The Blade Itself - Joe Abercrombie

soulsinging - ooooohhhh, now I'm really going to enjoy it. Even though I get a bit miffed if nothing happens, there is always something in my mind telling me to read on coz I HAVE to know what happens next. I am close to the end now I will hopefully finish it by this weekend and start book 2.
 
I just finished reading The Blad Itself and posted my thoughts in the October reading thread. I have now read all of this thread (after I posted said thoughts), so being the lazy person I am I am just copying them here.

It seems I am in general agreement with most of what has been posted. A lot of people have commented on the lack of plot and emphasis on characters.

I have just finished Abercrombie's The Blade Itself which I am pleased to say did not disappoint, as so many fantasy authors I have been trying out recently have. I found he built his characters well though a little bit overboard and cartoon'ish. They were each extreme examples of whatever character type they were. His barbarian is the ultimate rough, tough, simple but thoughtful barbarian. His self-centred, noble fop is noble fop personified. Also his characters' mood swings seemed to go to the extremes as well; just that bit too angy, depressed, hysterical etc.. He repeats himself rather a lot I get it already, Glotka does not like stairs! He also makes some of the classic fanatasy errors in his fighting scenes with armour cleaved and heads and limbs severed by single sword blows.

Finally, and probably my biggest criticism, it didn't really have a significant central plot. Just a whole load of sub plots bringing the major characters together or into play. At the end of the book I sort of feel like all that has been achieved is setting the scene for the next book. I don't actually have a huge problem with that as I enjoy long drawn out plots across multiple books but looking back at the book I can't really answer the question "what was that all about?"

That all sounds heavily critical; as though I didn't like the book, but I did, in fact, thoroughly enjoy it. His writing style is easy and enjoyable to read. The action is fast paced and engrossing, at least once the book had got fully going maybe one third in. I am left looking forward to the next book rather than dreading it!
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I agree with some of that. However, my personal preference is for books to be more character rather than story-driven. I'd rather read about the best character ever making toast than the most boring character ever on an epic quest. Jezal was my least favourite main character in the first book, but he was still well-written.
 
As I said I didn't have a problem with the lack of main plot and didn't even really notice it whilst I was reading. The story was engaging and I too enjoy character driven books very much. It was just an observation. It was only when I finished that I realised the book was really one big prologue. It introduced the major characters through many scenes that gave excellent insight into what drives them, but ultimately did little to advance any main plot.

I did enjoy it far more that any other fantasy authors I have recently tried for the first time; this includes Hobb and Feist. Apologies to their fans but I found them both fairly disappointing.

Also bear in mind that I am much more of an SF fan than Fantasy and so tend to be more forgiving of a SF books than fantasy ones. Fantasy books have to be that little bit better to engage me in the same way and Abercrombie certainly achieved that with this book. I also get the impression from other comments in this thread that some of my criticism may just be down to it being his debut book and the next couple of books should improve on that.
 
I have just finished the three books of the series, read over a week and LOVED them! I think the benefit of doing this (reading one after the other) was that you could see how the characters and plot all fit together and built upon each other.

Brilliant fight scenes - and I usually skim over fight scenes if they too boring, let me tell you, but enjoyed these.

Loved the way things were turned on their head, and the "less expected" occurrred rather than the "typical" eg the quest.

What I found interesting was that none of the main characters seemed to change significantly within themselves (ie there wasn't any of the ambiguity of "good" vs "bad" as in GRRM) as the books progressed - but your understanding of them improved.

I expected the ending to be far gloomier and negative than it was - and it was great to see that something "good" did happen for Glokta.

However, I was a tad annoyed there wasn't more 'loose threads' tied off with Ferro / West etc before the end of the book... it almost begs for a sequel!!!!
 
Hehe, I suppose that's Mr. Abercrombie cunningly ensuring there's a readership hungry for a second trilogy [if there is one].
 
Just finished reading this book and generally enjoyed - easy to read, smooth developments, and characters to care for.

I find some of the criticisms mentioned a bit pedantic, and especially considering this is a debut novel, way off of the mark.

Glokta was an excellent character, Logen didn't half remind me of Pratchett's Captain Vimes (my favourite discworld protagonist), and it was interesting to see Luthar's potential for change developing.

I know there wasn't a sense of a plot starting and finishing, there is clearly enough going on to build through the sequels.

Generally enjoyed it, and probably going to order the first sequel.
 
Just finished this one. All I can say is I really enjoyed it and will be ordered the rest soon :D
 
I'm glad you've ordered both "sequels", Brian, if only because the trilogy is really one enormous book divided into three volumes.

That and they are all good reads. :)
 
Aye, they're rather different but I think it's arguable the First Law Trilogy is better than A Song of Ice and Fire.

.....

No, really. No, put down the pitchforks and blazing torches! Heeeeelllpp!! :D
 
thaddeus6th said:
Aye, they're rather different but I think it's arguable the First Law Trilogy is better than A Song of Ice and Fire.

.....

No, really. No, put down the pitchforks and blazing torches! Heeeeelllpp!! :D
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Agreed! The First Law trilogy at least has a good pace and more action while not detracting from characterisation, intrigue or plot.
 
Wow! What a great book. I'm currently on Before they are Hanged and it's truly turned into a page turner. I wasn't much of a SF reader until i read "ASOIAF", which prompted me to read "The Dark Tower Series", followed by this Trilogy. I must say that i am real selective when it comes to SF and i haven't been disappointed thus far. I'm glad i listened to those who recommended these series to me, but i'm afraid there isnt much else out there that will compete with these three. I read the first book of the "Acacia" series and will probably go back after i finish The First Law trilogy.

By the way, my favorite character is Dogman, he just cracks me up. Jisele has that Jaime Lannister character transformation going which i'm starting to like...lol
 
And The Heroes is even better still! I like that we get to learn so much about the Northmen in that book.

Now that I think about it, I think whichever book I've read most recently will be the best in my mind. I plan to re-read The First Law trilogy soon to make more sense of what's happening behind the scenes across all of the books. Joe Abercrombie is my favorite author right and I can't wait for his next book!
 
Cool. I'll have to check them both out when i finish this series. The political intrigue and in depth character development/transformations is what has me hooked. There's nothing like a book that makes you think......
 
I regret alot that i waited two years after i finished this book to read book 2. This one was slow at first and the characters was only sketches compared how much more interesting they are in book 2. Is there a synopsis,summary of this books storyline somewhere online? I need it to refresh my memory about what happened late in book 1, House of the Maker and all. Reading book 3 right now.

Is there actually news about a second trilogy of FL coming or its only some weak rumor??
 
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