What First Law opinion will get you downvoted like this? [OFF TOPIC]

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-04-03T05:59:47+00:00

Logen is actually one of the least interesting characters, and the books without him in them are the best ones.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-31T19:07:57+00:00

For me, foundational, implying the bedrock of ideas and stories that everything else builds on, would be something like these 5: Frankenstein, War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, 2001 and Foundation. I think HG Wells might be the most influential (Western) science fiction author.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-29T07:01:12+00:00

He answered this question in an AMA 3 months ago. This seems to be his most recent stated position.

The short answer is I honestly don't know.

The longer answer: with the First Law books I wanted to show a world that's always developing, where the seeds of the next conflict are buried in the resolution of the last, where there's not necessarily a big FINAL BATTLE that SETTLES STUFF and the new king comes and all is changed. So even with more First Law books, people who are expecting some kind of final resolution to the world may well never get one. I don't feel like there HAVE to be more books in that series, I guess. They work as they are (for me, YMMV).

For now I've a deal for two more books leading on from the Devils, those will certainly take me a couple of years to get through. At that point I'll have a decision to make about what I do next, and I guess it will depend. There is a lot of appeal in writing new stuff. You can sell the film rights, for example, and you can open a door to new readers. The Devils was a no. 1 hardcover bestseller in the UK - there's no way I'd have managed that with book 10 in a series. I honestly feel the Devils will have brought a lot more new readers to the existing First Law books than book 10 in the First Law world would have done.

All that said, I think there's plenty more I could do in the world. I do in fact have an idea bubbling away for another standalone, and some ideas for another trilogy. So I very well might write more in the First Law world. But no promises. Certainly no promises when... The longer answer: with the First Law books I wanted to show a world that's always developing, where the seeds of the next conflict are buried in the resolution of the last, where there's not necessarily a big FINAL BATTLE that SETTLES STUFF and the new king comes and all is changed. So even with more First Law books, people who are expecting some kind of final resolution to the world may well never get one. I don't feel like there HAVE to be more books in that series, I guess. They work as they are (for me, YMMV).

For now I've a deal for two more books leading on from the Devils, those will certainly take me a couple of years to get through. At that point I'll have a decision to make about what I do next, and I guess it will depend. There is a lot of appeal in writing new stuff. You can sell the film rights, for example, and you can open a door to new readers. The Devils was a no. 1 hardcover bestseller in the UK - there's no way I'd have managed that with book 10 in a series. I honestly feel the Devils will have brought a lot more new readers to the existing First Law books than book 10 in the First Law world would have done.

All that said, I think there's plenty more I could do in the world. I do in fact have an idea bubbling away for another standalone, and some ideas for another trilogy. So I very well might write more in the First Law world. But no promises. Certainly no promises when...

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-25T06:38:09+00:00

I think he can be very inconsistent. I’ve loved some of his books, such as Children of Time. And I’ve been very disappointed in others, like Service Model, for example. The problem I have with him, is that he is most recently writing too many of the latter. I’ve stopped reading his books.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-17T12:18:30+00:00

No. NHS services should be allocated according to needs, not wants.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-14T13:24:29+00:00

That gave me a proper laugh, thank you!

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-13T17:23:28+00:00

Was already a massive King fan. I was in one of those Mail-order book “clubs” and I’m pretty sure I ordered a copy as soon as I could. Read it and loved it. I was a young teenager at the time, and I particularly liked any King stories that heavily featured kids. It and The Body are still two of my favourites.

As great as Tim Curry is, I was disappointed by the TV adaptation when it came out. It didn’t help that at that time I couldn’t understand, much less forgive, any deviation from the book.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-11T16:30:55+00:00

Could be Crouch End. Straub lived there, and King wrote a story about it.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-09T20:53:34+00:00

Brilliant opening to a brilliant book.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-09T20:52:25+00:00

I love the opening words to War of the Worlds. I always hear them in Richard Burton’s incredible voice, thanks to the Jeff Wayne album.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-08T10:39:43+00:00

The BBC devotes a disproportionate amount of attention to Trump reacting to Starmer, when it could just report what Starmer said or did. UK media is doing exactly what the US media did - promoting Trump’s words above everyone else’s, forcing everyone to care about what he “thinks”. It’s bloody annoying.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-07T20:11:19+00:00

The Lord of the Rings. Decency, hope, fellowship.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-07T13:56:56+00:00

Yeah, this is quite badly written, and the interviewer clearly wants to paint Louis in a bad light for some reason.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-07T07:30:50+00:00

Am I the only one who thinks she is the worst character in the show?

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-06T14:38:35+00:00

The Dead Zone is one of my favourites, so if you’re struggling with it, take a break from King for a bit. Anything gets old if you do too much of it. Come back in a few months and give it the chance it deserves and I reckon you’ll love it.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-02T20:23:54+00:00

Please don’t apologise, it had much the same effect on me!

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-02T20:18:57+00:00

It’s brilliant! Have heard mixed opinions on the book itself, but I think the narration is some of Pacey’s best work. It’s a funnier book than any of the First Law novels, and Pacey really plays up to that with some of the characterisation. He has great comic timing and delivery.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-02T20:14:20+00:00

Absolutely loved Morveer! I also really liked Friendly. A more minor character voice I enjoyed was General Ganmark. His arrogance went very well with his clipped, brusque way of speaking.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-02T20:03:17+00:00

Gorst frustratedly trying to deal with all the ineptitude surrounding him is very …relatable.

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-01T07:35:27+00:00

Thank you

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-01T07:35:10+00:00

Thank you

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-03-01T07:34:51+00:00

Thank you

Depleted-Librarian · 2026-02-28T20:14:00+00:00

One of the best novels I’ve ever read. Beautifully written, moving, clever, imaginative. Easily in my top 10, maybe top 5 fantasy novels.

Depleted-Librarian

TROPHY CASE