Topic: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant  (Read 2303 times)

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Offline TheJudge

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The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« on: October 27, 2004, 09:07:17 pm »
Okay, I loved this series of books when I was younger, and still enjoy them today.  I take a walk into Borders the other day and BAM! there is The Runes of the Earth, the first book in the next and supposedly last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.  Now, I'm not rich anymore, I don't have cash to spare, so I decide grandparents can skimp by on the money I'll have left and buy the hardback book (Borders has it for 30% off which made it $20.88). 

I've read it through now and thoroughly enjoyed the book.  I liked how Linden felt so uncomfortable using the white-gold ring, and I LOVE how the question of 'if other rings were brough to the Land, would they work?' has been answered once and for all.  Has anyone else picked it up?

Um, also just went to his website and he's got a neat trailer.  Also, unlike the last two Chronicles, this one will be FOUR books, not three.


http://www.stephenrdonaldson.com/
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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #1 on: October 27, 2004, 09:29:32 pm »
Political Correctness is really Political Censorship

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Offline TheJudge

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2004, 09:54:01 pm »
Hehe...I must have missed that one...but have any of you READ it yet?  I have to say that Linden's dilemna with her son...and the ENDING of the first book left me wondering and imagining...
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Offline Sirgod

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2004, 09:54:41 pm »
I'm hoping to read more next weekend. But I'm with you Judge, I loved that series.

Stephen
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Offline Dash Jones

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2004, 09:57:01 pm »
Hmm, I've read both Chronicles, the duo of the Mirror series, as well as the Gap series...however, I like reading entire series at a time, so I probably won't read this series until he's finished it.
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Offline TheJudge

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2004, 11:01:12 pm »
Hmm, I've read both Chronicles, the duo of the Mirror series, as well as the Gap series...however, I like reading entire series at a time, so I probably won't read this series until he's finished it.

Well, if he comes out with one a year...that's quite a bit of waiting.  As for me, when I hit the end and saw what it contained...I was pissed as hell at having to wait another damn year for the next book.
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Offline S'Raek

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2004, 01:10:24 pm »
I haven't read this book yet but I did read and enjoy the first six.  Well, the first three were better I always thought but they were all a good read. 

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Offline Hale

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2004, 10:12:23 pm »
There's a little too much angst and doubt in these books for me, but they are very good.   I always thought Hile Troy  8) was cool.   8)
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Offline Sirgod

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2004, 11:32:38 pm »
Aargh!!!

I just read the First book in the Last Chronicle.

Major Spoiler alert ahead.




































.


The reason why There is Four books, Is Thomas Covenant Doesn't appear definativly, untill the last page.

Stephen
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Offline The_Joker

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2004, 12:18:15 am »
Which really isn't much of a spoiler.  The real spoiler would have been if you'd have said how, since he was deader than dirt at the end of White Gold Wielder.  And if you say that, I'm drivng the 2 or 3 hours it takes to get to your place and whoop the snot out of you.   ;D
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Offline Sirgod

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2004, 10:29:47 am »
Which really isn't much of a spoiler.  The real spoiler would have been if you'd have said how, since he was deader than dirt at the end of White Gold Wielder.  And if you say that, I'm drivng the 2 or 3 hours it takes to get to your place and whoop the snot out of you.   ;D

Wll Now that you mention It Joker.  ;D

Stephen
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Offline FPF-SCM_TraceyG_XC

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2004, 09:42:55 pm »
Hmmm, must go buy this. I've got most of Stepehen Donaldson's other books, including a rare hard cover of Gilden-Fire (the missing chapter from the Illearth War).
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Offline _Rondo_GE The OutLaw

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #12 on: November 23, 2004, 01:01:24 am »
I liked the series but it sometimes droned on in some places and in other places was nearly equal to Tolkein.  An uneven work.  But I thought it had all ended ?  Seemed so.  I liked the first Chronicles best.  The world he created had a life of it's own and full of wonder.  The middle volumes (middle I suppose now) were too dark and monotonous, reminding me of Frodo and Sam's journey to Mordor after the fellowship break up but a hundred times longer and too full of unrelenting despair.  The critical difference between him and Tolkein is that Tolkein divided his chapters in light and dark sequencing, and also had a little comic relief.  He knew when to give his readers a break from the dark. 

