5 comments about The Runes of the Earth (Chronicles of Thomas Covenant).

1. Didja notice that everyone in this book speaks like a college professor? I liked the story (it is just a story folks...) but reaching for the dictionary in every chapter is a bit tiring. I'd have to say that this is the biggest part that I had to overcome to achieve any semblance of "suspension of belief". Everyone besides Linden and, possibly, the Masters should speak a bit more plainly.



2. A few weeks ago, I finished reading The Runes of the Earth, by Stephen R. Donaldson. It's the first book in the Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, a planned sequence of four books, closing out the story of leper and author Thomas Covenant that started in the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, a trilogy, and followed by a second trilogy, the Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.
   
   I was a big fan of the first two trilogies, when I was young, as I have written about before. So, it was with some anticipation that I picked up this book, the last time I was in Hong Kong. I read it over the course of a few evenings...it was eagerly devoured, one might say.
   
   Despite the "Thomas Covenant" name attached to the series here, I have to say that the novel is clearly centered on Linden Avery as the protagonist. Now a mother, she brings an intensity to the unfolding events that Covenant could not. Another ten years have passed in the "real world", when Covenant's son re-enters the picture, and kidnaps Covenant's ex-wife and Avery's son...causing all to be transported to the Land, where Lord Foul awaits once again. This time, the dangers to the Land are distinctly different from before...and accidentally Linden Avery herself had a hand in creating some of these dangers. Avery herself is in "protective mother" mode, desperate to find her son, but lacking the power at first to act, not having the Staff of Law in her possession nor a good connection to the power of white gold...Covenant's ring still being in her hands. Thus, Avery sets about finding allies, and a powers to help her cause, and this is the meat of the story here.
   
   The story was well-paced, and the dangers and story elements all felt like logical consequences of the previous novels' storylines. We got to learn a little more about the Land's ancient past as well, in an unexpected way. Avery's ongoing love of the man she'd lost 10 years previously, and of her son, feel quite palpable.
   
   So, for a fan of those previous novels, like myself, this was a welcome return to the Land, and I'm looking forward to reading more.



3. At last, a continuance of the Thomas Covenant series ! But, as all the others, it is a slow read, full of mouth twisting words that can't be found in the common, everyday dictionary.....not the names of places or individuals....but words used to describe emotions, objects, etc.....and the series would be served better if the author would use more commonplace words to let the "unsophisticated" reader better understand the flow of the tale being told. ie: 'argute throb'....now why in the hell do you use 'argute' ??? Why not use sharp or shrill ???? When ya don't recognise a word, ya gotta get the ole dictionary out an look it up. And then, it ain't in the dictionary.....so ya gotta go to the thesaurus and see if it's in there....if not, then "Google" it ??? As I said, Makes for a slow read.
   Not to detract from the excellent story unfolding before your eyes, the series has held my attention for decades now and I hope that the tale will continue into the next decade.



4. Good but not as good as the first trilogy. About par with the second trilogy.



5. I've read the Chronicles I and II again recently; my third time. The first time I read them I was in high school, some 20 years ago. I admit I've only read about the first third of this book, but I really can't go on torturing myself. You know, even in the first two Chronicles it used to bug me how often you would see "outcast, unclean." In this book the phrase is "Lord Foul has Jeremiah." It's just lame. Way too slow and the more interesting portions of each action sequence leave me yawning. I thought Linden Avery was kind of turd in the Second Chronicles anyway. Now, as the main character, Donaldson's just polishing that turd, but she's still a turd. I think the leprosy angle was interesting for the first two Chronicles, but Avery's weaknesses just bore me. Sorry fans ..

5 comments about Gap into Conflict.

1. This book should be considered as the first 272 pages of a 2004-page epic. A bit wordy for a preface, it doesn't fare well on its own (see other reviews). But both the Second Chronicles and the Mordant's Need series were the same way -- not really intended to be read as independent books.
   
   If you don't mind spoilers, look at the reviews of the other 3 books -- standard Donaldson stuff (some people dislike his style, some prefer his fantasy work, etc.)
   
   I am a fan of *both* sci-fi and fantasy. While I like good writing, a good story pleases me more (which is why I can enjoy Asimov).
   
