[Obdigore]

Ok... I can't find a single thing about what book he is writing now, what series he is going to work on in the future, or anything about his future book release plans. IE what order, the titles, guessed release dates, anything.

Does anyone know somewhere to find this stuff? IE Those of you connected to the industry like Pat or Wert? Anyone who HAS been able to find somewhere this stuff is listed, or even guessed at?

He has said he wants to do at least 2 more Black Company books, I know he is going to do at least another Instrumentality book, and I heard rumors he wants to do some stand-alones, but I can't find info for any of this, like which he is writing now. The above numbers/books are from an interview he did somewhere.

[Chance]

He seems pretty elusive...have been trying to get info on the next Instrumentality book for a while now...

[Optimus Prime]

Cook's known for being somewhat of a Hermit. He doesn't buy in to all the internet, hype building that others do.

I haven't heard about his third book, but I'd imagine it could be published in 2009...perhaps Wert or Pat knows something. You could always PM one of them. I really like the Instrumentalities series so far, though as always, it would help if we had a FREAKING MAP just to know where the hell the characters are.

[Aztiel]

I really liked Black Company, or at least as much as I could track down. One of those earlier ones is still out of print and I can never find it anywhere....

But I didn't like Instrumentalities, I had this whole sense of having completely no idea who the characters were and what exactly was going on.

[Obdigore]

Aztiel;284051 said:

I really liked Black Company, or at least as much as I could track down. One of those earlier ones is still out of print and I can never find it anywhere....

But I didn't like Instrumentalities, I had this whole sense of having completely no idea who the characters were and what exactly was going on.

mmmkay.

Theres lots of threads regarding his work. I am trying to find out something regarding the author himself, instead of the work.

[VampireGoat]

Aztiel if you're having trouble getting the rest of the books dont fear they are currently republishing the series in omnibus editions. The books of the north trilogy came out late last year and the books of the south story + silver spike is due to be released later this year. Browing through a fantasy+sci art mag in the uk I caught a small picture of the new cover for that which is frankly excellent as well.

The publishing is slow but fear not it is coming

alternatively the whole book collection comes up now and then on ebay, I bought all 10 books a couple of months ago for about £60

[ozeo]

I cant find anything on Instrumentalities of the Night book 3!
I just re-read the first 2 and they are amazing!

Any any any info on the 3rd book would be great!!!

[Serakus]

Huh?
What am I missing?

I bought Instramentalities of the Night Book1, during a time when I was desperate for a new read, it looked interesting.

I got 75 pages in and had to quit. I couldn't stand his writing style. It was filled with ridiculously large words with no purpose, and he never took any time to introduce what the fuck was going on. Pardon my poopie mouth. I felt like I had picked up a series midway through and I was all alone in not understanding. I assume the book must have been placed in the same world as the Black Company (which I haven't read yet) and that may be why I feel like a shortbus ranger trying to read the dictionary.

Anyone else? How the hell did you get through the first 100 pages and understand a thing he was talking about.

[Mentalist]

...so, you felt like you were reading "Gardens of the Moon"?

seriously, though, I haven't read Instrumentalities, or anything by him, aside fromt he first Black Company omnibus (second one comes out in June, yay!)

[Pig Iron]

Just finished Tyranny of the Night. I think it's great, but you have to like Cook's style. It's about the crusades on acid, with the Night leaking into the world from the Wells and the ice-caps expanding with the sea-level sinking. You can find real counterparts for most of what is mentioned, though some you definitely can't except in myth. Cook has a very wicked sense of humour that is not always obvious, and he seems to love anti-climaxes. It's probably easier to follow if you know some medieval history (the anti-pope in Antibes (?), the Cathar heresy, the Borgias, some about the crusades and so on).

[Chance]

Serakus;309365 said:

Huh?
What am I missing?

I bought Instramentalities of the Night Book1, during a time when I was desperate for a new read, it looked interesting.

I got 75 pages in and had to quit. I couldn't stand his writing style. It was filled with ridiculously large words with no purpose, and he never took any time to introduce what the fuck was going on. Pardon my poopie mouth. I felt like I had picked up a series midway through and I was all alone in not understanding. I assume the book must have been placed in the same world as the Black Company (which I haven't read yet) and that may be why I feel like a shortbus ranger trying to read the dictionary.

Anyone else? How the hell did you get through the first 100 pages and understand a thing he was talking about.

Just imagine the world is earth but not earth, the place of action is europe somewhen after the crusaders has been kicked out of the middle east...

Take some time to think things through match the real word with the written, perhaps its more enjoyable with an interest in medival europe but its a pretty darn good story too.

Strange I found Instrumentalities far more accessable then the early Black Company books and certainly far more coherent then Gardens...

@Pig Iron...I'd guess the antipope of avignion...

[Pig Iron]

Avignon, right.

"Just Plain Joe and Pig Iron helped Else stare at the burning city". (Tyranny of the Night)

[Dancer+]

I want to pick up some of Cook's work. Where would be the best place to start? I've tried to pick my way through amazon but it doesn't do a good job of helping to clarify.

[Pig Iron]

I think the Black Company. First book might take a while to grow on you, seems simple and a bit strange at first but then you realize this author is completely wild, writing any way he feels like. It's awesome IMHO.

Dread empire is a good starting point also, first book there is really strange too but I love it.

Recently read The Dragon Never Sleeps, free-standing SF-novel that is incredible and typical Cook. He packs more into that novel in a couple of chapters than most other writers do in a whole series.

Instrumentalities of the Night might not be the best to start with, though very good, as are his different stand-alone novels like Tower of Fear.

I'm looking forward to reading the Starfisher trilogy (SF) next, ordered that used from different sellers on Amazon. Passage at Arms is from the same setting I think, got it but haven't read it yet.

It's very interesting to read Cook if you're an Erikson fan - the influence is clear, and I think Erikson does a whole lot of things as tongue-in-cheek tribute to Cook even.

[Obdigore]

Pig Iron;311287 said:

I think the Black Company. First book might take a while to grow on you, seems simple and a bit strange at first but then you realize this author is completely wild, writing any way he feels like. It's awesome IMHO.

It's very interesting to read Cook if you're an Erikson fan - the influence is clear, and I think Erikson does a whole lot of things as tongue-in-cheek tribute to Cook even.

Yes, start with Black Company I think. Its pretty easy to get into and easy to see if you enjoy his writing or not. I picked up the Dread Empire part... and it was like reading the Similarian to me, without knowing any of the backstory or knowing that is what you were getting into. I didn't like that book, but oh well.

His Intrumentalities is around the time of the crusades, very much influenced by them, and then add in a darker side, with magic and otherwordly beings being the gods people worship, however they don't care about the people worshipping them.

Bridgeburners are a Homage to the Black Company, imo. (This was first presented by someone else, I am just repeating it because it seems true to me)

[Dancer+]

What is the ordering for the Black Company? Amazon wasn't too clear on this either.

Thanks for the swift replies

[Mentalist]

Dancer, they have begun to reprint Black Company as Omnibuses now
The first one came out last year in NA, the second one's due out in June.

It's a pretty easy read, very entertaining and enjoyable.

[Pig Iron]

This is the omnibus with the first three novels:

http://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Black-Com...11208401&sr=8-1

[Mentalist]

I own that now...
It's awesome.

[paladin]

the order is

The Black Company, Shadows Linger, The White Rose

The Silver Spike is a standalone but chronologically should be read after The White Rose

Then you have the books of the south, then the books of the glittering stone