Glokta was a unique character in that I haven't seen anyone quite like him before.

What did you think of this rather different character?

Much of the story is told with Glokta as the main Point of View character. Did this affect or distort your impressions of the setting or other characters?

Would you classify Glokta as an anti-hero? Perhaps even as a villain? Or would you call him a sympathetic character that we can relate to?

Quite often, I found myself chuckling at the italicised thoughts of Glokta that accompanied his chapters. Most often, these were the unspoken thoughts he had while he painted on a smile and said something polite. What were your thoughts on this? Were they distracting or humorous? Did they add to the characterization of Glotka?

I know that he is a far cry from Han Solo, but he has a little of that anti-hero wise cracking charm that I love. I would have to say, hands down, that he is my favorite character of the book and one of my favorites in literature. I like that he is flawed, angry, tempted to do wrong, but still fighting for his own independence and what is generally best. Not to mention, he's funny as hell! I know that many authors identify a part of themselves in many of their characters, and I have to wonder if Joe Abercrombie doesn't see a bit of himself in Glotka.

I love Glokta. He's my favorite character. I could probably read a whole book just about him. Maybe a prequel? I enjoyed his thoughts about things too, his sarcasm. I don't think he's someone who really takes sides. He pretty much does his own thing.

Glokta has become one of my all-time favorite characters, beyond the First Law series. A villain I could sympathize with and grieve for. Reading his point of view chapters riveted me.

I'm not yet sure if I liked or disliked Glokta. I suppose I should read the next First Law books to decide that.
The only thing that I kept thinknig when reading Glokta's chapters was how he reminded me of Tyrion form ASOIAF. Was anyone else thinking that?

BTW, don't you think Glokta is a really annoying name? hard to pronounce.

I really enjoyed the books and I found Glokta an intriguing character who I empathised with. I can't say that liked him but I can understand why he ended up as he did.
And the dark ending of the books sort of prove his world view

Glokta is one of the best literary characters I've ever met. Rarely do you find a character so fully realized. Who he is now is a direct result of his past experiences. I love that you get to see how he began and what led him to being a torturer. I think the juxtaposition of Glokta and West is interesting. West is the man that Glokta might have been in many ways.

Every time they mentioned West, I thought of Major West from Lost in Space.

Chris wrote: "Every time they mentioned West, I thought of Major West from Lost in Space."

I had such a crush on him when I was a little girl. I wanted to be Judy Robinson so I could be his girlfriend.

I've met him a few times. He's doing the convention circuit with his autobiography. I bought a signed copy for my brother-in-law, a big fan of Lost in Space.

Marc wrote: "I've met him a few times. He's doing the convention circuit with his autobiography. I bought a signed copy for my brother-in-law, a big fan of Lost in Space."

Somehow, I don't think meeting him now would fulfill my childhood fantasies. I was watching afternoon repeats of Lost in Space back in the Sixties and early Seventies. If he was 25-30 in 1969, he'd be 65-70 now. It's just not the same. Of course, I'd feel like a perv if I had a crush on a 25 year-old guy now. That's younger than my daughter.