The Return of the Black Company (Chronicles of The Black Company)

I love Cook's writing, though I'm not sure I can put my finger on what makes his Black Company saga so great. It might be the perspective of the average mercenary, caught up in world-shattering events that often take place 'off screen'. Or maybe it's the nonchalant narration of events that are often decidedly bleak. Whatever it is, Cook is addictive. The nearly 700 pages just flew by, and I can't wait to read the final instalment.

I would advise readers approaching this omnibus , even long-time readers, to approach carefully...It's been12 to 13 years since the publication of the first Black Company book and the publications of the two novels comprising this one, and another dozen years elapsed before this volume itself came into being. No matter where you are in your BC reading, a significant parcel of time has passed. For me, for you, and for Mr. Cook.Time is duration but its also change, and I think this is what many readers of this book are finding most jarring - the degrees of change. Inside, outside, and in between: protagonists have changed, voice, thrust and movement, pacing, and very much style.Murgen is the POV narrator beginning with "Bleak Seasons", but to say unreliable is not even getting near the issue - much like Billy Pilgrim, in Kurt Vonnegut's classic "Slaughterhouse Five" (and I suspect a definite influence), Murgen has become unstuck in time. His consciousness pinballs from near-past to mid-past to deeper-past, to uncertain present, to possibly near-future. Non-liner? You're soaking in it!This is an interesting storytelling choice, one that is challenging to the reader (and probably to Cook too; I imagine charts and a scribbled whiteboard to keep all the tenses straight), and one that is VASTLY different from the previous BC books. It's demanding, it can be tiring, it can be irritating; its a risk. I'm all for an author flexing their conceptual and creative muscles, but many fans like what they like and don't always welcome change.Things do fall into place, the various narrative timestreams coalescing by book's end, but - the pacing lags. As Murgen relives moments again and again, so do we and incremental gains in knowledge or actions don't make for big rewards, or make us eager to pick up the book again and get reading.The second half of this two-book edition ties more tightly to the Now of the Company and their quest to get through the contested Shadowgate and on with the march south, but - there's political backbiting, resources to gather and manage, interpersonal issues to settle, and all sorts of bits of info for Murgen to uncover. He's much more anchored to the present, but still "ghostwalking" (out of the body consciousness trips) to gather puzzle pieces to the Company's origins, and to spy on the bad guys. Experiencing this is less unexpected now, after the previous book, but momentum still plods. The style choice here seems to be to put the reader through the classic military reality of "Hurry up and wait".Slog and drag are the two words that best describe these books, and hence this volume. It is still the Black Company; there are interesting episodes and intriguing hints and surprising revelations. But it's a push, and I can't help feeling that this is intentional - that Cook wants us to feel the long hours and frustrations of his characters, all waiting for something to happen. Again, bold choice, but not one that many BC fans may appreciate. A risk.The end of the second book does (in pace and story) ramp up, but then hits us in the face with a cliffhanger. Not completely unexpected, as pages were running out and we and the Company were no where near answers. But still sudden left-field enough to make me go "Wait, what?"So, approach carefully, and prepare yourself. You can't skip this one, because it sets up vital elements that you NEED TO KNOW. If you didn't stop your march with the Black Company at "The Silver Spike" or "Dreams of Steel", you can't stop now. Ground wars are won by maneuver, but ultimately, it comes down to endurance.And Soulcatcher... do we like? Is she working as a persistent Big Bad? I'm not sure. We're definitely faced with two Evils and a tease as to who is the greater and the lesser, but it sometimes feels like having any of the Ten creeping around shows more lack of imagination than cleverness. There's a whole leaderless empire to the north to play with; why all this puttering around down south? Maybe the final two books (or last omnibus volume) will make it all clear...

A great series. Every book brings a different style. His writing begins a little rough and confusing, but it develops into an intense series, with twists in both story lines and format. The series stays fresh.

Another amazingly creative adventure. This continues the saga of Croaker and the Lady. Where it leads... we’ll have to wait. Highly recommended.

I think the Murgen books are some of the best, but I love all the Black Company books. Well maybe not the ending ones that just wrapped everyone up too quickly but this is a great read in a series that blew me away when it first came out due to fantasy going from "G rated" to "R" when the Black Company cut and killed their way into the field.

Following a new author starts as exciting though this book in the series finally starts to wane. The length of the book means countries are crossed battles fought, and yet the black company marches on. Same villains make the confrontations blend. The ending tho was 👌🏽

OK, first i love the Black Company books. They have real flawed second rate heroes ? who don't really like being heroes and aren't very interested in being the kind of dead it requires to become legends. They would rather be alive, and occasionally somewhat drunk. Sounds like soldiers everywhere. which is exactly what Glen Cook writes so well. The omnibus concerns Croaker, Lady and her ever growing problems with Kina, the goddess of death and her strangler cult, and her sister, Soulcatcher. We focus on Murgen, One-eye, Goblin, and the rest of the crew. It's written from Murgen viewpoint with a lot of skipping around. It's all part of the plot so i won't give it away. but the style does get to the point where you are going ok, we are world building, i get it, lets move on, too many questions, not enough answers. They don't until the next book so be prepared.If you've followed the adventures from the beginning then the cast seems like family by now and they are in it up to their necks as always just one step ahead of enemies, old ( More of the unkillable TAKEN) and new. AS always the Company doesn't go in for toe to toe slugfests but more misdirection and psychological trickery to confound their enemies and often their allies , though with the Black Company they are never quite sure which is which. This is a big intricate story arc which leaves no wonder why the sagas of the Black Company are required reading if you are a fantasy reader. Move over LOTR and Once and Future King, Cook was writing anti heroes long before Joe Abercrombie and Martin's GoT series. its easy to see his footsteps are still being followed...

I ordered a Trade paperback book. It was described as being in good condition. It arrived on time and in better condition than I expected. thanks!

These are great books. I have almost worn out the individual paperbacks, so I got the omnibus editions for the next time I read them.

Este volumen en inglés recoge las dos primeras novelas de "The Books of Glittering Stone" ("Bleak Seasons" y "She Is the Darkness") de la saga de fantasía oscura "The Black Company" the Glen Cook; tiene más de 600 páginas y viene encuadernado en tapa blanda. Totalmente recomendable.

Great price, great book.

This saga is just awesome. I like it more than Game of Thrones, and it's the best fantasy saga I've read so far.

"Bleak Seasons" : on reste épaté de l'audace de l'auteur dans Bleak Seasons. Il prend le pari risqué de nous faire lire les Annales de Murgen. Or Murgen est atteint d'un étrange sortilège qui le fait voyager par la pensée dans le passé - principalement au moment du siège de Dejagore. Murgen passe donc du passé au présent, parfois même au futur, sans vraiment d'avertissement, et ses Annales sont donc confuses. C'est un peu surprenant au début, mais une fois qu'on a compris le truc, plus de problème : on se laisse guider et on glane des indices au fur et à mesure. Et on découvre donc l'horreur du siège de Dejagore vu de l'intérieur. Honnêtement c'est intéressant, réussi, même si le récit progresse très peu dans le temps par rapport à "Dreams of Steel", et l'histoire personnelle de Murgen est touchante. Très bon récit.Je n'en dirais pas autant de "She is the Darkness". C'est long, long... l'histoire n'avance pas et on a l'impression de tourner en rond. Ce livre aurait pû être diminué de moitié sans nuire au récit, au contraire. Malgré cela, l'histoire reste intéressante et on a envie de savoir la suite. Notre Compagnie continue son voyage vers Khatovar et n'est pas au bout de ses surprises. Comme d'habitude, attendez-vous à une fin bien surprenante !