Alternative Worlds
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The Lies of Locke Lamora
Scott Lynch
Bantam, Jul 2006, $23.00
ISBN: 0553804676
Plague swept the Catchfire District of the city-state Camorr killing all the people over twelve. When the lethal illness finally burned itself out the ruling Duke sends in his Ghouls to remove the dead children. Some were sold to the Thiefmaker who lives in the graveyard on Shade’s Hill. He teaches his children to steal and hand over to him their ill gotten gains. One of the orphans, Locke Lamora loves to steal, but he is so good it brought attention to him and quite a following.
The Thiefmaker feels Locke is too dangerous to have around so he sells the lad to the Chains, the Eyeless Priest of the Temple of Perelandro, the god of thieves and malefactors. The priest can see but uses his “blindness” to beg for money and uses the temple to train thieves. When Lamora grows up he leads the Gentleman Bastards who steal from the nobles. He pays tribute to the ruler of thieves Capa Barsavi who believes that Lamora is a small time thief. Meanwhile a criminal known as the Gray King threatens everything Locke holds dear and Lamora swears vengeance even if it means dying in the endeavor.
The protagonist is a complex character who steals from the rich, plays a good con, and kills when necessary. He has a code of honor which enables the audience to admire him and understand that thieving is what he was taught as an orphaned youth even as we find his vocation appalling. This entertaining sword and sorcery yarn puts a new spin on the Robin Hood mythos. Scott Lynch has created a wonderful fantasy and this reviewer looks forward to more adventures of Locke Lamora.
Scott Lynch
Bantam, Jul 2006, $23.00
ISBN: 0553804676
Plague swept the Catchfire District of the city-state Camorr killing all the people over twelve. When the lethal illness finally burned itself out the ruling Duke sends in his Ghouls to remove the dead children. Some were sold to the Thiefmaker who lives in the graveyard on Shade’s Hill. He teaches his children to steal and hand over to him their ill gotten gains. One of the orphans, Locke Lamora loves to steal, but he is so good it brought attention to him and quite a following.
The Thiefmaker feels Locke is too dangerous to have around so he sells the lad to the Chains, the Eyeless Priest of the Temple of Perelandro, the god of thieves and malefactors. The priest can see but uses his “blindness” to beg for money and uses the temple to train thieves. When Lamora grows up he leads the Gentleman Bastards who steal from the nobles. He pays tribute to the ruler of thieves Capa Barsavi who believes that Lamora is a small time thief. Meanwhile a criminal known as the Gray King threatens everything Locke holds dear and Lamora swears vengeance even if it means dying in the endeavor.
The protagonist is a complex character who steals from the rich, plays a good con, and kills when necessary. He has a code of honor which enables the audience to admire him and understand that thieving is what he was taught as an orphaned youth even as we find his vocation appalling. This entertaining sword and sorcery yarn puts a new spin on the Robin Hood mythos. Scott Lynch has created a wonderful fantasy and this reviewer looks forward to more adventures of Locke Lamora.
