When I began reading Joe Abercrombie’s latest fantasy novel, A Little Hatred, it had been years since I read anything set in his ‘First Law’ fantasy universe.
The last of Abercrombie’s novels I read was The Heroes, which I thought was absolutely brutal and brilliant. And I read that quite a while after I read the original ‘First Law’ trilogy.
Reading A Little Hatred had an immediate effect on me: As soon as I was finished I began devouring the original trilogy once again.
It reminded me that Abercrombie is one of the most brilliant voices in fantasy right now, putting out consistently excellent fiction with each release, and how long it had been since I’d read any of his novels.
Going back to those original stories in Abercrombie’s dark, cynical fantasy world, I find that I love them even more the second time around.
The blade itself incites to deeds of violence.
It’s been seven years since Abercrombie published Red Country, his last book set in this universe. It’s been too long, but at least he hasn’t left us hanging (like some fantasy authors we won’t mention). This is a new trilogy, and theoretically you could even start here with The Age Of Madness, though I recommend reading The First Law first.
A Little Hatred takes place about three decades after the conclusion of The Last Argument Of Kings. We find ourselves in the same locations: Midderland and the Union capital of Adua; Angland and its ferocious northern frontier. Many of the same characters return, though much older now, and not the central focus of this story.
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Instead, the world has moved on. The dawn of the age of machines is here, though industrialism’s problems aren’t so terribly different than the ones faced by the previous generation. Peasant uprisings, the threat of Ghurkul invasion, the barbarian horde pressing into Angland.
Only now the focal characters are the sons and daughters of our previous cast. Savine dan Glokta is a powerful, wealthy industrialist and the daughter of torturer and cripple Sand dan Glokta. The f*ckless Prince Orso is the son of King Jezal dan Luthar–though hardly so terrible as the original trilogy’s Prince dandy, Lasidla.
Then there is the Young Lion, Leo dan Brock, son of Finree dan Brock, Angland’s no-nonsense Lady Governor. Even the Dogman’s daughter is here–Rikke, who has the Long Eye.
On the other side of the battle-lines is Stour Nightfall, Black Calder’s son and heir to Scale Ironhand’s throne (Scale and Black Calder being the sons of Bethod, the King of the North).
There are others. I won’t spoil all of the point-of-view characters save to say that Abercrombie delves less into the mythology and ancient, terrible backstory of his fantasy universe, and more into its politics.
Ultima Ratio Regum
There are more female point-of-view characters this time around. And Abercrombie, who has always been sharp when it comes to weaving politics into his fantasy without making them heavy-handed, manages to do so again, though his commentary this time around is perhaps even more salient.
Questions of immigration, sexuality and economics all weave effortlessly through the text. There is nothing preachy or heavy-handed here, but plenty to make you think.
I won’t spoil anything, or not anything important in any case. Suffice to say, Abercrombie’s prose is as readable and engaging as ever. The world he crafts is an ever-moving chessboard, and all its pieces are constantly in motion.
You don’t have to worry about getting bogged down in too much exposition, or an abundance of POV characters (there are around seven, with a handful getting a tad more attention than the others).
Abercrombie’s writing is at once economical and evocative. His world feels just as real now as ever, and while the emphasis on the mysterious past of the First of the Magi is no longer the focus, plenty of mystery and intrigue remains.
It’s one of the best fantasy novels I’ve read in years. There is nobody quite like Abercrombie in this genre. Perhaps Martin, though I’ll admit: I think I like Abercrombie better.
As much as Game Of Thrones has had a profound impact on my life, Abercrombie’s books are just as galling and so much more focused. His world is somehow even more cynical. Some call it “grimdark” and it certainly is that, but it’s more than that also.
Every fight scene is painfully brutal, but not just for the blood and gore, but the way you feel the characters’ exhaustion and fear. It’s palpable. War and violence aren’t glorified here at all. Here’s a lovely little quotation from Rikke’s point-of-view:
“Why folk insisted on singing about great warriors all the time, Rikke couldn’t have said. Why not sing about really good fishermen, or bakers, or roofers, or some other folk who actually left the world a better place, rather than heaping up corpses and setting fire to things?”
Or take this wonderful dialogue between the worldly Prince Orso and the rustic Leo dan Brock, the latter of whom notices all the immigrants in a crowd:
‘Lot of brown faces around,’ he said, frowning.
‘Troubles in the South. Refugees are pouring across the Circle Sea, seeking new lives.’
‘Fought a war against the Gurkish thirty years ago, didn’t we? You sure they can be trusted?’
‘Some can and some can’t, I would’ve thought . Just like Northmen. Just like anyone. And they’re not all from Gurkhul.’
‘Where, then?’
‘All across the South,’ said Orso. ‘Kadir, Taurish , Yashtavit , Dagoska. Dozens of languages. Dozens of cultures. And they’ve chosen to come here. Makes you proud, doesn’t it?’
In Conclusion
Memorable, relatable, frustrating characters. A world poised on the brink–of new technology, new revolutions, new threats from north and south, and old ideas doing their very best to maintain the status quo. I honestly have no idea where this story is headed, but I love that we’re heading there.
And while I wait for the next book in the Age Of Madness trilogy, I’ll keep reading the old ones. They’re even better the second time around.
Say one thing for Joe Abercrombie, say that he’s a master of his craft.
A Little Hatred is out now from Orbit Books. It’s one of my Top Fantasy Novels Of 2019.
