Kara Sears
'The Blade Itself' is the first novel in Joe Abercrombie's 'First Law' trilogy. It introduces a cast of complex characters, including the infamous northern barbarian Logen Ninefingers, the noble fencing champion Captain Jezal dan Luthar, and the crippled inquisitor Sand dan Glokta. Set in a fictional world reminiscent of medieval Europe, the story explores political intrigue and the moral ambiguity of its characters, setting the stage for the rest of the series.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | Joe Abercrombie |
| Genre | Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Adult Fantasy |
| Type | Novel, E-book |
| Setting | Medieval Europe |
| Main Characters | Logen Ninefingers, Jezal dan Luthar, Sand dan Glokta, Ferro Maljinn, Bayaz, Dogman, Collem West |
| Plot | Political Intrigue, Murderous Conspiracies, War, Revenge |
| Themes | Morally Grey Characters, Subversion of Traditional Heroism, Gritty Realism |
| Pacing | Slow Burn, Complex, Fast-paced |
| Narrative Style | Character-driven, Multiple Points of View |
| Tone | Cynical, Unpredictable, Wickedly Funny |
| Reviews | Compelling, Complex, Original, Nuanced, Well-developed Characters, Intriguing Plot |
| Publication | Gollancz (UK), Pyr Books (US) |
| Date | May 2006 |
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What You'll Learn
The novel's title is a reference to a quote from Homer's *The Odyssey*
The title of Joe Abercrombie's novel, "The Blade Itself", is a reference to a quote from Homer's *The Odyssey*. The quote, which appears towards the end of the epic poem in Book XVI, line 294, is: "The blade itself incites to deeds of violence". In the poem, Odysseus offers this as an argument to Telemachus to explain why he has stripped the hall of weapons, as the presence of a weapon provokes a man to use it.
Abercrombie's novel, the first in the First Law trilogy, was first published in 2006. The quote from *The Odyssey* is an appropriate reference for the novel, which is set in a violent place. Abercrombie attributes the quote directly to Homer, although some have argued that it is not a word-for-word translation and that it would be more accurate to describe it as an "influence" on the final quote.
The Odyssey was first written down in Homeric Greek around the 8th or 7th century BC and had become part of the Greek literary canon by the mid-6th century BC. The influence of the Homeric texts on the popular imagination and cultural values has been significant. During the Middle Ages, The Odyssey remained widely studied and was used as a school text within the Byzantine Empire. The first printed edition was produced in 1488 by the Greek scholar Demetrios Chalkokondyles.
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The story is told from multiple points of view
Joe Abercrombie's debut novel, "The Blade Itself", is the first book in The First Law trilogy. The story is told from multiple points of view, with several main characters. The most important of these are:
Jezal—a rich, noble's son, a great swordsman, and a selfish, self-absorbed young nobleman. He is also a dashing officer, dreaming of glory in the fencing circle.
Logen—a legendary Northman warrior, a violent, infamous barbarian from the North with a dark, mysterious past. He is also known as the Ninefingers, having finally run out of luck and caught in one feud too many.
Ferro—a fugitive slave from the nation of Gurkhul, hell-bent on revenge. She is described as having little common sense, but is written with a vibrancy that pops off the page.
Glokta—a handicapped war hero, now a deformed cripple and torturer working for the Union's secretive inquisition. He is described as hating everyone and everything, cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time.
The story also includes the wizard Bayaz, who may be the First of the Magi or a spectacular fraud, and the Dogman, who is part of Logen's former crew. The action mostly takes place in The Union, a stagnating but powerful empire, in the year 575 after its founding.
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The plot is complex and character-driven
Joe Abercrombie's debut novel, The Blade Itself, is the first book in The First Law trilogy. The plot is complex and character-driven, with multiple points of view and a rich cast of characters.
The story follows several main characters, including Logen Ninefingers, a legendary Northman warrior with a violent past who is now alone and purposeless after being exiled from the North. There is also Jezal dan Luthar, a vain, self-centred nobleman and talented swordsman who dreams of glory in a fencing tournament. Sand dan Glokta is a crippled inquisitor, once a war hero, now bitter and working as a torturer for the Union's secretive inquisition. The plot is driven by these characters' responses to the events of the world, rather than the other way around.
