Book: Best Served Cold - Joe Abercrombie. Joe Abercrombie: "Best served cold" Joe Abercrombie is best served cold
978-5-699-63211-4
Book rating: 2.3/5 (4) Description:Spring in Styria means war...
The Bloody Years last for nineteen years. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a brutal struggle with the quarrelsome League of Eight. The white ground between them is drenched in blood. The armies are marching. Heads fly off shoulders. Cities are burning. Meanwhile, bankers, priests and ancient dark forces started a behind-the-scenes fuss, the goal of which is the election of a king.
War may be hell, but for Monza Mercatto, the Viper of Talin, the most dangerous and famous mercenary in the service of Duke Orso, it is also a damn good way to make money. Monza's victories made her popular - perhaps too popular, according to her employer. Betrayed, thrown from the mountain and left for dead, Monza found herself - a mutilated body and a burning thirst for revenge. No matter what it costs her, seven people must die.
Spring in Styria means revenge.
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Joe Abercrombie is a young British writer, author of the acclaimed dark fantasy trilogy “The First Law”, the hope of the genre, who is not only predicted to have a great future after a successful debut, but the debut itself is recognized as an extraordinary event. Rights to his works have been acquired in thirteen countries, and Abercrombie's books have already been translated into several languages, including German, Spanish, French, Czech, Swedish, Dutch and Russian.
The future shaker of the “common places” of the fantasy genre was born on the last day of 1974 in Lancaster. He was educated at Lancaster Royal Grammar School, where he spent most of his time "playing computer games, rolling dice and drawing maps of non-existent places." Then he entered the University of Manchester, where he studied psychology. After which he first got into TV, and then became a freelance editor. His work has included various documentaries, award ceremonies and concerts, as well as videos for Barry White, Coldplay and The Killers (a list of TV series on which he has worked can be viewed on Abercrombie's IMDb page).
In 2002, Joe returned to his long-time dream of single-handedly rethinking established genre clichés, and began seriously writing his first novel, “The Blade Itself” (in Russian translation called “Blood and Iron”), telling about the misadventures of Logen Ninefingers, a barbarian from philosophical attitude to life. He completed it in 2004, but it took another 2 years to find a publisher and publish the book. Joe's acquaintance with Gillian Redfearn of Gollancz led to the signing of two consecutive contracts providing for the publication of a total of five novels by this native of Lancashire.
In 2007 - 2008, Abercrombie brilliantly completed what he started by releasing the novels “Before They Are Hanged” and “The Last Argument of Kings” - the continuation and, accordingly, completion of the “The First Law” trilogy, in a certain sense, one big book (which , for example, is “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin).
Among his non-genre sources of inspiration, Abercrombie especially notes the police thrillers of J. Ellroy, the Arthurian trilogy of B. Cornwell, as well as popular television series in recent years: “The Sopranos,” “The Wire,” “Battlestar Galactica” and “Deadwood.”
When the books were released, reviewers were full of praise: “A deliciously wicked book” (Guardian), “Dark, deeply ironic, full of brilliant characters that will resonate with the cynical side of your nature...” (sfrevu.com), “Great read: gritty, paced and unpretentious" (SFX magazine), "We're right there in these guys' heads, thanks to the author's style... His knowing tone means that the proceedings will often be cast in an ironic light, with supporting characters that teeter on the edge of the Dickensian." (Dave Bradley, SFX Magazine)
Writers did not lag behind the critics, responding enthusiastically, and maybe even enviously:
“If you like bloodless, stilted fantasy, with characters as fragile as newspaper pages and as boring as plaster figurines of saints, Joe Abercrombie will really ruin your day...” Scott Lynch.
“In his fictional world there are unresolved contradictions... and an awareness of the inevitability of violence that is very modern... his reader is rewarded with many things” Lisa Tuttle.
“The twisted plot simply brings with it barbarian warriors with genuine bravery (and real wounds), corrupt aristocrats with redemptive potential, wizards with baffling plans... plus the cutest master craftsman of all time. The First Law trilogy is an adventure whose characters develop in tough, unpredictable, compelling ways, in an equally tough and strange world. In a world that is sometimes terrible and always amazing..." John Meaney.
