[saintjon]

So I picked up Lord Foul's Bane about a month ago, but it's been a busy month and i'm only getting near the end now, but it's been a pretty good read.

Here's my take on it.

Different from most fantasy in that most of the conflict and story takes place within Covenant himself as opposed to, Covenant goes around killing monsters with a sword. This gives the book a good kind of depth I think. Not better than the depth of say, Martin, but different, and in that refreshing.

Covenant does things I don't like. He does this rather often. If I were him, I would eat the Land up with a spoon (then again, I've never been trained to give up hope). However, Covenant, being someone else's character, has no responsibility to pander to my sensibilities and everything he's done at least makes sense. Sometimes, it seems like he's on the verge of a big new character growth only to end up mired in internal struggle all over again. At times like this I sincerely want to give him a boot in the ass in what I think is the right direction.

What do you guys think?

[Cardo]

Yes, thatīs my thoughts too and oops!
MINOR SPOILER
Iīm already reading the second book and I feel that he hasnīt made any progress even though Iīve read two thirds of the book. A good thing IMO in the second book is that it has much more of other people and doesnīt only portray Covenants inner struggle. And to say something of the inner struggle, I think that some decisions he has made arenīt really logical, when you view them against his thought that everything is only a dream.

[enazwo]

I envy the both of you if this is your first read of Donaldson's classic series.
I have read all six books seven times. I love these books.
Anyway all I can say is wait till you get to "The Wounded Land".
Donaldson is a genius.

Mr Covenant has a tendancy to chaffe one's skin.

Here's a little side-note. Back in about 1992 when Mr Donaldson was doing a book signing tour to promote the first book in the Gap Series. The Real Story, I had a chance to chat with Mr. Donaldson.
I asked him if he had any intentions of writing anymore on "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant". He responded that he had spend 10 years immersed in writing Thomas Covenant and that he wanted to spend at least ten years away from it. He then went on to say that he had already written the story outline for three more books. And here's the funny part. In my huge ignorance I said, and I quote, "So you don't need any ideas, cause I got a few?" Mr. Donaldson stopped dead. The modest smile left his face. He handed me back the book he was signing and said, "I think I know the story pretty good."
I'm telling you I literally felt a chill in the air. I attempted to salvage my blunder saying, "Yeah I guess you do."
I remember thinking that Mr. Donaldson was thinking it was going to be a long book siginning because I was the first in line of a few hundred people at B. Dalton at the South Center Mall in Seattle.

[saintjon]

LOL. I find that extremely funny.

[Eventine]

A while back on this board there was a discussion of a possible third chronicles.

I can't seem to find it though.

[Belgarion]

You lucky guys, Donaldson's Covenant series are a classic.

Keep reading and don't give in, I can assure you taht you will be rewarded for persistance.

Yes, Covenant's Inner struggles are frustrating and annoying BUT keep reading!

[Cygnus]

As anyone who has been around should know, I HATED this book. I'm not sure I even managed to finish it. The only reason I kept reading is that I was hoping he'd die in some horrible way. I know he's the anti-hero and it's some big symbolic struggle, but I just didn't give a rip.

I found the series in used book store recently and bought them all with the intention of trying to read it again sometime in the future. Since so many here really like it, there has to be something redeeming about it. It is really hard to read a series when you can't stand the main character, so I don't know if I will ever pick them up.

[Rob B]

As I type this on my home PC, my top shelf only has room for a few books. I've got LOTR on one end and Donaldson 6 Chronicles of Thomas Covenant on the other.

This set of books has so much depth, that I am eager to read them again.

The character of Covenant is one of the most memorable in all of Fantasy. It shows Donaldson skill as a writer that he can portray a leper-rapist as a "hero," and convicingly at that.

Eventine, I remember that conversation, too. Think it was based on a bit of a hoax, though.

[DarthV]

FF,

You'd love one of my shelves... Stover, Donaldson, Tad Willams and Robin Hobb!

[enazwo]

Eventive and FitzFlagg
As I mention in my prior post I talked to Mr. Donaldson in the flesh and he himself told me he had written the story outlines for three more books and that he was going wait at LEAST TEN YEARS before thinking about writing them. That was in 1992 at a booksigning at a B. Dalton in South Center Mall in Seattle Washington. He was promoting his gap series "The Real Story".