Keith Mack
The First Law is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels by British author Joe Abercrombie. The original trilogy is complete. However, the series as a whole is not finished, with Abercrombie having published several standalone novels and additional trilogies set in the same world, including The Age of Madness and The Great Leveller. The First Law is set in an epic fantasy world reminiscent of early modern Europe, where magic once existed but is now fading away. The story follows a cast of morally grey characters as they navigate a world filled with conspiracies, betrayal, and conflict.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | Joe Abercrombie |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Number of books in the original trilogy | 3 |
| Names of the books in the original trilogy | The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings |
| Year of publication of the books in the original trilogy | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Number of standalone books | 3 |
| Names of the standalone books | Best Served Cold, The Heroes, Red Country |
| Year of publication of the standalone books | 2009, 2011, 2012 |
| Number of books in the sequel trilogy | 2 |
| Names of the books in the sequel trilogy | A Little Hatred, The Trouble With Peace |
| Year of publication of the books in the sequel trilogy | 2019, 2020 |
| Setting | An epic fantasy world called the Circle of the World, reminiscent of early modern Europe |
| Plot | Three major powers, The Union, the Gurkish Empire, and the North, are at war |
| Characters | Logen Ninefingers, Jezal dan Luthar, Sand dan Glokta, Ferro Maljinn, The Dogman, Collem West, Monza Murcatto, Caul Shivers, Shylo Vitari, Nicomo Cosca, Bremer dan Gorst, Prince Calder, Curnden Craw, Finree dan Brock, Tunny, Beck, Leo dan Brock, Savine dan Glokta, Orso dan Luthar, Rikke, Gunnar Broad, Vick dan Teufel, Jonas Clover, Bayaz |
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What You'll Learn
- The First Law trilogy is complete, but the series isn't finished
- The First Law world is set in an epic fantasy world at war
- The story follows the interweaving fortunes and misfortunes of six viewpoint characters
- The books are gritty, violent, and sometimes cruel
- The First Law world has also been released as a combined omnibus volume
The First Law trilogy is complete, but the series isn't finished
The First Law is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels by British author Joe Abercrombie. The original trilogy, published between 2006 and 2008, includes The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and The Last Argument of Kings. The story is set in an epic fantasy world called the Circle of the World, reminiscent of early modern Europe. The world is filled with morally grey characters who are as flawed as they are fascinating.
The First Law trilogy is followed by three standalone novels, Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country, in which some minor characters from the trilogy play important roles. These books are set in the same world as the original trilogy but are stand-alone stories. Abercrombie has also released short fiction set in the world of The First Law, collected in Sharp Ends: Stories from the World of the First Law (2016) and The Great Change (And Other Lies) (2023).
In 2019, Abercrombie began a sequel trilogy, The Age of Madness, set in the First Law world. The first two books, A Little Hatred and The Trouble With Peace, were published in 2019 and 2020, respectively. While the original First Law trilogy is complete, the larger series is not finished, with the potential for more stories and further development of the world and characters.
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The First Law world is set in an epic fantasy world at war
The First Law is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels by British author Joe Abercrombie. The First Law world is set in an epic fantasy world at war, on the verge of an Industrial Revolution. The story follows the fortunes and misfortunes of bad people doing the right thing, good people doing the wrong thing, and stupid people doing stupid things.
The original trilogy involves three major powers: The Union, the Gurkish Empire, and the North, recently united under King Bethod. There are two major theatres of war. The first takes place in the north between the Union and the Northmen, who invade the Union's northern province of Angland. The second is in the south between the Union and the Gurkish Empire, who attempt to annex the Union city of Dagoska.
The backstory of the First Law world begins thousands of years before the events in the books, with the half-human, half-demon Euz. Euz rose against the demons and banished them from the world to the Other Side, allowing humans to flourish. Afterward, he granted gifts to his three eldest sons – the three pure disciplines of magic. To Juvens, he granted High Art, the ability to manipulate the laws of physics through magic. Kanedias received Making, the ability to craft artifacts, and Bedesh was given the ability to speak with spirits. Finally, Glustrod received no gifts from his father apart from his blessings. Juvens used his gift to shape the greatest civilisation in the Circle of the World, the Old Empire, and taught his twelve apprentices the High Art, creating the Order of the Magi.
The First Law trilogy is complete, but the series is not finished. Abercrombie has released three standalone novels set in the First Law world, as well as a sequel trilogy that began in September 2019.
