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Low Town #0.5
A Drink Before We Die
Described as "a Low Town short story", this paperback imprint was included in the registration pack at Nine Worlds Geekfest 2014, courtesy of Hodderscape.
36 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
21 people are currently reading
593 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 57 reviews
June 24, 2017
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
After enjoying The Builders, I was eager to read something else from Daniel Polansky, and his Low Town series kept being recommended to me. But I held off giving it a try. Mainly, because I wasn’t sure if it was for me. Fantasy underworld meets hard-boiled detective tale was intriguing, but I’d burned out on Steven Brust’s fairyland meets mobster series Vlad Taltos many years ago.
Well, eventually, I broke down and gave this Low Town short story a go. (I mean, a .99 cent read is hard to turn down.) Loved ever minute of it. Wish I had tried it ages ago. Polansky really pulled me in with his sarcastic, cunning, and badass Warden and the ghetto part of town he basically runs through reputation and clever use of persuasion and force.
To set things up, this short story is a straightforward mob war concoction, where a rival gang is attempting to move in on the Warden’s part of town, take over his cut of the drug trade, and eventually put him in the ground. Naturally, this “consortium” tries to do it on the lowdown, but the thing is the Warden knows exactly what is going on and very methodically begins to put a scheme into effect which will ride him of his enemies without him having to do a whole hell of a lot.
Besides being one sweet fantasy crime piece, what really sold me on this story was Polansky’s sparse yet crisp writing; his very intimate first person narration taking me right into the head of his tough-as-nails lead. I mean, who can resist a guy who introduces himself like this:
People call me the Warden. People call me a lot of things, but the Warden is the only one you could say inside a church.
And the Warden’s description of Low Town, what it is all about, and his role in it was equally as compelling.
To get to Low Town you shuffle out of the gates of the palace and head south, over the Andel, down through Brennock and it’s iron foundries and stink, stopping just before you reach the docks. If you come, though, you might want to make sure you aren’t dressed too well, or wearing any jewelry, or have much money on you. And you might want to carry a knife, or a sword, or walk along in the company of a handful of men so equipped, or maybe more than a handful. Because the locals are unfriendly, unfriendly by the standards of an unfriendly city in an unfriendly world, and the local guard know better than to waste their time trying to police the place, like a doctor knows better than to bandage a corpse.
One more thing about Low Town—the most important thing, really, though you’d be shocked at how many of these argent-a-head thugs forget—it’s mine. The broken cobblestones and the graffitied walls and the shit-swollen canals, the silk-shirted pimps and the half-hard razor boys and the wyrm dealers and the crooked guards and even those few poor souls mad or foolish enough to try and eke out an honest living.
I can’t express why the Warden and Low Town clicked for me, but it did. The criminal underworld. The intrigue. The violence. The smartass remarks. It all just worked. And it caused me to finally pick up the novel Low Town and read it. Unsurprisingly, I loved the book even more than this short story. So I’d highly recommend A Drink Before We Die to all Polansky fans, Low Town lovers, or people who wonder if they might fit into either of those categories.
After enjoying The Builders, I was eager to read something else from Daniel Polansky, and his Low Town series kept being recommended to me. But I held off giving it a try. Mainly, because I wasn’t sure if it was for me. Fantasy underworld meets hard-boiled detective tale was intriguing, but I’d burned out on Steven Brust’s fairyland meets mobster series Vlad Taltos many years ago.
Well, eventually, I broke down and gave this Low Town short story a go. (I mean, a .99 cent read is hard to turn down.) Loved ever minute of it. Wish I had tried it ages ago. Polansky really pulled me in with his sarcastic, cunning, and badass Warden and the ghetto part of town he basically runs through reputation and clever use of persuasion and force.
To set things up, this short story is a straightforward mob war concoction, where a rival gang is attempting to move in on the Warden’s part of town, take over his cut of the drug trade, and eventually put him in the ground. Naturally, this “consortium” tries to do it on the lowdown, but the thing is the Warden knows exactly what is going on and very methodically begins to put a scheme into effect which will ride him of his enemies without him having to do a whole hell of a lot.
Besides being one sweet fantasy crime piece, what really sold me on this story was Polansky’s sparse yet crisp writing; his very intimate first person narration taking me right into the head of his tough-as-nails lead. I mean, who can resist a guy who introduces himself like this:
People call me the Warden. People call me a lot of things, but the Warden is the only one you could say inside a church.
