The Black Company : The First Novel of the Black Company

Rating:
Summary: Dark and Gritty
Review: Glen Cook puts together a fantasy world not populated by elves, dwarves and pixies, yet entertaining in spite of (or maybe because of) the lack of "staple" races. In this world, there is no black and white. Almost everyone is a shade of grey, capable of evil and good, just as is the real world.

The book chronicles the exploits of the Black Company, a mercenary army that has forgotten it's storied past, and is but a mere shell of what it once was.

After fortunate circumstances find them unemployed, they are hired by a mysterious sorcerer from across the sea, who wants their help in building an empire. From their, things only get rougher on the Company, as they slowly learn more about their employers.

Told from the point of view of the Annalist and part time bonecutter, Croaker, Cook injects a military feel, while still keeping things lighthearted at times.

The characters are interesting, and while the book can be difficult to start for some readers, it is worth fighting through.



Rating:
Summary: Gritty, unique early 80s fantasy.
Review: The success of realistic fantasy like George R. R. Martin and Jacqueline Carey has left the idealized Tolkein clones of the early 80s seeming extremely dated. Yet from that same period, Glen Cook's "The Black Company" stands out as an early example of this style.

"The Black Company" follows a mercenary unit on campaign. Cook writes in a brusque first-person narrative from the point-of-view of the company physician, Croaker. Other members of the company, identified by first names or nicknames, are only introduced when they have a role in the story. Cook's fantasy world is similarly used only as a backdrop -- cities are mentioned, and briefly described when Croaker rides through them, but the culture is never detailed. Only the final battle is detailed -- others are summarized in one or two lines. The legend behind the Lady and the Taken is only outlined, from the scant information that Croaker and the Black Company know.

This innovative approach, for early 80s fantasy, produces a novel that is unique yet flawed. The lack of cultural development leaves the novel feeling rushed. The ends resolves one plot arc without resolving most of the overall conflict. "The Black Company" feels more like a soldier's diary than a traditional fantasy novel. The world and experiences that shape Croaker and the Company are fantasy, but their moral struggle to stay honorable while surrounded by evil is universal.

After reading "The Black Company," it's obvious where Steven Erikson got many of the ideas in "Gardens of the Moon." The gritty military company, the consistent but unexplained magic system, the novel starting at the end of one campaign and moving into the next one, and the lack of stark "good" and "evil" are all ideas right out of "The Black Company." Erikson expands them to fit his hyper-epic scale, but in many ways they read better in Cook's simpler original form.

It's a testament to the realism of Cook's vision that "The Black Company" still holds up twenty years after it was first published. This novel offers a unique early 80s fantasy read that perfectly fits the current trend of realistic fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: Shallow as can be
Review: I am reading the Black Company at this moment and after having read halfway through, I am utterly disappointed.

The story is an outline, no more. The characters are made of cardboard. The motivation to keep on reading falters after the first chapter. It is as if the book is an exercise in writing.

Starting out, the story seemed promising with Croaker telling the story from first-person perspective. However, the story soon degenerates into a disjointed account of events. Nothing is given any substance, as if the author's imagination draws a blank somehow. Some of the contents is questionable even if it is employed as a vehicle to project the 'realism' of the story.

I will attempt to finish this book, but given the steady progression of the story and its telling - none - I can positively say I will skip the other installments of this series.

Rating:
Summary: Dark Fantasy....
Review: The first thing that came to my mind when writing this review is the term "dark comedy"...well this book by Glen Cook can be considered "dark fantasy". Cook's book is not about fairies, trolls & princesses. There's a lot of "R" rated issues like murder, killing & rape here so this is not really a book for younger readers. The characters as dark and somber and the book really delves into their internal struggles and personalities. Cook's writing does a great job of bringing such character issues to light. A bit more of a meticulous read than most fantasy books; there's really not many wasted words here. I found myself having to read more carefully art the beginning to comprehend the story. But once you adjust to Cook's writing style the book flow much better after about 50 pages or so. If you enjoy books by authors like David Gemmell you'll really enjoy this book & series.