Cameron Miranda
The First Law is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels by British author Joe Abercrombie. The first three novels form a trilogy, with the remaining stories being stand-alone but interconnected. The series is set in an epic fantasy world called the Circle of the World, reminiscent of early modern Europe. Magic was once a force in this world, but now seems to be fading, to the point that most people don't believe in it. The trilogy centres on the fortunes of a variety of characters as they navigate through conflicts between the Union, the Gurkish Empire, and the North. The backstory of the trilogy involves the half-human, half-demon Euz, who banished demons from the world to the Other Side, allowing humans to flourish. Euz promulgated The First Law, which forbids communication with the Other Side and the summoning of demons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Gritty modern fantasy |
| Author | Joe Abercrombie |
| Setting | The Circle of the World, reminiscent of early modern Europe |
| Magic | Fading, most people don't believe in it |
| Conflict | Near-perpetual war, the Union is constantly maneuvered into seemingly useless conflicts |
| Location | The frigid north, where war looms with the Northmen |
| The First Law | It is forbidden to touch the Other Side directly |
| Euz | Half-human, half-demon who banished demons from the world |
| Euz's sons | Juvens, Kanedias, Bedesh, and Glustrod |
| Gifts | High Art (magic), Making (crafting artifacts), Speaking with spirits |
| Glustrod | Summoned demons from the Other Side, causing interfamilial conflict |
| Bayaz | Apprentice to Juvens, has devil-blood, breaks the First Law |
| Logen | Talks to spirits, possibly part-demon, capable of touching the Other Side |
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What You'll Learn
- The First Law trilogy is a gritty modern fantasy novel series by Joe Abercrombie
- The First Law world includes standalone novels and short stories
- The First Law world is reminiscent of early modern Europe
- The First Law world is called the Circle of the World
- The First Law world is at war, on the verge of an Industrial Revolution
The First Law trilogy is a gritty modern fantasy novel series by Joe Abercrombie
The backstory of the trilogy begins thousands of years before the events in the books, with the half-human, half-demon Euz. Euz rose up against the demons and banished them from the world to the Other Side, allowing humans to flourish. He then 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. To Kanedias, he gave the gift of crafting artifacts. To Bedesh, he granted the ability to speak with spirits. However, his youngest son, Glustrod, received no gifts, and this led to a war that destroyed the Old Empire and Glustrod himself.
The trilogy involves three major powers: The Union, the Gurkish Empire, and the North, recently united under King Bethod. There are two major theaters 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 trilogy centers on the fortunes of various characters as they navigate these conflicts.
The First Law trilogy has been well-received by critics, with some praising Abercrombie for his "gritty realism, complex characterization, set-piece scenes of stomach-churning violence, and villains who are as fully rounded as his flawed heroes." The trilogy has also been adapted into audiobooks, narrated by Steven Pacey and published by Blackstone (UK) and Orion (US).
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The First Law world includes standalone novels and short stories
The First Law is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels by British author Joe Abercrombie. The series includes two trilogies, three standalone novels, and several short stories set within the same world.
The original trilogy comprises the novels "The Blade Itself" (2006), "Before They Are Hanged" (2007), and "Last Argument of Kings" (2008). The story follows the fortunes and misfortunes of six viewpoint characters: Logen Ninefingers, Jezal dan Luthar, Sand dan Glokta, Ferro Maljinn, The Dogman, and Collem West.
The three standalone novels are set in the same world as the trilogy, and some of the major characters are minor characters from the original trilogy. The first standalone novel, "Best Served Cold" (2009), follows mercenary-general Monza Murcatto on her quest for revenge after being betrayed and left for dead. The second standalone novel, "The Heroes" (2011), is set in the North seven years after the events of the trilogy and centres on another war between The Union and The North. The third standalone novel, "Red Country" (2012), takes place fifteen years after the events of "The Heroes" and twenty-eight years after the end of the original trilogy.
The short stories in the First Law world include "Sharp Ends," "The Great Change (And Other Lies)," and "A Beautiful Bastard."
In addition to the original trilogy and standalone novels, Abercrombie has also written a new trilogy, "The Age of Madness," which is set after the events of the original trilogy, and a new standalone novel, "A Little Hatred" (2019), which is set twenty-eight years after the events of the original trilogy and marks the beginning of a new trilogy.
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The First Law world is reminiscent of early modern Europe
The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie is an epic fantasy trilogy set in a fictional world reminiscent of early modern Europe. The story is character-driven, focusing on the fortunes of a variety of characters as they navigate their way through conflicts and wars. The world is gritty, violent, and bleak, with morally grey characters who are as flawed as they are fascinating.
The First Law world is made up of three main regions: The Union, The North, and The Gurkish Empire. The Union, a powerful kingdom reminiscent of medieval England and the Holy Roman Empire, is a central realm that is constantly embroiled in conflicts due to its dysfunctional government and uncompromising foreign policy. It is made up of provinces such as Angland, the Midderlands, Dagoska, Starikland, and the city of Westport in Styria.
