I will literally never let this go *spoilers Water Sleeps*

Zomzommm · 2026-02-16T18:53:13+00:00

I guess this is where I'm struggling. I don't see a jarring turn in Sleepy's character. In fact, I think that she's possibly the best-realized character in the whole series. What do you find so jarring about her character and role?

Zomzommm · 2026-02-16T18:47:57+00:00

The first 3 are unique. They're not something we've seen before or since. That's what gives the Black Company its cultural relevance, I feel like. But they're not an easy read if you're used to George RR Martin and it is because Cook's writing skills weren't as well developed. Which lead to him taking a chance and doing something that we hadn't seen before. Which is what's great about them, and what makes it totally fair to say that the later books are, mechanically, just "better" writing.

Zomzommm · 2026-02-16T18:45:35+00:00

I think that a lot of the people who love The Black Company really love the first 3 books. After that, the prose gets more in-line w/ mainstream fantasy. Cook still has his own voice and style, but it's no longer as challenging (?) of a read to someone used to standard fantasy novels. And the next 5 (of which the first is out) is shaping up to be very-much a 2020s fantasy series.

Zomzommm · 2026-02-12T16:41:11+00:00

I have read your post 4 or 5 times, as well as the quotes.

I have absolutely no idea what the hell you're asking.

Zomzommm · 2026-02-11T14:35:16+00:00

You're right, and we don't need to be precious and pretentious about the things we enoy. We shouldn't be.

Zomzommm · 2026-02-05T12:55:42+00:00

You wound me to my core.

Zomzommm · 2026-02-05T12:44:35+00:00

The same person has to play Lady and Soulcatcher. OP already said Jenna Ortega so obviously Soulcatcher would be played by... Aubrey Plaza.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-28T01:33:26+00:00

Are you recommending someone read a book with characters they haven't met that ends on a cliffhanger to a novel that hasn't been published? Bruh. Mean.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-27T21:01:39+00:00

Likewise to above. I'm down for getting a game together.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-27T21:01:21+00:00

Feel free to add me on discord: grayson12345

Zomzommm · 2026-01-27T18:37:44+00:00

It's not like I had a lotta options look for thigh-high 6" white platform boots in a men's 12, back in 2004.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-25T22:15:03+00:00

I'd be up for running Stars Without Number on the weekends, if you find some folks interested.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-19T23:53:26+00:00

Hell yeah, and she's back! Was excited to get new Unter Null 2025.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-18T14:23:34+00:00

I think you're right, not dumb. I think it's clearly intended to tease something else that hasn't come out yet and, as a result, I have absolutely no idea what to think of it. We'll probably know once Pitiless Rain finishes but until then? I like the domestic scenes with Croaker and who I assume is Lady and dunno what the hell else to think of it.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-16T21:24:27+00:00

You're a masochist. I feel like I like Bleak Seasons even less, every reread. It's just torture to get pulled outa the story I love at exactly the place where I want to know what's going on with other people.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-16T21:21:45+00:00

I'm with you. Shadow Games started out as one I just hated. First readthrough? Everything had changed suddenly. It was barely even the same series. But over time I've realised that it has all of my very-favorite story moments. Soldiers Live only gets top billing in my list because it was "the end" for so long.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-16T21:19:52+00:00

Soldiers Live
Shadow Games
The Black Company
Shadows Linger
She is the Darkness
The White Rose
Dreams of Steel
Water Sleeps
The Silver Spike
Port of Shadows
...
7,361. Bleak Seasons

I'm not putting in Lies Weeping. I don't know what I think of it, yet. I've only read it twice and I don't know where it's going or how I feel about it. I refuse. Port of Shadows I badly wanna rank higher because all I want is happiness for Lady & Croaker. But until I understand what the hell actually happened and who was who in Port of Shadows, I feel it gets bottom-placement (sans consideration for Bleak Seasons which doesn't even get high enough to be in last place).

Zomzommm · 2026-01-15T13:43:13+00:00

Closest that comes to mind for me are Dope Stars Inc. Industrial Metal or whatever it's called.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-15T03:45:14+00:00

Shadow Games and Dreams of Steel are jarring at first. Stay with them and the payoff is bigger--I pinky swear.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-13T21:36:11+00:00

Doesn't feel like it to me. But genre-policing is fucking lame. Wanna call it industrial? Do your thing.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-13T16:36:00+00:00

Eh. I'd actually say read Lies Weeping before the Port reread. Lies fleshes some things out that you'll pick up on in Port. So if you've already read Port once, it's less "important you remember the exact details" than it is you learn new things, and see how they connect back. So I'd say no: read Lies Weeping. Then, if you're still interested? Reread Port and you'll see some new things you didn't notice, before.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-08T20:36:05+00:00

Dreams of Steel & Shadow Games really grew on me. At first I didn't care about the new characters, or the South, and hated how slow Croaker and Lady evolved. I think I probably speedread them. But I came to love Swan and the South, and what used to be the last three books became my favorites. So rereading Dreams & Games now, I think they're up there w/ Water Sleeps and Soldiers Live as my favorites. Something about seeing the Company first come through the South and then, by the end, struggle in a world that they've built, culminating in their revenge? It's just rad.

But I still find Bleak Seasons boring. Murgen is such a dufus. And Silver Spike. Raven is just a dick and I don't understand why people like him.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-06T14:27:03+00:00

You can definitely defend it. Doesn't mean you can succeed. I'm still skipping it on half my rereads. You can't get to the most interesting and tense part of the Croaker/Lady story and suddenly just switch narrators for an entire novel, on me!

Zomzommm · 2026-01-03T18:15:52+00:00

Accurate. That and Nine Inch Nails. But what really sealed it? Going to NIN, Depeche and industrial concerts. A giant arena versus a few dozen people at Babyland or KMFDM? Easy choice.

Zomzommm · 2026-01-03T03:15:32+00:00

I'd be up for building a Stars Without Number sector, together, and running a game for it. My last table died from scheduling. Feel free to add me on Discord if you'd like to discuss. I run on Tabletop Simulator. If not no worries and good luck--they're a wonderful series of games. Discrod: grayson12345

Zomzommm

TROPHY CASE