“Abercrombie headed straight to superstar status” J. Vandermeer.
After such statements, it’s somehow hard to believe in skeptical statements about stagnation in the genre...
Lived in North London. Currently lives in Bath, Somerset, with his wife Lou, two daughters and a son. He has no plans to change the current rhythm of life and move from freelancers to the category of “professional writers”. By the way, anticipating idle curiosity, we can add that neither the writer Lynn Abercrombie nor the jazz guitarist John Abercrombie are his relatives.
He was nominated for the John W. Campbell Award two years in a row. Also, his novels were twice recognized as “books of the year” by visitors to the popular thematic resource SFF World.
Together with Philip Pullman, Terry Pratchett and China Miéville, in early 2008, Joe participated in the BBC television project “World of Fantasy”, where he spoke about... the influence of Mervyn Peake on modern British fantasy.
Abercrombie's new book, Best Served Cold, was published in June 2009. A standalone novel about mercenaries, painful deaths and crooked paths, which takes place in the world of the First Law four years after the events of the debut trilogy. The author himself describes this book as “dark, gritty, and very, very bloody...” and characterizes it as a “fantasy thriller.” It became his first work with an officially approved map. By the way, you could get acquainted with some of the main characters of the novel in the second volume of the debut trilogy. "Best Served Cold" was voted Best Novel of 2009 by SFFWorld, ranked #3 in the SF Site Readers' Choice, and was nominated for The August Derleth Fantasy Award.
At the end of June 2010, Abercrombie’s story (“The Fool Jobs”) appeared in the anthology of heroic fantasy by Lou Anders and Jonathan Strahan, which, according to the first reviews, was called perhaps the best in it. In 2011, the writer's new novel, The Heroes, was released, which a year later was shortlisted for the British Fantasy Award and nominated for The David Gemmell Legend Award for Fantasy (DGLA). In 2012, the novel "A Red Country" was published, conventionally referred to by Joe as a "fantasy western".
Under his contract with Gollancz, Joe Abercrombie must write three more books about the world of The First Law, so he is busy preparing to put the ideas for a new trilogy on paper. However, the author now spends most of his time writing another cycle - fantasy for a young audience, in which events taking place in a pseudo-medieval world, not connected with the world of the Earthly Circle, are described from the perspective of the main teenage characters. In addition, several Abercrombie stories are being prepared for publication, and negotiations are underway to release a collection of his stories.
“You can keep Aragorn and Gandalf. I'd much rather share a pint with Boromir and Saruman. Although, if you think about it, Saruman is probably one of those who prefer drinks made from pure malt...”
“Obviously, you can’t write a story set in a fictional world without creating that world, and what you create has to be compelling. I just think that the detailed worldbuilding aspect of epic fantasy often goes so far that it overwhelms everything else. People are trying to “reprofessorize the Professor”; endlessly compete with each other to be the author of the most detailed, complex and lengthy book. It's as if the whole idea was to draw a set of geographical maps and - wow, we solved all the problems! - all that remains is to sketch a couple of touchingly clichéd characters. So that there would be someone to wander between Zanvonz and Vibwab, along the way, through leisurely conversation, leaking information about how their magic system functions...
But for me, the only things that really interest me in stories are the characters and the dialogue... Detailed descriptions are great where they're really needed. But not at the expense of those things that actually make the story “right,” right?”
“Ultimately, I guess I was just trying to write books that I wanted to read. An epic mixture of love, war and everything else in the same spirit. Some amount of torture, some amount of intrigue. A little mystery and a little magic. A small number of sex scenes and a hell of a lot of violence that causes an adrenaline rush. A couple of grandiose scenes that create awe and a couple of sickening surprises on the way to a thrilling, shocking climax. Laughter, tears and a little nausea. The whole range of emotions.
And most importantly - several energetic characters, with tough but funny dialogue. Enough?
If you don’t think it’s impudent, can I ask you $10 for this?”
From Abercrombie's interview with sfx.co.uk
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Description
Spring in Styria means war...
