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Michael's Reviews > The Lies of Locke Lamora
The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)
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Ocean's Eleven was great and everything, but know what would've made it cooler? If the setting had been during the late middle ages, possibly the Renaissance. Better yet, a fantasy world version of the Renaissance with an intricate system of magic and a complex set of political conspiracies to add some flair. And what if the city was built upon the ruins of an earlier city, and the earlier city was built by some enigmatic science fiction creatures that have since disappeared?
And if instead of a handsome, tepid and understated George Clooney in the lead, we had a short guy who can't swordfight a whit, and has a bit of an anger management issue? And he drops unexpected one-liners that make you literally laugh out loud while you're in the breakroom at work and suddenly everyone is looking at you like you're psycho? What if the character went to the Mel Gibson school of Masochism, requiring he gets beat to a bloody pulp and stabbed and drowned in horse urine...oh, I don't know....several times per story arc? How about this character (we'll call him Locke) is absolutely fallible and occasionally screws up on a cosmic level? The kind of screw-up that would get someone less clever killed in mere seconds? And what if, improbably, this protagonist somehow escapes and still--in a manner of speaking--wins?
That sounds like fun. But, it COULD end up a little predictable. So, the author should be a recent graduate of the George R R Martin School of Bumping Off Prominent Characters (Yes, these schools do exist). And the con game Locke is building should hit tons of snags that continue raising the stakes and drawing in new, more dangerous characters, increasing the risk until you just can't stop reading even to put out house fires for the last couple hundred pages. And then, when somehow the Gentlemen Bastards emerge on the other side, coated in their own blood and the blood of others, triumphant, you put the book down and say "Wow."
Furthermore! How about, even though the book is the first book in a ridiculously long series, this hypothetical book is a complete story! (For those of you who read a lot of Very Long Fantasy Serieses, this may be a foreign concept. It may help to wiki the words "climax" and "resolution.") When you finish this one, you aren't forced to keep reading in order to find out how the conflict is resolved. You actually know. That sounds pretty cool.
Well, it is cool. It is witty, profane, violent, over the top, and frequently hilarious. I can't believe this is Scott Lynch's first novel, and I can't wait to read more. This is an incredibly fun adventure novel. Find yourself a copy and read it.
And if instead of a handsome, tepid and understated George Clooney in the lead, we had a short guy who can't swordfight a whit, and has a bit of an anger management issue? And he drops unexpected one-liners that make you literally laugh out loud while you're in the breakroom at work and suddenly everyone is looking at you like you're psycho? What if the character went to the Mel Gibson school of Masochism, requiring he gets beat to a bloody pulp and stabbed and drowned in horse urine...oh, I don't know....several times per story arc? How about this character (we'll call him Locke) is absolutely fallible and occasionally screws up on a cosmic level? The kind of screw-up that would get someone less clever killed in mere seconds? And what if, improbably, this protagonist somehow escapes and still--in a manner of speaking--wins?
That sounds like fun. But, it COULD end up a little predictable. So, the author should be a recent graduate of the George R R Martin School of Bumping Off Prominent Characters (Yes, these schools do exist). And the con game Locke is building should hit tons of snags that continue raising the stakes and drawing in new, more dangerous characters, increasing the risk until you just can't stop reading even to put out house fires for the last couple hundred pages. And then, when somehow the Gentlemen Bastards emerge on the other side, coated in their own blood and the blood of others, triumphant, you put the book down and say "Wow."
Furthermore! How about, even though the book is the first book in a ridiculously long series, this hypothetical book is a complete story! (For those of you who read a lot of Very Long Fantasy Serieses, this may be a foreign concept. It may help to wiki the words "climax" and "resolution.") When you finish this one, you aren't forced to keep reading in order to find out how the conflict is resolved. You actually know. That sounds pretty cool.
Well, it is cool. It is witty, profane, violent, over the top, and frequently hilarious. I can't believe this is Scott Lynch's first novel, and I can't wait to read more. This is an incredibly fun adventure novel. Find yourself a copy and read it.
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Reading Progress
January 18, 2010
–
Started Reading
January 18, 2010
– Shelved
January 18, 2010
–
44.09%
"Man, this is a fun book. I'm a third of the way in, and I've already started recommending it to people."
page
220
January 25, 2010
–
Finished Reading
June 10, 2010
– Shelved as:
goodest-reads-2010
March 8, 2013
– Shelved as:
sf-fantasy
June 30, 2014
– Shelved as:
most-popular-reviews
Comments Showing 1-28 of 28 (28 new)
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Yes, that's what I've been hearing. It sounds like Red Seas Under Red Skies has a plethora of things going on I won't be happy with...well, I've stuck with Martin through the first four phone-book sized opuses in his series, and I'm definitely going to continue R Scott Bakker's endless story as well. I suppose I might as well be waiting around for the new books in Lynch's series, too...
Have I mentioned lately that I love reading your reviews? Because they make me laugh out loud at my desk and I'm sure my boss thinks I'm on terribly inappropriate-for-work sites, but no, I'm just on GoodReads.
Ah, you're lucky to be able to access it at work! I think I singlehandedly caused Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to be blocked from every M & I Bank computer. (Well, okay, it was two-handedly. But it was my doing, I'm pretty sure.)Anyway, thanks for the compliments. I do hope the at-work laughter has been conveniently timed, i.e. not while drinking, and hasn't involved anything spraying from your nose. I'd hate to indirectly be the cause of messes in workplaces other than mine.
Hah! This book sounds excellent! I am definitely going to try to procure a copy. I also second the "love reading your reviews" comment. They are almost always the most entertaining thing in my email. Well done!
It's right up your alley, and it might even be worth paying full paperback price for (!!!!!!) if it doesn't show up in your place of business in the near future. By the way, I tracked down a copy of "City of Saints and Madmen," and I'm very intrigued just from flipping through it. I'll tell you how it goes.
i really want to read this one. bummed to hear the dude is depressed but i'll still give the first one a try. i'll only get frantic about what happens next if it's really good, so i have to give him a chance.also fantasy series are all too long anyway. i think i could deal with only having two or three more 600 pages books to never read.
Michael wrote: "I think I singlehandedly caused Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to be blocked from every M & I Bank computer. (Well, okay, it was two-handedly. But it was my doing, I'm pretty sure.)"this is my great fear, ever since i got the av club blocked in 2007.
Yeah, I feel the same way. Some other serieses I've thought about reading keep getting put off because I know it will take FOREVER to get through the series. The Malazan Book of the Fallen is the biggest one, which sounds really fun, but is ten cinder-blocks long. But this book is definitely a fun read. I think you'd dig it. Like ASOIAF, it's the journey, not the destination.
Michael wrote: "The Malazan Book of the Fallen is the biggest one, which sounds really fun, but is ten cinder-blocks long."they are also big freaking cinder blocks. i just cannot imagine ever reading 10 books with an average length of 1100 (or more!) pages in one series. that's 20 percent of the pages i read all of last year! i can't mainline stuff like that. even trilogies are annoying (i liked Mistborn: The Final Empire but DO i need to know what happens next when i could read something new instead?).
i think this means i am not the ideal fantasy reader.
Me neither. I've never made it through anything longer than a trilogy...wait, I guess I made it through Harry Potter. But I wasn't nearly as into it as everyone else. Of course, it's different when each book is an independent story like the Potter books. But, if a series goes on long enough, it's basically a soap opera, right?
yeah, which is why i was reluctant to stat ASOIAF. but my brother kept telling me how good it was so i caved and ended up liking the first one a lot. what i am looking for now are books that start series but work as standalones, so i can decide if i like them without feeling like i have wasted my time if i don't want to continue after number one.
i mean, i'm not really against soap operas but i can only take so much. everything i have read about malazan is half-intriguing and half-maddening -- it sounds like it gets really good, but the first one won't make sense, you will have to go back and re-read the first books after you have read the later ones. or i could... not.
i've heard such good things about this! but will wait until you review #2, i think....Honestly, the first one has a pretty definitive ending, so I haven't been in a hurry to start number 2. Hopefully this Summer I'll be able to work it into my reading schedule. Until then, I'm pretty much booked..haha.
How about, even though the book is the first book in a ridiculously long series,....Yaaayyyyy!! This first book was funfunfun! I hope Sabetha will be more than mentioned in the next one, even if the 2nd book isn't as good as the 1st. Thanks for bringing it to my radar!
Sabetha doesn't show up in the second book, but it sounds like she plays a very prominent role in the third book. Can't wait--I'm eager to reread the first two as well.
Spoiler alert! :o)Well, bummer.
I just didn't want you to read the entire thing expecting her to pop out and stab someone, because then you would be disappointed. And you would miss all the other awesome stuff.
I am prepared now. Thank you! I'll have to settle for everyone else stabbing everyone else.
*This* is the synopsis that this book needs. The default synopsis on GR (which was apparently lifted from B&N) is terrible! I never would have matched that summary to this review.
One of the best book reviews I've ever read. It's part of the reason I got so hooked on the book. Thank you. Absolutely one of the best reads ever.
Thank you! I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought the review was funny :)
I couldn't have written a better review myself. You put it so eloquently and I agree with every word.
You nailed that review fella.
Excellent review, Michael! If I wasn't already deeply engrossed in this book, I would definitely pick it up now. Also, I had a good laugh whilst reading your words. Good day, friend! Oh, one more thing, what are you reading these days? I see it has been nearly 7 years since you wrote this review. In that amount of time I know you have be one a father, congratulatory again on you boys! I know the wonder and joy of being a mom. The best thing in this universe and probably any universe. Peace!
P!ease excuse the obvious glaring grammatical and construction issues with my previous statement.
Thanks for the awesome review.
So I'm about to start this book and I keep reading how good it is and I keep seeing it called, "Fantasy", but I keep not reading anything fantastical (in the way of magic or strange creatures, etc.) about it. Is it fantasy? What is fantastical about it? (Without giving g too much away).
You may not be too pleased about Red Seas Under Red Skies...