Joe Abercrombie - First Law Trilogy

bushmins said:
I have thought about reading Erickson's Malazan series, but im worried there wont be enough magic/monsters in it.
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You really don't need to worry on that count. In fact I think one of my issues with it is that there is too much of that going on a times.

It sometimes feels a bit like, why have a character walk across a room when they can turn into a dragon open a portal and ride a unicorn there instead! Ok, maybe it's not quite that bad but I do find myself muttering ffs and rolling my eyes a points.

They are well written interesting books and him and his mate that came up with the world and characters certainly have a great imagination, I just wish he'd dial it back a bit in places.
 
I really liked these books, also highly recommend the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. The world in that feels very George Orwell in a surprisingly awesome way to me :)
 
I read the sample of Gardens of the Moon, but im a bit afraid if I buy it ill get bored. Reading people opinions on the series makes me feel my attention span will be put to the test. I like a book to focus on a few main characters, i hear there are many in his books much like GRRM. I’ve just about got the intelligence to understand epic fantasy but my endurance isn’t so great. With both GRRM and Erickson's massive 10 book series i don’t think ill be able to get to the end.

I have two books in the pipe line which are Heroes and The Wise Mans Fear, but both are over priced on kindle at the moment. Ill probably get the paper backs when they come out later on in the year.

I’m open to suggestions, I have no books to read at the moment, if I don’t get one soon ill end up getting another zombie book, which I don’t want to do because ive read far too many lately.
 
Just finished "Best Served" and quite enjoyed it, a couple of nice twists. Not up to the same standard as the FL books but still a good read.
 
bushmins said:
I read the sample of Gardens of the Moon, but im a bit afraid if I buy it ill get bored. Reading people opinions on the series makes me feel my attention span will be put to the test. I like a book to focus on a few main characters, i hear there are many in his books much like GRRM. I’ve just about got the intelligence to understand epic fantasy but my endurance isn’t so great. With both GRRM and Erickson's massive 10 book series i don’t think ill be able to get to the end.

I have two books in the pipe line which are Heroes and The Wise Mans Fear, but both are over priced on kindle at the moment. Ill probably get the paper backs when they come out later on in the year.

I’m open to suggestions, I have no books to read at the moment, if I don’t get one soon ill end up getting another zombie book, which I don’t want to do because ive read far too many lately.
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I posted a couple of posts above yours, but in case you missed it. the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson is excellent.
 
"The Heroes" is quite enjoyable so far, picks up the backstory of a few known names and tells the story from a few different directions.
 
bushmins said:
I read the sample of Gardens of the Moon, but im a bit afraid if I buy it ill get bored. Reading people opinions on the series makes me feel my attention span will be put to the test. I like a book to focus on a few main characters, i hear there are many in his books much like GRRM. I’ve just about got the intelligence to understand epic fantasy but my endurance isn’t so great. With both GRRM and Erickson's massive 10 book series i don’t think ill be able to get to the end.

I have two books in the pipe line which are Heroes and The Wise Mans Fear, but both are over priced on kindle at the moment. Ill probably get the paper backs when they come out later on in the year.

I’m open to suggestions, I have no books to read at the moment, if I don’t get one soon ill end up getting another zombie book, which I don’t want to do because ive read far too many lately.
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I would recommend sticking with it if you could, Malazan series is the best I have ever read bar none. Just make sure you insert the Esselmont books into the correct part of the timeline.


On topic just finished first law trilogy, wow! Not the ending I was expecting it was twisted way beyond what I was expecting to happen but it was good. I like authors who don't follow the stereotypical path.

Will be picking up the other two soon, apparently another book in September.
 
Just finished the last of The First Law books, Last Argument of Kings.

Annnnd spoilered:

It was... alright. Entertaining. I felt the whole journey to the west of the world was just filler. It was a book's worth of filler, punctuated by "oh, it's not there". Then it was forgotten about until mid way through the final book. I also felt that Logen's journey was a massive waste of pages. You spend 3 books hearing about how he wants to be a better person but whenever he speaks in Book 3, he's just throwing that away. So what was the point? i understand that "he is evil and cannot change", so why waste so much energy on his wanting to and trying to? Finally, Bayaz. Oh... Bayaz. He went from being interesting and mysterious to annoying and arrogant. The "it was him all along" just didnt work for me. i too found the constant mention of Glokta's ailments quite tiresome. If i have to read the words "toothless gums" once more i'm going to flip a table.

