The Black Company

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This article is about the fictional series by Glen Cook. For the medieval mercenary band, see Black Company.
Cover of the first novel in the series, "The Black Company".

The Black Company is a series of fantasy novels by author Glen Cook. The series combines elements of epic fantasy and dark fantasy as it follows an elite mercenary unit, The Black Company, through roughly forty years of its approximately four hundred year history.

Contents

[edit] Novels

[edit] Main chronology

[edit] The Books of the North

  1. The Black Company - May 1984
  2. Shadows Linger - October 1984
  3. The White Rose - April 1985

[edit] The Books of the South

  1. Shadow Games - June 1989
  2. Dreams of Steel - April 1990

[edit] The Books of the Glittering Stone

  1. Bleak Seasons - April 1996
  2. She Is the Darkness - September 1997
  3. Water Sleeps - March 1999
  4. Soldiers Live - July 2000

[edit] Spin-offs

  1. The Silver Spike - September 1989

[edit] To be released

  1. A Pitiless Rain - TBA (main annalist: TBA) [1]
  2. Port of Shadows - TBA (main annalist: TBA) [1]

[edit] Plot summary

The series follows an elite mercenary unit, The Black Company, last of the Free Companies of Khatovar, through roughly forty years of its approximately four hundred year history. In the series, Cook mixes fantasy with military fiction in gritty, down-to-earth portrayals of the Company‘s chief personalities and its struggles. The series can be subdivided into three sections plus a spin-off novel, The Silver Spike, that follows events concerning former members of the Company and one of its adversaries. The three sections are the Books of the North, the Books of the South, and Glittering Stone.

The first three books, the "Books of the North," recount the Company’s dealings with the Empire of Lady. The Books of the South follows the Company’s journey south on its journey back to its beginnings in Khatovar. Glittering Stone sees the Company achieve victory over its employer's enemies, and move on to its destiny.

The "Books of the North" include: The Black Company, Shadows Linger, and The White Rose. The "Books of the South" include: Shadow Games and Dreams of Steel. "Glittering Stone" includes: Bleak Seasons, She Is The Darkness, Water Sleeps, and Soldiers Live. The stand alone novel The Silver Spike takes place roughly at the same time as the first Book of the South. Two proposed novels, A Pitiless Rain and Port of Shadows, have not yet been published.

[edit] The Domination

The world of the Black Company is shaped by events that occurred long before the time of the first novel. A powerful wizard called the Dominator had created a brutal empire, assisted by his sorceress wife, known as the Lady, and ten enslaved magical rivals, the Ten Who Were Taken or just Taken. Eventually the Domination was overthrown by a rebellion led by the White Rose. Not powerful enough to kill any of them, she had all 12 buried alive and partially asleep in the remote Barrowland, with magical enchantments to keep them bound.

Much later, a wizard named Bomanz awoke the Lady in an attempt to learn from her, but was tricked into releasing her from her imprisonment. She freed the Taken and bound them to her will, but kept her insane husband in his tomb. The Lady rebuilt the empire, but her rule is less heavy-handed than that of her spouse.

[edit] The Ten Who Were Taken; The New Taken

Many generations before the first novel, these Ten powerful wizards were magically bound to the will of the Dominator:

  • Soulcatcher
  • The Limper
  • The Howler
  • Shapeshifter
  • Stormbringer
  • Bonegnasher
  • The Hanged Man
  • Nightcrawler
  • Moonbiter
  • The Faceless Man

Then, between the first and the third novels, the Lady replaced those of the Ten who were slain with the following:

  • Whisper
  • Journey
  • Feather
  • Blister
  • Scorn
  • Benefice
  • The Creeper
  • Learned

[edit] The Free Companies

The Black Company knows little of its own origin. The last survivor of the Free Companies of Khatovar, its records go back centuries, though the first century of their history has been lost. People come and go, but the Company remains. At the beginning of the series, it has evolved into a ruthlessly effective mercenary unit willing to work for the highest bidder. But individually the members can recognize true evil when they see it, and often they try to manipulate the situation to mitigate the worst outcomes. Morality often conflicts with the 'honor' system of the mercenaries to hold true to their employer.

[edit] Members of The Black Company

[edit] From the Northern Campaigns

  • The Captain - Leader of the Black Company.
  • The Lieutenant - His second in command.
  • Croaker - Company's doctor and annalist. As annalist, his is the voice that narrates the stories. Though no specific rank is mentioned, it is likely he ranks as a sergeant.
  • Silent - Moderately talented wizard named for the fact that he never speaks.
  • Goblin - Moderately talented wizard named because of his short stature and his facial features.
  • Tom-Tom - Moderately talented wizard named for the instruments he carries and plays to punctuate his speech. Brother of One-Eye.
  • One-Eye - Moderately talented wizard named for the fact that he has only one good eye. Brother of Tom-Tom.
  • Elmo - Sergeant and Croaker's best friend.
  • Murgen - Standard bearer.
  • Otto - Veteran mercenary.
  • Hagop - Veteran mercenary and scout.
  • Raven - Northern recruit of former affluence.
  • Candy - Veteran mercenary.
  • Pawnbroker - Veteran mercenary.
  • Marron Shed - Inn owner from Juniper.

[edit] From the Books of the South

  • Murgen - Standard Bearer
  • Lady
  • Big Bucket - Also known as Cato Dahlia
  • Cletus, Loftus, Longinus - Three brothers (or cousins), engineering warfare specialists.
  • Mogaba - Nar
  • Sindawe - Nar
  • Ochiba - Nar
  • Sleepy
  • Wheezer
  • Geek
  • Freak

[edit] Non sworn brothers but affiliated persons

  • Cordy Mather
  • Blade
  • Willow Swan

[edit] Nyueng Bao

A race descended from a separate Free Company of Khatovar, aligned with the Black Company after the siege of Dejagore.

  • Uncle Doj - Last informed priest of the Nyueng Bao, possibly a minor wizard
  • Ky "Mother" Gota - Mother of Thai Dei and Sahra
  • Ky Thai Dei - Murgen's brother-in-law and body guard
  • Ky Sahra (Sarie) - Murgen's wife. Mother of Tobo
  • Ky Dam - Speaker of the Nyueng Bao
  • Ky Hong Trey - Mother of Gota and wife of Speaker Ky Dam

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b "Strange Horizons Interview". http://www.strangehorizons.com/2005/20050117/cook-int-a.shtml. Retrieved June 20, 2006. 
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The Black Company by Glen Cook
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