Genres
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. HTML: Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hardbitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead. Until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her... At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied..
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1984-05
Physical description
9.05 inches
Publication
Tor Fantasy (1992), 320 pages
ISBN
0812521390 / 9780812521399
UPC
783324817614
Local notes
The first volume of the longer The Black Company series, and the first entry in the "Chronicles of the Black Company" trilogy. Company Annalist and physician Croaker details the mercenary army's reluctant recruitment into the service of The Lady, a dark sorceress of ages past recently returned, their constant attempts at staying outside of the infighting among her lieutenants, and the campaign on her behalf against the region's vast rebel forces.
Library's review
The Black Company, an ancient mercenary army fallen on hard times, find themselves reluctantly contracting for an ancient and likely evil sorceress. Considering how famously influential the series (in which this is book 1) has been on the fantasy genre (especially the subsets focusing on military
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and/or gritty realism), I was half-expecting this novel to suffer the fate of so many innovators -- seeming trite and tame compared to its more modern copycats. To my joy, this is not so. The first person narrative that unpredictably will skip an entire siege only to then spend a lot of time on a minor operation adds an erratic but distinct pace to the events, and the personality of the narrator is sufficiently interesting, likable and conflicted to carry me along as the plot unfolds. The author's also very good at making the characters spring from the page immediately recognisable and memorable, feeling fully formed. There are moments of humour, moments of horror, and even some pathos to be had, and on the day I finished the book, I went straight out and ordered the entire rest of the series. Here's hoping they'll live up to the beginning. Show Less
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Lman
This book deserves its accolades and its longevity; it is just excellent, a worthy contribution to the genre!
The Black Company is the first chapter of a sweeping tale surrounding a fraternity of soldiers-of-fortune enlisted into the last of the Twelve True Companies. Forged four centuries earlier
This is a big, bold, bustling epic of a story, replete with copious battles and cunning politics, and with villains aplenty. But what sets this tale apart from other military fantasy is the underlying ethos asserted in the book by the author:
“ There are no self-proclaimed villains, only regiments of self-proclaimed saints. Victorious historians rule where good or evil lies.” (p.108)
Thus it is simple to connect with this rabble of a group; unproblematic to empathise with their philosophy – evil is found in all, just in varying shades.
Every now and again one finds a favourite fantasy with an inventive plot, a multitude of fascinating characters and a premise which is both engaging and original – but with a profundity that sets the narrative apart. I consider this book as such, and, along with its well-constructed phrasing and fast-paced story-line, it encourages me to believe that this entire series will entertain thoroughly throughout. And it is patently obvious why writers of so many of the recently-written popular fantasy epics have been influenced by these books – the cream always rises to the top!
The Black Company is the first chapter of a sweeping tale surrounding a fraternity of soldiers-of-fortune enlisted into the last of the Twelve True Companies. Forged four centuries earlier
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and named so, when all its members were black-skinned, this disparate group forms a tightly-bound, mercenary brotherhood; the last of the Free Companies of Khatovar holding on precariously to their past traditions with few new members. This story serves as a chronicle of their latest adventure, related by their physician, Annalist, part-time historian and scholar, Croaker, who, with his perspicacity and underlying honour, commands a respect from both his brothers and the reader. Recounted in segments, Croaker enlightens us, in a charming, self-derogatory manner, with the background, the necessary history and the present circumstances as the company undertakes its latest commission to the Lady and her ‘Taken’ minions; sorcerers recently escaped from a long imprisonment imposed by the White Rose, and now under attack by forces of the Rebel. Unwillingly used as a pawn in a colossal power-play, the Black Company thus finds itself, and its core members, the focus and pivot of titanic battles and numerous betrayals now engulfing their world.This is a big, bold, bustling epic of a story, replete with copious battles and cunning politics, and with villains aplenty. But what sets this tale apart from other military fantasy is the underlying ethos asserted in the book by the author:
“ There are no self-proclaimed villains, only regiments of self-proclaimed saints. Victorious historians rule where good or evil lies.” (p.108)
Thus it is simple to connect with this rabble of a group; unproblematic to empathise with their philosophy – evil is found in all, just in varying shades.
Every now and again one finds a favourite fantasy with an inventive plot, a multitude of fascinating characters and a premise which is both engaging and original – but with a profundity that sets the narrative apart. I consider this book as such, and, along with its well-constructed phrasing and fast-paced story-line, it encourages me to believe that this entire series will entertain thoroughly throughout. And it is patently obvious why writers of so many of the recently-written popular fantasy epics have been influenced by these books – the cream always rises to the top!