And the Warden’s description of Low Town, what it is all about, and his role in it was equally as compelling.
To get to Low Town you shuffle out of the gates of the palace and head south, over the Andel, down through Brennock and it’s iron foundries and stink, stopping just before you reach the docks. If you come, though, you might want to make sure you aren’t dressed too well, or wearing any jewelry, or have much money on you. And you might want to carry a knife, or a sword, or walk along in the company of a handful of men so equipped, or maybe more than a handful. Because the locals are unfriendly, unfriendly by the standards of an unfriendly city in an unfriendly world, and the local guard know better than to waste their time trying to police the place, like a doctor knows better than to bandage a corpse.
One more thing about Low Town—the most important thing, really, though you’d be shocked at how many of these argent-a-head thugs forget—it’s mine. The broken cobblestones and the graffitied walls and the shit-swollen canals, the silk-shirted pimps and the half-hard razor boys and the wyrm dealers and the crooked guards and even those few poor souls mad or foolish enough to try and eke out an honest living.
I can’t express why the Warden and Low Town clicked for me, but it did. The criminal underworld. The intrigue. The violence. The smartass remarks. It all just worked. And it caused me to finally pick up the novel Low Town and read it. Unsurprisingly, I loved the book even more than this short story. So I’d highly recommend A Drink Before We Die to all Polansky fans, Low Town lovers, or people who wonder if they might fit into either of those categories.
December 20, 2015
I loved The Builders and wanted to check out some of Polansky's other work based on that, but I wasn't sure that I wanted to read Low Town. So, I tested this little Low Town short, and lo and behold, I am all in.
Hit me.
Hit me.
July 22, 2016
Svidja mi se kada neki serijali imaju ovakve male knjižice koje odlično služe kao prikaz onog što dolazi. Taman fino da može da se razvije apetit.
A kod mene je delovalo. Fini grim dark fantasy svet, sa likovima koju rade loše stvari zato što je svet takav i drugačije se teško preživi itd. Ovih par strana je bilo više nego dovoljno da zaintrigira.
Idemo dalje.
A kod mene je delovalo. Fini grim dark fantasy svet, sa likovima koju rade loše stvari zato što je svet takav i drugačije se teško preživi itd. Ovih par strana je bilo više nego dovoljno da zaintrigira.
Idemo dalje.
January 24, 2016
Common wisdom affirms against the drinking of whiskey during daylight hours, and while I can see the merits of the argument, it is not one to which I hold.
Good first sentence. I did not expect a first person narrative.
Very stark prose. Intrigue. Violence. Interesting. I might check out that trilogy.
Good first sentence. I did not expect a first person narrative.
Very stark prose. Intrigue. Violence. Interesting. I might check out that trilogy.
February 18, 2021
One of my favourite dark fantasy trilogies of all time is The Low Town series, by this author, Daniel Polansky. The story of a bitter former policeman and soldier, now drug dealer/crime godfather figure (The Warden) in a seedy section of a sprawling city. I never thought you could create an admirable interesting character from a drug dealer but that was the author’s skill in doing just that.
This is a thirty page short story set in that same city. If you like, it presents a typical few weeks in the life of The Warden, in a probably common turf war against similarly ruthless thugs in adjacent territories. For me it was a reminder of how great that original series is. Rather dark and very well written. Being a short story there’s no time for the nuances and subtlety in the main series. The Warden, who’s often conflicted and unsure in the main series, seems to find this story’s resolution too easy to sort out, so 4*.
You probably could read this as a taster for the series but you’d be missing the excellent world building of the series that explains why he is what he is. All the same a must read for Low Town trilogy fans.
This is a thirty page short story set in that same city. If you like, it presents a typical few weeks in the life of The Warden, in a probably common turf war against similarly ruthless thugs in adjacent territories. For me it was a reminder of how great that original series is. Rather dark and very well written. Being a short story there’s no time for the nuances and subtlety in the main series. The Warden, who’s often conflicted and unsure in the main series, seems to find this story’s resolution too easy to sort out, so 4*.
You probably could read this as a taster for the series but you’d be missing the excellent world building of the series that explains why he is what he is. All the same a must read for Low Town trilogy fans.
