The Blade Itself - Joe Abercrombie

[Adasunshine]

Hello

I bought this book yesterday and I was just wondering if anyone else has read it and what their thoughts were if they had done so.

The blurb - just to refresh anyone's memory is...

Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he's on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian - leaving nothing behind but bad songs, and dead friends.

Nobleman, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness. Captain Jezal dan Luthar has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the North they fight by altogether bloodier rules.

Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the corrupt heart of government... if he can stay alive long enough to follow it.

Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood. Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters. The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.

I've not ever seen it before yesterday and it sounded like a good read so I picked it up, I'd appreciate other people's thoughts on it though, if you've read it.

Thankyou in advance!

xx

 

[Brys]

I have the book, but haven't got around to reading it yet.

 

[Envoy]

Yes...read the book. It is very good.

 

[Adasunshine]

Thankyou both for getting back to me... have now started it and so far so good!

xx

 

[j d worthington]

You know, you put the descriptions of Logen and Jezal together, and you've got a pretty good portrait of Francois Villon....

 

[Envoy]

How are you getting on with the book....still enjoying it?

 

[Adasunshine]

Thankyou for asking Envoy - I am very much enjoying it! The blurb doesn't do it justice!

It's nice to know someone else who's read it! Do you have any idea when the second book will be out or are you as in the dark as I am?

xx

 

[Envoy]

just had a quick look around and this is what I have found:-

Book 2 - Before they are Hanged March 2007

He also seems to have a novel called Last Argument of Kings set for March 2008, but I am not sure whether it is the same series.

I just wish I would discover multi-volume stories after they have been completed...had to wait ages for Stephen King's Dark Tower series, George RR Martin's books seem to take an age...be much better if I waited till they have been completed!!

 

[Adasunshine]

Thank you Envoy for that! Much appreciated.

Have finished the book now, thought it was brilliant.

I know how you feel about those multi-volume stories! I was quite lucky with ASoIaF though, started it last year and only had to wait a week for AFFC to come out, not like some on this forum. Still, the wait for ADWD is more than making up for it!

xx

 

[GOLLUM]

HMMM..you've got me intrigued.

Any other author/series this writer reminds you of??

 

[Adasunshine]

Not really GOLLUM, from the blurb it sounds pretty much like any other trilogy/story out there but it's ever so good and surprises you at times, it managed to surprise me right at the very end even!

There's political intrigue, military references (Jezal dan Luthar is a Captain in the army), and the "star" of the book is nothing like you expect him to be.

There is magic in this book but it's not the whole story and it leaves you with more questions at the end than what you had at the beginning!

I just loved it, first book I've really enjoyed for a while now. Couldn't bear to put it down but was so excited about picking it up again! Of course, this is just my opinion, you could go read it and hate it!

Oh, and Envoy, "Last Argument of Kings", I believe, is the last of the trilogy!

xx

 

[Joe Abercrombie]

Many thanks for the interest, and the kind words. It's always a real thrill when you hear that someone's enjoyed your work. Makes the long nights bent over the lap-top seem worthwhile . . .

'Before They are Hanged' is the next volume, just being finished now and due out March 2007.

'Last Argument of Kings' is the last of the trilogy, predicted for March 2008, but that may be subject to some variation due to my intense laziness/more important authors releasing their books at the same time.

I apologise for the wait. I understand the frustration. Fantasy is always so darned complicated. When you pick the next book up, you can never remember who any of the characters are, or what they were doing. In my defence, I can promise you that there will only be three in this series.

Unless they offer me a lot of money.

Or a medium amount of money.

Or any money.

As for everyone else, I can only say:

Buy the Blade Itself.

Reading it is optional, but you must buy it.

- - -

"We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged"
(Heinrich Heine)

 

[Envoy]

Cheers Joe...really did enjoy the first book and recommend it to all. Can't offer any money for you to continue the series, but might be able to stretch to a pint and a bag of ready salted....then again with London prices maybe not

 

[Adasunshine]

Thanks for that Joe! Much appreciated!

I too would be happy to buy you a drink as a thankyou for a great read! Pints come a bit cheaper here in the South/South West!!!

