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Low Town #1
Il guardiano della città perduta
Rigus è la città più bella delle Tredici Terre, un luogo senza tempo, con sontuose dimore dalle alte torri, meravigliose dame e giovani nobili annoiati, sempre pronti a sfidarsi a duello. Ma ogni luce ha la sua ombra, e perdendosi tra le ombre di Rigus si accede alla misteriosa Low Town, la città perduta, un labirinto tentacolare di stretti vicoli. Spacciatori, prostitute, bordelli, stregonerie e poliziotti corrotti, Low Town non è esattamente un bel posto, e il suo campione non è esattamente un brav’uomo. Eroe di guerra ed ex agente dei servizi segreti caduto in disgrazia, il Guardiano è ora un signore del crimine dedito al traffico di droga, che trascorre le giornate a caccia di nuovi clienti e lottando per difendere il suo territorio da pericolosi concorrenti. Ma un giorno, l’impressionante scoperta del cadavere di una bambina lo costringe a confrontarsi di nuovo con il passato che si era lasciato ormai alle spalle, e per difendere i suoi affetti rimarrà invischiato in un folle gioco d’inganni tra i boss della malavita e il capo della Black House, nella speranza di trovare la radice del male che sta consumando lui e la città stessa, prima che sia troppo tardi. Low Town, però, non è una città per i giusti e la verità è molto più oscura di quanto il Guardiano possa immaginare...
343 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
273 people are currently reading
10811 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Polansky
35 books1,249 followersDaniel Polansky is the author of the Low Town trilogy, Empty Throne duology, the Hugo-nominated novella The Builders, and A City Dreaming. He can be found in Los Angeles, mostly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 719 reviews
January 28, 2025
So - I was coming back on the train from my only day out in 8 years (I'd been to hook up with Peter Brett & Myke Cole in London) - a day out on which it must be said my daughter Celyn was hurried back to hospital, so ... I might have to wait another 8 years for the next - and Marc Aplin of fantasy-faction.com said 'Here, read this.' Or something to that effect, and slid a copy of The Straight Razor Cure across the table to me (the title and cover are infinitely better in the UK).
That was August. I started it just before Christmas and I've just finished it - which believe it or not is fast for me! To be honest I only started it because the book I was reading was upstairs and I was downstairs and if I tried to leave the room to get it Celyn would have woken up ... but this one was within arms' reach. I was quickly hooked. The intelligence and wit of the prose did the job within a few paragraphs.
Anyhow. It is as every review says 'a detective thriller in a noir fantasy setting'.
I found the writing to be exceptionally good. Very suited to my taste and very similar in style to what I aim for with my own. It has to be said that one of the most popular 2* reviews on this site is from a guy who loved my books and really didn't like Polansky's style. So opinions on that one are mixed!
Anyhow, the writing is concise, moody, witty, and captures what it sets after.
I liked reading about the main character. He's getting old, has bad habits, deals drugs, isn't the best at anything, but is dangerous and clever. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot. Several important items I guessed early on - perhaps they were telegraphed a little too strongly, perhaps I was just in tune with the story. Don't know.
I enjoyed the world-building. The society did borrow from some real world stereotypes maybe, but it's not a doorstop of a book and this form of shorthand is efficient in getting the reader's imagination to do some of the heavy lifting.
It wasn't a book that exercised me emotionally to a large degree - it wasn't without emotional content, but I wasn't hugely engaged on that level. Mostly I just wanted to have the crime solved!
Either way, it was a book that kept me coming back and rewarded my time by thoroughly entertaining me.
Give it a try!
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
That was August. I started it just before Christmas and I've just finished it - which believe it or not is fast for me! To be honest I only started it because the book I was reading was upstairs and I was downstairs and if I tried to leave the room to get it Celyn would have woken up ... but this one was within arms' reach. I was quickly hooked. The intelligence and wit of the prose did the job within a few paragraphs.
Anyhow. It is as every review says 'a detective thriller in a noir fantasy setting'.
I found the writing to be exceptionally good. Very suited to my taste and very similar in style to what I aim for with my own. It has to be said that one of the most popular 2* reviews on this site is from a guy who loved my books and really didn't like Polansky's style. So opinions on that one are mixed!
Anyhow, the writing is concise, moody, witty, and captures what it sets after.
I liked reading about the main character. He's getting old, has bad habits, deals drugs, isn't the best at anything, but is dangerous and clever. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot. Several important items I guessed early on - perhaps they were telegraphed a little too strongly, perhaps I was just in tune with the story. Don't know.
I enjoyed the world-building. The society did borrow from some real world stereotypes maybe, but it's not a doorstop of a book and this form of shorthand is efficient in getting the reader's imagination to do some of the heavy lifting.
It wasn't a book that exercised me emotionally to a large degree - it wasn't without emotional content, but I wasn't hugely engaged on that level. Mostly I just wanted to have the crime solved!
Either way, it was a book that kept me coming back and rewarded my time by thoroughly entertaining me.
Give it a try!
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
March 14, 2012
This is one of those books that I started reading as a palette cleanser between heavier, denser books. Polansky states that Hammett and Chandler were his inspiration for writing this book. Well alright, I love those guys. The back of the book says:
Drug dealers,
hustlers,
brothels,
dirty politics,
corrupt cops . . . and sorcery.
Welcome to Low Town
Sounds great right?
I've been a life time reader and usually have a pretty good filter. I don't get taken in by hype. I don't get in too much of a hurry to read the new hot book. I now have goodreads to help me make sure I don't spend my hard earned dollars on bad books. I was taken in by this book folks. It happens, but how was I to know that Daniel Polansky sleeps with Smurfs.
The book is just boring, bland, like eating a cheeseburger without the cheese or the pickles or the ketchup and certainly without the onion. The writing was simply uninspiring like it had been put through a polysyllable strainer leaving me to muddle through a monotonous, lifeless text.
I started this book during what turned out to be a really great basketball game between Florida St and Duke. I was reading during the commercials, so I was distracted. The cardboard taste of this book went down easier with the excitement of a close fought basketball game. By the time I realized that I had been bamboozled I was already in over a hundred pages. Absolutely nothing had happened. Polansky spends very little time world building. If the fantasy elements had been taken out of the book I'm not sure I would have noticed. If the hard boiled elements had been taken out of the books I don't think it would have changed anything one iota.
I have struggled with fantasy books in the past. Recently I couldn't get through Brent Weeks. There have been many other fantasy books that have been tossed aside never to be ventured near again. I would give up on the genre except for the fact that I love Jeff Vandermeer, China Mieville and Alan Campbell. Their books light up my brain like a pinball machine. A new writer who I think is fantastic is Mark Lawrence who released his first book last year called Prince of Thorns and the second book is coming out in August called King of Thorns. My advice pick up the Lawrence and give Polansky a pass.
I would challenge Daniel Polansky to a duel for the price that I paid for this book, but really is it the writer's fault? I mean he worked his pants off writing this book and it was the editor who decided this book needed to kill trees. So though it has been 20 years since I said ON GUARD (Kansan for en garde) in my fencing class in college, I would gladly don my equipment and whip a blade through the air once again to reclaim the money that rightful should have rewarded another writer.
Drug dealers,
hustlers,
brothels,
dirty politics,
corrupt cops . . . and sorcery.
Welcome to Low Town
Sounds great right?
I've been a life time reader and usually have a pretty good filter. I don't get taken in by hype. I don't get in too much of a hurry to read the new hot book. I now have goodreads to help me make sure I don't spend my hard earned dollars on bad books. I was taken in by this book folks. It happens, but how was I to know that Daniel Polansky sleeps with Smurfs.
The book is just boring, bland, like eating a cheeseburger without the cheese or the pickles or the ketchup and certainly without the onion. The writing was simply uninspiring like it had been put through a polysyllable strainer leaving me to muddle through a monotonous, lifeless text.
I started this book during what turned out to be a really great basketball game between Florida St and Duke. I was reading during the commercials, so I was distracted. The cardboard taste of this book went down easier with the excitement of a close fought basketball game. By the time I realized that I had been bamboozled I was already in over a hundred pages. Absolutely nothing had happened. Polansky spends very little time world building. If the fantasy elements had been taken out of the book I'm not sure I would have noticed. If the hard boiled elements had been taken out of the books I don't think it would have changed anything one iota.
I have struggled with fantasy books in the past. Recently I couldn't get through Brent Weeks. There have been many other fantasy books that have been tossed aside never to be ventured near again. I would give up on the genre except for the fact that I love Jeff Vandermeer, China Mieville and Alan Campbell. Their books light up my brain like a pinball machine. A new writer who I think is fantastic is Mark Lawrence who released his first book last year called Prince of Thorns and the second book is coming out in August called King of Thorns. My advice pick up the Lawrence and give Polansky a pass.
I would challenge Daniel Polansky to a duel for the price that I paid for this book, but really is it the writer's fault? I mean he worked his pants off writing this book and it was the editor who decided this book needed to kill trees. So though it has been 20 years since I said ON GUARD (Kansan for en garde) in my fencing class in college, I would gladly don my equipment and whip a blade through the air once again to reclaim the money that rightful should have rewarded another writer.
June 6, 2015
Low Town is one part Abercrombie’s Last Argument of Kings, one part Block’s 8 Million Ways to Die (review), seasoned with enough drug use to power A Scanner Darkly. It was unexpectedly engaging.
The Warden runs the dreamsnake and pixie’s breath drug trade in Low Town, the ghetto area of Rigus.
Low Town was decimated by plague years ago; survivors have grown up, moved on, but still carry the horror of those days with them. The Warden is a street-smart survivor of those years. He went on to survive a brutal war conquering a neighboring city and a stint with the city’s law enforcement. He’s since lost his position as an agent, but his habit of sampling the product he sells helps him forget. When he discovers the mangled body of a dead Low Town child, he’s drawn into the investigation.
I’m not often a fan of the anti-hero narrator. Most authors are good at developing the ‘anti-‘ but seem unable to develop the subtlety that brings the ‘hero’ part to the formula. Polansky did an excellent job of balancing the line, showing us a functioning addict who is occasionally despicable, but occasionally capable of goodness. Like many noir mysteries, the Warden is a man who has fallen from grace, except he takes an angry kind of pride in his ability to survive the streets. Some might find the rest of the cast to be tend towards the stereotypical side of detective fiction. I’m not sure I’d entirely disagree, but I think what matters in a genre heavily influenced by tropes is the ability to elevate characterization above simple definitions. The Warden is flawed enough that I didn’t admire him and found some actions despicable, but yet I wanted to read more. His backstory was woven in well, giving insight to his character as well as the fantasy world. It’s interesting that the reason he gives for leaving the government’s service isn’t explored further, but perhaps that’s being saved for the sequels.