January 31, 2016
The Warden is awesome! Glad to at least have this short story gem to get my fix...no pun intended.
August 24, 2025
3.5
Some more good Warden character work. Still, more of the same and bit slight considering.
Some more good Warden character work. Still, more of the same and bit slight considering.
January 12, 2021
I read the Low Town series few years ago and recently bought all three books. It made sense to read this prequel in the form of a brilliant, sharp, short story that took me back to the world of Low Town and Warden. For those who have not yet read Polansky's masterful trilogy, this is a nice introduction to the series, and for all of you who have read the novels, you can recall our “not so nice” but beloved character.
August 3, 2023
A fun little introduction to Daniel Polansky's Low Town series. I'm looking forward to exploring more of Low Town.
February 9, 2015
"People call me the Warden. People call me a lot of things, but the Warden is the only one you could say inside a church."
In this short story, Polansky gives us a sneak peek at our Warden in his day-to-day life, while running his not-so-legal business, and protecting what he owns,...Low Town. Mob war in a fantasy setting.
"To get to Low Town you shuffle out of the gates of the palace and head south, over the Andel, down through Brennock and it's iron foundries and stink, stopping just before you reach the docks. If you come, though, you might want to make sure you aren't dressed too well, or wearing any jewelry, or have much money on you. And you might want to carry a knife, or a sword, or walk along in the company of a handful of men so equipped, or maybe more than a handful. Because the locals are unfriendly, unfriendly by the standards of an unfriendly city in an unfriendly world, and the local guard know better than to waste their time trying to police the place, like a doctor knows better than to bandage a corpse. One more thing about Low Town—the most important thing, really, though you'd be shocked at how many of these argent-a-head thugs forget—it's mine. The broken cobblestones and the graffitied walls and the shit-swollen canals, the silk-shirted pimps and the half-hard razor boys and the wyrm dealers and the crooked guards and even those few poor souls mad or foolish enough to try and eke out an honest living."
Can't wait to read the new book. Think the release is for this year. Good I have "She Who Waits" to read to ease the wait.
In this short story, Polansky gives us a sneak peek at our Warden in his day-to-day life, while running his not-so-legal business, and protecting what he owns,...Low Town. Mob war in a fantasy setting.
"To get to Low Town you shuffle out of the gates of the palace and head south, over the Andel, down through Brennock and it's iron foundries and stink, stopping just before you reach the docks. If you come, though, you might want to make sure you aren't dressed too well, or wearing any jewelry, or have much money on you. And you might want to carry a knife, or a sword, or walk along in the company of a handful of men so equipped, or maybe more than a handful. Because the locals are unfriendly, unfriendly by the standards of an unfriendly city in an unfriendly world, and the local guard know better than to waste their time trying to police the place, like a doctor knows better than to bandage a corpse. One more thing about Low Town—the most important thing, really, though you'd be shocked at how many of these argent-a-head thugs forget—it's mine. The broken cobblestones and the graffitied walls and the shit-swollen canals, the silk-shirted pimps and the half-hard razor boys and the wyrm dealers and the crooked guards and even those few poor souls mad or foolish enough to try and eke out an honest living."
Can't wait to read the new book. Think the release is for this year. Good I have "She Who Waits" to read to ease the wait.
December 26, 2014
A delicious little insight into how a one man mafia can own a town. For once the Warden has no interests at stake save his own, no body to defend or avenge save himself.
For those of us who have watched him through the distractions of "The Straight Razor Cure", "Tomorrow the Killing" and "She Who Waits" it is very satisfying to see him in an earlier interlude in his career, assailed by threats from without and disloyalty within.
He rides the crest of criminal and syndicate venality with more assurance than the nimblest surfer balanced atop a Tahitian Teahupoo wave. In the end it is perhaps no surprise, and I hope not too much of a spoiler, to note that it is the wave of opposition that breaks and the Warden who steps ashore in command, as ever of his domain.
For those who have not yet read Polansky's masterful trilogy of Low Town, this is a good introduction to the mind and methods of the Warden, a snapshot of a character you may want to see more of, but only from a safe distance (aka the medium of Polanksy's writing)
For those of us who have watched him through the distractions of "The Straight Razor Cure", "Tomorrow the Killing" and "She Who Waits" it is very satisfying to see him in an earlier interlude in his career, assailed by threats from without and disloyalty within.