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The story follows the interweaving fortunes and misfortunes of six viewpoint characters
The First Law is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels by British author Joe Abercrombie. The story is set in an epic fantasy world reminiscent of early modern Europe, called the Circle of the World, where magic once existed but is now fading away. The Union, a central realm in the Circle of the World, is in a state of near-constant war, facing conflicts with the Northmen in the frigid north and the Gurkish Empire in the south.
The original First Law trilogy involves the interweaving fortunes and misfortunes of six viewpoint characters: Logen Ninefingers, Jezal dan Luthar, Sand dan Glokta, Ferro Maljinn, The Dogman, and Collem West. Each character has their own unique perspective and role in the story, navigating through the conflicts and political intrigues of the Union.
Logen Ninefingers is a skilled warrior with a violent past who becomes entangled in the political schemes of the Union. Jezal dan Luthar is a noble-born officer in the Union's army, struggling with his sense of duty and personal ambitions. Sand dan Glokta is a former soldier turned torturer, known for his cunning and ruthless interrogation techniques. Ferro Maljinn is a fierce and vengeful young woman seeking justice for the wrongs done to her. The Dogman is a loyal and pragmatic member of Logen's band, often serving as a voice of reason. Collem West is an idealistic soldier who finds himself caught between his loyalties and moral dilemmas.
The trilogy explores the complex dynamics and interactions between these characters as they navigate the political and military conflicts of the Union. Their paths intertwine in unexpected ways, shaping the course of the narrative and driving the story forward. As the plot unfolds, their fortunes and misfortunes become increasingly intertwined, creating a captivating and compelling narrative that has captivated readers worldwide.
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The books are gritty, violent, and sometimes cruel
The First Law is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels by British author Joe Abercrombie. The books are set in an epic fantasy world reminiscent of early modern Europe, called the Circle of the World. The world is gritty, violent, and sometimes cruel, with a dark and unforgiving tone.
The original trilogy involves three major powers: The Union, the Gurkish Empire, and the North, recently united under King Bethod. The first theatre of war takes place in the north between the Union and the Northmen, who invade the Union's northern province of Angland. The second is in the south, between the Union and the Gurkish Empire, who attempt to annex the Union city of Dagoska. The trilogy centres on the fortunes of a variety of characters as they navigate these conflicts.
The story follows the fortunes and misfortunes of bad people who do the right thing, good people who do the wrong thing, and stupid people who do stupid things. There are no shining heroes or easy victories, and the characters are morally grey and flawed. Abercrombie's world is bleak, and he does not offer the cathartic endings or noble ends that are common in fantasy stories. Instead, he is brutal in the world he paints and the paths his characters take.
The First Law trilogy is complete, but the series is not finished. Abercrombie has released three standalone novels set in the same world as the trilogy, as well as a sequel trilogy that began in 2019.
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The First Law world has also been released as a combined omnibus volume
The First Law is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels by British author Joe Abercrombie. The first three novels form a trilogy, while the remaining stories are standalone but interconnected novels. The First Law series is set in an epic fantasy world reminiscent of early modern Europe, called the Circle of the World, that is on the verge of an Industrial Revolution.
The original trilogy involves three major powers: The Union, the Gurkish Empire, and the North, recently united under King Bethod. There are two major theatres of war. The first takes place in the north between the Union and the Northmen, who invade the Union's northern province of Angland. The second is in the south between the Union and the Gurkish Empire, who attempt to annex the Union city of Dagoska.
The First Law World book series by multiple authors includes books The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and Last Argument of Kings, among several others.
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Frequently asked questions
The First Law is a trilogy of novels written by Joe Abercrombie. While the trilogy is complete, the series is not finished. Abercrombie has released several standalone novels set in the same world, as well as a sequel trilogy that started in 2019.
The story follows the fortunes and misfortunes of various characters, including Logen Ninefingers, Jezal dan Luthar, and Ferro Maljinn. It is set in an epic fantasy world called the Circle of the World, reminiscent of early modern Europe, where magic once existed but is now fading away.
Yes, Abercrombie has released several standalone novels set in the world of the First Law, including "Best Served Cold," "The Heroes," and "Red Country." These novels feature new characters as well as minor characters from the original trilogy.
Yes, Abercrombie started a sequel trilogy called "The Age of Madness" in 2019, with the first book titled "A Little Hatred." The second book, "The Trouble With Peace," was released in 2020.