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LibraryThing member majkia
The tale is told through the eyes of the company’s physician and Annalist. He’s fairly new to the company, and has limited knowledge of some of his more ancient colleagues. He reads and analyzes the history of the Company and attempts to order, in his mind, and in the annals, the story of his
Croaker is an astute observer of both his friends and his enemies and struggles, as he writes,to understand motivations and philosophies for those he comes to know. But his colleagues are not men who willingly share their inner thoughts and fears, he has only their actions to use as a measure of these men.
We join the mercenaries as they are involved in supporting ‘The Lady’ against ‘The Rebel’ and are in a long and soul-deadening retreat, as her forces are being assaulted by a far larger and more motivated force attempting to drive her from power. The Black Company is the only group involved who are mercenaries, and are not sworn to fight for one side or the other.
Much of the book involves Croaker trying to make sense of what morality and loyalty involve in light of their situation, and as he sees it, it is mostly to his fellow soldiers and few friends, as well as living up to your word and your contract, no matter what horrors you find yourself facing, even when you realize you are fighting for Evil, or are you? Not knowing who is in the right, who is just, who is the lesser Evil, Croaker swallows his doubts and fears and just does what he’s told, to the best of his ability.
The characters in the piece are complex and interesting, and you never do really get their entire story, particularly not the two newest members of the mercenaries, Raven and a girl he saves from murder and mayhem, Darling.
But through Raven, somehow, Croaker ends up singled out by ‘the Lady’ who is a sorcerer and who is frightening even to battle-hardened men. He tries to understand why and how she chooses him and finds himself far more afraid of her, than he is of a terrifying battlefield.
This is not the sort of book that will appeal to a lot of readers. It is grim and gritty and there are no heroes and no clear winners. But the book held my interest and got me thinking of warfare and its effects on not only the landscape and the civilians but also on the soldiers themselves and their own efforts to justify actions that oftentimes seem inhumane and senseless.
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own service with the last free mercenary company as they struggle through a war-torn landscape where defeat is far more common than any sort of victory.Croaker is an astute observer of both his friends and his enemies and struggles, as he writes,to understand motivations and philosophies for those he comes to know. But his colleagues are not men who willingly share their inner thoughts and fears, he has only their actions to use as a measure of these men.
We join the mercenaries as they are involved in supporting ‘The Lady’ against ‘The Rebel’ and are in a long and soul-deadening retreat, as her forces are being assaulted by a far larger and more motivated force attempting to drive her from power. The Black Company is the only group involved who are mercenaries, and are not sworn to fight for one side or the other.
Much of the book involves Croaker trying to make sense of what morality and loyalty involve in light of their situation, and as he sees it, it is mostly to his fellow soldiers and few friends, as well as living up to your word and your contract, no matter what horrors you find yourself facing, even when you realize you are fighting for Evil, or are you? Not knowing who is in the right, who is just, who is the lesser Evil, Croaker swallows his doubts and fears and just does what he’s told, to the best of his ability.
The characters in the piece are complex and interesting, and you never do really get their entire story, particularly not the two newest members of the mercenaries, Raven and a girl he saves from murder and mayhem, Darling.
But through Raven, somehow, Croaker ends up singled out by ‘the Lady’ who is a sorcerer and who is frightening even to battle-hardened men. He tries to understand why and how she chooses him and finds himself far more afraid of her, than he is of a terrifying battlefield.
This is not the sort of book that will appeal to a lot of readers. It is grim and gritty and there are no heroes and no clear winners. But the book held my interest and got me thinking of warfare and its effects on not only the landscape and the civilians but also on the soldiers themselves and their own efforts to justify actions that oftentimes seem inhumane and senseless.
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LibraryThing member krazykiwi
Excellent storytelling in a slightly insidious, unreliable narrator style that may not be for everyone.
The Black Company is something of a fantasy classic, but it's quite different from almost anything else out there. This is no black and white world, it's black and grey, and soaked red with blood.
And it's all told in a sparse style, as if you are sitting by a fire in a smoky pub, listening to the annalist of the company tell you his story, knowing full well that he's no more reliable than the next narrator along.
I can see why it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's definitely mine.
And I think its one of those rare books that is much, much better, on a re-read, once you've come to understand the point of view, and aren't spending the first few chapters floundering with it.
Stylistically there is little exposition, which I confess is totally fine with me, I don't need it. There's enough, when it's needed, and put in context of us hearing the story from a self-admittedly unreliable narrator, in a company of mercenaries who necessarily have left their lives behind them, mean not only is there no way to know the details, but there are none to tell. Just guesses, and rumours, and stories. There's world building aplenty, if you care to read between the lines, but exposition is indeed rare. I prefer not to have everything spelled out for me, to build my own images. There are not pages and pages of description, and if you are a G.R.R. Martin fan, this is probably not a book you will enjoy much, but for me that makes the small descriptive passages shine even more when they do crop up.
