So this is the current book I’m reading. So far so good. I originally read the First and Second Chronicles in 87 while in high school to fulfill my 9th grade English class’s reading assignment. We had to read 5 novels in the year and I picked these up after seeing my parents read them years before. My parents were a bit leery since those were my first novels to read but I liked them and made it though fairly easily. I guess maybe I should have gone back and reread the originals since after 18 years I have mostly forgotten everything, but I thought the background in the beginning of the book would do it. I’m about 200 pages into it and still debating if I should. Old races of characters keep popping up and they’ll talk about what they did before and I don’t have a clue. Feel like I should know. The story is good so far and I’m anxious to see what will happen. So I doubt I’ll read the first books until I’m done with this at least. So….. anyone else read this or the others? Any fans of Stephen R Donaldson?
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
I'm a fan of the Thomas Covenant books, and surprised to be so. They aren't my usual fare, really. I think I read them the first time in grade seven, and a lot of things went clear over my head. But I still have them, and understand them a lot better now. I still haven't gotten aroudn to buying the new one (hardcovers are so nice but so expensive, ow).
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
My 2 cents: Though I loved the 'story' of the original 2 trilogies, in retrospect the writing is quite cumbersome. I first read them when I was in High school or Jr. High, I don't remember right offhand.
I tried to get into the new chronicles, but could not. Alas. However, Thomas Covenant remains my favorite reluctant hero. I would actually love to see the original series rewritten, though that will never happen, but with a plainer style.
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
Thomas Covenant wins the award for "Fictional Character I Would Most Like To See Off Himself, Preferably in the First Book".
Posted by Parsimony (Member # 8140) on :
I love the books. Call me a masochist, but I really enjoyed the style they were written in. Yes, they are dark, the language is hard, the characters have terrible glaring flaws in their personalities, but so does everyone I know.
I haven't read the new one yet. I am waiting for the paperback edition, but I am quite looking forward to it.
In the meantime I am reading Donaldson's books about Mick Axbrewder. Quite different. They are written in a much plainer style, in a completely different setting, yet the similarities in themes and consequences still remain.