I did feel the world was a little medieval European generic, but honestly, many authors who set noir in fantasy worlds don’t focus on the setting as much as the mood and character. To me, this was one of the weaker points of Low Town. Polansky did a reasonable job of making the rough-and-tumble of Low Town clear, as well as particular locations needful to the story, but I didn’t have as much sense of the fantastical ingredients or even the political structure of the city, just the relationship of the law enforcement agencies to the criminals. But, in a way, it really is the untutored viewpoint of a person who has lived his life in a very narrow environment, only leaving it for war. He has a lot of class bitterness without great insight into the structure overall that might help the reader differentiate the world.
Overall, an interesting read. In some ways, I’m not sure I would have continued reading if it would have been set in the here and now–say in Detroit, with weed and crack replacing the dreamgrass and pixie’s breath, with payoffs to local cops and fearing investigation by the DEA. It’s very gritty noir, and yet I found it more palatable than most. It rather surprises me that Low Town hasn’t come across my radar more often, as the genre of grim fantasy is enjoying unprecedented popularity and this seems like a book that would appeal to many of my book-world friends. I’ll be looking to read the next book in the series.
The Warden runs the dreamsnake and pixie’s breath drug trade in Low Town, the ghetto area of Rigus.
Low Town was decimated by plague years ago; survivors have grown up, moved on, but still carry the horror of those days with them. The Warden is a street-smart survivor of those years. He went on to survive a brutal war conquering a neighboring city and a stint with the city’s law enforcement. He’s since lost his position as an agent, but his habit of sampling the product he sells helps him forget. When he discovers the mangled body of a dead Low Town child, he’s drawn into the investigation.
I’m not often a fan of the anti-hero narrator. Most authors are good at developing the ‘anti-‘ but seem unable to develop the subtlety that brings the ‘hero’ part to the formula. Polansky did an excellent job of balancing the line, showing us a functioning addict who is occasionally despicable, but occasionally capable of goodness. Like many noir mysteries, the Warden is a man who has fallen from grace, except he takes an angry kind of pride in his ability to survive the streets. Some might find the rest of the cast to be tend towards the stereotypical side of detective fiction. I’m not sure I’d entirely disagree, but I think what matters in a genre heavily influenced by tropes is the ability to elevate characterization above simple definitions. The Warden is flawed enough that I didn’t admire him and found some actions despicable, but yet I wanted to read more. His backstory was woven in well, giving insight to his character as well as the fantasy world. It’s interesting that the reason he gives for leaving the government’s service isn’t explored further, but perhaps that’s being saved for the sequels.
I did feel the world was a little medieval European generic, but honestly, many authors who set noir in fantasy worlds don’t focus on the setting as much as the mood and character. To me, this was one of the weaker points of Low Town. Polansky did a reasonable job of making the rough-and-tumble of Low Town clear, as well as particular locations needful to the story, but I didn’t have as much sense of the fantastical ingredients or even the political structure of the city, just the relationship of the law enforcement agencies to the criminals. But, in a way, it really is the untutored viewpoint of a person who has lived his life in a very narrow environment, only leaving it for war. He has a lot of class bitterness without great insight into the structure overall that might help the reader differentiate the world.
Overall, an interesting read. In some ways, I’m not sure I would have continued reading if it would have been set in the here and now–say in Detroit, with weed and crack replacing the dreamgrass and pixie’s breath, with payoffs to local cops and fearing investigation by the DEA. It’s very gritty noir, and yet I found it more palatable than most. It rather surprises me that Low Town hasn’t come across my radar more often, as the genre of grim fantasy is enjoying unprecedented popularity and this seems like a book that would appeal to many of my book-world friends. I’ll be looking to read the next book in the series.
November 4, 2018
Not bad for a first novel that has an ugly addict as the main protagonist ,,,
Apart from the warden the other characters are underdeveloped,,,
Although there is magic,it's unclear how it works "Sanderson"spoiled us with his cool magic systems,,,
I knew from the beginning who the culprits were but i was unclear on the motive...
Overall it was a nice read: direct and to the point , i hope the next one is better.
Apart from the warden the other characters are underdeveloped,,,
Although there is magic,it's unclear how it works "Sanderson"spoiled us with his cool magic systems,,,
I knew from the beginning who the culprits were but i was unclear on the motive...
Overall it was a nice read: direct and to the point , i hope the next one is better.
January 13, 2022
· This One Sounds Deliciously Dark Buddy Read (TOSDDBR™) with Cathy and Robin ·
Actual rating: 2.5 stars.
I read this book because Daniel Polansky = The Builders, which was slightly awesome despite all its characters being silly animals. Hence the present disappointment and current dumbfoundation. The truth is, this little story here has me a teensy bit confused:
۰ I did not like this book.
۰ I did not not like this book.
۰ I may read the next one in the series.
۰ I may not read the next one in the series.
۰ I might be slightly hesitant and a little unsure about this one.
۰ I might not be not slightly hesitant and a little unsure about this one.
This book isn't bad. It's well written. It's deliciously dark. It's character based, which I always find super yummy. The world has potential. The atmosphere has an exquisite Victorian/Jack the Ripperish feel. BUT.
① The pace is so uneven it made me think I was suffering from ADHD. One minute the story was gripping and captivating and stuff, and the next I was skimming away like a maniac. Towards the end I think I skimmed more than I read. Sigh. The story might have been more interesting and faster paced, had the author focused a bit more on developing the world vs. trying waaayyyyyy too hard to make an atmospheric read of it. But he didn't, so it didn't.
② The MC is as emotional as a truckload of bricks. That's the case of most characters in this story, actually. What makes it worse in the MC's case is that he is an insensitive bastard. And an egotistical asshole, too. I lurrrve my aggravating anti-heroes but this is one of these guys you just can't bring yourself to care about. Bloody hell, this was so bad I couldn't even bring myself to hate him with glee! Now ain't that a depressing thought, my Little Barnacles? Plus, the guy is boring as hell. He's a non-stop rambler. He's blah blah blah-ing with himself all the time. Which is something it I never fail to find extremely compelling. So yay and stuff. But what really really really really sucks here is that this guy could have been an awesome, harem-worthy character. He's an ex war hero/special ops agent/investigator/whatever turned addict/ drug dealer/dark overlord wannabe for shrimp's sake! I should have fallen head over heels for the guy! And done the Poof Gone Harem Thing (PGHT™) on him! But Polansky ruined his wondrous potential, so I didn't. What a rip-off.
As you should, Mr Polansky, as you should.
③ The whole freaking book is an emotional flatland. I didn't give a damn about any of the characters. Their development is as lacking as the world's. They are one-dimensional, bland and feel completely lifeless. One character could have, if not saved the story, then at least made it more engaging. But it didn't happen. Mostly because the reader is not given enough information for said character to make sense. And because said characters' actions towards the end of the book were as predictable as they were puzzling. And I wish I could explain what I mean by that and tell you more about Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler (not the character's real name, in case you were wondering) and why he/she/whatever/surprise surprise isn't coherent but spoiler spoiler spoiler and stuff. Suffice it to say that I now realize Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler is the only character that might have tempted me to read book 2. Uh-oh. Looks likes the to-read shelf life of this series has just been dramatically shortened.
Well this didn't go quite as planned. When I started writing this fascinating review, I'd decided to go for a 3-star rating and to continue with the series. Now I'm struggling NOT to lower my rating to 2 miserable little stars. But The Builders + I'm feeling uncharacteristically lenient today = I'll leave it at3 2.5. As for the rest of the series, well…
Get it? Good.
» And the moral of this Bloody Hell It's a Miracle Robin and I Agree about a non-IA Book Life will Never Be the Same Crappy Non Review (BHIaMRaIAaanIBLwNBtSCNR™) is: I have no shrimping idea. You read it and tell me, my Little Barnacles. I'd love nothing more than to be enlightened by one of your ever-insightful reviews ← hahahaha. I'm so funny sometimes.
Actual rating: 2.5 stars.
I read this book because Daniel Polansky = The Builders, which was slightly awesome despite all its characters being silly animals. Hence the present disappointment and current dumbfoundation. The truth is, this little story here has me a teensy bit confused:
۰ I did not like this book.
۰ I did not not like this book.
۰ I may read the next one in the series.
۰ I may not read the next one in the series.
۰ I might be slightly hesitant and a little unsure about this one.
۰ I might not be not slightly hesitant and a little unsure about this one.
This book isn't bad. It's well written. It's deliciously dark. It's character based, which I always find super yummy. The world has potential. The atmosphere has an exquisite Victorian/Jack the Ripperish feel. BUT.
① The pace is so uneven it made me think I was suffering from ADHD. One minute the story was gripping and captivating and stuff, and the next I was skimming away like a maniac. Towards the end I think I skimmed more than I read. Sigh. The story might have been more interesting and faster paced, had the author focused a bit more on developing the world vs. trying waaayyyyyy too hard to make an atmospheric read of it. But he didn't, so it didn't.
② The MC is as emotional as a truckload of bricks. That's the case of most characters in this story, actually. What makes it worse in the MC's case is that he is an insensitive bastard. And an egotistical asshole, too. I lurrrve my aggravating anti-heroes but this is one of these guys you just can't bring yourself to care about. Bloody hell, this was so bad I couldn't even bring myself to hate him with glee! Now ain't that a depressing thought, my Little Barnacles? Plus, the guy is boring as hell. He's a non-stop rambler. He's blah blah blah-ing with himself all the time. Which is something it I never fail to find extremely compelling. So yay and stuff. But what really really really really sucks here is that this guy could have been an awesome, harem-worthy character. He's an ex war hero/special ops agent/investigator/whatever turned addict/ drug dealer/dark overlord wannabe for shrimp's sake! I should have fallen head over heels for the guy! And done the Poof Gone Harem Thing (PGHT™) on him! But Polansky ruined his wondrous potential, so I didn't. What a rip-off.
As you should, Mr Polansky, as you should.
③ The whole freaking book is an emotional flatland. I didn't give a damn about any of the characters. Their development is as lacking as the world's. They are one-dimensional, bland and feel completely lifeless. One character could have, if not saved the story, then at least made it more engaging. But it didn't happen. Mostly because the reader is not given enough information for said character to make sense. And because said characters' actions towards the end of the book were as predictable as they were puzzling. And I wish I could explain what I mean by that and tell you more about Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler (not the character's real name, in case you were wondering) and why he/she/whatever/surprise surprise isn't coherent but spoiler spoiler spoiler and stuff. Suffice it to say that I now realize Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler is the only character that might have tempted me to read book 2. Uh-oh. Looks likes the to-read shelf life of this series has just been dramatically shortened.
Well this didn't go quite as planned. When I started writing this fascinating review, I'd decided to go for a 3-star rating and to continue with the series. Now I'm struggling NOT to lower my rating to 2 miserable little stars. But The Builders + I'm feeling uncharacteristically lenient today = I'll leave it at
Get it? Good.
