Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #275078 in Books
• Published on: 1983-09-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Customer Reviews

THE fantasy epic
How can you rate Donaldson, it is difficult as he has carved a niche in what is a saturated and often chronically mistreated genre and gone and created a series of books that stand up to even the most cynical of critics by proclaiming themselves not just classics of the fantasy genre, but of any genre. Written with glorious depth and with Donaldsons classic characterisation in which no person can morally stand up under strong scrutiny, he manages to take the brave step of an artist willing to pull down and destroy all he has created before, and then rebuild from the ground up with intensity and a dose of imagination that most authors wish they could match. Covenant has become a redundant man, torn by his own conflicting morality and jealous in the face of his inability to heal and Linden Avery's obvious importance. Remarkably enigmatic creations such as Vain, a constant and vigilant mysterio with enough quirks to carry the books on his own shoulders though he never utters a word throughout, add to what is a rich yet melancholic tapestry of complex plotting and baffling motivations and what you have is as compelling a fcitional read as you may ever come across. Read these books, immerse yourself in the intrigue, try to predict the character arcs throughout and be baffled by what this man creates, he is, in a word, a genius.

Quietly grand finale to a grand fantasy epic
I've read this book, and this series, three times, with a span of twenty-some years between the first and second reading. When I first read it, I liked the characters, images, and story, but the language seemed deliberately over-complicated and intellectual. Now, after re-reading it, I think that I just wasn't ready for it the first time.

After thousands of years, as far as The Land is concerned, but a short time, as far as Thomas Covenant is concerned, our hero has found again thrown back into The Land. However, it's almost unrecognizable, as everything is weirdly corrupted. Again, without fully accepting its reality, Covenant does what he can to battle evil and restore The Land to its past beauty and magic. He still does not have fill control of the white gold magic, but he now must be the driving force to save The Land, instead of a tool, as the people of The Land are either locked into a mode of surviving one day at a time, or they have given up. He and his physician/friend, Linden Avery from the "real world" go on a quest for the One Tree, from which a new Staff of Law can be forged. The Staff of law will restore health and order to The Land. Covenant and Avery have a love/hate relationship and, at times, Covenant has a hard time accepting that Avery might be a key factor is saving The Land (Covenant has always been the savior/hero, whether hewanted to be or not).

This is the third book of the new trilogy and the sixth book in the series. The first three can stand alone, and the second trilogy probably could, as well, but it is best to think of this series as a sextet. After reading the first trilogy, I wanted more. While the second trilogy does not disappoint, it does take the tale, and its hero, far enough so that I no longer want more. Some reviewers have said that this last book was already too much, but I disagree. As the hero is weary by the end of the sixth book, so is the author and the reader. This does not mean that Donaldson should have stopped sooner. I wrote a long novel, available as an e-book, and I know that, by the end, I was not running out of ideas; instead, the story was just naturally reaching a conclusion. Thomas Covenant has gone through an ordeal and, even as he has repeatedly saved The Land and restored its beauty and magic, so he has been restored in health and in sanity.

The characters in this series are deep and well-developed; the writing is complicated, intelligent, and extremely sophisticated (the exact opposite of Hemingway's stunning simplicity and not far off from Faulkner's esoteric and obtuse complexity); and the story is riveting, complex, andcoherent. This is NOT a quick, easy read. This IS deep, major fantasy on an epic scale.

I found this book deep, compelling, intense, and creative.
First of all, I adored this book. I've read several times. I believe it may have been the best of the six because of it's climactic buildup and the atmosphere of prophecy that the author gave it. I felt deeply connected with all the characters. Linden was my favorite, but I hold great respect and understanding for Covenant. Their unique internal contradictions and personal issues give them a mysterious power on all levels to manifest the epic, prophetic phenomenon that is constantly in play in not only this book, but many others. I would love it if Stephen R. Donaldson would continue this story in a new series, especially if he included Linden Avery in it, but I understand if he feels he should not. The more I reread these books, the more I appear to get from them, and the more real the characters seem and the more powerfully their lives, although imaginary, apply to mine. It's difficult for me to find books that are as well developed, flowing, poetic, meaningful, stunningly mighty and influential, and surprisingly realistic as this book and the others written by Stephen R. Donaldson. I think these stories are brilliantly human and very refreshing. As I am only a 16 year old, and male, it is also sometimes arduous to encounter situations and people that offer such depth and inspiration. In a world of doubt, stereotypes, unfulfilled expectancies and lost souls, this books is a jewel of wisdom and beauty that continually glows with the spirit placed in it. Delightfully symbolic, startlingly personal, and timelessly touching, this book is a book among books. Keep up the good work.