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Spiders of the Purple Mage
Genre Science Fiction / Fantasy
Type Novella
Series
Thieves' World
Thieves' World is a shared world fantasy series, created by Robert Lynn Asprin in 1978.
The story is also published in an eBook.
DESCRIPTION:
The midwife Masha is on her way home from work in The Maze. She sees a dying man who tells her he’s hidden an expensive and stolen jewel in a piece of cheese that was eaten by a rat. The man is covered with spider bites. The woman’s lazy and blabbermouthed husband hears the story and trades its telling for drinks. This starts a great rat hunt in the city. The jewel was stolen from the purple mage. 
 
PUBLICATION HISTORY
| US | UK | CZECH REPUBLIC | GERMANY | HUNGARY | ITALY | RUSSIA | SPAIN |
| UKRAINE |

46 Publications
 
US

Anthology
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Publisher
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Cover art
Notes
FIRST PUBLICATION
in Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Lynn Asprin
New York, NY: Ace Books
Science Fiction
ISBN 0-441-79576-5
paperback (17,5×10,5cm)
11/1980
299
$ 2.25
uncredited [= Walter Velez]
-


Walter Velez
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Dates


Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Lynn Asprin
New York, NY: Ace Books
Science Fiction
ISBN 0-441-79577-3
paperback (17,5×10,5cm)
not dated [= -/1980] (2nd)
not dated [= -/1981] (3rd)
05/1981 (4th)
299
$ 2.75
uncredited [= Walter Velez]
-

Walter Velez
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Dates





Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in Sanctuary
Robert Lynn Asprin
Garden City, NY: Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
Book Club Edition, SFBC # 5138
no ISBN
hardcover (21,5×14,5cm)
not dated [= 06/1982; date code M25]
not dated [= 07/1982; date code M27]
not dated [= 09/1982; date code M39]
not dated [= 09/1983; date code N40]
not dated [= 03/1985; date code P13]
not dated [= 01/1986; date code Q02]
600
not priced [= $ 6.98]
Walter Velez [credited to Walter Valez]
Omnibus with the first three Thieves' World anthologies.

Walter Velez
Collection
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in The Purple Book
-
New York, NY: Tor Books
Jim Baen Presents
ISBN 0-523-48529-8
paperback (17,5×10,5cm)
08/1982
287
$ 2.95
Howard Chaykin
-

Howard Chaykin
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
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Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Lynn Asprin
New York, NY: Ace Books
Fantasy
ISBN 0-441-79578-1
paperback (17,5×10,5cm)
02/1983 (5th)
08/1983 (6th)
11/1983 (7th)
299
$ 2.95
uncredited [= Walter Velez]
-

Walter Velez
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Dates

Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Lynn Asprin
New York, NY: Ace Books
Fantasy
ISBN 0-441-79579-X
paperback (17,5×10,5cm)
02/1984 (8th)
07/1984 (9th)
299
$ 2.95
uncredited [= Walter Velez]
This printing is also included in a boxed set, called Thieves' World, with the first five books of the series.

Walter Velez
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Dates

Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Lynn Asprin
New York, NY: Ace Books
Fantasy
ISBN 0-441-79580-3
paperback (17,5×10,5cm)
11/1984 (10th)
12/1984 (11th)
299
$ 2.95
uncredited [= Walter Velez]
-

Walter Velez
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Dates

Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Lynn Asprin
New York, NY: Ace Books
Fantasy
ISBN 0-441-80585-X
paperback (17,5×10,5cm)
07/1985 (12th)
09/1985 (13th)
299
$ 2.95
uncredited [= Walter Velez]
-

Walter Velez
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Dates

Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
New York, NY: Ace Books
Fantasy
ISBN 0-441-80585-X
paperback (17,5×10,5cm)
01/1986 (14th)
05/1986 (15th)
299
$ 2.95
Gary Ruddell
Same ISBN and price as the previous printings, but a different cover.