The Bloody Years last for nineteen years. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a brutal struggle with the quarrelsome League of Eight. The white ground between them is drenched in blood. The armies are marching. Heads fly off shoulders. Cities are burning. Meanwhile, bankers, priests and ancient dark forces started a behind-the-scenes fuss, the goal of which is the election of a king.
War may be hell, but for Monza Mercatto, the Viper of Talin, the most dangerous and famous mercenary in the service of Duke Orso, it is also a damn good way to make money. Monza's victories made her popular - perhaps too popular, according to her employer. Betrayed, thrown from the mountain and left for dead, Monza found herself - a mutilated body and a burning thirst for revenge. No matter what it costs her, seven people must die.
Spring in Styria means revenge.
Spring in Styria means war...
The Bloody Years last for nineteen years. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a brutal struggle with the quarrelsome League of Eight. The white ground between them is drenched in blood. The armies are marching. Heads fly off shoulders. Cities are burning. Meanwhile, bankers, priests and ancient dark forces started a behind-the-scenes fuss, the goal of which is the election of a king.
War may be hell, but for Monza Mercatto, the Viper of Talin, the most dangerous and famous mercenary in the service of Duke Orso, it is also a damn good way to make money. Monza's victories made her popular - perhaps too popular, according to her employer. Betrayed, thrown from the mountain and left for dead, Monza found herself - a mutilated body and a burning thirst for revenge. No matter what it costs her, seven people must die.
Spring in Styria means revenge.
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03
Feb
2017
Earth circle. Best served cold (Joe Abercrombie)
Format: audiobook, MP3, 64kbps
Joe Abercrombie
Year of release: 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: DIY Audiobook
Performer: Kirill Golovin
Duration: 23:44:12
Description: Spring in Styria means war...
The Bloody Years last for nineteen years. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a brutal struggle with the quarrelsome League of Eight. The white ground between them is drenched in blood. The armies are marching. Heads fly off shoulders. Cities are burning. Meanwhile, bankers, priests and ancient dark forces started a behind-the-scenes fuss, the goal of which is the election of a king.
War may be hell, but for Monza Mercatto, the Viper of Talin, the most dangerous and famous mercenary in the service of Duke Orso, it is also a damn good way to make money. Monza's victories made her popular - perhaps too popular, according to her employer. Betrayed, thrown from the mountain and left for dead, Monza found herself - a mutilated body and a burning thirst for revenge. No matter what it costs her, seven people must die.
Spring in Styria means revenge.
=========
They asked for a bitrate of 64 - if you please.
I just ask you to take into account what I did for MY simple phone - the files are divided into parts of 10 minutes each, and any complaints about the “barbaric” cutting -
Not accepted.
Original:
31
Jan
2017
Earth Circle. Best served cold (Abercrombie Joe)
Format: audiobook, MP3, 320kbps
Author: Abercrombie Joe
Year of release: 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Performer: Golovin Kirill
Duration: 23:44:12
Description: Spring in Styria means war... The Bloody Years last for nineteen years. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a brutal struggle with the quarrelsome League of Eight. The white ground between them is drenched in blood. The armies are marching. Heads fly off shoulders. Cities are burning. Meanwhile, bankers, priests and ancient dark forces started a behind-the-scenes fuss, the goal of which is the election of a king. War may be hell, but for Monza Mercatto, the Snake...
25
Apr
2017
Earth Circle. Red Country (Abercrombie Joe)
Author: Abercrombie Joe
Year of release: 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: DIY Audiobook
Performer: Golovin Kirill
Duration: 18:03:01
Description: They burned her house. They kidnapped her brother and sister. But retribution will follow. Shai South had hoped to bury her bloody past and leave smiling, but she'll have to resort to the old tricks to bring her family back, and she's not the kind of woman to shy away from what needs to be done. She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old stepfather Lamb. But it turns out that Lamb is also similar...
06
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2011
Hell on Earth (Stephanie Meyer)
Year of manufacture: 2010
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Format: mp3, 192 kbps
Genre: mystery
Publisher: DIY Audiobook
Artist: beckham48
Duration: 01:28:58
Description: Mystical story by Stephenie Meyer. Every girl dreams of becoming a real “ball princess” at least once... But sometimes these balls are not entertainment, but a terrible nightmare from which it is difficult to come out alive.
