Glen Cook

I’m not sure how I missed it, but yesterday, July 9, was the birthday of Glen Cook (b. 1944). His books include the Black Company series, the Dread Empire Series, and the Garrett, PI series.

Back when Conestoga was an active convention, and held at a time of year I could attend, he was always there. He had a booth in the dealer’s room, right on the left as you walked in the door. He was always friendly and approachable and ready to sign some books. I ended up with signed copies of most everything that was in print at the time.  Talking with him, buying books from him, and listening to what he had to say on panels was one of the highlights of the convention each year.

His series of novels about the Black Company, a band of mercenaries caught in a war between two evil sorcerers, was one of the first grimdark fantasies. I loved it. In fact, I’m reading one of the later ones, She Is the Darkness, right now.

If you’ve not read Cook, you should really give him a try. Start with, what else, The Black Company.