Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

[Werthead]

Was unsure to put this in a new thread or in the previous one, but I suppose if the first two books deserve a thread each I suppose so does the third one:

Last Argument of Kings is the third and concluding volume of The First Law Trilogy, following on from The Blade Itself and Before They Are Hanged. Those who have not read the first two volumes may wish to skip the plot summary as it does contain spoilers of events in those books.

In the frozen wastes of Angland, the army of the Union and its allies continues to wage war against Bethod and his forces. The Gurkish, having retaken Dagoska, now develop new and more bold plans to continue to wage war against the Union from the south. And, having failed in their quest to the far side of the world, Bayaz and his companions return to the city of Adua to make new preperations for the conflicts to come. But in this struggle it becomes clear that different factions are scheming for power, that those who are allies one day may be bitter foes the next, and that the price of victory may be far too high...

The First Law has attracted a great deal of praise since the publication of The Blade Itself a little under two years ago. Abercrombie's clear style delivered an apparently 'straightforward' fantasy tale with some interesting ruthless edges to it. Before They Are Hanged forced the reader to revise a lot of what they thought they knew whilst putting several key twists into the story that were unexpected. Last Argument of Kings delivers exactly what this trilogy needed: a no-holds-barred war story in which secrets are exposed, mysteries are explained and the author resolutely refuses to pull any punches. Those expecting a gloriously happy, neat ending to this trilogy best look elsewhere.

Instead, we get huge battle sequences, including one that threatens to displace the supremacy of Steven Erikson's siege of Capustan from Memories of Ice as the greatest epic fantasy battle this century. We get more intricate, devious politics. We get more torture, courtesy of our friend Glokta (whose character arc remains the most vivid and engrossing of the series). The deepening of the character of Bayaz, who first turned up looking like a jovial Belgarath-style wizard and is now revealed to have a lot more going on to him than just that, is also tremendously satisfying. To those who have taken part in debate on various fan forums some plot elements may emerge as rather predictable, at least until Abercrombie pulls the rug out from under your feet and, just for giggles, does it again a few chapters later. Best of all is the way quite small storyline elements from the previous two books are revisited and minor charaters of no great significance are now revealed to have their own important roles to play.

The ending is superb, particularly the tremendously satisfying epilogue and the final scene. Enough loose ends are left that Abercrombie could revisit the storyline in future books or series, but not to the extent that it is a necessity. Life goes on, albeit in a manner which some characters (and perhaps some readers) find criminally unfair. We also get enough clues laid about other, hitherto undeveloped parts of the world such as Styria that the news that the author's next novel, Best Served Cold, will be set there is most welcome. However, for the time being at least, we must bid a fond farewell to Superior Glokta, the redoubtable Jezal, the secretive Bayaz, the proud Ardee, the solid Colonel West and, of course, the Bloody-Nine. I look forward to the day when we catch up with them and their adventures once more.

Last Argument of Kings (****½) is a more than worthy conclusion to this trilogy. The novel will be published by Gollancz in the UK on 20 March 2008 in hardcover and trade paperback and by Pyr Books in the USA in September 2008.

 

[Phellim]

Yes, I'm really looking forward to this book. I'm as sure as I can be at this point, that I'll be very happy with the ending. I just wish it would be released sooner.

And, as I've said before, this has easily the best cover so far. Surely a good thing, as that's how many people notice books in shops to begin with. I know you're not supposed, but c'mon, it happens.

Except for an anthology that I once noticed and bought because it was completely plain brown, but that's the exception...

 

[al'Kael]

I'm so jealous you've already got your hands on it! I can't wait to get my own copy.

I'm glad to hear that Joe managed to bring it to a satisfying conclusion. He's left so many mysterious strings dangling over the first two novels that I can't wait to find the conclusions.

 

[Deornoth]

I'm waiting for a copy of this as well! Really looking forward to seeing how this one turns out...

 

[Rob B]

A siged ARC of this arrived from Gollancz the other day. As soon as I get and read the PYR edition of the second book, I'll jump into the third and pop in here with my thoughts.

 

[saintjon]

A fight good enough to displace Capustan? That's a spicey meatball.

