@@thefantasynuttwork I've read somewheere (take it with loads of salt, it was the internet) that George Martin used Cook's Black Company as some sort of template for the Brotherhood Without Banners from Game of Thrones. Once I read about it I could never really stop seeing it that way, because it certainly feels like the Brotherhood is just a group of lowlifes fighting a war in which they have no way of winning, and yet they persevere. The Black Company's one of my favourite books because it gives you that ground-level based action, the grunts talking to each other, flerting, fighting, and all that, that's so realistic it makes for incredible worldbuilding. As the lad said above, dark fantasy as it ought to be written.
Any and all coverage of this series is beyond well-deserved. It is my sincere hope that more people would read this series and enjoy it as I and many others have. Glen Cook is so underrated among fantasy greats and should be elevated for his works.
I liked this video and loved The Black Company as a series. As a medic in the Army, I really related to Croaker. The banter/friendships/rivalries amongst the Company soldiers was reminiscent on my time deployed. I've heard the Black Company described as an epic fantasy told from the perspective of the grunts as they make their way amidst the powerful. I really hope you enjoy this series and I look forward to more Black Company content.
I'm a Malazan guy and my friend is a Black Company guy. Neither of us have read the other series, and we're finally going into them. I went into reading the Black Company feeling like I was kinda doing homework, a feeling I'm sure many readers are familiar with, reading a book as a favor for a friend or something. It's not at the top of my TBR, but I wanted to finally stop him from asking if I'd read it yet lol. But MAN did I quickly get into the Black Company. So many of the seeds of Malazan fell right off of the Black Company tree. Malazan is like Black Company on steroids. You take the worldbuilding of BC and crank everything to 11, you get Malazan. In my humble opinion. As a younger, more ignorant man, inclined to hipsterism and the folly that is the quest for "originality," I may have even considered Malazan a BC ripoff. But that's just silly. Every writer has influences, and Erikson has always mentioned the heavy influence BC had on him. Also, good luck to anyone trying to impugn the writing and imagination of Steven Erikson. I totally agree with everything you said about the writing style. Much like Malazan, the things that make it hard to get into in the beginning are some of the best parts about it overall, and make for a much more rewarding experience. I also love how there are almost no battles (not a battle guy, a reason I was not excited up front for this "military fantasy")! There are numerous fights that just get outright skipped in Book 1, which makes total sense because Croaker is writing this for the Company. He's not going to glorify or preserve the battles. It's all the stuff around it that is important (although some really cool fight scenes do happen!). It's always the plot points and story that matter the most. I, too, am stoked to continue reading this series. I'm on book 3, The White Rose, now. I ADORED book 2, Shadows Linger, and the complex moral questions explored by a certain inn keeper in that book. I could just go on and on, but I'll stop. My reading of Malazan happened to coincide with yours Jimmy, I loved all your extensive chats on those books, and I was beyond excited to see that you had also recently read BC. LET'S GOOOOO :)
Croaker's focus is always on what he thinks is interesting, and what he thinks is relevant for the company's future generations. Which is why he will just skip a huge battle with a flippant "yeah we crushed them 10 to 1" but will focus on smaller moments where tactical innovations or brilliance were key to victory. The pov is so solidly grounded in his perspectives and motivations. One of the best examples of this I've ever seen.
Coincidentally it was a fellow Berserk fan who recommended the Black Company series to me many, many years ago. While they are certainly very different stories, I came to absolutely adore Cook's unique approach to story telling, world building, and believably human characters.
Welcome to the world of Glen Cook. I’d argue he’s one of the five most influential fantasy authors of all time. Once you’ve finished Black Company, get into Dread Empire, Instrumentalities of the Night, Garrett PI, Starfishers, and his many amazing standalone novels.
This series reread us exactly what I needed after Bakker. It is obvious why Reapers Gale is dedicated to Cook. Erickson also did the intro for the latest printing. Goblin and One Eye are awesome and this is probably the softest of magic systems I have read. This is one of those series that influenced a lot of more recent authors but ironically and sadly just doesnt click with more recent readers. I have been telling Allen to try his Instrumentalities of the Night series as they are almost flintlock fantasy.
Interesting tidbit about Cook's writing. It was less about a stylistic choice, and more about necessity. He was working on an assembly line when he was writing it, and would quite literally turn and write a sentence before turning back to doing the next thing on the line. He had these odd 5 second increments to write and his storytelling is a direct reflection of his limitations.
@@thefantasynuttwork, isn't it? I heard him tell the story on an old podcast called Adventure in Sci Fi Publishing (I believe). I always thought it was a pretty cool story about how limitations can become strengths.
Too true - you instantly know you're in for something good. Especially when they describe one of the company sergeants, Mercy, just a few pages later. Great book.
I blasted through this book in no time last month. Such a great read. I'm on the third book now. It is filling in some much needed lore and it is fantastic so far.
One of the absolute best fantasy series ever. I prefer the earlier novels, but the whole series is highly recommended. Very good review - you've done it more justice than most of the UA-cam commentary. I re-read The Black Company series from start to finish every couple of years. It's so well done.
You summed it up perfectly!!! I honestly had a blast with book one. I bought the first 3 together and then faltered in the second, but it's due another shot. Honestly there's something quite magical about reading that first book and knowing how much of an influence it had, how innovative Cook was being! We owe him quite the debt!
*BRILLIANT REVIEW!* I've watched at least 8 Glen Cook / Black Company series reviews, and NONE were as direct or thorough as yours, Jimmy! I'm about to re-read and catch-up with this series. I was in on this from the get-go when it came out in '84 (as I was working in a book store).
I've read this entire series starting from way back in the 80's. And always looked forward to the next release. Right from book one. I found it very easy to visualize what was happening. Many of Cooks other titles are quite good too. Much of his work is from a military perspective.
I loved your point about Cook's writing style, and couldn't agree more. It's meant to be the first hand experience of a band of soldiers in the thick of it, day in day out for years. Overly "beautiful" prose honestly might have taken me out of it. Just because of the writing style alone I think that the Black Company is more grim dark than the majority of its modern counterparts. The bleakness of the lands traversed is perfectly matched in the writing style.
