Monday, October 29, 2007


Joe Abercrombie Answers Questions Five

Joe Abercrombie is the author of The Blade Itself (my review), the first book in a new epic fantasy trilogy that has been garnering a bit of attention lately. It’s been out in the UK for some time, but was released last month in the US by Pyr. The second book, Before They are Hanged is out in the UK and will be available in the US around March, 2008 and rumor has it that advanced proofs of the final book in the trilogy, Last Argument of Kings, have been sighted. Joe was born in Lancaster, England and currently resides in London

I’m very pleased that Joe has taken to the time to answer Questions Five.


If I were going on holiday to London and I can only visit one pub, which pub do you recommend and why?

JA: You could try the Phoenix Artist’s Bar off Shaftsbury Avenue, where a glittering array of genre writers are often to be found arguing with their editors over that most eternal of literary questions – whose round it is. It has the added advantage of being right next to several of the UKs biggest bookstores. Once you are drunk enough, I therefore recommend you stumble outside and buy any and all copies of my books that you can find. The dizzy rush of excitement you’ll experience will be far superior to anything you can get in a pub.

Honest.


So, which is preferable, reading The Blade Itself or visiting a dentist? Why?

JA: The Blade Itself will not give you a whiter smile. The Blade itself will not leave you with a minty fresh sensation on the tongue. The Blade Itself will not alleviate dental pain. Indeed, with its many scenes of mouth-based torture it may have the opposite effect. It will, however, I am reasonably sure, be cheaper than a visit to the dentist. In that respect, it is a winner.


Please describe one reason The Blade Itself would inspire a reader to strip naked and run screaming into the forest?

JA: Ah, interesting that you should ask. The Blade Itself contains a number of scenes set in forests and, yes, several of these involve moving faster than walking pace at various levels of undress. The very first line, in fact, has someone ‘plunging through the trees, bare feet slipping and sliding’. The book furthermore contains a great deal of screaming, yelling, wailing, blubbering etc. It also includes at least one instance of a stark naked wizard.

The possible effects on impressionable readers of these elements?

You do the math.


What other peculiar qualities of The Blade Itself should readers be aware of?

JA: It isn’t immediately clear from pictures on the internet (and I’m talking about pictures of the book, here), but potential readers should be aware that both the US and UK editions of The Blade Itself are covered in a sumptuously textured paper that puts one in mind of aged parchment, that caresses the fingertips and invigorates mind and body. Many criticisms have been leveled at my writing, but no-one has ever said that my books are not Grip-Friendly.


Why should The Blade Itself be the next book that everyone reads?

JA: Because I need a massive house.

5 comments:

Aidan Moher said...

I knew you and Joe wouldn't let me down!

Kooky, funny and ultimately satisfying, this interview is sure to finish as one of the most entertaining of the year.

Now, about that dentist appointment...

~Aidan
A Dribble of Ink

Neil Richard said...

As I'm reading the preview (thank you again) I can begin to see a bit of his wit. A large house indeed. Looks like it will be added to my Christmas Wish List this year.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Joe's praise for the book jacket; it was probably the single greatest factor in convincing me to buy this book.

Bob Lock said...

Please describe one reason The Blade Itself would inspire a reader to strip naked and run screaming into the forest?

Who needs inspiration to do this? :-)

Nice one Ken,
Joe's characters are superb and you can see why by his interviews and his blog.

Bob

Anonymous said...

the union is like europe different people who arent so different united by religion and shared ethical opinions, the gurkish are obviously muslims like the moorish, dagoska probably symbolizes malta, northland is scandinavia with a population of barbarians which ressemble vikings, but then the old empire which seems to be a continent to the west would be... North America??? dang wat a bright future for our fellow westerners, meh cant say theyr that bright

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