Camorr - News and Views from Scott Lynch's Locke Lamora books

In the field of fantasy, I think Lynch's sort of protagonist and and plot are rather rare.

In science fiction, Richard Morgan's Takeshi Kovacs is a tough customer with a very gritty and violent code.

In other genres, there are many examples. Try Richard Stark's Parker series, a robber who is totally amoral and professional, and will kill anyone who jeopardizes his freedom, but look out if you're in on the heist and you double-cross him.

Dan Simmons has written a trio of books featuring a similar anti-hero criminal character named Joe Kurtz - Hardcase, Hard Freeze and Hard as Nails.

My own personal favorite novel I've read so far this year is newcomer Josh Bazell's Beat the Reaper, a hit-man who also happens to be a physician at a hospital.

Thieves in fantasy, though, I'm drawing a blank at the moment. At least the type not played for comic relief.

i'm just gonna write my own then. DIY!

If you like thieves as heroes, you MUST read Maurice Leblanc's books about Arsené Lupin, the gentlemanthief.
Maurice was the one who created the whole idea of a thief or a crook as a hero! He started the whole genré!

The first book is called Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-burglar. (READ IT, NOW!)

The only bad thing about the books are that they are quite old, Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-burglar was written in 1907.

But it's still very much worth reading. Especially when Arsene Lupin, the king of crimes, goes head to head with the master of all detectives, Sherlock Holmes!! (Oh, the awesomeness!)

ah, the Thief Lord. Great book. It actually started my obsession for venice, but it is aimed for young teens, so it may not be your thing.

It's not a book, but - I just watched Miyazaki's first film "Lupin III: the Castle of Cagliostro". I believe it's based on a manga based on Leblanc's novels, so the protagonist is Arsène Lupin's grandson. It's very funny, and I couldn't help but think of Locke while watching it!

Wonder why I haven't stumbled on this topic before? Now to pile a list of all you've suggested so I can get to reading at once when summer begins!

I just found the pilot episode of the series on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMhr_6BVO3Y - and it's so like the Gentleman Bastards I think I could use it as an emergency substitute! (He is called Wolf. Had to check the English trailer of the movie to be sure. xD) Now if I could only get my hands on the Arsène Lupin books... But stupid library refuses to have them in any other language than Swedish, French or Chinese.

EDIT:// Funny coincidence, I happened to wander into a store today - and they have all the seasons of Lupin III on sale! I'm starting to think I'll manage until I get my Lies and Red Seas back.

i have a real soft spot for fictional thieves but i also read mostly YA, which i know a lot of people look down on. these are in order from most-adult-friendly to most-silly, so.

-queen's thief by megan whalen turner (probably the best example of what you're looking for. the plot's really twisty and the thief in question is fantastic. i haven't read the sequels yet, but i've been told that they're all excellent)
-the knight & the rogue books by hilari bell (a self-proclaimed knight ends up with a convicted thief as his "squire", hijinks ensue)
-the tortall books by tamora pierce (not really about thieves, but they feature some of my favorites (the alanna series has george, aly is a spy who was trained by a thief, and the beka cooper books are about a cop who is friends with thieves) and definitely don't go in for any of that "this is your destiny" crap)
-the heist society by ally carter (ocean's eleven, but run by a 16 year old girl. this is the only non-fantasy one, but it's pretty fun.)

Oh wow guys, you're awesome!! I was just thinking the other day how I haven't read a new book for a while and then you post this! I'm gonna order Among Thieves tomorrow from amazon, and when i read it I'll post my opinion :-) Thanks!

I posted this in the 'currently reading' thread, but I'll post it here again for people specifically looking for thief novels.

Brandon Sanderson's 'Mistborn Trilogy'. It's quite stark compared to Scott's work, but has a lot of original concepts and fun characters that will draw you into the plot nonetheless! I'm only half way through, but so far, I rate it highly for fantasy readers.

I've recently read Among Thieves and enjoyed it - I believe it's Douglas Hullick's first published novel, and without meaning to be disrespectful the book does read that way in places. I found some of the plot to be slightly 'convenient', but that didn't detract from my enjoyment and the story is well written and involved.

If you like Scott Lynch's GB series, and given the nature of this forum I have to assume that you all do, it's pretty unlikely that you wouldn't enjoy Among Thieves. I'll definitely be reading any further releases from this series.

As an aside I'm hoping that given the name of the series (Tales of the Kin) Douglas Hullick is not going to write sequels, so much as other stories in the same setting - Much like Neil Gaiman did with American Gods and Anansi Boys. A few cameo appearances or old names mentioned in passing is a nice touch, of course.

~ Pete.