Joe Abercrombie, the Bloody-Nine, and Me

Joe Abercrombie, The Bloody-Nine, and Me

By Doug M. on Feb 11, 2011 | In General | 17 comments »

Ok, here's the gist of my relationship with Joe Abercrombie's stuff so far: I love, love, love - fucking - love the Bloody Nine! I really like Glokta and a few of the Named Men from the North. Everybody else? Big, fat sack of not bad.

Since the end of the original trilogy, I've been waiting for the triumphant return of Logen Ninefingers. Joe has been counting on that fact for two books now. It's going to happen eventually, readers know it, Joe knows it, but apparently he's going to write a few stand-alone (thanks for that!) novels that will sell very, very well because like me... EVERY-FUCKING-BODY wants to read about the Bloody Nine and aren't willing to take the chance on skipping the book that he shows up in - doing his best Snake Plissken impression.

"Say one thing for Joe Abercrombie, say he's an unabashed Logen tease."

My guess is we'll have to suffer through one more "pretty darn OK, but not quite stellar" novel and then he'll start a new series in which Logen Ninefingers casually slides into a scene, looks around and waits for the obligatory; "Logen Ninefingers?? I thought you returned to the mud!"

I know I won't miss that moment. How about you?

Tags: fantasy, joe abercrombie, wtf

17 comments

Comment by: Rob

I was devatsated when logennwas not in thenlatest book, the heroes, and even less impressed with the ideanhe might have been killed. So am very mch waiting for his triumphant return

03/01/11 @ 11:02

Comment by: Doug M.

You and me both, Rob!

To be perfectly honest, I'd be OK if Logen was over and done... as long as the First Law world was over and done, too. Having that entire series end just like it started would have a certain respectable symmetry to it.

But that's not what's going on. Abercrombie's using the Bloody Nine's "limbo status" to sell more books. Because let's face it Logen Ninefingers = The First Law world. It's as simple as that.

Guess how many times Logen Ninefingers was mentioned by name or by title in The Heroes?

Sixty-two times!

That's not something you do with a "finished off" character.

Which leads me to believe that he knows where his meat and potatoes comes from... he's just seeing how many appetizers he can sell before getting back to the main course. And that's a dicey game -- you never know when people will get fed up.

03/01/11 @ 12:22

Comment by: Boian

I like bloody nine very much.He's peaceful,intelligent and not looking for fights.But on the other side is his dark side where he's on berserk.I'd preaty much like to think i can (NOT WILL) do that too.

03/11/11 @ 18:10

Comment by: gah!

I read The Heroes in about two days, all the time itching for a return of the Bloody Nine, mr Abercrombie is the biggest tease in the world and I love it.

I really enjoyed The Heroes nonetheless, even though I think Abercrombie has a way of loose ends, and not explaining everything which is both refreshing and annoying.

You have to be realistic though, like above poster wrote, you dont mention a character 62 times for nothing...

03/16/11 @ 09:49

Comment by: Doug M.

Abercrombie has a way of loose ends, and not explaining everything which is both refreshing and annoying.

Oh, absolutely! Refreshingly annoying or annoyingly refreshing is a perfect way to put it.

He has to be loving the effect that the Bloody Nine has had on readers.

03/16/11 @ 10:35

Comment by: Graeme mundie

Yes logen ninefingers aka the bloody nine is one of the greatest characters ever to be put to paper and yes all abercrombie fans count the days til his return but come on, Joe spins a pretty good yarn none the less. My only fault with Joe abercrombie is that he has set the bar too high now. Everything that I read now leaves me thinking 'it was good but it's no Joe abercrombie'. Roll on the next one Joe, we are all waiting.

05/29/11 @ 20:09

Comment by: Michael

Am I alone in thinking thar Red-Hat is the Bloody Nine, he is named in the list of characters yet appears only fleetingly when the dogmans carls clear the orchard in Onwards and Upwards. In that section of the book every other line refers to the bloody nine. Have I got that seriously wrong.

06/19/11 @ 11:54

Comment by: Shaun

Redhat is also in the last argument of kings Michael so yeah, unfortunately you have that wrong.

06/23/11 @ 05:08

Comment by: Darren

I'm like a Bloody Nine junkie. I'm not sure I can stand the waiting anymore! He's gonna be back soon. You have to be realistic about these things...

09/26/11 @ 18:47

Comment by: Darren

I've started up a Facebook group, aimed at spreading the word of this great character, to try and determine the source of his power, and to promote his return to Joe's books ASAP!

http://www.facebook.com/groups/thebloodynine/

09/27/11 @ 15:19

Comment by: jack

Bring back the Bloody Nine along with Ferro!

11/10/11 @ 00:57

Comment by: Sheree

If I can be honest, although I love, love, love ninefingers, I was IN LOVE with shivers when he first showed up. To me he was the best wee character because he was so happy go lucky and determined to do the right thing. I was gutted when he became this creepy, sociopathic lacky for Dow...who I also love. Hell I just want to live in the north.

Me and Tul could totally have been drinking buddies XD

12/05/11 @ 18:25

Comment by: Calvin

Yet another Bloody Nine fan, however, Whirrun is a very very close second. Absolutely loved that guy, too bad he's back to the mud. Sherry, read Best Served Cold if you love Shivers.

12/22/11 @ 10:28

Comment by: Ryan

Never in my 16 years of reading.....yes 16....have I ever came across a character as complex as The Bloody Nine. And by God, I adored the man...well you know what I mean. But part from that, I loved the north, and each character within it. Black Dow was fantastic, Three Trees was the dog's balls and then there was wee Forley as well. Thunderhead was great, and then the Dogmman....and I couldnt't even start on him cus i'd be here all day. If I could, I would go home and move to the north, become a warrior and no doubt (if I could find them) The Dogman's crew around like a lost puppy. I would even volunteer to be waterboy. But barring all that, Logen simply has to come back! I spent the entire duration of the heroes eagerly, nail bitingly awaiting his return, and in one chapter, i'm sure you's know of which one....I was positive he would appear. If the rumours are true, and Logen appears in Abercrombies next novels, I will un-skillfully dance around my room. Top job Joe, Top job.

01/10/12 @ 07:32

Comment by: Tasty Tel.

Where have I read the storyline before where the main character's inner psycho would rise up in time to do massive violence? It was definitely a sci-fi fantasy( no, not the Hulk).

01/14/12 @ 14:58

Comment by: Big Stan

Looks like there might be a return for the bloody nin in Red Country see link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1A7g0mM1qI

04/11/12 @ 10:48

Comment by: Eld

for those who don't want to click the above link:

"She sets off in pursuit with only her cowardly old step-father Lamb for company. But it turns out he's hiding a bloody past of his own. None bloodier."

There's only 1 man in the First Law universe that you could actually say "none bloodier" about and actually mean it...

05/18/12 @ 18:31

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