He rides the crest of criminal and syndicate venality with more assurance than the nimblest surfer balanced atop a Tahitian Teahupoo wave. In the end it is perhaps no surprise, and I hope not too much of a spoiler, to note that it is the wave of opposition that breaks and the Warden who steps ashore in command, as ever of his domain.
For those who have not yet read Polansky's masterful trilogy of Low Town, this is a good introduction to the mind and methods of the Warden, a snapshot of a character you may want to see more of, but only from a safe distance (aka the medium of Polanksy's writing)
December 28, 2014
Like a vial of pixies breath for the Wardens' fans.
October 15, 2015
This is a short story that comes before the first book in Polansky's Low Town series. I have had Low Town on my list for a while and after finishing another book last night I thought a short story would be a perfect fit before my eyelids snapped shut.
This is an interesting mix of genres. As I started to read the book, I quickly recognized it as a hard-boiled detective/crime type story, but then they started talking about swords. I was quickly hooked by this.
The Warden is a bad-ass. He seemed to be mainly reputation, but there was a fight scene that showed otherwise. Overall the story was a good introduction to a very grimdark setting and I'm looking forward to the Low Town.
This is an interesting mix of genres. As I started to read the book, I quickly recognized it as a hard-boiled detective/crime type story, but then they started talking about swords. I was quickly hooked by this.
The Warden is a bad-ass. He seemed to be mainly reputation, but there was a fight scene that showed otherwise. Overall the story was a good introduction to a very grimdark setting and I'm looking forward to the Low Town.
September 1, 2018
I had read The Builders by this author, and I thought it was great. I’m interested in more Polansky and I’ve heard good things about the low Town books, so I started with this prequel. It is a nicely written piece with strong characterization and some memorable scenes. But I just can’t buy into the way the plot develops and was a bit disappointed on the whole. The clever turnaround that The Warden puts into play was easily foreseen and the ending was a bit of a letdown. I was hoping to see the Warden at least involved in the culmination, but he is just a bystander watching the havoc he created play out. I am still going to give the first book of the trilogy a try. Polansky is a fine writer and perhaps needs more pages to fully develop a more believable plot.
February 13, 2015
A really excellent little piece of Low Town - a great intro to new readers, but also a fun story for those of us who have read the rest. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
November 28, 2021
5 / 5
A Drink Before We Die is a short story by Daniel Polansky, taking place in the same place as his Low Town series. The main character of the story is the same as in Low Town but the reader is not required to have read the series first. In fact, this short story can serve perfectly as an introduction to Polansky and his amazing trilogy.
Polansky is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. His prose is full of swag, wit and quotable lines. His style is so enjoyable that it's a pleasure to read and I found myself smiling often, thinking to myself that the line I had just read was so f***ing cool.
The plot is about the Warden and how he deals with a shady new group trying to get in on his turf and kick him out of business and out life along with it. The Warden is not really a likeable character nor a relatable one but his hard-boiled style and stoicism is immediately absorbing and attracting. The way Polansky recounts and gives us the story through the Warden's point of view and monologues often feels like a tug and push: something directly related to what is happening like an action or dialogue or similar, usually followed by a philosophical introversion or a humorous quip. This slows the pace a bit but it makes the reading experience much richer.
In summary, I loved this short story as much as I loved his Low Town series. Polansky's style and voice is incredible and you should do yourselves a favor and give him a chance, possibly starting with this one. Highly recommended!
5 / 5
A Drink Before We Die is a short story by Daniel Polansky, taking place in the same place as his Low Town series. The main character of the story is the same as in Low Town but the reader is not required to have read the series first. In fact, this short story can serve perfectly as an introduction to Polansky and his amazing trilogy.
Polansky is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. His prose is full of swag, wit and quotable lines. His style is so enjoyable that it's a pleasure to read and I found myself smiling often, thinking to myself that the line I had just read was so f***ing cool.
The plot is about the Warden and how he deals with a shady new group trying to get in on his turf and kick him out of business and out life along with it. The Warden is not really a likeable character nor a relatable one but his hard-boiled style and stoicism is immediately absorbing and attracting. The way Polansky recounts and gives us the story through the Warden's point of view and monologues often feels like a tug and push: something directly related to what is happening like an action or dialogue or similar, usually followed by a philosophical introversion or a humorous quip. This slows the pace a bit but it makes the reading experience much richer.