Awesome! I've read Cook's other series, The Instrumentalities of the Night, and thought that was well done. It didn't blow me away, but I did enjoy his ideas and his prose. I have a feeling, based upon your review, that I would like the Black Company stuff better. Great video, thanks!
While the series took a while to really grow on me, there was always something compelling and it was easy to continue. I've now finished 5 of the books over the years and keeps becoming more enjoyable. Very unique series.
I am glad you liked this one and hope this will continue with the other books. Black Company is one of my fabvourite series, I've read it 5 times by now and every time I am surprised by how unique and how modern it reads.
Totally not me realising that I actually had zero clue what this book was about, despite having heard so many people mention it as one of the greats. Loved hearing your thoughts on this one, I am definitely intrigued now. This sounds quite character-driven and I tend to get on well with that chronicler type of storytelling, so this might just be right up my alley. Great review 🤩
Literally just finished it this morning and I had to return to say that it was great! I've actually had it in my list for a little while but this video bumped up and I got it right after watching. It really kept my interest up the entire time. Some books have those parts that drag on and It almost a chore to get through but this had me from about the time they go across the sea til the very end. Now I want to to go back through those first couple chapters again. I already got Shadows Linger before this was even finished so that is pretty high praise from me. I actually figured out the sort of twist at the end pretty far back as well but it was still cool to figure out it was true because there was just enough doubt that it was the case to keep it from being the clear obvious answer. Thanks for the review, it got me to go ahead and get this one and I now I can't wait to start book 2.
It's funny how, after someone has read Jack Vance, he is so often used as a reference point. Thanks for the review Jimmy. This will be the series for me to read in 2023 along with Sun Eater.
I kind of figured you'd enjoy this. 😁 It's funny that where people are on their reading journey has such an influence, I think some people bounce off this if they read it after Malazan almost the same way some do reading the Covenant books after Malazan. But you have to start somewhere. I read this after as well and really enjoyed it, so I think you are in for a treat.
I was in my teens when BC came out and it blew me away. My friends and I did a D&D campaign (this was 1st edition, mind you) based on this idea of a mercenary company. Such amazing worldbuilding, and as you said, the characters are everything. The whole series goes so many places (literally) and is such a wild ride. Enjoy!
I think Cook is up there with Frank Herbert in the worldbuilding style of intentional vagueness. The "Anti-Tolkien" style I think this worldbuilding style is perfect for gaming because it is by its nature modular and dynamic. You lose replayability and flexibility with a setting that is hyperspecific on setting and convention
I DNF’d this about two years ago, not cuz I didn’t like, but cuz it was due back to library. Ordered the first omnibus in October. I intend to read it in 2023. I love the terse style, jumping to the next events, and the showing. The Captain (I think; it has been a couple years) did something similar to the Raven thing you mentioned when they knew someone was in a tavern, but he mentions an informant to cover that they were using magicians.
I'll be starting this in January because of Jake's hype on his channel and now this great review. I'm super excited to get to it, it sounds right up my alley. Also, kickass Berserk shirt. Struggle on struggler. 💪
Such a great series! My now husband bought me the first three books bind up on our second date at Barnes & Noble because it was one of his favorite series, and now we both love it. The worldbuilding continues to get better and wackier - I still think about the third book's setting. Enjoy!!
I picked up this book on a whim probably about 20 years ago without any context on who the author was or what the novel was about and I was floored by how unique it was within the genre of fantasy. It reminded me more of books like "The Things They Carried" and "M*A*S*H" or even "Catch-22" that focus on the brutality and absurdity of war than of anything having to do with swords and wizards despite the literal abundance of both in the story. I went on to read the whole series so far and I'm eagerly awaiting the long-anticipated final volume, though it's been way too many years since the last book was published and there's not even an expected release date for the conclusion. I'm assuming it's going to be another "Winds of Winter" deal and the series may never be finished, but what a ride it was.
Your take on this series has convinced this hesitant reader to give it a try. I always have to remind myself that I often don't agree with others' opinions of books. The Shattered Sea series and Elantris are examples where many reviews are "Meh...", and I really enjoyed them. The Black Company is on my '23 TBR. Thanks!
Well, you’ve convinced me. I started reading the Chronicles of the Black Company two years ago and put it down after the first book (first 3rd of the collection). I liked it, but didn’t love it. Now, I’m going to attempt to finish the rest of the book while on vacation.
read them all back when they first showed up on the scene , great story , good enough that I`ve re read them several times , over the years ! have to say , my favorite characters are lady , soulcatcher , croaker , and of course goblin and one eye ! there are six books , and later releases of them as a three book set ! have them all ! two ther series that are good are the shannara series , and the wheel of time !
Those first three "Black Company" novels are some of the best fantasy ever written. Absolutely love it. I'm on book 3 of Malazan and the series seems to get better as it goes and I'm really enjoying it compared to the first two novels that didn't really do it for me. Its good, but its not "Black Company" good. We'll see if my opinion changes as I read the last 4 in the series.
I found The Black Company 20 years ago. I had been reading fantasy for a while at the time and it just blew my mind how different and good it is. To this day it has some of my favorite characters in Fantasy. Soulcatcher, The Lady, Raven, Croaker, The Captain. God it's so good.
This is an excellent video - thank you for making it! I'm currently nearing the end of Book #2 and you summed it up best; if Book 1 is truly the worst book in the series then I'll be fine, I loved it. God, it's fantastic. Raven really is a proto-edgelord LOL.
This is going on my list. It sounds like the relationship between the characters is a big part of this story. I love when writers use this to maximum effect.
Have the whole series sitting front n center in my bookshelf. Could see how some can't get into it since you don't get all the info on all the players from the get go, but............on the flip side, as you mentioned, it's from the annalists perspective. With that being said they only have what has been written in the previous books to go on. It's revealed to us as it's revealed to them which lends to the suspense and intrigue as you read along. Plenty of "ah ha" moments when tidbits of info come out and sheds light on a previous situation or a foreshadowing of things to come. Phenomenal series!! Hope you enjoy the rest!!
@@thefantasynuttwork Glad you put that one in the mix, in order. Ties up some some loose ends between White Rose and the First Book of the South. Witten a bit different since it's not from the perspective of the Company annalist.
