Joe Abercrombie Books in Order
Early Life and Background Joe Abercrombie was born on December 31, 1974, in Lancaster, England. Growing up in an academic household, his father was an archaeologist and his mother a special needs teacher, which exposed him to both historical narratives and diverse perspectives from an early age. Abercrombie spent his childhood immersed in fantasy literature, devouring works by J.R.R. Tolkien, David Gemmell, and Ursula K. Le Guin, though he would later become famous for deconstructing the very tropes these authors established. After completing his secondary education, Abercrombie attended Manchester University, where he studied Psychology from 1993 to 1996. This psychological background would later prove invaluable in creating his signature morally complex characters and exploring the darker aspects of human nature that define his work. Career Before Writing Following university, Abercrombie moved to London and entered the television industry as a freelance film editor in 1998. He spent nearly a decade working on documentaries, live music events, and concerts for British television. His editing credits include work for the BBC, Channel 4, and various independent production companies. This technical background in visual storytelling significantly influenced his cinematic writing style, particularly his visceral action sequences and multi-POV narrative structures. During his film editing career, Abercrombie specialized in cutting live music performances and documentaries about rock bands, which exposed him to touring musicians' lifestyles and personalities—experiences that would later inform characters like Nicomo Cosca and various rogues throughout his novels. The Path to Publication Abercrombie began writing The Blade Itself in 2002 while maintaining his full-time editing career. He spent four years perfecting the manuscript during evenings and weekends, treating writing as a serious second job rather than a casual hobby. His approach was methodical: outlining extensively, writing first drafts quickly, then spending months on revisions—a process he credits to his film editing background where "the magic happens in the edit." In 2006, after numerous rejections, Abercrombie signed with literary agent Mic Cheetham, who quickly sold The Blade Itself to Gollancz in the UK. The book was published in May 2006 when Abercrombie was 31 years old. Initial sales were modest, but strong word-of-mouth and glowing reviews from fantasy luminaries like Robin Hobb helped build momentum. Rise to Prominence The completion of The First Law Trilogy in 2008 established Abercrombie as a major voice in fantasy literature. Last Argument of Kings subverted genre expectations so thoroughly that it sparked widespread discussion about the nature of fantasy heroes and whether traditional fantasy was "dead." This controversy, rather than hurting sales, catapulted Abercrombie to international recognition. By 2009's Best Served Cold, Abercrombie had quit film editing to write full-time. The novel debuted on the Sunday Times bestseller list, proving his commercial viability. Each subsequent release has charted higher, with 2019's A Little Hatred reaching #1 on the Sunday Times list and cracking the New York Times top 5. Writing Style and Philosophy Abercrombie describes his writing philosophy as "giving fantasy readers what they want, just not quite how they expect it." He consciously deconstructs fantasy tropes while still delivering the epic battles, magic, and adventure fans crave. His approach includes: Character Development: Every character, including villains, has understandable motivations. Abercrombie famously said, "I wanted to write fantasy where everyone's the hero of their own story, even if they're the villain of someone else's." Realistic Violence: Having researched historical combat extensively, Abercrombie presents fighting as exhausting, terrifying, and decidedly unheroic. His battle scenes focus on confusion, fear, and survival rather than glory. Dark Humor: Despite grim subject matter, Abercrombie injects sardonic wit throughout his work, believing "if you can't laugh at the darkness, it becomes unbearable." Subversion with Purpose: While known for subverting tropes, Abercrombie insists this isn't cynicism for its own sake but rather an attempt to examine why these tropes exist and what they say about human nature. Personal Life Joe Abercrombie married Louise in 2001, before his writing career began. She's been credited in every book's acknowledgments as his "first reader and harshest critic." The couple has three children: Grace (born 2006, coinciding with his debut publication), Teddy (born 2009), and Rose (born 2012). The family lives in Bath, Somerset, having moved from London in 2010. Abercrombie has spoken about how parenthood influenced his writing, particularly in developing younger characters in The Age of Madness trilogy and exploring parent-child relationships more deeply. Influences and Inspirations Literary Influences: While Tolkien sparked his love of fantasy, Abercrombie cites George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones (1996) as the book that made him believe he could write fantasy differently. Other major influences include: Glen Cook's The Black Company (for military fantasy) Michael Moorcock's Elric stories (for antiheroes) James Ellroy's noir fiction (for moral ambiguity) Cormac McCarthy (for sparse, brutal prose) David Gemmell (for heroic moments within dark narratives) Historical Influences: Abercrombie draws heavily from history, particularly: The Napoleonic Wars (The Heroes) The American Old West (Red Country) The Italian Renaissance (The Devils series) The Industrial Revolution (Age of Madness) Viking Age Scandinavia (Shattered