The Incorruptibles, John Hornor Jacobs
The Incorruptibles, John Hornor Jacobs
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The Incorruptibles

Author: John Hornor Jacobs

Narrator: Steven Pacey

Unabridged: 10 hr 27 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Gollancz

Published: 08/14/2014

Categories: Fiction, Fantasy, Epic


Synopsis

In the contested and unexplored territories at the edge of the Empire, a boat is making its laborious way up stream. Riding along the banks are the mercenaries hired to protect it - from raiders, bandits and, most of all, the stretchers, elf-like natives who kill any intruders into their territory. The mercenaries know this is dangerous, deadly work. But it is what they do.

In the boat the drunk governor of the territories and his sons and daughters make merry. They believe that their status makes them untouchable. They are wrong. And with them is a mysterious, beautiful young woman, who is the key to peace between warring nations and survival for the Empire. When a callow mercenary saves the life of the Governor on an ill-fated hunting party, the two groups are thrown together.

For Fisk and Shoe - two tough, honourable mercenaries surrounded by corruption, who know they can always and only rely on each other - their young companion appears to be playing with fire. The nobles have the power, and crossing them is always risky.

And although love is a wonderful thing, sometimes the best decision is to walk away. Because no matter how untouchable or deadly you may be, the stretchers have other plans.

Read by Steven Pacey

(p) 2014 Orion Publishing Group

About John Hornor Jacobs

John Hornor Jacobs is the author of SOUTHERN GODS, short-listed for the Bram Stoker Award for First Novel, THIS DARK EARTH, from Simon & Schuster, and THE TWELVE-FINGERED BOY series of young adult novels from Carolrhoda Labs. He lives with his family in the South of America, where he is also a musician and graphic artist. Visit him at www.johnhornorjacobs.com.

About Steven Pacey

Steven Pacey is best known for his role as Del Tarrant in the third and fourth seasons of the sci-fi series Blake's 7. He has worked extensively in Theatre, TV and film for many years and in 2009 played opposite Graham Norton in La Cage Aux Folles at London's Playhouse Theatre. He has read numerous audiobooks including Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy, Best Served Cold and The Heroes, and abridged titles by Matthew Reilly.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mark on April 07, 2025

An exceptionally well written book that shows an alternative world with numerous echoes of our own, set in a loose 'wild west' parallel with with an eclectic mix of cultural references. Jacobs' prose is lean and to the point but touches on poetry in places even so. His characters are expertly drawn......more

Goodreads review by Nicky on October 05, 2016

The Incorruptibles is a bit of a mash up of all sorts of genres: a little steampunk, a little Western, a little horror/supernatural/Supernatural vibe, alternate history with a Roman (sorry, Ruman) feel… and it does work insofar as it’s entertaining, and it’s interesting to figure out how exactly the......more

Goodreads review by Matthew on November 09, 2014

The Incorruptibles is a tale of mercenaries, deadly indigenous natives, and a demon powered steamboat. Sold yet? You should be. Set in an alternative world where a 'Rome' like civilisation never fell and demons have been harnessed by a caste of engineers, we follow the trials and tribulations of a p......more

Goodreads review by Jasper on August 19, 2014

originally posted at: [URL not allowed] Each year a lot of books are published, books that fall into a singular genre or that have a bit of two genres working in their favor. Next to those you also have complete mashups, and there you will find John Hornor Jacobs' latest book:......more

Goodreads review by James on September 14, 2014

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. I don't really know why I went into it with low expectations, I guess the blurb on the back didn't fill me with confidence (I read an ARC copy given to me by the ever lovely Mark Lawrence). But I really did dig into this one. I have a good group of p......more


Quotes

5 * The Incorruptibles is a rare thing: a clever story and an action-packed one SFX

One part ancient Rome, two parts wild west, one part Faust. A pinch of Tolkien, of Lovecraft, of Dante. This is strange alchemy, a recipe I've never seen before. I wish more books were as fresh and brave as this Patrick Rothfuss

It's GUNSLINGER meets LORD OF THE RINGS. It is amazing." And "This book is legit amazing CHUCK WENDIG

Fantasy needs writers who push the envelope, and Jacobs finds the edge and tears right through it. If you want original, you've picked up the right book MYKE COLE

It's here that The Incorruptibles gets good. Great, I'd go so far as to say. Now that the stakes have been made plain, our heroes' real responsibilities revealed, and the overarching conflict at least alluded to, Jacobs' novel properly kicks off. What follows is grim and gripping, surprising and exciting, tense and tremendously well-told, too Tor.com

wildly innovative and highly readable story which, I think, should be nominated for quite a few awards next year. It is unlike anything else out there at the moment and I think many will be surprised by its unflinching ambition and often, beautifully poetic language Upcoming 4 Me

8.5/10 Fast paced, action packed with its unusual mix of Westerns, daemons and Ancient Rome Fantasy Book Review

This for me reminded me of the first time i read a Mark Lawrence, Scott Lynch and Joe Abercrombie, that sense of WOW, this is fresh and new and exciting. That i need to read more from this author very soon Pandemenion Books

This is an author with vision as we're slowly separated from our preconceptions The Bookbag

The Incorruptibles is not the longest book in the world, but its relentless drive, its tight focus and its identifiable characters leaves you wanting more at the end, and it is more memorable as a result of its brevity. Definitely an author I'd revisit again SFF World