[Keyoke]

I am wondering if anyone has read "The Gap series" by Stephen Donaldson. I've picked up "The Real Story" the first book in the series and bout to start it.

I've heard mix things about this series, primarly, that it is very dark.. Though, these days, what is consider dark? Alot of author (Martin, Stover, and even Goodkind) seem to be using darker theme's in their books.

Anyways, I am just looking for a new scifi series to sink myself into..

Some series I did enjoy recently are all the Hyperion books, Endymion, and Reality Dysfunction by Hamilton..

Thanks. :D

[fortytwo]

Yes,
If you like murder,rape, violence etc. go ahead and read the series. It's well written (as you would expect from Donaldson ) but it is extremely grim.. as obviously you've heard.
I had mixed feelings about it ,although it was very readable I did get fed up with the constant swearing which I felt was over and above what was needed in the story.

Personally I thought the other two series you mentioned were much more enjoyable,especially the Hyperion Cantos.

[vexed2002]

I read them about a year ago and its by far the darkest series I have read, I wasn't entirely comfortable with the murder, rape, violence bit (although if you have read the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant you should expect it) Basically.. if you liked the first book I would definetely recommend the rest of the series, I thought it got startlingly better ;)

vexed / paulk

[Rob B]

I've been wanting to get around to this series for a while, but I can never find all the books in one place. That is, I don't want to get the series incomplete.

Barbarossa mentioned that he liked the series a lot.

[Keyoke]

Yah, I keep looking at it myself. I know it has a very dark theme to it, but, repeated rapes? I dont know if I can tolerate that, I mean, took me a bit to get past that in Lord Foul's Bane..

Keyoke

[kaseryn]

That is a bit uncomfortable, especially once u get into it. It doesn't help that, as others have said, it isnt a new theme.. and makes one a bit suspicious before reading. Dunno what to say about it really.. except that they are a blinding set of books. It does get pretty dark but if u like.. that sets the poles. It doesn't come off gratuitous within the story or character formation/presentation. If u dare to go there, u can have a great read and come away without fear of recrimination. No weakness in the books made me feel a voyeur.. so i guess thats a pretty good sounding point.

[Sammie]

Just wanted to revive this to say - am on book 4 of the 5 of these atm - and they are EXCELLENT. Gripping, well-written, exciting, and with some LOVELY grey characters.

I like!!

[Hungry Jo]

I have only read the first one and I have to say I wasn't exactly blown away.

Having said that, the series is supposed to get much better.

[Lucky Joe]

It's been a while, but as I remember the first book is practically one extended rape scene. Very disturbing. The second and third book got better, though I often found myself saying, Yeah right, however I lost interest in the forth book.

[Sammie]

The first book is more of a character study than a plot-driven story......that's cool with me cos i like my books character focused/driven. But the second on just kinda explode out into a much wider view - bringing in people and issues that are hardly touched on in the first book. In a sense, it reads like te whole thing is one giant book, to which the first part is just a prelude - setting out the charaters in the right places, and giving the characters the motivations that drive them later.