Status
Available
Genres
Collections
Publication
New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2004.
Description
In 1977, Stephen Donaldson changed the face of epic fantasy. With the publication of THE CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT THE UNBELIEVER, Donaldson took the world of fantasy publishing by storm, and created a true phenomenon: an epic fantasy instant bestseller that has gone on to sell millions. The 'hero', Thomas Covenant, is mysteriously struck down with a disease believed eradicated; he is abandoned by his wife and young son and becomes a pariah. Alone and despairing, Covenant falls - and is drawn into a mysterious new world, where gentle people work magic and the earth itself brings healing. He is welcomed as the reincarnation of a legendary saviour, but Covenant refuses to believe; he's convinced he's having delusions. At the end of the sixth book, as Covenant battles to save the world, he is killed - in both worlds - as Dr Linden Avery, his horrified companion, looks on. Now comes the book every fantasy reader has been waiting for. It's ten years later, and Linden Avery thought she would never see the Land, or Covenant, her beloved, again. But Lord Foul has stolen her adopted son, and is unmaking the very laws of nature. And though she believes Covenant dead, he keeps sending Linden messages: 'Find me', and 'Don't trust me'. The Land is in turmoil, and Lord Foul has plans for them all . . .… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member CBJames
The Runes of the Earth by Stephen R. Donaldson was just lying there on the remainder table at Barnes and Noble. It's the first part of a third trilogy about Thomas Covenant who is transported from the everyday world, where he suffers from a rare form of incurable leprosy, to The Land, a magical
I read the first trilogy when I was in middle school. It was one of the first books I found and bought on my own. I remember the bookstore in Pleasanton, about 30 minutes ride on my bike from where we lived, well past the library where I'd gotten every other book I'd read up to then. The woman who ran the bookstore had an English accent, and personally recommended Lord Foul's Bane, the first book in the series. Other kids remember riding their bike to the candy store, I suppose, but books were better than candy as far as I was concerned and this one....well...look at the cover. Doesn't it look like a great book to an precocious 11-year-old reader? It was too, much more grown-up in theme than Lord of the Rings. Thomas Covenant didn't really believe in The Land, even though he was right there in it. He wasn't all together a good person, either. The leprosy he had made him a fascinating character. That was a disease from biblical times, not modern times. I read all three parts of the first as soon as each new book came out. The clerk with the English accent made sure to hold a copy for me.
But that was 30 years ago. Since then, I'd lost track of these books and of Mr. Donaldson altogether. Then I saw the first part of a third trilogy and thought it might be fun. Since summer was just about to start, maybe a big fat fantasy novel would be great. Revisit your childhood, go ahead. It was only $4.98. I didn't even know there was a third trilogy. The hero had died at the end of the sixth book, after all.
Maybe it's just a case of "you can't go home again," but The Runes of the Earth was a big disappointment. It started out well, in the modern world like the other books do, with an exciting plot line about Thomas Covenant's son trying to get his father's ring from Linden Avery the woman he gave it to at the end of the sixth book, just before his death. But as soon as Linden entered the fantasy world of The Land it was like Dorothy had gone from technicolor to black and white. The previously riveting pacing slowed to glacial , the characters became less interesting and lacking in motivation, and all anyone seemed to do was sit around and talk about what had already happened and what they should do next. I kept thinking of that great line in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, "If you're going to shoot, shoot, don't talk."
3000 years had passed in The Land since Linden Avery was last there, so she had a lot of catching up to do. Everything she encountered had to be explained in great detail and for pages and pages of pointless dialogue. I'd forgotten just how much time is devoted to discussing what to do in a fantasy epic. I honestly estimate 40% of The Runes of the Earth is spent arguing about what to do next. That's 40% of an almost 600 page book. I ended up finishing it just because I can count it in the A-Z challenge and I will confess here that I did skip a few chapters.