Awesome review Jimmy!! I read maybe the first 6 Black Company, loved them to pieces. But that was like 15 years ago probably, my dad (cool dad lol) made me read them, thank god haha. Anyway I've definitely been thinking about rereading recently, as I've gotten heavy into Malazan this year, just like you So thanks for the encouragement, I can't wait to read these again!!
@@thefantasynuttwork oh I have. I’m also thanking him by making him read Malazan 😂😂 he committed to it a few months ago after I had him watch AP’s “objective” review of GotM video, and his reaction was “as soon as he mentioned black company I was in” 😂😂 he’s just been lazy about picking up GotM but I am staying on him. I’m 99% sure he’ll love Malazan!!!
Jimmy, I can't read all these books...😅 my TBR is all ready exploding. But it sounds great. I don't mind a distance writing style. 😊 Normally not for military fantasy, but this sounds really interesting. Thanks for the review. 🥰
I just started rereading Steven Brust’s Vlad Taltos series, but it may be time to revisit The Black Company after that. Cook’s Garrett, PI novels (comic high fantasy hard boiled detective fiction) would make a good break if things start feeling too grim in the BC series.
If you think Black Company is whacky wait till you get to The White Rose. I just started it and it's almost like an acid trip. Don't want to spoil it but the place they are at the beginning is one of the most fascinating places I've read about. He mentioned windwhales in Shadows Linger but that is just the tip of the iceberg. So far I think Shadows Linger is the weakest of the bunch because it's almost like an intermezzo between first and third book. I also hated the constant changes between first and third person narrator but I survived and the new main character grew on me by the end, though it wasn't easy journey. Overall, not a bad book just very different from the first one and that's not what I expected. Books are suppose to get really good when they head south (the second omnibus) but I was all in since the beginning, bought all omnibuses and Port of Shadows after I finished Black Company. I love the atmosphere and as Malazan fan I simply need to read this.
As someone who generally hates "action" and thinks its generally filler, I am still interested in things that are "military campaign" themed. So BC scratches that strange combination for me. The timeskip at the fortress of Deal for that reason was a comedic breath of fresh air. The fortress of Deal is such a wink to the audience. They hype this really important assault they are about to do, then it just skips to a tonk game. But the card games are filler. So its like the author made a decision to double down, write a filler section, but do it his own way, its charming
It's interesting, the "burn the feet" bit. I've read the whole Black Company series and really could relate as a former infantryman. In Viet Nam some units would engage in firefights and in some units care was taken to take enemy dead and bandage or leave the impression that care had been taken to "treat wounded enemy troops." Understand, these bodies were fully dead. Early in the war some units would mutilate or defile the bodies of Viet Cong or NVA troops, but it became clear this was counter productive. It engendered a "fight to the death" reaction in the enemy forces. Leaving dead bodies with at least the appearance that the US/Allied forces 'tried to care for wounded prisoners" worked on two levels. First, it went a bit toward lessening the impression of the NVA that the US troops were totally murderous savages. And second, it actually lead to some NVA deserters coming over to our side. Admittedly, a significant number of the "turncoat Kit Carson Scouts" as they were named, were NVA plants. But some served well and with distinction. It was a gruesome but marginally effective psy-op method in the later years of the war, contrasted with the "Leave an Ace of Spades on the bodies" trope.
I just got into the series, after watching a lets play DnD campaign really heavily inspired by the black company. The writing was a bit jarring to me at first, not a native speaker, maybe that makes it even more palpable, but once I got used to it I really started to enjoy the story. It's a refreshing down to earth fantasy novel. Sure the ten are amazingly powerful, larger than life figures, the Lady and the Dominator even more so, but the company is relatable. I really love the bickering between One Eye and Goblin. Some of the company are vile scum, but as croaker put it: "They are family." Oh and by the way the DnD campaign is a viceo series hosted on youtube called The chain of acheron and the ispiration is very obvious.^^
The best part of the Black Company books is the understanding that they are NOT a "company of heroes." Some are brutes, some are normal grunts... but they are all brothers in a real sense. They march and fight and evade and decieve the enemy...but they all know "everyone NOT in the Company is either an enemy or someone to be treated as an enemy." If you are Company, your only loyalty is to the Company. And they do some decent stuff...and some truly horrific stuff, solely on the basis of "will this keep the Company alive?" Very much on par with the FFL, "The Legion is my Country."
Personal weirdness feel I got from the first book...this strange triangle between Croaker, The Lady and yes I will say it... Soulcatcher. All through the first book and then through the series, the love-hate-fear-jealousy vibe resounded. There are points where I actually feel sorry for Soulcatcher...who is a deeply wicked character. Several other readers latch onto Raven or Darling but Soulcatcher plucked the strings for me on several levels. There's a deep reason for that in the context of the books but I will leave that alone as it would be a spoiler of the first rank.
I loved Soulcatcher as well, and how Cook makes her "a person with normal everyday things" with small details is really exciting and makes her more relatable. Heck, even the Limper had some funny/everyday things about him.
There's one scene where the Company is trying to catch Raker and Croaker and Soulcatcher are alone. Croaker wonders if it ever get's lonely being one of the "Taken" and Soulcatcher just murmurs that it does in a ordinary voice. You often think about Lady living thousands of years essentially alone except for enemies...but Soulcatcher has the same issues. True, her underlying goal thru the first book is to take out Lady, but it makes you wonder.@@vonmeier
@@donwild50 I loved that scene! And most of the things that happened in that small room while they were waiting for Raker to show up. Like when Limper visited them and they gave him tea. Just so down-to-earth, normal moments that add so much to the immersion and characters.
Sadly Book 1 was mostly miss with me and I DNF'd Shadows Linger, not something the book did, my grandmother passed away during that time and reading fell by the wayside. I might try again some day because a lot of those characters did grow on me.
I’ve was introduced to the Black Company when it first came out. I spent 20 years in the Navy, The author spent 4. He has mastered the lingo, attitude and interaction between brothers in arms. This guy does not do the book justice. This is by far my most loved series.
