I’m delighted to announce that my collection of short stories is (nearly) complete and will be published by Gollancz in the UK and Orbit in the US in April 2016. It shall be called Sharp Ends: Stories from the World of the First Law, and will contain 13 stories, all set in the Circle of the World over a period that starts some ten years before the beginning of The Blade Itself and ends a few years after Red Country closes, featuring a rogue’s gallery of familiar and unfamiliar characters. Most of these have been (or will have been) published somewhere else before – in anthologies with other authors or special editions of the First Law books, but in general they haven’t been available that widely. Several are entirely new, including one that teeters on the edge of being defined a novella.
The table of contents:
A Beautiful Bastard: The Union army may be full of bastards, but there’s only one big enough to think he can save the day single-handed when the Gurkish come calling: the incomparable Colonel Sand dan Glokta.
Made a Monster: 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.
Small Kindnesses: The hopes of Shevedieh, the best thief in Westport, to turn her back on crime, come crashing down when she finds a huge drunkard sleeping in her doorway. Doing the right thing always comes at a price…
The Fool Jobs: Curnden Craw has been sent with his dozen to recover a thing from beyond the Crinna. One small problem. No one seems to know what the thing is.
Skipping Town: Shevedieh and Javre, ill-matched adventurers, find themselves forced to flee yet another self-made disaster.
Hell: ‘I have seen hell, and it is a great city under siege.’ The fall of Dagoska through the eyes of a young acolyte.
Two’s Company: Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp, runs into Cracknut Whirrun on a bridge over a remote canyon. Can Shevedieh persuade either of these proud heroes to step aside?
Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Three not entirely innocent bystanders are sucked into the chaos of Monzcarro Murcatto’s vengeance.
Some Desperado: There is no honour among thieves when the outlaw Smoke finds herself being hunted down by her own comrades.
Yesterday, Near a Village Called Barden: Royal Observer Bremer dan Gorst reports to the king on another ugly little skirmish as summer dies in the North.
Three’s a Crowd: It’s a foolish man who steals from the best thief in Styria, and when Horald the Finger steals her lover, it’s time for Shevedieh to stop running and start fighting. For those who work in the shadows, though, few things are ever quite as they seem…
Freedom: Being an absolutely true account of the liberation of the town of Averstock from the grip of the incorrigible rebel menace by the famous Nicomo Cosca.
Tough Times all Over: All Carcolf wants is to take her package from here to there, but in the city of fogs and whispers, there are always a dozen other rogues with their own ideas.
More news, including a reveal of the cover, when I get it…
81 comments so far
Excited for the short-story of Bethod. Will we get any accounts of Friendly, the surviving Ghosts, and more of how Logen met, beat, spared and formed his eventual crew?
Awesome, I need more Abercrombie in my life.
Really looking forward to this. Will there be an audiobook version?
Your book release schedule is a constant trickle of morphine with a direct line to my wallet. And I couldn’t be happier! Exciting news for sure. Any idea when we will be able to preorder?
This is terrific news. Can’t wait. I was ready to place my preorder on Amazon, but it’s not listed yet.
I’ll just have to be patient…you know, it would be really cool to have this ready for Christmas, wouldn’t it?
Great news, looking forward to reading these.
Cracknut Whirrun!! Aww Yiss!!!
My, my…
you just won’t stop working, will you? I am absolutely delighted! I just finished the Shattered Sea trilogy and am already impatiently waiting for news from the First Law world. I’ve read two of them stories already, but that doesn’t matter at all 🙂
No Shenkt? Darn you Joe. Invent an insanely interesting character and then leave him undone? Nooooo!
These sound fantastic, genuinely looking forward to them. How do I forget about them between now and then so it’ll be a surprise?
Take my money Joe. Thanks for the update.
I’m jacked for more Abercrombie and his merry band of psychopaths. Amazon does have it listed on U.S. site. its pre-ordered. thanks, Joe. You’re killing it right now.
Whirrun vs Javre?! That’s going to be amazing.
Please god tell me this will be an audio book with Mr pacey at the helm!!
I would like to know what happened to Ferro.
Not only will we get Glokta in his prime but more Whirrun of Bligh too. Awesome
Can’t wait. Some thoughts:
Four stories with Shevedieh and/or Javre. Appears both are female? You certainly have been writing women a lot more of late. These two going to be regulars in the future trilogy?
Whirrun. Hell yes.
Made a Monster. Oh man. This is going to be good. We finally get to see Bethod’s side of the story which was hinted at just before b9 had his way with him.
The fool jobs. One of my favorite shorts of all time.
A beautiful bastard. Sand in his prime? Tell me where to send the money!!
Great stuff Joe.
