/lit/ - Literature

The Great Change (and Other Lies), First Law World - Joe Abercrombie (2023)

The first three of these stories were previously included in the Waterstones special editions of the Age of Madness trilogy books. The Great Change is published here for the first time. Abercrombie warns that these stories shouldn't be read until after you've read the book it goes with and for the last, until after you've finished the trilogy. What I've written can be read without having read anything else.

The Thread
The devaluation of labor and the ascendancy of capital in an unregulated free market is demonstrated through the production of clothing starting from the harvesting of cotton to the presentation of a garment to a wealthy businesswoman. Quality plummets as profits soar.
Enjoyable

The Stone
The path of a single huge blood diamond is followed from its discovery to its incorporation into regalia. Along the way all manners of criminal activity ensue. A great amount of individual profit is gained through undermining the guild system, organized labor, and solidarity. However, it's never enough.
Enjoyable

The Point
Hundreds of prisoners, political and otherwise, slaves, and other forced labor toil away in the iron mines. Their lives hold no value other than the value they produce for the owner. A man ponders whether the downsides of profit at the expense of all else is worth its rewards. The foundries are indifferent to its usage, cutlery or swords, it matters not as long as they're paid. An arms dealer sells to all sides, as to do otherwise would enrich someone else.
Enjoyable

The Great Change
The origins of The Great Change are revealed. Scenes from the trilogy are presented from a different perspective. New scenes fill out what wasn't previously put on page.
Enjoyable