The land slowly became silvery green. Dawn scattered feathers of crimson upon the walled town. Golden flashes freckled its battlements where the sun touched dew. The mists began to slide into the hollows. Trumpets sounded the morning watch.
Such simple and clear imagery, not flowery purple prose, but I think quite evocative nonetheless.
Our storyteller, Croaker, can sum up an entire battle in a sentence and sometimes does:
So we went and did it. We captured the fortress at Deal, in the dead of night, within howling distance of Oar.
Or when it suits him spend five pages detailing every detail of another. Because he's telling us about what matters, not what happened, and there's a difference.
It reminds me of listening to my grandfather and his cronies on the rare occasions they talked about their war experiences, and indeed Glen Cook was a soldier. Like Elizabeth Moon (also career military, something I didn't know until long after starting to read her books) there is some sense of recognition for me having spent time around military types, both as a child and later: A certain wry black humour as a way of facing, or even avoiding, horror. It's subtle, but it's there. Odd, perhaps, that they both chose to write about mercenary companies, albeit in quite different ways.
The Black Company is something of a fantasy classic, but it's quite different from almost anything else out there. This is no black and white world, it's black and grey, and soaked red with blood.
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The heroes are not good or even nice, the righteous rebels are even worse, and the chief evil is neither the enemy nor the worst thing in the world. And it's all told in a sparse style, as if you are sitting by a fire in a smoky pub, listening to the annalist of the company tell you his story, knowing full well that he's no more reliable than the next narrator along.
I can see why it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's definitely mine.
And I think its one of those rare books that is much, much better, on a re-read, once you've come to understand the point of view, and aren't spending the first few chapters floundering with it.
Stylistically there is little exposition, which I confess is totally fine with me, I don't need it. There's enough, when it's needed, and put in context of us hearing the story from a self-admittedly unreliable narrator, in a company of mercenaries who necessarily have left their lives behind them, mean not only is there no way to know the details, but there are none to tell. Just guesses, and rumours, and stories. There's world building aplenty, if you care to read between the lines, but exposition is indeed rare. I prefer not to have everything spelled out for me, to build my own images. There are not pages and pages of description, and if you are a G.R.R. Martin fan, this is probably not a book you will enjoy much, but for me that makes the small descriptive passages shine even more when they do crop up.
The land slowly became silvery green. Dawn scattered feathers of crimson upon the walled town. Golden flashes freckled its battlements where the sun touched dew. The mists began to slide into the hollows. Trumpets sounded the morning watch.
Such simple and clear imagery, not flowery purple prose, but I think quite evocative nonetheless.
Our storyteller, Croaker, can sum up an entire battle in a sentence and sometimes does:
So we went and did it. We captured the fortress at Deal, in the dead of night, within howling distance of Oar.
Or when it suits him spend five pages detailing every detail of another. Because he's telling us about what matters, not what happened, and there's a difference.
It reminds me of listening to my grandfather and his cronies on the rare occasions they talked about their war experiences, and indeed Glen Cook was a soldier. Like Elizabeth Moon (also career military, something I didn't know until long after starting to read her books) there is some sense of recognition for me having spent time around military types, both as a child and later: A certain wry black humour as a way of facing, or even avoiding, horror. It's subtle, but it's there. Odd, perhaps, that they both chose to write about mercenary companies, albeit in quite different ways.
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LibraryThing member iayork
Reads Like a Childrens Book: I'm not exactly sure why this isn't a picture book. Maybe I am too used to reading the likes of Dragonlance or A Song of Fire and Ice (both wonderful series), because there is little to no description of the characters or what world they are living in. At about 100
The thing is you expect a battle to be more detailed, but it isn't. Most battles come off in 1 paragraphs and then it's over. "Suddendly we retook a fortress."
The events are like this as well. No description of the bad guys or who this Lady is. You just need to fill in the blanks yourself.
This is not a good book. Do not recommend it.
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pages into the book you don't know much about the characters to form a mental picture of them. You don't really know what they are like or what they are doing. It seems like they are just wondering around killing things. The plot is pretty loose. I would say a 30 minute episode of Pokemon has more plot than this book. The thing is you expect a battle to be more detailed, but it isn't. Most battles come off in 1 paragraphs and then it's over. "Suddendly we retook a fortress."
The events are like this as well. No description of the bad guys or who this Lady is. You just need to fill in the blanks yourself.
