Love for Lynch's 'The Lies of Locke Lamora'

Two blog posts from me in a single day is a first, but I just wanted to share a brief thought about a book coming out mid-2006 by Scott Lynch entitled The Lies of Locke Lamora. I finished a second reading of the manuscript earlier this week, and while I have agreed to hold back my more lengthy opinion of the book until early 2006, I do know there is a rather large amount of interest regarding this debut. If I'm not mistaken the UK proofs may be making their rounds now. Young Locke, 'The Thorn of Camor' is a unlikely combination of Arsene Lupin and Jack Dawkins, in a Dickensian setting that still has illuminating remnants that belies its previous alien origins. What struck me most is Lynch's ability to depict a wide amount of emotional atmosphere. Most books I have preferred as of late set a single - and often times brilliant -- emotional and atmospheric tone, but Lynch delivers from tones one would think to find in a 18th century romantic locale to scenes that make me think of the movie PayBack, and does so seamlessly. Humor, remorse, vengeance, mischievousness, loyalty, deceit, bravery, love - Lynch serves it all up and more. More detail both positive and negative later; but my reread was as delightful as my introduction, and it read with in a manner depicting a crafty subtlety that's not the norm from many debuts. A adventurous rump of a reading experience, I can't wait for the continuation of the adventures of the Gentlemen Bastards in 'Red Seas Under Red Skies'. Jay The Bodhisattva Bodhisattva Science Fiction & Fantasy Reviews amd Interviews