Before They are Hanged - Joe Abercrombie

It's still one of the best debut SFF series I've read in the past 20 years mate.

Hang in there (pardon the pun). I think you will be pleasantly surprised...:)
 
***SPOILERS***
I have just got to the point where Colonel West requested 12 smiths from the inquistor to help with metal work for his army.
 
West's first sight of the prison is on page 123 of the parchment-like covered paperback.
 
It's a while since I read it, so I don't know. Besides, I don't recall finding the book at all slow, so it's even harder to say.


(In my previous post, I was just helping those who had the parchment-like cover to understand where you had reached.)
 
Ditto.

I'm surprised that you're finding it so slow, biodroid. I don't recall feeling impatient with any of the books at any point. Like all books, there is some 'down time'; after all, you can't expect it to be action packed from beginning to end.

As Gollum said, you should stick with it. It's a very good series and you'd be doing yourself a disservice by abandoning it.
 
Thanks Devils Advocate - I plan on sticking with it, I am enjoying it so far but pace to me should be the story should unfold a bit quicker than it is at the moment. Action is not the be-all and end-all, it would get tedious reading about fighting every second page.
 
You're quite welcome.

Don't worry about the pace; it gets quicker as you go along. I think right around the time you reach the part when Bayaz, Logen & Associates® reach the ruined city of Aulcus (sp?), the pace of the narrative should start picking up.
 
Excellent, I will keep at it. I really do like it so far but it just feels a bit bogged down for me like the situation is just stuck in a rut or something. Which authors are comparable to Joe's style etc?
 
I think someone else should answer that question. Although I'm a fan of Fantasy (a FAN-tasy, if you will), and have been reading the genre almost exclusively for most of the last two years, I don't really have the 'experience' that some of the others here do.

The only Fantasy I've read is Robert Jordan, Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, David Anthony Durham, China Mieville (if his books can truly be classified as Fantasy) and Brandon Sanderson. Of those, I can't say anyone is remotely similar to Abercrombie. They're all very good in their own -- but quite different -- way, though. Except Durham, whose Acacia I found underwhelming, though it had enough promise that I would want to see where the rest of the series goes.

One author who I've heard Abercrombie being compared to (but haven't yet read his books) is none other than George R. R. Martin, at least in terms of 'grittiness' and good characterisation. Not sure if GRRM has the same sense of humour, though.
 
Hehe, glad I stuck with it coz I just read an interesting scene. I am steaming ahead with again. I would like to give GRRM another try sometime.
 
biodroid said:
I would like to give GRRM another try sometime.
Click to expand...
Not before you've tried Erikson's Malazan series.....;) For me it's the best EPIC fantasy series I've ever read and I have read a lot I can assure you. Of course Martin's ASOIF is also excellent IMO and he is of course a much more versatile and skilled writer than Erikson; the latter however has the superior storyline in this particular sub-genre.
 
Thanks Gollum, I did notice to my delight that I preferred the epicness of Erikssons books. They felt more cinematic in a way. I have read the first 2, still need to get to MoI.
 
Aaaarrrgggh!! The power went out at my house and I scrambled to get a candle and then I slipped on my copy of Before they are hanged breaking the spine. I am upset coz now I need to scrounge up cash to buy a new one again coz I want to know how it finishes (was only 200 pages in). The book is in 2 pieces. I am a heavy bloke (not overweight :)).
 
What I want to know is what happened to the pages after Page 200 that means biodroid must buy a new copy to read to the end?









* Imagines they turned into powder in the way some vampires do in films and on the TV. *
 
I've read the whole series and enjoyed everyone of them! Some marvellous characters and world building throughout. I was lucky enough to get the parchment covers which are just great.

Best Served Cold is also a marvellous story!

These will be kept for my 'to be re-read' pile of books :)
 
Just read the whole series recently and can recommend them wholeheartedly as they left me wanting more!

Best Served Cold is on the bookcase waiting for me..........
 
Crooksy I felt the same way as you did. The trilogy was so good and I think you are really going to enjoy Best Served Cold too.
 
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