I don't remember which book I'm on, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't finished. I had kinda forgotten about this series, but love it and def want to revisit & finish! Also, The Goblin Corps by Ari Marmel always comes to mind when I think about this series. But I don't remember details of that book, just that I thought it was good (blame my adhd brain, 😕😒)
I am 20 pages in and the first thing that came to mind was how fast paced these first few pages are. It jumps from scene to scene SO quickly that I was kind of shocked. Trying to adjust my expectations and accept that the book is probably going to remain like that and try not to let it bug me.
@@thefantasynuttwork Well I finished the first book and I could almost feel the pace slow down as the book itself went on, almost as if his writing skills got better by each page. Story was enticing enough to keep me going! But my favorite aspect of the book is Goblin and One-Eye's magical prank wars, I absolutely love their friendship XD
How much of a crime would beginning at book 2 be? I mean Iv attempted the first book a good few times recently , shall I just force it or can I get away with starting the apparently better 2nd book?
It blows my mind that anyone could think the first book in the series is the weakest. Personally, I think it is the strongest (and the series as a whole is fantastic).
In all seriousness though, when I do a summary with the art, if I find that wiki or the book blurb is really good I’ll use it. Lots of times I end up doing my own because the blurb will give away too much, or even too little. There’s no malicious intention
So I dont necessarily dislike the story but it jumps around all over the place and made it hard for me to fully invest in the series as much as I wanted to. Id start to gain interest and just and quickly get pulled away to some other random place or character I have no connection with and lose a lot of what i think could have been done with this setup.
@The Fantasy Nuttwork I havent im still only about 1/4 of the way through book one. Its been an on and off again read which makes the jumping around worse. If it gets better in book 2 ill try to tough it out. I love dark fantasy if I can really get into it.
Great review Jimmy. I’ve been pretty determined that I have no interest in this series. I still don’t really, but you made me think about it maybe down the road.
In the first 10 years of his writing career, Cook have a day job as a machine operator in a GM plant that required his attention for about 30 seconds every 5 minutes. It is rather predictable work and he used the off time to do his writing.
You misunderstood a bunch of stuff, there's a ton of military lore in the black co. that only vets get usually...like Raven saying to put the spy's feet in the fire...it's not to show you tortured them...its an insult. It's telling th other side "We killed your spies and scouts because they were loud, clumsey, unstealthy dumbasses...they were clomping around so much and making so much noise we caught them." Burning their feet is let painting a sign on them and saying "this is what they did wrong..they stamped around like clods. Send us some better spies next time" . What they didn't want them to know was that they had mages who could just find spies with magic...so he gave the rebs the impresion that the spies were caught cz they sucked at stealth...a mundane explanation.
The first book is actually the weakest in the series, in my opinion, so reading the rest will be a treat. Also, despite Croaker appearing in (and narrating) several of the others, the actual protagonist of the series is the Company as a whole.
Dark fantasy as it ought to be written?
You got it 😂
@@thefantasynuttwork I've read somewheere (take it with loads of salt, it was the internet) that George Martin used Cook's Black Company as some sort of template for the Brotherhood Without Banners from Game of Thrones. Once I read about it I could never really stop seeing it that way, because it certainly feels like the Brotherhood is just a group of lowlifes fighting a war in which they have no way of winning, and yet they persevere. The Black Company's one of my favourite books because it gives you that ground-level based action, the grunts talking to each other, flerting, fighting, and all that, that's so realistic it makes for incredible worldbuilding. As the lad said above, dark fantasy as it ought to be written.
Any and all coverage of this series is beyond well-deserved. It is my sincere hope that more people would read this series and enjoy it as I and many others have. Glen Cook is so underrated among fantasy greats and should be elevated for his works.
I finished book two recently and thought it was phenomenal
raven constantly having his knife out and cleaning his already PRISTINE finger nails
I liked this video and loved The Black Company as a series. As a medic in the Army, I really related to Croaker. The banter/friendships/rivalries amongst the Company soldiers was reminiscent on my time deployed. I've heard the Black Company described as an epic fantasy told from the perspective of the grunts as they make their way amidst the powerful. I really hope you enjoy this series and I look forward to more Black Company content.
hey thank you so much!
I'm a Malazan guy and my friend is a Black Company guy. Neither of us have read the other series, and we're finally going into them. I went into reading the Black Company feeling like I was kinda doing homework, a feeling I'm sure many readers are familiar with, reading a book as a favor for a friend or something. It's not at the top of my TBR, but I wanted to finally stop him from asking if I'd read it yet lol. But MAN did I quickly get into the Black Company. So many of the seeds of Malazan fell right off of the Black Company tree. Malazan is like Black Company on steroids. You take the worldbuilding of BC and crank everything to 11, you get Malazan. In my humble opinion. As a younger, more ignorant man, inclined to hipsterism and the folly that is the quest for "originality," I may have even considered Malazan a BC ripoff. But that's just silly. Every writer has influences, and Erikson has always mentioned the heavy influence BC had on him. Also, good luck to anyone trying to impugn the writing and imagination of Steven Erikson.
I totally agree with everything you said about the writing style. Much like Malazan, the things that make it hard to get into in the beginning are some of the best parts about it overall, and make for a much more rewarding experience. I also love how there are almost no battles (not a battle guy, a reason I was not excited up front for this "military fantasy")! There are numerous fights that just get outright skipped in Book 1, which makes total sense because Croaker is writing this for the Company. He's not going to glorify or preserve the battles. It's all the stuff around it that is important (although some really cool fight scenes do happen!). It's always the plot points and story that matter the most.
I, too, am stoked to continue reading this series. I'm on book 3, The White Rose, now. I ADORED book 2, Shadows Linger, and the complex moral questions explored by a certain inn keeper in that book. I could just go on and on, but I'll stop. My reading of Malazan happened to coincide with yours Jimmy, I loved all your extensive chats on those books, and I was beyond excited to see that you had also recently read BC. LET'S GOOOOO :)
Duuuuuude great comment! Let’s go!!!
Shadows Linger is so good, one of my favorite. Probably not my favorite Croaker book, but I would say my favorite non Croaker plot.
Croaker's focus is always on what he thinks is interesting, and what he thinks is relevant for the company's future generations. Which is why he will just skip a huge battle with a flippant "yeah we crushed them 10 to 1" but will focus on smaller moments where tactical innovations or brilliance were key to victory. The pov is so solidly grounded in his perspectives and motivations. One of the best examples of this I've ever seen.
