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Locke and Sabetha, Sitting in a Tree
Mar. 11th, 2015 12:38 amJune 2014
The Republic of Thieves - Scott Lynch - Gollancz, 2013
* * *
I have only just realised the extraordinary similarity of the two main characters of this series, Jean and Locke, to Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, the protagonists of Fritz Leiber's seminal Lankhmar stories that kicked off the whole swords and sorcery sub-genre. Both feature a pair of rogues, one big, solid and dependable, the other small, weak and quick-witted. Both involve capers set in worlds with overpowered magic. Both are largely urban in nature, with very little feel for life in the country outside.
The comparison hadn't struck me before because of one significant difference, which was the agency of the heroes. In the Lankhmar books, the protagonists have wizardly patrons, Ningauble of the Seven Eyes and Sheelba of the Eyeless Face, who often send them on quests, whereas in the first two Gentleman Bastard books, Jean and Locke are free agents who set up their scams for reasons of their own. But not this time. Due to complications occurring at the end of Red Sea under Red Skies, Locke and Jean find themselves working for a Bondsmagus called Patience to rig an election in Karthain. An original and entertaining idea to be sure, but the lack of agency is a problem.
( Read more... )
The Republic of Thieves - Scott Lynch - Gollancz, 2013
* * *
I have only just realised the extraordinary similarity of the two main characters of this series, Jean and Locke, to Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, the protagonists of Fritz Leiber's seminal Lankhmar stories that kicked off the whole swords and sorcery sub-genre. Both feature a pair of rogues, one big, solid and dependable, the other small, weak and quick-witted. Both involve capers set in worlds with overpowered magic. Both are largely urban in nature, with very little feel for life in the country outside.
The comparison hadn't struck me before because of one significant difference, which was the agency of the heroes. In the Lankhmar books, the protagonists have wizardly patrons, Ningauble of the Seven Eyes and Sheelba of the Eyeless Face, who often send them on quests, whereas in the first two Gentleman Bastard books, Jean and Locke are free agents who set up their scams for reasons of their own. But not this time. Due to complications occurring at the end of Red Sea under Red Skies, Locke and Jean find themselves working for a Bondsmagus called Patience to rig an election in Karthain. An original and entertaining idea to be sure, but the lack of agency is a problem.
( Read more... )