The back of the book claims that 10 million copies of the Thomas Covenant books have been sold worldwide, so I was not alone in liking them as a child. But this one, I did not like. I'm giving The Runes of the Earth by Stephen R. Donaldson two out of five stars.
Show More
realm where he is not only completely free of disease but the wielder of a powerful magic he does not understand. I read the first trilogy when I was in middle school. It was one of the first books I found and bought on my own. I remember the bookstore in Pleasanton, about 30 minutes ride on my bike from where we lived, well past the library where I'd gotten every other book I'd read up to then. The woman who ran the bookstore had an English accent, and personally recommended Lord Foul's Bane, the first book in the series. Other kids remember riding their bike to the candy store, I suppose, but books were better than candy as far as I was concerned and this one....well...look at the cover. Doesn't it look like a great book to an precocious 11-year-old reader? It was too, much more grown-up in theme than Lord of the Rings. Thomas Covenant didn't really believe in The Land, even though he was right there in it. He wasn't all together a good person, either. The leprosy he had made him a fascinating character. That was a disease from biblical times, not modern times. I read all three parts of the first as soon as each new book came out. The clerk with the English accent made sure to hold a copy for me.
But that was 30 years ago. Since then, I'd lost track of these books and of Mr. Donaldson altogether. Then I saw the first part of a third trilogy and thought it might be fun. Since summer was just about to start, maybe a big fat fantasy novel would be great. Revisit your childhood, go ahead. It was only $4.98. I didn't even know there was a third trilogy. The hero had died at the end of the sixth book, after all.
Maybe it's just a case of "you can't go home again," but The Runes of the Earth was a big disappointment. It started out well, in the modern world like the other books do, with an exciting plot line about Thomas Covenant's son trying to get his father's ring from Linden Avery the woman he gave it to at the end of the sixth book, just before his death. But as soon as Linden entered the fantasy world of The Land it was like Dorothy had gone from technicolor to black and white. The previously riveting pacing slowed to glacial , the characters became less interesting and lacking in motivation, and all anyone seemed to do was sit around and talk about what had already happened and what they should do next. I kept thinking of that great line in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, "If you're going to shoot, shoot, don't talk."
3000 years had passed in The Land since Linden Avery was last there, so she had a lot of catching up to do. Everything she encountered had to be explained in great detail and for pages and pages of pointless dialogue. I'd forgotten just how much time is devoted to discussing what to do in a fantasy epic. I honestly estimate 40% of The Runes of the Earth is spent arguing about what to do next. That's 40% of an almost 600 page book. I ended up finishing it just because I can count it in the A-Z challenge and I will confess here that I did skip a few chapters.
The back of the book claims that 10 million copies of the Thomas Covenant books have been sold worldwide, so I was not alone in liking them as a child. But this one, I did not like. I'm giving The Runes of the Earth by Stephen R. Donaldson two out of five stars.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Razinha
To abuse an overused cliche, when Donaldson burst onto the scene on 1977 with Thomas Covenant, this teen who had only Tolkien and the plagiarist Brooks, and the Chronicles turned the world on its ear. (Okay, many many years later, having read a part of an interview, I realize that Terry Brooks had
Fast forward ten years and 3,500 years from where he left off in White Gold Wielder, the evil that wants the destruction of the Land and everything is risen again in a new but familiar form, and it still has a foothold in the original world of Covenant. When the first of the Second Chronicles came out around the same time as Herbert’s God Emperor of Dune, they both imagined 4,000 years into a future from the familiar. Now, I was a huge Dune fan, but Donaldson did it far better. And he did it again with the Last Chronicles. This is a long set up. Really long. 500+ pages long. And that which was set up to be revealed at the end was a cliffhanger of epical aggravation. Good thing this time around the remaining novels have already been written and I don’t have to wait!