Thanks again for The Blade Itself, loved it loved it loved it!

xx

 

[Doer]

The Blade Itself is an awesome book. I literary read it in like 2 nights, had to skip work for it and some rather unpleasant social events… hehe. It’s a bummer that the rest of the books are coming out so late. This Glokta guy is quite the character, I must say. I just hope that the subsequent novels be as good as this one. I mean if that whole journey to the ‘edge-of-the-world’ is going to turn into a predictable quest after some artefact that would save the world than Joe have certainly lost me as a reader. I hope he’s going to focus more on the workings of the Inquisition and on the backroom politics of the Union.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone thinks that Logen and that crazy chick Maljinn are going to hock up later on? Personally, I cheer for Glokta. I hope that he’ll bed West’s sister somewhere along the line, though unlikely it seems. But hey I think he’s not all that bad underneath all that resentment and cynicism. Plus I really hope that Joe’s gonna elaborate more on the doings of Ardee. She’s a damn good character to remain in the shadows.

 

[Finnien]

As for everyone else, I can only say:

Buy the Blade Itself.

Reading it is optional, but you must buy it.

I had to order it from England! The bold letters made me do it. Italics alone would not have gotten my interest.

 

[Adasunshine]

The Blade Itself is an awesome book. I literary read it in like 2 nights, had to skip work for it and some rather unpleasant social events… hehe. It’s a bummer that the rest of the books are coming out so late. This Glokta guy is quite the character, I must say. I just hope that the subsequent novels be as good as this one. I mean if that whole journey to the ‘edge-of-the-world’ is going to turn into a predictable quest after some artefact that would save the world than Joe have certainly lost me as a reader. I hope he’s going to focus more on the workings of the Inquisition and on the backroom politics of the Union.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone thinks that Logen and that crazy chick Maljinn are going to hock up later on? Personally, I cheer for Glokta. I hope that he’ll bed West’s sister somewhere along the line, though unlikely it seems. But hey I think he’s not all that bad underneath all that resentment and cynicism. Plus I really hope that Joe’s gonna elaborate more on the doings of Ardee. She’s a damn good character to remain in the shadows.

***************POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*****************

I really warmed to Glokta too, he is one hell of a character, it's nice to also get a glimpse of how he used to be in Jezal dan Luther so you get to see the before and after kind of thing with him. I'd like something to happen with Ardee, not necessarily sure I want romance or anything along those lines but it would be good if they could partner up in some form, especially with him off to Dagoska, maybe Ardee could be his eyes and ears back in Adua, that would be an interesting take on things.

As for Logen & Ferro, I'm not so sure, I can imagine she'd be hard work!!!

Also, you don't know how she'd cope with The Bloody Nine, that's one hell of a creature to be suppressing!

I think it is your standard quest but if it's anything like The Blade Itself, it should have that little twist on things that makes it that little bit different and IMO, he's made too much of the political intrigue to not include that in the following books and for it to be a big part of the story. Bayaz is at the centre of it so it should even feature on their journey.

It's so nice that there's another person that's read this, I only have you and Envoy to discuss it with....

Let's hope Joe's selling tactics have pushed others to go buy it!!!!

xx

 

[Envoy]

***************POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*****************

Hiya...I think Logan and the 'Crazy Chick' will get it on also. Loved the scene near the end where they are up against what seemed an endless supply of bad guys.

*****************************************************

It is nice to see what other people think.....I mentioned to my wife the other night in some excitement ' you know that book I really enjoyed, well the author has just posted a message on the internet '........ 'wow' she replied with a distinct lack of enthusiasm!!!!

So glad to hear what you guys think....

 

[Adasunshine]

It is nice to see what other people think.....I mentioned to my wife the other night in some excitement ' you know that book I really enjoyed, well the author has just posted a message on the internet '........ 'wow' she replied with a distinct lack of enthusiasm!!!!

I got the same reaction from my partner!!! He just said "well done" in that bored unenthusiastic tone of his!

I was really pleased and excited that Joe responded!!! Glad to know I'm not alone in that!

xx

 

[nixie]

Well I've nearly finished it.Struggled a little at first but once I got into it very hard to put down.Anyone else feel the plot is secondary, the main strength of the book is the characters?