Black Company or Song of Ice and Fire, what should I read next?

[fett527]

So, I have never read any books in these two series. I understand Black Company is the older of the two series and people have expressed waiting too long for the next Song of Ice and Fire book so I am leaning towards Black Company, but I thought I would ask. Which series should I read next? I'll take feedback through the end of the weekend. Thanks for your input!

I very much enjoy David Gemmel and I have enjoyed The Wheel of Time books. I used to read Forgotten Realms novels voraciously but have not picked one up in some time. The last few books I have read: The Revenge of the Sith, The Rule of Four (not scifi or fantasy), New Spring,

 

[drothgery]

Black Company.

It's finished (at least for now).
Cook keeps the fantasy in his Grim-n-gritty fantasy.
Cook also keeps the good guys and the bad guys in his Grim-n-gritty fantasy.

 

[Zaukrie]

While I really, really like SoFaI, read at least the first three black company books first. It won't take long to do, they are done, and then you can go to the much longer books that may never be done.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

"A Song of Ice and Fire" is vastly better written. While Cook has some good plots and characterizations, a lot of his naming conventions sound like D grade homebrew worlds. You wouldn't think it'd get annoying, but I found it to be incredibly intrusive eventually. (And no, I'm not talking about the military nicknames. Those work just fine for me.)

 

[Crothian]

Thieves World!!

 

[Steel_Wind]

Both!

If you have not read either - you are a lucky person and I envy you.

You have thousands of pages of MANDATORY & Excellent reading ahead of you.

Whilst I am a huge fan of both of these series (they are in fact, the only Fantasy fiction I have bothered to keep up with, having concluded almost everything else in the genre is pap), Martin is clearly the better - and more consistent - writer.

 

[Endur]

Both.

My personal recommendation is to buy Game of Thrones and The Black Company (book 1 of each series), read each, then decide which series you want to follow through first.

For what's it worth, I have every novel that Glen Cook has written (30 or so books), but did not buy every novel GRR Martin has written. My best estimate (and most people probably agree) is that Martin's novels are the more "classic" adventures.

 

[mattcolville]

Martin is a better writer.

Cook creates characters you care about and is writing fantasy unlike anything you've ever read.

 

[Fast Learner]

All three of Martin's SoIaF books completely grabbed me and kept me engrossed.

I read the first of Cook's Black Company and was, shoot me now, completely unimpressed. I didn't read any further in the series, and saw nothing at all in the first book to make me want to. And after so many good reviews here. Dunno.

 

[ForceUser]

Black Company. It's short and gritty.