Swords Against Darkness III

Swords Against Darkness III is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Andrew J. Offutt, the third in a series of five anthologies of the same name. It was first published in paperback by Zebra Books in March 1978.

Summary
The book collects thirteen short stories and novelettes, one poem and one essay by various fantasy authors, together with a foreword by Offutt.

Contents

 * "Foreword" (Andrew J. Offutt)
 * "The Pit of Wings" (Ramsey Campbell)
 * "The Sword of Spartacus" (Richard L. Tierney)
 * "Servitude" (Wayne Hooks)
 * "Descales' Skull" (David C. Smith)
 * "In the Balance" (Tanith Lee)
 * "Tower of Darkness" (David Madison)
 * "The Mantichore" (David Drake)
 * "Revenant" (poem) (Kathleen Resch)
 * "Rite of Kings" (Jon DeCles)
 * "The Mating Web" (Robert E. Vardeman)
 * "The Guest of Dzinganji" (Manly Wade Wellman)
 * "The Hag" (Darrell Schweitzer)
 * "A Kingdom Won" (Geo W. Proctor)
 * "Swordslinger" (M. A. Washil)
 * "On Thud and Blunder" (essay) (Poul Anderson)

Reception
The anthology was reviewed by Darrell Schweitzer in Science Fiction Review, July 1978, Mark Mansell in Science Fiction Review, November/December 1978, and Lin Carter in The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 5 (1980).

Awards
The book placed tenth in the 1979 Locus Poll Award for Best Anthology.