During our first interview, Erikson told me how much of an impact Glen Cook's books had on him and his own writing. I made a mental note to give the Black Company novels a shot, but it took me until now to do so.I'm currently reading Cook's first Black Company omnibus, Chronicles of the Black Company (Canada, USA, Europe), and I'm loving it! It's like reading about the adventures of the Bridgeburners without any interruptions!
If, like me, you have yet to discover Glen Cook and you like Steven Erikson's The Malazan Book of the Fallen saga, you might want to check the Black Company out! The books might not be groundbreaking (though they were when they initially came out in 1984), but they are as entertaining as anything you're likely to read in the genre.
If you don't want to spend more money for the omnibus, all three volumes which comprise the book can still be purchased separately. Used editions can also be found for about a dollar or less.
17 commentaires:
I'm currently reading this as well. Not impressed so far, but then it's hard to be impressed with other series after having finished Erikson's "Toll the Hounds"
I'm definately planning on giving this a shot, just a bit of a mission getting hold of the books here in SA.
I read the first omnibus a few months back and I liked it, but I've been having a lot of trouble getting into the second one (The Books of the South). It just isn't happening for me.
The first 3 Black Company books are one of the best fantasy series I've ever read. Cook has all kinds of good work out there, I'm glad that others like him too.
The Black Company novels are what Steven Erikson might have written had he chose to focus exclusively on The Bridgeburners, I think.
The first three Black Company novels are easily the best, but after a dip in quality with the first two Glittering Stone books, they get better again with Water Sleeps.
It's a mental note here as well. But it will have to wait on its turn. First in line is Return of the Crimson Guard. :)
Strangely enough, I just saw that Gollancz are publishing the first three as an omnibus in the UK in September. More details can be found here.
I read the first Black Company book way back when, meant to get to the second, but just never did. I need to get back on it and get the second book.
I bought the books of the south to read on a recent trip and thought that they were great. I just finished it a couple of days ago and can't wait to get my hands on the first 3. From what Amazon says there are 10 books in total. I think that they will be nice to read while I am waiting for The Dust of Dreams...
The first Black Company book is one of my favorite of all time.
The rest are good, but the first leaves 'em all in the dust IMO.
Absolutely amazing series. I enjoy Erikson alright (He has trouble making me give a crap, though), but LOVE Cook. I'm up to book 7, and the first 3 are certainly the best of the bunch...but don't let that deter you, the others still have good times to offer.
sometimes he lacks in plot exposition and world building, but the characters are incredible. some of the most memorable of anything I've read. One Eye & Goblin - priceless.
Big fan of the series, have played a few games of Tonk in my day. One can see where Erikson got the inspiration for some of the characters that Ascended from.
I love the Black Company - however, it can be hard to continue reading after the first set of books because some of the middle volumes are no longer in print and very difficult to find at reasonable prices. Now that Gollancz is doing omnibus editions I am hoping they get the rest of them out soon!
I loved Cook's Black Company novels and when I started to read Erikson it was obvious where he took alot of his inspiration from.
I never made it past the 1st Erikson novel though - tried 3x to read it and kept flapping back and forth between not giving a crap and not understanding WTF was going on.
I love the Black Company books! I've never read Erikson, but now that I know he's a Glen Cook fan himself, I'll have to check his stuff out.
I like the Black Company, but IMO the stand-alone books 'The Dragon Never Sleeps' and 'Passage at Arms' are vastly superior to the BC stuff.
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