Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn

This collection is the first book in the 'Thieves' World' shared universe, which features multiple authors contributing stories set in the city of Sanctuary. While it introduces many characters and the setting, subsequent books continue to build on this world with new and returning figures.

The stories within 'Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn' can generally be read in any order, as each is a self-contained narrative focusing on different characters and events. However, reading them sequentially as presented in the collection provides a natural introduction to the various inhabitants and locales of Sanctuary.

Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn is notable for pioneering the 'shared world' fantasy concept, where multiple authors contribute stories to a single, consistent setting. This approach was influential in the fantasy genre, inspiring many similar collaborative projects that followed.