Who Would Like This Book:
If you love gritty, boots-on-the-ground fantasy from the perspective of flawed, morally gray characters, this one is for you! The Black Company dumps you straight into the action with a band of mercenaries just trying to do their job in a world packed with dark magic, epic battles, and eldritch horrors. Fans of Malazan, grimdark, or anyone who prefers their heroes with a dash of cynicism will find a lot to love. Cook's stripped-down, soldier's-eye-view writing style keeps things raw and immersive, while the camaraderie and banter among the characters add heart and levity.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers bounce off the choppy, minimalist writing style or feel disoriented by being thrown right into the story with little exposition. If you prefer clear-cut good vs. evil narratives, extensive worldbuilding, or flowing, descriptive prose, The Black Company may feel jarring or a bit too bleak. Others have mentioned confusing geography, lack of detailed action scenes, or unfamiliar vocabulary breaking immersion. And the amorality of the characters and their often brutal choices aren’t everyone’s cup of tea!
About:
The Black Company by Glen Cook is a gritty military fantasy novel that follows a mercenary unit through a tumultuous war. The story is primarily narrated by Croaker, the company physician, who documents their chaotic adventures over decades. As they work for morally ambiguous employers, often the embodiment of evil, the narrative explores themes of loyalty, survival, and the sometimes blurred line between good and evil. The writing style is stark and direct, immersing readers in intense battle scenes and the harsh realities of mercenary life, while also delivering sharp dialogues that reveal the personalities of flawed yet relatable characters.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for The Black Company include themes of violence, war, and some instances of sexual violence, though it is not graphically described.
From The Publisher:
Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hard-bitten 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...
So begins one of the greatest fantasy epics of our age-Glen Cook's Chronicles of the Black Company.
Ratings (137)
Incredible (17) | |
Loved It (36) | |
Liked It (47) | |
It Was OK (21) | |
Did Not Like (12) | |
Hated It (4) |
Reader Stats (432):
Read It (140) | |
Currently Reading (9) | |
Want To Read (216) | |
Did Not Finish (10) | |
Not Interested (57) |
1 comment(s)
I really enjoyed the flexible morality of the allegiances in this book, along with the ending. There was an unfortunate disconnectedness in the book, which caused some confusion. However, all in all, I really enjoyed it.
What can you read after
The Black Company?
About the Author:
Born in 1944, Glen Cook grew up in northern California, served in the U.S. Navy, attended the University of Missouri, and was one of the earliest graduates of the well-known "Clarion" workshop SF writers. Since 1971 he has published a large number of SF and fantasy novels, including the "Dread Empire" series, the occult-detective "Garrett" novels, and the very popular "Black Company" sequence that began with the publication of The Black Company in 1984. Among his SF novels is A Passage at Arms.
After working many years for General Motors, Cook now writes full-time. He lives near St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife Carol.
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