Logen Ninefingers and the rest (spoiler alert)

Pedro Del Mar

Pedro Del Mar

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Did anyone else feel that The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie felt as though it left many questions unanswered and very much open to other ways of following up on the main characters? Even slightly disappointed?
Inquistor Glokta, Jezal dan Luthar, Logen Ninefingers, The Dogman, and Ferro Maljinn all feel as though they have more to give - I think this shows the strength of Abercrombie's writing and how he draws you into the characters. Nevertheless I still felt as though the ending was maybe a bit rushed and left me wondering about what was going to happen next rather than really tying things up.
How the book ends with Logen jumping in the river is how the first book began which was quite cool but is he alive or dead?
Slightly dissapointed that Abercrombie didn't delve into Logen's split personality - was there a reasoning behind how The Bloody Nine came into being? I was hoping for an explanation but didn't really pick up on one.
I have Best Served Cold waiting on the book shelf but from the back cover it seems entirely new characters so not sure if there's any mention of the old ones?
 
On Glokta, I don't think anything extra was needed. I like the ambiguity of Logen's end and thought Jezal's was fine.

I was less satisfied with the Dogman.... now I come to think of it I think he just becomes an ambassador, doesn't he?

I don't think unanswered questions are necessarily a bad thing. Not everything has to be spelt out, and open-ended questions means the author can address them later if he decides to (most obviously, a sequel about Logen or Ferro).
 
I think it does show a strength of the writing (but perhaps a flaw in the plotting?), that I felt a little too hungry for more on the characters at the end of the trilogy. I don’t know about rushed, but the third book certainly did feel crowded (especially as there was a lot in the second book – with the exception of Glokta in Dagoska – that I could have done without).

The lead characters had developed so well after three books, maybe Abercrombie wanted to keep them handy for the future. Perhaps after he has written twenty books, this trilogy will seem like a great introduction to this world, but for an story in its own right, I’d have liked something more conclusive.
 
Isn't that what every writer wants at the end of a trilogy or stand-alone book? Have to wait to see how the thread goes, but so far we're all agreeing that we'd love to read more. As Private Bob said to Lieutenant George in Blackadder Goes Forth, "Always leave them hungry."
 
crooksy73 said:
Slightly dissapointed that Abercrombie didn't delve into Logen's split personality - was there a reasoning behind how The Bloody Nine came into being? I was hoping for an explanation but didn't really pick up on one.
I have Best Served Cold waiting on the book shelf but from the back cover it seems entirely new characters so not sure if there's any mention of the old ones?
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I didn't see it lacking that, but then, I'm a gamer. First time he did a rage, I went "oh, of course. Barbarian. They do that." and kept reading.
 
I thought that the major story arc of the First Law trilogy, which was about the First Law, came to a satisfactory - if not completely happy - ending. That the characters' stories may carry on (if only in the readers' imaginations) is fine as far as I'm concerned.

This sort of ending is far preferable to those where the characters' stories reach their conclusions, but the plot peters out rather than being concluded.


For myself, I wouldn't mind meeting the major characters again; nor would I mind seeing another book (or trilogy) about how the struggle between the Magi carries on after the events of the First Law trilogy.
 
biodroid said:
Man I need to stop reading SPOILER ALERTS :(
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I wondered, given that we'd just been talking about the trilogy and you said you hadn't finished book one, why I say your name posting in this thread! I'm not one to talk though... I read HUGE detailed spoilers for GRRM's series and blew a very significant and pivotal event in the 3rd book wide open!
 
soulsinging - hehe, I just finished Book 1 and thought holy smoke what an ending, very twisty, I can't wait to read book 2 but started Light fantastic my Mr Pratchett and so far loving it. Then I will read book 2 YAY!
 
I felt the same way in regards to the idea that we were basically left hanging in regards to some of the characters. But I don't see that as rushing the end or bad plotting. In fact, I think the complete opposite. It was quite brilliant on Joe's part to leave us wanting more.

