Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #573137 in Books
• Published on: 1995-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 684 pages

Customer Reviews

Best in the series?
The third and fifth books of this series are the ones everyone remembers, but I greatly preferred this to 'A Dark and Hungry God Arises' (partly because I could never figure out what the title referred to, unless it's a reference to 'the Dragon'). More character development and a better chance to look around the universe that Donaldson has created. I also liked the introduction to 'Punisher' and her crew, who are possibly the only straightfoward human beings in the book- like all cops everywhere, just trying to do an impossible job in the face of chaos, manipulation and incomprehensible orders from Higher Up. Donaldson gives his struggle more of a human face in this book, shifting his focus from Morn, Angus and Nick towards the ordinary human beings stuck in the middle. Vector Shaheed is a really interesting character in this respect, since he actually volunteers of his own free will to do the right thing, unlike most of the other characters (although I think it was just a wee too bit too handy that he turned out to be the only person who could crack the magic drug's formula- what are the chances of that?). This book is really a bit of a 'calm before the storm' installment in the series, but I think it's a great read, especially since there's less violence in it.

Really Smart Science-Fiction
It is seldom that one sees Sci-Fi with as much attention to detail as the Gap cycle. More to the point, it is not often that one sees Sci-Fi, with the possible exception of writers like Larry Niven or Arthur C. Clarke, which so seamlessly integrates hard science and psychology with real people in real situations. By real, I mean that the characters are driven to, and beyond, the limits of their ability to cope, and not only do they come out shining, but they come out reacting exactly like their background and upbringing would have them react. Donaldson's grasp of the human psyche and his ability to cut away the technology and 'Civilization' we so commonly talk up to reveal the underlying nature of humanity is colossal. He paints us, and realistically, as a cut-throat, dog-eat-dog species in a person to person struggle for survival. Which, in my experience, is exactly what we are.

When you thought things couldn't get any more chaotic. . .
Donaldson has returned to the splendid level of maturity and complexity he established as his own in the first Thomas Covenant series. In fact he exceeded all of my expectations. (I had doubts after his "looking glass" stuff and was skeptical of his ability to handle "hard science" science fiction.) But Donaldson pulls it all off with a deftness and sensitivity that only our best writers can achieve. His plotlines are intiricately weaved in this tale and (as I state in my teaser above) just when you think things couldn't get any worse for the human race in general and these characters in particular, Donaldson gives the screw another twist.

His characters aren't just flawed. They are real. Good people do evil, evil people do good; for good and bad reasons alike.

This story still sticks with me (I finished reading it when it was first released), and I consider it his some of his finest (and perhaps *greatest*) work.

His fearless use of mature and complex themes and language distinguish this series from the thousands of !hacks! currently working in this field.

Thank you Mr. Donaldson.