» And the moral of this Bloody Hell It's a Miracle Robin and I Agree about a non-IA Book Life will Never Be the Same Crappy Non Review (BHIaMRaIAaanIBLwNBtSCNR™) is: I have no shrimping idea. You read it and tell me, my Little Barnacles. I'd love nothing more than to be enlightened by one of your ever-insightful reviews ← hahahaha. I'm so funny sometimes.
August 22, 2017
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
A noir crime story set in a fantasy setting Low Town is a dark tale of drug dealers, realistic politics, corrupt cops, and vile sorcery. And while this is Daniel Polansky’s debut novel, it does not read that way at all, but displays the deft touch of a master storyteller, which is why it is a must read for all fans of grimdark.
In the ugly, dirty, and crime infested section of the finest city in the Thirteen Lands lies Low Town: a place few willing call home. And it is here that the Warden resides, using his cynical, streetwise, and violent skills to rule this slum as a crime lord. His days spent dealing drugs; his nights filled with turf wars for control; and the profits he makes from the drugs he deals paying off the guards to look the other way and setting him up in a bearable life.
But there is more to the Warden than meets the eyes. His past filled with unexpected friends, surprising triumphs, and mysterious falls from grace. All his varied experiences making him the perfect person to deal with a series of child murders in Low Town. The fact that children are dying in the slums not unusual, but the how and the why what draws the Warden into the dangerous game being played by powers seemingly beyond him, reinforcing to him yet again that in Low Town no one can ever be trusted!
Like many fantasy readers, I enjoy stories dealing with anti-heroes. Nothing against heroes, but there just aren’t that many out there these days whose causes are my own. (That happens as you get older and the world moves on I understand.) So the Warden immediately grabbed my attention. Daniel Polansky having created the perfect anti-hero for my tastes: A drug dealer and mafia boss who does despicable things yet still manages to retain some small portion of innate goodness, which rears its head occasionally. This guy’s shadowy past only slowly revealed and creating more questions than it truly answered. The constant evolution of who the Warden is and why he does what he does keeping me riveted to the pages.
But if I’m being completely honest (And you want me to be, right?), it was the noir crime plot line which I adored even more than the mysterious Warden. The constant clues, frantic search for answers, struggles with dirty guardsmen, devious secret police, and corrupt nobles, and the desperate desire to uncover the true murderers mesmerizing me. No doubt, much of this infatuation was due to my unfamiliarity with noir crime fiction, so this type of story line was very fresh and unique for me personally (though I know it won’t be for others out there); the tropes Polansky undoubtedly utilized from this other genre not turn offs but turn ons for me personally. Be that as it may, Low Town was the exact addictive brew I desired.
The only weakness in this narrative would have to be the minimal amount of magic or fantastical elements. Yes, there were magic users, a few paranormal creatures even, but Low Town and its surrounds were so normal most of the time that it was difficult for me to maintain my belief that this story was taking place in a fantasy world at all. Others might not find this an issue at all, preferring low magic settings, but I could have used a little more of the fantastical in my fantasy, if you know what I mean.
Overall, this was a great read, one of my favorites from the recent past. Low Town providing me with a strong dose of grimdark yet blending it so well with noir crime that it provided me with an exhilarating hit of something fresh and exciting. I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series, and I highly encourage those who haven’t already done so to go out find this book and give Polansky a try, because this author is a damn fine crafter of stories.
A noir crime story set in a fantasy setting Low Town is a dark tale of drug dealers, realistic politics, corrupt cops, and vile sorcery. And while this is Daniel Polansky’s debut novel, it does not read that way at all, but displays the deft touch of a master storyteller, which is why it is a must read for all fans of grimdark.
In the ugly, dirty, and crime infested section of the finest city in the Thirteen Lands lies Low Town: a place few willing call home. And it is here that the Warden resides, using his cynical, streetwise, and violent skills to rule this slum as a crime lord. His days spent dealing drugs; his nights filled with turf wars for control; and the profits he makes from the drugs he deals paying off the guards to look the other way and setting him up in a bearable life.
But there is more to the Warden than meets the eyes. His past filled with unexpected friends, surprising triumphs, and mysterious falls from grace. All his varied experiences making him the perfect person to deal with a series of child murders in Low Town. The fact that children are dying in the slums not unusual, but the how and the why what draws the Warden into the dangerous game being played by powers seemingly beyond him, reinforcing to him yet again that in Low Town no one can ever be trusted!
Like many fantasy readers, I enjoy stories dealing with anti-heroes. Nothing against heroes, but there just aren’t that many out there these days whose causes are my own. (That happens as you get older and the world moves on I understand.) So the Warden immediately grabbed my attention. Daniel Polansky having created the perfect anti-hero for my tastes: A drug dealer and mafia boss who does despicable things yet still manages to retain some small portion of innate goodness, which rears its head occasionally. This guy’s shadowy past only slowly revealed and creating more questions than it truly answered. The constant evolution of who the Warden is and why he does what he does keeping me riveted to the pages.
But if I’m being completely honest (And you want me to be, right?), it was the noir crime plot line which I adored even more than the mysterious Warden. The constant clues, frantic search for answers, struggles with dirty guardsmen, devious secret police, and corrupt nobles, and the desperate desire to uncover the true murderers mesmerizing me. No doubt, much of this infatuation was due to my unfamiliarity with noir crime fiction, so this type of story line was very fresh and unique for me personally (though I know it won’t be for others out there); the tropes Polansky undoubtedly utilized from this other genre not turn offs but turn ons for me personally. Be that as it may, Low Town was the exact addictive brew I desired.
The only weakness in this narrative would have to be the minimal amount of magic or fantastical elements. Yes, there were magic users, a few paranormal creatures even, but Low Town and its surrounds were so normal most of the time that it was difficult for me to maintain my belief that this story was taking place in a fantasy world at all. Others might not find this an issue at all, preferring low magic settings, but I could have used a little more of the fantastical in my fantasy, if you know what I mean.
Overall, this was a great read, one of my favorites from the recent past. Low Town providing me with a strong dose of grimdark yet blending it so well with noir crime that it provided me with an exhilarating hit of something fresh and exciting. I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series, and I highly encourage those who haven’t already done so to go out find this book and give Polansky a try, because this author is a damn fine crafter of stories.
December 11, 2016
This is the hardest book that I’ve had to rate in a long time.
Actual Writing = 4.5 Stars
Story = sometimes 5 Stars, sometimes 1 Star
Characters = again sometimes 5 Stars, sometimes 1 Star
World = A solid 4 Stars
Pacing = 3 Stars
Me reading this = 2 Stars.
I have no idea what that adds up to really. So for now I’m going to go with 2 Stars since I couldn’t even remember the main characters name.
I honestly feel a little bad that I didn’t like this. I mean the writing is there. It is really the type of writing style that I generally enjoy with some real depth to it.
But I can’t exactly put my finger on what was missing for me. Maybe it is as simple as missing a bit of humor to lighten the very dark tone of the book. I can root for just about anybody if they also make me laugh here and there. But the main character, The Warden (I’m not actually sure we ever learn his real name), is a dark and depressing kind of guy. He was once on the side of law and order but has since fallen to the wayside and now he is a drug dealer who has to use his own products just to get through the day.
I found him really hard to connect to. Sometime you have characters like that and they are made more human by those that surround them. Sometimes that worked out and other time he seemed more of a jerk because of those surrounding him.
I think my main issues were:
- I never connected to the Warden. He is so broken and I should love him as a have a penchant for broken characters that need to be saved. But I never wanted to save him.
- There is 0% romance in this. It is completely absent except for the crush of a girl from The Wardens past that was unrequited there wasn’t even a glimmer of hope for a smidge of romance even in the future. I don’t have to have much but I like to have a ‘ship’ of some sort in almost everything I read.
- The secondary characters aren’t fleshed out very well. There is this instant going into the end and I’m trying to buy into why someone is taking children to sacrifice them and I didn’t have enough there to just go with it.
- The characters I liked the most are a bar owner and his wife and they got very little page time in this book.
Overall I’m going to say that this just isn’t my particular cup-o-tea. Maybe I’d like The Warden more if he was an addict trying to survive and crawl his way out of the gutter. Or maybe I’d like him more if he was just a drug dealer that didn’t use his own product but for some reason the combination of the two just didn’t work for me and at no point in the story did he even try to give up the drugs. He lived off them and needed them to get through the day. It really interrupted my attempt to care about him.
This is one of the few series that I think at book 1 I’ve decided it isn’t for me and I won’t be continuing. But I do want to say that the writing is very well done and if these things don’t bother you in you reading it might still work for you.
Audio Note: The voice of Rob Shapiro was melodic and hypnotizing. He did a great job with the narration of the story.
Actual Writing = 4.5 Stars
Story = sometimes 5 Stars, sometimes 1 Star
Characters = again sometimes 5 Stars, sometimes 1 Star
World = A solid 4 Stars
Pacing = 3 Stars
Me reading this = 2 Stars.
I have no idea what that adds up to really. So for now I’m going to go with 2 Stars since I couldn’t even remember the main characters name.
I honestly feel a little bad that I didn’t like this. I mean the writing is there. It is really the type of writing style that I generally enjoy with some real depth to it.
“The dangerous men were still asleep, their blades sheathed next to their beds. The really dangerous men had been up for hours, and their quills and ledgers were getting hard use.”
And
“There are some things a man can’t fake, and lethality is one of them—a lapdog might learn to howl, even bare its teeth on occasion, but that don’t make it a wolf.”
But I can’t exactly put my finger on what was missing for me. Maybe it is as simple as missing a bit of humor to lighten the very dark tone of the book. I can root for just about anybody if they also make me laugh here and there. But the main character, The Warden (I’m not actually sure we ever learn his real name), is a dark and depressing kind of guy. He was once on the side of law and order but has since fallen to the wayside and now he is a drug dealer who has to use his own products just to get through the day.
I found him really hard to connect to. Sometime you have characters like that and they are made more human by those that surround them. Sometimes that worked out and other time he seemed more of a jerk because of those surrounding him.
I think my main issues were:
- I never connected to the Warden. He is so broken and I should love him as a have a penchant for broken characters that need to be saved. But I never wanted to save him.
- There is 0% romance in this. It is completely absent except for the crush of a girl from The Wardens past that was unrequited there wasn’t even a glimmer of hope for a smidge of romance even in the future. I don’t have to have much but I like to have a ‘ship’ of some sort in almost everything I read.
- The secondary characters aren’t fleshed out very well. There is this instant going into the end and I’m trying to buy into why someone is taking children to sacrifice them and I didn’t have enough there to just go with it.
- The characters I liked the most are a bar owner and his wife and they got very little page time in this book.
Overall I’m going to say that this just isn’t my particular cup-o-tea. Maybe I’d like The Warden more if he was an addict trying to survive and crawl his way out of the gutter. Or maybe I’d like him more if he was just a drug dealer that didn’t use his own product but for some reason the combination of the two just didn’t work for me and at no point in the story did he even try to give up the drugs. He lived off them and needed them to get through the day. It really interrupted my attempt to care about him.