Donaldson has a skill rarely rivaled in using semi-obscure and sometimes really obscure technically correct but not archaic words. And he writes tomes! Sure Jordan and Eddings (and others) did as well, but they were definitely more somniferous and I couldn’t get into them. Donaldson makes it difficult not for the now and then thesaurus confirmation check but for a maddening central character. The inaction, whether from the unbelief of Covenant or the disbelief and later paralytic belief with Linden Avery, this reader for sure found himself more than once when young thinking, “Oh my god, what is wrong with you?!!” As an adult with 40 years maturity wadded on, thoughts tend more toward a sanitized "Just do it, damn it!"
These are not enjoyable reads. But that is not the same as enjoying reading them. They challenge the imagination. They challenge paradigms. There might be other writers who do this in the context of fantasy fiction, but Donaldson’s books are the ones I’ve chosen to read. They are dark and heavy, annoying and disconcerting, frustrating and yet satisfying, not enjoyable as I said but I enjoy reading them.
Show More
no one but Tolkien as inspiration so it was natural that he emulate him) Those Chronicles were so different. And, then the Second Chronicles...then the Last. I’d read this when it came out in 2004, but remembered only a few things (the beginning and the ending.) I’d also read the next (and remember even less ...just the ending), but never got past 47 words into the third. I intend to fix that in 2019 and finish the series, but I needed a refresher, so ...Fast forward ten years and 3,500 years from where he left off in White Gold Wielder, the evil that wants the destruction of the Land and everything is risen again in a new but familiar form, and it still has a foothold in the original world of Covenant. When the first of the Second Chronicles came out around the same time as Herbert’s God Emperor of Dune, they both imagined 4,000 years into a future from the familiar. Now, I was a huge Dune fan, but Donaldson did it far better. And he did it again with the Last Chronicles. This is a long set up. Really long. 500+ pages long. And that which was set up to be revealed at the end was a cliffhanger of epical aggravation. Good thing this time around the remaining novels have already been written and I don’t have to wait!
Donaldson has a skill rarely rivaled in using semi-obscure and sometimes really obscure technically correct but not archaic words. And he writes tomes! Sure Jordan and Eddings (and others) did as well, but they were definitely more somniferous and I couldn’t get into them. Donaldson makes it difficult not for the now and then thesaurus confirmation check but for a maddening central character. The inaction, whether from the unbelief of Covenant or the disbelief and later paralytic belief with Linden Avery, this reader for sure found himself more than once when young thinking, “Oh my god, what is wrong with you?!!” As an adult with 40 years maturity wadded on, thoughts tend more toward a sanitized "Just do it, damn it!"
These are not enjoyable reads. But that is not the same as enjoying reading them. They challenge the imagination. They challenge paradigms. There might be other writers who do this in the context of fantasy fiction, but Donaldson’s books are the ones I’ve chosen to read. They are dark and heavy, annoying and disconcerting, frustrating and yet satisfying, not enjoyable as I said but I enjoy reading them.
Show Less
LibraryThing member reading_fox
The Land from Linden's Point of View.
Although White Gold Wielder had pretty much conclusively ended Thomas' involvement with the Land, and seemed like a good stopping point for the tale, marketing and money exert massive pressures and so SD has succombed to the lure of extending a finished series
10 years further on - ie about 3000 Land years, Lord Foul has managed to recover from the final defeat that Thomas inflicted on him - although this shouldn't have been possible. And is once again trying to pull someone from the Real world across so they can break the Arch of Time for him, and free him to ravage the universe. The someone he chooses is the ever weak and accessible Joan Covenant. This time however she is being cared fro by Linden who is also caring for Jerimiah - the youngest of those harmed in Foul's previous attempt at gaining the White Gold. When Roger Covenant starts showing an interest (never previous expressed) in his mother and father's history, Linden realises something is about to happen. Again.
