I. Purkes asked Michael J. Sullivan:

Were Fafhrd and The Gray Mouser an inspiration for Hadrian and Royce? I was shocked to see you didn't have any Fritz Leiber shelved, considering your own dynamic thief duo.

Michael J. Sullivan It's funny you should ask that - I've never read any Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, or any Fritz Lieber works for that matter. I discovered these books existed when I was reading a good reads review that gave me credit for being clever when talking about the Grey Mouse Tavern. After a bit of Internet searching I discovered the works in question, and realized the readers were giving me far too much credit.

Also interestingly, a fan gave me a copy of one of the books. I was at a publisher event in New York City with some other authors (Terry Brooks, Peter V. Brett, and others who I don't recall). He, had heard that I hadn't read about the pair, and thought I might like the tales.

Since discovering their existence, I've purposefully avoided the books because I was afraid it would change my writing of Royce and/or Hadrian. I keep that fan's book on my shelf and one day, I'll open it up and start reading. But that day will be when I'm 100% sure I won't be writing about my duo again. Seeing as how I'm on chapter two of Blythin Castle (The Sixth Riyria Chronicle book, and the 12 Royce and Hadrian story), that day hasn't yet arrived.

I do look forward to it, though. So many people have seen corollaries between mine and his work, that I'm interested to see for myself what they are. I just need to do so at a time when I know it won't impact my writing at all.

Thanks for asking.

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