Andrew
Always frustrating to find out that, not only did someone already write the story you had kinda sorta meant to get around to writing someday, they did it just about before you were even born.
This is a story of the Black Company, a mercenary company with a long history that has now found itself in service to an evil cabal of ancient, undead sorcerors. Despite that, there are relatively few battles or detailed action sequences in the book. Part of this is because the main character, Croaker, is the company's medic and historian and isn't present on the front lines. But more so, that just isn't the story Glen Cook has set out to tell.
The narrative and pacing of this book reminded me more of my own time in the Army than any other fantasy novel. Anyone who has had to live the phrase, "Hurry up and wait," should easily be able to identify with the men of the Black Company. They sit around their barracks playing card games and discussing rumors of how the war is going on the other fronts (and are often wrong). They play pranks on each other to kill time. They grumble and complain about their orders but carry them out anyway, then find a dry place to sit down and break the deck of cards out again. This is the story of any close-knit fighting unit from any war ever, whether that be me and my friends sitting somewhere in Iraq twenty years ago or a fantasy mercenary unit with sorcery who conjure great flaming worms up from the dirt to eat out their enemies eyeballs.
"The unwritten law of all armies, Captain. The lower ranks have the privilege of questioning the sanity and competence of their commanders. It's the mortar holding an army together."
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My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
Always frustrating to find out that, not only did someone already write the story you had kinda sorta meant to get around to writing someday, they did it just about before you were even born.
This is a story of the Black Company, a mercenary company with a long history that has now found itself in service to an evil cabal of ancient, undead sorcerors. Despite that, there are relatively few battles or detailed action sequences in the book. Part of this is because the main character, Croaker, is the company's medic and historian and isn't present on the front lines. But more so, that just isn't the story Glen Cook has set out to tell.
The narrative and pacing of this book reminded me more of my own time in the Army than any other fantasy novel. Anyone who has had to live the phrase, "Hurry up and wait," should easily be able to identify with the men of the Black Company. They sit around their barracks playing card games and discussing rumors of how the war is going on the other fronts (and are often wrong). They play pranks on each other to kill time. They grumble and complain about their orders but carry them out anyway, then find a dry place to sit down and break the deck of cards out again. This is the story of any close-knit fighting unit from any war ever, whether that be me and my friends sitting somewhere in Iraq twenty years ago or a fantasy mercenary unit with sorcery who conjure great flaming worms up from the dirt to eat out their enemies eyeballs.
"The unwritten law of all armies, Captain. The lower ranks have the privilege of questioning the sanity and competence of their commanders. It's the mortar holding an army together."
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.