From the Bookshelf of The Alternative Worlds…

The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)

Scott Lynch

Start date: October 1, 2009

Finish date: October 31, 2009

Why we're reading this: Elijah: Man oh MAN did I love this book. My review is all simpering compliments and grandiose appraisals.…more
[close] Elijah: Man oh MAN did I love this book. My review is all simpering compliments and grandiose appraisals. No, seriously, I read this just recently (already reading the sequel) and it immediately jumped up into the realm shared by my few all-time favorites. It was funny, exciting, satisfying, smart, suspenseful, and all in a beautifully crafted world. Also, all the characters curse really, really well. I don't expect everyone to love it the way I did, but I'm curious as to others' opinions.

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Jun 12, 2012 Daniel Roy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sf, fantasy

What a fun, exciting, bloody ride this book turned out to be. It's the perfect antidote to the dark, somber fantasy settings where people only crack a smile when it's vicious and fake. This is a fantasy setting with characters who know how to have a good time.

The idea of transposing a con artist into a fantasy setting is a simple and original one, and Lynch pulls it off pretty well. Locke Lamora and the Gentleman Bastards come across as conniving, clever, and sly. It's fun to watch them scheme t What a fun, exciting, bloody ride this book turned out to be. It's the perfect antidote to the dark, somber fantasy settings where people only crack a smile when it's vicious and fake. This is a fantasy setting with characters who know how to have a good time.

The idea of transposing a con artist into a fantasy setting is a simple and original one, and Lynch pulls it off pretty well. Locke Lamora and the Gentleman Bastards come across as conniving, clever, and sly. It's fun to watch them scheme to con a rich man out of his gold, moreso because they have fun doing it. Locke Lamora is a sympathetic character because of how happy he is in general, and because of how deeply he cares for his gang members.

The friendship between the Gentleman Bastards is what truly makes this book stand out. It shines off the pages, and the banter between old friends is funny and authentic. The way they worry for each other, and care for one another, gives a genuine emotional core to a story about duplicity and lies. It's a pleasure to watch evolve, and when this friendship is threatened, the result is a nail biting tale that engages the reader fully.

Another way in which The Lies of Locke Lamora breaks with tradition is in the manner it portrays its more clever characters. Locke Lamora himself is infinitely clever, but he makes mistakes, sometimes grievous ones. The same is true of both his allies and his enemies: they are smart, but not perfect geniuses with the prescience of the writer behind their every thought. This made the tale messier, in a positive way. Story con artists always seem to execute their plans like clockwork; but in so doing their tale trades dramatic tension and emotional resonance for the smoothness and emotional distance of a Rube Goldberg machine. Here, Lynch's choice of making even the smarter characters imperfect pays off in drama and emotion.

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Overall, the fantasy setting is serviceable, if perhaps not that striking. But it's the characters that shine, especially Locke and his gang. They make me want to read the sequel, that's for sure. ...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Ryandake rated it really liked it

most excellent popcorn book! it's not High Litrachaa, but it is a very fun read. i do plan to read the sequel. ...more

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Mar 10, 2014 Kurt rated it it was ok · review of another edition

You will probably like this book more than me. I think it is overrated the way a witty, rambunctious, ambitious first novel is when it arrives on the scene all fresh and panting like a puppy that just ran across the yard for the first time.

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