The Runes of the Earth: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (Gollancz)
by Stephen R. Donaldson
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Working on trying to finish this. My sense is that no one gave this book a "deep edit" which is what it needs. Sometimes, (I've heard this and it is definitely not from experience), a good writer is not assigned to an editor that will actually edit him/her closely. In this case, I think this is a major mistake. One line struck me as very telling.
"The abruptly she left the room so that Sandy would not see the sudden tears in her eyes, or notice the lump of love and fear in ...more
"The abruptly she left the room so that Sandy would not see the sudden tears in her eyes, or notice the lump of love and fear in ...more
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Read in April, 2008
Having only recently read the first two series, I did not have to wait 20 years for Mr. Donaldson's new book. I think that may have affected my enjoyment of it, since parts of this book seem to be a nod to longtime fans who have been waiting for the further adventures of Linden Avery.
This reminds somewhat of Tad Williams' "Shadow" series at this point--it's great to be back in familiar territory, and as a fan both of the author and the genre, I don't really mind that this installment...more
This reminds somewhat of Tad Williams' "Shadow" series at this point--it's great to be back in familiar territory, and as a fan both of the author and the genre, I don't really mind that this installment...more
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Read in October, 2004
recommends it for:
Mature fans of fantasy with deep psychological nuances
SRD has returned to the Land, amazingly, given that Thomas Covenant sort of DIED at the end of the Second Chronicles. Linden Avery is drawn back to the alternate world along with her adopted son and Covenant's own son and deranged ex-wife, who is using her ring at Lord Foul's prompting to do massive damage to the land.
I don't want to give much away, but this book was more set-up than actual story, though I was fascinated to discover the changes that have been wrought in the Land since Linde...more
I don't want to give much away, but this book was more set-up than actual story, though I was fascinated to discover the changes that have been wrought in the Land since Linde...more
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Read in January, 2006
As a fan of this series I enjoyed the book very much. The "What Has
Gone Before" prelude was masterfully done. The language is more
enjoyable, more clear and strong.
But for every favor, there is a betrayal. The book is not so epic
as the prior books. The land, even the plot feels stale. There
are too many sappy, coincidental connections for comfort. Kind
of like the Star Wars prequels, which lacked sufficient novelty.
Let's face it, Anele is the new Vain, and Vain was t...more
Gone Before" prelude was masterfully done. The language is more
enjoyable, more clear and strong.
But for every favor, there is a betrayal. The book is not so epic
as the prior books. The land, even the plot feels stale. There
are too many sappy, coincidental connections for comfort. Kind
of like the Star Wars prequels, which lacked sufficient novelty.
Let's face it, Anele is the new Vain, and Vain was t...more
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Read in May, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in March, 2007
Donaldson does fantasy like nobody else (but his "real world" needs some work. I enjoyed this return to The Land very much, but am a little worried that the scope of this thing is so huge that he might not be able to pull it off. Good storytelling once the main character leaves the real world and enters the land, although it drags a little at the beginning. Also, I noticed an occasional tendency to use some cliched Hollywood action-film dialogue phrases--"Let's do this" being...more
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Read in January, 2007
This is pretty awful so far. Donaldson keeps going downhill in his writing, with ENDLESS interior monologues that are as repetative as anything in Robert Jordan or Terry Goodkind. It's a shame, the first chronicles was really quite original in many ways and though overwritten, never lost site of the compelling storyline. The second series had more of the writing faults so manifest here, but the core concept was pretty interesting and kept me going. This....don't know if I can finish it, hone...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
hardcore Thomas Covenant/Stephen Donaldson fans
This book is not total garbage. It's an interesting coda to White Gold Wielder. But it reads like a collection of old ideas and plotlines about the pre-history of the Land that Donaldson decided to cobble together in a time-travel framework. Maybe he needed to pay for an addition to his house? The result is a novel that just doesn't have the life or power of the earlier books. And the prose! Wow. So, so bad. Jump in, Donaldson fans, but it's a tough slog.
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Read in January, 2007
Opening volume in the third and culminating series of the Thomas Covenant books. After 15 or more years waiting for a return to "The Land", this was a very solid book - though in terms of tempo it had some weak, dragging spots; also, the original series' main character died at the end of the second trilogy, oc course (Thomas Covenant), but Linden Avery carries on fairly well in his stead - though fails to ask the right questions....
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Read in March, 2008
A good book. I had a few uncomfortable moments with the main character. It took me a little while to get a feel for her. There were moments in the first part of the book where I felt like this book had been stuffed into the Thomas Convenant format...like it was made to fit...but after the first 1/3 of the book that went away and the story became quite engrossing. This book, like the other Thomas Convenant books is a little dark.
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Read in January, 2006
Same ol', same ol'. Protagonist pops into The Land, talks to Lord Foul, meets some locals, and embarks on a cross-country journey. I had to force myself through this one, as I will doubtless force myself through the next two, but Donaldson really should have left well enough alone.
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recommended to Jenn by:
My mother
recommends it for: anyone who loves sci-fi/fantasy
recommends it for: anyone who loves sci-fi/fantasy
If you've ever read the Chronicles of Thomas Covenent, then you know what I'm talking about when I say that these books rival the Lord of the Rings. Different but still on the same level. Very entertaining and I'm glad Donaldson brought back this wonderful world.
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Give Linden Avery a chance to get her feet into the story a little bit more. I have a good feeling that these stories will be worthy of the Thomas Covenant Chronicles, next book is due out 10/08. I enjoyed this but I think Avery really has to come into herself.
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Read in March, 2008
Donaldson, is a master of the english language, he paints a world so vividly that you feel compelled to stay until complition of the novel, and leaves you waiting for the next! His characters are real and believable and you empathize with their plight!
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Read in March, 2007
It's been a very log time since I've read the original Thomas Covenant novels so this was a must-read for me and, on the whole, I enjoyed it.
Full review here - thejumbledbox.blogspot.com/200...
Full review here - thejumbledbox.blogspot.com/200...
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Read in January, 2005
It is interesting what 15 years can do to ones perspective. This first book in the new series series didn't strike me anywhere as much as the original two series ... but I will read the rest when they come out anyway, he is still a good writer.
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Read in February, 2008
I hate reviewing books, because I'll read, and enjoy, anything. So I'll just say that I didn't find it all that different from the first six, which I reread before picking up this one. So maybe if you enjoyed the last 3, you might enjoy this.
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
no one
While I really enjoyed this series, it had a lot more swearing than I normally allow in books I read. I just read this one because I had already read the other 6 books before it and wanted to find out what happens.
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Read in January, 2008
The book is very good, the characters are well-rounded. A little hard to get into because it continues a series he wrote quite a while back. I am looking forward to the final one. Great Fantasy.
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This book was nearly impossible to read -- that's how badly it needed an editor. Perplexing, because his previous books in the series were phenomenal.
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