The
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever
The
Gap SeriesThe
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the UnbelieverThe
Gap Series
Donaldson is not for the squeamish. His characters
are not classic good guys. Evil is not some abstract "Dark Lord"
or dangerous alien. While those characters also exist, Donaldson vividly
conveys the idea that evil is also something we carry around inside of us.
Even the hero. Especially the hero. And because of this, sometimes his stories
can be rough going - the characters may do things we don't like. Something
that repels us. Something that challenges our understanding of the character,
and makes us ask if this is the person we really want to identify with.
It is, after all, easy to identify with Ender
Wiggin (sure I'm brilliant and kind and generous) or Skeeve
(sure I'm clever and nice and have great friends) or Frodo (I'm kind and
good and can resist any temptation). Try identifying with Thomas Covenant
or Angus Thermopyle or (my favorite) Hashi Lebwohl.
Donaldson is not just dark though. He has insights into human behavior and a wonderful imagination, which combine to create two of the best series I have read. I would say that both will be remembered, at least by me, as having been some of the best fantasy and sci-fi written.
This trilogy is profoundly original within fantasy.
The story is about a hero who rejects the fantasy which you have picked
up and started reading. This really screwed with my mind. I found myself
arguing with Covenant alot (and looking rather foolish doing it).The ensuing
adventure is powerful and disconcerting. Do not get discouraged or depressed
- the story is sometimes a struggle (who wants to read a fantasy which is
so damn dark?) but is ultimately well worth the effort. Plus the world is
so cool it helps overcome Covenant's unpleasantness.
This series isn't done yet - the fifth and final
book is due out this year. I have no interest in waiting before I recommend
it - READ IT!! Again, dark and disconcerting but so captivating and powerful
I read the first four books in a week and then spent a week frothing at
the mouth because I wanted the fifth. Donaldson uses science fiction here
in the same way he used fantasy with Thomas Covenant, as a stage for exploring
people suffering from internal and external conflict and pressure. I am
enthralled, and will queue for the final chapter. This, and Neal Stephenson's
two novels are the best sci-fi I have read in the 90's.
** The final book in the series has just come out in hard back, but I lack
the resources ($$) to buy it yet. Damn $23 hardbacks...
****Thank god for libraries. I got to read This Day All Gods Die
and was not disappointed, but neither was I overwhelmingly impressed. On
the first reading I did not like it as much as the first four, and I'm not
sure why. I think I will have to wait until the paperback comes out and
I can read it again.