Oddly, it was Jezal, who started out being the most annoying, whining git who finished the books with a sense of improvement and positive change.

So in all, i dont think it was a waste of time to read, but it was a wasted opportunity to make something far better.
 
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No1newts said:
I would recommend sticking with it if you could, Malazan series is the best I have ever read bar none.
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I gave the Malazan a go. WTF?

In places it just read like a random collection of words which weren't actually connected to each other in any way at all. Literally as if the author had thumbed through a dictionary and picked out any particular word that caught his eye.
 
SB118 said:
I gave the Malazan a go. WTF?

In places it just read like a random collection of words which weren't actually connected to each other in any way at all. Literally as if the author had thumbed through a dictionary and picked out any particular word that caught his eye.
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???

Don't know what you were reading :p

A lot of the first book can be confusing at times because he chucks you in the proverbial deep end with lead weights tied to your ankles. He doesn't explain everything in minute detail from the off as he wants you to think things through everything that happens becomes clear as the story unfolds. Concepts are explained and plots become clear (one not even until the eighth book :D)

Each to their own and it may not be to your taste as it can be a little complex and unforgiving at times but it's perfect fantasy writing in the end.


On topic new Joe Abercrombie out soon (this year sometime I think.)
 
DampCat said:
Just finished the last of The First Law books, Last Argument of Kings.

Annnnd spoilered:

It was... alright. Entertaining. I felt the whole journey to the west of the world was just filler. It was a book's worth of filler, punctuated by "oh, it's not there". Then it was forgotten about until mid way through the final book. I also felt that Logen's journey was a massive waste of pages. You spend 3 books hearing about how he wants to be a better person but whenever he speaks in Book 3, he's just throwing that away. So what was the point? i understand that "he is evil and cannot change", so why waste so much energy on his wanting to and trying to? Finally, Bayaz. Oh... Bayaz. He went from being interesting and mysterious to annoying and arrogant. The "it was him all along" just didnt work for me. i too found the constant mention of Glokta's ailments quite tiresome. If i have to read the words "toothless gums" once more i'm going to flip a table.

Oddly, it was Jezal, who started out being the most annoying, whining git who finished the books with a sense of improvement and positive change.

So in all, i dont think it was a waste of time to read, but it was a wasted opportunity to make something far better.
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I can see what you are saying but I think on all of your complaints I think he deliberately set about creating characters who wernt easy to connect with and didn't follow the structured norms of how a character should and shouldn't develop.

It was frustrating as everything you say I can accept and had similar feelings but I realised that Abercrombie had done all that on purpose. When I realised this I sort of understood a little more and despite wanting the traditional hero approach it was great. Otnly a few authors perservere with this approach and I find it a better reflection of real life than most other story telling.

I also liked Jezals character development though he resets back to ***** again when Bayaz puts his foot down :p
 
Latest book is going around, Red Country.

Handful of new characters, few of the old ones (one of them is really well disguised though, honest!) and if i read it right he layed out the a few pointers for another book.

Quite enjoyable.
 
Bought the First Law trilogy reading it all in one go and just starting the last one.. Loving them. Characters are great with a lot of Physiology going on with them..Real good books and filling the gap left by Gemmel, Martin for myself..

Logan must have made an impression on me, Named my character in planetside2 beta as Bloody9Fingers :)
 
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Just finished the first book, a fantastic piece of fantasy :D
Looks like I'll have to order the rest of the trilogy for when I finish "Of saints and shadows"
 
Just finished Red Country a week ago.

Good book, the ending turned it for me as up until then I was quite getting the feeling for it. Cowboys in fantasy is a strange concept but he did pull it off and

When Logen goes evil again I actually felt a shiver go down my spine, he is a very well written character.

I think the editors may have struck at one point though. The fight against Glama felt cut short and sheared of its edge although someone had thought hmm.. Might be a bit much. That was a real Shane that as it would have shown again and perhaps even further about Logens craziness!
 
Just picked up the Trilogy Boxset from Google Play books for £9.99.

I read most of the free sample first. It's not easy reading about a torturer in first person but there was enough there for me to give it a go at that price.

Hope I enjoy it as much as this thread suggests!
 
Tazzfalcon said:
Just picked up the Trilogy Boxset from Google Play books for £9.99.

I read most of the free sample first. It's not easy reading about a torturer in first person but there was enough there for me to give it a go at that price.

Hope I enjoy it as much as this thread suggests!
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I've just started on the second book, excellent series so far!
 
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