This is not a good book. Do not recommend it.
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LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
Ah, military fantasy. Where the men are real men, the men who are not real men are objects of derision, and the peasant women are convenient tools to, by their brutal rape or lack thereof, indicate the good guys, bad guys, seemingly-good-but-just-as-bad-as-the-bad-guys, or
If you can get past the appalling gender and sexuality issues, The Black Company is quite good fun - more sneaky tricks than pitched battles, and while there are no actual good guys, the range of shades of grey is carefully thought out and quite engaging. Overall not a book I'd recommend to someone who didn't already like the genre (it's 80s-vintage and thus even less enlightened than modern stuff) but it's exactly what it was intended to be.
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indubitably-quite-bad-but-with-a-heart-of-gold guys.If you can get past the appalling gender and sexuality issues, The Black Company is quite good fun - more sneaky tricks than pitched battles, and while there are no actual good guys, the range of shades of grey is carefully thought out and quite engaging. Overall not a book I'd recommend to someone who didn't already like the genre (it's 80s-vintage and thus even less enlightened than modern stuff) but it's exactly what it was intended to be.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
Gets much better as it goes along.
Upto maybe halfway through the books is somewhat disjointed. It is the chronicles of a longstanding company of mercenaries called 'the Black company', who recall their exploits over the years in 'The Annals'. The current annalist is one 'Croaker' real name and past
Soulcatcher's allies - 9 other Taken - are attempting to preserve the Lady's empire against a Circle of 18 wizards leading a vast rebilion against her 'evil' rule. But the Company right and wrong doens't matter, only the purity of their service counts - and not having to fight unless you have to.
The inital campains are disjointed as the company moves around a bit, and many details left untold by Croaker. However we learn a bit about a few of the more senior members, although out of a 600 strong company (and it was 6000 once apon a time) we only get a few names, and even less in the way of personalities. However as the action hots up the writing becomes more fluid, and the characters, especially croaker, gain more depth. The Taken politic amoungst themselves for the Lady's favour, and the Black Company are caught up admist their struggles. Meanwhile the Rebel forces draw ever nearer to the seat of the Lady's power.
It's a quick read, but enjoyable. Croaker has several moral doubts, and even though the Black Company are hardly angelic there are limits. It's fairly obviously set-up for a sequel so some of the more engimatic characters may get more details later. There is a surprising and enjoyable pleasing absense of detailed fights, mostly summerised with we won and there were lots of bodies, however this is parto f what adds ot eh disjointed feeling at times.
intreguing and I'll look for the sequels
Upto maybe halfway through the books is somewhat disjointed. It is the chronicles of a longstanding company of mercenaries called 'the Black company', who recall their exploits over the years in 'The Annals'. The current annalist is one 'Croaker' real name and past
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unknown. He is the medic for the company, which are currently in the town of Beryl acting as bodyguards for the ruling Subric. A strange beast is prowling the city and eventually the Company withdraw, into the service of a foreign vessel coincidentally in port at the same time. the Master of the vessel turns out to be Soulcatcher, one of the demigods of northern lands and a vassal of the Lady, an evil undead of vast godlike powers long thought absent from the world. Soulcatcher's allies - 9 other Taken - are attempting to preserve the Lady's empire against a Circle of 18 wizards leading a vast rebilion against her 'evil' rule. But the Company right and wrong doens't matter, only the purity of their service counts - and not having to fight unless you have to.
The inital campains are disjointed as the company moves around a bit, and many details left untold by Croaker. However we learn a bit about a few of the more senior members, although out of a 600 strong company (and it was 6000 once apon a time) we only get a few names, and even less in the way of personalities. However as the action hots up the writing becomes more fluid, and the characters, especially croaker, gain more depth. The Taken politic amoungst themselves for the Lady's favour, and the Black Company are caught up admist their struggles. Meanwhile the Rebel forces draw ever nearer to the seat of the Lady's power.
It's a quick read, but enjoyable. Croaker has several moral doubts, and even though the Black Company are hardly angelic there are limits. It's fairly obviously set-up for a sequel so some of the more engimatic characters may get more details later. There is a surprising and enjoyable pleasing absense of detailed fights, mostly summerised with we won and there were lots of bodies, however this is parto f what adds ot eh disjointed feeling at times.
intreguing and I'll look for the sequels
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LibraryThing member SaintBrevity
This book is gritty military fantasy, and depending on who you ask, stands a good chance of being The gritty military fantasy. Told as a reading from the Annals of the Black Company, the last of the Free Companies, as it moves from being retained to protect a city's ruler to being the foremost
This book (and series) is the spiritual forerunner of Steven Erikson's Malazan series, but with a tighter focus and plotting, as well as a better sense of closure. It moves a bit more quickly, as well, and doesn't have nearly the ponderous atmosphere.
