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peapod_boston's review against another edition
4.0
What can I say, it's Glen Cook. "Empire Unacquainted" collects his short stories set in the Dread Empire (one of his earlier settings). The quality varies. His early, lighter, more humorous material is fun, but not nearly as engaging as some of the bleaker fare. Cook's comedy is most successful when it comes from the mouths of some very dark folks.
Top of the pack are "Soldier From an Empire Unacquainted with Defeat" which feels like a classic western dressed up as fantasy; "Filed Teeth" which is one of the best dragon-hunting stories ever and highlights Cook's ability to make the magical seem gritty, real, and human; and the three Vengeful Dragon stories which feel very much like precursors to the Black Company as they are tales of bad men forced to make moral decisions as they face a deeper darkness that reflects their own.
As always, I cannot say enough good things about Cook.
Top of the pack are "Soldier From an Empire Unacquainted with Defeat" which feels like a classic western dressed up as fantasy; "Filed Teeth" which is one of the best dragon-hunting stories ever and highlights Cook's ability to make the magical seem gritty, real, and human; and the three Vengeful Dragon stories which feel very much like precursors to the Black Company as they are tales of bad men forced to make moral decisions as they face a deeper darkness that reflects their own.
As always, I cannot say enough good things about Cook.
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