Rhom Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 Carrying over from our other gathered discussions. The first spoiler thread for A Little Hatred was at 21 pages, so figured it was time to start over. I will say, it was nice to see four Abercrombie threads in the first two pages. (Spoiler for ALH, Re-read discussion, Non Spoiler for ALH, and General discussion 2. ) So anyways, here's a new thread about the legend himself. Yes, he really did chase off some ruffians with a banister after already taking a shot to the head. I presume we can accept spoilers up through A Little Hatred in this topic and for Shattered Sea. Resources unavailable to those of us who discovered Joe back around the release of The Blade Itself that are now free for you to peruse include Wert's very own handy dandy link to a map of The First Law world. And to address the perplexingly persistent question of "What order should I read Abercrombie?" From Wert's link above, here's a timeline of all the stories set in the world of the The First Law: 566 (spring): A Beautiful Bastard 570 (summer): Made a Monster 573 (autumn): Small Kindnesses 574 (autumn): The Fool Jobs 575: (spring) The Blade Itself 575 (summer): Skipping Town 575-76: Before They Are Hanged 576 (spring): Hell 576 (summer): Two's Company 576-77: Last Argument of Kings 579-80: Best Served Cold 580: Wrong Place, Wrong Time 584 (summer): Some Desperado 584 (autumn): Yesterday, Near a Village Called Barden 584: The Heroes587 (autumn): Three's a Crowd 590 (summer): Freedom! 590: Red Country 592 (spring): Tough Times All Over 605: The Thread (Waterstones edition of ALH) 605: A Little Hatred 6??: The Trouble With Peace (due in 2020) 6??: The Beautiful Machine (due in 2021) For reference... The bold titles are the main sequence novels and can (and should) be read in publication/chronological order. All those non-bolded are short stories that are available in Sharp Ends. There you have it. Oh... and we like the Shattered Sea trilogy around here too. Much debate on where they fit on the shelves at your local bookseller, but they generally are a lighter read than TFL. They are completely unrelated to TFL. Proceed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhom Posted November 4, 2019 Author Share Posted November 4, 2019 Last discussion in the ALH spoiler thread was Glokta. Is he as incompetent as he would seem? Everyone fears "Old Sticks" but do they have reason to? He apparently thought the Inquisition in Valbeck could be trusted completely. Hard to think he was playing an angle there when he also allowed his daughter to go in there without protection. He genuinely seems to be clueless about a major insurrection being arranged by his own underlings just a few hours' ride from the capitol. And if he is that clueless, as mentioned... what kind of tool would Bayaz keep around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HexMachina Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 4 hours ago, Rhom said: Carrying over from our other gathered discussions. The first spoiler thread for A Little Hatred was at 21 pages, so figured it was time to start over. I will say, it was nice to see four Abercrombie threads in the first two pages. (Spoiler for ALH, Re-read discussion, Non Spoiler for ALH, and General discussion 2. ) So anyways, here's a new thread about the legend himself. (Yes, he really did chase off some ruffians with a banister after already taking a shot to the head.) I presume we can accept spoilers up through Sharp Ends in this topic and for Shattered Sea. Resources unavailable to those of us who discovered Joe back around the release of The Blade Itself that are now free for you to peruse include Wert's very own handy dandy link to a map of The First Law world. And to address the perplexingly persistent question of "What order should I read Abercrombie?" From Wert's link above, here's a timeline of all the stories set in the world of the The First Law: 566 (spring): A Beautiful Bastard 570 (summer): Made a Monster 573 (autumn): Small Kindnesses 574 (autumn): The Fool Jobs 575: (spring) The Blade Itself 575 (summer): Skipping Town 576-77: Before They Are Hanged 576 (spring): Hell 576 (summer): Two's Company 577: Last Argument of Kings 579-80: Best Served Cold 580: Wrong Place, Wrong Time 584 (summer): Some Desperado 584 (autumn): Yesterday, Near a Village Called Barden 584: The Heroes587 (autumn): Three's a Crowd 590 (summer): Freedom! 590: Red Country 592 (spring): Tough Times All Over 605: A Little Hatred 6??: The Trouble With Peace (due in 2020) 6??: The Beautiful Machine (due in 2021) For reference... The bold titles are the main sequence novels and can (and should) be read in publication/chronological order. All those non-bolded are short stories that are available in Sharp Ends. There you have it. Oh... and we like the Shattered Sea trilogy around here too. Much debate on where they fit on the shelves at your local bookseller, but they generally are a lighter read than TFL. They are completely unrelated to TFL. Proceed Why must your first link be unavailable. I must read that post.... also, please add “The Thread” to the timeline. It takes place...i guess i would slot it just before ALH. Its very short and nothing of note happens but offers decent insight into the state of the Industrialised world of the first law Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhom Posted November 4, 2019 Author Share Posted November 4, 2019 1 hour ago, HelenaExMachina said: Why must your first link be unavailable. I must read that post.... also, please add “The Thread” to the timeline. It takes place...i guess i would slot it just before ALH. Its very short and nothing of note happens but offers decent insight into the state of the Industrialised world of the first law Sorry the story about the bannister is gone! LOL Is The Thread the short story that was unique to the Waterstones edition of the book? Edit: I have fixed the link above! You can now read about Joe vs the Ruffians! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HexMachina Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 1 hour ago, Rhom said: Sorry the story about the bannister is gone! LOL Is The Thread the short story that was unique to the Waterstones edition of the book? Edit: I have fixed the link above! You can now read about Joe vs the Ruffians! Much obliged! for that i will provide a quick overview of The Thread (yes, the UK Waterstones short story) Spoiler Basically it follows the creation of one of Ardee’s dresses, from cotton picking by “free” slaves in the old Gurkish empire, to a merchant selling the cotton bales in Dagoska, to a Union factory churning out sub standard thread, to the old lady who stitches the dress, to Ardee’s maids receiving the inferior product. Like i say, adds little of substance but gives a distinct impression of the plight of the working class Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veltigar Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 I was rereading some scenes from The Heroes last night, as I didn't feel like starting a new book and still wanted to read something and I came across the scene where Spoiler Beck has just been given his name and is an accepted member of Craw's gang. The way the other boy Drofd beggs to touch the Bloody Nine's sword And the brilliance of the transformation struck me. ALH is less subtle about it, but I love the fact that you can clearly see the transition in Bloody Nine's public image happening in The Heroes. The shift in perception from being seen as the absolutely terrifying monster he is, by men who were there to see Logen commit his atrocities, to every little boy building him up as their heroic role model is a stunningly well-written shift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corvinus85 Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 12 hours ago, Rhom said: So anyways, here's a new thread about the legend himself. Yes, he really did chase off some ruffians with a banister after already taking a shot to the head. I presume we can accept spoilers up through Sharp Ends in this topic and for Shattered Sea. So I'm having trouble here picturing this glorious incident, because I wasn't sure what a banister was, so I used the mighty internet and I all can find is it's basically a hand rail. So I'm confused as to why those people had a banister, and I'm also puzzled on how it broke off, assuming it's the banister I'm picturing, which is the type used on the street to guide pedestrian flow, or to hem in protesters. Because I really don't know why it would be a wooden one like you have on your home staircase to keep you from falling. (It's getting late, I should go to bed) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 7 hours ago, Corvinus said: So I'm having trouble here picturing this glorious incident, because I wasn't sure what a banister was, so I used the mighty internet and I all can find is it's basically a hand rail. So I'm confused as to why those people had a banister, and I'm also puzzled on how it broke off, assuming it's the banister I'm picturing, which is the type used on the street to guide pedestrian flow, or to hem in protesters. Because I really don't know why it would be a wooden one like you have on your home staircase to keep you from falling. (It's getting late, I should go to bed) In my head it is a bannister spindle. A much more useful weapon. @Joe Abercrombie please answer the great question of our age. Northern duels would be much more interesting if each participant had to bring a discarded piece of household bric-a-brac as their weapon. I'm re reading a little hatred, enjoying Rikke chapters most, closely followed by Savine. Not looking forward to the industrial riots (well written as they were, they were pretty uncomfortable reading, even for the world of the first law). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Abercrombie Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 It would perhaps more properly have been called a timber baluster from a traditional victorian staircase. Seems some of my older blog posts have vanished with this most recent web redesign. Our lives are written in sand, indeed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhom Posted November 5, 2019 Author Share Posted November 5, 2019 1 minute ago, Joe Abercrombie said: It would perhaps more properly have been called a timber baluster from a traditional victorian staircase. Seems some of my older blog posts have vanished with this most recent web redesign. Our lives are written in sand, indeed... Read an interesting article once on how the length of time our written media survives has been constantly reducing their lifespan. Cave paintings survive for tens of thousands of years. Cuneiform tablets less long. Papyrus disintegrates in hundreds. And today I have no way of accessing the term papers I wrote 20 years ago that were saved on a 3’1/4” floppy disc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The BlackBear Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 On 11/4/2019 at 10:15 PM, HelenaExMachina said: Much obliged! for that i will provide a quick overview of The Thread (yes, the UK Waterstones short story) Hide contents Basically it follows the creation of one of Ardee’s dresses, from cotton picking by “free” slaves in the old Gurkish empire, to a merchant selling the cotton bales in Dagoska, to a Union factory churning out sub standard thread, to the old lady who stitches the dress, to Ardee’s maids receiving the inferior product. Like i say, adds little of substance but gives a distinct impression of the plight of the working class *Savine's dresses (unless we got different versions) Got around to reading a Little Hatred quite late, so have only just finished it. Loved it, even if some parts are heartrendingly tragic. But I guess that's the point, like picking at a scab. Excited to see where we go from here, so many places I'd love to see a bit more of, particularly the South. I want to see what state Ferro has sunk to, even someone