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company in an army quelling an uprising against a vast and ancient evil recently reanimated.This book (and series) is the spiritual forerunner of Steven Erikson's Malazan series, but with a tighter focus and plotting, as well as a better sense of closure. It moves a bit more quickly, as well, and doesn't have nearly the ponderous atmosphere.
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LibraryThing member Cecrow
A unusual story for its presentation of a fantasy world from the common soldier's perspective; a bit like Lord of the Rings told from the viewpoint of an orc. But this "orc" is one member of a mercenary band of humans who, though they value their reputation for loyalty first and foremost, sometimes
Croaker, as company annalist, relates the novel from his first-person perspective. It isn't clear whether what we're reading is the word-for-word record he sets down. I chose to read it that way, although doing so presents a few problems for the same reasons that I tend to think he's a reliable narrator: confessions that would embarrass him or cast doubt on his continuing as archivist, if they were read by the company. What's most interesting is that he's not certain of the moral ground occupied by key players on either side of the conflict that the Black Company finds itself embroiled in. He can only relate the orders his company receives and how they were carried out, while all else is his conjecture. Croaker reveals the swinging of his personal moral compass in how he sets down his record, even as he remains stubbornly loyal to and understanding of the amoral dictates that must guide the company he so strongly identifies with.
In spite of the limited viewpoint, the author behind the narrator still does a fine job of giving us a big picture of events and the world they take place in, without ever giving away which side in the conflict is truly the good and the bad. Meanwhile we can empathize with Croaker's measuring sticks for trying to figure it out: his respect for the value of life, given his other role as the company's medic; the camaraderie among the company that keeps him grounded; and the actions he witnesses or becomes party to that make him doubt and wonder. Even by story's end, when he seems to have chosen which forces he believes represent good and evil, it feels like he's hedging his bets for practical reasons. Fantasy doesn't get any more realistic than that.
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wonder whether they're fighting for the right side. Fantasy tropes are present but stay in the story's background, which remains dedicated to following the Black Company's moves under its employers. The Black Company might question their orders but they don't balk at carrying them out, whatever the complications this leads to.Croaker, as company annalist, relates the novel from his first-person perspective. It isn't clear whether what we're reading is the word-for-word record he sets down. I chose to read it that way, although doing so presents a few problems for the same reasons that I tend to think he's a reliable narrator: confessions that would embarrass him or cast doubt on his continuing as archivist, if they were read by the company. What's most interesting is that he's not certain of the moral ground occupied by key players on either side of the conflict that the Black Company finds itself embroiled in. He can only relate the orders his company receives and how they were carried out, while all else is his conjecture. Croaker reveals the swinging of his personal moral compass in how he sets down his record, even as he remains stubbornly loyal to and understanding of the amoral dictates that must guide the company he so strongly identifies with.
In spite of the limited viewpoint, the author behind the narrator still does a fine job of giving us a big picture of events and the world they take place in, without ever giving away which side in the conflict is truly the good and the bad. Meanwhile we can empathize with Croaker's measuring sticks for trying to figure it out: his respect for the value of life, given his other role as the company's medic; the camaraderie among the company that keeps him grounded; and the actions he witnesses or becomes party to that make him doubt and wonder. Even by story's end, when he seems to have chosen which forces he believes represent good and evil, it feels like he's hedging his bets for practical reasons. Fantasy doesn't get any more realistic than that.
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LibraryThing member stefferoo
Maybe I'm just not that interested in the band-of-mercenary-men-fighting-a-war thing or maybe it was the writing style that just didn't do it for me, but I found it really difficult to get into this book.
Pros: I do like the intricate history and the background that the author has created; it's a
It's not that this book wasn't good, because I like it enough to give it a mediocre to okay rating -- hence the three stars. However, I just couldn't put my finger on anything about the story or the characters that would set it above other dark fantasy books of its type. Maybe I've screwed myself over here, because I've read so many titles in this genre over the last couple of years, my personal bar for quality is now set pretty high. The Black Company was all right, but then there's nothing too terribly memorable about it that would make me gush about this book, say, years down the road. I'll probably continue with this series, but only when I'm done with some of the more high-priority books on my to-read list.