   Another reviewer compared the Gap series to the Babylon 5 TV series. I see these commonalities:
   - a single main plot across the whole series
   - humans are both the "good guys" and the "bad guys"
   - the "good guys" aren't always that good
   
   It's dark. It's full of violence. It's not for the squeamish.
   
   If you have read Donaldson's second book of short stories (Reave the Just) and were put off by the violence and depravity there, you should probably skip this series. Otherwise, buy the set and read them straight through.



2. I read the First Chronicles and Thomas Covenant on the advice of a friend, and loved them. Contrary to some of the reader comments on those books, I understood the rape in the first book was setting up the plot for the later books. Thomas Covenant is the prototypical unsympathetic protagonist. He's a complex and masterfully composed character.
   
   Donaldson's writing in those books was a bit over the top. I got the impression at times that he was flaunting his obvious talent. His use of vocabulary seemed gratuitious. But, I also understand that this was his first series, and I figured he would grow into his craft. I was right.
   
   So, what does this all have to do with the Gap Series?
   
   Well, an interesting transformation occurred in this series. The rape theme that was "necessary" to the Covenant series story-line, has become "gratuitous." And the vocabulary that was "gratuitous," has toned down to become "necessary."
   
   While his writing style has improved, the content has degraded.
   
   Don't misunderstand. The Real Story is an excellent book, in that it hooks the reader to want to press on with the rest of the series. In fact, I went out and bought the entire remainder of the series after finishing it. I am now almost finished the second, and almost regretting that I did buy them all. The content takes a darker turn and the profanities ratchet up the dialog to an uncomfortable level.
   
   Its interesting to read a writer's early work, and then come back and read their latest work and compare them. While the style has improved, the substance has markedly declined.
   
   I'm not giving up on Donaldson. There's plenty of room between these two extremes, and I'm sure some of his other books will be well worth the effort.



3. 'The Real Story' is simple and short - you will glean this much, at least, from the other reviews. And indeed, as a stand-alone novel, this book is lacking is depth, character development (with the exception of one character, and though we come to understand his decisions, his motives are largely unrevealed) and a satisfying conclusion, there are two points that are vital to note. These two points are apparently contradictory, but I'll attempt to explain:
   
   1) This was written as a short novella. It wasn't intended to be the first in a series, and as such it doesn't bear many of the traits usually associated with the first book in a series, such as hints of larger plots or other elements designed to draw the reader back for book 2. As a stand-alone novel, Donaldson kept this in a drawer, unpublished, for some years. Only as part of a larger series does it work, yet it doesn't read like the beginning of a series. Once you understand this, the flaws are less glaring.
   
   2) In apparent contradiction of point 1, above, please understand that it IS the first in a series. The series itself is probably the best science fiction I've ever read, but it really doesn't get going until mid-way through book 2. Again, once you accept that most of the "good stuff" comes after 'The Real Story, it's easier to bear to flaws.
   
   Though I don't seek to excuse any form of weakness here (after all, whatever it was intended to be and however great the rest of the series, the first book should still be complete and engaging), I do seek to prevent people being deterred by the lukewarm reviews of this first installment. It's not bad by any means, merely incomplete. I would issue a couple of warnings though: Firstly, this book is grim and brutal; be prepared. And secondly, Donaldson tells character-based stories in fantastic settings - if you're looking for detailed high technology and hard science, this might not be your scene.



4. Ah, a kind of book which perks my interest - short, violent and juicy.
   
   The story writing is original, taking the reader from the simplistic setting of a story on through all the details (nitty-gritty at times) and takes the reader to the same conclusion as was in the short, simplistic version.
   
   The characters are very distasteful , drawing me into the story. I like to have characters with flaws, big gapping flaws which are probed painfully again and again. Perfect, happy characters bite. The Real Story, while short, won't let a reader down if you're interested in the above.



5. One policewoman, two pirates.
   
   
   A space policewoman, with a serious flaw - she gets sick during the type of travel required to cross interstellar distances - gets into trouble when the destroyer she serves on runs into a ruthless pirate.
   
   Enter another, more dashing, far less ugly pirate into a bleak story of capture and survival, along with the beginnings of a nasty alien plot.

No comments about White Gold Wielder.

No comments about Gap into Vision.

No comments about White Gold Wielder - The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant "Winter in Combat" - Book Three (Part 1: Chapter 6).