Anyone read any Stephen Donaldson?

[vegemite]

I really liked his first book in the "Gap" series: "The Real Story".<br /><br />If you haven't read it, it's pretty gritty and brutal sci-fi, would make a good movie.

 

[wmdragon]

I read the first Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. pretty gritty and brutal fantasy, so I guess thats his style eh? inspired me enough to choose white gold for my wedding band. I hope I dont get leprosy <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[a_lost_packet_]

I've read the Covenant series and a few of his sci-fi works. I've been interested in the "Gap" series but haven't picked it up. Maybe I'll put it on the list. Any word on the rest of them?<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>

 

[vegemite]

I'd really only recommend the first in the series, it's by far the best out of the five. The revelations in the other 4 tend to spoil your memories and impression of the original.

 

[yruc]

I've read the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. I really liked the series. A bit of a dark fantasy. Very good! <br /><br />Another good fantasy novel is The Deed of Paksenarrion by ELIZABETH MOON. One of the best I've ever read!

 

[avaunt]

Yeah, i loved his Stories of Saltheart Foamfollowers' gimpy mate Thomas the Ur-Lord. Saltheart ought to have given Tom a right kicking.<br /><br />He came through in the end, but Covenant was an awful lot of trouble, to those that loved him.<br /><br />Banner of the Bloodguard has to be one of my all time favourite characters. I loved when he inspected one of the Cords weapons, and said " An efficient weapon " and then broke it like it was a thread, between his fingers. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[wmdragon]

how does the second Covenant trilogy compare? I have it at home, at least one person recommended it over the first. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[a_lost_packet_]

<font color="yellow">wmdragon - how does the second Covenant trilogy compare? I have it at home, at least one person recommended it over the first. </font><br /><br />I highly recommend it. Thomas Covenant isn't "flushed out" as a character until the second series. In my opinion, the first three books only serve to prepare the "table" for the second series. The storyline is intimately connected with the first series but with a slight twist. Re-read the first series then pick up the second. It is worth it.<br /><br />Personally, I think that Thomas Covenant is one of the most powerful characters in recent fiction. He's a tortured blasphemy of "Everyman." If I wanted an anti-hero, it'd be Thomas Covenant. Great character!<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>

 

[avaunt]

Yes, I agree completely with you. I actually began reading them, from the 4 th book of the series, because of the strange importing laws New Zealand, and most of the British Empire had, when I was young.<br /><br />And it was like reading a historical fiction, when I actually got around to the ist three. I already had high opinions of Lord Mohram and Lord Eleana, from reading how Thomas respected them.<br /><br />The books are best read as a group, then re-read.<br /><br />How cool were some of the creatures?. I loved the way that people found part of the Land, and spent their time serving that part.<br /><br />"Service returns Honour to the Server"<br /><br />And I loved it, how the characters were so clearly aligned. It did annoy me, how Thomas worried as he slaughtered cave wrights. Kill them all, and look for more.<br />Make the Ravers chose bunnie rabbits, in fear of discovery !.

 

[a_lost_packet_]

I liked the "earth magic" theme throughout the series. The "Land." But I really liked the character Thomas Covenant best. Sometimes you hated him, sometimes you loved him, sometimes you didn't understand him... but every second, it was a fun ride. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

think I'll put the 2nd trilogy next on my reading list <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

Do it! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Be prepared, though -- it's not as episodic as the First Chronicles, which were each one story to one book, with Thomas Covenant entering the Land at the beginning and returning to Earth at the end. In the Second Chronicles, he only enters the Land once, and the three books encompass one extended trip to the Land.<br /><br />One fun thing which isn't a spoiler since you find out about it pretty early on in the first book in the Second Chronicles: this time Thomas Covenant isn't the only Earth-person who ends up in the Land. Somebody else is drawn along for the ride, who is every bit as skeptical of it as he was in the beginning. Lots of things are very different in the Second Chronicles. You think you've come to the end of the story in the First Chronicles, but you haven't, and the Second Chronicles takes things much deeper. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

cool, Im reading quickly thru my current book so I should start soon. the 2nd book in the first chronicle, with the military strategist, was my favorite. the character and his struggle even eclipsed Covenant at times, so I look forward to another Earth visitor dealing with the land.<br /><br />wmdragon - white gold wielder <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[jitte]

I read the first Thomas Covenant Trilogy years ago and loved it. I was unaware there was a second series.

 

[wmdragon]

started the 2nd Covenant Chronicles this weekend. very much into it, thanks for the recommendations above. its good to be back in the Land, even if its wounded <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>