In the land, once again everything has changed - this allows SD to play with the fundamental concepts again. Sunbane has gone forever, but the brightness of the earthpower is smothered under a yellow smog - Kevin's Dirt. The Villagers are totally ignorant of earthpower kept so byt he Haurauchi - now called Masters! Becasue in their eyes earthpower was responsible for their loss of honour. One of Linden's first tasks will be to persued the Masters that she - a potent wielder of earthpower is not a threat to them. In this cause she teams up with a innocent villager Liand, and a madman (also earthpowerful) Aneale. Together they meet the Raman, quest (again) for the lost Staff of Law.
It is pure typical Donaldson all the way through 700 pages of dense descriptive and immaginative prose. If you don't like any of his other works you won't like this, but to fans of Thomas Covenant and the Land it is another wonderful installment. New beings are described and old threads followed up upon. I personalyl hate Time Travel as a plot device, but so far it's seems to handled in a sensible manner, both in it's causes and it's possabilities. Of course trhe langauge is difficult. I'm sufficiently well read that Donaldson seldom uses a word I don't know or can't interpret from context, but I would say in tRotE he does so more than in any of his previous works - and not just the brillianc eof the colours smells and sounds of Earthpower, but the very cruicial integrety of beings thoughts and emotions.
The other downside - he finishes on a massive cliffhanger. Very disappointing for it is not his usual style which normally encompasses endings superbly.
.....................................................................................................................
Although White Gold Wielder had pretty much conclusively ended Thomas' involvement with the Land, and seemed like a good stopping point for the tale, marketing and money exert massive pressures and so SD has succombed to the lure of extending a finished series
Show More
- hopefully he really means 'last' this time. However as the master talent that he is, even this offering is way better than the average fantasy out there. 10 years further on - ie about 3000 Land years, Lord Foul has managed to recover from the final defeat that Thomas inflicted on him - although this shouldn't have been possible. And is once again trying to pull someone from the Real world across so they can break the Arch of Time for him, and free him to ravage the universe. The someone he chooses is the ever weak and accessible Joan Covenant. This time however she is being cared fro by Linden who is also caring for Jerimiah - the youngest of those harmed in Foul's previous attempt at gaining the White Gold. When Roger Covenant starts showing an interest (never previous expressed) in his mother and father's history, Linden realises something is about to happen. Again.
In the land, once again everything has changed - this allows SD to play with the fundamental concepts again. Sunbane has gone forever, but the brightness of the earthpower is smothered under a yellow smog - Kevin's Dirt. The Villagers are totally ignorant of earthpower kept so byt he Haurauchi - now called Masters! Becasue in their eyes earthpower was responsible for their loss of honour. One of Linden's first tasks will be to persued the Masters that she - a potent wielder of earthpower is not a threat to them. In this cause she teams up with a innocent villager Liand, and a madman (also earthpowerful) Aneale. Together they meet the Raman, quest (again) for the lost Staff of Law.
It is pure typical Donaldson all the way through 700 pages of dense descriptive and immaginative prose. If you don't like any of his other works you won't like this, but to fans of Thomas Covenant and the Land it is another wonderful installment. New beings are described and old threads followed up upon. I personalyl hate Time Travel as a plot device, but so far it's seems to handled in a sensible manner, both in it's causes and it's possabilities. Of course trhe langauge is difficult. I'm sufficiently well read that Donaldson seldom uses a word I don't know or can't interpret from context, but I would say in tRotE he does so more than in any of his previous works - and not just the brillianc eof the colours smells and sounds of Earthpower, but the very cruicial integrety of beings thoughts and emotions.
The other downside - he finishes on a massive cliffhanger. Very disappointing for it is not his usual style which normally encompasses endings superbly.
.....................................................................................................................
Show Less
LibraryThing member ssimon2000
Wow! Where to start with this one? This series was one of my favorites back when they were first released back in the late 70s and early 80s. But even back then, Stephen R. Donaldson was hard to read, his writing so incredibly detailed and elaborate. Nothing has changed with this book. A fantastic
I highly recommend this book, but you must read the previous six books first or it won't make a lick of sense.