I would like to know what happened to Ferro. A story about her would be awsome.
dude, can’t wait! Just finished the Heroes (amazing!) and stoked to re-enter the world of the first law.
Give me this book now, please! I will give you money in exchange!
This looks bloody good! Can’t wait! When is this monster coming out?
Thank you Joe! I am excited to see Bethod’s point of view of things. I want to see if Bethod’s vision for the North was sincere, if he truly valued peace as he claimed. If he was a “good guy” (or a “greater good” guy… as good as a Northman king could be, anyhow), that would add yet another layer of tragedy to the First Law plot.
So i am a bit behind on the short stories. Who is Shevedieh ?
What is the correct chronological order for her stories?
GOOD FUCKING LAD! I’ve read all the First Law books a few times now and haven’t read any of these extra tales. Wondrous news.
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!
Only have read one of these, so count me in.
Any chance they’ll be a simultaneous release of a Subterranean Press edition? (If at all)
Excellent news! Also just finished the Shattered Sea series, but I’m so excited to read more into the First Law world! Made a Monster – yes!!
Will we ever find out what happened after Red Country?
Great news.
Been looking forward to this for a long time now, especially the Glokta and Murcatto ones. Also, Bethod’s lunatic champion…… We know that story isnt going to end well…….Can’t wait!
Woah, can’t wait, brilliant news
PS First Law needs gurkish POV character 😉
2016 is looking like a big year!
As with another book I could mention, the main complaint about this will probably be that it is too short.
How long before we can expect volume II? 😉
Still waiting on Logen and Ferro’s Bastard boy to show up. He would be a book unto himself.
Not sure on all these names but im hoping we get to shivers again at some point?!
Either way, im getting my fill of Abercrombie and the first law world so im not complaining!
L
Joe –
Congrats. Very excited for you. This has been a long time coming and looks like you have put a lot of effort into these shorts. Best of luck to you.
– Michael
Love the inclusion of Bremer. Would really like to see a ‘five years later’ novel, after the Heroes…with Bremer in the forefront.
I’m so excited and can’t wait to see Bethod’s side and am really hopping that Blac Dow, Froley, and Grime are in it too.
Really enjoyed The Fool Jobs, looking forward to the rest of ’em..
Some very interesting ones there – glad to see another Murcatto story.
This will be the fourth book of yours in 2(?) years, after which we’ll have to go cold turkey whilst you write the second FL trilogy . . which is probably be a couple of years away . . It’s going to be tough
Looking forward to meeting old and new characters.
Keep up the good work and long may you stay healthy 🙂
Queue Tom Petty \\”The Wai-ai-ting is the hardest part….\\”. 🙂 I cant wait to get this. Anyone know in which book or magazine the story “Made a Monster” was originally published? Would love to read that. (I’m assuming that one was previously published?)
Best news since Lamb 😉
Cannot wait! So excited to read these and anything you care to jot down. Legendary!
Logan and Bremer? I’m excited.
While I look forward to this book I wonder…the side effect of writing is 50 years from now someone may read it at this level sorta kinda…e.g. Jack Vance’s Cugel(blew my mind glad my soul had a dresser to leave money on), I won`t list more 50s scifi we’ve all dredged its moldy faded narrow used bookstore depths… Golden Ages aside (A.E. Van Vogt vs L Ron Hubbard). I had a point which was oddly like cape wearing douche’s words: eternal recurrence – it’s happened before and it will happen again la…like a drunk girl with an i-phone !!
Great stuff. As with the other posters, I can’t wait! delighted that Curnden Craw and his Dozen are back! Life hasn’t been the same without them!
Thank you !!!
Well… that’s something. I surely wasn’t expecting anything coming out so soon after Shattered Sea, not to mention anything about First Law. But hell, I’m glad you keep surprising me.
I can hardly wait to meet the old mates again and keen to find out about the new ones.
As Craig mentioned, I was also interested into some of Shenkt’s memories as he was quite controversial.
And to Dennis E Henley regarding completeness until Christmass… man, you have to be realistic about these things.
super excited! I constantly am telling people about The First Law being my favorite fantasy series.
Awesome.
Will there be an Audiobook version?
A great news indeed! Can’t wait!
I agree with the poster above, where’s Shenkt? Or are you planning to give him the protagonist role in the near future 😀
Awesome news, excited for more Glokta. Looks like most of these are pre first law, I hope a timeline will be available.
Got excited enough to purchase the last audiobook of yours I needed, Best Served Cold, unfortunately it seems to have dissapeared from audible, downpour and audiobooks.com. 🙁 should have got it earlier.
How about an epic tale involving a war with the Shanka and their push into civilised territory?….