Gary Ruddell
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Dates



Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
New York, NY: Ace Books
Fantasy
ISBN 0-441-80590-6
paperback (17,5×10,5cm)
11/1986 (16th)
12/1986 (17th)
not dated [= -/1987] (18th)
not dated [= -/1987] (19th)
299
$ 3.50
Gary Ruddell
-

Gary Ruddell
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Dates

Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
New York, NY: Ace Books
Fantasy
ISBN 0-441-80590-6
paperback (17,5×10,5cm)
not dated [= -/1988] (20th)
not dated [= -/1989] (21st)
299
$ 4.50
Gary Ruddell
-

Gary Ruddell
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
New York, NY: Ace Books
Fantasy
ISBN 0-441-80590-6
paperback (17,5×10,5cm)
not dated [= -/1991] (22nd)
299
$ 4.99
Gary Ruddell
-

Gary Ruddell
Collection
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in First Blood
Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
New York, NY: Tor Books
-
ISBN 0-312-87488-X
trade paperback (23×15,5cm)
12/2003
460
$ 14.95
Jean Pierre Targete
The cover artist's name is on the back cover written as Jean Pierre Target.

Jean Pierre Targete
Collection
Edited by
Publisher
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in First Blood
Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
New York, NY: Tor Books
ISBN 
0-312-71162-X
ebook
12/2003
(460)
$ 9.95
Jean Pierre Targete
-

Jean Pierre Targete
Collection
Edited by
Publisher
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in First Blood
Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
New York, NY: Tor Books
ISBN 978-1-4299-7000-8
ebook
04/2007
(460)
$ 9.99
Jean Pierre Targete
-

Jean Pierre Targete
UK
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Book no.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Asprin
Middlesex: Penguin Books
Fantasy/Science Fiction
ISBN 0-14-006985-2
paperback (18×11cm)
09/1984
223
£ 1.95
uncredited [= unknown]
-

-
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Book no.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Cover art
Notes
in Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Asprin
Middlesex: Penguin Books
Fantasy/Science Fiction
ISBN 0-14-006985-2
paperback (18×11cm)
05/1989
223
£ 2.99
uncredited [= unknown]
-

-
CZECH REPUBLIC
Title
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Book no.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Translation
Cover art
Notes
Czech: "Pavouci purpurového mága"
in Příběhy od Oplzlého jednorožce
Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey
Plzeň: Perseus Books
Svět zlodějů II
ISBN 80-7288-005-5
paperback (16,5×10,5cm)
-/2000
285
Kč 98,00
Pavel Vohlídka & Hana Ederová
Gary Ruddell
-

Gary Ruddell
GERMANY
Title
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Dates

Pages
Price
Translation
Cover art
Notes
German: "Die Spinnen des Purpurmagiers"
in Der blaue Stern
Robert Asprin
Bergisch Gladbach: Bastei-Lübbe
Fantasy, Band 20 091
ISBN 3-404-20091-8
paperback (18×11,5cm)
12/1986 (1st) [dated: -/1987]
09/1988 (2nd)
221
DM 7,80
Lore Straßl
Walter Velez
Story illustrated by Pesch.

Walter Velez
HUNGARY
Title
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Translation
Cover art
Notes
Hungarian: "A bíbormágus pókjai"
in Kard és boszorkányság
Nemes István
Debrecen: Cherubion
Osiris Exkluzív Fantasy 2
ISBN 963-7841-32-6
hardcover [no dustjacket] (21,5×12,5cm)
-/1994
334
Ft 398,-
uncredited
Zubály Sándor
Pictorial boards.

Zubály Sándor
ITALY
Title
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Translation
Cover art
Notes
Italian: "I ragni del mago purpureo"
in Racconti del mondo dei ladri
Robert L. Asprin
Rome: Fanucci
Enciclopedia della Fantascienza 20
ISBN 88-347-0060-0
hardcover (21,5×14cm)
04/1988
403
L 25.000
Gianni Pilo
Boris Vallejo
-

Boris Vallejo
RUSSIA
Title
Latin
Anthology
Latin
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Translation

Cover art
Notes
Russian: "Пауки Пурпурного Мага"
"Pauki Purpurnogo Maga"
in Истории таверны «Распутный единорог»
in Istorii taverny «Rasputnyy yedinorog»
Robert Asprin
Moscow: Jauza
Коллекционная фантастика
ISBN 5-88923-050-6 | ISBN 5-87849-017-X
hardcover [no dustjacket] (20,5×13,5cm)
06/1995
384
not priced
uncredited [all stories translated by these four:
V. Shchedrin, L. Zhukov, N.V. Bulatov, S. Burov]
uncredited [= Gary Ruddell]
Pictorial boards. Translation of the second Thieves' World anthology, Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn. The cover artist's name is in the picture.

