"Abercrombie has written the finest epic fantasy trilogy in recent memory. He's one writer that no one should miss."--"Bloody and relentless."--"Bold and authentically original."--"Compelling characters, a complex plot, and style to burn."--"Heroic fantasy without conventional heroes . . . Full of cynicism and wit."--"If you're fond of bloodless, turgid fantasy with characters as thin as newspaper and as boring as plaster saints, Joe Abercrombie is really going to ruin your day. A long career for this guy would be a gift to our genre."--"New, fresh, and exciting."--"There is a gritty edge to his world and an awareness of the human cost of violence that is very contemporary."--"[Abercrombie has] begun breaking his own rules. And succeeding wildly at it. ... [R]arely has Abercrombie had so much fun while rollicking through his colorful cast's foibles and witty dialogue - and rarely has he dished out so much straight-for-the-heart poignancy."--"Abercrombie writes fantasy like no one else."----This text refers to the paperback edition.

is thebestselling author ofand the First Law trilogy:, and. He is a full-time writer and occasional freelance film editor who lives in Bath, England with his wife and three children. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Review

There is a gritty edge to his world and an awareness of the human cost of violence that is very contemporary. - THE TIMES - Lisa Tuttle Comes close to living up to its publishers hype. - THE GUARDIAN - Jon Courtenay Grimwood Comes close to living up to its publishers hype. - THE GUARDIAN - Jon Courtenay Grimwood The Blade Itself is a page-turner powered by a combination of fast-paced action and juicy doses of cynicism. Perhaps more remarkable, however, is the way Abercrombie sets the scene. - EDGE Magazine The Blade Itself is a page-turner powered by a combination of fast-paced action and juicy doses of cynicism. Perhaps more remarkable, however, is the way Abercrombie sets the scene. - EDGE Magazine The Blade Itself is therefore an extremely impressive debut, the first in a series subtitled The First Law, and in Joe Abercrombie it brings us a writer who oozes promise. This is surely a novel as sharp as its title. - SF REVU - John Berlyne The Blade Itself is therefore an extremely impressive debut, the first in a series subtitled The First Law, and in Joe Abercrombie it brings us a writer who oozes promise. This is surely a novel as sharp as its title. - SF REVU - John Berlyne There's a fat vein of cynicism and dark humour throughout. The action scenes are fast-paced and the violence takes its toll both mentally and physically. A great start to a long journey. - DREAMWATCH There's a fat vein of cynicism and dark humour throughout. The action scenes are fast-paced and the violence takes its toll both mentally and physically. A great start to a long journey. - DREAMWATCH You'd never guess that The Blade Itself is Joe Abercrombie's debut novel. He writes like a natural. There are great characters, sparky dialogue, an action-packed plot, and from the very first words and an opening scene that is literally a cliff-hanger, you know you are in for a cheeky, vivid, exhilarating ride. - STARBURST - Barbara Davies You'd never guess that The Blade Itself is Joe Abercrombie's debut novel. He writes like a natural. There are great characters, sparky dialogue, an action-packed plot, and from the very first words and an opening scene that is literally a cliff-hanger, you know you are in for a cheeky, vivid, exhilarating ride. - STARBURST - Barbara Davies An admirably hard, fast and unpretentious read from debut author Joe Abercrombie. Packs a mean punch in the bloodthirsty mayhem and mystery departments. Crammed full of torture, vengeance and bad behaviour, it's a lively tale of savagery vs. civilisation. The Blade Itself may not reinvent the wheel, but it does serve up a whole banquet of violent action and intrigue. - SFX - Saxon Bullock An admirably hard, fast and unpretentious read from debut author Joe Abercrombie. Packs a mean punch in the bloodthirsty mayhem and mystery departments. Crammed full of torture, vengeance and bad behaviour, it's a lively tale of savagery vs. civilisation. The Blade Itself may not reinvent the wheel, but it does serve up a whole banquet of violent action and intrigue. - SFX - Saxon Bullock The Blade Itself is in many respects another reprisal of the classic formula. It will be fascinating to see where Abercrombie take his plot and how he develops these characters. - TIME OUT - Roz Kaveney --This text refers to the The Blade Itself is in many respects another reprisal of the classic formula. It will be fascinating to see where Abercrombie take his plot and how he develops these characters. - TIME OUT - Roz Kaveney --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Book Description

Striking debut novel with all the cynicism, realism and punch the fantasy genre has been missing. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

Epic fantasy. It's all the same, no? There's a grumpy wizard, a deadly barbarian, a jumped-up nobleman and some feisty girl, more than likely. They're all engaged in a mysterious quest to bring that from there, and they're all made out of cardboard. Probably there's a dark lord of some kind involved. They talk like extras from a bad soap opera. They fight like extras from a bad cop show. Probably there's a prophecy, and a farmboy with mysterious parentage, and if not a magic tower, then certainly a strange tall building of some kind. There'll be battles, there'll be intrigue, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if a magic sword came up somewhere along the way.I don't need to read that again.I want to read a fantasy with all the grit, and cruelty, and humour of real life. Where good and evil are a matter of where you stand, just like in the real world. I want dialogue that actually sounds like people talking, and action that actually feels like people fighting. I want magic and adventure, sure, but I want it to hurt. I want blood, sweat, and tears, and plenty of them. I want to read about characters as selfish, as flawed, as complicated, and as unpredictable as real people. I want a fantasy that can shock and surprise, amuse and horrify, delight and excite me, all at once.I spent a long time looking, and I couldn't find a set of books quite like that. So I thought I'd write some.You like your fantasy with the edges left on? Try The First Law. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.