Hey this is great news.
was surprised to see half a war in the shops so soon after the last book. (i even got a signed copy yay)
looking forward to my abercrombie fix soon!
thanks
Jim
Read this today while wearing my Ninefinger panties, have to say I am extremely excited and will sound the conch of greatness for when these are all available together.
You had me at “Whirrun.” Excited about several of these stories. Looking forward to it.
This looks very exciting! The concept is great and the character and plot ‘teasers’ are fabulous.
One small request for Joe (to add to the dozens I’m sure he gets every day).
Can we please have more of Ferro Maljinn? She was my favorite character of the original trilogy and totally unique!!
Yes give us more, hail the Bloody Nine!!
Ooh, looking forward to this!!!! And now I think I’ll re-read all your books in preparation 😉
Fantastic! I’m especially looking forward to read the Glokta tale. He was easily my favourite character in the trilogy so it will be interesting to put even more meat on on the bones of his back story.
Does anyone know if there will be a Steven Pacey audio book version? That would be a delicious cherry on top of an already glorious cake.
Great news !! it will be difficult to wait the french translation ^_^
This sounds fantastic and I will buy it immediately. Don’t suppose there is ever a chance of getting the mysterious back story of Harding Grim? I’ve always thought his mysterious past was one of the most under utilized threads in the original trilogy.
That’s awesome news!!!!
Really looking forward to it.
One queation…. I dont suppose we could hope for a book or two form the past times…. you know… Euz, his sons, the epic war and so on?
What, no 9 fingers? We need more stores about the greatest, maddest badass ever in fantasy literature!
TAKE MY MONEY
Phil, who do you think Bethod’s lunatic champion is?
So is Javre pronounced like Favre? So sounds like “Jarv?”
roll on april.
So happy to be able to see Whirrum of Bligh again. He deserves his own novel.
Ohhhh, so looking forward to this!! read all the other First Law books in a flash… Just keep on rollin’ Joe.. you are number 1 !!! Hope to see so much more from you in the near future 🙂
Cheers!
This is awesome but will there be an audio version?!?! I fell in love with the first law trilogy and at least 25% because of Steven pacey
The Heroes is still my favorite. Love the First Law world. Cant wait for this
It’s suppose to be Shy, not Smoke right, in Some Desperado, at least that’s what it is in Dangerous Women.
On a side note, you should be able to reply to comments, for as Tom stated for Phil, I’m pretty certain that story will have Logen in it. But Phil might never know.
Chris,
Smoke is the alias that Shy used during her life as a bandit. 🙂
I have to say, I stumbled upon the original First Law trilogy by accident while searching for something to read after I finished A Song of Ice and Fire. I was looking for something in the same grimdark subgenre of fantasy and when I read the description of the First Law books, I was hooked immediately. I’ve read the original trilogy and the first standalone, Best Served Cold. I’m now planning on reading the remaing two in preparation for what promises to be an excellent short story collection. Thank you so much Mr Abercrombie for letting us into your mind by way of your excellent books. I must ask, is there any way to get an autographed copy of any of your books? Or perhaps, do any of the other commenters know if such a thing is available, and if so, what I would need to do to obtain it?
I am very excited & hope that Steven Pacey reads anything Abercrombie writes. And hopefully there will be more of Ferro, Harding Grimm, the Thunder Head, DogMan, Coska, Whirun of Bligh, even Bayaz, as long as Pacey does the audiobooks ! For someone who just got into audiobooks the last couple of years & who has little tolerance for bad voices by paid narrators (mainly because I can mimic voices very well & don’t get paid for it) I think Pacey reading Abercrombie books are my favorite! And to you women who dig this stuff, rite on ! I can’t wait to meet one of you. This stuff is great !
from amazon.co.uk:
Read by Steven Pacey, and featuring Joe Abercrombie narrating ‘Freedom’. This audio edition also includes an interview with Steven and Joe.
woot.
HELLO my fellow Abercrombieists. There is a Steven pacy audiobook available from 26/04/2016. I’m really looking forward to this. I’ve read so many fantasy books, and first law speaks my language more than most. Magical arsehole!!!! Thank you Mr Abercrombie.
Will this be available as audiobook?
I particularly liked your shattered seas trilogy and I now find out it’s “young adult”. I’m 70 and wish there was more. All your books are great and have provided many hours of early morning reading
[…] Fafhrd og Gray Mouser. Two’s Company er også at finde i Joe Abercrombies nye novellesamling Sharp Ends, der samler en række noveller fra hans First Law-univers, og hvor Shev og Javre er de […]
Dear Mr Abercrombie, would you please told me when the book will be translate in french ? thank you ! Math