Gary Ruddell
Title
Latin
Anthology
Latin
Edited by
Publishers

Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Translation

Cover art
Notes
Russian: "Пауки Пурпурного Мага"
"Pauki Purpurnogo Maga"
in Мир Воров
in Mir Vorov
Robert Asprin
Moscow: V. Sekachev
Moscow: Eksmo
Знак Единорога
ISBN 5-88923-007-7 | ISBN 5-04-001902-5
hardcover [no dustjacket] (20×12,5cm)
-/1999
541
not priced
uncredited [= by one of these four: V. Shchedrin, L. Zhukov, N.V. Bulatov, S. Burov]
Luis Royo
Pictorial boards. The first two books in the Thieves' World series.

Luis Royo
Title
Latin
Anthology

Latin

Edited by
Publishers

Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Translation

Cover art
Notes
Russian: "Пауки Пурпурного Мага"
"
Pauki Purpurnogo Maga"
in Мир Воров - Истории таверны «Распутный
Единорог» - Тени Санктуария - Сезон штормов

in Mir Vorov - Istorii taverny «Rasputnyy Yedinorog» - Teni Sanktuariya - Sezon shtormov
Robert Asprin
Moscow: V. Sekachev
Moscow: Eksmo
Мир воров
ISBN 5-88923-071-9 | ISBN 5-699-01679-1
hardcover (20×13cm)
-/2002
800
not priced
uncredited [= by one of these four: V. Shchedrin, L. Zhukov, N.V. Bulatov, S. Burov]
S. Yulla
The first four books in the Thieves' World series.

S. Yulla
Title
Latin
Anthology

Latin

Edited by
Publishers

Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Translation

Cover art
Notes
Russian: "Пауки Пурпурного Мага"
"
Pauki Purpurnogo Maga"
in Мир Воров - Истории таверны "Распутный
Eдинорог" - Тени Санктуария

in Mir Vorov - Istorii taverny "Rasputnyy Edinorog" - Teni Sanktuariya
Robert Asprin
Moscow: V. Sekachev
Moscow: Eksmo
Меч и магия
ISBN 5-88923-107-3 | ISBN 5-699-12782-8
hardcover [no dustjacket] (20,5×13cm)
07/2005
670
not priced
uncredited [= by one of these four: V. Shchedrin, L. Zhukov, N.V. Bulatov, S. Burov]
uncredited [= Jean Pierre Targete]
Pictorial boards. The first three books in the Thieves' World series.

Jean Pierre Targete
Title
Latin
Anthology

Latin

Edited by
Publishers

Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Translation

Cover art
Notes
Russian: "Пауки Пурпурного Мага"
"Pauki Purpurnogo Maga"
in Мир Воров - Истории таверны "Распутный
Eдинорог" - Тени Санктуария - Сезон штормов

in Mir Vorov - Istorii taverny "Rasputnyy Edinorog" - Teni Sanktuariya - Sezon shtormov
Robert Asprin
Moscow: Eksmo
St. Petersburg: Domino
Черная Fantasy
ISBN 978-5-699-48094-4
hardcover [no dustjacket] (21,5×14,5cm)
04/2011
992
not priced
uncredited [= by one of these four: V. Shchedrin, L. Zhukov, N.V. Bulatov, S. Burov]
uncredited [= Jean Pierre Targete]
Pictorial boards. The first four books in the Thieves' World series.

Jean Pierre Targete
SPAIN
Title
Anthology
Edited by
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Translation
Cover art
Notes
Spanish: "Arañas del mago purpura"
in Historias del vulgar unicornio
Robert Lynn Asprin
Barcelona: Ultramar
Fantasia 2
ISBN 84-7386-558-8
paperback (21×14cm)
12/1989
303
not priced
Domingo Santos
Antoni Garcés
-

Antoni Garcés
UKRAINE
Title
Latin
Omnibus
Latin
Publisher
Series+no.
Bookno.
Format
Date
Pages
Price
Translation
Cover art
Notes
Ukrainian: "Пауки багрового мага"
"Pauki bagrovogo maga"
in Пирамидальный мир 2 (Книги 3 и 4)
in Piramidal'nyy mir 2 (Knigi 3 i 4)
Feodosia: Gemma
Фантастика
ISBN 5-87274-002-6
hardcover [no dustjacket] (20×13cm)
01/1993
382
not priced
S. Timchenko
I.M. Omelchenko
Omnibus with Личный космос (A Private Cosmos), and За гранями Земли (Behind the Walls of Terra).
Pictorial boards. Illustraed by I. M. Omelchenko.

I. Omelchenko
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© Zacharias L.A. Nuninga -- Page last updated: 26 Apr 2021