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Fantasy. Fiction. HTML:They say Black Dow's killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbor, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they've brought a lot of sharpened metal with show more them.THE HEROES
For glory, for victory, for staying alive. show less
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Joe Abercrombie does it again.
This book is presented as a stand-alone novel, and strictly speaking, one doesn't need to have read Abercrombie's prior First Law trilogy, set in the same world. But there's just so much cross-over in plot lines and characters that too much would be missing. Having spent the prior trilogy with Black Dow also informs greatly on his character in this book.
Abercrombie's greatest strength is his ability to tell his stories through a variety of POVs. Much like his excellent short story "Tough Times All Over," in which the POVs shift over a dozen times over the course of the story as ownership of a mysterious package changes hands, Abercrombie experiments with shifting POVs to great effect. In one chapter, the show more POV shifts from one person to his killer, then to that man's killer, and so on. In another, the POV switches along with a message being passed along a chain of command.
Unlike Abercrombie's other books, the timeline in this one is brutally short. Besides the battle, which takes three days to fight out, we see the day before and the day or two after. Five or so days in total. A lot happens in those few days. The maps, which update every day with new information on the different armies' positions, is extremely useful, and I'm glad to see Abercrombie using maps.
This book is populated with many colorful, weird, and wonderful individuals (including a person whose name is literally Wonderful), and we feel sympathy and contempt for individuals on both sides of the battle. Abercrombie drives home the message that war is chaos and hell.
That being said, the book is not without complaints. The characters are extraordinarily interested in the concept of heroes. They discuss heroism to great length, often rehashing the same arguments. The battle also takes place on a hill known as the Heroes. I get it, Abercrombie. Your book is called The Heroes. It takes place at the Heroes, and everyone on both sides of the battle discusses what makes a hero and if they really exist. You wrote a book about heroes. Now stop beating us over the head with it.
In addition, there are very few female characters. One of our many, many, many POV characters is a woman. Other than that, there are two wives, one of whom appears briefly at the beginning and at the end, and a female warrior (the aforementioned Wonderful). This is a book with a cast of dozens. Four female characters? Really? Abercrombie does much better with female representation in Red Country. To be fair, Abercrombie is better with his female characters in this book than he was in The First Law trilogy, but I want Red Country-levels, not a piecemeal offering.
This is a truly excellent book. I have a few quibbles, but it's a fun, exciting read and it's hard to put down. show less
This book is presented as a stand-alone novel, and strictly speaking, one doesn't need to have read Abercrombie's prior First Law trilogy, set in the same world. But there's just so much cross-over in plot lines and characters that too much would be missing. Having spent the prior trilogy with Black Dow also informs greatly on his character in this book.
Abercrombie's greatest strength is his ability to tell his stories through a variety of POVs. Much like his excellent short story "Tough Times All Over," in which the POVs shift over a dozen times over the course of the story as ownership of a mysterious package changes hands, Abercrombie experiments with shifting POVs to great effect. In one chapter, the show more POV shifts from one person to his killer, then to that man's killer, and so on. In another, the POV switches along with a message being passed along a chain of command.
Unlike Abercrombie's other books, the timeline in this one is brutally short. Besides the battle, which takes three days to fight out, we see the day before and the day or two after. Five or so days in total. A lot happens in those few days. The maps, which update every day with new information on the different armies' positions, is extremely useful, and I'm glad to see Abercrombie using maps.
This book is populated with many colorful, weird, and wonderful individuals (including a person whose name is literally Wonderful), and we feel sympathy and contempt for individuals on both sides of the battle. Abercrombie drives home the message that war is chaos and hell.
That being said, the book is not without complaints. The characters are extraordinarily interested in the concept of heroes. They discuss heroism to great length, often rehashing the same arguments. The battle also takes place on a hill known as the Heroes. I get it, Abercrombie. Your book is called The Heroes. It takes place at the Heroes, and everyone on both sides of the battle discusses what makes a hero and if they really exist. You wrote a book about heroes. Now stop beating us over the head with it.
In addition, there are very few female characters. One of our many, many, many POV characters is a woman. Other than that, there are two wives, one of whom appears briefly at the beginning and at the end, and a female warrior (the aforementioned Wonderful). This is a book with a cast of dozens. Four female characters? Really? Abercrombie does much better with female representation in Red Country. To be fair, Abercrombie is better with his female characters in this book than he was in The First Law trilogy, but I want Red Country-levels, not a piecemeal offering.
