Have any of you read The Black Company series?

Gregness · 03-06-2015, 06:51 PM

I just finished Dreams of Steel and even though a lot of people said the series started dropping off after The Books of the North, I actually thought Shadow Games and Dreams of Steel were some of my favorite in the series. I hear that Bleak Seasons is the low point of the series, but I checked out a preview on Amazon and the first few chapters look alright.

I first got into the series after seeing it listed as a reference in some of my favorite gaming works (specifically, Myth: The Fallen Lords and Exalted). The narrative conceit is that you, the reader, are reading the Annals of The Black Company, and so everything is told from the point of view of whichever character is company Annalist at the time (with some exceptions in later books). I really like the soldier's eye view of events that this gives you, even if it does come at the cost of some of the detail one might expect since each Annalist only goes into as much detail as is important to them. At one point, The Company is told "... [to] recapture the fortress at Deal. That would embarrass the Rebel and Limper both." Then later: "So we went and did it. We captured the fortress at Deal in the dead of night, within howling distance of Oar. They say both Raker and the Limper flew into insane rages. I figure Soulcatcher ate that up."

Any of you guys read these books? What'd you think?

Grandmaster_Skweeb · 03-06-2015, 10:17 PM

Fuckin love The Black Company. Sooo much delicious banter and no shortage of gallows humor.

Overcast · 03-08-2015, 06:59 AM

I have also read the whole damn thing, including the silver spike side story. I'm a fan of it all for the most part, parroting your love of the soldier's eye view of things and the semi unique narrative style. The sort of sudden and often unseen presence of death that can rob someone from you in the narrative before you even realize what has happened. Some folks might find it jarring, but I dig it.

Also really love the way magic seems to work into it, a little like how you figure Mage would work without all the bullshit can't do everything I want stuff from Paradox and Disbelief. Where you have in your hands power at a fucking wrist flick that can ruin whole armies, and with enough prep can make you incredibly difficult to kill as long as you consider all the conginencies.

Finally just dig the level of tactical presence is there when it does come into play, the pragmatism of the Black Company is an interesting thing to watch in action. I just enjoyed it, and of course the banter never hurt.

Arlia Janet · 03-25-2015, 01:03 AM

Glen Cook is a veteran who (I believe) served during Vietnam. My dad, brother, and husband are also veterans and the tone of Black Company reminds me of the banter they have with each other when they think no one else is in earshot.
The Silver Spike is my favorite of the series because the "villains" really act competently and do what they should do in that situation. They lock the situation down and try to resolve it.
In the Southern books, when Soulcatcher refuses to kill everyone when she had the chance ruins a good chunk of that story for me. "She's insane and spiteful" is not a satisfying answer.

Overcast · 03-25-2015, 04:05 AM

I am willing to believe it, but only when her sister is directily in line to be fucked with. That is her life work after all.

03-06-2015, 06:51 PM	#1
Gregness Never give up. Never give in. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,034	Have any of you read The Black Company series? I just finished Dreams of Steel and even though a lot of people said the series started dropping off after The Books of the North, I actually thought Shadow Games and Dreams of Steel were some of my favorite in the series. I hear that Bleak Seasons is the low point of the series, but I checked out a preview on Amazon and the first few chapters look alright. I first got into the series after seeing it listed as a reference in some of my favorite gaming works (specifically, Myth: The Fallen Lords and Exalted). The narrative conceit is that you, the reader, are reading the Annals of The Black Company, and so everything is told from the point of view of whichever character is company Annalist at the time (with some exceptions in later books). I really like the soldier's eye view of events that this gives you, even if it does come at the cost of some of the detail one might expect since each Annalist only goes into as much detail as is important to them. At one point, The Company is told "... [to] recapture the fortress at Deal. That would embarrass the Rebel and Limper both." Then later: "So we went and did it. We captured the fortress at Deal in the dead of night, within howling distance of Oar. They say both Raker and the Limper flew into insane rages. I figure Soulcatcher ate that up." Any of you guys read these books? What'd you think? __________________ A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - Robert Heinlein

03-08-2015, 06:59 AM	#3
Overcast Cinderella Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Trespassing in the graveyard Posts: 3,076	I have also read the whole damn thing, including the silver spike side story. I'm a fan of it all for the most part, parroting your love of the soldier's eye view of things and the semi unique narrative style. The sort of sudden and often unseen presence of death that can rob someone from you in the narrative before you even realize what has happened. Some folks might find it jarring, but I dig it. Also really love the way magic seems to work into it, a little like how you figure Mage would work without all the bullshit can't do everything I want stuff from Paradox and Disbelief. Where you have in your hands power at a fucking wrist flick that can ruin whole armies, and with enough prep can make you incredibly difficult to kill as long as you consider all the conginencies. Finally just dig the level of tactical presence is there when it does come into play, the pragmatism of the Black Company is an interesting thing to watch in action. I just enjoyed it, and of course the banter never hurt. __________________ Time to bust out the glow sticks!

03-25-2015, 01:03 AM	#4
Arlia Janet Worrying Myself Gray Join Date: May 2004 Location: Valley of Sunflowers Posts: 1,102	Glen Cook is a veteran who (I believe) served during Vietnam. My dad, brother, and husband are also veterans and the tone of Black Company reminds me of the banter they have with each other when they think no one else is in earshot. The Silver Spike is my favorite of the series because the "villains" really act competently and do what they should do in that situation. They lock the situation down and try to resolve it. In the Southern books, when Soulcatcher refuses to kill everyone when she had the chance ruins a good chunk of that story for me. "She's insane and spiteful" is not a satisfying answer. __________________ Fortuna Saga (Complete) Hymns of the Apostate (Complete) My Guest Comics: In A World... Corneria's Kick Ass Newspaper

03-25-2015, 04:05 AM	#5
Overcast Cinderella Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Trespassing in the graveyard Posts: 3,076	I am willing to believe it, but only when her sister is directily in line to be fucked with. That is her life work after all. __________________ Time to bust out the glow sticks!

03-06-2015, 10:17 PM	#2
Grandmaster_Skweeb Doesn't care anymore Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,429	Fuckin love The Black Company. Sooo much delicious banter and no shortage of gallows humor.