The Swords of Night and Day

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The Swords of Night and Day (ISBN 0-345-45834-6) is a fantasy fiction novel by David Gemmell, as well as a pair of legendary swords within the book. They also appear in Gemmell's book White Wolf. The book is set 1000 years following the death of Olek Skilgannon.

The novel is an exploration of the future of the Drenai world, focussing heavily on Jiamads; Joinings honed to perfection. The story also contains a satisfactory ending to Skilganon's original life, including not only his first demise, but that of Jianna, the Witch Queen with whom he was deeply in love.

Both swords are mirror polished and extremely sharp, both having been enchanted by the Old Woman. The Sword of Day is golden in colour while the Sword of Night is silver. Intended as inferior copies of the legendary Swords of Blood and Fire, they had become infamous in the hands of Skilgannon.

It is frequently mentioned throughout the books that they are curved blades, and on the two UK hardback covers, are depicted as katana. However, it is frequently mentioned that the swords are scabbarded in a single, curved sheath roughly two feet in length. This would suggest shorter weapons, such as a short sabre.

The swords, as with all weapons made by the Old Woman, are possessed to a degree, in a similar manner to Snaga, the axe of Druss the Legend. However, rather than a tangible demon, the swords simply drive the wielder to blood lust.

The Swords of Blood and Fire are wielded by Decado in this novel.