This is a truly excellent book. I have a few quibbles, but it's a fun, exciting read and it's hard to put down. show less
Although it's a big tough book about a big tough battle that's, if not exactly pointless, certainly difficult for all but a few to fathom, The Heroes is actually slightly less cynical than the First Law Trilogy and somewhat less unpleasant than Best Served Cold, which I found unbearably horrible, albeit in that way that only extremely good books can be. Having said that, being slightly less cynical and somewhat less unpleasant in the ouevre of Joe Abercrombie leaves ample scope for both.
The Heroes paints a denser picture on a smaller canvas. The Southern Union has marched North, trying to engage Black Dow. Now he finally turns and fights in the Valley of Osrung, and the next three days will determine the fate of... well, mostly it will show more the determine the fates of the people who spend the next three days fighting each other. A range of characters on both sides prepare for the fight in assorted different ways. The book describes the build-up, the fight, and then the aftermath, a classic fantasy battle put through the modern wringer, removing all broader notions of right and wrong, heroism and villainy, bravery and cowardice and replacing it with something messy and complicated and sad. Because this book really does have more of a heart than Abercrombie's others. many of the characters are quite relatable, if not always admirable, and the amazing thing is after all the horror and the slaughter, he rounds up a few endings that are moving and perhaps even happy.
The weakest part of the book is mostly the sections with Bremer Dan Gorst, an otherwise brilliant and interesting character who, like the torturer Gorka(?) in the First Law books intersperses every conversation, observation or even personal narration with cynical thoughts made even cynicaler by being put in italics. It was overdone in The First Law and it was overdone a bit here, like having a director's commentary running that does nothing but state the bleedin' obvious.
Anyway, Abercrombie is the perfect writer for fantasy fans who like violence and dramatic irony. The Heroes is also tightly plotted, exciting, and self-contained, for those sick of waiting for the next volume of Song Of Whateverit'scalledagain, though it does use minor and even major characters from the other books. It's not exactly All Quiet On The Northern Front, but it's definitely nodding in that direction, a fun It's Grim Fighting Up North novel, that manages to not be as utterly irredeemably grim as it could be. show less
The Heroes paints a denser picture on a smaller canvas. The Southern Union has marched North, trying to engage Black Dow. Now he finally turns and fights in the Valley of Osrung, and the next three days will determine the fate of... well, mostly it will show more the determine the fates of the people who spend the next three days fighting each other. A range of characters on both sides prepare for the fight in assorted different ways. The book describes the build-up, the fight, and then the aftermath, a classic fantasy battle put through the modern wringer, removing all broader notions of right and wrong, heroism and villainy, bravery and cowardice and replacing it with something messy and complicated and sad. Because this book really does have more of a heart than Abercrombie's others. many of the characters are quite relatable, if not always admirable, and the amazing thing is after all the horror and the slaughter, he rounds up a few endings that are moving and perhaps even happy.
The weakest part of the book is mostly the sections with Bremer Dan Gorst, an otherwise brilliant and interesting character who, like the torturer Gorka(?) in the First Law books intersperses every conversation, observation or even personal narration with cynical thoughts made even cynicaler by being put in italics. It was overdone in The First Law and it was overdone a bit here, like having a director's commentary running that does nothing but state the bleedin' obvious.
Anyway, Abercrombie is the perfect writer for fantasy fans who like violence and dramatic irony. The Heroes is also tightly plotted, exciting, and self-contained, for those sick of waiting for the next volume of Song Of Whateverit'scalledagain, though it does use minor and even major characters from the other books. It's not exactly All Quiet On The Northern Front, but it's definitely nodding in that direction, a fun It's Grim Fighting Up North novel, that manages to not be as utterly irredeemably grim as it could be. show less
Joe Abercrombie es uno de los abanderados de esta nueva fantasía que surgió con George R.R. Martin, heroica, oscura y realista, como nunca se había visto hasta entonces. El talento de Abercrombie crece con cada novela que escribe. Lo demostró con sus tres primeras novelas, que forman la trilogía de La Primera Ley, y continuó con ‘La mejor venganza’, que tal vez no alcanzó mis expectativas, pero que aun así supera en calidad a muchas de las fantasías que se escriben actualmente. Y después escribió ’Los Héroes’, donde Abercrombie vuelve por sus fueros, una novela épica desde cualquier punto de vista, que nos narra los tres días de una brutal batalla.
