What do you think?
Rate this book
The Death-Cursed Wizard #5
Death's Collector - Sword Hand: A Dark and Funny Fantasy Adventure With Swords and Sorcery
A killer with doubts. A ruinous war.
A couple of stupid decisions.
When the great war of empires comes, Bib the sorcerer doesn’t expect to throw in with a bunch of horrid peasants. In fact, he hates the idea and would gladly trade them for a sock full of sand. But this war has caught him in a transitional period.
Although he’s killed scads of people, Bib has never thought of himself as evil. Now his friends tell him to wake up and smell the evil coffee, and the whole idea vexes him.
Saving helpless villagers sure sounds like something a good person would do, so Bib decides to give it a shot. But with two armies slaughtering thousands of people all over the countryside, how not-evil is he prepared to be?
If you enjoy ferocious swordplay, one-of-a-kind magic systems, and sarcasm that cuts like glass, you'll love Bill McCurry's dark, irreverent tale.
A couple of stupid decisions.
When the great war of empires comes, Bib the sorcerer doesn’t expect to throw in with a bunch of horrid peasants. In fact, he hates the idea and would gladly trade them for a sock full of sand. But this war has caught him in a transitional period.
Although he’s killed scads of people, Bib has never thought of himself as evil. Now his friends tell him to wake up and smell the evil coffee, and the whole idea vexes him.
Saving helpless villagers sure sounds like something a good person would do, so Bib decides to give it a shot. But with two armies slaughtering thousands of people all over the countryside, how not-evil is he prepared to be?
If you enjoy ferocious swordplay, one-of-a-kind magic systems, and sarcasm that cuts like glass, you'll love Bill McCurry's dark, irreverent tale.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2021
25 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Bill McCurry
21 books83 followersBill McCurry was born in Fort Worth, Texas and now lives thirty-five miles away in Dallas, Texas. That short distance produces more divergence than one might think. If both cities were apples, Dallas would be sliced and resting on a bed of arugula and kale with some nice vinaigrette, while Fort Worth would be sitting in a bin at the Farmer’s Market behind a sign that reads, “These are good old apples. If you’re looking for kale, Dallas is over there.”
In childhood Bill came to love fiction late, preferring history and science books instead. In his mid-teens he discovered science fiction and fantasy novels, particularly Roger Zelazny, Ursula Le Guin, Robert Heinlein, J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, Harry Harrison, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Richard Brautigan, Robert Saberhagen, Piers Anthony, and Gordon R. Dickson. Michael Moorcock was also a favorite. Bill inhaled all five Elric books in one day while home with a bad cold. More recently he has particularly enjoyed the work of Christopher Moore, Orson Scott Card, Neil Gaiman, John Steakley, and Sir Terry Pratchett.
Death’s Collector is Bill’s first published novel, to be followed by Wee Piggies of Radiant Might and Death’s Book of Tricks, all part of “The Death-Cursed Wizard” series. Three unpublished novels preceded Death’s Collector, all of which he loves like children despite their irredeemable flaws.
Bill earned a M.A. in Sociology from the University of Texas at Arlington. (Arlington lies halfway between Fort Worth and Dallas. The implications may best be imagined.) The most important thing he learned in college is that nobody is under any obligation to teach him anything, including professors. Especially professors, since they’ve attended classes on how to look down upon the uneducated. That detail may be fabricated, but the principle stands.
People have paid Bill to do an odd variety of things, including construction, market research, acting, and managing software projects. He lives with his four cats, who are aspiring internet celebrities, and his lovely wife, a woman so keenly determined that she would always be able to kill him if it came to a knife fight.
In childhood Bill came to love fiction late, preferring history and science books instead. In his mid-teens he discovered science fiction and fantasy novels, particularly Roger Zelazny, Ursula Le Guin, Robert Heinlein, J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, Harry Harrison, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Richard Brautigan, Robert Saberhagen, Piers Anthony, and Gordon R. Dickson. Michael Moorcock was also a favorite. Bill inhaled all five Elric books in one day while home with a bad cold. More recently he has particularly enjoyed the work of Christopher Moore, Orson Scott Card, Neil Gaiman, John Steakley, and Sir Terry Pratchett.
Death’s Collector is Bill’s first published novel, to be followed by Wee Piggies of Radiant Might and Death’s Book of Tricks, all part of “The Death-Cursed Wizard” series. Three unpublished novels preceded Death’s Collector, all of which he loves like children despite their irredeemable flaws.
Bill earned a M.A. in Sociology from the University of Texas at Arlington. (Arlington lies halfway between Fort Worth and Dallas. The implications may best be imagined.) The most important thing he learned in college is that nobody is under any obligation to teach him anything, including professors. Especially professors, since they’ve attended classes on how to look down upon the uneducated. That detail may be fabricated, but the principle stands.
People have paid Bill to do an odd variety of things, including construction, market research, acting, and managing software projects. He lives with his four cats, who are aspiring internet celebrities, and his lovely wife, a woman so keenly determined that she would always be able to kill him if it came to a knife fight.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 31, 2021
Who knew that regaining lost memories could be so traumatic? The usual cast of charecters but they are learning much about themselves trying to save Desh's home village by traipsing across the Empire while running from the Hill People.
The usual fast paced action, snarky comments and deals with the gods abound in this next episode from the life of the world's "oldest and wisest" Sorcerer Bib.
The usual fast paced action, snarky comments and deals with the gods abound in this next episode from the life of the world's "oldest and wisest" Sorcerer Bib.
July 14, 2021
Highly Entertaining
This was another amusing and highly entertaining book in this series. It has everything you could want in a book to transport you to another place and time. The best part are the all insults, my friends and and family may never forgive me!
This was another amusing and highly entertaining book in this series. It has everything you could want in a book to transport you to another place and time. The best part are the all insults, my friends and and family may never forgive me!
April 7, 2022
Awesome book, amazing series
I have been reading these Death-Wizard books for 3 days now. I love them. The imaginative worlds and situations amuse and amaze me. Bill McCurry, you’re a wizard with words! Thank you.
I have been reading these Death-Wizard books for 3 days now. I love them. The imaginative worlds and situations amuse and amaze me. Bill McCurry, you’re a wizard with words! Thank you.
August 16, 2022
Not as good as the Facebook ads would have you believe, but an entertaining romp through Fantasyland nonetheless! Some interesting ideas about magic, and sorcerers and Gods... and insults!!
April 17, 2025
Another stellar novell
This story continues to keep things fresh. The characters continue to grow and evolve over time and you can't help but love the main character.
This story continues to keep things fresh. The characters continue to grow and evolve over time and you can't help but love the main character.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews