DW: Some Desperado By Joe Abercrombie

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Discuss the story Some Desperado by Joe Abercrombie.

No spoiler tags required. Though it would be highly appreciated if you Uncheck Add to my Update Feed to avoid accidentally spoiling this for your good read friends.

Please do not discuss other stories in this thread.

[Geoff]

I liked this story but was wondering which (if any) of Abercrombie's novels is most closely related to this story? (i.e. does this character show up in one of his novels?)

[Andreas]

Geoff wrote: "I liked this story but was wondering which (if any) of Abercrombie's novels is most closely related to this story? (i.e. does this character show up in one of his novels?)"

As I understand it, the story is a kind of prequel to Red Country and it introduces the protagonist Shy South.

[Geoff]

Alex wrote: "Geoff, which—if any—Abercrombie novels have you read so far?"

I read The Blade Itself and thought it was good with some interesting characters. I gave up on Before They Are Hanged about halfway through because I felt that it was getting slow and wasn't really building off the first book.

I've been waiting for a new world from Abercrombie but have been tempted by his standalone novels (although I know they are still in the same world, to a degree)

[Lee]

This story was my introduction to Abercrombie. Not sure what I thought of it to be honest. I enjoyed the writing style. I liked the bare violence of it. It wasn't too wordy but still managed to tell a complete story with only a few pages. But I didn't care for the pseudo western theme. With few exceptions, very few, its a genre I typically don't like. And I didn't like Shy herself. Not even a little. I'm not sure why. I typically like villains, outlaws, and rogues. But I didn't care for her at all. I'll give the author another try though, I want to read the First Law series.

[Dara]

Good story. I haven't read Red Country yet but I do plan on reading Abercrombie's stand alone novels.

It's been a while since I finished the First Law trilogy and I forgot how Abercrombie likes to pile hardship and misfortune onto his characters. I kind of liked Shy but in such a short amount of time it's hard to really get into a character.

[Sky]

I liked the story, although I do find Abercrombie's trademark character development tactic (having them shout profanities every now and then for no particular reason) to be borderline hilarious.

[Bill]

Enjoyed this story pretty typical of Abercrombie. I have read the series and the first two stand alones and enjoyed the stand alones much more. Good timing on this as I plan on reading Red Country this month.

[Andreas]

You don't need to know anything from Abercrombie's other works to enjoy the story. Just don't expect too much from it - there is no extraposition, no real background story, no brain food. Just plain action and you get a feeling for that bad girl.
Quite short story, nothing extraordinary.

I'll give it 2.5 stars rounded up. Joe, you could have stretched for a higher bar here!

[Mark]

Good combats scenes,

[Suzanne]

I'm glad I read Red Country first - although certainly that book isn't required for the story and there are no spoilers in the story for the book. Alex is right, the western theme is only in Red Country, even though all of the books are set in the same world. I heard an interview from Abercrombie where he said that after his original trilogy, he wanted to explore different styles of writing - so The Heroes is kind of like a war movie, etc.

[Linette]

I find myself rooting for Shy - good to know that she stays alive long enough to make it to a novel later in life.
Good, tight writing, Abercrombie knows how to paint a scene with few words. Love the dark humor in his books. I'm planning to read Best Served Cold soon, but wasn't planning on Red Country - I might now.

[Lee]

If I end up reading Red Country I'll probably reread this story again. It did make me curious to read more. In a small, very small, way it reminded me of King's Dark Tower series, which is a western/fantasy I do like.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

I'm glad to see Shy is in one of his novels. I enjoyed this one.