The Blade Itself

{{Short description|2007 crime thriller novel by Marcus Sakey}} {{About|the crime thriller by Marcus Sakey|the fantasy novel of the same title by Joe Abercrombie|The First Law}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox book| | name = The Blade Itself | image = File:The_Blade_Itself_book_cover.png | author = Marcus Sakey | country = United States | language = English | series = | genre = Crime | publisher = St. Martin's Press | pub_date = 2007 | media_type = Print (hardback) | pages = | isbn = | dewey = | congress = | preceded_by = | followed_by = }}

'''''The Blade Itself''''' is a 2007 crime thriller novel by Marcus Sakey.

==Plot summary== The novel, set in Chicago, is the story of two childhood friends and young criminals, Danny Carter and Evan McGann. Years after their criminal partnership dissolved, like Carter has reformed himself and started a respectable new life, his former partner soon returns from prison to threaten Carter's peaceful new existence with demands of re-teaming.

==Reception== ''The Blade Itself'' was selected as a ''New York Times'' Editor's Pick and named one of ''Esquire'' Magazine's 5 Best Reads of 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marcussakey.com/bk_tbi.php |title=Marcus Sakey, author of THE BLADE ITSELF, a crime thriller from St. Martin's Minotaur |website=www.marcussakey.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510132834/http://www.marcussakey.com/bk_tbi.php |archive-date=2008-05-10}}</ref>

== Potential film adaptation == In 2008, director and actor Ben Affleck bought the film rights to the novel for his production company.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hilton|first=Beth|title=Affleck brings 'Blade Itself' to big screen|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a91292/affleck-brings-blade-itself-to-big-screen/|date=March 11, 2008|website=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst UK Entertainment Network|access-date=March 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.journalstandard.com/news/x289803576/THE-READERS-WRITERS-Interview-with-Marcus-Sakey|title=THE READERS' WRITERS: Interview with Marcus Sakey - Freeport, IL - the Journal-Standard|accessdate=2012-07-05|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930184622/http://www.journalstandard.com/news/x289803576/THE-READERS-WRITERS-Interview-with-Marcus-Sakey|archivedate=2011-09-30}}</ref> On November 3, 2009, Chris Pine was expected to star, Affleck would produce and write a draft of the script, and Steven Zaillian and Sam Raimi were in negotiations to direct.<ref>{{cite web|last=Anderton|first=Ethan|title=Chris Pine Still Attached to Ben Affleck Scripted The Blade Itself|url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2009/chris-pine-still-attached-to-ben-affleck-scripted-the-blade-itself/|date=November 3, 2009|website=FirstShowing|access-date=March 27, 2024}}</ref> In October 2014, Raimi was set to produce the film adaptation without Affleck, with Aaron Stockard writing the script, and Tobey Maguire starring and producing the film.<ref>{{cite web|last=Whitehead|first=Donna|title={TB EXCLUSIVE} Tobey Maguire to Produce and Star in Sam Raimi's "The Blade Itself"|url=https://www.tracking-board.com/tb-exclusive-tobey-maguire-to-produce-and-star-in-sam-raimis-the-blade-itself/|date=October 23, 2014|website=The Tracking Board|access-date=January 17, 2025}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blade Itself}} Category:2007 American novels Category:Novels set in Chicago