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Here are comments from our group of Advance Readers about Stephen R. Donaldson's THE RUNES OF THE EARTH.
ldts3@comcast.net
Have you previously read a book by Stephen R. Donaldson?
Yes, the entire first Chronicles of Thomas Covenant and the first and second books of the second Chronicles.
What other fantasy writers do you read?
Ursula K. LeGuin
Mercedes Lackey
Marion Zimmer-Bradley
Connie Willis
Greg Bear
Kage Baker
Pam Sargent
What did you think of THE RUNES OF THE EARTH?
The continuation of the Chronicles is welcomed, particularly since Thomas Covenant's (TC) family are involved. Linden follows the traditional mode of reluctant, self-doubting savior of the Land with the addition of using "lesson-learned" and "rights-earned" from her previous visit. The summary of what had gone on before was very helpful as was the glossary. However, the story could have been told in at least 1/3 fewer pages. A great deal of repetitive angst from Linden and affirming/confirming statements to her from her companions made for tedious going. Also describing and -re-describing past and current incidents added unnecessarily to the length.
Would you ever read a future title by Stephen R. Donaldson?
Yes.
Ebookjunky@aol.com
Have you previously read a book by Stephen R. Donaldson?
Yes, I have read the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.
What other fantasy writers do you read?
Terry Brooks, Mercedes Lackey, Piers Anthony, Robert Jordan, Tolkien, China Mieville so many.
What did you think of THE RUNES OF THE EARTH?
As I read more I was drawn into the characters. I felt myself rooting for them at times and against some of them at other times. I was drawn back into my memories of the way Thomas Covenant was affected by the land. The wonders of the journeys. Seeing what happened to the land over the years was at times so frustrating. And those magnificent horses!
Would you ever read a future title by Stephen R. Donaldson?
Very definitely, yes.
jeffrutherford@gmail.com
Have you previously read a book by Stephen R. Donaldson?
Yes, I have read the two previous Thomas Covenant trilogies.
What other fantasy writers do you read?
George R. R. Martin, Tad Williams.
What did you think of THE RUNES OF THE EARTH?
The long wait for a new Thomas Covenant trilogy is finally over, and the wait has been well worth it!
Would you ever read a future title by Stephen R. Donaldson?
Yes.
johnsomc@muskegoncc.edu
Have you previously read a book by Stephen R. Donaldson?
I have read everything Mr. Donaldson has written, including the Covenant Chronicles; both books in Mordant's Need; the 5 book Gap Sequence, and both volumes of short stories. I have also read his mystery novels, originally published under his pen-name, and now being reissued.
What other fantasy writers do you read?
I currently enjoy the contemporary work of China Mieville, Steven Erikson, George R. R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, Charles de Lint, and Ursula K. LeGuin. I also have studied and currently teach fantasy from its early period, such as Lord Dunsany, E.R. Eddison, J.R.R. Tolkien, Fritz Leiber, Robert Howard, Michael Moorcock, Mervyn Peake, etc.
What did you think of THE RUNES OF THE EARTH?
THE RUNES OF THE EARTH will please long-time Donaldson fans as well as earn him new admirers --- his writing remains thought-provoking as well as exciting, and stylistically he remains far above most of his contemporary challengers in the fantasy genre. The characters are strong, believable, and complex, with human weaknesses as well as strengths, and the pace of the narrative pulls the reader along in its wake. Action scenes are intense and compulsory reading --- hard to pause or put the book down, and the quieter moments are well-nuanced and, towards the end, even moving.
Those readers returning to the world of the Land will find new twists and the beginning of a plot that promises to reveal some of the never-before answered questions about the Land's history. In short, this book should send Donaldson back to the top of the charts as well as the best-seller list --- and it is well deserved. Terry Brooks and Robert Jordan only wish they could write mature and sophisticated fantasy novels that are this good.
Would you ever read a future title by Stephen R. Donaldson?
Donaldson has long been one of my favorite authors, and his work outside the Covenant series is long overdue to be recognized in both the fantasy and the science-fiction fields. I would read anything he writes.
Kstockhaus@aol.com
Have you previously read a book by Stephen R. Donaldson?
Yes, I read the previous 6 Thomas Covenant books 2 or 3 times. I also read THE MIRROR OF HER DREAMS and A MAN RIDES THROUGH.
What other fantasy writers do you read?
I've read all the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan. Also several by Patricia A. McKillip. The odd miscellaneous fantasy novel.
What did you think of THE RUNES OF THE EARTH?
Unfortunately I've only made it about halfway through the book. So far it is terrific! It is just amazing to be able to revisit the Land and these characters after all these years. Even though I've read the original series a couple times, it has probably been about 15 years since the last read. I was worried I would be lost or that, like some series continuations, there would be a lot of hashing over past events. SRD does a wonderful job of reminding the reader of important information without making it seem like a lecture or out of place in the narrative. The characters remain true to themselves from past novels and the reader feels like they have not been away for 20 years. There is action aplenty from the beginning. While the Land is a place we know, things have changed enough to make the journey fascinating. The new characters such as Anele really add depth. It's been a privilege to read an advance copy of this long awaited continuation...even if we TC lovers didn't know we were waiting! Thank you very much for including me in this process. This is the first time I've done anything like this so if I didn't include enough information, please let me know! Summing up...LOVE IT! Thanks!
Would you ever read a future title by Stephen R. Donaldson? Absolutely! How long will we have to wait for the next installment??