Plus you now have to look at what he has written since. Best Served Cold features some characters from the triology. And Heroes will also. So there is some reason to believe we will end up at some point have books bringing back Logen's tale or maybe Ferro. Seems like Joe made us dive into his characters and now is trinkling through the follow up books to make us read more. Quite clever on his part.
 
biodroid said:
soulsinging - hehe, I just finished Book 1 and thought holy smoke what an ending, very twisty, I can't wait to read book 2 but started Light fantastic my Mr Pratchett and so far loving it. Then I will read book 2 YAY!
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Glad you enjoyed it thus far... it only gets crazier from here!
 
Currently about 25% through Best Served Cold - loving it - some appearances from characters from the first series which have raised a smile or two :)
 
Crooksy,
I love all the unanswered questions because I think that means I will be treated to more books by Joe Abercrombie. He is fast becoming one of my favorites. The dark fantasy books are my favorites and First Law was a home run for me. I think you are really going to enjoy Best Served Cold too.

Other dark fantasy that I have really enjoyed are the George Martin novels, Carol Berg's Rai-Kirah series, anything by Fiona McIntosh, and Brent Weeks Night Angel trilogy.
 
Although not aimed at me, cheers for that list of similarish books, Heather :)

I also like the Night Angel Trilogy [not read the final part though] and George RR Martin's stuff. Think I'll go have a look for the Rai-Kirah series.
 
Heather, got to agree with you there - Abercrombie's becoming one of my favourites too. Really enjoying Best Served Cold.

Would you mind telling me about Fiona McIntosh please, as she's an author I've never come across before?

Thank you :)
 
Heather Myst said:
Other dark fantasy that I have really enjoyed are the George Martin novels, Carol Berg's Rai-Kirah series, anything by Fiona McIntosh, and Brent Weeks Night Angel trilogy.
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I've been pondering the Weeks trilogy a while now. I also like Martin and Abercrombie (I think Joe's better though), so maybe I would enjoy the Night Angel books. I'm just not keen on the whole "kid becomes" legend thing anymore.
 
crooksy73 said:
Would you mind telling me about Fiona McIntosh please, as she's an author I've never come across before?
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crooksy,
I like McIntosh because she writes darker adult fiction. Her stuff is not as dark as Martin or Abercrombie but I really enjoy the twists and turns of her stories. Her stuff reminds me of another Austrailian writer Jennifer Fallon.
Book one of the Quickening series is Myrren's Gift. I found the plot very unique and unpredictable.
Book one of her Percheron series is Odalisque The characters and atmosphere of this series were very mysterious to me.
Her favorite series of mine is Valisar. Book one is Royal Exile and I love how I find myself thinking I know all about a certain character in one book just to find out how wrong I was in the next book. Like Abercrombie she has the writing skills to make you root for the bad guys.
I think what I would recommend to see if you enjoy her writing is to go to Amazon or one of the other online book stores and use their "look inside!" feature that lets you read a sample of the book. I find this an excellent way for me to tell if I am going to enjoy an authors writing style.
Good luck!
 
Thanks very much Heather, I'm a fan of dark adult fiction so I guess I'll enjoy these.
When I was younger I read a great deal of horror fiction but as the sands of time have been passing I've moved over to fantasy and now dark fantasy is definitely my literature of choice, although I do pick up the odd horror novel here or there when King, Barker or Herbert release a new one.

Waiting patiently on the book shelves I have the following yet to be explored.....

Night Angel Trilogy
Mistborn Trilogy
The Malazan series (which I might leave for now until the final book is published then go straight through them all)

I'll do as you suggest and have a quick teaser on Amazon to give me a flavour and then add to the collection to be read. Thanks for the advice and goes to show you how useful this website is as I'd never come across any of the books I'm reading now or waiting to read without it and never had the pleasure of waiting to see what happens next to Logen or Shivers!

Best regards

Crooksy
 
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