’Los Héroes’ transcurre en el mismo mundo que las anteriores show more novelas escritas por Abercrombie, y si bien puede leerse de manera independiente, sería aconsejable haberlas leído para poder disfrutarlas plenamente. En ’Los Héroes’ no hay buenos ni malos, están todos entremezclados, cada uno en un bando, listos para la batalla que se avecina. Tenemos por un lado a la Unión, comandados por el Lord Mariscal Kroy, y por el otro a los hombres del Norte, liderados por Dow el Negro, todos ellos congregados en el Valle de Osrung, cuyo centro lleva por nombre Los Heróes, un círculo de piedras conmemorativo y un magnífico punto estratégico. Nos encontramos ante una novela coral, con gran cantidad de personajes con voz propia, pero donde destacan sobre todo el coronel Bremer dan Gorst, caído en desgracia, el guerrero norteño Curnden Craw, hombre de honor, o el cabo Tunny, siempre escaqueándose de sus responsabilidades.
Esta es una historia antibelicista, a pesar de la crudeza con la que se describen las escenas (algunas de las cuáles parece que estén escritas “con cámara al hombro”, al igual que en esa primera parte de ‘Salvar al soldado Ryan’, de Spielberg). Es una reflexión en toda regla de lo que significan las guerras y todo lo que conllevan. Unos luchan por el honor, otros por convertirse en héroes, otros por el gusto por la masacre, pero la gran mayoría lucha porque no tienen otra cosa o por miedo a la cobardía, en una batalla que va careciendo de sentido por momentos. Se trata de una novela compleja, elaborada, donde la habilidad de Abercrombie más que sorprender, se ratifica. show less
’Los Héroes’ transcurre en el mismo mundo que las anteriores show more novelas escritas por Abercrombie, y si bien puede leerse de manera independiente, sería aconsejable haberlas leído para poder disfrutarlas plenamente. En ’Los Héroes’ no hay buenos ni malos, están todos entremezclados, cada uno en un bando, listos para la batalla que se avecina. Tenemos por un lado a la Unión, comandados por el Lord Mariscal Kroy, y por el otro a los hombres del Norte, liderados por Dow el Negro, todos ellos congregados en el Valle de Osrung, cuyo centro lleva por nombre Los Heróes, un círculo de piedras conmemorativo y un magnífico punto estratégico. Nos encontramos ante una novela coral, con gran cantidad de personajes con voz propia, pero donde destacan sobre todo el coronel Bremer dan Gorst, caído en desgracia, el guerrero norteño Curnden Craw, hombre de honor, o el cabo Tunny, siempre escaqueándose de sus responsabilidades.
Esta es una historia antibelicista, a pesar de la crudeza con la que se describen las escenas (algunas de las cuáles parece que estén escritas “con cámara al hombro”, al igual que en esa primera parte de ‘Salvar al soldado Ryan’, de Spielberg). Es una reflexión en toda regla de lo que significan las guerras y todo lo que conllevan. Unos luchan por el honor, otros por convertirse en héroes, otros por el gusto por la masacre, pero la gran mayoría lucha porque no tienen otra cosa o por miedo a la cobardía, en una batalla que va careciendo de sentido por momentos. Se trata de una novela compleja, elaborada, donde la habilidad de Abercrombie más que sorprender, se ratifica. show less
The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie is an amazing feat of storytelling. Although classed as a fantasy, this tremendously thick book is really a story about war. Covering the four days of one military encounter, the ebb and flow of battle is detailed as each side engages the other in a struggle for control of a particular valley. This is all out war fought with swords, spears and axes. A southern ‘civilized’ country of armour, flags and horses against the ragged, brutal northmen who live to fight in combat.
They are all caught among these pages, the brave, the foolhardy, the cowards. Those that act first and think later and those that plan their every move. From leaders to followers, this is a vivid description of those who go to war and show more what happens when they do. I was totally caught up in the ambitious plots and daring escapades as bone-weary warriors who have forgotten why they are fighting, surviving each encounter is all they ask for.
For those who have read other Joe Abercrombie books you will recognize a number of familiar characters who show up to battle each other and interestingly enough old friends are now enemies and old enemies are now friends as sides are chosen. Written in his morbid, grim, nourish style and full of the blackest of humor, The Heroes was simply an excellent read. show less
They are all caught among these pages, the brave, the foolhardy, the cowards. Those that act first and think later and those that plan their every move. From leaders to followers, this is a vivid description of those who go to war and show more what happens when they do. I was totally caught up in the ambitious plots and daring escapades as bone-weary warriors who have forgotten why they are fighting, surviving each encounter is all they ask for.