 

[Wulfa_Jones]

Entered the competition to win a signed ARC but clearly didn't win! Shame!

Looking forward to reading this and seeing all the plot lines drawn togeather.

 

[foolofgold]

Yeah I'm really looking forward to reading this and seeing if what I think is going to happen does happen.

 

[JamesL]

I finished Last Argument of Kings today. Ladies and Gentlemen, you are in for a treat.

Here's my spoiler-free review from Speculative Horizons:

Let's get a couple of things straight before we continue: the first is that this review does not contain any spoilers whatsoever. The second is that although Joe Abercrombie very kindly judged my humble entry to his competition as worthy of a prize as fantastic as an ARC of Last Argument of Kings, that never meant I was going to kiss his ass and wax lyrical about this book if it was crap. When I started this blog it was with the intent to provide objective reviews without bias, despite any acquaintance with the author in question. Even if it made me feel like an ungrateful bastard. Rest assured that what follows is the truth, and nothing but the truth. So, let's get to it.

As I said in an earlier post, this book is a monster. Weighing in at a hefty 672 pages (200 or so more than each of the previous books) , you can't help but feel a tingle of anticipation at the artwork and the back cover blurb. The end is coming, the blurb proclaims. Oh, it is indeed. All 672 pages of it.

Forget what went before. The battles won and lost, the treachery, the journeys and the hardship. As fantastically entertaining as the first two books were, it was all a prelude to the final chapter, where the fate of a nation (and much more besides) hangs in the balance...

I mentioned in my review of Scott Lynch's Red Seas Under Red Skies that I was worried it wouldn't live up to the brilliance of his debut novel. I never had that concern with Abercrombie - his second book had already proved to match and even surpass the first, so I had no doubts that the final instalment in The First Law trilogy would meet my expectations.

How wrong I was. Last Argument of Kings didn't meet my expectations. It shattered them. Scaled them effortlessly and then for good measure, sprouted glorious golden wings, flapped lazily upwards and then shat on them from a great height. Believe me when I tell you, this book is something special. I hardly even know where to start.

Characters. Let's start with the characters. Always one of Abercrombie's strongest points. Usually in works of epic fantasy, you often find a character or two that you think are a bit dud and so when you turn the page and find it is another of 'their' chapters, you roll your eyes and plough through as quickly as possible. This is one pitfall Abercrombie skilfully avoids. I love all of his characters, from the major players down to the minor ones that make a brief appearance and disappear again. At no point did I find myself tiring of any of them. They are all so wonderfully rendered, so deep...all with their flaws, their strengths, their secrets, their vices, their own voices. I felt their horror, their joy, their sorrow, their pain. Abercrombie does a brilliant job of painting his characters in varying shades of grey. There is no real evil here. Every character has their goals, their motives, all caused by forces beyond their control. Subsequently there is a real human quality to Abercrombie's cast, and it is this that makes his characters so funny, so memorable, so believable. Some get what they deserve and some don't. There's the realistic aspect again. You have to be realistic after all.

What of the plotting though? Some critics derided the first two books in the trilogy as being too pedestrian, too much style and no substance. Too much scene-setting, too much building up and not enough resolution. I don't agree, but I see where this argument comes from. These critics are about to eat their words. Last Argument of Kings is one of the most tightly-weaved, thrilling plots you'll have the pleasure of enjoying. Despite the book's bulk, there is no gristle - it's all meat. If Last Argument of Kings was a steak, it would be massive and rare: plenty to tear into, with plenty of blood. A lot of blood.

Abercrombie weaves the various plotlines together with stunning skill and an undiminished knack of being able to surprise. Some things you will see coming. Some you most certainly won't. And even the ones you do see coming you almost think that maybe you were meant to. As always, Joe delights in taking standard tropes and turning them upside down. And it all works so well. The first 100 pages are a little gentler than the rest of the novel, but then it explodes. Some advice: write 'BREATHE' on your thumb so you don't forget to as the action hots up.

