Red Country discussion - Spoilers!

[Boaz]

@svalbard well done. I did not give any spoiler warnings for the book in my post…. And I most certainly should have. An oversight on my part.

Chronologically speaking, we are first introduced to Logen going over a cliff with a Shanka, biting, stabbing, clubbing and clawing each other. Logen fights, over and over and over and over and over and over again and again and again and again through the first trilogy. He is nonstop wrecking Ball of destruction. Lamb is much older he can’t do that all the time…. but he can get up for one fight at a time if you give a proper rest in between.

The American country and western singer Toby Keith put it this way…..

I still hang out with my best friend Dave
I've known him since we were kids at school.
Last night he had a few shots
Got in a tight spot hustling a game of pool…
With a couple of redneck boys
And one great big bad biker man.
I heard David yell across the room,
"Hey buddy, how 'bout a helping hand?"

I said, "Daaaaave,

I ain't as good as I once was
My, how the years have flown.
But there was a time back in my prime
When I could really hold my own.
But if you wanna fight tonight
Guess those boys don't look all that tough.
I ain't as good as I once was…
But I'm as good once as I ever was!”

I didn’t even mention Cosca in my above thread. Amazing.

 

[svalbard]

Cosca. Steven Pacey gives him this breezy drawl and world weary inflection in his voice. He is at once one of the most compelling and loathsome characters in Joe's world. Combined with the monosyllabic Friendly it is quite a pairing.

 

[Boaz]

"Compelling and loathsome".... well said.

 

[svalbard]

I think Gary Oldman would make a brilliant Cosca on screen. Watching Slow Horses recently and some of his mannerisms reminded me of the old reprobate.

 

[svalbard]

Finished Red Country. Did think the ending dragged a wee bit but loved it overall. I have an idea who the Mayor is. Thought Cosca's storyline was fitting. The ending itself was both satisfying and poignant.

Big element of the The Searchers in the story and any other iconic Western you can think of.

Moving on to A Little Hatred next. Would that be the logical book to go with.

 

[Boaz]

Gary Oldman would be great.

@svalbard Sharp Ends is a collection of a dozen short stories that range from before The Blade Itself to just before Red Country. It features a number of recurring characters and a few new ones.