This is one of the few series that I think at book 1 I’ve decided it isn’t for me and I won’t be continuing. But I do want to say that the writing is very well done and if these things don’t bother you in you reading it might still work for you.
Audio Note: The voice of Rob Shapiro was melodic and hypnotizing. He did a great job with the narration of the story.
November 25, 2017
2.5*'s.
I'm not a big fan of Noir fiction. It has to be exceptional for me to embrace it. However I love GrimDark and the Low Town series is quite iconic within the genre. I was aware of this going in however I wasn't aware another buddy read I committed to Blackwing by Ed McDonald was also both Noir and Grimdark. The similarities between the two end there, however doing two books of this style at once when I might do one per year was a bit much.
Overall I like the world of this book. I like the dubious nature of the characters. The story was what you would expect for the combined nature of these two genres fused together along with an urban fantasy nature as well. Lots of drugs, thugs, street urchins, corrupt cops.......
For me personally it was just OK. I think somebody who likes Noir will really like this. Dresden files (a DNF after book 2 for me) and Hellequin readers for certain. I will continue the series to see where it ends up but if book two doesn't improve I'm done.
I'm not a big fan of Noir fiction. It has to be exceptional for me to embrace it. However I love GrimDark and the Low Town series is quite iconic within the genre. I was aware of this going in however I wasn't aware another buddy read I committed to Blackwing by Ed McDonald was also both Noir and Grimdark. The similarities between the two end there, however doing two books of this style at once when I might do one per year was a bit much.
Overall I like the world of this book. I like the dubious nature of the characters. The story was what you would expect for the combined nature of these two genres fused together along with an urban fantasy nature as well. Lots of drugs, thugs, street urchins, corrupt cops.......
For me personally it was just OK. I think somebody who likes Noir will really like this. Dresden files (a DNF after book 2 for me) and Hellequin readers for certain. I will continue the series to see where it ends up but if book two doesn't improve I'm done.
February 9, 2017
Dirty noir fantasy, featuring drugs, dead children, plague, and revenge, now featuring dirty cops and cocky evil nobles and a crowded world of blades, sorcery, and mystery.
The novel is very successful in its world-building. The place is even more interesting and claustrophobic than the characters, and this is pretty much a character-driven tale where no one is quite good enough. I mean, how heroic is it going to be when a main character is a drug pusher?
And yet, when push comes to shove, deeper motivations such as stopping the deaths of children does transcend most petty or old beefs, but that's not to say that everything gets resolved neatly, because nothing is ever clean in this fantasy.
The name should give it away. :)
I enjoyed this book mostly for its conception, but it did hit me viscerally with all the kid's deaths. The characters could have pulled me in more, perhaps, but I certainly didn't dislike the novel. If you love dirty fantasy noir, then you'll certainly enjoy this. The MC's aren't OP. They're generally in over their heads and do the best they can. The gritty realism is the biggest selling point. :)
The novel is very successful in its world-building. The place is even more interesting and claustrophobic than the characters, and this is pretty much a character-driven tale where no one is quite good enough. I mean, how heroic is it going to be when a main character is a drug pusher?
And yet, when push comes to shove, deeper motivations such as stopping the deaths of children does transcend most petty or old beefs, but that's not to say that everything gets resolved neatly, because nothing is ever clean in this fantasy.
The name should give it away. :)
I enjoyed this book mostly for its conception, but it did hit me viscerally with all the kid's deaths. The characters could have pulled me in more, perhaps, but I certainly didn't dislike the novel. If you love dirty fantasy noir, then you'll certainly enjoy this. The MC's aren't OP. They're generally in over their heads and do the best they can. The gritty realism is the biggest selling point. :)
June 22, 2024
Danger and deceit. Gangsters and magic. Noir and crime thriller mixed in this urban low fantasy.
Sorry, but this is a poor man's Priest of Bones. Walmart or the Aldi's version. 😆
This gritty story follows Warden, an ex-Crown agent and Low Town drug lord who stumbles upon the body of a murdered child within his territory. This drives Warden to confront his mysterious past, which ultimately affects the streets of Low Town. ⚫️
Overall, this was alright. Not too good and not too bad. This noir, murder mystery, and urban fantasy concoction were indeed interesting, but the story never had that defining "oomph" moment I was looking for. I certainly thought this was right up my alley because of the premise and atmosphere. Polansky was great at painting the grim setting, and the way he incorporated noir elements complemented that aspect. Also, I'd like to say Polanksy's got beautiful prose! Elegant, blunt, and in-your-face. The penwork was very good. ✍️
I stayed entirely for Warden. He carried this whole damn story. He's a complex and morally ambiguous character who's a bit of an edgelord lol. Warden's hunter/guardian duality and his cynical outlook were the best parts in the story. At first, I had a difficult time understanding his motives and why this drug-snorting gangster cared so much about a murdered kid. Slowly but surely, the pieces fall into place, and beneath it all is a broken man who has to navigate between his troubled past and his pursuit of justice. All engaging, at the very least! 🚬
I wished this was more emotionally impactful and the plot more explosive. It's still a good, short read, but I won't be continuing the series. 🚫
Sorry, but this is a poor man's Priest of Bones. Walmart or the Aldi's version. 😆
This gritty story follows Warden, an ex-Crown agent and Low Town drug lord who stumbles upon the body of a murdered child within his territory. This drives Warden to confront his mysterious past, which ultimately affects the streets of Low Town. ⚫️
"There are some things a man can't fake, and lethality is one of them—a lapdog might learn to howl, even bare its teeth on occasion, but that don't make it a wolf."
Overall, this was alright. Not too good and not too bad. This noir, murder mystery, and urban fantasy concoction were indeed interesting, but the story never had that defining "oomph" moment I was looking for. I certainly thought this was right up my alley because of the premise and atmosphere. Polansky was great at painting the grim setting, and the way he incorporated noir elements complemented that aspect. Also, I'd like to say Polanksy's got beautiful prose! Elegant, blunt, and in-your-face. The penwork was very good. ✍️
"If the human race has ever invented an institution more effective in the propagation of intellectual and ethical cripples than the nobility, I have yet to stumble across it."
I stayed entirely for Warden. He carried this whole damn story. He's a complex and morally ambiguous character who's a bit of an edgelord lol. Warden's hunter/guardian duality and his cynical outlook were the best parts in the story. At first, I had a difficult time understanding his motives and why this drug-snorting gangster cared so much about a murdered kid. Slowly but surely, the pieces fall into place, and beneath it all is a broken man who has to navigate between his troubled past and his pursuit of justice. All engaging, at the very least! 🚬
"Rare is the situation that requires the full range of one's perceptions, and in general the world is improved by being only dimly visible."
I wished this was more emotionally impactful and the plot more explosive. It's still a good, short read, but I won't be continuing the series. 🚫
February 9, 2023
A real genre blender—gritty noir secondary-world urban fantasy with a hard-boiled ex-detective-turned-drug-dealer-slash-slum-hero lead—and a thrilling ride. Shout out to my book bud Oldman_JE for the recommendation. You were right; Polansky's writing craft is hot. I particularly savoured his similes, like unexpected bites of black licorice.
Low Town was also published as The Straight Razor Cure depending where in the world it happened. I like the first title better, but in no case do I think the cover art does it justice, particularly not this abomination:
The Banksy cover doesn't adequately convey the exotic but eminently recognizable world, which almost doesn't require its fantasy trappings. My only wish was for a less misogynistic setting, as long as we're throwing demons and wizards and drugs like "pixie's breath" into the mix, but I appreciated the inclusion of ethical boundaries in this place where life is cheap for most. It's a solidly-built, dirty, living background for the near-breathless mission that plays out. The plot rolls out at a steady clip from start to finish. The experience was marred only by predictability; I virtually never get this right, but I saw the ending coming a long way off. That barely detracted from the fun.
The book reminded me of many things that came later, foremost The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids and one element of The Thousand Names, and the book follows well on the success of The Blade Itself and other gritty fantasy triumphs, all good company. I don't plan to pursue Low Town's sequels, but I am gladdened to find my public library stocking other first-in-series titles by Polansky. He's an author worth following if you enjoy gritty fantasy and high-quality writing. His latest in this vein, March's End, is scheduled for release later this year (2023).
I was prompted to look up the history of a certain writing trope, that of the now-dreaded "character looks at self in mirror and describes their physical appearance," because I was surprised to read this on the second page. This is not the type of book I might expect to find such a thing in. This was published in 2011; was it a cringy YA/fanfiction trope by then? Probably. Twilight was unleashed in 2005 which is a good historical cringe hinge, but the same technique was used as far back as 1953 in Casino Royale. (Thanks to TVTropes.org for all of this.) Literary trope historians, let me know what you discover.
Low Town was also published as The Straight Razor Cure depending where in the world it happened. I like the first title better, but in no case do I think the cover art does it justice, particularly not this abomination:
The Banksy cover doesn't adequately convey the exotic but eminently recognizable world, which almost doesn't require its fantasy trappings. My only wish was for a less misogynistic setting, as long as we're throwing demons and wizards and drugs like "pixie's breath" into the mix, but I appreciated the inclusion of ethical boundaries in this place where life is cheap for most. It's a solidly-built, dirty, living background for the near-breathless mission that plays out. The plot rolls out at a steady clip from start to finish. The experience was marred only by predictability; I virtually never get this right, but I saw the ending coming a long way off. That barely detracted from the fun.
The book reminded me of many things that came later, foremost The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids and one element of The Thousand Names, and the book follows well on the success of The Blade Itself and other gritty fantasy triumphs, all good company. I don't plan to pursue Low Town's sequels, but I am gladdened to find my public library stocking other first-in-series titles by Polansky. He's an author worth following if you enjoy gritty fantasy and high-quality writing. His latest in this vein, March's End, is scheduled for release later this year (2023).
I was prompted to look up the history of a certain writing trope, that of the now-dreaded "character looks at self in mirror and describes their physical appearance," because I was surprised to read this on the second page. This is not the type of book I might expect to find such a thing in. This was published in 2011; was it a cringy YA/fanfiction trope by then? Probably. Twilight was unleashed in 2005 which is a good historical cringe hinge, but the same technique was used as far back as 1953 in Casino Royale. (Thanks to TVTropes.org for all of this.) Literary trope historians, let me know what you discover.
February 2, 2018
A lot of polarising reviews from friends on this one, so fingers crossed as we go in!
The story is told as a narrative from the perspective of the hero of the book, his daily life unfolding as we go, after his discovery of a body of a young girl in the opening chapter. We are introduced to the contributing players through contact with our MC, the world being built around us as we slowly picture it.... its enticing for sure. To fill in the missing gaps we have a series of small flashbacks to help position the narrator (he’s not named!) in his world along with the relationships he has formed with characters that we have met. We learn his role in this life, his past, his enemies, his friends..... the story pulls you into it’s web.... and its a great set-up, a style I really enjoyed, a slow burner in many respects but enjoyable all the same as the pacing for me was jus right all the way through the story.