Abercrombie was once accused of 'writing like an eight-year old.' That person is going to feel very, very foolish indeed. Abercrombie's writing, always smooth and engaging, just reaches a whole new level in Last Argument of Kings. He just makes it look so damned easy. You almost start to expect that he writes a couple of novels before breakfast. His dialogue is as smooth as ever, but it is his battle scenes that really impress: rarely do you read such hard-hitting, visceral prose. You can smell the blood, feel the press of bodies and hear the shouting and screaming. You're almost there yourself, and damned glad that you're not.

But it's not just blood and guts and political treachery. There are themes here as well. The first two novels didn't really achieve this, but Last Argument of Kings makes you think. There are numerous questions here, if you look for them. What is the true nature of evil? Is it possible to change, to be a better person? Can you escape your past? Is the grass always greener on the other side? And so on. There are themes too, big ones: love, redemption, destiny. But above all, finding the courage to do the decent thing. The right thing.

With Last Argument of Kings, Abercrombie has cemented himself at the top of the fantasy genre. He deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the other titans on top of the ever-increasing pile. He's written something not far short of a masterpiece, something special. Last Argument of Kings has everything you could ask for: huge battles, political intrigue, masterly characterisation and surprises by the bucket-load. This book will by turns shock you, excite you, make you laugh, and above all entertain you.

Mr Abercrombie, I salute you.

9.75/10

 

[thrinidir]

Last Argument of Kings didn't meet my expectations. It shattered them. Scaled them effortlessly and then for good measure, sprouted glorious golden wings, flapped lazily upwards and then shat on them from a great height.

you got me chuckling there

 

[Mithfânion]

So, James, you liked it, right?

 

[JamesL]

So, James, you liked it, right?

Damn, is it that obvious?

Seriously, I think this novel is excellent. It's hard not to get carried away and I don't want to get everyone pumped up for it in case it then doesn't meet their heightened expectations.

But yes, I liked it very much indeed and I hope that everyone else does as well when they finally read it.

 

[Werthead]

Seriously, the only book that I think stands a relaistic chance of unseating Last Argument as the best (epic) fantasy novel of 2008 is ADWD. Although I'd love to be proven wrong by Abraham, Erikson and Lynch and perhaps some newcomers

 

[Decado]

Seriously, the only book that I think stands a relaistic chance of unseating Last Argument as the best (epic) fantasy novel of 2008 is ADWD. Although I'd love to be proven wrong by Abraham, Erikson and Lynch and perhaps some newcomers

I loved the first two and can't wait for this. I assume it will be released around the same time in Canada as the UK.

Erikson always has a chance as he's emerged as the best writer of epic fantasy (IMO). I doubt ADWD will be better than either of those.

Are there any newcomers with a lot of potential this year? I haven't heard of any.

 

[JamesL]

Are there any newcomers with a lot of potential this year? I haven't heard of any.

The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V.S. Redick has already emerged as a contender for newcomer of the year; I think Werthead has posted a review in this very forum.

 

[Hobbit]

The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V.S. Redick has already emerged as a contender for newcomer of the year;

Yes, I'd agree with that up to a point; SFFWorld review on the way!

Mark / Hobbit

 

[blake06]

Just purchased a copy of Last Argument of Kings from The Book Depository today. Thank goodness for free shipping to the US! I can't wait to get this book.

 

[suciul]

Just purchased a copy of Last Argument of Kings from The Book Depository today. Thank goodness for free shipping to the US! I can't wait to get this book.

My copy has been in the mail for several days now Though I've just got Swiftly by A. Roberts today and it seems very exciting too...

 

[Hobbit]

That reminds me: SFFWorld review of Joe's Last Argument HERE (no spoilers as far as I remember) and Swiftly reviewed HERE (ditto.)

We do work very hard at not giving away plot!

Mark / Hobbit

 

[Fuxxy Elf]

I'm halfway through, and am thoroughly enjoying it. From the beginning of this trilogy I've been a huge fan. I'm not one that's bothered by the lack of a world view (at least until the third book), much preferring to spend time with the characters than getting history lessons, and the fact each book ended kind of abruptly never bothered me either, though that's probably cos I've read them all in the last three months. But the biggest thing for me, is the humour, I haven't laughed so much in a non-comedic book, which just means I'm enjoying myself immensely. Now just bring on the violence!!