Joe Abercrombie
Joe Abercrombie
b. 1974-12-31 · From United Kingdom- Books
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About
Joe Abercrombie (born Joseph Edward Abercrombie, 31 December 1974 in Lancaster, Lancashire) is an English fantasy novelist. He was educated at Lancaster Royal Grammar School and read psychology at the University of Manchester, then moved to London and joined a television post-production company before going freelance as a film editor, cutting documentaries, music videos and concert films.
He began writing The First Law in 2002, and the trilogy — The Blade Itself (2006), Before They Are Hanged (2007) and Last Argument of Kings (2008) — was followed by three standalone novels set in the same world: Best Served Cold (2009), The Heroes (2011) and Red Country (2012).
He returned to that setting for the Age of Madness trilogy, A Little Hatred (2019), The Trouble with Peace (2020) and The Wisdom of Crowds (2021), and collected his shorter fiction in Sharp Ends (2016). His young adult Shattered Sea trilogy comprises Half a King (2014), Half the World (2015) and Half a War (2015).
The Devils, opening a new series, was published in 2025. His work is commonly discussed as part of the grimdark strand of epic fantasy.
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Fantasy Fiction Dark Fantasy Grimdark Epic Fantasy
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Frequently asked questions
Joe Abercrombie's main series, The First Law, should be read in publication order: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and Last Argument of Kings. After completing the original trilogy, there are several standalone novels set in the same world, followed by a second trilogy, Age of Madness, which continues the story.
Joe Abercrombie is widely recognized for his contributions to grimdark fantasy, characterized by morally ambiguous characters, cynical humor, and a realistic, often brutal, approach to fantasy tropes. His work frequently explores themes of war, power, and the flawed nature of humanity.
As of my last update, there are no major film or television adaptations of Joe Abercrombie's works. However, his novels have been adapted into graphic novels and audio dramas.