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Summary: The ultimate anti-hero?
Review: This novel definitely fall into the **love-hate** category -- very few readers will have an indifferent reaction to Donaldson's tale of anti-hero Thomas Covenant. To use one example, how would you react to a hero who commits a rape only a few pages after he's been introduced ... ? If you typically enjoy heroic sword-wielding, quest-taking fare along the lines of Tolkien, McCaffery, Brooks, etc., the Covenant series might be better left on the shelf. The protagonist is THE anti-hero -- he's a whiner, a coward, and a near-complete pacifist. If Thomas Covenant had led the quest to destroy the One Ring in Mount Doom, then Middle Earth would assuredly be totally under the sway of Sauron ... However, if you're looking for a novel that will challenge your expectations, throw in some surprises, and provide solid, readable prose, then you'll at least be intrigued by Lord Foul's Bane -- whether or not you actually LIKE it will, again, depend on how you react to Covenant. Personally, I felt it was a four-star effort. I found it intriguing, if a little bit distressing. It's also over-long in parts and slow in a number of places. Overall, though, a fine read. -- Duke Ritenhouse, advocate of the 200-word review
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Summary: Covenant's Trilogy's
Review: I was completely consumed, absorbed in the intricacy of the completed works, I have never read anything like them before..characters, surroundings drew me deeply into the world of Thomas Covenant in such a visual manner I found myself to be really there, experiencing the journey of Thomas through the new worlds in which he found himself...Absolutely an amazing other worlds read from the first word of the first book to the last word of the last book.
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Summary: Lord Foul's Bane, top of the food chain!
Review: I can't say much more than what's already been said. I tried reading this when I was younger but was put off my the present-day scenario leading into the Jaunt into The Land. However now I appreciate the story much more. This may be more of an adult's book than a kid's book.I finished the first one and am looking forward to the others. The leprosy was a surprising trait for a protagonist to have; I was saddenend to see Thomas become afflicted with it again at the end. The character development is rich and overall, I really, really liked this book.Sorry this review isn't better written but I'm on beer #5!
Rating:
Summary: Hard going in places, but worthwhile...I think?
Review: I WANTED TO KILL THE LEADING CHARACTER BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS BOOK! I kept hoping that Thomas Covenant would snap out of his self-pitying, agressive and generally nasty personality and perhaps try to fit in and work with the new world and people he found himself in after losing consciousness. However, he didn't. But I still had to keep reading to see how it all worked out. I don't think I've disliked a leading character quite as much as this one, but the book is brilliant. It is thoughtful and descriptive. The fantasy world TC finds himself in is beautifully painted and the people and places are mind blowing. I have a perfectly clear view of the whole Land. It's a pity that TC is such a contrast to the beauty and life around him. His self-centered and hostile attituted is a very stark contrast to everything about him. I suppose that without the difference, the book might actually be a little less riveting. If you've enjoyed books like "The Many Colored Land" then you will probably enjoy this one. It's a combination of the tangible with the fantasy and makes for an interesting mix. And of course, the other books in the series are "must" reading too.
Rating: 
Summary: Waste of Money
Review: I love to read fantasy novels, and my favorites are "The Lord of the Rings," and "Wheel of Time." Since I have read LOTR about 5 times and I am waiting for the next WOT book to come out, I thought that I would try something by an author I hadnt heard anything about. I know not to make that mistake again! I had to skip about 15 pages in the beginning of the book just because Covenants talk of leprosy is so monotonous and boring. And maybe its just me but I enjoy action, and the hero's have great power or skill. Covenant has nothing; no power, no skills, NOTHING. But then again, maybe he does have something, I dont really know. I made it halfway through the book before I put it down to collect dust. So do yourself a favor, if you like books that you apparently have to read half way through to get to anything interesting, buy this book! But if you dont like to sit and wonder when something is going to go down, dont buy it.
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Summary: Doubting Thomas
Review: This double trilogy is quite famous, and for good reason. The six books in order are "Lord Foul's Bane", "The Illearth War", "The Power that Preserves", "Wounded Land", "One Tree", "White Gold Wielder".
Not everyone is a fan of the books though, so beware. The reason for this is an irritating feature, (at least in my opinion), of the main character, Thomas Covenant. Basically he denies the reality of his whole experience through most of the first three books. I mean really... Who can say what is real and what isn't. Most of us operate from the paradigm that what seems real will be treated as real until proven otherwise.
I'm glad I got that of my chest. Now, where was I. What makes this series of novels excellent is it's creativity. The creatures, places, natural laws, history, myths and gods are all fabulously bizarre. Thinking about it now just makes me want to dive back in and read the whole lot for the fourth time.
The story is about Covenant's efforts to deal with the Devil of another world. Our hero is hampered by leprosy and disbelief. Of the two, the second is the larger problem by far. On his side is his white gold ring, which has mysterious and mostly uncontrollable powers.
The broad plot is fairly simple but hidden within that is a wealth of detail that makes the whole tale come alive. The other interesting point is how long we live inside the hero's head. There is no small thought or feeling that avoids our inspection. Overall the chronicles are well worth a read if you want to escape into a new world for a while.
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Summary: Unbelievable! Truly fantastic...