Larrmadillo@aol.com
Have you previously read a book by Stephen R. Donaldson?
Yes, I have, the two series: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant and The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant; and DAUGHTER OF REGALS.
What other fantasy writers do you read?
Andre Norton; Anne McCaffrey; Peter S. Beagle; Charles de Lint; J. R. R. Tolkien; Eoin Colfer; George MacDonald; C. S. Lewis; Alan Garner; Philip Pullman; Jan Siegel; Lawrence Watt-Evans; Orson Scott Card; George Alec Effinger (I consider him both Fantasy and SF); Roger Zelazny; David Eddings; Elaine Bergstrom; numerous others....
What did you think of THE RUNES OF THE EARTH?
A great further elaboration on the themes of Unbelief and the Land! No other author seems to be able to craft characters with such an admixture of properties which simultaneously attract and repel. Not classically anti-heroic...not merely flawed... but riven with such powerful doubt and urges and forced by circumstance to make portent choices upon incomplete understanding. Donaldson's complex interpersonal character relationships step miles beyond other tales of quest and honor and simple glory. Here no mere "band of brothers" is being forged off on some "this boy's adventure" in Saturday serial fashion. No, here alliance itself is always at issue. Survival of all is at stake. Trust and parallel interest can never be assumed or assured; yet, becomes the inescapable cusp upon which action must be premised. Action which may break the reader's heart as assuredly as it may, en-story, rend the character's own heart, being and the very Land itself. As ever, one can but marvel at Donaldson's illuminative precision with language. I compile a list of savored words and phrases as I read him. Thanks be that his words are not, as flavors, mere gustatory tastings which briefly linger in shadowed memory; but, instead, endure, as if a fresh-ground spice upon each visitation. To read Donaldson is to be hand-led through a universe of utter fascination and eldritch attraction. A marvelous read.
Would you ever read a future title by Stephen R. Donaldson?
In a heartbeat, yes!
jharveytx@yahoo.com
Have you previously read a book by Stephen R. Donaldson?
Yes, I have read almost everything Mr. Donaldson has written, with the exception of his mysteries (written under the pseudonym Reed Stephens). I long felt the initial Covenant trilogy was the best example of contemporary fantasy (erck) writing. His Gap Series was also excellent. In fact I recommend it over the Covenant series, mainly because I never appreciated the second trilogy as much as either the Gap books or the original Chronicles.
What other fantasy writers do you read?
My favorite Fantasy (I really hate that term) author is George R. R. Martin. I also greatly enjoy Robert Jordan, although I'm getting a bit tired of his clichés and the fact that he seems determined to never finish the Wheel of Time series. Currently I'm having a blast reading Terry Pratchett. In the same vein, I think Douglas Adams is the bees-knees. Other fantasy writers: Tolkien (the god, of course I've read his work), Michael Moorcock, Roger Zelazny, Neil Gaiman. Tad Williams just completely blew me away with his Otherland series (is that fantasy? What about Jorge Luis Borges? I love his stuff). I've also read David Gemmell, but found his stories a bit repetitious (but not as bad as Dave Eddings a writer I loathe with my entire being). T.H. White, Lewis Carroll, Madeleine L'Engle, Ursula K. LeGuin, Stan Lee. I can’t believe I forgot to mention Orson Scott Card, Harry Turtledove, Michael Chabon (his fiction novel, Cavalier & Clay is easily one of the best contemporary books written), Anne McCaffrey, C.S. Lewis (a little preachy), Patricia McKillip, Katherine Kurtz, Frank Miller (another god, if only for resuscitating the Batman), Dan Simmons (I was really disappointed by CARRION COMFORT), Philip Jose Farmer, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Mary Shelley.
What did you think of THE RUNES OF THE EARTH?
I'll admit that I was a bit anxious about another Covenant trilogy. Then I found out it will be four books --- yikes! I don't remember the second series very fondly. But after about two chapters I was ready to not only give the second Chronicles a re-think, but if I'd had time, I probably would have re-read them.
I thoroughly enjoyed THE RUNES OF THE EARTH. Again Donaldson has shown that Fantasy is a real and respectable literary genre. It can be well-written, thoughtful, and even provocative. Donaldson's precise and capacious vocabulary has always been a favorite bonus for me. He doesn't insult his readers, but challenges them with words like cynosure, condign, and formication.
But my favorite element of Donaldson's writing is very present in THE RUNES OF THE EARTH, and that is his intelligent and pervasive themes. He clearly shows how each character's past influences his or her choices. How his characters are always, seemingly, just one choice away from despair. They are living and breathing people. I could no more believe that Linden Avery would allow wanton suffering than think Haruchai take vows lightly. These people are alive and the problems they face are real. Donaldson's characters are so alive and the problems they face are so real that the logic behind the inner-struggles they experience and the choices they make are understandable, believable, and ineluctable.
With all that said, my final reaction to this book is one of sourness. I have strived in the past few years not to read a multi-volume book series, unless they are complete. I have been waiting two years (at least) for George R. R. Martin's new Fire & Ice novel to come out. I have begun to doubt that Robert Jordan has any intention of finishing the cash-cow called Wheel of Time. And now I have to wait for three more books to be written and published. Arggh! In other words, I can't wait for the next book, FATAL REVENANT to hit the bookstore shelves. Any idea when that might be?
Would you ever read a future title by Stephen R. Donaldson?
Yes, see above.
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