A few glasses of wine can be the difference between finding a man a hilarious companion or an insufferable moron

A few glasses of wine can be the difference between finding a man a hilarious companion or an insufferable moron

In the world of Joe Abercrombie's novels, where treachery, violence, and dark humor reign supreme, the idea that a few glasses of wine can drastically alter one's perception of a man is not only plausible but almost expected. Abercrombie's characters are often complex, flawed individuals who walk a fine line between heroism and villainy, making them the perfect subjects for such a statement.

Take, for example, the character of Sand dan Glokta from Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. Glokta is a former war hero turned torturer, a man whose physical and mental scars have left him bitter, cynical, and utterly ruthless. In his sober state, Glokta is a terrifying figure, capable of inflicting unspeakable pain on his victims without a hint of remorse. However, add a few glasses of wine to the mix, and suddenly Glokta becomes a darkly humorous, almost charming figure, his sharp wit and sardonic observations drawing in those around him despite his dark past.

Similarly, the character of Logen Ninefingers, also known as the Bloody-Nine, undergoes a dramatic transformation with the help of alcohol. Logen is a barbarian warrior with a fearsome reputation for his berserker rage in battle. Sober, he is a stoic, brooding figure, haunted by his past and struggling to control his violent impulses. But after a few drinks, Logen becomes a jovial, larger-than-life figure, regaling his companions with tales of his exploits and sharing a laugh over a shared bottle of spirits.