Coincidentally it was a fellow Berserk fan who recommended the Black Company series to me many, many years ago. While they are certainly very different stories, I came to absolutely adore Cook's unique approach to story telling, world building, and believably human characters.
I could see that correlation
Berserk was my gateway drug into grimdark fantasy. It’s definitely my favorite type of fantasy these days.
Welcome to the world of Glen Cook. I’d argue he’s one of the five most influential fantasy authors of all time. Once you’ve finished Black Company, get into Dread Empire, Instrumentalities of the Night, Garrett PI, Starfishers, and his many amazing standalone novels.
Shadows Linger was awesome
@@thefantasynuttwork don’t mess with Shed.
This series reread us exactly what I needed after Bakker. It is obvious why Reapers Gale is dedicated to Cook. Erickson also did the intro for the latest printing.
Goblin and One Eye are awesome and this is probably the softest of magic systems I have read.
This is one of those series that influenced a lot of more recent authors but ironically and sadly just doesnt click with more recent readers.
I have been telling Allen to try his Instrumentalities of the Night series as they are almost flintlock fantasy.
Yeah I plan on reading his other work as well, I think he is an author that clicks with me
Interesting tidbit about Cook's writing. It was less about a stylistic choice, and more about necessity. He was working on an assembly line when he was writing it, and would quite literally turn and write a sentence before turning back to doing the next thing on the line. He had these odd 5 second increments to write and his storytelling is a direct reflection of his limitations.
No way! That’s wild!!!
@@thefantasynuttwork, isn't it? I heard him tell the story on an old podcast called Adventure in Sci Fi Publishing (I believe). I always thought it was a pretty cool story about how limitations can become strengths.
The first paragraph of Book 1 is one of my very favorite opening paragraphs.
Too true - you instantly know you're in for something good. Especially when they describe one of the company sergeants, Mercy, just a few pages later. Great book.
biggest flex is that i’m related to glen cook 🙏
Tell him I’m a fan 😂
I blasted through this book in no time last month. Such a great read. I'm on the third book now. It is filling in some much needed lore and it is fantastic so far.
That’s awesome
Appreciated this much more on the re-read. Looking forward to Shadows Linger now
One of the absolute best fantasy series ever. I prefer the earlier novels, but the whole series is highly recommended. Very good review - you've done it more justice than most of the UA-cam commentary. I re-read The Black Company series from start to finish every couple of years. It's so well done.
I am hoping to read book 3 soon
You summed it up perfectly!!! I honestly had a blast with book one. I bought the first 3 together and then faltered in the second, but it's due another shot.
Honestly there's something quite magical about reading that first book and knowing how much of an influence it had, how innovative Cook was being! We owe him quite the debt!
I think reading back through the instrumental influences on the genre is super worthy of our time if we love the genre
*BRILLIANT REVIEW!* I've watched at least 8 Glen Cook / Black Company series reviews, and NONE were as direct or thorough as yours, Jimmy! I'm about to re-read and catch-up with this series. I was in on this from the get-go when it came out in '84 (as I was working in a book store).
Thank you very much!!
Fantastic review Jimmy! I’m hoping to give this another shot next year! I only read the first part of book 1 like 8 or 9 years ago!
I’ll be excited to see what you have to say about it!
The crazy worldbuilding is just getting started. So glad you enjoyed it!
I’m ready to get weird
@@thefantasynuttwork It's going to get weird.
I've read this entire series starting from way back in the 80's. And always looked forward to the next release. Right from book one. I found it very easy to visualize what was happening. Many of Cooks other titles are quite good too. Much of his work is from a military perspective.
I’ll definitely check out his other stuff as well
What I really love about this series is like what you said about the show vs tell. In his terse descriptions, he speaks volumes.
I agree
I loved your point about Cook's writing style, and couldn't agree more. It's meant to be the first hand experience of a band of soldiers in the thick of it, day in day out for years. Overly "beautiful" prose honestly might have taken me out of it.
Just because of the writing style alone I think that the Black Company is more grim dark than the majority of its modern counterparts. The bleakness of the lands traversed is perfectly matched in the writing style.
I would agree
Thanks for the great review! I wasn't sure to read this series because of the characters and now I'm so hyped for it. Going to start it in January:)
I hope you enjoy it!
Awesome! I've read Cook's other series, The Instrumentalities of the Night, and thought that was well done. It didn't blow me away, but I did enjoy his ideas and his prose. I have a feeling, based upon your review, that I would like the Black Company stuff better. Great video, thanks!
I’m gonna check that one out too
Awesome review! I’m psyched and have all 10 on the shelf ready to go!
LFG BEN
Easily one of my favorite series ever. So underrated
It has a chance to be something very special to me
While the series took a while to really grow on me, there was always something compelling and it was easy to continue. I've now finished 5 of the books over the years and keeps becoming more enjoyable. Very unique series.
I’m happy to hear that
100% agree Jimmy. 🙂👌🏻 It’s been ages since I read most of the series, and I ate it up. Looking forward to re-reading it next year.
Nice man!
I am glad you liked this one and hope this will continue with the other books. Black Company is one of my fabvourite series, I've read it 5 times by now and every time I am surprised by how unique and how modern it reads.
It has such a distinct voice behind it so far. Can’t wait to continue! Thanks for watching dude
Totally not me realising that I actually had zero clue what this book was about, despite having heard so many people mention it as one of the greats. Loved hearing your thoughts on this one, I am definitely intrigued now. This sounds quite character-driven and I tend to get on well with that chronicler type of storytelling, so this might just be right up my alley.
Great review 🤩
Thank you!
Literally just finished it this morning and I had to return to say that it was great! I've actually had it in my list for a little while but this video bumped up and I got it right after watching. It really kept my interest up the entire time. Some books have those parts that drag on and It almost a chore to get through but this had me from about the time they go across the sea til the very end. Now I want to to go back through those first couple chapters again.
I already got Shadows Linger before this was even finished so that is pretty high praise from me.
I actually figured out the sort of twist at the end pretty far back as well but it was still cool to figure out it was true because there was just enough doubt that it was the case to keep it from being the clear obvious answer.
