There's nothing I can say about the uniqueness of Glen Cook's take on fantasy that hasn't been said before, so I won't waste your time on that. But just know that, for the most part, I agree with others' sentiments (though the magic sometimes gets a little cliche/silly).



Here's the thing: I am not a fan of fantasy, or at least not Tolkien/Lewis/Jordan fantasy. I find it f**gy, heavy-handed, and immature. So Glen Cook's take definitely breathes new life into a retarded and embarrassing genre. The greatest thing about The Black Company (TBC) is its amorality: these guys don't give a damn about you or your ideals; they're just here to do the job for which they were paid. I like that. It lends itself to a more realistic outlook on how people in these (absurd) positions truly operate.



This is also what makes the first novel in the omnibus, simply titled "The Black Company", so outstanding. I WISH I could give this thing 5 stars, and would if it were just the first book. TBC is a fearless, ruthless, wholly-unholy entertaining look at what it would essentially be like to follow around mercenaries in the employ of the villain. AND THAT IS AMAZINGLY FUN AND INTRIGUING. These guys aren't "antiheroes" (a character type that is basically a pussed-out version of real villains). They're men whom you could call "bad" and they'd laugh it off, then possibly kill you. That's what makes this great. THE FACT THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING AROUND NOT-SO-GOOD GUYS WORKING FOR BAD GUYS TO FIGHT SLIGHTLY-LESS BAD GUYS IS WHAT MAKES THIS NOVEL SO ENJOYABLE.

>>21982665 (OP)

Is that a MORALLY AMBIGUOUS novel? HOLY SHIT IM GONNA COOOOOOOOOM

>>21982665 (OP)

>blacked company

>>21982665 (OP)

W-wait... A-are you telling that le fucking black company (not to be confused with the blacked company) is... MORALLY GREY? That is to say... It's not just the good guys vs the bad guys, but just guys doing things that can be considered good or bad depending on the perspective? Holy fucking motherfucking fuck!!!! Still, I don't think this novel is as a good as "The Path of the Kings" from Brandon Sandarson, so get fucked OP

>>21982665 (OP)

I think you would like the books of R. Scott Bakker, gaynigger. I do

>>21982665 (OP)

I really enjoy his work, he is a good writer and an insightful one.

>>21982665 (OP)

This series would have been A LOT better without all the supernatural elements. Instead of focusing on the human condition and the nature of man it chooses to focus on magic spells, witches, and wizards. Not boring but it failed to reach its potential.

kek

This book sucks a dick, from the shitty prose to the retarded character names. Fuck this book.

Seconded. I couldn't follow anything that was happening it was so incoherent.
