|
|
 |
|
December 2007 Selection: The Lies of Locke Lamora
By: Scott Lynch
Copyright: 2006
|
|
|
|
|
About the Book:
An orphan's life is harsh - and often short - in the island city of Camorr, built on the ruins of a mysterious alien race. But born with a quick wit and a gift for thieving, Locke Lamora has dodged both death and slavery, only to fall into the hands of an eyeless priest known as Chains - a man who is neither blind nor a priest.
A con artist of extraordinary talent, Chains passes his skills on to his carefully selected "family" of orphans - a group known as the Gentlemen Bastards. Under his tutelage, Locke grows to lead the Bastards, delightedly pulling off one outrageous confidence game after another. Soon he is infamous as the Thorn of Camorr, and no wealthy noble is safe from his sting
Passing themselves off as petty thieves, the brilliant Locke and his tightly knit band of light-fingered brothers have fooled even the criminal underworld's most feared ruler, Capa Barsavi. But there is someone in the shadows more powerful - and more ambitious - than Locke has yet imagined.
Known as the Gray King, he is slowly killing Capa Barsavi's most trusted men - and using Locke as a pawn in his plot to take control of Camorr's underworld. With a bloody coup under way threatening to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the Gray King at his own brutal game - or die trying.
|
|
Related Web sites:
Scott Lynch's official site for this series
Wikipedia page for this book
SFFWorld interview with Scott Lynch
Interview with Scott Lynch at RandomHouse.com
If You Like The Lies of Locke Lamora, Try:
Heroes Die
By: Matt Stover. 1998.
American Gods
By: Neil Gaiman. 2001.
Banewreaker
By: Jacqueline Carey. 2004.
The Darkness That Comes Before
By: R. Scott Bakker. 2003.
Young Miles
By: Lois McMaster Bujold. 2003.
|
|
Reader Comments:
For readers who enjoy a well constructed world fleshed out by eccentric characters who excel in dubious professions, this is the novel for you. Locke Lamora is an orphan sold into slavery to a thieflord. Soon, the thieflord discovers how audacious this little orphan is, and unloads him on a small group of con-men. The story progresses through Locke Lamora's life and culminates in his biggest con ever. Little does he know that someone else is coveting that which he has. Power plays, mummery, twists and turns, and an ending that comes as a complete surprise. The Lies of Locke Lamora has it all, in this author's first novel. Similar titles: If you can imagine a fabulously realized Victorian world like that of David Liss (Conspiracy of Paper) mixed with the Sci-Fi feeling of a city left behind by a past race, you'll enjoy the setting for this book. Fans of Stephen Brust's Vlad Taltos books will like Locke Lamora. -- Sean S.
staff member in the Virtual Services department.
|
|