Review: Thomas Covenant, to me the name held no meaning, until my mother offered me "Lord Foul's Bane", the first title in the "First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever", by Stephen R. Donaldson. I laugh now, for from this point on I will look at all novels I read and measure them by this standard, I can no longer imagine not knowing the Land and its wonderful inhabitants. Mr. Donaldson created this most amazing series when I was but a baby, and though I thought I had grown, I can see from these characters that I am yet a child. The way in which they treat each other and the land they call home is awe inspiring, such respect, and such love. Then...then enters pestilence. Thomas Covenant is not a hero, as others have called him. No, he is nothing of the sort; despite the fact the Lords of Revelstone, and the other myriad of delightfully deep characters such as: Saltheart Foamfollower the Giant, Lord Mhoram, and even Lena believe him to be such. No, he may be the protagonist, but he is no hero. Thomas Covenant is a Leper, and lepers cannot be heroes, or can they? Over any title I have yet reviewed, I recommend to you this book and the two that follow (The Illearth War, and The Power that Preserves). Mr. Donaldson delivers to the reader a marvelously deep world full of deep characters, it will compel you to love each and every character; to marvel at their mercy and capacity to stand in the face of despite and despair. The only exception will be Thomas Covenant, you will long to wring his neck at the best of times and seek his blood at the worst. To shake him in his unbelief, and rend him limb from limb when he commits such vile acts upon the people and the land, because "it's a delusion...it's not real!" The real question I found myself asking throughout the series was...is the land his delusion? Is it nothing more than his own impotency, an allegorical struggle against his diseased body and mind? I do not think I have found an answer, but I have found a bursting love for the land, and for Mr. Donaldson's writing voice and style. I have yet to read the Lord of the Rings (next on "to do" list), so I cannot lend an opinion on whether this is a "rip off" of that glorified tale or not. Nevertheless, I can tell you that in comparison to Tolkien's "The Hobbit", Donaldson's style and voice are more mature, and of all around better craft; as is the struggle in which the characters find themselves embroiled.
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Summary: Not your typical Hero
Review: This series will suck you right in, but make no mistake, you will find yourself aggrevated with The Hero, Thomas Covenant. I found myself practically yelling at him at times! I do not recommend these books to anyone who cannot bare to have a hero that is not perfect, or even likable! Great reading, great story, great character development. Perhaps this book is too complicated for some, but anyone who truly enjoys and understands good fantasy will recognize it for the gem that it is.
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Summary: This book might be considered good if...
Review: ... you consider the fact that many of us have coffee tables that need to be shimmed up under one leg. I hated to hate this book. I think that many of the side characters were interesting and deserving of living in a fantasy world where TC should never show his face. I read both TC trilogies hoping that somewhere along the way, TC would develop a spine and mature emotionally if not intellectually. My brother recommended the series only to tell me after I had finished that he had never made it all the way through as he couldn't stomach the depressive quality of the main character
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Summary: A Fantasy Masterpiece
Review: The first "Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" are one of the highlights of fantasy literature. If you're looking for excellent fantasy and haven't read this trilogy yet, look no further. Get all three volumes immediately, take a few days off, and enjoy. But be warned: Covenant is an intense and, at times, bitter and difficult experience, and you'll not quite be the same person afterwards. For those of you who want to know a little bit more, here's a very brief outline of the tale. On Earth, Thomas Covenant is a leper, a man walking the streets "like a derelict". His entire be-ing is focused upon his illness; he is totally alone and unable to interact with others. Suddenly, as the result of a car crash, he is transported into another world. His illness has vanished; he is whole. At this point in time almost every writer would have his protagonist dance around with joy. Not Donaldson, and there's the essence of the story's bittersweet beauty. Covenant, over-whelmed by what has transpired, proceeds to brutally rape a young woman; he simply can't handle what has happened. After this, he takes refuge in the only course of action he can: he bluntly refuses to accept the reality he finds himself in. He becomes "the Unbeliever". What unfolds is a delicate balancing act. Throughout the trilogy, Covenant resolutely clings to his disbelief, in spite of the extremely rich and wonderful world he finds himself in. On the other hand, he is able (and indeed compelled) to act, within the boundaries of his own restric-tions, on behalf on the peoples of that world. More in particular, he is, ultimately, able to take on Lord Bane (Donaldson's version of Tolkien's Sauron). This results in a truly epic tale (which is rare!), told well and with great feeling for back-ground. That tale is vastly superior to, say, Robert Jordan's generally loquacious and rambling Wheel of Time series, good as some parts of that series are. It is, to give another comparison, infinitely better than Janny Wurts's "War of Light and Shadows" or anything written by David Eddings, Katherine Kerr or L.E. Modesitt. However, this is only part of what the trilogy is about. Equally important is the character of Covenant himself and his journey towards acceptance of himself and of life. This is perhaps best illustrated by the ending of the trilogy, when Covenant is thrown back to Earth and finds himself in a hospital bed. Given this setting, the trilogy ends with a deceptively simple sen-tence: "He smiled because he was alive." In a sense, The Unbeliever has come to believe. (As an aside: when the trilogy had just been published, Joanna Russ, an acerbic but intelligent reviewer - and writer of science fiction - did her utmost to lambaste fantasy in general and Covenant in particular, claiming that neither dealt with any character development whatso-ever. She seems to have totally misunderstood the essence of this work!) Donaldson went on to write a second trilogy: The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. There is a great deal to enjoy in this sequel, but to be blunt I feel the entire endeavour was a mistake for a number of reasons. From a literary point of view at least, that project should have been abandoned. On the other hand, his "Gap" series (science fiction) is excellent. Final words: essential reading for anyone at all interested in fantasy. A true classic!
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