In summary, I loved this short story as much as I loved his Low Town series. Polansky's style and voice is incredible and you should do yourselves a favor and give him a chance, possibly starting with this one. Highly recommended!
5 / 5
June 26, 2024
The Warden was once a feared warrior, an enforcer of the law for the Crown, and a member of the elite that rules Rigus, the greatest city in the Thirteen Lands.
He's none of those things today.
He is the criminal boss of Low Town, a small section of Rigus, and addicted to powerful drugs.
He fallen far, or maybe he has found his true level.
What he is good at is survival, using his wits and extreme violence, to ensure that no-one usurps his rule.
Low Town reminded me somewhat of Ankh Morpork (Terry Pratchett) and Lankhmar (Fritz Leiber) - though Low town is far bleaker.
A new mob is muscling in on his territory. As the Warden is greatly outnumbered he needs a cunning plan.
One cunning plan later and it's over.
“A Drink Before Dying” is a short prequel and introduction to the 'Low Town' series.
I'll definitely be reading on.
3.5 Stars, brought back to 3 Stars as it is just too short to accurately judge.
He's none of those things today.
He is the criminal boss of Low Town, a small section of Rigus, and addicted to powerful drugs.
He fallen far, or maybe he has found his true level.
What he is good at is survival, using his wits and extreme violence, to ensure that no-one usurps his rule.
Low Town reminded me somewhat of Ankh Morpork (Terry Pratchett) and Lankhmar (Fritz Leiber) - though Low town is far bleaker.
A new mob is muscling in on his territory. As the Warden is greatly outnumbered he needs a cunning plan.
One cunning plan later and it's over.
“A Drink Before Dying” is a short prequel and introduction to the 'Low Town' series.
I'll definitely be reading on.
3.5 Stars, brought back to 3 Stars as it is just too short to accurately judge.
June 13, 2017
A cute Low Town short, thankfully romance free.
June 26, 2017
A quick read and fresh style (I really enjoy how the protagonist 'speaks' to the reader) has me wanting to dive straight into the main Low Town series, so that's exactly what I'm gonna do.
November 2, 2017
This is a cool little novella set in the LowTown universe. If you know what that is, and you enjoy it, this book is for you.
November 14, 2018
Being familiar with the Warden , this one was a bit predictable.
but still , it was fun. 3.5
but still , it was fun. 3.5
August 7, 2019
Gangster Fantasy
Good prequel i can't wait to read the Low Town books now cause this was great writing now I have to read the first book
Good prequel i can't wait to read the Low Town books now cause this was great writing now I have to read the first book
Read
January 11, 20233 and a half stars. short story in the Low Town series laying out The Warden's style of territorial management. not essential reading: the trilogy itself lays it out pretty darn clearly.
May 16, 2025
Meh. Nice for a vacation read but not much point to this one. Perhaps if I had read this first rather than low town.
December 31, 2019
I wish there was more
Another outstanding Low Town story. If you’re a fan of movies like “Snatch” and prefer your hero’s morally grey, this book is for you.
Another outstanding Low Town story. If you’re a fan of movies like “Snatch” and prefer your hero’s morally grey, this book is for you.
July 27, 2017
A very nice introduction to Low Town and the Warden. I think what describes the Warden and the stories best, is a direct quote out of this Low Town Short.
>Convincing violent people to do violent things.>
>Convincing violent people to do violent things.>
July 5, 2017
This story is a prequel to the Low Town series. It shows Warden's modus operandi for problem solving and demonstrates why his peers consider him to be a formidable player.
The following pertains to the entire Low Town series. Don't worry--there's no spoilers!
Wow! I loved the mix of fantasy and hardboiled crime. The Warden is not a great man. He's been brought low by his own mistakes and addictions. He's a cynic and a misanthrope. He's self-demeaning and self-pitying. However, in each installment of this series, he acts from a deep-down altruistic impulse. We like the Warden because he's a better person than he thinks he is.
The series is written in the first person from Warden's point of view. The books are full of digressions in the form of flashbacks. I am not always a fan of flashbacks, but they are deftly done here and greatly enhance the narrative.
