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| Chronicles of the Black Company | 
 enlarge | Author: Glen Cook
Publisher: Tor Books
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
Buy Used: $7.49
You Save: $8.46 (53%)
New (35) Used (23) from $7.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 61741
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 704
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 6.1 x 1.9
ISBN: 0765319233
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780765319234
ASIN: 0765319233
Publication Date: November 13, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Darkness wars with darkness as the hard-bitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must. They bury their doubts with their dead.
Then comes the prophecy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more….
This omnibus edition comprises The Black Company, Shadows Linger, and The White Rose.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Realistic fantasy December 11, 2007
25 out of 26 found this review helpful
The Black Company stands apart from other works in the genre. True, it's the story of an epic struggle, a rebellion against a dark sorceress, and a prophecy. But this story is told from a very human perspective. It's stripped of the grandeur and nobility found in other fantasy fiction. The characters are real in a way that most other fantasy characters aren't: you can't pin them down. In fact, it often seems as though Cook's overriding point in these novels is to keep reminding us that nobody is either purely good or purely evil.
This edition collects the first three novels of the Black Company, what the stories refer to as the Books of the North. All three are told from the perspective Croaker, the physician/narrator whose selective storytelling shows us the realism of a mystical war. He admits to -- and glosses over -- the shortcomings of his brethren, and shows us his own limitations as a narrator. It feels as though Croaker is a war correspondent, intent on telling the truth, but unable and unwilling to share everything he sees and feels. The limitations Cook places on Croaker can frustrate; at times, plot twists appear out of nowhere, due to events that took place outside of Croaker's presence. But by sticking to this narrative form, Cook provides the reader with an easy way in. Before you know it, you'll have accepted Croaker's world, and you'll want more.
Despite the size of this edition, the Black Company novels are a quick read. Cook doesn't waste words with frilly descriptions, and he pares his sentences down to their most basic elements. The spare writing style keeps the story moving along at a rapid clip. There isn't a phrase or sentence you can get away with skipping.
I highly recommend this collection to anyone looking for something a little different from their fantasy fiction. It will disappoint fans of Robert Jordan, and leave die-hard Goodkind aficionados cold. Fans of George R. R. Martin will appreciate that no character's motives are pure, and that some plot twists come in the form of unexpected deaths. If you start reading the Black Company expecting high fantasy, you'll be let down. But if you want a breath of fresh air, this is a great starting point.
Gritty and real fantasy setting December 17, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
The annals of the Black Company is one of my all time favorite fantasy settings and series and one that no fan of the genre should pass up. I was very excited to see this book available recently (Though I wish it were a Hardcover...)
This contains the first three novels of the ~10 novel series and comprises the first major plot arc involving the introduction of the mercenary group "The Black Company", their rise to power, and their near destruction. Cook's writing style comes off as concise and to the point with dry humour and classic characters. Throughout these books you will see the characters grow in power and wisdom, changing roles within the Company as they mature. The primary character, Croaker, at times seems like a witty "every mans hero" and at others is truly inspired by greatness and heroism. The story follows him and the other black hearted criminals, wizards and odds and ends that comprise the company. Fantasy elements are at times very light making it seem very real world and dangerous, characters die, get stabbed, get sick and get crippled. At other times wizards conjure deadly magics and physics and reality are tossed out the window for massive battles of magical powers.
All in all every single moment of these books is very satisfying and will leave you wanting more. Upon reading the final sentence of the final book I felt a real sense of completion, though I wished for more stories I was not unhappy with where things ended.
Only complaints: Bring a hardcover! Write another book! We want to know what happens to the soldiers that lived!
 reprint of the three 1980s Black Company military fantasy November 13, 2007
5 out of 23 found this review helpful
"The Black Company". The Black Company is a troop of mercenaries who know the risks they take on all their missions especially whenever they inter one of their comrades, which is frequent. They exclusively serve the great malevolent sorceress Lady. However, their assignment has changed as rumors abound of the rebirth of the good White Rose; they must kill this possible reincarnation of a long dead savior before the Prophesy takes affect, but first they must find her while also slaughtering those who protect her.
"Shadows Linger". The Black Company still works for the evil Lady as honor means adhering to their contract with her even when many of these soldiers know they fight for the wrong side. They prepare for the latest skirmish with the rabble and those they assume are false prophesy followers allegedly defending the White Rose. However, a twist of fate has occurred as the Black Company rescue a mute girl who brings with her the light of goodness; she is the White Rose.
"The White Rose". The Black Company has changed sides now that they have met the White Rose. On the Plains of Fear they prepare to battle their former employer the immoral Lady. However, once again fate takes a spin when the most lethal vilest creature ever known, the Dominator is reborn.
This omnibus collection of the three 1980s Black Company military fantasy saga will please fans of Glen Cook as these are well written exciting tales that were one of the first (if not the premier) series to use real war horrors and atrocities inside a fantasy thriller.
Harriet Klausner
 Tough to get through April 2, 2008
4 out of 12 found this review helpful
I was really looking forward to reading this book. I like dark, gritty fantasy that breaks cliches. Other reviews point to this as a groundbreaking book. As a result I was excited to read the story. I was disappointed.
The writing style - while probably groundbreaking - was tough to follow. There is very little description. I read the book and still couldn't tell you exactly what the plot was. It is certainly written like a journal, from the company medic's point of view. While this style is groundbreaking, it's just tough follow and get a grip on the story. I kept feeling like there were huge parts of the story that I wasn't privy to because of the writing.
There were points in the story when it was really cool and I wanted to like the book, but my mind continued to wander while reading, and I often found myself re-reading paragraphs to figure out what was happening.
All in all, this was just an okay book. If you like this type of writing style then I'm sure you'd like this book.
 Boring, but not too interesting May 23, 2008
4 out of 21 found this review helpful
As one reviewer said, he does not put too much frilly stuff in here. The story is so devoid of character development and scene description that it's as if he were recounting the highlights of something to someone else who had been there with him. This is perhaps the most juvenile piece of published writing I have encountered since I was in elementery school.
There are so many good Fantasy Novels out there by the likes of Gene Wolfe, Donaldson, George Martin, Neil Gaiman, Guy Gavriel Kay, to name a few, that one has to wonder how this book has survived.
I was just questioning myself; why do I bother to rant about it? I guess I'm angry for wasting good money on its purchase.
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