Show More
read, and a great return to "The Land", but I'm exhausted after reading this one. And I must dive into the next one immediately, simply because of the FANTASTIC cliff-hanger ending, a complete surprise that I definitely didn't see coming! I highly recommend this book, but you must read the previous six books first or it won't make a lick of sense.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Karlstar
As usual with Donaldson, this book is rich in detail and imagery, and the plot is complex and involved, but not some huge multi-character epic. He keeps your interest with just one main character. An excellent book.
LibraryThing member HollyinNNV
I enjoyed this book for the second time. I'd read it a while ago. When Fatal Revenant came out, I decided I'd better revisit Runes before heading on to Fatal Revenant. I think I enjoyed Runes because after reading six books that capitalized on the acerbic, hopeless Thomas Covenant, I was ready to
Show More
focus on Linden Avery. She is a far more likable character. Although I also like Thomas Covenant, he was beginning to wear on me.I'm glad that Donaldson highlighted and expanded upon Linden Avery's character! I also enjoyed the character of Esmer. His conflict is quite interesting and I found his background really surprising. Finally, I can't wait to get my hands on Fatal Revenant!! This is one of my all-time favorite book series. Show Less
LibraryThing member simondavies
Gave up on this. Far too boring. What a shame, after the first two series of books were superb.
LibraryThing member danconsiglio
One day I'm going to kick this nasty Thomas Covenant habit. Sadly I'm a completionist. I blame the video games.
LibraryThing member KerryMarsh
I began reading this sage in the early 80's when they were at the height of popularity. The six original stories of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever were amazing, gripping and an epic saga. Imagine my surprise when I came across "The Runes of the Earth", my hands shook as I hurriedly downloaded a
Show More
copy - and it did not disappoint. This story begins with the death of Linden Avery at the hands of Covenant's ex-wife and son when they kidnap her adopted son, Jeremiah. Linden Avery awakens once again in the Land and goes in search of her lost son. Much has changed in the 10 years since Linden's last visit. The Lords are gone, the Staff of Law lost, the Land has been desecrated at the hands of Lord Foul and his minions. Linden plans to save the Land by moving through time to find the Staff of Law. She is both helped and thwarted by the Land's inhabitants, many of whom distrust her. If you haven't already read the previous six, I suggest you do. However, there is enough information in the beginning of the book to help you to move forward without them. Show Less
LibraryThing member symcbean
Not sure about this one. I've devoured Donaldson's previous offerings. This first book is somewhat unsatisfying - maybe I need to read the sequel (not yet published) to find out what's really going on.
LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
In this first of the last four books in the Thomas Covenant Chronicles, Linden Avery is sent back to the Land when she is shot by Thomas Covenant's son Roger and Lord Foul takes her adopted son Jeremiah. She meets new characters from the races introduced in the previous books: Stonedowners,
I read this when it first came out as I loved the first six books. I never finished the series though and decided to do so after reading Mr. Donaldson's new book Seventh Decimate. I remember now why I stopped now.
I don't find Linden a compelling heroine. She dithers and then tends to just fly off in a direction despite advice to the contrary. The new characters are mostly too impressed by her stature from her previous stay in the Land to argue with her. They seem to be mostly ciphers representing their various races.
Since we stay in parts of the Land already visited, there's no new worldbuilding so to speak. The plot starts out fine with Linden grappling with Joan's madness and Roger Covenant's ire before she is hurled back to the Land. Then the story bogs down. She travels and she dithers for most of the rest of the book. Not all that much happens to advance the story besides the quest to find the lost Staff of Law until the very last paragraph of the book. I admit, it's a great cliffhanger so I'll go on with the series, but in my honest opinion this book could have been compressed into a couple of chapters at the start of the next book.
Show More
Haruchai, ur-viles, Ramen, etc who aid her in her quest. I read this when it first came out as I loved the first six books. I never finished the series though and decided to do so after reading Mr. Donaldson's new book Seventh Decimate. I remember now why I stopped now.
