Black Company novels

[Banshee16]

Given the popularity of this series, and the campaign setting by Green Ronin, which I think looks really cool, but haven't purchased yet, I decided to try reading the series. I picked up "The Black Company" and started reading last night.

I have to say that about 30 pages into it, I'm not too impressed. As I understand it, the style is minimalistic....not many descriptions, and it jumps very quickly. Does this book, or the series as a whole remain like this, or do they start to become more detailed, plot becomes more evident, etc.?

I know that it's hard to tell from the first 30 pages of a book.....but I just came off Tad Williams' excellent "War of the Flowers", and the difference in style is a bit jarring. I'm going to keep at it...I'm just curious of input from others who have read the series...

Banshee

 

[Crothian]

I read the first three books and I have to say, not a big fan. The style does stay through the whole series of these three. The ideas where okay and the plot was interesting but I just wanted more details.

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

Though I still have two more books to read in the series - Water Sleeps and Soldiers Live, IMO the first book is the worst in the series but I didn't like Bleak Seasons that much either. Because he is setting up the world and introducing the characters is the reason why I think that the first book is the worst. The next two books are a lot better IMO then the first and except for Bleak Seasons I've enjoyed them quite a bit. My advice is to at least read the first three books and if you enjoyed them keep reading the series but give the original trilogy a chance, I'm glad I did.

All of course is just IMO.

 

[barsoomcore]

It's a far cry from Tad Williams, I'll grant you. But I think Tad Williams is kind of crappy and overwritten so there you go. I far prefer Cook's laconic delivery to most of fantasy's breathless overwroughtedness.

They're not for everyone but I recommend you stick them out for at least the first three. They don't take long to read and if by that time you don't like them, you're unlikely to ever like them.

But they are some of the most important fantasy written in the last thirty/forty years, so you really ought to try and take them on their own terms.

 

[Zappo]

I read the first book and I kinda enjoyed it as light reading. I'll pick up the next ones when I can. But I won't delude myself into thinking that it has some literary value.

 

[drnuncheon]

As I understand it, the style is minimalistic....not many descriptions, and it jumps very quickly. Does this book, or the series as a whole remain like this, or do they start to become more detailed, plot becomes more evident, etc.?

The first few books (the first three at least) remain with Croaker as the Annalist. Later books are narrated by other characters.

The plot does become more evident later - what you have to keep in mind is that, especially early on, you're viewing an epic war from the point of view of a unit of soldiers, who don't always have all the information to figure out what's going on.

Stick with it - it's not for everyone, but 30 pages probably isn't enough to decide.

J

 

[Ruined]

I'm at the same point you are, Banshee. I picked up the first novel a year or two ago on recommendation of a friend. I read the first forty or fifty pages and it didn't grab me. I ended up putting it down in favor of other reads. Just recently, a friend offered to run a campaign in the Black Company setting. We made characters Saturday morning and I was really intrigued by some of the concepts presented. So last night I picked the book back up and read half of it in one setting. I will say that it gets better the more you read, especially when you start encountering the Taken.

And humorously enough, I had just finished 2 books by Tad Williams (Shadowmarch and River of Blue Fire). It is a refreshing change of pace.

 

[Desdichado]

Given the popularity of this series, and the campaign setting by Green Ronin, which I think looks really cool, but haven't purchased yet, I decided to try reading the series. I picked up "The Black Company" and started reading last night.

I have to say that about 30 pages into it, I'm not too impressed. As I understand it, the style is minimalistic....not many descriptions, and it jumps very quickly. Does this book, or the series as a whole remain like this, or do they start to become more detailed, plot becomes more evident, etc.?

I'm still not a fan of the Spartan writing style Cook uses in this series, but I have to say I was totally won over by the plot and characters. Although the first time I tried to read it, like you, about 30 pages in I quit. Years later I picked them up again and promised myself I wouldn't quit until I had at least read the first book all the way through.

After doing that, I immediately went and bought the second and third book, and read them both in the space of about a week.

 

[Dakkareth]

I tend to see Cook as the smaller brother of Steven Erikson. Yes, there are several points I could criticize and it doesn't nearly reach SE, but DAMN, if the books aren't fun to read! It's no 'big' literature, but good fun in a nice setting, with interesting characters.

I hope, the BCCS arrives soon ...

 

[barsoomcore]

That's an interesting viewpoint, since Erikson has been very vocal about how inspiring he found Cook's work.

I don't think Erikson has found a voice as rich, memorable and powerful as Croaker's. Croaker is really what makes those books special, for me. I love listening to Croaker ramble.