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  • (Review) The Black Company by Glen Cook

    From James Nicoll@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, October 15, 2026 13:02:50
    The Black Company (Book of the North, volume 1) by Glen Cook

    Hard-working mercenaries trade an unreliable employer for an evil employer.

    https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/of-magic-born
    --
    My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
    My tor pieces at https://www.tor.com/author/james-davis-nicoll/
    My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
    My patreon is at https://www.patreon.com/jamesdnicoll

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From BCFD 36@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, October 15, 2026 10:55:01
    On 10/15/26 06:02, James Nicoll wrote:
    The Black Company (Book of the North, volume 1) by Glen Cook

    Hard-working mercenaries trade an unreliable employer for an evil employer.

    https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/of-magic-born
    I was taking a trip to northern Norway, above the Arctic Circle for
    work in February of 1988. I had received "The Annals of the Black
    Company" from the Science Fiction Book Club on accident so I took it
    with me to read during down time. There wasn't much down time but I digress.

    I had no expectations about the book. I'd never heard of the author and
    the blurb on the back didn't grab me at all. So after a 13 hour day,
    with a beer in my cabin I opened the book. I was absolutely hooked at
    the first paragraph. Something about Croaker's tone was what pulled me
    in. Sarcastic, irreverent, etc.

    The work days didn't get any shorter, but the amount of sleep I got did. Between the lack of sunlight and the book, I was getting about 4 hours
    of sleep a night. Beer and cheese didn't help.

    The first three books have Croaker as the narrator. They are my
    favorite. The rest of the series is still readable, but I prefer the
    Croaker Annals.

    --
    ----------------

    Dave Scruggs
    Senior Software Engineer - Lockheed Martin, et. al (mostly Retired)
    Captain - Boulder Creek Fire (Retired)
    Board of Directors - Boulder Creek Fire Protection District (What was I thinking?)

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Titus G@3:633/10 to All on Friday, October 16, 2026 18:59:36
    On 16/10/2026 06:55, BCFD 36 wrote:
    On 10/15/26 06:02, James Nicoll wrote:
    The Black Company˙ (Book of the North, volume 1) by Glen Cook

    Hard-working mercenaries trade an unreliable employer for an evil
    employer.

    https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/of-magic-born
    I was taking a trip to northern Norway, above the Arctic Circle˙ for
    work in˙ February of 1988. I had received "The Annals of the Black
    Company" from the Science Fiction Book Club on accident so I took it
    with me to read during down time. There wasn't much down time but I
    digress.

    I had no expectations about the book. I'd never heard of the author and
    the blurb on the back didn't grab me at all. So after a 13 hour day,
    with a beer in my cabin I opened the book. I was absolutely hooked at
    the first paragraph. Something about Croaker's tone was what pulled me
    in. Sarcastic, irreverent, etc.

    The work days didn't get any shorter, but the amount of sleep I got did. Between the lack of sunlight and the book, I was getting about 4 hours
    of sleep a night. Beer and cheese didn't help.

    The first three books have Croaker as the narrator. They are my
    favorite. The rest of the series is still readable, but I prefer the
    Croaker Annals.

    My inherited books include the first nine and I rated the first, The
    Black Company, as three stars but did not carry on to the second because
    it was a very long time ago when my passion was for Science Fiction and
    no interest in the supernatural. I now appreciate Fantasy more so I will
    begin this series again. Thank you.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)