The North is a harsh, barbaric land inspired by Viking-era Scandinavia, inhabited by rough alliances of barbarous, warmongering tribes. The Gurkish Empire, on the other hand, is a sprawling empire to the south of The Union, similar to the large Middle-Eastern empires of antiquity, such as the Ottoman Empire. It is a dominant force, having subjugated almost an entire continent, except for Dagoska.
The First Law world is on the verge of an Industrial Revolution, with chimneys rising all over Midderland. However, magic, which was once a force in this world, now seems to be fading, with most people not believing in it. The most powerful practitioners of magic are known as Magi, with Bayaz being the First of the Magi. The First Law in this world is that it is forbidden to touch the Other Side, where demons reside.
Overall, with its complex characters, intricate world-building, and dark and violent tone, The First Law trilogy has captured the imagination of readers worldwide, becoming one of the most acclaimed fantasy series of the past decade.
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The First Law world is called the Circle of the World
The First Law is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels by British author Joe Abercrombie. The world in which the series is set is called the Circle of the World.
The Circle of the World is composed of at least three continents (one to the north, west, and south), four large islands (Midderland, Styria, Thond, and Suljuk), and innumerable smaller islands. It is dominated politically by two great empires: The Union and The Gurkish Empire. The Union includes the provinces of Angland, the Midderlands, Dagoska, Starikland, and the city of Westport in Styria. The Circle Sea surrounds Midderland, separating it from Angland in the north, Starikland to the northwest, the Old Empire in the southwest, Gurkhul to the south, and Styria in the east.
Styria is an island located to the east of Midderland, on the far side of the Circle Sea. It is controlled by several independent Free City-States, which compete for power and territory. It is known for exporting glasswork, wine, mercenaries, and assassins. Suljuk is further to the east of Styria and has black mountains that rise from the sea. The natives have narrow eyes, are highly spiritual, and fear and despise outsiders. They are known for their silks. Thond is in the distant east, and its people are known for worshipping the sun.
The North is a land of frozen rivers, towering mountains, and ferocious creatures called Shanka. The Northmen are hardy warriors, living in a land of war, raiding, and a rough sense of honour. The western continent is a land of prairies and plains, reminiscent of the American West. This continent is the location of the Far Country, where rumours of riches and gold have drawn settlers, and the Old Empire, a once-great nation that has collapsed into civil war. The southern continent, Kanta, is a vast land of deserts and arid plains with civilisations clustered around great rivers. Kanta is the home of the massive Gurkish Empire, the largest and most populous nation in the Circle of the World.
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The First Law world is at war, on the verge of an Industrial Revolution
The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie is a gritty modern fantasy set in a world called the Circle of the World, reminiscent of early modern Europe. It is a world at war, on the brink of an Industrial Revolution.
The backstory of the First Law trilogy involves the half-human, half-demon Euz, who banished demons from the world to the Other Side, allowing humans to flourish. Euz established the First Law: "It is forbidden to touch the Other Side direct". However, Euz himself was part demon, as were his sons, and the conflicts within his family led to the woes of the world. Euz's fourth son, Glustrod, summoned demons from the Other Side, leading to a war that destroyed the Old Empire.
The plot of the original trilogy centres on three major powers: The Union, the Gurkish Empire, and the North, recently united under King Bethod. There are two major theatres of war: the north, where the Union and the Northmen invade each other's territories, and the south, where the Union and the Gurkish Empire clash. The Union, the central realm of the story, is in a state of near-perpetual war, constantly manoeuvred into conflicts by its dysfunctional government and uncompromising foreign policy.
The First Law world is filled with violence, torture, betrayal, conspiracy, and other forms of dark gritty depravity. It explores the complex nature of humanity, where no character is entirely good or evil, and everyone has flaws and moral ambiguities. The magic in the world, derived from connections to the Other Side, is fading, to the point that most people don't believe in it anymore.
The sequel trilogy, The Age of Madness, continues the story of the First Law world, with the first book, "A Little Hatred", published in 2019, and the second book, "The Trouble With Peace", released in 2020.
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Frequently asked questions
The First Law, as established by Euz, forbids humans from touching the Other Side, the realm of demons from which magic power derives.
Euz is a half-demon, half-human who banished demons from the world and sealed the gates between the human world and the Other Side, thereby delivering humanity from the tyranny of devils.
The First Law trilogy is set in an epic fantasy world called the Circle of the World, reminiscent of early modern Europe. The world is on the verge of an Industrial Revolution and is in a state of near-perpetual war.
The plot of the original trilogy involves three major powers: The Union, the Gurkish Empire, and the North, which has recently united under King Bethod. There are two major theatres of war: one in the north between the Union and the Northmen, and another in the south between the Union and the Gurkish Empire.
