TRANSMISSION #4 //READ //watch //play

We’ll be doing regular posts on what we’re READING WATCHING PLAYING.

Thought I’d kick it off with something about one of my favourite books in the last while…

Sitting on a beach in Cuba sometime ago enjoying rum, sun, sand and a mob boss sized cigar I cracked open Mr. Abercrombie’s BEST SERVED COLD.

BOOM.  It’s been a long time since I’ve been that hooked.  The book will literally throat punch you so unexpectedly at the start that after the second chapter…I dreaded it coming to an end.

The characters are fantastic – flawed and unique they move through the world with brutal wit and slamming violence.  From page to page I found myself equally despising them and rooting for them.  Their ambitions and conflicts are supported by some of the best dialogue I’ve read and their descriptions quickly had me casting faces both famous and personal.

What I found really intriguing about this particular story was the setting.

BEST SERVED COLD is set in a world where socially inept barbarians from the north mix with grandiose swordsmen in floppy hats and velvet tunics alongside armored knights and insecure poisoners.  There are epic battles, an amazing bank robbery (at the brilliantly conceived Valint and Balk) and mention of past wars and far off lands that made me want to spend more time exploring.  It’s hard to pinpoint a specific era Abercrombie is drawing from, and for that I’m grateful as everything came off fresh and original.

But what impacted me the most was the book’s female lead, MONZA MURCATTO, a ruthless mercenary general also infamously known as The Snake of Talins and The Butcher of Caprile.  Her tale is one of revenge – and it’s a long and bloody journey as she eliminates those who betrayed her with an exceedingly entertaining group of allies backing her up (and more often than not fucking her up).

I am reluctant to get into details of the plot and descriptions of the characters are best left to be experienced (ideally on a beach if you can swing it).  If you are one of the millions who enjoy GAME OF THRONES (reading and/or watching) you will definitely enjoy Abercrombie’s work.

I think it’s better.

In fact, I have given a tremendous amount of thought into how I could break this down into a TV series.  With all the great shows blasting out of my flatscreen these days there are multiple companies I could see doing this…

Although BEST SERVED COLD is my favorite, Joe Abercrombie has a few other books for you to enjoy (I loved them all).

THE FIRST LAW TRILOGY:

1.       The Blade Itself

2.       Before They Are Hanged

3.       Last Argument of Kings

And his latest – RED COUNTRY.

http://www.joeabercrombie.com/

END TRANSMISSION.

– Sean