I began his space opera series (Angus Thermopyle) and they weren't too bad. 

Dunno he's a strange writer.  I might give this new series a go but only after the works are finished.  Once I start to read i don't like to stop and wait a year or so.

Offline Sirgod

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #13 on: November 23, 2004, 01:08:19 am »
Well I can agree with assesment, Except, His Belabored trek with lindy Caused me to Become uncomfortably tired also everytime I read it, But that is the Brialliance I believe of Donaldsons work. He is able to express his Fantasy in such a way, that at the end, your also Depressed, Tired, And as always , still to this day want to Kick the Sherriff Right in the head.

A little bit of a Spoiler, It's his son who is the One who is out to cause trouble in the Real world, Kidnapping Covenants Wife 10 years after Covenant died.

A spoonfull of hurtloam helps the Medicince Go Down.  ;)

Stephen
"You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth - and the amusing thing about it is that they are."- Father Kevin Keaney, Chaplain, Korean War

Offline _Rondo_GE The OutLaw

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #14 on: November 23, 2004, 03:08:27 am »
Well I can agree with assesment, Except, His Belabored trek with lindy Caused me to Become uncomfortably tired also everytime I read it, But that is the Brialliance I believe of Donaldsons work. He is able to express his Fantasy in such a way, that at the end, your also Depressed, Tired, And as always , still to this day want to Kick the Sherriff Right in the head.

A little bit of a Spoiler, It's his son who is the One who is out to cause trouble in the Real world, Kidnapping Covenants Wife 10 years after Covenant died.

A spoonfull of hurtloam helps the Medicince Go Down.  ;)

Stephen

Well we shall see.  The first chronicles lead me to the second.  But the second went nowhere.  I'm in no hurry to pick up the third this time.  I never finished the Gap series because I lost the book and was reading it so slowly ...  for whatever reason...  that I didn't see the point in shelling out again for the third and final book.

There is a critical word for this...he as a writer started out with great promise and a large following...but he became too self indulgent. 

I'll sniff around it a bit at the bookstore if they carry it.

Offline Durin

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #15 on: November 24, 2004, 02:37:29 pm »
I'm reading it now and I think its not too bad, I really hate the waiting a year part though.

Offline Sethan

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #16 on: November 24, 2004, 05:33:00 pm »
I enjoyed Donaldson's writing style and the depth of the world he created - but I have never read a more depressing series of books.

I got very tired of Covenant being the anti-hero - and when he finally gets it figured out and wants to be a hero, becoming impotent.
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. --Aristotle

Offline Sirgod

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #17 on: November 24, 2004, 05:52:27 pm »
I enjoyed Donaldson's writing style and the depth of the world he created - but I have never read a more depressing series of books.

I got very tired of Covenant being the anti-hero - and when he finally gets it figured out and wants to be a hero, becoming impotent.

Very well said Adam. Say the wifes reading It right now, But when she's done, I can send It your way , If you want to give It a look see.

Stephen
"You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth - and the amusing thing about it is that they are."- Father Kevin Keaney, Chaplain, Korean War

Offline S'Raek

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #18 on: November 25, 2004, 05:42:58 am »
I enjoyed Donaldson's writing style and the depth of the world he created - but I have never read a more depressing series of books.

I got very tired of Covenant being the anti-hero - and when he finally gets it figured out and wants to be a hero, becoming impotent.

I agree as well, which is probably why I liked the first three books more than the last three.  But the time I got to them I was tired of hearing him whine! 

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Offline The_Joker

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Re: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
« Reply #19 on: December 01, 2004, 12:54:25 am »
I'll have to agree with what's already been said.  "The Power that Preserves" is my favorite of the first two chronicles, by far.  It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the second chronicles, but they were on that damn boat for almost 3 whole books and it draaaaaagggggeeed.
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