I've heard this described as "Vietnam War fiction on peyote" and I think that's a pretty accurate description. This is wild, dark, bleak stuff and deserves its reputation as a fantasy classic. While other writers had done a marvelous job of plumbing the depths of gritty, amoral fantasy (Robert E. Howard & Jack Vance spring immediately to mind), Cook seems to have been the first to focus on the fortunes of the rank-and-file rather than the great heroes and rulers and magicians. The Black Company books focus on the trials and travails of an order of amoral mercenaries who are eventually enlisted to fight on the side of the greatest evil the world has ever known. Once an order of proud black warriors (hence their name), they have fallen on hard times: their numbers are dwindling, the commissions they receive are beneath them, and there are only two black men left in the entire Company. All of the other great mercenary companies that once served the civilized world have long since died out or disbanded, and the Black Company seems destined to continue purely as a refuge for wanted criminals and lost souls. All they have left is their own particular code of honor, a refusal to abandon a cause for which they are being paid to fight. So when the terrible Lady and her dark envoys, the Ten-Who-Were-Taken, offer the Black Company a new commission -- helping her put down the rebels who oppose her inexorable conquest of the Northern lands -- the Company is torn between fear and cautious optimism. Once they sign on to help the Lady they will be honor-bound to fulfill their contract and thus honor-bound to serve an empire dedicated to the subjugation of all free peoples and ruled by a team of grotesque, centuries-old sorcerers. But this new job could bring them a chance at renewed glory or, at the least, financial solvency and new recruits. In the end, out of desperation and resignation, the Company takes the commission.The story here is told by "Croaker", who is both the Company's resident medic (hence his name) and Annalist. He is the latest in the Company's long line of record-keepers, chronicling their success and their failures, and ensuring that the those of the Company stay in touch with the traditions and history that bind them together as an order; he also ensures that no member of the Company will ever be forgotten. He takes his jobs seriously, because without him the men of the Company are both physically and metaphorically lost. Through his eyes we see the rise of the Black Company under the auspices of the Lady, but we also see the wages of war. Death, torture, rape, brainwashing, and looting are just the beginning.I've hard a couple of complaints about this book. The first is that the author's descriptions of the battle scenes are too short, too sparse. That's very true, but I think that complaint ignores the fact that this is a story told in first-person by a non-combatant who is more interested in the facts than in poetry, and who cares more about who survives and who dies than who ultimately does what in which way. Cook's rendering of Croaker's account of the Black Company's work is completely in keeping with the character he has created.I've also heard people complain about the lack of "real" names in the story. This is a very distinctive feature of the world which Cook has created, and if you expect to get lots of "Legolases" and "Valanars" and "Rundoroons" well, you're going to be disappointed. The men of the Company give up their birth names when they join the Company, receiving new names as a result of their actions or distinctive features or ranks or the whims of their new comrades ("One-Eye", "Goblin", "Silent", "Lieutenant", "Elmo", etc.) and that actually helps to bind them together -- the Company is a new family for its members, and the new name is both a sign of acceptance into the order and of forsaking one's previous life. It's also a measure of protection. The Ten-Who-Were-Taken and the Rebel leaders all have name-titles ("Soulcatcher", "the Howler", "Raker", "Feather", etc.) because, as in so many magical systems, knowledge of your True Name makes you vulnerable to your enemies, especially when you and your enemies are both magic-wielders. It's even implied that the Ten's names are concealed from everyone, including themselves, when they are "Taken" to ensure that only the Lady (or her husband) can hold that degree of influence over them. Clearly I am a fan. But while i do feel that this book has a lot to recommend it, I'm also aware that it's not perfect. The author does his best to have the characters speak in what we might consider "real" or "modern" English, replete with slang; this is refreshing given that the characters are mostly from lower-class and criminal backgrounds, but it doesn't always work. There are several incongruous and anachronistic linguistic elements, references to uniquely modern or American things, which betray the fact that Cook was relatively new to the business of writing fantasy fiction. What is more, the third chapter was previously featured in a magazine and, while it was apparently adapted for inclusion in this book, its origin as an independent short story still shows. Characters, events, facts, and features of the setting, all of which were introduced in the previous two chapters, are re-introduced and there is a persistent feeling that this third chapter was originally intended to be the first. Overall, I'd say that Cook gets off to a rough but promising start in his first "Black Company" book. I'm looking forward to the reading the next volume.