Translation: A. Solopenko
22
Apr
2011
Earth's Anthill (Steve Perry)
Format: audiobook, MP3, 128 kbps
Author: Steve Perry
Year of manufacture: 2010
Genre: Fantastic action
Publisher: DIY AudioBook
Artist: kowarus78
Duration: 08:04:54
Description: The little girl Billy and Space Marine Corporal Wilkes are the only survivors of the earthling colony. For twelve years, the Government, hiding all data about Aliens, kept them locked up. But the monsters' home planet has been discovered. A military expedition is sent to capture one of the Aliens, which the Corporation is trying to prevent. She already has the Alien Queen. And it is contained on Earth!
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Aliens-1. Earth's Anthill (Steve Perry)
Format: audiobook, MP3, 128kbps
Author: Steve Perry Novel, 1992
Genre fiction
Cycle: Aliens Book number in series: 1
Publisher: Azbuka
Year of publication: 1997
Translation: Y. Zabelina
Publisher: DIY Audiobook
Year of manufacture: 2016
Performer: Pukhov Sergey
Duration: 08:56:22
Description: The little girl Billy and Space Marine Corporal Wilkes are the only survivors of the earthling colony. For twelve years the Government, hiding all data about Aliens, kept them locked up. But the monsters' home planet has been discovered. A military expedition is sent to capture one specimen and tries to stop...
31
Aug
2015
What's better than money? (Chase James Hadley)
Format: audiobook, MP3, 128kbps
Posted by Chase James Hadley
Year of manufacture: 2015
Genre: Detective
Publisher: DIY audiobook
Performer: Stelmashchuk Valery
Duration: 07:49:29
Description: Jeff Gordon saves Rimma Marshall from her angry knife-wielding boyfriend. He wants to make her a singer, but nothing comes of it. She's not the right type, and she's also an experienced drug addict. Having unwittingly witnessed the murder of a security guard during an unsuccessful attempt to rob a film studio box office, he himself becomes accused of this crime and goes into hiding.
Add. information: Other titles of the novel: “Stronger than money.” ...
02
Feb
2016
Ours is the best (Kalinina Nadezhda)
Format: audiobook, MP3, 256kbps
Author: Kalinina Nadezhda
Year of manufacture: 2016
Genre: Children's literature
Publisher: DIY Audiobook
Artist: Commissioner
Duration: 01:47:39
Description: A short story about first-graders and their first teacher. Teacher Tatyana Ivanovna has to solve many issues: on the very first day of school, a first-grader decides to leave school, another is happy with a bad mark, someone shakes the teacher’s hand, someone cannot find their way to their home class, someone’s mother is sick, and the girl Nina is teased in the yard because her dad drinks. And to everyone...
22
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Author: Rosenthal Ditmar
Year of manufacture: 2015
Genre: linguistics, textbook
Publisher: Can't buy it anywhere
Performer: Elizaveta Krupina
Duration: 07:14:52
Description: Dietmar Elyashevich Rosenthal (December 19, 1899, Lodz, Kingdom of Poland, Russian Empire - July 29, 1994, Moscow, Russian Federation) - Soviet and Russian linguist, author of numerous works on the Russian language. Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences (1952), Professor (1962). In Moscow since 1914. Until 1918 he studied at the 15th Moscow (Warsaw) gymnasium. Since 1918 - in Moscow...
10
Dec
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I'd Rather Stay Poor (James Hadley Chase)
Format: audiobook, MP3, 128kbps
Author: James Hadley Chase
Year of manufacture: 2013
Genre: Detective
Publisher: "Abcool" free book
Performer: Sergey Larionov (babay7)
Duration: 07:58:38
Description: Ken Travers, a Pittsville sheriff's deputy, sat in his beat-up Packard and chewed gum, indulging in gloomy thoughts about his future. Tall, thin, with a vigorous chin and gray intelligent eyes, Travers was eager to achieve a decent social position, which would allow him to start a family and his own home. To Travers's chagrin, his hopes are destined to come true...