For those who have read other Joe Abercrombie books you will recognize a number of familiar characters who show up to battle each other and interestingly enough old friends are now enemies and old enemies are now friends as sides are chosen. Written in his morbid, grim, nourish style and full of the blackest of humor, The Heroes was simply an excellent read. show less
One of my favorite books - if not number one even. I didn't love it my first time through, probably because it has a vast assortment of characters to follow, many of which are new in the series. Especially on my second read-through though, this book really clicked. The depiction of war is phenomenal. It is heavy on the philosophical implications of the three day long battle at the titular hill, which is only of significance because that is where the two sides decided to fight, but it is not too preachy. There is plenty of battle to enjoy, from the dynamic chapter that bounces freely between minor characters and their fates, to the chance meeting of Gorst vs Whirrun. The ending really suits the book well - unexpected, but in a way that show more shows the growth of some characters (never would have thought that I'd like Calder of all people) and the intentional stagnancy of others (Gorst, the perpetual incel). show less
A three-day battle between the savages of the North and the civilized men of the Union. Love love love the dual perspective of carnage, ineptitude, and opportunism. Them borders ain't going to redraw themselves, however. This is exactly how I view war.
"He didn't much care for charging unsupported into an empty mass of barley himself, especially since a good part of the regiment was still clogged up in the shambles of men and equipment on the bad roads south of the river. But an officer has his duty. The battle field was no place for independent thought and perhaps his superiors simply knew better than he did. Alas, experience did not support that conclusion."
"He didn't much care for charging unsupported into an empty mass of barley himself, especially since a good part of the regiment was still clogged up in the shambles of men and equipment on the bad roads south of the river. But an officer has his duty. The battle field was no place for independent thought and perhaps his superiors simply knew better than he did. Alas, experience did not support that conclusion."
This was a lot of fun and you get the feeling that Joe Abercrombie was also having fun as he wrote it. He doesn't need a traditional epic story. Here you just get the story of a two-days battle between the Union's army and the Northmen. We follow characters from both sides of the conflict and we marvel at how harsh, violent and ultimately pointless it is. There are acts of cruelty and generosity, of cowardice and heroism on both sides. It's epic, but do not expect to feel uplifted at the epicness of it all. This is 100% grimdark. You will not feel like imagining yourself in a heroic role there. You will feel like never getting anywhere near a war. And in spite of how depressing that sounds, Abercrombie manages to make it fun and show more entertaining. He does that through a sense of hyperbole and a certain fondness for his very flawed characters. All his usual tropes are here, and you do not mind because they are used well. Very well-worth a read. show less
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Author Information
89+ Works 40,405 Members
Joe Abercrombie is a freelance film editor, working mostly on documentaries and live music events. He lives and works in London. The First Law is his debut series. He won a Locus Award 2015 for science-fiction in the Young Adult Book Category with his title Half a King. (Bowker Author Biography)
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Series
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- Canonical title
- The Heroes
- Original title
- The Heroes
- Original publication date
- 2011-01-27
- People/Characters
- Colonel Bremer dan Gorst; Curnden Craw; Calder; Black Dow; Caul Shivers; Bayaz (show all 31); Lord Marshal Kroy; General Jalenhorm; Colonel Vallimir; Corporal Tunny; Colonel Wetterlant; General Mitterick; Lord Governor Meed; Colonel Harod dan Brock; Finree dan Brock; Colonel Brint; Aliz Brint; The Dogman; Ishri; Wonderful; Whirrun of Bligh; Jolly Yon Cumber; Pale-As-Snow; White-Eye Hansul; Scale; Caul Reachey; Red Beck; Glama Golden; Cairm Ironhead; Brodd Tenways; Stranger-Come-Knocking
- Important places
- The Valley of Osrung; Osrung
- Epigraph
- Unhappy the land that is in need of heroes. - Bertolt Brecht
A rational army would run away. - Montesquieu
You can't say that civilization don't advance, however, for in every war they kill you in a new way. - Will Rogers
I'm not sure how much violence and butchery the readers will stand. - Robert E. Howard
You never have to wait long, or look far, to be reminded of how thin the line is between being a hero or a goat. - Mickey Mantle. - Dedication
- For Eve
One day you will read this
And say, 'Dad, why all the swords?'
For Eve. One day you will read this and say, 'Dad, why all the swords?' - First words
- 'Too old for this shit,' muttered Craw, wincing at the pain in his dodgy knee with every other step.
'Too old for this shit,' muttered Craw, wincing at the pain in his dodgy knee with every other step. High time he retired. Long past high time. Sat on the porch behind his house with a pipe, smiling at the water as the sun sa... (show all)nk down, a day's honest work behind him. Not that he had a house. But when he got one, it'd be a good one. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)'Hardbread! Wait up!'
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)'Ah, shit,' he muttered, and he grabbed his sword-belt and his coat, threw 'em over his shoulder and strode out, slapping the door shut. Didn’t even bother to lock it behind him.
'Hardbread! Wait up!' - Original language
- English
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