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Loading... Red Seas Under Red Skies (2007)by Scott Lynch
 shanaqui | Apr 9, 2013 |  I loved this book. The wisecracking Locke Lamora puts me in mind of Cap'n Tightpants from Firefly. There's a lot of crackling, witty dialogue in this book, perhaps more so than the first. The plot is incredibly convoluted but internally consistent- one wonders at Lynch's ability to keep so many balls in the air and cards up his sleeve. I see that there are seven books scheduled for this series, and I couldn't be happier. The Gentlemen Bastards are lovable rogues, amoral pirates and almost completely believable. The world-building feels solid, but Lynch is not falling all over himself to explain things, which is a lovely, lovely thing in a new author. (  ) satyridae | Apr 5, 2013 | Still fun, but these poor thieves can't catch a break and keep getting screwed. I've read that the author is suffering from some debilitating depression such that the 3rd book is now 2 years late and counting. It reminds me a little of Barbara Hambly, who had a fantasy series that took a huge nosedive into the horrific when life started giving her a beating. I wonder if Scott Lynch's distress began coming out in his characters with this book? This one starts out more like Ocean's Eleven with a casino heist, but soon there are tyrants and pirates and evil resorts, of course. The plot pinged around like, like, a pinball. Hyperactive? A bit. Attempting to explain thieves' honor can be a tricky thing. We're probably all taught that stealing is bad, whether it's your neighbor's wife or his money? But...this one takes a good stab that ends up carving a clear path all the way from my guts to my brain. I can sorta get behind it, Robin Hood-like and a priestly calling, even. More nods to The Princess Bride! I swear there is an iocaine powder wink at the beginning, and the line, "Do the brute thing!" near the end? "Form a brute squad!!!" There were even more terrific female characters, leaders and villains. I don't think this book passed the Bechdel test, however. ( ) EhEh | Apr 3, 2013 | After reading a Tumblr post Where Lynch responded to a reader's complaints about "political correctness" in this novel, I am intrigued.Why shouldn’t middle-aged mothers get a wish-fulfillment character, you sad little bigot? Everyone else does. H.L. Mencken once wrote that “Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.” I can’t think of anyone to whom that applies more than my own mom, and the mothers on my friends list, with the incredible demands on time and spirit they face in their efforts to raise their kids, preserve their families, and save their own identity/sanity into the bargain. Shit yes, Zamira Drakasha, leaping across the gap between burning ships with twin sabers in hand to kick in some fucking heads and sail off into the sunset with her toddlers in her arms and a hold full of plundered goods, is a wish-fulfillment fantasy from hell. I offer her up on a silver platter with a fucking bow on top; I hope she amuses and delights. In my fictional world, opportunities for butt-kicking do not cease merely because one isn’t a beautiful teenager or a muscle-wrapped font of testosterone. In my fictional universe, the main characters are a fat ugly guy and a skinny forgettable guy, with a supporting cast that includes “SBF, 41, nonsmoker, 2 children, buccaneer of no fixed abode, seeks unescorted merchant for light boarding, heavy plunder.” You don’t like it? Don’t buy my books. Get your own fictional universe. Your cabbage-water vision of worldbuilding bores me to tears. /fans self Ridley_ | Apr 1, 2013 | Well... There's one thing I hope Scott Lynch learns before book 3 comes out. And that is how to write a proper ending. Just as in book 1 Locke and Jean are working a big con and find themselves well over their heads. Everyone and their dog trying to make them do their will and the pair of Bastards spinning their own web throughout it all. It was fun and exciting though a tad bleak at times. The reason again that I only give 4 stars is that it all wraps up so quick. Chapters and chapters of setting it all up then 1 chapter and it's all over. 3 hour movie with a 30 second ending. It's just not right and I really hope the next book doesn't do the same or the stars might drop further. ( ) Shirezu | Mar 31, 2013 | no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0553588958, Mass Market Paperback)In his highly acclaimed debut, The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch took us on an adrenaline-fueled adventure with a band of daring thieves led by con artist extraordinaire Locke Lamora. Now Lynch brings back his outrageous hero for a caper so death-defying, nothing short of a miracle will pull it off.After a brutal battle with the underworld that nearly destroyed him, Locke and his trusted sidekick, Jean, fled the island city of their birth and landed on the exotic shores of Tal Verrar to nurse their wounds. But even at this westernmost edge of civilization, they can’t rest for long—and are soon back to what they do best: stealing from the undeserving rich and pocketing the proceeds for themselves. This time, however, they have targeted the grandest prize of all: the Sinspire, the most exclusive and heavily guarded gambling house in the world. Its nine floors attract the wealthiest clientele—and to rise to the top, one must impress with good credit, amusing behavior…and excruciatingly impeccable play. For there is one cardinal rule, enforced by Requin, the house’s cold-blooded master: it is death to cheat at any game at the Sinspire. Brazenly undeterred, Locke and Jean have orchestrated an elaborate plan to lie, trick, and swindle their way up the nine floors…straight to Requin’s teeming vault. Under the cloak of false identities, they meticulously make their climb—until they are closer to the spoils than ever. But someone in Tal Verrar has uncovered the duo’s secret. Someone from their past who has every intention of making the impudent criminals pay for their sins. Now it will take every ounce of cunning to save their mercenary souls. And even that may not be enough.… From the Hardcover edition. (retrieved from Amazon Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:48:29 -0500) "After a brutal battle with the underworld that nearly destroyed him, Locke and his trusted sidekick, Jean, fled the island city of their birth and landed on the exotic shores of Tal Verrar to nurse their wounds. But even at this westernmost edge of civilization, they can't rest for long - and are soon back to what they do best: stealing from the undeserving rich and pocketing the proceeds for themselves." "This time, however, they have targeted the grandest prize of all: the Sinspire, the most exclusive and heavily guarded gambling house in the world. Its nine floors attract the wealthiest clientele - and to rise to the top, one must impress with good credit, amusing behavior ... and excruciatingly impeccable play. For there is one cardinal rule, enforced by Requin, the house's cold-blooded master: it is death to cheat at any game at the Sinspire." "Brazenly undeterred, Locke and Jean have orchestrated an elaborate plan to lie, trick, and swindle their way up the nine floors straight to Requin's teeming vault. Under the cloak of false identities, they meticulously make their climb - until they are closer to the spoils than ever." "But someone in Tal Verrar has uncovered the duo's secret. Someone from their past who has every intention of making the impudent criminals pay for their sins. Now it will take every ounce of cunning to save their mercenary souls. And even that may not be enough."--BOOK JACKET.… (more) |
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Locke is still clever and brilliant and yet flawed, the kind of character you can love and want to hit at the same time. And Jean is just glorious -- not so brilliant as Locke, most of the time, but so loyal and patient that I almost love him more. It's amazing how attached I am to these guys after just two books. Locke's got onto my list of top five characters I empathise with painfully much, even! I got pretty fond of some of the more minor characters in this book, again, too.
In terms of the plot, I'm still waiting for the big clever plot that draws all of the amazing world-building detail together and makes use of it, but I'm sincerely hoping it'll show up soon. For this book, the plot is pretty fun, although in some senses it's the same thing over again: the Gentlemen Bastards get fucked over again by some bigwig while also trying to run a scheme of their own. Seeing Locke and Jean on the high scenes is fun, and the people they meet are genuinely intriguing and worth caring about.
And the end, the very last few pages, are a total kick in the metaphorical balls. Oh, god.
Next book now please? (