that stubborn's sanity cant go thirty years of Demons whispering and not go off a cliff. Appreciate the notable uptick in female characters of note, we've come a long way from Queen Terez walking-plot-device. Just for a laugh figured I'd rank the POV's Spoiler Rikke - She seems the most rounded, with potential to grow in a variety of different directions. Savine - I need the vicious cynical internal monologue. Orso - I probably relate more than is healthy. Clover - Gives me Tunny/Craw vibes, with a whole lot more going on under the surface. Vick - Impresses as a character, but maybe hasn't had too much to do yet. Interested to see if she forgets anything she learned in the camps. Leo - Room to grow, but I can't quite get on board yet. Broad - Hasn't really had much to do yet. This is going to end very badly, and I can't wait. Not really spoilers, but just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nictarion Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 I’d probably rank them... Orso>Rikke>Savine>Clover>Broad>Leo>Vick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The hairy bear Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 My ranking would be: Orso > Savine > Rikke > Vick > Leo > Broad > Clover On 11/4/2019 at 4:57 PM, Rhom said: 576-77: Before They Are Hanged --- 577: Last Argument of Kings This is one year off. BTAH goes from Autumn 575 to Spring 576, and LAOK is Summer 576 to Winter 577. And I'd place A Little Hatred in 604, since Joe said it was 14 years after Red Country, but I'm less convinced about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HexMachina Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 10 hours ago, The BlackBear said: *Savine's dresses (unless we got different versions) Got around to reading a Little Hatred quite late, so have only just finished it. Loved it, even if some parts are heartrendingly tragic. But I guess that's the point, like picking at a scab. Excited to see where we go from here, so many places I'd love to see a bit more of, particularly the South. I want to see what state Ferro has sunk to, even someone that stubborn's sanity cant go thirty years of Demons whispering and not go off a cliff. Appreciate the notable uptick in female characters of note, we've come a long way from Queen Terez walking-plot-device. Just for a laugh figured I'd rank the POV's Hide contents Rikke - She seems the most rounded, with potential to grow in a variety of different directions. Savine - I need the vicious cynical internal monologue. Orso - I probably relate more than is healthy. Clover - Gives me Tunny/Craw vibes, with a whole lot more going on under the surface. Vick - Impresses as a character, but maybe hasn't had too much to do yet. Interested to see if she forgets anything she learned in the camps. Leo - Room to grow, but I can't quite get on board yet. Broad - Hasn't really had much to do yet. This is going to end very badly, and I can't wait. Not really spoilers, but just in case. Oops, yes you’re right its Savine, i just wasnt paying much mind to what i wrote. Ranking povs...tricky, especially choosing a favourite. I suspect top spot is my most changeable position right now. Savine>Rikke>Orso>Clover>Leo>Vick>>>Broad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Antony Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 Guess you really didn’t enjoy Leo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A True Kaniggit Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 So much for my “Age of Spoilers”, subtitle for the next thread. But gotta give it to @Rhom. Nailed the supporting material for creating a new thread. I haven’t read A Little Hatred since it first came out. Think it’s about time for a reread. I’m going to pace myself this time around, unlike the initial mad dash read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhom Posted November 9, 2019 Author Share Posted November 9, 2019 7 hours ago, A True Kaniggit said: So much for my “Age of Spoilers”, subtitle for the next thread. But gotta give it to @Rhom. Nailed the supporting material for creating a new thread. I haven’t read A Little Hatred since it first came out. Think it’s about time for a reread. I’m going to pace myself this time around, unlike the initial mad dash read. I could edit the topic title to include it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red snow Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Joe's latest progress report suggests the gap in publishing has had no effect on sales. If anything they've improved. Very surprised to see audiobook sales were stronger than hardback or ebook sales in week 1 in UK. Just shows how rapid that sector is growing and how good Steven Pacey is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubby Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 I don't know if anyone caught this, but in Half a King there is a bit where one of the characters talks about the constellations. She names one of the constellations as "Stranger Come Knocking", The [admittedly a little crackpot] signifigance of this to A Little Hatred is: Spoiler In the same passage she mentions the "Bald Weaver", which may fit with some of the theories about who the Weaver is. /silly speculation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corvinus85 Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 1 hour ago, Stubby said: I don't know if anyone caught this, but in Half a King there is a bit where one of the characters talks about the constellations. She names one of the constellations as "Stranger Come Knocking", The [admittedly a little crackpot] signifigance of this to A Little Hatred is: Reveal hidden contents In the same passage she mentions the "Bald Weaver", which may fit with some of the theories about who the Weaver is. /silly speculation I haven't read that book since its release. What theory could it confirm? Bayaz, or a different character? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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