Thanks for the review, it got me to go ahead and get this one and I now I can't wait to start book 2.
That makes me so happy
Awesome. Stoked to check this one out :)
Enjoy!
This series sounds so much up my alley. Will definitely check it out next year!
You better
It's funny how, after someone has read Jack Vance, he is so often used as a reference point. Thanks for the review Jimmy. This will be the series for me to read in 2023 along with Sun Eater.
Vance was an amazing writer
Love to see another review of the BC! Heads up, no spoilers but the 5th book will be tough to get through, almost made me quit the first time around
We will see!
I kind of figured you'd enjoy this. 😁
It's funny that where people are on their reading journey has such an influence, I think some people bounce off this if they read it after Malazan almost the same way some do reading the Covenant books after Malazan. But you have to start somewhere. I read this after as well and really enjoyed it, so I think you are in for a treat.
I am very excited to see where it takes me
Was thinking about getting into this series, but now I know I won’t. Thank you for the info!
My pleasure!
I was in my teens when BC came out and it blew me away. My friends and I did a D&D campaign (this was 1st edition, mind you) based on this idea of a mercenary company. Such amazing worldbuilding, and as you said, the characters are everything. The whole series goes so many places (literally) and is such a wild ride. Enjoy!
Thanks! Just finished White Rose and loving it
I think Cook is up there with Frank Herbert in the worldbuilding style of intentional vagueness. The "Anti-Tolkien" style
I think this worldbuilding style is perfect for gaming because it is by its nature modular and dynamic. You lose replayability and flexibility with a setting that is hyperspecific on setting and convention
One of the godfathers of grimdark fantasy next to Conan, Elric, Thomas Covenant, Game of Thrones, etc. love ‘em!
Hell yeah
I DNF’d this about two years ago, not cuz I didn’t like, but cuz it was due back to library. Ordered the first omnibus in October. I intend to read it in 2023.
I love the terse style, jumping to the next events, and the showing. The Captain (I think; it has been a couple years) did something similar to the Raven thing you mentioned when they knew someone was in a tavern, but he mentions an informant to cover that they were using magicians.
Sometimes Cook says more by what he’s not telling you and it’s wonderful
I'll be starting this in January because of Jake's hype on his channel and now this great review. I'm super excited to get to it, it sounds right up my alley. Also, kickass Berserk shirt. Struggle on struggler. 💪
Hey man thanks!
Good review video 📽⚔️🎄❄️ happy reading to you! ☃️☃️
You as well
I have the first trilogy wind-up and enjoyed this first book. Looking forward to reading the other two next year!
Same same!!
Such a great series! My now husband bought me the first three books bind up on our second date at Barnes & Noble because it was one of his favorite series, and now we both love it. The worldbuilding continues to get better and wackier - I still think about the third book's setting. Enjoy!!
I’m so excited!
I picked up this book on a whim probably about 20 years ago without any context on who the author was or what the novel was about and I was floored by how unique it was within the genre of fantasy. It reminded me more of books like "The Things They Carried" and "M*A*S*H" or even "Catch-22" that focus on the brutality and absurdity of war than of anything having to do with swords and wizards despite the literal abundance of both in the story. I went on to read the whole series so far and I'm eagerly awaiting the long-anticipated final volume, though it's been way too many years since the last book was published and there's not even an expected release date for the conclusion. I'm assuming it's going to be another "Winds of Winter" deal and the series may never be finished, but what a ride it was.
Your take on this series has convinced this hesitant reader to give it a try. I always have to remind myself that I often don't agree with others' opinions of books. The Shattered Sea series and Elantris are examples where many reviews are "Meh...", and I really enjoyed them. The Black Company is on my '23 TBR. Thanks!
At least this is pretty short so if you hate it you won’t have wasted too many pages. Come back and let me know how you end up enjoying ot
I just finished book 1 of the trilogy and I think I"ve fallen hopelessly in love with The Lady.
Well, you’ve convinced me. I started reading the Chronicles of the Black Company two years ago and put it down after the first book (first 3rd of the collection). I liked it, but didn’t love it. Now, I’m going to attempt to finish the rest of the book while on vacation.
Hope you enjoy the time with it!
One of my favorite series. I read the last book in Afghanistan and wept.
I’m reading White Rose this month!
read them all back when they first showed up on the scene , great story , good enough that I`ve re read them several times , over the years ! have to say , my favorite characters are lady , soulcatcher , croaker , and of course goblin and one eye ! there are six books , and later releases of them as a three book set ! have them all ! two ther series that are good are the shannara series , and the wheel of time !
Those first three "Black Company" novels are some of the best fantasy ever written. Absolutely love it. I'm on book 3 of Malazan and the series seems to get better as it goes and I'm really enjoying it compared to the first two novels that didn't really do it for me. Its good, but its not "Black Company" good. We'll see if my opinion changes as I read the last 4 in the series.
There’s a lot to go, specifically book 7 is dedicated to Cook
I found The Black Company 20 years ago. I had been reading fantasy for a while at the time and it just blew my mind how different and good it is. To this day it has some of my favorite characters in Fantasy. Soulcatcher, The Lady, Raven, Croaker, The Captain. God it's so good.
This is an excellent video - thank you for making it! I'm currently nearing the end of Book #2 and you summed it up best; if Book 1 is truly the worst book in the series then I'll be fine, I loved it. God, it's fantastic. Raven really is a proto-edgelord LOL.
Thank you! Loved book 2&3
I have the first Black Company collection. I'm thinking of starting it when I finish Malazan. I'm currently halfway through The Bonehunters.
Enjoy!
This is going on my list. It sounds like the relationship between the characters is a big part of this story. I love when writers use this to maximum effect.
Yeah, lots left unsaid but it has the reader fill in the blanks which I love
@@thefantasynuttwork Possibly one of the most Hemingway-esque fantasies?
@@thirdspacemaker9141 certainly feels like it at times
Have the whole series sitting front n center in my bookshelf.
Could see how some can't get into it since you don't get all the info on all the players from the get go, but............on the flip side, as you mentioned, it's from the annalists perspective.
With that being said they only have what has been written in the previous books to go on. It's revealed to us as it's revealed to them which lends to the suspense and intrigue as you read along.
