New Thomas Convenant series on the way

[Alaric_Prympax]

I read the series when I was in High School. My favorite book of the 6 was The Illearth War , after that the books just took a downward spiral. The second trilogy I really didn't like at all and I thought The One Tree was terrible. I remember setting the book down and not picking it up for a full year and I forced myself to do that so I could finish the series.

I too did not like Thomas that much but we weren't supposed to according to an interview that Donaldson gave way back when.

I'll have to look at this one carefully before buying it and might get the paperback when it comes out roughly next October or maybe wait two years for the hardback to appear in the bargain section.

 

[Mallus]

To me the whole series was sort of like watching a train wreck happen in front of you.

It's more accurate to say that the series was like a train deliberately being driven off the tracks into a ravine. It was all intentional... not that anyone should like it better for that, though I did.

For years I've gone back and forth whether Covenant is great or awful. In hindsight, I think its a good work. Donaldson's take on wish-fulfillment fantasy is still bracing over 20 years later... I just wish he would have challenged fantasy lit's tendancy to be monumentally overwritten --say like Zelazny did w/Amber, or Brust did later-- as well as all the other trope-wrangling he did...

And thinking back, I've come to love the 2nd Chronicles of TC... especially The One Tree... its the only long quest novel that I can think of where the protagonists utterly fail [from their POV, at least] and basically just slink away. And Donaldson wasn't content with messing w/ notions of 'the hero', he had to write 3 more books where he violates the cherished idea of the ideal, pastoral Candyland itself... he gives Middle Earth cancer in the second series --I felt more for the corruption of the setting than I did for any of the characters.

Oh, and the Sandgorgon was just plain cool.

I'm looking forward to the new books. I just need to set phasers on 'skim'...

 

[Wombat]

Oh ugh, more Covenant...

I read the first book on the recommendation of a friend (after a couple false attempts on my own, I should add) -- he said this was a great series, if only you gave it the chance. Well, having tackled Crime & Punishment (and loved it!), I figured another true anti-hero.

I was so wrong.

I cannot stand these books.

I found The Land boring, Thomas a whinging nerd who won't take responsibility for his own life, much less anyone else's, and, as an unrepentant serial rapist, one of the most loathsome, unsympathetic, and pathetic characters to ever "grace" the pages of "literature". I found absolutely nothing to recommend the series, neither the setting, the characters, nor the writing style. The notion of Donaldson writing more on this theme only fills me with a sense of immense forboding.

Oh well, I guess I will have to keep looking in the world of fantasy literature.

 

[Nightfall]

The reason I love the series isn't for the heroes folks. It's for those completely dispicable villians. Foul ranking as my all time favorite. Sure Covenant's an ass. Avery's not much better, but overall I like the fact compared to Foul, they are at least very flawed but utter human characters.

The Land might not be Middle Earth but it's certainly fey and wild. (At least in places.)

I also have to comment to Wombat that you have no taste man. Not because you don't like Covenant (I can accept that.) Just the fact everything post you make has had so many negatives. Maybe I missed a positive but come on man. Lighten up!

 

[Krug]

Well I'm looking forward to it. It wasn't your typical S&S story and the world was highly imaginative. Now where did I leave them books...

 

[Wombat]

I also have to comment to Wombat that you have no taste man. Not because you don't like Covenant (I can accept that.) Just the fact everything post you make has had so many negatives. Maybe I missed a positive but come on man. Lighten up!

We've been through this before

For every negative post of mine you can find, there is a positive post somewhere else, nearly one-for-one. I checked about that the last time this came up

If nothing else, see the current thread on horror films -- two positives there (but I only count it as a single post).

 

[kingpaul]

Hmmm...its been ages since I've read these books. I'll probably have to go to my dad's library (he fortunately only lives an hour south) to borrow them. I seem to recall semi-liking the series, but, as I said, its been ages, so I can't recall much.

The Donaldson books I constantly re-read are Mirror of Her Dreams and A Man Rides Through.

 

[SableWyvern]

King Paul: Mordant's Need is basically the fairy-tale version of Covenant. Both series' have much the same themes, one taking those themes in a very dark context, the other a very light one. A very interesting contrast.

 

[Nightfall]

We've been through this before

For every negative post of mine you can find, there is a positive post somewhere else, nearly one-for-one. I checked about that the last time this came up

If nothing else, see the current thread on horror films -- two positives there (but I only count it as a single post).

Eh. We'll see. I still have to read your comments...and see which films you chose.

 

[mattcolville]

I am RPGnet's resident Covenant apologist. I think they're the only significant work of Fantasy outside the Lord of the Rings, though their relevance is moral and ethical rather than mythical.

I've read the prologue and am highly intrigued by this new series. In an interview, he claims he set up this series in the second series, but felt it was too ambitious so he kept putting it off.

There are many lose ends in the second series and I do not doubt him when he says the second and third series were conceived at the same time.