Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

Wow I am loving this series!

Everyone is moving now...and I love how the Northmen got themselves into the Union Army!

For Lee's peace of mind, I have divide the book into four parts, for our chatting pleasure! This first section takes us through 'Rain', and the next starts with Bloody Company through Heading North....Enjoy!

That's great Maggie, because I am already halfway through this book and just can't get enough. This is a fantastic read and for the first time since we finished Malazan I am completely enjoying a book and loving the fact that i have a new favorite author.

Word of warning to those that struggled with Gloktas cruelty in book one, in this book he gets crueler and develops compassion at the same time. Well compassion is probably an exaggeration.

It was odd to me Lee, because usually stuff like that would bother me, but I found I didnt have much compassion for his 'victims'...too tarnished themselves

I'm nearing the halfway mark and I must agree with Lee, great author, great series, loving it!

I think the characterization is just spot on!

Maggie wrote: "It was odd to me Lee, because usually stuff like that would bother me, but I found I didnt have much compassion for his 'victims'...too tarnished themselves"

I agree. I'm not into the torturing, but I'm finding myself urging on a lot of Glokta's actions. I guess its the writing and characterisations.

I've noticed he sometimes skips past the gruesome parts too which helps to make it palatable.

I can't think where we can comment up to. Page 136?

Maggie, I think also what helps with the torture, is the way Abercrombie writes it. It is not drawn out, it is descriptive, but Glokta just does it and its done with. As I have said before, its nasty stuff, but he is not sadistic. So I think, the fact that Glokta doesn't particularly enjoy what he is doing, it decreases the impact. I think ;)

On the topic of Glokta being a torturer, I really liked the scene at the end of the Allies chapter where he is having dinner with Eider, the spice Guild Magister. The two of them briefly discuss how they both ended up in their current professions, and the chapter ends with:

(view spoiler)[

'I imagine it makes you sick, to be treated that way. Very sick, and very angry.' If only you knew. 'It still seems a strange decision, though, for the tortured to turn torturer.'

'On the contrary, nothing could be more natural. In my experience, people do as they are done to. You were sold by your father and bought by your husband, and yet you choose to buy and sell.'

Eider frowned. Something for her to think about, perhaps? 'I would have thought your pain would give you empathy.'

'Empathy? What's that?' Glokta winced as he rubbed at his aching leg. 'It's a sad fact, but pain only makes you sorry for yourself.'

(hide spoiler)]

I agree with all this...it's like it is so matter of fact that it doesnt seem such a terrible thing.

I just started this book last night. I agree with Maggie - I really enjoyed reading how the Northmen joined the Union Army. I can't wait to catch up with the rest of the characters!

Well everyone was right. The second book is much better. I'm glad I didn't give up after the first one.

Yeah Heidi, what a story is developing eh?
I am going o hold off reading book 3 because I to I far ahead and then couldn't comment.

Well, after taking a not-so-brief break to read David Copperfield, I'm finally through Rain. I'm having a lot of fun with it, and yeah, the way the Northmen joined the Union army was really entertaining.

I still like Glokta a lot, and Col. West has really grown on me, but there's a bit of author trickery going on with the convenient "one competent guy surrounded by self-important idiots" trope. Also, it's starting to feel a bit too much like Glokta is turning into Tyrion. Maybe that will pass with a few more of his chapters, and as Tyrion and Glokta are my favorite characters in both series, it's a pretty minor gripe.

I laughed out loud over the whole "this bridge is too dangerous, that bridge was burned down, and the river is too flooded to cross" bit. It was like the work of a very cruel Dungeon Master who really wants you to go to Location X (where the dungeon/adventure is) even when all the players have made it clear they'd like to go anywhere but. Abercrombie has shown himself clever enough that I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he meant that bit to be funny.

I really like Brother Longfoot now for much the same reasons. He just has this wonderful way of revealing information that cheerfully explains how much worse things are (or soon will be) than anyone was really expecting them to be. One of the things I've liked about this series so far is the mixture of grittiness and comedy.

I agree about the humor Eric--I keep laughing at the 'friendship' between Logen and Ferro-they are funny