The Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch

In 2006, the fantasy genre welcomed the debut effort of Scott Lynch.  To almost unanimous praise, The Lies of Locke Lamora arrived, heralding the revival of something that the genre had been missing for a while.

Adventure.

Sure we've had our fair share of quests and epic showdowns.  Of romanticised worlds and quasi-European medievalism.  Of orphaned children taking on Kingdoms and Gods.  You see, somewhere along the way, someone took stock of what makes fantasy.  And the stock take showed a list of elements and plot devices that we're happy to trot out again and again.  Don't get me wrong, I believe the word derivative is overused when it comes to critiquing books.  In fact if you want to subscribe to Christopher Booker's theory, there may really only be seven stories to tell.  (I'll let you make your own mind up on that score.)  But this is also true: too often we forget what really lies at the heart of the fantasy genre.  The sense of wonder.  The feeling of adventure. In short, the fantastical.

And that is where Scott Lynch excels.

Now let's get a couple of things out of the way first.  Lynch's prose?  Great.  Clean.  Evocative. His dialogue?  Outstanding.  Both excellently written and always present in a way that serves the story.  Storytelling?  Second to none.

But here's what you really need to know.  Lynch is so good at all this, that he really doesn't need you to know it.  His greatest accomplishment as a writer is that he gets out of the way.  His sense of character is so well rounded that they drive the story more than any of the above.

What do you get when you read a Scott Lynch novel?  A feeling.  Too often I feel as though the science of writing is plain in what I'm reading.  I can appreciate it.  I can enjoy it, sometimes I can even marvel at the skill involved.  But what Lynch does as a writer, is remind you why you read. You're not impressed by his writing.  You're not overcome by his skill.  What you are, is in the story.

And the story?  Swashbuckling fun.  High adventure.  Wonder.  A rising sensation which is heightened along with the stakes, the feeling of a high stakes gambler who is fully invested in his hand.

Locke Lamora is someone you need to meet.  His story is an interesting one.  Raised by thieves in an extraordinary fellowship known as The Gentleman Bastards, he quickly becomes that part of the reader that exists in daydreams.  Profane.  Quick on his feet.  Dashing.  Daring.  And at the same time, all too fallible.  Too often becoming a caricature of himself, to his own detriment and downfall.

But here is the number one reason you need to get to know him.  Locke Lamora is the man who brought adventure back to fantasy.  Introduce yourself.  Have some fun.

My score - 9/10