I don't find Linden a compelling heroine. She dithers and then tends to just fly off in a direction despite advice to the contrary. The new characters are mostly too impressed by her stature from her previous stay in the Land to argue with her. They seem to be mostly ciphers representing their various races.
Since we stay in parts of the Land already visited, there's no new worldbuilding so to speak. The plot starts out fine with Linden grappling with Joan's madness and Roger Covenant's ire before she is hurled back to the Land. Then the story bogs down. She travels and she dithers for most of the rest of the book. Not all that much happens to advance the story besides the quest to find the lost Staff of Law until the very last paragraph of the book. I admit, it's a great cliffhanger so I'll go on with the series, but in my honest opinion this book could have been compressed into a couple of chapters at the start of the next book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Cecrow
The first six Covenant books were favourites of mine in high school when I lacked critical thinking, a function I've since acquired and lost the shut-off switch for. My experience has been that it's a poor idea for any author to revisit a series that has become decades old. Even through a
An introduction before the narrative provides a brilliant summary of the first six novels, although the first trilogy published in 1977 should be the litmus test. Thomas Covenant is a dark anti-hero and I find him intriguing. His companion Linden Avery is less so in both respects and features here, but she's not to blame for the far too many pages spent on addressing hunger, thirst and weariness, or discussions that seem tangential at best. I especially tired of Linden interrogating Anele: akin to a detective with a murder witness sidekick whom she keeps trying to get another clue out of. Good developments do occur, mysteries sustained my interest, and the last four chapters almost make up for the journey to get there. I'm hopeful what follows will be better now that I'm through the introduction.
Show More
rose-coloured haze I could remember this series is weighty with psychological turmoil and relatively slow-paced. These downsides are more prominent to me now, and together with some other (new?) issues it made a lot of this novel problematic to enjoy.An introduction before the narrative provides a brilliant summary of the first six novels, although the first trilogy published in 1977 should be the litmus test. Thomas Covenant is a dark anti-hero and I find him intriguing. His companion Linden Avery is less so in both respects and features here, but she's not to blame for the far too many pages spent on addressing hunger, thirst and weariness, or discussions that seem tangential at best. I especially tired of Linden interrogating Anele: akin to a detective with a murder witness sidekick whom she keeps trying to get another clue out of. Good developments do occur, mysteries sustained my interest, and the last four chapters almost make up for the journey to get there. I'm hopeful what follows will be better now that I'm through the introduction.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ConalO
The characters were there as the world I enjoyed from previous series but the magic just wasn't there in this one.
2.5 Stars for remembered enjoyment from previous series but this one did not work for me.
2.5 Stars for remembered enjoyment from previous series but this one did not work for me.
LibraryThing member adam.currey
A worthy continuation of the Thomas Covenant series.
If, like me, it's been a very long time since you read the last book, you might be wondering if you need to re-read the previous one (or previous 6) before starting The Last Chronicles. Fear not however, Donaldson does a good job of bringing you
If, like me, it's been a very long time since you read the last book, you might be wondering if you need to re-read the previous one (or previous 6) before starting The Last Chronicles. Fear not however, Donaldson does a good job of bringing you
Show More
up to speed. There is some space at the beginning given over to summarising the previous books, and there are reminders weaved into the story in the form of stories recounted by the characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member quinton.baran
I really enjoyed this book - so much revelation of details that were in the previous books (so it was a nostalgic trip for me, as I enjoyed the previous six books). Linden becomes more fleshed out as a character. New characters that are discovered I find interesting and complex. New trials to
This paragraph from the book expresses much of what I enjoy about this book and the series as a whole:
"There is no dishonor in service. The Mahdoubt labors here, assuredly, and her tasks are weary. Yet by her efforts she is fed and clad and warmed. At night she sleeps beyond harm in a kindly bed, with no rough words"
One theme that is discussed in this book is the sacrifice of the many versus the needs of the one, or vice versa. Another theme is good cannot be done by evil means. Both of these themes are complex and varied throughout the story and drive the motivations of many of the characters.