Pros: I do like the intricate history and the background that the author has created; it's a
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well developed world with rich characters and lore. Cons: There just wasn't much in the plot to draw me in. The story was all right, and even had a few twists to keep things interesting, and yet I had to try really hard to care.It's not that this book wasn't good, because I like it enough to give it a mediocre to okay rating -- hence the three stars. However, I just couldn't put my finger on anything about the story or the characters that would set it above other dark fantasy books of its type. Maybe I've screwed myself over here, because I've read so many titles in this genre over the last couple of years, my personal bar for quality is now set pretty high. The Black Company was all right, but then there's nothing too terribly memorable about it that would make me gush about this book, say, years down the road. I'll probably continue with this series, but only when I'm done with some of the more high-priority books on my to-read list.
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LibraryThing member J.Peterman
I tried. I got halfway though it. I just couldn't enjoy this book. I couldn't care less about the characters or the plot and I hate Cook's style. Life is too short to waste on bad books.
LibraryThing member stnylan
Who says heroes have to be on the side of the righteous? This is a story of a mercenary company enlisted to serve the Empire of an evil Sorceror-Empress. It is told through Croaker, the Company Annalist, and holds you right from the get go, as he charts the Company's course. Along the way we see a
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memorable Empire, a ruinous war, a titanic battle, and very little traditional heroism. A great read. Show Less
LibraryThing member knownever
My only complaint is that the writing is inert and bloodless. Combines words together into sentences but there is no animating life behind them.
LibraryThing member Anrake
A good start to this series. I look forward to more. I think Cook could have fleshed it out a little more, but maybe that's based on the expectations of modern fantasy epics. If you've read Stephen Erikson's Malazan series Cook's influence is very clear.
LibraryThing member BookishMatters
Ok, normally I’m one of those people who likes to finish my books, even if I don’t completely love them (see the entirety of the Maze Runner Trilogy). I like to know how things end, because sometimes good books have slow beginnings, and gems can be found if you just give them a chance.
This is
I’m sorry. I’m 50 pages into this book and I don’t think I can stomach reading anymore of it. It’s confusing, the prose is bland and boring, the characters lack any real depth, and the plot? I’m not even sure what’s happening. A friend asked me to read this because it’s one of his favorite books and when he asked me how far I was, I couldn’t even say because I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. The plot is episodic, things happen but I’m not quite clear on WHAT is happening (like, wtf, where did a freaking wereleopard come from and now we’ve captured the wereleopard but we’re killing this faction of the army while they sleep and someone tell me WHYYYYYY).
I think the premise had potential. A story from the bad guy’s point of view? Hell yes. But this is not good. This is not interesting, the characters are just names and I still have no idea who is who and why people are being poisoned and they set bees after some guy???
Just, no. Sorry. I’m done. I’m throwing in the towel. I’m moving on to something worth reading.
This is
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the exception to the rule.I’m sorry. I’m 50 pages into this book and I don’t think I can stomach reading anymore of it. It’s confusing, the prose is bland and boring, the characters lack any real depth, and the plot? I’m not even sure what’s happening. A friend asked me to read this because it’s one of his favorite books and when he asked me how far I was, I couldn’t even say because I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. The plot is episodic, things happen but I’m not quite clear on WHAT is happening (like, wtf, where did a freaking wereleopard come from and now we’ve captured the wereleopard but we’re killing this faction of the army while they sleep and someone tell me WHYYYYYY).
I think the premise had potential. A story from the bad guy’s point of view? Hell yes. But this is not good. This is not interesting, the characters are just names and I still have no idea who is who and why people are being poisoned and they set bees after some guy???
Just, no. Sorry. I’m done. I’m throwing in the towel. I’m moving on to something worth reading.
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LibraryThing member crazybatcow
err... probably I shouldn't have gotten this in audio format - in paper format I could have skimmed the pages and pages of descriptive babble. Actually, I shouldn't have gotten it in paper format either. It should have stayed on the bookshelf.
There is no real plot - it's just a bunch of blah-blah
So, essentially, it is long and boring and who really cares what happens to these wordily-described characters? Although there are pages and pages devoted to describing what they look like and their actions (i.e. they play cards a lot... yes, he describes their card games... "Goblin played card A, Bob played card B")....they are all cutouts, except maybe the main character, and he's only fleshed out because he talks incessantly. Literally - talks incessantly - about everything: "person A did this and person B did that and person C laughed"... and so on. Too bad we don't care.
If you like the premise of dark/violent fantasy, try anything by Abercrombie (extremely dark) , or Brett's Warded Man (less violent than Abercrombie), or even Weeks' Way of Shadows... All of them are what this book seems to be trying to be.
I won't be reading any more in the series since I need there to be some plot or goal, and, if there is violence, I need it to be to the point, not half-hidden in descriptive babble that goes on for 15 minutes at a time.