The world of The Blade Itself is loosely based on medieval Europe, with three main regions: The Union, a powerful kingdom blending medieval England and the Holy Roman Empire; The North, a harsh, barbaric land inspired by Viking-era Scandinavia; and The Gurkish Empire, a vast southern empire similar to the Ottoman Empire. Magic exists in this world but is rare and viewed with suspicion. The most powerful magic practitioners are known as Magi, and Bayaz, the First of the Magi, is introduced early in the story.
Murderous conspiracies, old scores, and the blurred line between hero and villain drive the plot forward, with action taking place primarily in The Union in the year 575 after its founding. The Union is beset on all sides by barbarians from The North, led by King Bethod, and the might of the Gurkish Empire to the south, ruled by Emperor Khalul.
The plot is further complicated by the introduction of Ferro Maljinn, a fugitive slave from Gurkhul seeking revenge, and the Dogman, Logen's former crewmate who realises that The North is about to be overrun by the Shanka, a hostile orc-like race. As the story progresses, these characters' paths intertwine, leading to unexpected alliances and confrontations.
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The world is loosely based on medieval Europe
The world of The First Law is loosely based on medieval Europe. The story is set in an epic fantasy world called the Circle of the World, reminiscent of early modern Europe. The Union, a federated realm, is the central realm of the Circle of the World. It is a pre-industrial realm, similar to Europe in the Middle Ages. It is inspired by the Holy Roman Empire, with banking and commerce influenced by medieval Flanders and a political system comparable to the Venetian Republic. The Union is comprised of the Kingdom of Midderland, the Kingdom of Angland, the Kingdom of Starikland, and the cities of Dagoska and Westport. Adua, the capital of the Union, is its largest city. Other major cities include Keln, Valbeck, Dagoska, Rostov, Stariksa, Westport, Ostenhorm, and New Keln.
The Gurkish Empire is a sprawling empire to the south of the Union, similar to the large Middle-Eastern empires of antiquity. The North, inhabited by Northmen, is to the north of the Union. The North is also claimed by the Union, which has resulted in conflict between the two regions.
The world of The First Law is inhabited by both demons and humans. A legendary half-demon, half-human named Euz banished the demons from the world to the Other Side, allowing humans to flourish. Euz left behind the First Law: "It is forbidden to touch the Other Side directly." Magic still exists in this world, relying on connections to the Other Side. However, it is fading, and most people no longer believe in it.
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The novel is the first in the *First Law* series
Jezal dan Luthar is a nobleman and captain, described as a paragon of selfishness. He is a great swordsman, but his mind is often occupied by dreams of glory and card games. Logen Ninefingers is an infamous barbarian from the North, trying to escape his violent past. He is a legendary warrior but finds himself alone and without purpose after being exiled from his homeland. Ferro Maljinn is a fugitive slave from the nation of Gurkhul, driven by a desire for revenge. Sand dan Glokta is a crippled inquisitor, once a war hero but now bitter and cynical, tasked with bringing down the corrupt Guild of Mercers.
The story follows these characters as they navigate a world filled with political intrigue and murderous conspiracies. Abercrombie takes his time introducing the characters and their motivations, allowing readers to get to know them intimately. The novel is known for its complex and well-developed characters, with many praising Abercrombie's in-depth and varied characterizations.
The Blade Itself is considered a setup book for the rest of the series, and readers are recommended to start with this novel before moving on to the standalones or the sequel trilogy, Age of Madness. It received praise for its intriguing plot and gritty world-building, with some reviewers noting its realistic portrayal of magic and the human cost of violence.
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Frequently asked questions
'The Blade Itself' is a fantasy novel written by Joe Abercrombie. It is the first book in 'The First Law' trilogy and introduces a cast of complex characters and their motivations. The story is told from multiple points of view, with the most important characters being Jezal, Logen, Ferro, and Glokta.
The main characters in 'The Blade Itself' are Jezal dan Luthar, a self-centred nobleman; Logen Ninefingers, a legendary Northman warrior; Ferro Maljinn, a fugitive slave; and Sand dan Glokta, a handicapped war hero turned torturer.
'The Blade Itself' is set in a fictional world reminiscent of medieval Europe, with three main regions: The Union, a powerful kingdom; The North, a harsh, barbaric land; and The Gurkish Empire, a vast southern empire.