Sea) Creative Process Abercrombie is known for his disciplined approach to writing: Planning: Spends 3-6 months outlining before writing, creating detailed chapter-by-chapter breakdowns. He's described his outlines as "more like a first draft without dialogue." Daily Routine: Writes 5 days a week, treating it as a 9-5 job. Aims for 2,000 words daily during first drafts, though revision days produce fewer new words. Revision Process: Typically goes through 4-5 complete drafts, with particular attention to dialogue, pacing, and character voice. His film editing background means he's comfortable "killing darlings." Research: Extensive but targeted. For The Heroes, he visited battlefield sites in Scotland. For Red Country, he read dozens of Western novels and historical accounts of the American frontier. Public Persona and Fan Interaction Unlike some authors who maintain mystique, Abercrombie is highly accessible to fans. He maintains an active blog where he discusses writing process, reviews other books, and shares personal anecdotes with self-deprecating humor. His Twitter presence (@LordGrimdark) features writing updates, political commentary, and interactions with fellow authors. Abercrombie regularly attends conventions worldwide, known for entertaining panel discussions and generous signing sessions. He's particularly supportive of debut authors, frequently providing blurbs and social media boosts to new writers in the grimdark fantasy space. Awards and Recognition Beyond commercial success, Abercrombie has received significant critical recognition: British Fantasy Award for Best Novel (The Heroes, 2012) Locus Award nominations for every novel since Best Served Cold David Gemmell Legend Award shortlisted three times IGN Best Fantasy Book (A Little Hatred, 2019) Named one of Time Magazine's "100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time" for The First Law Trilogy Industry Impact and Legacy Abercrombie is widely credited, alongside authors like Mark Lawrence and R. Scott Bakker, with establishing "grimdark" as a legitimate fantasy subgenre. His influence extends beyond direct imitators to mainstream fantasy, with even traditional fantasy authors now incorporating moral complexity and realistic consequences into their work. Many current fantasy authors cite Abercrombie as an influence, including: Anna Smith Spark Ed McDonald Nicholas Eames Devin Madson Luke Scull Philosophy on Genre and Literature In interviews, Abercrombie has articulated a nuanced view of fantasy's role: "Fantasy isn't escapism from reality, it's a lens through which we can examine reality more clearly by stripping away the familiar." He rejects the notion that dark fantasy is inherently more realistic than traditional fantasy, arguing instead that both serve different purposes for different readers at different times. Current Projects and Future As of 2025, Abercrombie is working on the third book in The Devils trilogy, expected in 2026. He's expressed interest in possibly writing science fiction and has mentioned having "ideas for a contemporary thriller," though fantasy remains his primary focus. Regarding the First Law World, while The Wisdom of Crowds concluded the current saga, Abercrombie hasn't ruled out returning: "Never say never, but if I do go back, it would need to be with a fresh perspective and something new to say." Adaptations and Media Netflix announced in 2020 that it was developing The First Law as a series, with Abercrombie serving as executive producer. As of 2025, the project remains in development. Abercrombie has expressed cautious optimism, stating he'd "rather have no adaptation than a bad one." The First Law books have been adapted into successful audiobooks narrated by Steven Pacey, whose performance is so definitive that many fans consider them the optimal way to experience the series. Abercrombie has praised Pacey's work, saying "He brings things to the characters I didn't know were there." Writing Advice and Mentorship Abercrombie frequently shares writing advice, with his most famous being: "Finish what you start. A bad finished book can be edited. An unfinished book is nothing." "Your first draft is you telling yourself the story. The real writing happens in revision." "Read outside your genre. The best fantasy ideas often come from non-fantasy sources." He's taught at various writing workshops and masterclasses, known for practical, no-nonsense advice that mirrors his writing style—direct, honest, and occasionally brutal but ultimately constructive. Cultural Impact Beyond literature, Abercrombie's work has influenced: Video Games: Developers cite his work as inspiration for morally complex RPG narratives Tabletop Gaming: Multiple grimdark RPG systems reference his approach to fantasy Academic Study: His work is increasingly studied in university courses on modern fantasy literature Conclusion Joe Abercrombie transformed from a television editor writing in his spare time to one of fantasy literature's most influential voices in less than two decades. His commitment to challenging genre conventions while delivering compelling storytelling has earned him both critical acclaim and commercial success. More than just the "Lord Grimdark," Abercrombie represents a maturation of fantasy literature—proving the genre can examine complex moral questions while still providing the adventure and wonder readers seek. As he enters his third decade as a published author, Abercrombie's influence on fantasy continues to grow, inspiring new generations of writers to question assumptions, embrace complexity, and remember that sometimes the most heroic thing a character can do is simply survive another day in a harsh world. Last updated: October 2025
All Joe Abercrombie Book Series
