It makes for a fun story.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

see first book of swords for my review of the series. Its been a while so I may blunder but I seem to recall there weren't any exceptions to the awesomeness outside of the fact that the first three were a little slower than the rest.

[Justin Salisbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rather odd fantasy setting, but I really enjoy these books.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the development of Adrian, a twelve year mage.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

[Caerigna Lunalti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good, though a bit predictable due to the nature of the main subject itself.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed the entire series. Classic Fantasy!