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2013
Or maybe it's better not to fall in love? (Natalia Solomko)
Author: Natalia Solomko
Year of manufacture: 1989
Genre: Children's literature
Publisher: Gosteleradiofond
Performer: Oleg Tabakov, Tatyana Ushmaikina, Yulien Balmusov, Boris Shuvalov, Alexey Dyakov, Irina Bordukova, Lyudmila Shuvalova, Mikhail Rosenberg
Duration: 00:57:15
Description: Radio play based on the story "Fire Pipe No. 1". A funny story about guys - actors of the Pioneer theater. About how their characters and moral positions manifest themselves in various life situations; about friendship and first love. Characters and performersFrom the author - Oleg Tabakov Anya El...
14
Apr
2013
Truth is good, but happiness is better (A.N. Ostrovsky)
Format: audio play, MP3, 128kbps
Author: A.N. Ostrovsky
Year of manufacture: 2007
Genre: Comedy
Publisher: Sound book
Performer: Natalya Belevtseva, Nikolai Ryzhov, Svetlana Zhgun, Vladimir Kolosov, Varvara Obukhova, Valery Babyatinsky, Sofya Fadeeva, Pyotr Konstantinov, Boris Babochkin
Duration: 02:24:21
Description: The comedy by Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky “Truth is good, but happiness is better” is a funny and wise story about the fact that in the life of every person there is a place for happiness. The rich and powerful merchant Mavra Tarasovna Barabosheva wants to marry her granddaughter Polixena to a general. ...
09
Feb
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Truth is good, but happiness is better (A.N. Ostrovsky)
Format: radio play, MP3, 192kbps
Author: A.N. Ostrovsky
Year of manufacture: 2006
Genre: Comedy
Publisher: Radio Culture
Performer: Artists of the State Academic Maly Theater
Duration: 02:11:38
Description: The outstanding Russian playwright Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky (1823 - 1886) tells us the story of an apple orchard - cheerful, funny, wise, immutably testifying that there is happiness, and that there is in our souls the ability to be happy. And it’s not for nothing that the kind nanny who helps the lovers has a “speaking” name - Filicata, which, translated from Latin, means...
01
May
2013
I'd Rather Stay Poor (James Hadley Chase)
Format: audiobook, MP3, 96kbps
Author: James Hadley Chase
Year of manufacture: 2013
Genre: Detective
Publisher: Can't buy it anywhere
Performer: Sergey Kirsanov
Duration: 05:55:49
Description: The vivid images of the heroes of J. H. Chase have been familiar to domestic readers for a long time. To slightly refresh the colors of a detective plot, full of dynamics and bright characters, is a refined pleasure for a gourmet. "I'd Rather Stay Poor" is classic Chase. Putting everything on the line, the heroes organize a bank robbery. The price of murder is a very large sum of money, but retribution will not be long in coming. Add. info...
02
May
2012
I'd Rather Stay Home (Horace McCoy)
Format: audiobook, MP3, 96kbps
Author: Horace McCoy
Year of manufacture: 2012
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Can't buy it anywhere
Performer: Vyacheslav Zadvornykh
Duration: 05:39:02
Description: The novel “I Wish I Had Stayed Home” by Horace McCoy is the pinnacle of the American writer’s creativity. Cruelly and coldly, McCoy tells of the broken destinies of young boys and girls, attracted by the glitz and glory of Hollywood and rejected by an indifferent city, and if we resort to generalization, he tells of the fate of an entire generation and each person, of his loneliness and dreams, doomed to eternal “non-fulfillment.” ...
16
Apr
2018
Truth is good, but happiness is better (Alexander Ostrovsky)
Format: audio play, MP3, 128kbps
Author: Ostrovsky Alexander
Year of manufacture: 1949
Genre: Comedy
Publisher: Old Radio
Performer: Varvara Ryzhova, Evdokia Turchaninova, Nikolai Ryzhov, Maria Ovchinnikova, Valentina Barinova, Vitaly Igarov.
