I’m going to be honest: the Black Company series is not for everyone. My recommendation is for you to read it if you are definitely a fantasy fan. If you are kind of a fantasy fan, maybe read some of the other books I’ve talked about first.
That’s not to say it’s bad, because it’s really very good. It’s just dense, and at times difficult to follow. I’d really love to see a map as well, which might help with some of the descriptions of where they are and where they’re going.
What are the books about?
The Black Company is a mercenary company which has existed for several hundred years. In that time it has been hired by numerous groups, and become the preeminent military force in the world. They are so feared, wars have ended simply because the Black Company has been engaged, without even getting into the fight.
The stories (there are multiple series of about three books each) tell some of the tales of the Black Company. There is a major supernatural event going on, and the Black Company becomes heavily involved in the fight. We meet a number of their main characters to see the story from different angles.
I think I read somewhere that this was one of the first series (the first book came out in the eighties) to present the characters as multi-faceted people, with both good and bad sides. Prior to that most heroes were very heroic in every aspect of their lives.
I should point out that one of the conceits of the story is that it is told from the perspective of the company’s Annalist, who is their archivist or librarian of sorts, as well as being a fighting soldier. That’s an interesting idea, but it really doesn’t seem to be used as well as it could be.
The Themes of the Black Company series
Loyalty and Betrayal
Much of the story talks about loyalty, and the requirement for members to be loyal to the Company. There are betrayals on many sides, and characters grapple with conflicting loyalties. The exploration of loyalty in the face of personal gain adds depth to the story.
Identity and Belonging
Perhaps more than any other story, the Black Company delves into the ideas of belonging to a group. There are widely diverse people within the company, but they are all brought together as one and their previous conflicts are suppressed. This is contrasted with the people they serve, and they at times are bemused about why those people cling to their old notions.
The Human Cost of War
I wouldn’t say this has the best (worst?) war scenes, but there are clear depictions of the physical and emotional tolls of war. The interaction between characters shows their history in battle and the effect it has had on them. It definitely makes the reader think about the consequences of the violence they have witnessed.
A Character of Great Interest
Croaker is the narrator and protagonist of the Black Company series. He is in turn the company’s doctor, historian, and leader. This gives him multiple perspectives to look at what is happening, and consequently show them to us through his eyes. He is one of my favorite characters in any fantasy story I’ve read.
Croaker is a natural leader, guiding his men with a pragmatic and level-headed nature. He has a deep sense of responsibility toward his men, and often places them above his own comfort. He is definitely the moral compass of the company, with different people trying to pull them in different directions and Croaker choosing the path which is best for them.
As the story goes on, he grows into his role as leader, confronts his biases as an individual, and continually questions his loyalties against that of the Black Company. He transforms through the stories from a competent and seasoned soldier to a wise and compassionate leader who tries to balance everyone’s needs.
Petr is the protagonist of my book Petr’s Aspiration, and while I don’t want to say that he is an exact model of Croaker, they are obviously very similar. I can’t tell you that I was thinking of Croaker when I wrote Petr, but one certainly had an influence on the other.
Now I think about it, I realize I wrote the basics of Petr long before I started reading the Black Company books. I guess that makes them similar in style, but does it also make them generic fantasy hero characters? I would like to think not, but you never know.
Other series to read
What’s your interest? The military side? The depth of character? The shared experience? You can get these things in a number of fantasy series. Here are a few I recommend, and they’re generally on the darker side of fantasy.
The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson: I struggled to start this series but once I did I ran with it. Surprisingly similar to the Black Company, especially in terms of the themes.
The Broken Empire Trilogy by Mark Lawrence: I keep recommending this series but you really have to want to read it, because it is a bit of a slog to get through. A morally challenging narrative which will make you think.
The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie: Another gritty series, not surprising when the author runs with the nickname Lord Grimdark. You’re reading along with the hero and you suddenly realize he’s not that good a person after all.
In Conclusion
Do I love the Black Company books? Yes and no. They are certainly compelling. I find I can’t stop reading them when I start, but I do have to build myself up to read them in the first place.
I don’t know where I would put them in my list of favorite series. I don’t think they would be in the top ten, but maybe top twenty? I suspect this is the kind of book where you have to start them to find out if you will like them or not, and if you’re lucky they will be for you too.