Sharp Ends

Stories from the World of the First Law

By: Joe Abercrombie

Narrated by: Steven Pacey, Joe Abercrombie

Read by Steven Pacey, and featuring Joe Abercrombie narrating 'Freedom'. This audio edition also includes an interview with Steven and Joe.

The Union army may be full of bastards, but there's only one who thinks he can save the day singlehanded when the Gurkish come calling: the incomparable Colonel Sand dan Glokta.

Curnden Craw and his dozen are out to recover a mysterious item from beyond the Crinna. Only one small problem: no one seems to know what the item is. Shevedieh, the self-styled best thief in Styria, lurches from disaster to catastrophe alongside her best friend and greatest enemy, Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp. And after years of bloodshed, the idealistic chieftain, Bethod, is desperate to bring peace to the North.

There's only one obstacle left - his own lunatic champion, the most feared man in the North: the Bloody-Nine....

Sharp Ends combines previously published award-winning tales with exclusive new short stories. Violence explodes, treachery abounds and the words are as deadly as the weapons in this rogue's gallery of sideshows, backstories and sharp endings from the world of the First Law.

©2016 Joe Abercrombie (P)2016 Orion Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"Joe Abercrombie is doing some terrific work." (George R. R. Martin)

"Delightfully twisted and evil." ( Guardian)

"Joe Abercrombie is probably the brightest star among the new generation of British fantasy writers...." ( The Times)

Kickass short stories

Should have been longer, and more stories about chev and javra to see what happened on the last crusade together. Also really liked the last story where it changed characters rapidly 😀

Good book, unexpected interview tacked to the end

Transition to the interview at the end is very jarring. At least they should have used someone with a nice voice…

Should be read last, so things come full circle

It is a very good collection of stories that expends the context of the trilogy and the stand alone books. This is why in my opinion it should be read last. Charachthers are very well build and some familiar faces get another layer of their personality exposed. Comic relief is there, as expected and things fall into place nicely from a narrative perspective. Again should be read last to fully enjoy it (after the first trilogy and the stand alone books).

Great work, I wish the book was longer

As a collection of small stories it is amazing how Abercrombie manages to develop in such a limited story-length such interesting and detailed personalities. As always the narration is impeccable. I wish all of those stories were individual novels…

Great book

I liked very much this collection of short stories. Some of them are very fun, some nostalgic and one of them is almost horror. I highly recommend this book. It also has an interview with Steven Pacey and Joe Abercrombie at the end.