Review: The First Law Trilogy
Since finishing the third book in the trilogy - Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie (he needs an illustrator called Stephen Fitch or similar) - I've read a few more tomes (currently The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan - more on this in future.) So am trying to recall the thoughts wot I had in my 'ead at the time of reading. What I do know is that all three books in this Fantasy sequence are very good indeed - otherwise I wouldn't bother posting a review. In summary, they're good because they defy cliche and expectation - none of this 'Lord Xathl'Yr of the Urh-Lweh stepped down from the Throne of Zht-Rel and strode across the gfej-encrusted floor, sword of the Xxtthyr - Hmuld in hand.' All the character and place names sound entirely appropriate and - important for a long book - are memorable. Also no elaborate speech patterns or Olympian Voice ('thrice-fold he didst address the spirit: "begone, thou fiend of Charon' etc.) Mr Abercrombie has an excellent ear for dialogue, and peppers his characters' speech with plenty of swearing and cynical asides. The characters themselves are morally opaque or even downright immoral, but all have a clear and distinct voice amongst the cast of thousands.
I won't go into the plot save, to paraphrase Samwise Gamgee (movie, not book), it involves a good deal about a weapon and a Powerful Magus, and something about the end of the world. I'd go so far to say that the plot is less important than the characters; unlike most Fantasy (where a lot of plot exposition and world-building takes place), these books are character-led and relatively light on the background fluff.
Also uncommon for novels of this genre, Mr Abercrombie attempts to impart a real-world message, though I'm not sure this is entirely successful as it's very subtle: references to the evils of capitalism, nuclear weapons etc.
Again, also uncommon: elements of the book are (intentionally) laugh-out loud funny, mainly as a result of some breath-takingly caustic comment from a character, or neatly-turned phrase. Practical Frost - a lumbering albino with a speech impediment cum trainee torturer with secret, is particularly hilarious whenever he opens his mouth.
Of all the myriad characters, groups and interwoven plot strands, my favourite is the Named Men - a gang of veteran fighters with evocative names such as Dogman, Threetrees and Black Dow, who resemble nothing less than a fantasy version of Sven Hassel's rag-tag penal regiment - no bad thing IMHO.
All in all, massively recommended: 9/10 for all three books.
Posted by monoman at 06:22 PM on August 11, 2008
