Tom the Merciful Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 I just found some very positive reviews about this one. Compared to both Martin and Erikson, it sounds like good stuff. Anybody read it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calibandar Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?showt...87&hl=blade It's on my shelf; looks interesting but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I've seen it reviewed positively virtually everywhere, much like Lies of Locke Lamora. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom the Merciful Posted September 11, 2006 Author Share Posted September 11, 2006 Thanks, Cali. I just ordered both of them from Amazon. You see, when the itch starts, I just have to act:-). However, in time I learned to follow advice from this board. Erikson is OK, Bakker is great...so I expect Locke Lamora to be as good, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Snow Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 Of the two books by hyped new authors released this summer, I liked the Blade Itself best. The Lies of Locke Lamora (the other one I'm referring to) was a great read as well and had a more interesting setting and story, but Abercromie's characters were more engaging than Lynch's IMO. TBI has what seems a pretty pedestrian plot in a thoroughly average world (northern barbarians without longboats, snobby aristocrats with better technology, fanatical desert dwellers who deal in slaves) but I don't mind all that. This books plays to my tastes. Original settings and story with a faster pace as in TLOLL would improve the novel no doubt, but so long as the characters are believable, conflicted and sympathetic I'm happy as larry. Abercrombie delivers that with the veteran berserker Logen Ninefingers, the feral escaped slave Ferro, the selfish fencer whose name escapes me and the half-mad torture victim turned inquisitor Glokta. Good cast, good novel, I look forward to the sequel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werewolfv2 Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 havent gotten to the end yet, but so far this is a book that rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom the Merciful Posted September 12, 2006 Author Share Posted September 12, 2006 Thanks, guys. That's good news. Rhelley, I ordered it from Amazon.com for just above 12 bucks as a paperback. The price seemed reasonable. As I said, I also ordered Lies of Locke Lamora for 15$ in hardcover and it is a signed copy. I found this to be a pretty good deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unJon Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 This book is currently available on Amazon.com but it usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Roses Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Yes, I read this about a month ago and enjoyed it, though not as much as LOLL and I did have massive reservations at the end. The characters are well presented but do suffer from sliding into well worn fantasty cliches; the barbarian with a soft heart, the snobby aristocrat, the knows everything but won't explain all powerful magician, the fearsome female warrior all appearing to go a quest at the end of the first book in search of mysterious object. However, the characters are done well and some of them really do feel original, especially Glokta, one of the inquisition's best torturers who has survived unspeakable torture himself in a previous war. He's fantastically grumpy. Grumpy is not something usually seen in fantasy characters and was quite refreshing as I am a big fan of grumpiness (bit of an expert really). The background was not as exciting as LOLL though there were some nice set pieces including the fencing competition but the magical backstory felt remarkably similar to Eddings Belgariad ie. the main magician with his brothers (fellow magicians) all once disciples of a uber magician, dead for a number of thousands of years in a struggle with his evil(?) brother and leaving behind this magical object. Also the obligatory magical tower. Ho hum. I really hope Abercrombie handles the sequel well and we do not continue along the Eddings storyline which would be disappointing. I will definately buy the next book as some as the book was very promising but its 50/50 at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unJon Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Author Alert (or at least someone that registered author name). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stego Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I'll be posting a review on this tommorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werewolfv2 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 -the Bakker overtones/feel of some things glad I wasnt the only one At some point I had the thought that it seemed like a book that could be put out if Erikson and Bakker got together! Of course since those two are some of the best out there it cant hurt Blade to be looked at in that light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom the Merciful Posted September 14, 2006 Author Share Posted September 14, 2006 This book is currently available on Amazon.com but it usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks. Seems I overlooked this piece of info. And I wondered where's my shipping confirmation... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werewolfv2 Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 last time I check www.bookdepository.co.uk had them in stock with free shipping to the US/etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Relic Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I'll be posting a review on this tommorrow. Liar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stego Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Liar Business travel came up, man. C'mon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Relic Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Business rav el came up, man. C'mon! quit yappin and get to work!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stego Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 My review is up on the blog. Quitcherbitchin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Abercrombie Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Damn Summon Author! That Scott Lynch has ruined it for the rest of us! Many thanks for the kind words, it's always great when folks like your book, especially here where people really know their fantasy. It makes those long nights bent over the laptop seem worthwhile . . . Werewolfv2, I've seen you saying good things around the place, glad you're enjoying it. Stego, nice review, thanks. Overjoyed to see that I fared better at your hands than David Keck. Had to admit I was sweating for just a minute . . . As far as the rest of the series goes, the second book, Before They are Hanged is finished, and with any luck ARCs will be circulating in the next couple of months, scheduled for release in the UK March 2007. The third and final part Last Argument of Kings is half written and should hit a release date of March 2008, or thereabouts. So no huge gaps, I hope. No US publication as yet, alas, but I feel confident that if all of you get behind this, if all of you give it 100 percent, if you tell your friends and families to buy it, and if they tell theirs, before you know it . . . I can have a big-ass house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unJon Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 last time I check www.bookdepository.co.uk had them in stock with free shipping to the US/etc. Thanks WW2, I'll check there. Damn Summon Author! Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falagar Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Seems like we have ourselves a mad wizzard on the loose. Been eyeing The Blade Itself for a while now actually; the local fantasy/sci-fi-book/board games shop has had it on display side by side with Bakker for quite some time now. Will pick it up when my study loan appears... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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