What do you think of Stephen R. Donaldson?

[Anavel Gato]

I have his collection of short stories "Reave the Just." However, I started the one called Penance and was not really impressed. I didn't get far into it, though. What do you think of his books what do you recommend?

I noticed the Covenant chronicles mentioned on another board about series you don't like...

 

[AuroraGyps]

I enjoyed his anthology Daughter of Regals and the Mordant's Need books. I have both Thomas Covenant trilogies, and tried to read the first book, but I just couldn't get into. That's probably just me though.

 

[Tsyr]

I find his work awkward and jarring, from a technical perspective.

I enjoyed his stories to an extend, I didn't really have much sympathy for his main character though.

 

[Umbran]

I enjoyed his anthology Daughter of Regals and the Mordant's Need books.

I concur here.

The Covenant books have one very major problem. He gives you a main character and "protagonist" that you hate. It's that simple. Thomas Covenant is someone whose face you'd want to beat in in real life. Makes it hard to get into the books.

 

[kkoie]

His covenant series is a classic. What I found intriguing is how it has a certain theme in common with Moorcocks Elric, in that he took a fantasy story, and decided to turn it completely on its ear by creating an atypical hero. Where as in Elric, you have the opposite of conan, in Donaldsons story, he goes further and creates a hero in a fantasy tale, who not only has no disbelieves the whole fantasy setting, but is about the opposite of the strong hero archtype as you can get, with him being a leper( among other things).

Another series of his that I greatly enjoyed was his Gap series. An outstanding sci fi series that seems to be his interpretation of Wagners The Ring. All of the norse mythological figures can be found in the series. A great story, in my opinion.

 

[GMVictory]

I enjoyed the Covenant series precisely because the hero was atypical. As a reader I wondered if he WAS delusional or not. Just like Thomas, I wasn't sure. And what would I do in his situation? If I am dreaming, what behavior would I display?

I didn't automatically accept the otherworld as real, just as Thomas didn't. I read it looking for clues that would prove or disprove the reality of the otherworld.

I wanted to believe it was real and that made Thomas an sob. However, if it wasn't real, then he was messing around. Powergaming maybe? Many of us know people who indiscriminately kill when they play because it's all fake, a game. If you were convinced you were in a virtual reality, would you behave differently or same as in RL?

Even the internet breeds this kind of behavior. MMORPGs do also (PKs anyone?).

But, that's my take. YMMV

 

[JoeBlank]

I have both Thomas Covenant trilogies, and tried to read the first book, but I just couldn't get into. That's probably just me though.

Well, I can tell you that it is not just you. It is me too. It must have been something about the writing style, because I love the premise (Covenant not knowing for sure whether the setting is real) and certainly don't mind the atypical anti-hero, even after his actions become deplorable.

I certainly enjoy Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, even the chapters written from the perspective of less-than-honorable characters.

And I really wanted to like the Covenant books. About half way thru the first book I realized that it felt like work to read it, and with so much other stuff out there to read I had to put it down and move on to something else.

 

[AuroraGyps]

Well, last night I finished Good Omens (really good book). So, I'm looking in my bookcase and say,"Hey, Lord Foul's Bane... I should try to read it again." Reading it now is different for me because since I've gotten divorced and because of my emotional problems (social anxiety disorder & depression... had it for years and makes dealing with people really hard), most of the people I knew abandoned me, I find myself sympathizing with Covenant. My life is almost like his in many ways (although I wish some stranger would pay my bills) and I found myself almost near tears.
Will I manage to read the series now, I don't know, but I'm definitely looking at from a new perspective.

 

[Uruk]

I read Daughter of Regals awhile back, but don't remember much. However, both of the trilogies have stuck with me a bit more. I almost never stop reading a book, but I totally agree I got pretty frustrated with Thomas. I think most fantasy fans dream of dropping into a magical medieval world so we're a little bitter he can't just except his situation. Plus, there's the feeling sorry for himself and the major event early in the first book. It pulled me through to the end though, and I can imagine that Thomas probably gets more compassion by people who've been divorced or dealt with a debilitating illness.

 

[Phoenix8008]

Well, I know I'm in the minority here, but I liked the Covenant series and have read both the first and second trilogies multiple times.

I notice that alot of the people that say they don't like it also say they never finished reading it. This may be part of why they seem to only hate Covenant as he does find some reedeming qualities by the end of the first trilogy. Not that he actually redeems himself or makes up for his crimes, but he does penance for them and helps others in order to try and make up for the pain he has caused. (Without giving away any spoilers hopefully, the service he does with the bonfire for the ghost community moved me to tears when I first read it. Granted, I was around 13 years old at the time so take that into account.)

So there's my positive reccomendation for the Covenant series. Now you can all scream at me like I'm a lunatic. Go on, I'm used to it...