Sprague de Camp is one of the most prominent representatives of the “golden age” of American science fiction, winner of the Hugo and Gandalf awards, as well as the holder of the title of Grand Master. His novels “The Certified Sorcerer”, “The Reborn Sorcerer” and “The Wandering Sorcerer”, dedicated to the adventures of the half-educated magician Harold Shea, at one time opened a new genre - humorous fantasy. In the novels published in this book “The Crown of Xylar”, “Dear Barbarian” and “The Demon Who Wrong” describes the continuation of the adventures of the former king Xylar Jorian, his younger brother Kerin and other heroes in a country where there is a strange custom - the king is chosen for a short time, and then his head is cut off.