There is no real plot - it's just a bunch of blah-blah
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about some mercenaries and the battles they get into. The author is very descriptive and explains every detail, for example, about swinging a sword in battle and how it impacts and what happens after it impacts, and so on. It is not graphic though, just overly detailed. It's kinda like Cook wanted to copy Joe Abercrombie's work in its wordiness and focus on the steps involved in completing a task, but written for a YA audience, so there is no blood or guts or bad words. Oh, and there is no sense that justice is being sought, and no vigilante action... it's a straight up "group of men with various magical powers go to A and kill people, then go to B and are attacked, then go to C and have a battle"... ad nauseam. We don't know why they are doing this (other than it's their job), and we don't care since they aren't trying to right any wrongs, or solve any problems.So, essentially, it is long and boring and who really cares what happens to these wordily-described characters? Although there are pages and pages devoted to describing what they look like and their actions (i.e. they play cards a lot... yes, he describes their card games... "Goblin played card A, Bob played card B")....they are all cutouts, except maybe the main character, and he's only fleshed out because he talks incessantly. Literally - talks incessantly - about everything: "person A did this and person B did that and person C laughed"... and so on. Too bad we don't care.
If you like the premise of dark/violent fantasy, try anything by Abercrombie (extremely dark) , or Brett's Warded Man (less violent than Abercrombie), or even Weeks' Way of Shadows... All of them are what this book seems to be trying to be.
I won't be reading any more in the series since I need there to be some plot or goal, and, if there is violence, I need it to be to the point, not half-hidden in descriptive babble that goes on for 15 minutes at a time.
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LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
This book has been languishing in my pile of mount unread books for years. I finally dug it out, and found a well written, but dark, story about a mercenary group called 'The Black Company', that has been hired to fight a war in a far off cold country, under the rule of evil undead sorceress. It
Its well written, but its been awhile since I've enjoyed straight fantasy of this sort, so I'll be giving the rest of the series a pass.
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manages to both capture the brutality of war, without actually glorifying it. A feat that many authors are not able to do. The story is interesting, the world well written. It manages to follow the traditional tropes of a fantasy world, but perverts them - for example, the mercenary army is working with a being known to be evil, but still honorable enough that can't just break a contract.Its well written, but its been awhile since I've enjoyed straight fantasy of this sort, so I'll be giving the rest of the series a pass.
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LibraryThing member Narilka
The Black Company is an elite mercenary unit under a new commander: The Lady. Some say she stand between humankind and evil. To others she is evil itself. Either way the Company has a job to do and do it they will.
It took me a little while to get into this book. The Black Company is a combination
It took me a little while to get into this book. The Black Company is a combination
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of fantasy and gritty military fiction. It's told from the first person perspective of the Company doctor and historian, Croaker. The tale is told more like a battle/travel log then a regular fantasy story as we're taken through a series of events instead of a typical plot. Everything works together by the end though it feels fairly random in the beginning. I am intrigued enough that I think I will continue this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member wishanem
The first and greatest flaw of the book was its vagueness. I understand that imitating Tolkien's ponderous descriptions or George R.R. Martin's mammoth menus would put a lot of readers off their lunch. However, I found almost all of the characters dull and indistinguishable. Motivations,
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relationships, culture, and even appearance were continuously unclear. I don't mind filling in the gaps in a story, but there wasn't enough between these gaps to get me to read another book in this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member lafon
A friend of mine recommended this book so... (Oh God how I wish the ellipsis "..." was reclassified to include pauses in speech.)
LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
An intriguing first book in a series. The Black Company recounts the tale of a mercenary company of men who serve varying masters. Told from the point of view of Croaker, the company's physician and annalist, the company becomes embroiled in a conflict between the cruel Lady and the Rebels who
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oppose her. Despite serving the Lady's needs, some members of the company and even the Lady's inner circle may be working against her, particularly as rumors arise that the mythical White Rose is in the world again. An excellent read, I can't wait to start the next one in this series! Show Less
LibraryThing member Rhyla
I found this book very difficult to get into. Cook's style put me off at first and it took me at least half the book to start to settle into it. Even 5 books into the series now I still struggle with it at times. However, the story is interesting and overall I am glad that I have plodded along
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through the books. Soulcatcher, Croaker and Raven are some of my favorite characters from this book. I think the introduction of Raven is what kept me reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member etimme
It's easy to see the influence of Glen Cook's The Black Company in much of modern fantasy, including the works of Steven Erickson and Joe Abercrombie. Despite being published in the 80s, the grittiness of his flawed characters is very much at home next to books published 20 years later. The writing
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style is a comfortable hybrid between internal narration and diary entry, which Cook uses to quickly progress the story through weeks and months of forced marches through desert and swamp and field. Show Less
LibraryThing member jlparent
Dark and gritty military sci-fi/fantasy, this follow the mercs of Black Company as they enter into The Lady's service. This is the first of the series and it did take me about 1/4th of the book to settle into Cook's narrative style, since at times, I felt it was a wee bit disjointed. That smooths
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out however as pertinent background info is slowly delivered. The mercs themselves are intriguing; men who do not wish their backgrounds to be known and with names like Silent, Croaker, Candy, etc - they keep even their real name secret - I found the mysterious/shadowly approach fitting. There is magic and upheaval in this world - reminds me of both Elizabeth Moon's Paksenarrion series (though that is decidely ...more paladin/good oriented) and George R. R. Martins' series (A Song of Fire & Ice) for a grittier feel. Ultimately though, it's neither and stands on its own merits. Show Less
LibraryThing member WillyMammoth
"The Black Company" is the story of the the titular mercenary unit, the last of the Free Companies of Khatovar. The tale is told through the perspective of Croaker, the Company's medic and annalist. Croaker's narrative records the Black Company's exploits over the period of a couple years as they
The novel's mood is decidedly grim, a great example of the gritty fantasy genre. For the Black Company life is hard and shored, filled with a never-ending cycle of death and destruction. And since the novel is written from the experiences of the Company annalist, there is little attention paid to world-building. Oh, there's enough explanation of backstory to make the tale understandable, but only just. Many of the typical facets of fantasy worlds are not explored, and for good reason. If the narrator is writing to the people in his realm, there is a certain amount of information that the author would assume to be common knowledge. Therefore it wouldn't be necessary to include them. This style of story-telling depends upon an active and insightful reader, but if you simply read and give the novel a chance, I think most people will adapt to it quickly. I myself struggled with the style at first, but that frustration didn't last long. The momentum of the story quickly grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go.
Cook avoids many of the usual fantasy tropes, which was refreshing. He also uses a narrative voice that is often short and succinct. The story is distilled down to actions and dialogue, a few personal musings, but very little that might detract from the pacing of the book. Grim details are often discussed with a matter-o-fact-ness that might shock some readers, but again, it all fits with the POV. After all, it's what you would expect from a warrior poet. And all that together makes "The Black Company" different from most of the fantasy novels out there. It's one of the reasons I found the novel to be so enjoyable.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I really enjoyed this one. The novel may have been published in 1984, but it's edge hasn't dulled one bit. The story itself is great, and I was blown away by Cook's skill and inventiveness of style. I gave it a totally fan-boy rating of five stars, mostly because I'm a sucker for gritty fantasy. And "The Black Company" is gritty fantasy done right.
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go from transfer from a previous employer into the service of "The Lady," a dread sorceress from the North. She is embattled in a bitter war with a rebellion led by a circle of eighteen rogue wizards. The rebellion is motivated by a prophecy that one day a child known as the "White Rose" would lead the rebellion to victory against The Lady. The Black Company becomes a main instrument in the Lady's war machine, even as they're pushed further and further back toward her capital and what looks to be sure defeat.The novel's mood is decidedly grim, a great example of the gritty fantasy genre. For the Black Company life is hard and shored, filled with a never-ending cycle of death and destruction. And since the novel is written from the experiences of the Company annalist, there is little attention paid to world-building. Oh, there's enough explanation of backstory to make the tale understandable, but only just. Many of the typical facets of fantasy worlds are not explored, and for good reason. If the narrator is writing to the people in his realm, there is a certain amount of information that the author would assume to be common knowledge. Therefore it wouldn't be necessary to include them. This style of story-telling depends upon an active and insightful reader, but if you simply read and give the novel a chance, I think most people will adapt to it quickly. I myself struggled with the style at first, but that frustration didn't last long. The momentum of the story quickly grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go.
Cook avoids many of the usual fantasy tropes, which was refreshing. He also uses a narrative voice that is often short and succinct. The story is distilled down to actions and dialogue, a few personal musings, but very little that might detract from the pacing of the book. Grim details are often discussed with a matter-o-fact-ness that might shock some readers, but again, it all fits with the POV. After all, it's what you would expect from a warrior poet. And all that together makes "The Black Company" different from most of the fantasy novels out there. It's one of the reasons I found the novel to be so enjoyable.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I really enjoyed this one. The novel may have been published in 1984, but it's edge hasn't dulled one bit. The story itself is great, and I was blown away by Cook's skill and inventiveness of style. I gave it a totally fan-boy rating of five stars, mostly because I'm a sucker for gritty fantasy. And "The Black Company" is gritty fantasy done right.
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