Announcing THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA Read Along!
Gollancz is delighted to team up with Fantasy-Faction for our Gentleman Bastard series read along. We know many of you are as excited as we are for the upcoming publication of The Republic of Thieves and thought now was the perfect time to have a look back at the series so far. Without further ado, we turn you over to your host, the brilliant Marc Aplin of Fantasy-Faction to discuss our read along.
Welcome everyone to the announcement of our Read Along of Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard series. Gollancz have asked the young, handsome, charismatic Marc Aplin of Fantasy-Faction to be your host for an in-depth Read Along of one of modern fantasy’s most celebrated works (gotta love being invited to write your own introduction, right?J). For 12 weeks from August 12th 2013, right here on the Gollancz blog, we’ll be inviting you to join us as we make our way through The Lies of Locke Lamora, Red Seas under Red Skies and The Republic of Thieves.
Firstly, this isn’t going to be your typical read along; no way! In true Gollancz Geeks and Fantasy-Faction style we want to make this a community event. We want to invite each and every one of you – whether you’ve read and enjoyed the series before or are reading it for the first time – to take part in the journey. Before I explain how things will work though, here’s a reminder or, indeed, introduction as to what Scott Lynch’s work has in store:
They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he’s part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count.
Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning. He steals from the rich – they’re the only ones worth stealing from – but the poor can go steal for themselves. What Locke cons, wheedles and tricks into his possession is strictly for him and his band of fellow con-artists and thieves: the Gentleman Bastards.
Together their domain is the city of Camorr. Built of Elderglass by a race no-one remembers, it’s a city of shifting revels, filthy canals, baroque palaces and crowded cemeteries. Home to Dons, merchants, soldiers, beggars, cripples, and feral children. And to Capa Barsavi, the criminal mastermind who runs the city.
But there are whispers of a challenge to the Capa’s power. A challenge from a man no one has ever seen, a man no blade can touch. The Grey King is coming.
A man would be well advised not to be caught between Capa Barsavi and The Grey King. Even such a master of the sword as the Thorn of Camorr. As for Locke Lamora . . .
So, now that I have your attention: why should you read along with us and not on your own? Well, reading alone is fun, but reading along with a whole load of people is fun-er!!! Allow me to elaborate: every week I’ll be running over the events that have occurred in the book so far and discussing a number of things that readers may quite easily miss on a first read (overlooked characters, events, mentions of history and so on that will have a greater role later in the series). I will be welcoming each and every one of you to discuss with me and each other your thoughts on the World, pointing out things we may have missed and coming up with your own theories as to the full history behind Scott Lynch’s mysterious World.
In addition to all of that, Scott Lynch will be stopping by along the way for a number of reasons. Firstly, we’re hoping to get some answers from him to any questions about the books that we simply cannot answer ourselves. Secondly, we’re hoping to pick his brains a little as to what he was thinking / planning when certain things were written along the way and how he feels about them now (would be great if any of you could find any character/timeline inconsistencies! :P). And, finally, Scott will be talking a bit about The Republic of Thieves and what we can expect from the book when it’s released in October.
Sounds exciting, right? Well, now for the details: we’ll be reading through the three books, The Lies of Locke Lamora, Red Seas Under Red Skies and The Republic of Thieves, at a rate of about 4 chapters a week (there are about 16 in each in total – so it’ll take about a month per book). The aim is to finish The Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas Under Red Skies just in time to pick up and tackle The Republic of Thieves together in October.
My hopes for this event is that readers leave with a true understanding of Scott Lynch’s World and Characters that enriches their reading experience of one of the most anticipated fantasy books of all time.
But wait, there’s more! Gollancz are giving away 50 copies of The Lies of Locke Lamora to kick off the read along. You can sign up to be entered into our random draw to get your hands on a copy by filling out the form below, but hurry the random draw closes on 8th August at midnight. And Gollancz Geeks can look for a special email from us later today!