Takeoff Book

What do you get if you take the quintessential P.I. Philip Marlowe (and if you have no idea who he is shame on you) and transfer him to a typical fantasy land? Almost typical. Garrett P.I. series by Glen Cook, that is what.


One fine morning Garrett was busy doing what all self-respected private eyes do in the morning: suffering from a hangover.

"Morning is wonderful. Its only drawback is that it comes at such an inconvenient time of day."
Suddenly a band of gnomes barged in and because they represented his (late) army buddy's father Garrett had to visit his potential client. His former friend left quite a fortune to a woman Garrett used to know during his military days, so his (not Garrett's) father wanted for him to find her. Simple? Recall any Philip Marlowe novel: was it ever simple?

To my knowledge this is the best attempt at noir mystery in fantasy settings. People familiar with Glen Cook by only his most famous series - The Black Company - would be surprised to find this one relatively lighthearted. With lots of humor. Yes, father of grimdark can write fantasy light, although with some pretty dark moments.

Garrett himself is not fleshed out, however people/creatures around him are. Take Garrett's buddy backstabbing half-elf Morley Dotes. He also happened to be a hardcore vegan and his attempts to convert Garrett almost worked on me!
"Death wish. Suicidal tendencies. Know what causes that, Garrett? Diet. That's right. Your meat-heavy human diet. You need more roughage. You don't get enough roughage, your bowels tighten up. When your bowels tighten up you get these dangerous, self-destructive mood swings..."
In real life the vegan propaganda was/is wasted on me.

I can also mention groll (half trolls, half giant) triplets with one of them being tiny - he had a different mother (don't ask).
""I'd invite you in if you'd fit," I said. One is polite to grolls at all times, irrespective of one's prejudices. Otherwise one finds oneself reassessing one's attitude while being squished between warty green toes."
Those that have read Black Company know Glen Cook invents his own magic species, like forvalaka.


Did I mentioned humor? It was there. Also very confusing, but fast-moving plot, exactly like best works in classic noir. Also a homage to Nero Wolfe series.

All in all, I can recommend it for any Black Company fan, but beware: it is different. Quite different.

P.S. Thanks to my buddy readers for participating.