May 2017 - Gary David Gillen

Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook

Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook, Tales of the Black Company.

This is an omnibus edition including Book #1 The Black Company, #2 Shadows Linger, and #3 The White Rose of the Tales of the Black Company Series.

Introduction

These three novels tell a complete story arc about the adventures of the Black Company. The Black Company is a mercenary group in a medieval-type fantasy world. The narrator is Croaker; he is a chronicler and a physician for the Black Company. Most of the story is portrayed as if the reader is reading the journal of Croaker as he describes how the Black Company becomes involved in the affairs of the Queen of the Northern Empire, who is called the Lady. Their interaction will control the fate of the empire.

Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook

Summary

These novels describe in detail how a mercenary company in a magical land would function. It is a military procedural detailing a close-knit group of men trying to survive in a deadly war. The characters are great. One-Eye, Goblin, and Silent are the magicians. The Captain and the Lieutenant rule the company. Raven is a mysterious man of the company who keeps his secrets to himself. Raven’s ward, Darling, becomes an important character. But here’s the secret, in my opinion, what these three novels are really about is the love story between Croaker and the Lady.

That surprised me, but that extra level of complication pushed this series to one of the best that I have ever read. The Lady is a powerful sorceress, who has been released from her magical bonds after a long period of time. She has two concerns. She had ruled the land for many years with her husband, the Dominator, who remains magically bonded. The Dominator wishes to be released, but the Lady does not want him to be released since then he would take over her empire. They were both originally magically bonded by a group led by the White Rose. The Lady’s information is that the White Rose has been resurrected and so she is concerned that the White Rose will wish to re-bind her. She hires the Black Company to help her achieve her goals, but the Black Company never plays by any one’s rules for long.

Recommendation

Croaker writes the chronicles of the Black Company and he is at times an unreliable narrator especially where the Lady is concerned. I missed reading this series as it was published. Glen Cook was the writer guest of honor at Cleveland Concoction 2017, so I decided to read this collection and I am glad that I did. It is one of the best series that I have read recently. I cannot recommend it enough and I plan to read the other novels in the series very soon. I am glad that the author plans to write two more novels set in this world. Reading them as they come out would be ideal.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/400924.Chronicles_of_the_Black_Company

My review of The Books of the South by Glen Cook. The Black Company is reduced to a handful of members, so Croaker takes them south to earn back their fortune.

The Books of the South by Glen Cook

Superheat by M. B. Wood

Superheat by MB Wood

This is my review of Superheat by MB Wood

Introduction

Daniel Serrano Robles is a chemical engineer specializing in combustion systems who takes a job at Schirmerling Tire and Rubber in Akron, Ohio. He warns his new boss, Ben Hodges, that the superheater for boiler #3 is too weakened to continue to use. Daniel also discovers a secret meth lab which, unknown to Daniel, is run by the Captain of Security of STR, Patrick O’Brien. Daniel is fired for his warnings and decides to head to California with his girlfriend Carol. His past follows him when O’Brien frames him for the meth lab and Hodges frames him for negligence when the boiler inevitably explodes. Even Carol deserts him. The only person who could help Daniel with his problems is Nancy Benet, who Daniel recently met in California and she wants to begin a relationship with him.

Summary

The things that I liked the most about this novel were the historical touches added for the 1969/1970 setting (Kent State) and making the protagonist an engineer which made the technical details important. The writing is crisp and the descriptions help the reader understand the setting. There are four aspects of the novel that could have been improved. First, Daniel is not sympathetic enough. He appears to be a contentious and competent engineer, but there is nothing else about him that leads the reader to want him to succeed as the protagonist. He does not act, he reacts to the situations. He is only redeemed by Nancy’s actions.

The second point is that Nancy should have been introduced in one of the first three chapters. She is just too important to the story to introduce her halfway through the novel. Chapters with her alone in California could have built up into her first meeting with Daniel, which would have enhanced the narrative. Thirdly, where was O’Brien? He should have been a constant threat to Daniel throughout the novel. Maybe, two more scenes where he almost catches him would have ratcheted up the suspense enough. Lastly, there were a total of ten viewpoint characters. That’s way too many. Daniel, Nancy, and O’Brien are enough, maybe add detective Grueden for variety.

There wasn’t enough time in the viewpoint of characters’ heads to develop their motivations. Fewer viewpoint characters would have increased the reader’s investment in the character’s plight.

Recommendation

This novel has a few strengths to recommend it. It is clear that the author has the necessary command of the description of the setting and the ability to drive the action to completion. Some structural and motivational choices detracted from the narrative, which makes me more intrigued by reading the author’s next novel.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Superheat by MB Wood.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22456118-superheat

This is the link to my review of Somethin’ for Nuthin’ by M. T. Bass. Cleveland. Albert and Waxy fail their Intro to Philosophy midterm and run off to Alaska to seek their fortune. It is a similar book; combining mystery and thriller.

Somethin’ for Nuthin’ by M. T. Bass

Writing Progress Report May 2017

This is my Writing Progress Report May 2017.

“Ollie, where’s the squirrel?”

“Bark, Bark, Bark.” Ollie says.

Writing Progress from April 2017

I wrote three blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my writing progress report for April 2017 linked below.

Writing Progress Report April 2017

Reread Chapters 2 and 3 of An Assassin in New Marl City.

The story Space Station Sunyata is still in review at a short fiction magazine.

The stories 4 Humours and Grognard can be sent to other magazines.

Events from April 2017

Attended ConCoction Volunteer Meeting on 04-25-17 at Critical Hit Games 13433 Cedar Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

Writing Goals for May 2017

Continue to work on An Assassin in New Marl City. I want to expand the novel from 20 chapters to 36 chapters (100000 words total). Write chapters 4 and 11 of the novel this month.

Polish and submit the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, Time Traveller One, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

Submit 4 Humors and Grognard to other short fiction magazines.