Who is he, what is he? You’ll have to read for yourself as to reveal I think would detract from the style the author has set upon with this story..... its all about a slow release of information, that much I can tell so if you like that sort of story I recommend you give this a whirl.
I will say it’s a mystery story set in a fantasy world where magic is involved but I’m not going to give any further plot reveals away. Sorry.... them’s my rules.
Its a clear 3.5 stars for me & I’m really vexed between a round-up or down but I think overall its a round down to a 3 stars but a decent 3 stars & a series i’ll be continuing with.
The story is told as a narrative from the perspective of the hero of the book, his daily life unfolding as we go, after his discovery of a body of a young girl in the opening chapter. We are introduced to the contributing players through contact with our MC, the world being built around us as we slowly picture it.... its enticing for sure. To fill in the missing gaps we have a series of small flashbacks to help position the narrator (he’s not named!) in his world along with the relationships he has formed with characters that we have met. We learn his role in this life, his past, his enemies, his friends..... the story pulls you into it’s web.... and its a great set-up, a style I really enjoyed, a slow burner in many respects but enjoyable all the same as the pacing for me was jus right all the way through the story.
Who is he, what is he? You’ll have to read for yourself as to reveal I think would detract from the style the author has set upon with this story..... its all about a slow release of information, that much I can tell so if you like that sort of story I recommend you give this a whirl.
I will say it’s a mystery story set in a fantasy world where magic is involved but I’m not going to give any further plot reveals away. Sorry.... them’s my rules.
Its a clear 3.5 stars for me & I’m really vexed between a round-up or down but I think overall its a round down to a 3 stars but a decent 3 stars & a series i’ll be continuing with.
January 21, 2016
Nije loše, uopšte nije loše.
Detektivski roman smešten u grimdark okruženje, harizmatičan antiheroj (mada mi je već malo muka od šarmantnih protagonista, dajte nam nekog ko ne može da sklopi dve normalne rečenice) i za mene najbitnije: nema ekspozicije. Obožavam kada se detalji sveta prikažu organski, kroz male detalje i suptilnosti u dijalogu, bez većeg info dump-a kojem je fantastika nažalost sklona.
Ko je ubica, to glavno pitanje detektivskih romana, pomalo je očigledno, pa nema nekog većeg iznenadjenja odnosno šoka koji je, reklo bi se, ključan za ovakvu vrstu priče. Još neki sitniji detalji, kao npr. pomalo nespretan način na koji Polanski zatvara poglavlja (gl. lik ode na spavanje, gl. lik se onesvesti, gl. lik uzme nešto da pije, sve u svemu, previše praznih istovetnih scena) sprečavaju ovaj roman da bude petica. Ali da, vratiću se po još i posebno me interesuje ta šira priča sveta koja će zasigurno biti istražena u nastavcima.
4
Detektivski roman smešten u grimdark okruženje, harizmatičan antiheroj (mada mi je već malo muka od šarmantnih protagonista, dajte nam nekog ko ne može da sklopi dve normalne rečenice) i za mene najbitnije: nema ekspozicije. Obožavam kada se detalji sveta prikažu organski, kroz male detalje i suptilnosti u dijalogu, bez većeg info dump-a kojem je fantastika nažalost sklona.
Ko je ubica, to glavno pitanje detektivskih romana, pomalo je očigledno, pa nema nekog većeg iznenadjenja odnosno šoka koji je, reklo bi se, ključan za ovakvu vrstu priče. Još neki sitniji detalji, kao npr. pomalo nespretan način na koji Polanski zatvara poglavlja (gl. lik ode na spavanje, gl. lik se onesvesti, gl. lik uzme nešto da pije, sve u svemu, previše praznih istovetnih scena) sprečavaju ovaj roman da bude petica. Ali da, vratiću se po još i posebno me interesuje ta šira priča sveta koja će zasigurno biti istražena u nastavcima.
4
October 15, 2011
5 Stars
This book has a great deal for noir and dark fantasy lovers to enjoy. It plays along some lines that we have seen done before, but does it in a way without ever selling out or coming up short. This is a fairly dark story and the Warden, our main protagonist is a street kid that has gone bad. Sure he did his stint in the military, and tried to work as a detective with the crown. But, in the end, shit happens, and he is what he is. He has no troubles accepting himself and his shortcomings. You knew all you needed to know about him from his story about when things changed for him as a little boy in a fight with three bullies.
“…And as I watched them retreat I realized I liked the look I had seen in their eyes, liked not being the one to wear it. And if that meant getting my hands slick with little pieces of the boy’s brain, then so be it, that wasn’t much of a price to pay, not much of a price at all.
A wild spurt of laughter bubbled up from my gut, and I vomited it forth at the world.”
The Warden, is not a good man, but he does have some semblance of honor, and of a heart. He contains enough good as to give the reader something to grab on to. Although, I cannot identify with him, nor can I overlook all that he does wrong, I did however find myself hoping that all would work out for him. Even though Polansky does give us quite a bit of backstory on him, I would love to know more.
There is a great deal of dirt, grime, and gore in this book. A few scenes are incredibly vivid in the grotesquerie that they convey. A small snippet from an important scene.
“…He let loose a noise that spread into the depths of my skull like rusted screws, and I pressed my hands to my head so hard I thought I might burst my eardrums. Gore poured forth from his nostrils, less a nosebleed than an open wound in his sinuses, and he whipped his head back and forth, struggling against the grip of the abortion. So furious were the Kiren’s attempts to free himself that he crippled his hand raw against the unyielding substance of his foe, his fingers snapping as he clawed at the rough black covering. Some internal pressure erupted and his right eye burst in its socket, and his screams redoubled against the inside of my head.”
The town itself, Low Town, is a perfect setting for a great noir murder mystery. Polansky does a nice job at getting the feel right. He characterizes Low Town, and as some reviewers have said, he places Low Town among the great fiction towns of New Crozubon, Villjamur, and Ambergis. It is a seedy place, a dirty place, and a place that can be the setting for an entire series of novels.
I am a bit shocked that reviews are not higher for this book as it really does have a lot to offer. It has some outstanding writing, language, and vocabulary. Polansky uses small dashes of humor to try and lighten the heavy mood of this dark story. He makes some great observations on people’s behaviors that are relevant today. He also makes some great observations about the nobility and their roles in the world.
“If the human race has ever invented an institution more effective in the propagation of intellectual and ethical cripples than the nobility, I have yet to stumble across it. Take the progeny of a half millennium of inbred idiots, first cousins, and hemophiliacs. Raise them via a series of bloated wet nurses, drink-addled confessors, and failed academics, because Śakra knows Mommy and Daddy are too busy diddling themselves at court to take a hand in the upbringing of a child. Ensure any youthful training they receive extends to nothing more practical than swordsmanship and the study of languages no longer spoken, grant them a fortune upon the attainment of their majority, place them outside the bounds of any legal system more developed than the code duello, add the general human instinct toward sloth, avarice, and bigotry, stir thoroughly and, voilà—you have the aristocracy.”
I really enjoyed this book, the style, and the writing of Daniel Polansky. My only real gripe about it is the fact that here in the USA it is named Low Town, and in the UK it is named Low Town: The Straight Razor Cure, a much more apt and fitting title. I highly recommend this to readers of noir and of dark fantasy.
This book has a great deal for noir and dark fantasy lovers to enjoy. It plays along some lines that we have seen done before, but does it in a way without ever selling out or coming up short. This is a fairly dark story and the Warden, our main protagonist is a street kid that has gone bad. Sure he did his stint in the military, and tried to work as a detective with the crown. But, in the end, shit happens, and he is what he is. He has no troubles accepting himself and his shortcomings. You knew all you needed to know about him from his story about when things changed for him as a little boy in a fight with three bullies.
“…And as I watched them retreat I realized I liked the look I had seen in their eyes, liked not being the one to wear it. And if that meant getting my hands slick with little pieces of the boy’s brain, then so be it, that wasn’t much of a price to pay, not much of a price at all.
A wild spurt of laughter bubbled up from my gut, and I vomited it forth at the world.”
The Warden, is not a good man, but he does have some semblance of honor, and of a heart. He contains enough good as to give the reader something to grab on to. Although, I cannot identify with him, nor can I overlook all that he does wrong, I did however find myself hoping that all would work out for him. Even though Polansky does give us quite a bit of backstory on him, I would love to know more.
There is a great deal of dirt, grime, and gore in this book. A few scenes are incredibly vivid in the grotesquerie that they convey. A small snippet from an important scene.
“…He let loose a noise that spread into the depths of my skull like rusted screws, and I pressed my hands to my head so hard I thought I might burst my eardrums. Gore poured forth from his nostrils, less a nosebleed than an open wound in his sinuses, and he whipped his head back and forth, struggling against the grip of the abortion. So furious were the Kiren’s attempts to free himself that he crippled his hand raw against the unyielding substance of his foe, his fingers snapping as he clawed at the rough black covering. Some internal pressure erupted and his right eye burst in its socket, and his screams redoubled against the inside of my head.”
The town itself, Low Town, is a perfect setting for a great noir murder mystery. Polansky does a nice job at getting the feel right. He characterizes Low Town, and as some reviewers have said, he places Low Town among the great fiction towns of New Crozubon, Villjamur, and Ambergis. It is a seedy place, a dirty place, and a place that can be the setting for an entire series of novels.
I am a bit shocked that reviews are not higher for this book as it really does have a lot to offer. It has some outstanding writing, language, and vocabulary. Polansky uses small dashes of humor to try and lighten the heavy mood of this dark story. He makes some great observations on people’s behaviors that are relevant today. He also makes some great observations about the nobility and their roles in the world.
“If the human race has ever invented an institution more effective in the propagation of intellectual and ethical cripples than the nobility, I have yet to stumble across it. Take the progeny of a half millennium of inbred idiots, first cousins, and hemophiliacs. Raise them via a series of bloated wet nurses, drink-addled confessors, and failed academics, because Śakra knows Mommy and Daddy are too busy diddling themselves at court to take a hand in the upbringing of a child. Ensure any youthful training they receive extends to nothing more practical than swordsmanship and the study of languages no longer spoken, grant them a fortune upon the attainment of their majority, place them outside the bounds of any legal system more developed than the code duello, add the general human instinct toward sloth, avarice, and bigotry, stir thoroughly and, voilà—you have the aristocracy.”
I really enjoyed this book, the style, and the writing of Daniel Polansky. My only real gripe about it is the fact that here in the USA it is named Low Town, and in the UK it is named Low Town: The Straight Razor Cure, a much more apt and fitting title. I highly recommend this to readers of noir and of dark fantasy.
October 31, 2011
Low Town is Daniel Polasnky's debut novel - a fantasy that's not completely a fantasy. Told in the first person, Low Town is, and I don't think I'm the first to report, a crime noir story in a fantastical setting. It literally is a crime thriller set in a medieval secondary world...and it's works really well.
