Pieces on Speculative Fiction

4 stars out of 5. The Blade Itself is the first book of a trilogy The First Law. The story is told character drivenly from the points of views of barbarian, fencer and inquisitor, who are fleshed out very well. Everything of the medieval-style world of the Union is shown through a film noir lens. The grander plot takes the backseat when the characters converge to the heart of the Union against the backdrop of impending war with the North. Very entertaining read despite some length issues.

The book starts with Logen Ninefingers, the former champion of the King of the North, fighting for his life. From there on we are given a host of new characters where each chapter is told through one character. This gives great insight to different characters and despite none of the them being really likeable you come to care about what happens to them, which is something that is often lacking(Acacia anyone).

As the driving plot device Abercrombie brings us mysterious magus Bayaz, who hires Logen to help him curb the plans of King of the North. Thrown in are some hints of a greater evil lurking behind the scenes. As usual.

Logen is admirably concerned about his own well-being and doesn’t care that much of the intrigue and plans of Bayaz. It is refreshing that even midst the machiavellian plots that plague fantasy today there is a character who doesn’t much care for that. His goal is to stay alive.

The nobly-born fencing Captain Jezal is shown as lazy and arrogant as he is preparing for the great fencing Contest. The winner gets fame and fortune. He is nice contrast to the former Contest winner Inquisitor Glokta, who was tortured in Union’s last war with its southern neighbour. Glokta is bitter and cynical while dealing with the people Union’s administration doesn’t like and wants confessions out of.

The problem of The Blade Itself is its length, which the slow start compounds. I was still immersed in the book as there is a lot of playful dark humour, especially around the Glokta chapters. All the characters are real complex people, with real feelings and real flaws. They also are trying to redeem themselves, which could be said to be the theme of the book.

Tags Blade Itself, epic fantasy, fantasy, First Law, Joe Abercrombie, review

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This entry was posted on Thursday, September 6th, 2007 at 10:09 pm by Illotus . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.