Publisher : Gollancz
432 pages
ISBN-10: 0575077859
ISBN-13: 978-0575077850
£18.99
4 May 2006
I don't often order books from overseas, but I made an exception for Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself. Buzz surrounding this fantasy novel was quite good, and I decided I couldn't wait for the Pyr release this fall, and ordered the Gollancz edition.
This is the first novel in the The First Law series. I'm not aware how many volumes are planned but Volume 2, Before They are Hanged was recently released in the UK. Anyway I'd heard a lot of comparisons between this novel and Scott Lynch's Lies of Locke Lamora, which I absolutely loved, and after reading it I can see why they were made. Both are lighter novels, and they rely on pithy dialogue to support the action. The Blade Itself is definitely an introductory chapter to something larger. In this first installment we are introduced to the main characters, the barbarian northman Logen Ninefingers, the bitter crippled Inquisitor Sand dan Glokta, the brash young nobleman, Captain Jezal dan Luthar, the feral ex-slave Ferro Maljinn, and finally the mysterious wizard out of legend, First Magi Bayaz. Well, its not the most original cast of characters, quite of few standards of the genre there as a matter of fact.
So lets move on to the world of the The First Law. Most of the story take place in Adua, capital of The Union, a confederacy centered around The Midderlands and which includes in its colonies, Angland in the North and Dagoska in the South. The Union must deal with a threat to Angland from Bethod and his barbarian horde. On top of this, the violent Gurkish threaten Dagoska in the south. Seems The Union is in quite the pinch. The king is old and senile, his heir is a flamboyant layabout, and his council is busy fighting each other. Luckily Bayaz, the power behind the first king Harald centuries ago, has shown up to save the Union, if that is ,he can convince the council he is who he claims.
So the world is a pretty typical fantasy setting, the plot is standard, and the characters cliche. Sounds like a mess huh? Well it could be. But Abercrombie take all these standard ingredients and weaves them into a fun exciting yarn. Glokta is a great character. I envision him as Hugh Laurie's House character. House MD has the same plot every week, yet it never fails to entertain. Sometimes the common place and familiar can be very good, comfortable can be welcome. The Blade Itself, is comfortable, and its good. Not every novel needs to be groundbreakingly original, Sometimes it can just be some well done standard fare. Mr. Abercrombie won't be winning any Hugo awards with this debut, but what he is doing is winning a lot of fans with this entertaining tale.
7.5 out of 10
Buy this book at
Amazon UK
or
The Book Depository
432 pages
ISBN-10: 0575077859
ISBN-13: 978-0575077850
£18.99
4 May 2006
I don't often order books from overseas, but I made an exception for Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself. Buzz surrounding this fantasy novel was quite good, and I decided I couldn't wait for the Pyr release this fall, and ordered the Gollancz edition.
This is the first novel in the The First Law series. I'm not aware how many volumes are planned but Volume 2, Before They are Hanged was recently released in the UK. Anyway I'd heard a lot of comparisons between this novel and Scott Lynch's Lies of Locke Lamora, which I absolutely loved, and after reading it I can see why they were made. Both are lighter novels, and they rely on pithy dialogue to support the action. The Blade Itself is definitely an introductory chapter to something larger. In this first installment we are introduced to the main characters, the barbarian northman Logen Ninefingers, the bitter crippled Inquisitor Sand dan Glokta, the brash young nobleman, Captain Jezal dan Luthar, the feral ex-slave Ferro Maljinn, and finally the mysterious wizard out of legend, First Magi Bayaz. Well, its not the most original cast of characters, quite of few standards of the genre there as a matter of fact.
So lets move on to the world of the The First Law. Most of the story take place in Adua, capital of The Union, a confederacy centered around The Midderlands and which includes in its colonies, Angland in the North and Dagoska in the South. The Union must deal with a threat to Angland from Bethod and his barbarian horde. On top of this, the violent Gurkish threaten Dagoska in the south. Seems The Union is in quite the pinch. The king is old and senile, his heir is a flamboyant layabout, and his council is busy fighting each other. Luckily Bayaz, the power behind the first king Harald centuries ago, has shown up to save the Union, if that is ,he can convince the council he is who he claims.
So the world is a pretty typical fantasy setting, the plot is standard, and the characters cliche. Sounds like a mess huh? Well it could be. But Abercrombie take all these standard ingredients and weaves them into a fun exciting yarn. Glokta is a great character. I envision him as Hugh Laurie's House character. House MD has the same plot every week, yet it never fails to entertain. Sometimes the common place and familiar can be very good, comfortable can be welcome. The Blade Itself, is comfortable, and its good. Not every novel needs to be groundbreakingly original, Sometimes it can just be some well done standard fare. Mr. Abercrombie won't be winning any Hugo awards with this debut, but what he is doing is winning a lot of fans with this entertaining tale.
7.5 out of 10
Buy this book at
Amazon UK
or
The Book Depository