Plenty of "ah ha" moments when tidbits of info come out and sheds light on a previous situation or a foreshadowing of things to come.
Phenomenal series!!
Hope you enjoy the rest!!
Just finished white rose and have been loving it! Silver Spike is up next!
@@thefantasynuttwork
Glad you put that one in the mix, in order. Ties up some some loose ends between White Rose and the First Book of the South.
Witten a bit different since it's not from the perspective of the Company annalist.
Still one of my favourites! I also like more modern stuff like Jenn Lyons (A Chorus of Dragons) but the Black Company series is awesome.
Can’t wait to continue
Awesome review Jimmy!! I read maybe the first 6 Black Company, loved them to pieces. But that was like 15 years ago probably, my dad (cool dad lol) made me read them, thank god haha. Anyway I've definitely been thinking about rereading recently, as I've gotten heavy into Malazan this year, just like you
So thanks for the encouragement, I can't wait to read these again!!
That’s so cool your dad encouraged you (forced) to read these. Make sure to thank him! Haha
@@thefantasynuttwork oh I have. I’m also thanking him by making him read Malazan 😂😂 he committed to it a few months ago after I had him watch AP’s “objective” review of GotM video, and his reaction was “as soon as he mentioned black company I was in” 😂😂 he’s just been lazy about picking up GotM but I am staying on him. I’m 99% sure he’ll love Malazan!!!
@@slidenaway that’s so cool
Jimmy, I can't read all these books...😅 my TBR is all ready exploding. But it sounds great. I don't mind a distance writing style. 😊 Normally not for military fantasy, but this sounds really interesting. Thanks for the review. 🥰
They’re really short at least 😂😅
The one series where Card games around the campfire were more intense than the actual battles
goblin and one eye fighting is amazing
Love the shirt
Thanks!
I just started rereading Steven Brust’s Vlad Taltos series, but it may be time to revisit The Black Company after that. Cook’s Garrett, PI novels (comic high fantasy hard boiled detective fiction) would make a good break if things start feeling too grim in the BC series.
If you think Black Company is whacky wait till you get to The White Rose. I just started it and it's almost like an acid trip. Don't want to spoil it but the place they are at the beginning is one of the most fascinating places I've read about. He mentioned windwhales in Shadows Linger but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
So far I think Shadows Linger is the weakest of the bunch because it's almost like an intermezzo between first and third book. I also hated the constant changes between first and third person narrator but I survived and the new main character grew on me by the end, though it wasn't easy journey. Overall, not a bad book just very different from the first one and that's not what I expected.
Books are suppose to get really good when they head south (the second omnibus) but I was all in since the beginning, bought all omnibuses and Port of Shadows after I finished Black Company. I love the atmosphere and as Malazan fan I simply need to read this.
Omg I’m so excited
As someone who generally hates "action" and thinks its generally filler, I am still interested in things that are "military campaign" themed. So BC scratches that strange combination for me. The timeskip at the fortress of Deal for that reason was a comedic breath of fresh air.
The fortress of Deal is such a wink to the audience. They hype this really important assault they are about to do, then it just skips to a tonk game. But the card games are filler. So its like the author made a decision to double down, write a filler section, but do it his own way, its charming
It has amazing humor
Mickey Spillane and Cormac McCarthy both love the stripped down, short sentence. So I think Glen Cook's sparse style has good company!
Absolutely
I'm still waiting for a Dread Empire movie and a Drizzt movie 😅 🤞
It's interesting, the "burn the feet" bit. I've read the whole Black Company series and really could relate as a former infantryman. In Viet Nam some units would engage in firefights and in some units care was taken to take enemy dead and bandage or leave the impression that care had been taken to "treat wounded enemy troops." Understand, these bodies were fully dead. Early in the war some units would mutilate or defile the bodies of Viet Cong or NVA troops, but it became clear this was counter productive. It engendered a "fight to the death" reaction in the enemy forces. Leaving dead bodies with at least the appearance that the US/Allied forces 'tried to care for wounded prisoners" worked on two levels. First, it went a bit toward lessening the impression of the NVA that the US troops were totally murderous savages. And second, it actually lead to some NVA deserters coming over to our side. Admittedly, a significant number of the "turncoat Kit Carson Scouts" as they were named, were NVA plants. But some served well and with distinction. It was a gruesome but marginally effective psy-op method in the later years of the war, contrasted with the "Leave an Ace of Spades on the bodies" trope.
Wow, that’s some crazy insight. Thanks for sharing that!
A truly brilliant series, agreed!
I can also recommend Elizabeth Moon's Paksennarion series for some great military fantasy
@@spaceman9599 read the first one and very much enjoyed it
Ridiculously good book and series
🙌
I just got into the series, after watching a lets play DnD campaign really heavily inspired by the black company. The writing was a bit jarring to me at first, not a native speaker, maybe that makes it even more palpable, but once I got used to it I really started to enjoy the story. It's a refreshing down to earth fantasy novel. Sure the ten are amazingly powerful, larger than life figures, the Lady and the Dominator even more so, but the company is relatable. I really love the bickering between One Eye and Goblin. Some of the company are vile scum, but as croaker put it: "They are family."
Oh and by the way the DnD campaign is a viceo series hosted on youtube called The chain of acheron and the ispiration is very obvious.^^
The best part of the Black Company books is the understanding that they are NOT a "company of heroes." Some are brutes, some are normal grunts... but they are all brothers in a real sense. They march and fight and evade and decieve the enemy...but they all know "everyone NOT in the Company is either an enemy or someone to be treated as an enemy." If you are Company, your only loyalty is to the Company. And they do some decent stuff...and some truly horrific stuff, solely on the basis of "will this keep the Company alive?" Very much on par with the FFL, "The Legion is my Country."
Personal weirdness feel I got from the first book...this strange triangle between Croaker, The Lady and yes I will say it... Soulcatcher. All through the first book and then through the series, the love-hate-fear-jealousy vibe resounded. There are points where I actually feel sorry for Soulcatcher...who is a deeply wicked character. Several other readers latch onto Raven or Darling but Soulcatcher plucked the strings for me on several levels. There's a deep reason for that in the context of the books but I will leave that alone as it would be a spoiler of the first rank.
