I’m fond of lists. They tell you things. Here’s one about swords with names and the people who wield them. Some are more obscure than others. . . . . .
King Arthur and Excalibur
Roland and Durendal
Charlemagne and Joyeuse
Sigurd/Siegfried and Gram/Balmung
Aragorn and Anduril
Eomer and Guthwine
Theoden and Herugrim
Elendil and Narsil
Fingolfin and Ringil
Turin and Gurthang
Bilbo and Sting
Frodo and Sting
Itto Ogami and Dotanuki
The Gray Mouser and Scalpel & Cat’s Claw
Fafhrd and Graywand & Heartseeker
Drizzt and Twinkle & Icingdeath
Harimad and Gonturan
Aerin and Gonturan
Gwydion and Drynwyn
Elric and Stormbringer
Tanis Half-Elven and Wrymslayer
There. That’s not half bad for off the top of my head. Now here’s the challenge – how many of the sources for these characters can you name?
About 18. I missed Drizzt (FR), Harimad, and Itto Ogami.
-For Arthur, etc, there are various. Le Morte d’Arthur is one. Geoffrey of Monmouth, Sir Thomas Mallory, the Mabinogion, etc.
-Roland and Charlemagne: Le Chansons de Roland
-Sigurd: Volsung saga
-Aragorn through Frodo: LOTR, Silmarillion (Fingolfin, Turin), and The Hobbit.
-Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser: Fritz Leiber and the stories in the Swords series. The best is Swords and Deviltry.
-Aerin: The Children of Hurin and the Silmarillion
-Gwydion: Prydain Chronicles by Alexander Kent. My favourite was the Black Cauldron and Henwen the oracular pig.
-Elric: Michael Moorcock’s books, of course. He is one incarnation of the Eternal Champion.
-Tanis: Dragonlance series. First time in Dragons of Autumn Twilight, I think.
Here are a few back at you (actually near you). Some of these should be fairly easy:
-Vorpal Sword
-Woundhealer
-Coinspinner
-Mournblade
-Dorian and the Sword of the Dawn
-Oscar Gordon and the Lady Vivamus
-Corum and Traitor
-Ogier and Curtana
-Peter and Rhindon
-Corwin and Grayswandir
Four of these would be considered science fiction rather than fantasy. At least two could be considered as historical.
Vorpal – “The Jabberwocky,” by Lewis Carroll
Woundhealer, Coinspinner – “Book of Lost Swords”, etc., by Saberhagen
Dorian and the Sword of the Dawn – “The Eternal Champion”, by ???
Oscar Gordon – not a clue.
Corum – ditto.
Ogier and Curtana – Ogier the Dane, from La Chanson de Roland
Peter and Rhindon – Narnia, by C.S. Lewis
Corwin and Grayswandir – Amber, by Zelazny