Understanding that the humans are fragile and have inherent weakness is another theme that over arches the book and series.
With all of this said, I can understand many of the arguments that the characters are difficult to identify with or care about, that the language of the book is high and thick, and that the plot can seem plodding. In my estimation, these things are actually strengths of the book, but clearly no book is for everyone, and it is a rare book that is broad enough to satisfy many.
Show More
overcome and layers of meaning are described throughout the chapters that bring a similar but new flavor from the previous series. This paragraph from the book expresses much of what I enjoy about this book and the series as a whole:
"There is no dishonor in service. The Mahdoubt labors here, assuredly, and her tasks are weary. Yet by her efforts she is fed and clad and warmed. At night she sleeps beyond harm in a kindly bed, with no rough words"
One theme that is discussed in this book is the sacrifice of the many versus the needs of the one, or vice versa. Another theme is good cannot be done by evil means. Both of these themes are complex and varied throughout the story and drive the motivations of many of the characters.
Understanding that the humans are fragile and have inherent weakness is another theme that over arches the book and series.
With all of this said, I can understand many of the arguments that the characters are difficult to identify with or care about, that the language of the book is high and thick, and that the plot can seem plodding. In my estimation, these things are actually strengths of the book, but clearly no book is for everyone, and it is a rare book that is broad enough to satisfy many.
Show Less
LibraryThing member TobinElliott
This one should be subtitled Arrogance because almost every major character shows it at some point.
As a starting point for the four-book Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, it does its job adequately. We're shown the main characters and taken back to the Land. However, once there, very little
Having said all this, I do remind myself that I have to give Donaldson time. When I first picked up the paperback of Lord Foul's Bane way back in 1978, it took me three tries to get past page 70. Once I did, I fell in love with this series.
I expect to do so again.
As a starting point for the four-book Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, it does its job adequately. We're shown the main characters and taken back to the Land. However, once there, very little
Show More
happens, and Linden Avery, on at least two or three occasions, reminds us that this big, sprawling book takes place over a few days. Now that most of the characters are met (though I suspect we still need to get a giant or two into the mix), the story will actually pick up pace, because most of what happens in this one is hand-wringing and waiting.Having said all this, I do remind myself that I have to give Donaldson time. When I first picked up the paperback of Lord Foul's Bane way back in 1978, it took me three tries to get past page 70. Once I did, I fell in love with this series.
I expect to do so again.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MathewBridle
Thomas Covenant Chronicles: Runes of the Earth
Book seven in the saga and … it is very different. For a one there is no Thomas Covenant. Instead the dilemma of the white gold is taken up by Linden Avery which was obvious after the last book as Covenant had died in his own world.
10 years later and
This book differs from all the others in one major way, there are no lengthy, whining, navel gazing introspections. Sure there are times when Linden has to realise that Foul is trying his age old mind games. She however cannot freely use the power of the white gold, neither does she posses the Staff of Law so she has no power at all that she can throw around at her enemies of which there are plenty.
There are indeed many dangers: Anele – the son of Sunder and Hollian a being born of Earthpower. Esmer the child of a Haruchai and merewife. Demondim called back through time aided by the power of the Illearth stone. Joan Covenant possessed of a raver with access to her white gold. Roger Covenant is out there somewhere as is Jeremiah, Linden’s own son. Caesures – roaming time vortexes. Kevin’s Dust that hangs like a pall over the land shrouding earth sight.
The Haruchai are the guardians of the Land though they have kept everyone in the dark about the history of the Land and its Earthpower. There are the last of Waynhim and ur-viles, the Ramen and the Ranyhyn. There are mentions of Sandgorgons and Elohim, the voice of Thomas Covenant calling to Linden Avery and even the giants are out there somewhere.