I loved Soulcatcher as well, and how Cook makes her "a person with normal everyday things" with small details is really exciting and makes her more relatable. Heck, even the Limper had some funny/everyday things about him.
There's one scene where the Company is trying to catch Raker and Croaker and Soulcatcher are alone. Croaker wonders if it ever get's lonely being one of the "Taken" and Soulcatcher just murmurs that it does in a ordinary voice. You often think about Lady living thousands of years essentially alone except for enemies...but Soulcatcher has the same issues. True, her underlying goal thru the first book is to take out Lady, but it makes you wonder.@@vonmeier
@@donwild50 I loved that scene! And most of the things that happened in that small room while they were waiting for Raker to show up. Like when Limper visited them and they gave him tea. Just so down-to-earth, normal moments that add so much to the immersion and characters.
Could've had more me in it
Sadly Book 1 was mostly miss with me and I DNF'd Shadows Linger, not something the book did, my grandmother passed away during that time and reading fell by the wayside.
I might try again some day because a lot of those characters did grow on me.
Sorry to hear about your grandma 😞
I’ve was introduced to the Black Company when it first came out. I spent 20 years in the Navy, The author spent 4. He has mastered the lingo, attitude and interaction between brothers in arms. This guy does not do the book justice. This is by far my most loved series.
I’m on book 3 and loving it so much. Could end up being an all time favorite for me
I don't remember which book I'm on, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't finished. I had kinda forgotten about this series, but love it and def want to revisit & finish! Also, The Goblin Corps by Ari Marmel always comes to mind when I think about this series. But I don't remember details of that book, just that I thought it was good (blame my adhd brain, 😕😒)
I’ll check those out!
I am 20 pages in and the first thing that came to mind was how fast paced these first few pages are. It jumps from scene to scene SO quickly that I was kind of shocked. Trying to adjust my expectations and accept that the book is probably going to remain like that and try not to let it bug me.
It slows down in book two but yes it’s vignettes introducing you to lots of important people and worldbuilding
@@thefantasynuttwork Well I finished the first book and I could almost feel the pace slow down as the book itself went on, almost as if his writing skills got better by each page. Story was enticing enough to keep me going! But my favorite aspect of the book is Goblin and One-Eye's magical prank wars, I absolutely love their friendship XD
@@SennyGamingHQ it’s so funny hahaha I loveeeeeeeed book 2!
Great book
Weird
But good
"Belch out some ugly dialogue"
You are actually my spirit animal
😂😂😂
If you like this I can suggest the game Battle Brothers
Thanks!
Glad I got the Midworld Press edition of this book.
I ordered it as well
@@thefantasynuttwork beautiful cover isn’t it?
@@benjaminmolina3456 amazing
Anyone want to talk about the last books ? I’ve just finished them and i am so frustrated that i am wondering if theres one missing or something ?
I’m hoping to read silver spike and continue on by the end of the year
I'm surprised to hear that the first book is considered the weakest. It was always my favorite
“Let him cook, let him cook”
💪
How much of a crime would beginning at book 2 be? I mean Iv attempted the first book a good few times recently , shall I just force it or can I get away with starting the apparently better 2nd book?
I say do what you want! Can always read a summary online or something for book one
I mean, it’s only a little over 300 pages. You don’t necessarily have to read it, but you can just pound that out in a few days and move on.
It blows my mind that anyone could think the first book in the series is the weakest. Personally, I think it is the strongest (and the series as a whole is fantastic).
i think it's dope
Welcome to the Black Company, you shall be known as 'Nutty' from this day forward ;-) LOL
Hahahaha thank you!
I wish you would've credited wikipedia for your summary.
Consider this the credit hahaha
In all seriousness though, when I do a summary with the art, if I find that wiki or the book blurb is really good I’ll use it. Lots of times I end up doing my own because the blurb will give away too much, or even too little. There’s no malicious intention
So I dont necessarily dislike the story but it jumps around all over the place and made it hard for me to fully invest in the series as much as I wanted to. Id start to gain interest and just and quickly get pulled away to some other random place or character I have no connection with and lose a lot of what i think could have been done with this setup.
It’s very sporadic, have you read book 2? It’s more focused and honestly one of my favorite books I’ve read this year
@The Fantasy Nuttwork I havent im still only about 1/4 of the way through book one. Its been an on and off again read which makes the jumping around worse. If it gets better in book 2 ill try to tough it out. I love dark fantasy if I can really get into it.
Great review Jimmy. I’ve been pretty determined that I have no interest in this series. I still don’t really, but you made me think about it maybe down the road.
Well if ya try it and hate it don’t remember this review 😂
You owe it to yourself to give this series a try. Truly one of the best.
In the first 10 years of his writing career, Cook have a day job as a machine operator in a GM plant that required his attention for about 30 seconds every 5 minutes. It is rather predictable work and he used the off time to do his writing.
Love that!
You misunderstood a bunch of stuff, there's a ton of military lore in the black co. that only vets get usually...like Raven saying to put the spy's feet in the fire...it's not to show you tortured them...its an insult. It's telling th other side "We killed your spies and scouts because they were loud, clumsey, unstealthy dumbasses...they were clomping around so much and making so much noise we caught them." Burning their feet is let painting a sign on them and saying "this is what they did wrong..they stamped around like clods. Send us some better spies next time" . What they didn't want them to know was that they had mages who could just find spies with magic...so he gave the rebs the impresion that the spies were caught cz they sucked at stealth...a mundane explanation.
Thanks Steven
Black company ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤💛💙💙💜🤎🖤🤍♥️❣️💖💗💓💕♥️❣️
Reading White Rose right now and it’s awesome
:D
The first book is actually the weakest in the series, in my opinion, so reading the rest will be a treat. Also, despite Croaker appearing in (and narrating) several of the others, the actual protagonist of the series is the Company as a whole.
I’ve read through White Rose now and love the series so far
TBC>ASOIAF
Haha, hey I love that someone loved the series that much!
Why do you pronounce it as "malAzan" ITS "mAlazan"!
I pronounce how Erikson said it to me lol
@@thefantasynuttwork Well he said it wrong xd
@@severjanlici if the author doesn’t care then neither do I lol