Duration: 02:18:32
Description: The plot centers on the life of a wealthy merchant family, the home of the Moscow merchant Amos Panfilovich Baraboshev. In the house, his mother, the imperious old woman Mavra Tarasovna, really commands everything. They have been trying for several years to find a rich groom for Baraboshev’s young daughter Poliksena. But she is in love with Platon Zybkin, poor...
Conscience is just an excuse not to do what needs to be done. It is worth noting that, as always, Joe Abercrombie holds the bar and does not lower it one bit. The book is very good, yes, perhaps it is not quite as good as his “The First Law” trilogy, but it is not much inferior to it either. It should be noted that the entertainment, colorfulness, black humor, blood, dirt and battles have not diminished, which is good news. Usually, you know how it happens, the author succeeds in 1,2, or maybe 3 books, and then comes consumer goods. But in my opinion, this will never apply to Joe. Joe keeps the brand and really appreciates, loves and respects their readers, and will never feed them bad books!
Well, let's get started with the plot, shall we? And our plot is quite twisted.... Here you have court intrigues, civil wars, sophisticated murders using poisons, and intestines wrapped around a fist. The main characters are Monza Mercatto and Shaker - known to us from the trilogy "The First Law". Shakers arrives in Styria in search of himself, to start a new life, to become a better person. And Monza Mercatto with her revenge and desire to pay off the villains... This is what the main storyline is built on...
In my opinion, the work is quite philosophical if you read it between the lines. If you look at it from a slightly different angle, it turns out that the book is about “a person’s attempt to find himself in this big world”, the need to choose between “good” and “evil”, about the choice between two “evils”... The author illustrates in one of the dialogues a pretty good example, namely:
You spend your whole life preparing for something upcoming. I've climbed countless hills. Swam many rivers. He even swam across the sea, leaving behind everything he knew, and reached Styria. But I got off the ship and saw already on the pier that exactly the same people and exactly the same life were waiting for me here. The next valley is no different from this one. She's no better, anyway. And I think I've learned...to just stay where I am. To be who I am. As we see, wherever you go, whatever you do, you will remain as you are, and in order to change yourself even a little, you need to make a lot of effort. Some of the main characters in the book succeeded, but others did not. Read for yourself and find out everything! I hope I managed to interest you
In conclusion, I would like to say that the book is very good! I recommend it to everyone, I'm looking forward to reading "The Red Country" and "Half King".!
Well, basically, everyone already knows what kind of guy this Abercrombie is and what kind of books he writes. Therefore, I won’t go into too much detail about this, I’ll just say that here, too, the trademark black humor, violence, dismemberment, foul language, sex and charming scoundrels were brought in in abundance. Unless the level of violence compared to the main trilogy has reached that critical point, beyond which gloominess develops into the grotesque. But this clearly fits with Joe's plan, because this novel is focused more on heroes than on some global events. And therefore the epicness and atmosphere were a little pushed into the background by catchy plot moves and sparkling dialogues. But these are all details; in fact, the book is very, very high-quality and will undoubtedly appeal to all Joe fans. But I wanted to talk about something else. For some reason everyone calls Joe Abercrombie a subverter of canons and a follower of Martin. They say that this guy will turn all fantasy clichés inside out and walk with his forged boots on stereotypes and templates. And this is something I fundamentally disagree with. There is no doubt that Joe's books are realistic, especially when it comes to descriptions of warriors and battles. There really are no uniquely positive heroes here, and under pain of death, each of the characters is capable of behaving like the last scumbag. But there is no such originality in this; in general, this is almost a commonplace for all dark fantasy. Yes, Abercrombie writes smartly, richly, the dialogue and humor are great. But the notorious clichés, here they are, close-up. Unkillable heroes, surrounded by the armor of authorial bias. Pianos in the bushes are like a falling statue that will crush a dangerous enemy at the most critical moment, or an invincible ally who will suddenly reveal himself and save everyone at the last moment. Even the fight between Monza and Gunmark is built according to the standard scheme, where the hero first gets the full benefit, but then miraculously gains the upper hand. Joe's books are certainly gorgeous, but for the life of me I don't see anything innovative in his exaggerated realism. Is the book good? Of course, go read it! Should we believe the fans who call Joe the greatest “fantasyist” of our time? I would be careful, after all, fans are such fans))