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''The Fallible Fiend'' is a fantasy novel by American writer L. Sprague de Camp, the third book of his Novarian series. It was first published as a two-part serial in the magazine ''Fantastic'' for December 1972 and February 1973, and subsequently expanded and revised for book publication. The novel was first published in book form as a paperback by Signet Books in 1973; it was later reprinted by Remploy (1974), Sphere (1978), Del Rey/Ballantine (1981),〔 Baen (1992) and the Thorndike Press (2002).〔 The Remploy edition was both the first British and first hardcover edition. An e-book edition was published by Gollancz's SF Gateway imprint on September 29, 2011 as part of a general release of de Camp's works in electronic form.〔(Orion Publishing Group's L. Sprague de Camp webpage )〕〔(Amazon.com entry for e-book edition )〕 It has also been translated into German〔 and Italian.〔 ==Plot summary== On the demonic Twelfth Plane the demon Zdim is drafted for a year's indentured servitude on the human Prime Plane, the demon society having an agreement to provide service to human sorcerers in return for supplies of iron, a raw material it desperately needs. Zdim is duly summoned to the Prime Plane by the sorcerer Dr. Maldivius of Novaria. There he strives to do his duty, but his demonic literal-mindedness hampers him. Assigned to protect the Sibylline Sapphire from any trespassers, he promptly eats Maldivius' apprentice Grax when the latter intrudes. Similar misadventures result in the disgusted Maldivius selling his contract, and the demon is passed from one master to another, from circus master Bagardo to the rich widow Roska of Ir, all the while doing his level best to figure out what the muddled humans truly wish of him. Against all odds he becomes a hero when he recruits aid for the city-state of Ir after it discounts intelligence of an imminent invasion by the cannibal Paaluans. Returning to his home plane early and with extra iron, he resolves never again to leave the comforts of the Twelfth Plane — until he realizes how dull it is compared with the picturesque insanity of the human realm... By internal chronology, ''The Fallible Fiend'' is the second story in the Novarian series, coming after the short story "The Emperor's Fan", which is set centuries before the others, and prior to the ''Reluctant King'' trilogy. (The Paaluan invasion of Ir is mentioned in the second and third books of the trilogy, ''The Clocks of Iraz'' and ''The Unbeheaded King'', respectively, as an event occurring either recently or some generations past.) 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Fallible Fiend」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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