The Black Company

Chronicles of The Black Company, Book 1

By: Glen Cook

Narrated by: Marc Vietor

Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hardbitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead - until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more.

There must be a way for the Black Company to find her....

©1984 Glen Cook (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Superlative books, good narrator but WRONG.

Glen Cook's *Chronicles of The Black Company* are, bar Tolkien, some of the finest works of fantasy ever written. With exceptional atmosphere, a fascinating and tangled plot line, a bleak but abundant, trenchant, wit and an anti-hero narrator who I can relate too all to well... these books, especially the first three (particularly 1&2) are something special.

Sadly the narrator was, IMO, wrong for these books. He never seemed to get the feel for Croaker's voice, at least as I hear it in MY head. He brings plenty of drama and feeling to his readings, and that is the problem. Croaker, and his cohorts, call for a certain laconic quality this reader didn't seen to feel in the text. Maybe that's just my feel for the books (I've read them 20x, if that matters, and I am career Army Infantry, which also probably influences my ideas, for good and ill.) Veitor's Croaker is certainly hearfelt. It's just that really, most of the time, Croaker doesn't DO heartfelt, and since he's the predominant voice, it doesn't ring right. IMCO Real shame-- these are fantastic novels.

(shrugs shoulders)

i found most of the criticisms of this book posted by other reviewers are spot on. very shallow characters, ridiculous character names, no depth to the story, unrealistic dialogue

Over Rated Big Time.

Any additional comments?

I feel let down with the whole experience. The story is told by a character that seemed to rush though everything accept for a few points in the book. The narrator is sort of dull and gives the boring way the story was written the feel of a text book. Huge gaps in the war are explained in less than a page. I just don't understand why people love this series so much it is just dull.

Could not stop listening!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Black Company to be better than the print version?

I will still enjoy reading it, but the audio edition is easier, more accessable (greatly enjoy it while driving and on flights)

What did you like best about this story?

It brings a level of realness to Fantasy I would not have expected.

What does Marc Vietor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mark Vietor adds a husky, dark aspect to the delivery that I easily accept as the voice of Croaker and blends in well with the gritty style of the Black Company itself. Very listenable.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughed many a time.

Any additional comments?

Thank you for bringing this product to market!

Tales of a fantasy mercenary company

The black company is a mercenary company in a fantasy world. hey are a group of misfits, with murder in their hands and cold eyes. They also have hearts and stories too though and you will come to appreciate them.

Immersive!

I quite liked the narrators rugged voice in particular, it felt very right.

The different voices used for Soul Catcher was particularly nice, I thought!

And now for something TRULY different...

I almost abandoned this book after only an hour or so... It started slowly and I couldn't imagine where it was headed. The characters were strange, and often unpleasant: not very much worth knowing. Or so it seemed... and yet... there was substance. Cook's style is dry and descriptive, speaking from the POV of the mercenary Black Company's scribe. Who is also a soldier and a good one. He needs to be good because the Company is often in dire straits. Gradually, the book becomes a hymn to courage and determination and comradeship, without reference to whatever futile cause is slowly consuming them.
The narrator exaggerates a bit on different characters' voices, but not disastrously.
I finished the book, and have thought quite a bit on it. I'm still not sure if it is a "good book". But I will surely read more from Glen Cook.

Took a while

This looks to be a set up for a lengthy series. For the first half it’s not clear where it is going; not suspenseful but more “why am I reading this”. It does pick up and the main characters become somewhat understood and a probable main plot is shown.
I enjoy this genre and plan to see how the second goes. The slow start of a planned lengthy series is pretty typical here though I didn’t think the mini stories along the way where good enough to get those not accustomed to the genre to read on

Evil minions as the heroes

It's a great twist on the fantasy genre. The bad guys minions are the stars of the story

Writing style takes some getting used to

the book is from the perspective of someone is in very bad company but refuses to tell of the honorable things they do to not poorly of family. lots of blanks and time skips happen. the story is good and at times I love that it doesnt go on and on about a battle they fight and just gives highlights. go into this knowing that you will need to fill in some blanks for yourself and you will be fine.