Joe Abercrombie

KenMagee · 01-09-2015, 08:56 AM

I've been told if I haven't read Joe Abercrombie then I haven't lived, so I thought I should give him a go. I've treated myself to The First Law Trilogy Boxed Set: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings [Kindle Edition]... any advice before I dive in (no spoilers, obviously).

MickeyC · 01-09-2015, 09:31 AM

Haven't read any of these either. Be interested in what you think.

pdurrant · 01-09-2015, 10:06 AM

Ditto. I've heard good things but I haven't taken the plunge myself yet.

Dr. Drib · 01-09-2015, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenMagee

I've been told if I haven't read Joe Abercrombie then I haven't lived, so I thought I should give him a go. I've treated myself to The First Law Trilogy Boxed Set: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings [Kindle Edition]... any advice before I dive in (no spoilers, obviously).

1) Read a book.
2) Go on a voyage on a luxury liner to a tropical paradise with the most beautiful, intelligent companions of one's choice.

Hmmmm......So many choices!

DrNefario · 01-09-2015, 10:25 AM

I'm a big fan of Abercrombie, and I hope you enjoy the books. He's one of my favourite active writers.

In some ways the First Law trilogy is harder work than the related books which followed it, but it is fairly important to read them in order (and I loved them anyway.) It's the characters that do it for me, especially the northmen.

The only other way in to his work is his latest book, Half a King, which is much shorter and somewhat lighter. and with a whole new setting. Marketed as YA in some territories, I think it works quite well as a primer, and I'm looking forward to the follow-up due out next month.

Penforhire · 01-09-2015, 04:28 PM

I can imagine The First Law series is not everyone's cup of tea. I loved his bleak low-magic fantasy stories and his range of characters.

jgaiser · 01-09-2015, 08:07 PM

You'll love characters who you thought you would hate, you'll hate characters you thought you would love. And then there's The Bloody Nine.

I still haven't read any of the following standalones, but The First Law has to be one of my favorite series.

KenMagee · 01-10-2015, 03:09 PM

Thanks everybody. I get the impression The First Law isn't the easiest read ever... but you're telling me it's worth the effort. Let's hope I can stick at it.

HarryT · 01-10-2015, 04:05 PM

Excellent series, although very dark, and with some pretty graphic descriptions of torture, among other things, but a very worthwhile read.

ShellShock · 01-12-2015, 05:11 PM

I found Abercrombie's sense of homour refreshing, compared to a lot of fantasy that is rather po-faced.

KenMagee · 01-12-2015, 07:05 PM

Dark, graphic torture scenes yet humorous? Sounds like my cup of tea.

Angst · 01-16-2015, 06:57 AM

Be prepared for lots of graphic violence. If violence upsets you, reading right before you sleep may not be a good idea. Great series otherwise.

KenMagee · 01-16-2015, 11:20 AM

Thanks Angst, I'll make it my afternoon read.

PKFFW · 01-27-2015, 08:40 PM

Thoroughly enjoyed it and second what most have said. Dark, torture scenes, violence galore and yet surprisingly humourous too.

desert dog · 01-27-2015, 10:30 PM

Abercrombie's First Law trilogy is brilliant. Well developed, sympathetic characters I really cared about, all in a world written smartly with an exciting mix of action, political intrigue and just a taste of magic.

I truly hope Abercrombie returns to the original story with more "Bloody Nine".

01-09-2015, 08:56 AM	#1
KenMagee Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 2231728 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Fire	Joe Abercrombie I've been told if I haven't read Joe Abercrombie then I haven't lived, so I thought I should give him a go. I've treated myself to The First Law Trilogy Boxed Set: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings [Kindle Edition]... any advice before I dive in (no spoilers, obviously).

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01-09-2015, 09:31 AM	#2
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Haven't read any of these either. Be interested in what you think.

01-09-2015, 10:06 AM	#3
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,647 Karma: 315126578 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Ditto. I've heard good things but I haven't taken the plunge myself yet.

01-09-2015, 10:25 AM	#5
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,188 Karma: 12000000 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	I'm a big fan of Abercrombie, and I hope you enjoy the books. He's one of my favourite active writers. In some ways the First Law trilogy is harder work than the related books which followed it, but it is fairly important to read them in order (and I loved them anyway.) It's the characters that do it for me, especially the northmen. The only other way in to his work is his latest book, Half a King, which is much shorter and somewhat lighter. and with a whole new setting. Marketed as YA in some territories, I think it works quite well as a primer, and I'm looking forward to the follow-up due out next month.

01-09-2015, 04:28 PM	#6
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I can imagine The First Law series is not everyone's cup of tea. I loved his bleak low-magic fantasy stories and his range of characters.

01-09-2015, 08:07 PM	#7
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	You'll love characters who you thought you would hate, you'll hate characters you thought you would love. And then there's The Bloody Nine. I still haven't read any of the following standalones, but The First Law has to be one of my favorite series.

01-10-2015, 03:09 PM	#8
KenMagee Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 2231728 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Fire	Thanks everybody. I get the impression The First Law isn't the easiest read ever... but you're telling me it's worth the effort. Let's hope I can stick at it.

01-10-2015, 04:05 PM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Excellent series, although very dark, and with some pretty graphic descriptions of torture, among other things, but a very worthwhile read.

01-12-2015, 05:11 PM	#10
ShellShock Wizard Posts: 1,178 Karma: 2431850 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: IPad Mini 2 Retina	I found Abercrombie's sense of homour refreshing, compared to a lot of fantasy that is rather po-faced.

01-12-2015, 07:05 PM	#11
KenMagee Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 2231728 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Fire	Dark, graphic torture scenes yet humorous? Sounds like my cup of tea.

01-16-2015, 06:57 AM	#12
Angst Cannon Fodder Posts: 2,869 Karma: 52253556 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Probably a library Device: PRS-350, Kindle DX, Kindle Paperwhite	Be prepared for lots of graphic violence. If violence upsets you, reading right before you sleep may not be a good idea. Great series otherwise.

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01-16-2015, 11:20 AM	#13
KenMagee Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 2231728 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Fire	Thanks Angst, I'll make it my afternoon read.

01-27-2015, 08:40 PM	#14
PKFFW Wizard Posts: 3,775 Karma: 31487152 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: BeBook, Sony PRS-T1, Kobo H2O	Thoroughly enjoyed it and second what most have said. Dark, torture scenes, violence galore and yet surprisingly humourous too.

01-27-2015, 10:30 PM	#15
desert dog Zealot Posts: 113 Karma: 495942 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Valley of the Sun, Arizona Device: Kindle PW2,3 Voyage,Oasis 1&2, Kobo Glohd, Aura hd, Kmini, H2O 1&2	Abercrombie's First Law trilogy is brilliant. Well developed, sympathetic characters I really cared about, all in a world written smartly with an exciting mix of action, political intrigue and just a taste of magic. I truly hope Abercrombie returns to the original story with more "Bloody Nine".