The Fantasy Review’s brief history of Sand dan Glokta from The First Law world by Joe Abercrombie.
Check out: our review of The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie.
Sand dan Glokta, a central figure in Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law series, is a complex and intriguing character whose history is as twisted as his body. Once a dashing and promising young officer, Glokta’s life took a dark turn that turned him into the bitter, cynical inquisitor we meet in The Blade Itself.
This history of Sand dan Glokta includes minor spoilers for his backstory revealed in The First Law trilogy, but no spoilers for the series.
Early Life and Military Career
Born into nobility, Sand dan Glokta showed great promise from an early age. He was handsome, charismatic, and exceptionally skilled with a blade. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Union’s military, becoming the pride of the nation and a favorite to win the Contest, an annual fencing tournament.
Capture and Torture
Glokta’s promising future was cut short during the war with Gurkish. Captured in the siege of Dagoska, he spent two years as a prisoner, enduring unimaginable torture at the hands of Emperor Uthman’s Practicals.
This experience left him permanently crippled, both physically and psychologically.
Return to the Union & Life as an Inquisitor
Upon his return to the Union, Glokta found himself a broken man. Those around him were repulsed and society and his friends abandoned him. Unable to continue his military career, he was recruited by Arch Lector Sult into the Inquisition, where his experience with pain could be put to “good use”.
As an Inquisitor, Glokta became known for his ruthlessness and cruelty. His cynicism and dark humor became his armor against a world he saw as unjust. Despite his methods, Glokta often found himself questioning the very system he served.
