Rating: 
Summary: Time changes all things (possible spoilers inside)
Review: Since long before Glen Cook began writing the Annals of the Black Company, I've been a fan of his work, but it wasn't until the inaugural book of the series that I truly came to know his genius. Now, 20+ years and thousands of miles later, it seems that the Company has worn itself away into an empty shadow of what it was.Where do I start? I miss Croaker. He is by far the greatest narrative voice in the series. A physician with the eyes of a molester, the mind of a tactitian, and the soul of a poet, he alone has been able to touch upon the heart of what makes the Company what it is. As the years pass, and other Annalists (it seems we have a new one every book) take up the pen, the Company sheds a little of the character which made it distinct. I understand and applaud Mr. Cook's decision not to halt the ravages of time -- as old, dear members of the Company fall, it is only natural that new characters be introduced. Yet none of these characters resonate with the power of old... off hand, I couldn't name a single one of them. As for the Old Guard? Mercy, Elmo, Tom-Tom, Goblin, One-Eye, Otto, Hagop, Silent. The names come so easily, because the characters who bore them meant something, given life and colour with the passion of Croaker's pen. And now? Of the Brothers listed, only two remain. Meanwhile Murgen faces a wife whose youth and beauty faded while he slept. Croaker and the Lady retreat ever further into the shadows on the outskirts of the Company. And who is there to replace the "Old Crew"? People we know nothing about, people we care nothing about. "They are the future." But what good is such a future when the fire inside has burned itself out. Like One-Eye, it seems that the heart of the Company is withering quietly into senility, leaving nothing of value behind. All in all, I give it 3 stars. It was a well-written story, and thankfully tied up a number of loose ends. But the narrative voice was so empty, so ignorant of the Black Company's soul, that I was left with only sadness, that so fabulous a group of characters could come to this.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent BUT be cautioned . . .
Review: SPOILER ahead: Water Sleeps is easily one of the best books of the Black Company, as good as She is the Darkness. Problem is it takes place 15!! years after the last one. Sahra is in her late thirties. Tobo is a teenger. Sleepy (the annalist in this one) is a woman full and grown!! God's sake, she was a KID in "Darkness!!" Cook has done things like this before but the sudden time jump and the reorientation takes getting used to. This says nothing of the weird interpersonal relationship problems he's setting up for himself. Nothing about Croaker or Lady or the long-anticipated reunion between Murgen and Sahra (it really drives me nuts. In "Darkness" you think they're going to be reunited soon and not only does that NOT happen but you discover that it's a decade and a half LATER with Sahra aging and Murgen NOT!). Still, his style of writing is simply beautiful and will keep you up ALL night until you finish it. Here's to more Black Company as fast as possible and an end to what has been a most fascinating and engrossing story arc. By the way, about 90% of what's been confusing you since Dreams of Steel will be made clear in this book in Cook's unique style. This guy is money all the way . . . go take him to the bank! :)
Rating:
Summary: More than I ever expected
Review: Spoilers ahead... An amazing ending, very different and creative. I think my only nitpicking comment is that Cook has had no problem essentially abandoning characters like Croaker and Lady. For as much as is said about them, they may as well have died. Yes, I realize that there are annals ahead and he may tell us what happens between Croaker and Lady and their daughter as well as Murgen and Sahra, but this one did not go so far. Still an incredible read.
Rating: 
Summary: Water Sleeps
Review: The second to last Black Company installment. This one did not work so well for me as some of the others. Sleepy, the narrator, is a less than successful character for me: snappish, intolerant, periodically mentioning a dark past which never gets revealed enough to create sympathy for her. Many of the other important characters are either imprisoned in this volume or getting old, and the new upcoming ones don't hold a lot of interest for me. It's hard to see here how anyone could have ever fallen in love with Sahra, and Murgen, a favorite of mine, gets pushed to the perimeter. Only the return of Willow Swan, whom I've always liked, gives this book character interest for me. The plot progresses, though I found the resolution of one fairly long-term suspenseful thread anticlimactic, accomplished easily and almost offstage. Particularly at the end, events become hard to follow and jump around. There's a sense of ennui about the whole thing, of "so what?". Followers of the series will nevertheless want to see what happens and progress to the (so far) final volume. I really like the way the catchy title of each book is foreshadowed in the preceding volume; a clever touch by the author.
Rating:
Summary: Black Company is back!
Review: This book is great! I love Cook's sarcastic style of narration. I'm a great fan of the Black Company and I'm really waiting for the next book!
Rating:
Summary: Black Company is back!
Review: This book is great! I love Cook's sarcastic style of narration. I'm a great fan of the Black Company and I'm really waiting for the next book!
Rating:
Summary: Top Knotch! **Possibly Spoilers**
Review: This book is the best one in the series! As the style of writing changes from one Annalist to another, I become more and more impressed with Cook's work. Water Sleeps is a must buy. I am already eagerly awaing the next in the series! This truly shows that the series chronicles The Black Company, not just a few selected characters. Excellent.
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: This book really cheered me up! I ADORED the first three books of the Black Co. and LIKED the next several then got kind of bored. This one is great, and saves the entire series....And leaves the series wide-open for more additions. Old minor characters move up and take command. Old characters are gently and honorably 'retired'. All the questions are answered ... and there were many...at least to me ... from the preceding 'Glittering Stones' series. A fine job... Really looking forward to the next 'series'. If you liked the series so far, you will LOVE this one. rora1@bellsouth.net (formerly irond)
Rating:
Summary: just a note to the editor of this review list
Review: this is not a review! please dont post this I am just sending a note to the person who reviews the reviews. I (eldon_seer@hotmail.com) sent a review in last sunday, if it is still being looked at no problem, but if you have decided to not post it because I put my url at the bottom, just go ahead and remove it. I would rather see it posted than not :) Thanks please don't post this message
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Novel in the Series
Review: This series peaked with Shadow Games and has been interesting, but rather meandering and lacking focus ever since. It's interesting to note that Glittering Stone was originaly intended to be one book (the 3rd Book of the South) following Steel Dreams, but Cook decided to expand it into 4. I think he would have been better off sticking to his first idea. I agree with everything Patrick said below me. There is actually one other plot hole that is even bigger and more irritating than those he pointed out. Namely: After capturing the Black Company leadership with some spell at the end of She Is The Darkness (an event that was never really explained very well), why the heck doesn't Soulcatcher just kill them? Instead, she goes to the great bother of dragging them all down into that cave to enter some suspended animation. Seems to me the only reason she would do this is so Cook can write more books about the Black Company. Even more puzzeling is where Cook writes that Soulcatcher thinks the company is all dead rather than asleep. Excuse me? She hauled them all down there thinking they would die, despite the fact that everyone else down there was in suspended animation? As I stated before, if she wanted them dead she would have just stuck a knife in each one before she left and end of story. I hate to belabor the point, but Cook ought to fire his editor, and then maybe fire himself for thinking his readers wouldn't notice these gaping holes in his plot. I'm still giving it 3 stars because Cook still has a knack for making us care about his characters, even though almost all of the old ones are dead now or strangly sidelined (Lady and Croaker). I've even pre-ordered Soldiers Live to see how it all ends. Maybe he'll redeem himself at the end...
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