So with all that to contend with what we really have is a seriously long prologue to the Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever white gold wielder and Earthfriend. The story is more upbeat than any of its predecessors largely due to the absence of the aforementioned whining. It is still told in the same style so it drops seamlessly into the lore of the Land adding more to great depth and drawing much from what has gone before. I hope that you have been paying attention to all the names and details as you are going to need more than a simple glossary of terms to navigate this one.
I did enjoy this instalment, not as much as the last but as I have said it feels to me that it is much of pre-amble. Enjoyable: yes, but, there is no closure to anything what so ever. The book lacks any punch at all, however the next: Fatal Revenant will begin with one.
As much as I enjoyed it I am going to have to mark it down for its non-event finale. 6/10
Book seven in the saga and … it is very different. For a one there is no Thomas Covenant. Instead the dilemma of the white gold is taken up by Linden Avery which was obvious after the last book as Covenant had died in his own world.
10 years later and
Show More
Linden Avery now has an adopted who was one of the children used to summon Covenant to The Land last time around. Roger Covenant is all grown up and seeking to take control of his stricken mother, Joan. Through a long and bloody series of events Roger Covenant, his mad mother, Linden Avery, and her adopted son are all dragged off into the land by Lord Foul. So begins the last chronicle of Thomas Covenant.This book differs from all the others in one major way, there are no lengthy, whining, navel gazing introspections. Sure there are times when Linden has to realise that Foul is trying his age old mind games. She however cannot freely use the power of the white gold, neither does she posses the Staff of Law so she has no power at all that she can throw around at her enemies of which there are plenty.
There are indeed many dangers: Anele – the son of Sunder and Hollian a being born of Earthpower. Esmer the child of a Haruchai and merewife. Demondim called back through time aided by the power of the Illearth stone. Joan Covenant possessed of a raver with access to her white gold. Roger Covenant is out there somewhere as is Jeremiah, Linden’s own son. Caesures – roaming time vortexes. Kevin’s Dust that hangs like a pall over the land shrouding earth sight.
The Haruchai are the guardians of the Land though they have kept everyone in the dark about the history of the Land and its Earthpower. There are the last of Waynhim and ur-viles, the Ramen and the Ranyhyn. There are mentions of Sandgorgons and Elohim, the voice of Thomas Covenant calling to Linden Avery and even the giants are out there somewhere.
So with all that to contend with what we really have is a seriously long prologue to the Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever white gold wielder and Earthfriend. The story is more upbeat than any of its predecessors largely due to the absence of the aforementioned whining. It is still told in the same style so it drops seamlessly into the lore of the Land adding more to great depth and drawing much from what has gone before. I hope that you have been paying attention to all the names and details as you are going to need more than a simple glossary of terms to navigate this one.
I did enjoy this instalment, not as much as the last but as I have said it feels to me that it is much of pre-amble. Enjoyable: yes, but, there is no closure to anything what so ever. The book lacks any punch at all, however the next: Fatal Revenant will begin with one.
As much as I enjoyed it I am going to have to mark it down for its non-event finale. 6/10
Show Less
LibraryThing member toadlip
Donaldson's continuation of the Covenant Chronicles is a decent, easy read. There were times when I felt that the author was trying to impress us with his vocabulary. I got tired of the word 'percipience,' for example. Otherwise, it was enjoyable. I'll probably get the next installment.
LibraryThing member GadgetComa
It took a while to get into this book, but it was worth it. I had trouble dealing with Linden's single-minded introspection at first, but as the story unfolded, it fit. This is similar to how I felt about the beginning of the series. I am enjoying how Donaldson is weaving past, present and future
Show More
stories together. It forces me to think so I can follow all of the threads of the story. He's also filling in some of the history of the Land. Show Less
Awards
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Novel — 2005)
SF Site Reader's Choice (2004)
Language
Original publication date
2004-10-14
Physical description
xx, 532 p.; 25 cm
ISBN
0399152326 / 9780399152320
Similar in this library
Pages
xx; 532