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Sharp Ends

Stories from the World of The First Law

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Sharp Ends

By: Joe Abercrombie
Narrated by: Joe Abercrombie, Steven Pacey
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About this listen

 The Union army may be full of bastards, but there's only one who thinks he can save the day single-handed when the Gurkish come calling: the incomparable Colonel Sand dan Glokta.

Curnden Craw and his dozen are out to recover a mysterious item from beyond the Crinna. Only one small problem: no one seems to know what the item is.

Shevedieh, the self-styled best thief in Styria, lurches from disaster to catastrophe alongside her best friend and greatest enemy, Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp.

And after years of bloodshed, the idealistic chieftain Bethod is desperate to bring peace to the North. There's only one obstacle left - his own lunatic champion, the most feared man in the North: the Bloody-Nine . . .

Sharp Ends combines previously published, award-winning tales with exclusive new short stories. Violence explodes, treachery abounds, and the words are as deadly as the weapons in this rogue's gallery of side-shows, back-stories, and sharp endings from the world of the First Law.©2016 Joe Abercrombie Anthologies & Short Stories Classics Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Short Stories Witty Funny Thought-Provoking Law

Critic reviews

Highly recommended - a funny, finely-wrought, terrifically energetic work of high fantasy. Seek it out (Joe Hill)
Pratchett-like parody of epic fantasy throughout... if Pratchett dropped the C-bomb and relished disembowelment.
'Joe Abercrombie has created a world able to stand alongside landscapes the likes of George RR Martin and JRR Tolkien have created in terms of drama, political intrigue and, of course, bloodshed.'
Suffice to say that Sharp Ends is an intriguing entry point into the World of the First Order. I'm equal parts hooked and scared. Is it all like this? Can anyone survive?
These stories proved to be engrossing. They are a spicy addition to the main courses of the novels, adding to the flavour of the original and offering a wider explanation of how some characters got to the place they did. I look forward to enjoying the novels and I'll be looking out for my favourites.
There are some great writers of low fantasy around today, but few are as good as Abercrombie...Each short story does offer an entertaining and dark read
Dark, and darkly comic, this is an ideal read for anyone who enjoys their humor dry and their vengeance bloody.
he consistently high standard of the stories in Sharp Ends make it a triumph. Granted, readers would be advised to acquaint themselves with their setting, but anyone who was excited by Abercrombie's debut ten years ago will feel those butterflies again. It's a masterful approach, displaying everything that's great about the short story format, from a writer at the height of his powers.
Sharp Ends is by turns brutal, witty, chilling, charming but always brilliant.
Overall, the best fantasy collection it's been my pleasure to read in many years.
All stars
Most relevant
This jumps around a bit. There's no real story thread, just lots of short stories packed together - the only link being that they are all about minor characters from the First Law series.....

If you're a fan of Abercrombie, and a devotee of the First Law Series, then you'll enjoy this. There's the expected Abercrombie grit, with Steven Pacey narration - you'll know exactly what to expect. 4 stars rather than 5, as I'm not really a fan of the short story approach, and coming to this book cold (outside of the series), is probably not to be recommended.

At one point, Jo Abercrombie himself narrates one of the stories.....He "voice-acts" in a way that is supposed to be consistent with the character in question, and I suppose it is, but have to admit that I couldn't cope with it, and had to forward through that story. Jo is a fabulous storyteller - one of my favourites - but the narration is best left to Steven Pacey, who is without a doubt, one of the best narrators out there.

My favourite part of this audiobook is the footnote.....where Steven Pacey and Jo Abercrombie are being interviewed by the Audiobook people. It was brilliant to listen to the two of them chatting about the books, and the various characters, and interpretations and the performances. (I could have done without the interviewer whose questions were a little lame - rather just letting them chat away, down any path they cared to go.....good fun.).

For Abercrombie fans

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Shev & Javre, the most enjoyable characters I have come across in a very long time. They deserve their very own series. Laughed out Loud a good few times at their antics. Rest was good also of course and great to meet some old names I knew well, but these two stand out as just fantastic. Love the short story style where you are not sure if any more is coming or not on each story line. Genius :D My book of 2016. Please give Shev & Javre a whole series, they make me smile so much :) Oh..., this is hell.....LOL!!.

Oh it is F**king good stuff!

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I didn't properly read the synopsis for this book. I saw joe Abercrombie and as one of my favourite authors, purchased it. I didn't realise it was a collection of short stories. I was initially a little disappointed but quickly reversed that decision.

These are short stories that tie together lots of characters and situations in the other books from the first World Series. There are recurring stories from characters such as shevedia, Logan nine fingers Nicamo Costca and Bremer Dan gorst, all favourites of mine.

The time lines jump around which I thought would be irritating. However, if anything, it actually helped explain alliances and grudges formed. Filled with typical Abercrombie humour, violence, gore, sex and humourous violence, gore and sex, it makes for a great listen.
One real bonus is the interview with Abercrombie and narrator Steven Pacey at the end. It is funny and Abercrombies comedic sense is showcased. What is very interesting is how he talks about the narrator absolutely nailing the comedic timing of the book and I would have to agree wholeheartedly .

Steven Pacey is such a good narrator and is up there with Rupert Degas. Choice of accents is perfect and consistency of accents is fantastic. Most of all however, the comedy timing is the thing that shines through.

So much did this book explain some things that I have returned to listen to the heros. This is narrated by Michael Page who narrated the Locke Lamora series of books who I love. However, the narration of the Abercrombie books definitely suits Steven Pacey more
Anyway, I digress. Great listen and so worth a credit

Darkly funny and brilliantly narrated

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I was worried about Sharp ends because it is a collection of short stories. Through my experience none have ever been that good. I had put this book off for a while now, thinking it would be a publishers flog off... I was wrong. Sharp ends is a collection of brilliant, funny and gritty stories that you can tell Joe Abercrombie has had floating around his head that he wanted to tell in past books, but would of never really belonged. It gives us a look at older characters pasts and futures and also introduces new ones; which I have to say two of the new characters are my favourite. Apart from Nicomo Cosca. Steven Pacey is at his best which truly makes Sharp ends a magnificent listen. 5 stars all round

Worried for nothing

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Joe, has produced yet another fantastic voyage into the world of the first law with this group of short stories. The book pounces around time a bit and you can get a bit muddled with the time lines. Steven Pacey performance was flawless and really brings to life the richness of all the characters.

Another one out of the park

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