Warden is your typical bad-A with a heart of gold. His hard exterior comes from the way the system's treated him, his participation not only in the military, but in the police force, neither of which ending on the best of terms.
Throughout most of the book, Warden is extremely mysterious and Low Town was very hard to put down because of this aspect - Warden's always got something new up his sleeve, some talent or contact. This is especially surprising because of his work as a drug dealer.
And that's one of the things that makes Warden so surprising. This drug dealer has already tried everything and this is the field of work he's landed on and stuck with.
As we learn more about Warden's talents and networking skills, certain parts of his past are revealed as well and these were some of the best parts of the book. Not only do they not slow down the fast pace of this book, but they move the plot forward deftly.
Coming from the streets, Warden had it rough, but was able to prove his good nature by helping those less fortunate than himself, those who hadn't found a place for themselves as he had.
This next paragraph is not quite a spoiler, but may spoil the book if you read it, so read at your own risk:
I did figure out the ending pretty early on in the book, and the reason for the warning is because I think it's only because I read a review that mentioned this same thing. But, despite the fact that I knew the ending "whodunit," I still highly enjoyed the ride, exploring the world of Low Town and the character of Warden.
Why Read Low Town?
Are you in the mood for a fast-paced book that's almost impossible to put down? Low Town is a great break from your average fantasy. It certainly has plenty of fantasy elements, but this is its own beast altogether, something I've never seen in a fantasy novel. Highly Recommended.
4 out of 5 Stars (Loved it)
Warden is your typical bad-A with a heart of gold. His hard exterior comes from the way the system's treated him, his participation not only in the military, but in the police force, neither of which ending on the best of terms.
Throughout most of the book, Warden is extremely mysterious and Low Town was very hard to put down because of this aspect - Warden's always got something new up his sleeve, some talent or contact. This is especially surprising because of his work as a drug dealer.
And that's one of the things that makes Warden so surprising. This drug dealer has already tried everything and this is the field of work he's landed on and stuck with.
As we learn more about Warden's talents and networking skills, certain parts of his past are revealed as well and these were some of the best parts of the book. Not only do they not slow down the fast pace of this book, but they move the plot forward deftly.
Coming from the streets, Warden had it rough, but was able to prove his good nature by helping those less fortunate than himself, those who hadn't found a place for themselves as he had.
This next paragraph is not quite a spoiler, but may spoil the book if you read it, so read at your own risk:
I did figure out the ending pretty early on in the book, and the reason for the warning is because I think it's only because I read a review that mentioned this same thing. But, despite the fact that I knew the ending "whodunit," I still highly enjoyed the ride, exploring the world of Low Town and the character of Warden.
Why Read Low Town?
Are you in the mood for a fast-paced book that's almost impossible to put down? Low Town is a great break from your average fantasy. It certainly has plenty of fantasy elements, but this is its own beast altogether, something I've never seen in a fantasy novel. Highly Recommended.
4 out of 5 Stars (Loved it)
May 6, 2016
Easily a 5-star read for me.
I guess you could call this book urban fantasy or noir fantasy or mystery, but whatever genre it's in, it's just a great story.
I liked how the author sprinkled in his world building throughout. I never had to wade through pages of info dumps, boring me to tears. It was seamlessly placed throughout while we are being dragged through Low Town by the narrator. Who, by the way, is a bad-ass, smart mouthed, drug dealer with a heart of gold.
Can't wait to read the next and more from this author, a new favorite!
I guess you could call this book urban fantasy or noir fantasy or mystery, but whatever genre it's in, it's just a great story.
I liked how the author sprinkled in his world building throughout. I never had to wade through pages of info dumps, boring me to tears. It was seamlessly placed throughout while we are being dragged through Low Town by the narrator. Who, by the way, is a bad-ass, smart mouthed, drug dealer with a heart of gold.
Can't wait to read the next and more from this author, a new favorite!
December 5, 2024
4.5
Oggi vi parlo de “Il guardiano della città perduta” di Daniel Polansky. Nonostante sia il primo libro di una serie, la trilogia “Low Town” (interrotta in Italia), è perfettamente autoconclusivo.
Miscelare in meno di 350 pagine tutti gli ingredienti necessari alla realizzazione di un’ottima storia è davvero invidiabile. La penna di Polansky è chirurgica, cattiva, fluida come una stoccata, abile nel tratteggiare contesto e personaggi con poche, incisive pennellate.
L’ambientazione è riuscitissima. Le vicende prendono piede a Rigus, diamante delle Tredici Terre, diamante che tra sfarzo e meraviglia nasconde Low Town, un intrico di vicoli malfamati, locali fatiscenti, attività losche, degrado urbano, spaccio e corruzione. Polansky ha creato una cornice suggestiva, perfetta per intrecciare tra loro Grimdark, Noir e Hard-Boiled.
Il protagonista è diventato ufficialmente mio fratello. Reduce di guerra, agente della Corona, signore del crimine. Il Guardiano è una figura carismatica, senza fronzoli, ma soprattutto coerente e credibile. È un personaggio segnato da mille vicissitudini e svariati traumi che, dietro allo scudo di un carattere duro, nasconde un lato empatico e un forte senso della giustizia. Potrebbe sembrare un uomo senza timore e inflessibile, invece dimostra una personalità tormentata e fragile, preda della paura e delle dipendenze.
La trama, in breve, vede il nostro Guardiano indagare su strane sparizioni e misteriosi omicidi che vedono coinvolti alcuni bambini. Malavita, nobili pomposi, agenti segreti e un pizzico di magia oscura si trovano coinvolti in una folle corsa contro il tempo.
Ah dimenticavo, ovviamente non mancano botte da orbi, mazzate e qualche eruzione ematica. Tutte ben dosate, come il vero Grimdark insegna.
Da leggere.
Oggi vi parlo de “Il guardiano della città perduta” di Daniel Polansky. Nonostante sia il primo libro di una serie, la trilogia “Low Town” (interrotta in Italia), è perfettamente autoconclusivo.
Miscelare in meno di 350 pagine tutti gli ingredienti necessari alla realizzazione di un’ottima storia è davvero invidiabile. La penna di Polansky è chirurgica, cattiva, fluida come una stoccata, abile nel tratteggiare contesto e personaggi con poche, incisive pennellate.
L’ambientazione è riuscitissima. Le vicende prendono piede a Rigus, diamante delle Tredici Terre, diamante che tra sfarzo e meraviglia nasconde Low Town, un intrico di vicoli malfamati, locali fatiscenti, attività losche, degrado urbano, spaccio e corruzione. Polansky ha creato una cornice suggestiva, perfetta per intrecciare tra loro Grimdark, Noir e Hard-Boiled.
Il protagonista è diventato ufficialmente mio fratello. Reduce di guerra, agente della Corona, signore del crimine. Il Guardiano è una figura carismatica, senza fronzoli, ma soprattutto coerente e credibile. È un personaggio segnato da mille vicissitudini e svariati traumi che, dietro allo scudo di un carattere duro, nasconde un lato empatico e un forte senso della giustizia. Potrebbe sembrare un uomo senza timore e inflessibile, invece dimostra una personalità tormentata e fragile, preda della paura e delle dipendenze.
La trama, in breve, vede il nostro Guardiano indagare su strane sparizioni e misteriosi omicidi che vedono coinvolti alcuni bambini. Malavita, nobili pomposi, agenti segreti e un pizzico di magia oscura si trovano coinvolti in una folle corsa contro il tempo.
Ah dimenticavo, ovviamente non mancano botte da orbi, mazzate e qualche eruzione ematica. Tutte ben dosate, come il vero Grimdark insegna.
Da leggere.
March 12, 2014
Fantastic voice. My favorite kind of characters: flawed, struggling, complicated. This is one up there with Scott Lynch and Joe Abercrombie.
May 11, 2016
Well-written fantasy noir - dark as you'd expect, with an interesting blend of influences and big things at stake. I enjoyed the main character and am looking forward to the follow ups.
November 16, 2015
I am putting this on my Urban Fantasy shelf as well as my Fantasy shelf as I agree with a few others it belongs there. Some of you will I'm sure disagree as the story takes place in an alternate reality of swords, crossbows, and a city roughly like medieval Europe.
But it is placed in a city with the characters being "urban" people.
I picked this up on the strength of a statement by one of the reviewers here who said it was "like" Harry Dresden.
I must be honest. I don't see it....at all. I've noticed this before about fans of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden books. We can agree on those books but apparently we all find vastly different things in them as when we get to "recommending" books to each other that remind us of them we DISAGREE big time.
This is the story of an ex-elite "law enforcement officer" who is now a drug addicted drug dealer who is the "criminal overlord" of Low Town. He's called the Warden. The city is protected by a older wizard who lives (for some reason) in Low Town...he wants to care for the people....
Anyway the book is okay. It tends to drag a bit at times and when laying out the plot and having our protagonist investigate "things" it gets positively "wordy" now and again.
Another problem is it's somewhat predictable...that's my take of course. I know that as the plot was being set up and the characters were being introduced as soon as we met the "villain" I said to myself....it's "this person".
And I was right.
Well, see for yourself. It's not a bad book and apparently there's a feel that many readers like immensely and really get into. It must be a matter of taste. For me this was mediocre at best. Will I follow it up?
I don't know. maybe if I get desperate for a "semi-urban fantasy" I'll try, but I'm not planning to for now.
But it is placed in a city with the characters being "urban" people.
I picked this up on the strength of a statement by one of the reviewers here who said it was "like" Harry Dresden.
I must be honest. I don't see it....at all. I've noticed this before about fans of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden books. We can agree on those books but apparently we all find vastly different things in them as when we get to "recommending" books to each other that remind us of them we DISAGREE big time.
This is the story of an ex-elite "law enforcement officer" who is now a drug addicted drug dealer who is the "criminal overlord" of Low Town. He's called the Warden. The city is protected by a older wizard who lives (for some reason) in Low Town...he wants to care for the people....
Anyway the book is okay. It tends to drag a bit at times and when laying out the plot and having our protagonist investigate "things" it gets positively "wordy" now and again.
Another problem is it's somewhat predictable...that's my take of course. I know that as the plot was being set up and the characters were being introduced as soon as we met the "villain" I said to myself....it's "this person".
And I was right.
Well, see for yourself. It's not a bad book and apparently there's a feel that many readers like immensely and really get into. It must be a matter of taste. For me this was mediocre at best. Will I follow it up?
I don't know. maybe if I get desperate for a "semi-urban fantasy" I'll try, but I'm not planning to for now.
May 3, 2020
7/10
Lo mejor: no te deja colgado, a pesar de ser parte de una saga (que era lo que me temía desde que lo empece).
El entorno es uno de los de siempre: bajos fondos de una ciudad con capa, espada y algo de magia.
El protagonista, parecido: antiguo agente del orden que actualmente trapichea pero que tiene principios y que intenta descubrir quien mata a unos niños en la zona bajo su influencia “comercial”.
