Our Favorite Thieves in Fantasy Lit

The Redemption of Althalus, by David Eddings
To those who have never been introduced to the glory that is David Eddings, this book is a wonderful one-volume distillation of his work. His signature plot elements are here, as our most of his preferred characters (never mind that their names differ from book to book). But this time, rather than following the typical Hero’s Quest, his ever-present sidekick scoundrel/thief takes center stage. This version of Eddings’ archetypical rogue is Althalus, a skilled thief, temporarily down on his luck, who gets mixed up in the business of gods and men when he agrees to steal a magical book for the wizard Ghend. The task leads him into many adventures, and into the orbit of many a very interesting individual—and, along the way, on a path to becoming a highly improbable hero.

The Thief of Always, by Clive Barker
This is a different and darker sort of thieves’ story. In fact, it’s closer to a fairy tale, the kind in which you only slowly come to realize there is a thief at work at all. A wonderfully told, enthralling story aimed at young adults, it centers on a 10-year-old boy named Harvey Swick, who is rather bored with his life and wishes for something more interesting to come along. Be careful what you wish for, Harvey, because soon you’ll find yourself face-to-face with a mysterious man named Rictus and the Holiday House, a place that seems to be full of miracles, but may be hiding more sinister secrets within its walls. It is an astoundingly quick read (place it in front of a kid and watch the pages fly), and a great example of the enduring power of the Trickster, in all his forms.

Swords and Scoundrels, by Julia Knight
Knight’s trilogy-starter stars a pair of gifted swordsmen siblings who become thieves despite their best intentions. At the start, they’re members of a professional duellists guild—swords for hire who nonetheless cling to the old knightly codes. But when one of them accidentally stuck a sword into someone deeply inconvenient for the ruling class, the twins find themselves on the run and are forced to become highwaymen, scrabbling to survive far from the capital and under assumed names. The book is riddled with all the outsize caricatures and fight scenes you’d expect, and deeper and more thoughtful politics that you might not have. It adds another layer of intrigue with a setting in a nation facing turbulent times, one that has recently suffered a less-than-peaceful regime change, putting a questionable theocracy in charge and leaving behind a sizable population of bitter, stewing ex-nobles. It all gets very complicated in the most delightful way.

The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch
Any excuse to bring up this book is a good one, and this is the best one I’m likely to think up any time soon. It’s the first in a series that focuses on the trials and tribulations of a group of con men who call themselves the Gentlemen Bastards, operating out of a sort of mystical, magic-infused alternate Venice. It is a series best known for its quick pace, zany, zig-zagging plots, and an endless supply of self-deprecating wit. In the first volume, we see how Locke Lamora and the Bastards become the Ocean’s Eleven dream-team of the fantasy realm and witness their first major cons and heists—and all the inevitable screw-ups and disasters that follow. I can’t think of a better example of a book that’s everything it should be, and more.

Luck in the Shadows, by Lynn Flwelling
Another eternal favorite of mine, this one focuses on a pair of part con-men, part thieves, and part spies. They use their talents for good and country as much as to line their own pockets, and their lives are inextricably bound up with high politics. Seregil and Alec are a compelling duo whose character growth is showcased as much as their night-running rooftop adventures. Luckily, both elements are equally involving. It’s thieves’ lit that reminds you, hey, thieves need a coming-of-age novel, too.

The Adventures of Robin Hood, by Roger Lancelyn Green
We might think we know this basic story, but there is much more to this tale. If you really do like to believe that there is honor among thieves, I think there’s something to be said for revisiting this classic, particularly if you have any children or preteens who enjoy adventure stories. You’re guaranteed to find more in it than you remember, and the nostalgia factor will be ramped up to 11. Romp once again with the Merrie Men. Steal from the rich and give to the poor. Every genre needs an origin story, and this is as close as we’re likely to get.
Who’s your favorite theif in fantasy literature?