Say one thing about The First Law, say that it's bloody brillant

[salinea]

Finished reading Before They Are Hanged, second book of The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. If I thought the first one was pretty good but wasn't entirely sold on the brillance of it, then picture me sold. This series is bloody awesome.


At first glance, it looks nothing special. A rather conventionnal world, the central, more civilized Union of the midland, their colonies in the North in which brutal but noble barbarians and random-orc-like-creatures Shanka roam. The South where the slaver Gurkish Empire rules in a desert like area. Some ruins of a more glorious past. It's even Eddings-esque with its plot revolving around the rivalry of ancient long lived Magi, and with a quest for a MacGuffin which requires people with specific abilities. Except it's Eddings in a much darker and grittier world, with a much more ambiguous morality and some real murky waters. Pretty soon, one realizes that most clichés were set up in order to be subverted, and usually the subversion is bloody amusing.

The highlight of the series is undoublty the characters. All are very well written, likeable despite their many flaws.

Logen Ninefingers is probably the most loveable of the lot. A northern Barbarian with a bloody past, a great part of his appeal resides in the contrast with the undoubtly wise, subtle and even kind behaviour and actions we see him have, with his memories of ruthlessness, bloodthirstiness and endless warmongering days (which are far from over). As the tired hero, Logen is simply great, rivalling in my mind the likes of John Aversin as an awesome character. I think I love him so much because he's one of those humble characters we see so seldom.

Perhaps the most intriguing character is Glokta, tortured prisonner turned torturer of the Inquisition (although not a religious one - no, that doesn't make it any fairer). Once a dashing, reckless and expert fencer, he now bears crippling wounds from his days in the Gurkish prisons and lives in constant pain, hates everyone almost as much as he hates himself, is utterly ruthless, extremely cynical, very clever and seems tempted anytime death seems closeby - yet still clings on. Glokta reminds me a lot of Snape - or even of Rorsarch (I've no double you'd love him rexluscus), utterly brocken, twisted and ugly creatures that still insist to stand and spit at the face of adversity which suddenly makes them noble in spite of all good sense.

My favourite, however is Ferro. Much like Arya, she's a look at what gives a realistic female warrior in a medieval/renaissance like society rather than yet another babes in armor, and it's not pretty. Taken as slave from a population long conquered by the Gurkish, she's escaped and lived by since then counting mostly on her skills for killing and survival through desertic landscapes, always chased and feeding her hatred and desire of vengeance against the Gurkish. Basically she's a near-psychotic killer almost pathologically incapable of trust, and she's awesome. Alright, I'm weak for the bad ass female warrior type, the darker the better, but Ferro gave me some of the most emotionnal moments from her struggle with the remnent of humanity and her instinctual distrust for anyone.

Then there's Jezal, young, handsome, witty (but not as witty as he thinks), nimble noble captain, who wants to participate in the yearly fencing contest. Everything that should point him as a hero if he wasn't so vain, lazy, arrogant, selfish and self-centered. I think the amazing thing with Jezal is while doing everything to make him look like an ass, he still looks somewhat sympathetic. Perhaps because he's pretty frequently willing to aknowledge some of his failings. Perhaps because of his feelings for Ardee, the commoner clever and bitter sister of West - one Jezal's colleague in the army. Perhaps just because I seldom hate any character no matter how pathetic they are. (I think you may appreciate him especially melusinahp, once you're done with ASOIAF ^_^)

There's other important characters, West and the Dogman who gets more spotlight in the second books, and great secondary characters like Ardee, Glokta's Practicals (Severard is the best Igor ever), female merchant Magister Eider, the whole troupes of Ninefingers' former followers of which my favourite is Black Dow (he's the most utter bastard out of them) - all characterized with freshness and vividness. And Bethol, the ambitious newly king of North, for which Logen used to work and now hates deeply which is an extremely intriguing antagonist (also hardly the only one of them).

The writing style flows very well. Some lines are used and reused a lot of time, which I find very amusing but may tire some. There's a lot of dry and grim humour about it - it reminds me of KJ Parker's style in this. The setting is undoubtly gritty, with some almost parodic portrayal of incompetence of the people in power. The plot is good with the subversions taken in consideration, and the pacing great. I devoured both books with a lot of pleasure and excitement.

If I have any criticism to make it's that the Northmen's society is overly portrayed as good noble barbarians in comparison with the Midland( which has a truely epic level of corruption, infighting and petty arrogance)and most everywhere else - which doesn't feel very fair. Lots of people in power are too ridiculous for my taste in their foolishness.Some clichés have not been properly subverted, but they may be dealt with yet.

Third volume is scheduled for Spring 2008. I can't wait.

Comments

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

Female intuition ;)