Y la cosa va de descubrir a los asesinos entre nobles, magos y las mafias locales. Mete un montón de razas pero son poco más que nombres, salvo los reconocibles como “chinos”.
Nos va descubriendo cómo cayó en desgracia este ex-agente pero se acaba el libro y nos hemos enterado de todo su pasado (supongo que en los siguientes...no editados en castellano).
Los personajes flojitos. La trama detectivesca normal (he descubierto al “malo” al 30% de la novela y no soy ningún hacha en eso) Lo que está muy bien es el ritmo. Se lee con enganche, que es bastante.
Le había puesto 4 estrellas, pero tras leerme lo dejo en tres (echo yo tb en falta el poder puntuar sobre 10)
Lo mejor: no te deja colgado, a pesar de ser parte de una saga (que era lo que me temía desde que lo empece).
El entorno es uno de los de siempre: bajos fondos de una ciudad con capa, espada y algo de magia.
El protagonista, parecido: antiguo agente del orden que actualmente trapichea pero que tiene principios y que intenta descubrir quien mata a unos niños en la zona bajo su influencia “comercial”.
Y la cosa va de descubrir a los asesinos entre nobles, magos y las mafias locales. Mete un montón de razas pero son poco más que nombres, salvo los reconocibles como “chinos”.
Nos va descubriendo cómo cayó en desgracia este ex-agente pero se acaba el libro y nos hemos enterado de todo su pasado (supongo que en los siguientes...no editados en castellano).
Los personajes flojitos. La trama detectivesca normal (he descubierto al “malo” al 30% de la novela y no soy ningún hacha en eso) Lo que está muy bien es el ritmo. Se lee con enganche, que es bastante.
Le había puesto 4 estrellas, pero tras leerme lo dejo en tres (echo yo tb en falta el poder puntuar sobre 10)
July 25, 2016
Vrlo zabavana grim dark detektivska prica. Fino razvijeni likovi koji su manje vise svi ostecene i generalno nema potpuno pozitivnih likova. Isto tako prica drzi paznju i ume da baci neocekivane okrete narocito kod toga ko je glavni krivac. Na tome svaka cast.
Sa druge strane glavni lik je nekako suvise sposoban, iako dobija batine sve sa slomljenim kostima sutradan nastavlja samo sa par modrica i puno gundjana i ima puno problema sa tim da se glavni lik uopste umesa u istragu, totalno ide protiv toga kako prikazuju lika kroz pricu.
Ali opet odlicno napisani, napeto i vuce da se cita dalje tako da ce mo nastaviti serijal.
Sa druge strane glavni lik je nekako suvise sposoban, iako dobija batine sve sa slomljenim kostima sutradan nastavlja samo sa par modrica i puno gundjana i ima puno problema sa tim da se glavni lik uopste umesa u istragu, totalno ide protiv toga kako prikazuju lika kroz pricu.
Ali opet odlicno napisani, napeto i vuce da se cita dalje tako da ce mo nastaviti serijal.
October 23, 2022
3.5/5
Low Town isn't perfect. It's rough around the edges, and the resolution isn't shocking. Nevertheless, I liked it.
Before I got into fantasy, I was a fan of hard-boiled crime and noir. I think Polansky hit all the right notes here, creating a memorable character (Warden), a memorable and gritty setting (Low Town), and a compelling plot.
Low Town can be described as a mix of fantasy and noir with some underdeveloped magic. The narrative revolves around Warden's present and past. He is a soldier turned junkie and drug dealer. But with morals. Questionable ones, to be sure, but still. The incident that led to this is (more or less) unspecified.
We get glimpses of his past, and they're good, probably more engaging than his investigation. Warden is a fascinating character who makes Low Town enjoyable. Unfortunately, the mystery isn't that strong by itself. Nor is the resolution. But Warden has a distinct voice that makes it all worthwhile (to me).
If you're into fantasy and noir and like your stories dark, Low Town is a must. Far from perfect, not really surprising, but with a strong voice.
Low Town isn't perfect. It's rough around the edges, and the resolution isn't shocking. Nevertheless, I liked it.
Before I got into fantasy, I was a fan of hard-boiled crime and noir. I think Polansky hit all the right notes here, creating a memorable character (Warden), a memorable and gritty setting (Low Town), and a compelling plot.
Low Town can be described as a mix of fantasy and noir with some underdeveloped magic. The narrative revolves around Warden's present and past. He is a soldier turned junkie and drug dealer. But with morals. Questionable ones, to be sure, but still. The incident that led to this is (more or less) unspecified.
We get glimpses of his past, and they're good, probably more engaging than his investigation. Warden is a fascinating character who makes Low Town enjoyable. Unfortunately, the mystery isn't that strong by itself. Nor is the resolution. But Warden has a distinct voice that makes it all worthwhile (to me).
If you're into fantasy and noir and like your stories dark, Low Town is a must. Far from perfect, not really surprising, but with a strong voice.
November 27, 2014
I first stumbled upon Low Town whilst hunting through boxes of second hand books at a garage sale. The title caught my interest, so I looked at the blurb. Detective thriller set in a fantasy world... within seconds I was handing over my money and salivating at the prospect of reading it when I got home. Unfortunately life got in the way for a few weeks, with work and a sick child taking precednece. However when I finally did get around to reading it I was not disappointed!
Low Town is set in a fantastical world that is dark, gritty, and bloody. The main protagonist, Warden, is a middle of the range drug peddler and user with a chequered past. When children start showing up murdered in Low Town, his past catches up with him as he is pulled into solving the mystery behind the murders gripping the city. Low Town reads like a crime novel. Warden is like your typical over the hill detective... past his prime, weary of life, and generally bitter and cynical of the world around him. What makes him different from other crime protagonists however is how he is wielded by Polansky. Using first person narrative, we are immersed in the thoughts and motivations of Warden as he attempts to solve the riddles of the murders. We slowly learn about his past through his encounters, dreams, recollections and actions. We also learn just how little we know about him. Who is he really? Where did he come from? What is motivating him? These mysteries drive the story forward at a great pace, and keep the reader wanting more with every page read.
Combined with this narrative we have gripping action and bloody realism. Warden is not some all conquering hero, he cheats, lies, and plays dirty. Children die, innocents get caught in the crossfire, and Warden often gets the living shit kicked out of him by drug rivals and opponents. Polansky's world building is also top notch and gritty. I could almost taste the scents of Low Town, and feel the cold from the storms as they roared in. This realism added depth and tension to the story for me, and reminded me of Abercrombie and his work.
There were some flaws with this novel (use of stereotypes and a twist that was relatively easy to work out), but they were so inconsequential to me that barely warrant mention. I was that entertained whilst reading this!
A bloody good debut. If you love fantasy or crime fiction then this is well worth your time.
5 out of 5 stars.
smashdragons.blogspot.com.au
Low Town is set in a fantastical world that is dark, gritty, and bloody. The main protagonist, Warden, is a middle of the range drug peddler and user with a chequered past. When children start showing up murdered in Low Town, his past catches up with him as he is pulled into solving the mystery behind the murders gripping the city. Low Town reads like a crime novel. Warden is like your typical over the hill detective... past his prime, weary of life, and generally bitter and cynical of the world around him. What makes him different from other crime protagonists however is how he is wielded by Polansky. Using first person narrative, we are immersed in the thoughts and motivations of Warden as he attempts to solve the riddles of the murders. We slowly learn about his past through his encounters, dreams, recollections and actions. We also learn just how little we know about him. Who is he really? Where did he come from? What is motivating him? These mysteries drive the story forward at a great pace, and keep the reader wanting more with every page read.
Combined with this narrative we have gripping action and bloody realism. Warden is not some all conquering hero, he cheats, lies, and plays dirty. Children die, innocents get caught in the crossfire, and Warden often gets the living shit kicked out of him by drug rivals and opponents. Polansky's world building is also top notch and gritty. I could almost taste the scents of Low Town, and feel the cold from the storms as they roared in. This realism added depth and tension to the story for me, and reminded me of Abercrombie and his work.
There were some flaws with this novel (use of stereotypes and a twist that was relatively easy to work out), but they were so inconsequential to me that barely warrant mention. I was that entertained whilst reading this!
A bloody good debut. If you love fantasy or crime fiction then this is well worth your time.
5 out of 5 stars.
smashdragons.blogspot.com.au
March 29, 2018
8/10
From the beginning of the new millennium, many writers started slowly to turn towards a darker, more gritty and realistic direction, leaving behind the traditional tropes of fantasy that seemed to have worn-out too much, reaching to a point where something fresh and original was needed to revivify the genre - and many did indeed managed it.
In The Strait Razor Cure, the first book of the Low Town trilogy, Daniel Polansky makes his debut taking all these elements - motivated from what all the other writers brought to the table - but with a twist, writing a story you see more often in urban contemporary than medieval-type times; an adventure that plunges us deep into a filthy, immoral city and a mysterious case of murders, combining noir fiction with fantasy.
Low Town was once a great place, a proud jewel among the collective neighborhoods and districts of the city of Rigus, of an Empire that was constantly spreading its power across the world - until, that is, the Fever struck, a plague that brought to their deaths all but the children of its citizens, leaving them in their despair to seek out their own ways of survival; ways that changed them to their core, making society’s lowest scum the king of the city.
Today, those that survived, are part of the underworld as and of the high society, but for Warden - an ex-soldier and once Agent of the Crown - his ugly past has led him to a darker path, selling drugs in the streets and backstreets, in the dives and mansions, and anywhere with a rich taste.
However, his life will change once again when a morning, going to his usual place, falls onto the body of Little Tara, a young girl who had disappeared for days, murdered, and used in the cruelest way for the desires of a twisted mind, Warden will have to call his old colleagues - some who from their last encounter left him beraly alive - to take up this case as only they can solve.
But, despite his goodwill, and with the mistrust of his colleagues who still hold a grudge for his person, this action may have been and the worst choice he could have made over the past half decade as, becoming the main suspected for the murder, he will find himself amidst a situation that will put him into an adventure for his survival, and when more bodies of young children begin to emerge, Warden will have to do the impossible to find the perpetrator - because, if he fails to find him in time, it will threaten to bring him, those he cares, and even the city itself into their absolute destruction.
Of all the contemporary genres, noir - and in general crime fiction - is probably the rarest to find out of its field, and that is because, although famous enough, it is much harder to adapt in medieval-type than modern times and in a story that will manage to hold the interest, making it one of the least developed among the dominant genres of epic/high fantasy.
The Strait Razor Cure, however, comes and proves that it can be both good and interesting, with Daniel Polansky - making just his debut novel - combining two opposing genres, adapting them to the story with a strange, yet strong way, taking us deep into its dark, filthy secrets, and into a character that hides an even uglier past that will do everything in his power to protect his beliefs and those who he care for.