The prose has a biting cleverness to it that is a combination of Joe Abercrombie and Terry Pratchett. Every description and every nuance is filtered through Warden's cynical and self-pitying point of view. The Warden is a broken man, and he sees everything around him as broken and brought low. The reader is left to wonder if a more optimistic narrator would describe the same scenes in more pleasant or uplifting terms.
This is one of my most highy-rated series to date.
View the complete review here at Epic Grit.
The following pertains to the entire Low Town series. Don't worry--there's no spoilers!
Wow! I loved the mix of fantasy and hardboiled crime. The Warden is not a great man. He's been brought low by his own mistakes and addictions. He's a cynic and a misanthrope. He's self-demeaning and self-pitying. However, in each installment of this series, he acts from a deep-down altruistic impulse. We like the Warden because he's a better person than he thinks he is.
The series is written in the first person from Warden's point of view. The books are full of digressions in the form of flashbacks. I am not always a fan of flashbacks, but they are deftly done here and greatly enhance the narrative.
The prose has a biting cleverness to it that is a combination of Joe Abercrombie and Terry Pratchett. Every description and every nuance is filtered through Warden's cynical and self-pitying point of view. The Warden is a broken man, and he sees everything around him as broken and brought low. The reader is left to wonder if a more optimistic narrator would describe the same scenes in more pleasant or uplifting terms.
This is one of my most highy-rated series to date.
View the complete review here at Epic Grit.
February 4, 2017
Please give me a helpful vote at Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/review/R1SEX3S...
This is a Tor.com short story, which means that it offers a taste of a much larger novel or universe published by Tor. Often time Tor.com short stories are far too cryptic to tell a story and rely totally on the reader already knowing the universe, the characters and the backstory.
This short story, however, works as a short story. It tells the story of "the Warden," who is the chief gang leader, although he doesn't really seem to have a gang, in an impoverished part of a fantasy city called "Lowtown." The setting is patterned on a film noir "naked city" setting, like many of the "fantasy noir" stories since Glen Cook pioneered the concept with his "Garrett, PI" stories. At least, I think it is a fantasy setting. I didn't see magic, but there were plenty of knives, maces and swords, but not a revolver in sight.
In this story, the Warden has to deal with an attempted hostile take-over of his territory by a gang operating in an adjacent low rent district.
Is he successful? Well, he has a Machiavellian approach to life and is nasty quick with a shiv, but to find out, you will have to read the story.
This is a Tor.com short story, which means that it offers a taste of a much larger novel or universe published by Tor. Often time Tor.com short stories are far too cryptic to tell a story and rely totally on the reader already knowing the universe, the characters and the backstory.
This short story, however, works as a short story. It tells the story of "the Warden," who is the chief gang leader, although he doesn't really seem to have a gang, in an impoverished part of a fantasy city called "Lowtown." The setting is patterned on a film noir "naked city" setting, like many of the "fantasy noir" stories since Glen Cook pioneered the concept with his "Garrett, PI" stories. At least, I think it is a fantasy setting. I didn't see magic, but there were plenty of knives, maces and swords, but not a revolver in sight.
In this story, the Warden has to deal with an attempted hostile take-over of his territory by a gang operating in an adjacent low rent district.
Is he successful? Well, he has a Machiavellian approach to life and is nasty quick with a shiv, but to find out, you will have to read the story.
April 17, 2015
As it says, a low town short story, a nice dip back into the life of Warden and his world.
You can read this on its own, even if you haven't read the last 3 full novels and it will give you a taste for Daniel Polansky's writing and the his world. Which are both very good.
Warden, the main character, is a hard man, he runs low town and will defend his turf in any way he can. Not only is he tough and wouldn’t think twice about killing you if you get in his way, he is a thinking man and is smart too. Either way, you wouldn't want to be on his bad side, you won't win. If you like it violent, witty and downright brutal, take a stroll through the pages and visit low town. Just make sure you don’t cross Warden, as you might not get out alive.
You can read this on its own, even if you haven't read the last 3 full novels and it will give you a taste for Daniel Polansky's writing and the his world. Which are both very good.
Warden, the main character, is a hard man, he runs low town and will defend his turf in any way he can. Not only is he tough and wouldn’t think twice about killing you if you get in his way, he is a thinking man and is smart too. Either way, you wouldn't want to be on his bad side, you won't win. If you like it violent, witty and downright brutal, take a stroll through the pages and visit low town. Just make sure you don’t cross Warden, as you might not get out alive.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews