[Tif the Barber Boy]

I guess I am one of the few people who actually like 'The Blade Itself' much better than 'Before They are Hanged'. It was the characters and sense of fun about the first book that grabbed me. The second became a somewhat underwhelming 'band of adventurers on a quest' story. Still, I'm looking forward to reading the third one sometime soon.

[QuickTidal]

Okay, I need to weigh in. I finished The Blade Itself, and by the end I was sort of just trying to finish it. I think it slowed down for me a lot. Pace-wise that is. That being said, when they go into the House of the Maker I was REALLY intrigued. So there are elements that I find great, and a few things kind of dragged by the end, but overall I enjoyed it, and I WILL pick up Before they Are Hanged soon, but I am going to catch up on the Dresden Files a bit first.

[Blacksox]

I actually loved "The Blade Itself" I found it far more interesting and intriguing than "Before They Are Hanged". But, both were still quite good imo. I have got book three setting in my library and am about to start reading it today!

[QuickTidal]

I'm actually giving The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie another go, as I stopped reading it only because some other exciting book came out that I was looking forward to reading....and simply never got back to it.

I forgot how engaging the writing was in this book.

Also, Practical Frost's lisp is bloody hillarious sometimes.

Example:

"Excellent!" Glokta said.
"Excellent." Severard repeated.
"Etherer!" Frost said.

[iscariot]

I seem to be in a minority - The Blade Itself is, for me, the strongest of the three as a book - although the Last Argument of Kings has it's moments

Spoiler

What ruined the 3rd book for me was the way Abercrombie, essentially, pulled the rug out from most of the characters - frankly, it felt gratuitous and intentionally perverse.

It's good when things don't always work out as planned, it adds a nice thrill, but to emasculate teh very natures of certain characters etc just gave the story the wrong feel after the way everything previously was written

[LadyMTL]

I also liked The Blade Itself, but I wasn't going in with any expectations whatsoever. I think what happens with a lot of people is they hear others raving about a book and then they read it expecting to be blown away and when it doesn't happen it sours them on the rest of the series.

I admit the first book wasn't mind blowing but at the same time I kept in mind that it was only the first in a series, Abercrombie still had at least two more books to flesh out characters and storylines, after all. And yes, Glokta is fantastic...but Logan gets even more interesting as the series progresses. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that by the end of The Last Argument of Kings he was pretty much my favorite character.

This post has been edited by Maia Irraz: 18 December 2008 - 01:01 PM

[QuickTidal]

Did I mention that after reading numerous entries in Joe Abercrombie's blog, I find him no end of funny? I just pissed my pants for a half hour while reading his blog posts.

[End of Disc One]

Yeah he's pretty arrogant but entertaining. Still haven't read his books though.

[QuickTidal]

creffett, on Dec 20 2008, 03:26 PM, said:

Yeah he's pretty arrogant but entertaining. Still haven't read his books though.

You find him arrogant? Really? After reading through his posts, I feel he's being slyly self-deprecating most of the time. I don't think he comes across as arrogant in any serious way at all.

[End of Disc One]

QuickTidal, on Dec 20 2008, 07:02 PM, said:

creffett, on Dec 20 2008, 03:26 PM, said:

Yeah he's pretty arrogant but entertaining. Still haven't read his books though.

You find him arrogant? Really? After reading through his posts, I feel he's being slyly self-deprecating most of the time. I don't think he comes across as arrogant in any serious way at all.

I probably haven't read as many posts as you have, but he tends to talk about how awesome his books are a lot, in a sort of jokingly arrogant way. What's kind of strange though, is he seems to see other authors as his competitors. Something you don't see much in literature, as far as I know.

[QuickTidal]

creffett, on Dec 22 2008, 12:24 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on Dec 20 2008, 07:02 PM, said:

creffett, on Dec 20 2008, 03:26 PM, said:

Yeah he's pretty arrogant but entertaining. Still haven't read his books though.

You find him arrogant? Really? After reading through his posts, I feel he's being slyly self-deprecating most of the time. I don't think he comes across as arrogant in any serious way at all.

I probably haven't read as many posts as you have, but he tends to talk about how awesome his books are a lot, in a sort of jokingly arrogant way. What's kind of strange though, is he seems to see other authors as his competitors. Something you don't see much in literature, as far as I know.

Other authors in the genre ARE his competitors.

[End of Disc One]

QuickTidal, on Dec 22 2008, 04:31 PM, said:

creffett, on Dec 22 2008, 12:24 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on Dec 20 2008, 07:02 PM, said:

creffett, on Dec 20 2008, 03:26 PM, said:

Yeah he's pretty arrogant but entertaining. Still haven't read his books though.

You find him arrogant? Really? After reading through his posts, I feel he's being slyly self-deprecating most of the time. I don't think he comes across as arrogant in any serious way at all.

I probably haven't read as many posts as you have, but he tends to talk about how awesome his books are a lot, in a sort of jokingly arrogant way. What's kind of strange though, is he seems to see other authors as his competitors. Something you don't see much in literature, as far as I know.

Other authors in the genre ARE his competitors.

I guess so but most authors don't care if you buy other peoples' books.

[QuickTidal]

creffett, on Dec 23 2008, 12:40 AM, said:

QuickTidal, on Dec 22 2008, 04:31 PM, said:

creffett, on Dec 22 2008, 12:24 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on Dec 20 2008, 07:02 PM, said:

creffett, on Dec 20 2008, 03:26 PM, said:

Yeah he's pretty arrogant but entertaining. Still haven't read his books though.

You find him arrogant? Really? After reading through his posts, I feel he's being slyly self-deprecating most of the time. I don't think he comes across as arrogant in any serious way at all.

I probably haven't read as many posts as you have, but he tends to talk about how awesome his books are a lot, in a sort of jokingly arrogant way. What's kind of strange though, is he seems to see other authors as his competitors. Something you don't see much in literature, as far as I know.

Other authors in the genre ARE his competitors.

I guess so but most authors don't care if you buy other peoples' books.

Quite True.

[Abyss]

I read all three in one swoop, and in that context i think it was an excellent series. Fun read, some great characters, good build to big finish.

Read separately/intermitently, i suspect I would have enjoyed it less. Book one doesn't really 'wow' - it's a lot of build up and establishment and the 'big finish', the rooftop chase against the practicals, while neat, isn't that impressive compared to some of the acyion sequences in the later books.

I did enjoy this tho', and i would recommend it.

For me, without a doubt Glokta was the high point of the series altho i did enjoy Logann and the Dogman's narratives.

It's not SE level, but I put JA ahead of Lynch on the list of authors whose books i buy without waiting for the mmpb.

- Abyss, means asap on the hb or tpb aot mmpb, fyi.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on Dec 23 2008, 03:18 PM, said:

I read all three in one swoop, and in that context i think it was an excellent series. Fun read, some great characters, good build to big finish.

Read separately/intermitently, i suspect I would have enjoyed it less. Book one doesn't really 'wow' - it's a lot of build up and establishment and the 'big finish', the rooftop chase against the practicals, while neat, isn't that impressive compared to some of the acyion sequences in the later books.

I did enjoy this tho', and i would recommend it.

For me, without a doubt Glokta was the high point of the series altho i did enjoy Logann and the Dogman's narratives.

It's not SE level, but I put JA ahead of Lynch on the list of authors whose books i buy without waiting for the mmpb.

- Abyss, means asap on the hb or tpb aot mmpb, fyi.

Who's on kp?

[QuickTidal]

I'm done my re-do of the blade itself this morning, and enjoyed it much more this time. In fact, I'd put it as a fave read of 2008, and the ending makes me want to read Before They Are Hanged alot.....so I hope to pick it up tomorrow in a boxing day shopping trip. Who knows, maybe I'll grab both that one and The Last Argument of Kings...may as well.

Anyways, like A Game Of Thrones (which it took me 3 times putting it down to get through the first time), The Blade Itself sat much better with me on the second go round. Good stuff.

[QuickTidal]

Started Before They Are Hanged. 100 pages in, so far so good!

[The Tyrant Lizard]

keep it up. I'd say it's even better than tBI.

[QuickTidal]

The Tyrant Lizard, on Dec 30 2008, 05:47 AM, said:

keep it up. I'd say it's even better than tBI.

So far I fully agree. It seems to move along at a quicker pace!

[QuickTidal]

There's a great little post over at Abercrombie's blog about his birthday, the new year and the completion of Best Served Cold. Pretty funny stuff, not the least of which is the end bit.

Have a gander:

http://www.joeabercrombie.com/2008/12/happ...hday-to-me.html