But, what makes the biggest impression in the book is not so much the story, or the city - which are nevertheless a strong part of his imagination - but Polansky’s smooth and rich writing, using the language in a way that raises this adventure much higher, and shows like he had years of experience before making his debut, as well and a mysterious, dark case that creates many questions, managing to keep its secrets sealed till the very end, and without failing even to bring and lots of twists and turns and exciting action.
Overall, The Strait Razor Cure is a good first introduction to the world - or rather the underworld would be more proper - of Low Town, with Daniel Polansky showing his skills like an experienced fantasy writer to make a powerful and impressive adventure which puts us deep into the protagonist’s past and a mysterious case into its darkest secrets - and what we will find at the end is even more twisted, yet beautifully executed.
Ελληνική κριτική:
From the beginning of the new millennium, many writers started slowly to turn towards a darker, more gritty and realistic direction, leaving behind the traditional tropes of fantasy that seemed to have worn-out too much, reaching to a point where something fresh and original was needed to revivify the genre - and many did indeed managed it.
In The Strait Razor Cure, the first book of the Low Town trilogy, Daniel Polansky makes his debut taking all these elements - motivated from what all the other writers brought to the table - but with a twist, writing a story you see more often in urban contemporary than medieval-type times; an adventure that plunges us deep into a filthy, immoral city and a mysterious case of murders, combining noir fiction with fantasy.
Low Town was once a great place, a proud jewel among the collective neighborhoods and districts of the city of Rigus, of an Empire that was constantly spreading its power across the world - until, that is, the Fever struck, a plague that brought to their deaths all but the children of its citizens, leaving them in their despair to seek out their own ways of survival; ways that changed them to their core, making society’s lowest scum the king of the city.
Today, those that survived, are part of the underworld as and of the high society, but for Warden - an ex-soldier and once Agent of the Crown - his ugly past has led him to a darker path, selling drugs in the streets and backstreets, in the dives and mansions, and anywhere with a rich taste.
However, his life will change once again when a morning, going to his usual place, falls onto the body of Little Tara, a young girl who had disappeared for days, murdered, and used in the cruelest way for the desires of a twisted mind, Warden will have to call his old colleagues - some who from their last encounter left him beraly alive - to take up this case as only they can solve.
But, despite his goodwill, and with the mistrust of his colleagues who still hold a grudge for his person, this action may have been and the worst choice he could have made over the past half decade as, becoming the main suspected for the murder, he will find himself amidst a situation that will put him into an adventure for his survival, and when more bodies of young children begin to emerge, Warden will have to do the impossible to find the perpetrator - because, if he fails to find him in time, it will threaten to bring him, those he cares, and even the city itself into their absolute destruction.
Of all the contemporary genres, noir - and in general crime fiction - is probably the rarest to find out of its field, and that is because, although famous enough, it is much harder to adapt in medieval-type than modern times and in a story that will manage to hold the interest, making it one of the least developed among the dominant genres of epic/high fantasy.
The Strait Razor Cure, however, comes and proves that it can be both good and interesting, with Daniel Polansky - making just his debut novel - combining two opposing genres, adapting them to the story with a strange, yet strong way, taking us deep into its dark, filthy secrets, and into a character that hides an even uglier past that will do everything in his power to protect his beliefs and those who he care for.
But, what makes the biggest impression in the book is not so much the story, or the city - which are nevertheless a strong part of his imagination - but Polansky’s smooth and rich writing, using the language in a way that raises this adventure much higher, and shows like he had years of experience before making his debut, as well and a mysterious, dark case that creates many questions, managing to keep its secrets sealed till the very end, and without failing even to bring and lots of twists and turns and exciting action.
Overall, The Strait Razor Cure is a good first introduction to the world - or rather the underworld would be more proper - of Low Town, with Daniel Polansky showing his skills like an experienced fantasy writer to make a powerful and impressive adventure which puts us deep into the protagonist’s past and a mysterious case into its darkest secrets - and what we will find at the end is even more twisted, yet beautifully executed.
Ελληνική κριτική:
October 31, 2011
Book Description
Rigus is the greatest city in the Thirteen Lands, a glittering metropolis of crystalline citadels and sumptuous manors, where the gentlewomen hide delicate smiles behind silken sleeves and bored nobles settle affairs of honour with cold steel. But light casts shadow, and in the darkness of the spires the baseborn struggle, eeking out an existence amidst the cast-offs of their betters. This is Low Town, a sprawling warren of side streets and back alleys, of boarded up windows and false storefronts. Here the corner boys do a steady trade to the dead-eyed and despairing, and a life can be bought with a clipped copper penny.
Low Town is an ugly place, and its champion is an ugly man. A former war hero and intelligence agent, now a crime lord addicted to cheap violence and expensive narcotics, the Warden spends his days hustling for customers and protecting turf, until the chance discovery of a murdered child sets him on a collision course with the life he'd left behind. As bodies bloat in the canal and winter buries the city, he plays a desperate game of deception, pitting the underworld powers against his former colleagues in the secret police, hoping to find the source of the evil before it consumes him, and perhaps the city itself.
In the tradition of Daniel Hammett and Gene Wolfe comes LOW TOWN THE STRAIGHT RAZOR CURE, a novel about the taint of blood and the impossibility of redemption. Bold, brilliant writing makes this a debut that will change the fantasy world landscape.
My Review
This is a story where Fantasy fans can get a taste of a hard boiled PI sort of character, with a good blend of dystopia and detective work in Low Town. The main protagonist is a Gritty been there and got the shirt detective Ex Low Town Government Special Services operative. He's now a man people fear on the streets, and is hired by the powers that be to find a murderer. The story is a straight forward search for killer story blended with a different setting, new rules and some new kind of characters to the long existing detective genre.
I am not head over heels in joy was an ok story, the author does present some skilled writing here.
http://more2read.com/?review=low-town-the-straight-razor-cure-by-daniel-polansky
Rigus is the greatest city in the Thirteen Lands, a glittering metropolis of crystalline citadels and sumptuous manors, where the gentlewomen hide delicate smiles behind silken sleeves and bored nobles settle affairs of honour with cold steel. But light casts shadow, and in the darkness of the spires the baseborn struggle, eeking out an existence amidst the cast-offs of their betters. This is Low Town, a sprawling warren of side streets and back alleys, of boarded up windows and false storefronts. Here the corner boys do a steady trade to the dead-eyed and despairing, and a life can be bought with a clipped copper penny.
Low Town is an ugly place, and its champion is an ugly man. A former war hero and intelligence agent, now a crime lord addicted to cheap violence and expensive narcotics, the Warden spends his days hustling for customers and protecting turf, until the chance discovery of a murdered child sets him on a collision course with the life he'd left behind. As bodies bloat in the canal and winter buries the city, he plays a desperate game of deception, pitting the underworld powers against his former colleagues in the secret police, hoping to find the source of the evil before it consumes him, and perhaps the city itself.
In the tradition of Daniel Hammett and Gene Wolfe comes LOW TOWN THE STRAIGHT RAZOR CURE, a novel about the taint of blood and the impossibility of redemption. Bold, brilliant writing makes this a debut that will change the fantasy world landscape.
My Review
This is a story where Fantasy fans can get a taste of a hard boiled PI sort of character, with a good blend of dystopia and detective work in Low Town. The main protagonist is a Gritty been there and got the shirt detective Ex Low Town Government Special Services operative. He's now a man people fear on the streets, and is hired by the powers that be to find a murderer. The story is a straight forward search for killer story blended with a different setting, new rules and some new kind of characters to the long existing detective genre.
I am not head over heels in joy was an ok story, the author does present some skilled writing here.
http://more2read.com/?review=low-town-the-straight-razor-cure-by-daniel-polansky
August 21, 2015
I grew up in the country. Yup...a rural boy. I can't even count how many times I would be ripping down the gravel roads on my BMX and end up flipping over the handlebars, scraping my flesh across all the loose rock and stones. Those dirt rashes were always the worst.
So many times I would come rushing home a bloody mess, a big grin on my face, and hoping my mom wouldn't smack me upside the head for being an idiot while she tenderly dressed and cleaned my wounds.
No matter how much blood, no matter the size of the cuts, mom always made it better.
Which is good - cuz I did a lot of stupid shit while I was growing up.
That's what this book made me feel.
It's a dirty, dangerous, gravel road. But I'll be damned if I wasn't grinning from ear to ear as I turned those pages.
So many times I would come rushing home a bloody mess, a big grin on my face, and hoping my mom wouldn't smack me upside the head for being an idiot while she tenderly dressed and cleaned my wounds.
No matter how much blood, no matter the size of the cuts, mom always made it better.
Which is good - cuz I did a lot of stupid shit while I was growing up.
That's what this book made me feel.
It's a dirty, dangerous, gravel road. But I'll be damned if I wasn't grinning from ear to ear as I turned those pages.
June 6, 2016
I found this a thoroughly entertaining mystery/fantasy tale. The worldbuilding is excellent, but unobtrusive (no lengthy info dumps!) and Polansky has totally nailed the antihero thing - the protagonist is a drug dealer that you somehow trust to Do the Right Thing. It is certainly a fairly dark and sometimes violent tale but never gratuitously so. Yep, I enjoyed this!
November 5, 2015
A short excerpt:
"The woman with the choker slid over, inspecting me with all the subtlety of a dog in heat - it seemed she had no better taste in men than jewelry. Up close she looked like someone better seen from further away. 'I don't believe I've had the pleasure,' she began.
'Are you mad? I had you last year at Lord Addington's spring formal! We went behind his pagoda and I took you from the rear. You said I was the best you ever had!'"
I loved the Warden, I loved the first-person PoV. I love the slum setting and the seedy gangsters. Unfortunately I saw the twist coming, yes even the first time I read this back in 2014, but, BUT I still really love this book and can't understand why it has a average rating of 3.83? Deserves to be higher.
"The woman with the choker slid over, inspecting me with all the subtlety of a dog in heat - it seemed she had no better taste in men than jewelry. Up close she looked like someone better seen from further away. 'I don't believe I've had the pleasure,' she began.
'Are you mad? I had you last year at Lord Addington's spring formal! We went behind his pagoda and I took you from the rear. You said I was the best you ever had!'"
I loved the Warden, I loved the first-person PoV. I love the slum setting and the seedy gangsters. Unfortunately I saw the twist coming, yes even the first time I read this back in 2014, but, BUT I still really love this book and can't understand why it has a average rating of 3.83? Deserves to be higher.
December 1, 2014
4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this dark and gritty fantasy with a highly flawed protagonist/narrator who managed to make me laugh out loud several times. The world building is on a slightly smaller scale, but is still fantastic and unique. The mysterious plot line kept me turning the pages and the twist at the end genuinely surprised me. I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of the series!
I really enjoyed this dark and gritty fantasy with a highly flawed protagonist/narrator who managed to make me laugh out loud several times. The world building is on a slightly smaller scale, but is still fantastic and unique. The mysterious plot line kept me turning the pages and the twist at the end genuinely surprised me. I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of the series!
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