New Thomas Convenant series on the way

[Lord Pendragon]

To me the whole series was sort of like watching a train wreck happen in front of you. It was horrible, but you couldn't help but watch. I just found the main character of the series to be so ... horribly unsympathetic I could never really enjoy any of it.

This was my impression as well. I can respect Donaldson for creating a flawed-human profile in Thomas Covenant. I can respect him for creating the Land, which I thought was a fascinating setting (especially in the second series. I've never seen another author so radically alter the rules of his own creation mid-series like this, before or since.)

But at the end of the day, Thomas Covenant is what he is--a rapist and a jerk. And much as I laud Donaldson for his technical mastery, I found little joy in reading him. I never sympathized with Thomas. Indeed, it's the only series I can recall off-hand where I was actually rooting for the protagonist to die.

Still, I'm glad that he's writing again, for the sake of those who love him (and judging from this thread, there are many. ) Me, I'll pick up A Feast for Crows instead. Why choose between harsh reality and likeable characters when you can have both?

 

[Paragon Kobold]

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.

I actually found Covenant to be so annoying I started rooting for Lord Foul.

 

[Chimera]

But at the end of the day, Thomas Covenant is what he is--a rapist and a jerk. And much as I laud Donaldson for his technical mastery, I found little joy in reading him. I never sympathized with Thomas. Indeed, it's the only series I can recall off-hand where I was actually rooting for the protagonist to die.

Have you read his Gap series? Chock full of despicable and unlikable characters. Been a while since I read it, but I seem to recall that the only reason I completed the series (or as much of it as I did) was in hoping that all of these rat bas**** would get what they deserved.

Really have no interest in reading another series like that again.

So I might wait a bit after the third TC series comes out and see what some of you have to say about it. If the protagonist is as much of a dirtbag as Covenant, I'll give it a pass.

 

[Nightfall]

I actually found Covenant to be so annoying I started rooting for Lord Foul.

Eh. Not sure I'd ever cheer for Foul but his plotting and understandings of humanity are what I thoroughly enjoyed. While I wasn't happy with Covanent winning, Foul winning...doesn't feel right. (Though he did win in the start of the second series. I mean completely corrupting the Land (well almost), That's kind of winning! )

Chim,

The protagnoist is probably going to be Linden Avery. Covenant died at the end of the second series.

 

[Meowzebub]

Being a big fan of the first set (although not such a fan of the second set) I see the book more about the other characters then about Covenant. Covenant muddles through the books doing more harm than good, and is not meant to be hero or even an anti-hero such as Elric. I see him more as a prod to evoke emotions from the myrad of supportting characters. What is facinating is the story of the characters he encounters. He represents the Savior of the world in the face of a very real evil, yet this hope is dangled in front of each character and then taken away and they must come to struggle on after this crushing rebuff.

UR-viles, Hirachi (sp?), and Giants - the most original presentation of unique characters and culture since fantasy got Orcs and Elves. Often people question how a Monk fits into a Western Culture-based D&D, well just look to Bannor and his Hirachi brothers as guides. Since first edition, this is how I tailored the Monk Class.

 

[Lord Foul]

I actually found Covenant to be so annoying I started rooting for Lord Foul.

Thank ypu.

 

[Gomez]

Whoa.. after twenty years! Note: SPOILERS for The Thomas Convenant trilogy are in the synopsis below.

Twenty years!? Man I feel old!

 

[Lord Foul]

Eh. Not sure I'd ever cheer for Foul but his plotting and understandings of humanity are what I thoroughly enjoyed. While I wasn't happy with Covanent winning, Foul winning...doesn't feel right. (Though he did win in the start of the second series. I mean completely corrupting the Land (well almost), That's kind of winning! )

Chim,

The protagnoist is probably going to be Linden Avery. Covenant died at the end of the second series.

Well you win some.....you loose some. I'll do better this time around!

If you haven't noticed by my screen name, I liked the books and I can't wait to read the new ones. Its a nice change to read books with low magic (like the TC series or the Shannnara series). Some characters have magic but only a select few can blow things up .

 

[Lord Foul]

Twenty years!? Man I feel old!

I had forgotten it had been that long. Since I forgot, I must be old too.

 

[Nightfall]

Foul, just remember like the Wishmaster said in Wishmaster 2 "Evil never dies." And we all know as the Lord of Despite, you don't die. You just come back badder than ever. So I don't see how you can win but you'll make it a Pyrrichic(sp) victory in any case.