It’s amazing how well military and fantasy seemed to mesh in this story. The Black Company is an elite mercenary unit that holds two values sacred: Committing fully to any commission they take on, and watching out for their fellow members, their brothers in the unit. This unit consists of hardened fighting men, some of whom happen to be wizards, and our narrator, Croaker, who is the annalist (records the history of the unit) and the doctor of the unit.The world they live in is plagued by war between the Rebels and those who serve the Lady. After leaving their present commission for a minor potentate in Beryl (a dead end that could have ended up with them all dead had they not found a way to ‘honorably’ terminate their employment), they take a commission with one of the twelve extremely scary Taken (a cabal of undead wizards who serve the Lady), an androgynous figure called Soulcatcher. Soulcatcher has the tendency to speak in various voices, male and female, sometimes at the same time. The Company knows there is something not right about Soulcatcher. Soulcatcher is probably evil. But for the Black Company, they don’t look at morals that way. Their greatest ethical commitment is to put in a good day’s work for their present employer. The problem is this job is going to take them into really nasty places, and cause some of the men of the Black Company to reevaluate their morals for serving their questionable employer, particularly Croaker.The writing style in this story appealed to me, with a brisk narrative that managed to convey exactly what I needed to know. The humor is subtle, and the depiction of violence is done very well—not excessively gory, but clearly expressing the ugly nature of war. As I mentioned above, the fantasy elements went hand and hand with this military adventure. The use of magic was a weapon used by both sides in the military conflict. The wizards in the Company were quite the characters, often having competitive showdowns with each other that were great comic relief.I appreciated the time spent to bring the characters to life. Although these are guys who work for pretty much anyone who can pay for them, I felt that they were honorable men in their own way. Croaker was a good narrative choice, because he was a seasoned soldier who had seen a lot, and pondered what he experiences in a way that brings the reader right into the narrative, along for the ride. He'd been in the business too long to be morally righteous in the traditional sense; but there were things that he and the guys in his unit definitely wouldn’t stand for. Croaker would be one of the first to admit that most of his brothers sit at various points on the evil spectrum. But there is evil, and there is worse evil, as they soon come to find out. The problem is trying to figure out which side is worse.Another standout character in this story was Raven. He was, well, scary, but tremendously fascinating. A man who joins their unit shortly after they take on the commission with Soulcatcher, he is driven initially by revenge. A formidable killer who scares even the hardened men of the unit, but with a sense of honor that causes him to intervene when another group of soldiers murder a village of children, and gang-rape a nine year old girl. That girl and her grandfather essentially become part of the unit, and Raven becomes like a surrogate dad to the little girl called Darling. This unlikely adoption of a mute little girl and her grandfather adds to the rag-tag family atmosphere of the Company, as they all end up becoming fond of the girl and her grandfather.Shades of gray. This story is definitely about that spectrum between black and white. It touches on the fact that war is more often the means through which figures in power work out their political squabbles, and less about doing the ‘right thing’ or righting wrongs. And the puppets of their war are working men, getting paid to fight their battles. That doesn’t erase their individual responsibilities for the wrongs they do, and they carry those burdens in the ways they can best manage. But at some point, one has to wonder when it’s time to walk way, to save what’s left of one’s own soul. That’s what Croaker struggles with.I like that fantasy can go to these places that I wouldn’t necessarily explore out of the fiction setting. The military life is not one I would choose for myself. However, I respect those in the military a lot. Like any profession, a soldier has his own set of ethics and rules, and the good and the bad that goes along with his job. Cook illustrated the inns and outs of military campaigns very well here, the grueling days and nights, and how war isn’t always some crazy, dramatic battle. Sometimes it’s about the long waiting, the even longer marches, and the deprivation when supplies are down, losing men faster than they can be saved, and digging in while the Company is surrounded by the enemy. And everyone has their part to play in the conflict, even if it’s just cannon fodder (sadly enough).I’m on a roll. I’ve liked most of the epic fantasy I’ve read so far. But this one stands out with its military esthetic, which was done very well. I read this story out of an omnibus collection of The Chronicles of the Black Company, and I’m glad I went ahead and bought it because I want to read more of the Black Company’s adventures.
What do You think about The Black Company (1992)?
The Black Company, by Glen Cook, is something of a unique read for me. That's why I liked it. It's not a perfect fantasy novel, nor is it probably the best book of its type. It's a great way to pass the time, though. The PlotThe book is told from the perspective of a character called Croaker. That's his nickname. His real name is never revealed. He's called Croaker because he's the physician for a mercenary company called "The Black Company". He's also the chronicler of the company, which explains why he's narrating the book.The Black Company is a mercenary band. Unlike most mercenary bands in the Fantasy/Science Fiction/Adventure genre, this one actually does work for the highest bidder, no matter what kind of person that is. They are hired by a minion of an evil queen called "The Lady". The history of the land is that there used to be a terrible autocracy led by a powerful and insane being called the Dominator and his wife, The Lady. They captured and enslaved 10 other powerful wizards who are known as "The Taken". They were finally overthrown by a prophesied messiah called "The White Rose". However, they could only be imprisoned, they couldn't be destroyed. Fast forward a few millennia, and a hapless wizard named Bomanz awakens The Lady, trying to learn from her or steal her power. This backfires and the Lady is freed and gathers up the Taken to her and establishes a new empire. She leaves the Dominator imprisoned, though, as he is too terrible to awaken.All of this happens before the book and is explained in the opening chapters. The Black Company is hired to assist The Lady's forces against a rebellion. This rebellion is purportedly led by the newest incarnation of The White Rose. Croaker himself gets so personally involved with The Taken and The Lady over the course of the book that he gets way out of his comfort zone. The GoodI liked the fact that the book is told from the perspective of people who are working for the bad guys. I liked how they conveniently altered their personal morality to fit their code of honor, which is basically "The customer is always right".At one point they pick up a little girl who is a refugee. She becomes a sort of mascot for the company and they seem to make their nice treatment of her become their atonement for the bad things that they do.There's one scene where the company is decimating a rebel town and they literally rape and pillage the place. Croaker doesn't participate, but neither does he condemn it exactly. He basically shrugs it off as the consequences of battle.In short, I like the moral ambiguity of the The Black Company. I think one reviewer said it was like reading the Lord of the Rings from the perspective of an Orc working for Sauron. I don't think that's an accurate analogy. These are not mindless minions, but calculating human beings who are rationalizing their efforts on behalf of an evil powerful being and experiencing the cognitive dissonance that it entails. The Not-So-GoodIt's a little light on world building. The reader knows just enough about the world to know what's going on during the current scene. However, there's no sense of a bigger more overarching plot going on, even though there is. This may be by design, I don't know. World building can really suck if it's not done correctly, so maybe it's a good thing that Glen Cook avoided it.The language of the book was a little too contemporary. That also kind of took me out of the book, although it certainly made it an easier read.The plot didn't have any big twists, in my opinion. I know I may be rather plebeian in wanting my fantasy pulps to have plot twists but this one didn't. The only thing that could be considered a plot twist was one that I could see coming a thousand miles away. ConclusionIt's a good read for fantasy lovers. It's not a book that's going to set the literary world on fire, though. I recommend it, though, if you like this particular genre.
—Mark
I can see why this is a cult classic. Thoroughly enjoyable read! I think Croaker is a great character and a perfect choice of narrator! He's been part of the Company for many years and I at no point questioned his loyalty to them, but he's more than just a soldier for hire. Being a physician he has a greater admiration for human life and his perspective on the front lines of war / fighting was refreshingly different. I also liked that he was the historian who kept a record of the Company and their exploits for the Annals since it gave him a greater interest in the bigger picture and served to broaden his view of events. I loved the relationship between One-Eye and Goblin. It was mostly silly and pointless but their little magical competitions were always well placed in the story and made me giggle.I'm invested in most of the main characters and really look forward to seeing what happens next. There have been so many book club choices that I've really enjoyed and this is just another of them!
—Penny
Grim. Violent. Dark. That sums up The Black Company in three words. This is a switch-over from the good vs. evil high fantasy form of the early twentieth century to a grittier, darker fantasy realm. Sure there is wizardry, but there seem to be no innocent, upright parties. All the sides of the conflict are varying shades of evil; no side can be labelled noble or righteous. Told from the point of view of Croaker, the Annalist (history keeper) of a mercenary force known as the Black Company, we get the story from a man who seems to have a sense of honour, even if it is twisted. The member of the Company are all known by a single nickname or title (Captain, One-Eye, Goblin, etc.) as they have left their previous lives behind and will leave the Company only through death. If these men have any loyalties, they are to their Company comrades and secondarily to their current employer.Fantasy novels frequently have momentous battles in them (LOTR, the Belgariad, the Rift War saga, etc.) but these are usually witnessed from an overarching view point, with a sense of good winning over evil. The Black Company changes the view point—suddenly, it’s the guys in the trenches, the ones bleeding and dying, who are supplying the story. The ones who are following orders without seeing the big picture; the ones who are fighting because they signed up, not because they necessarily believe in the cause. We get the down-and-dirty view of the battle field. It reminds me of gritty historical fiction like The Whale Road, a Viking story by Robert Low. By contrast, the Lensman series from the 1940s and 50s looks like naïve poppycock, with its belief in the essential goodness of its main characters and their ideals. There is none of the nobility of purpose that the reader enjoys in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. The Black Company would seem to have roots in Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser series and in R.E. Howard’s Conan—all men who betimes pledge their swords to an employer in hopes of a financial reward. Each has their own personal concept of honour, within which they attempt to live. The Black Company takes things one step further with a whole group of men participating in this arrangement. It shares some similarities, I think, to Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun series, which places a member of the Torturers’ Guild into the role of main character, a morally enigmatic choice if ever there was one. Much more realistic—showing the mud, the blood, and the gore, as well as the moral ambiguity of war itself, I can see where this series is likely one of the many roots in fantasy literature than has led to the current Grim-Dark branch of the genre.Book number 184 in my science fiction/fantasy reading project.
—Wanda
