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Summary: A dark, scary yet wonderful book.
Review: Lord Fouls Bane is a book which features a dark and skeptical man who in the real world is a lepor and is shunned by society, but in The Land he is a hero of epic proportions. His yearning to journey from a perfect place to horrifying reality is interesting and strange. For first time fantasy readers I recomend staying far from this book, but for more deep thinkers lord Fouls Bane is a wonderful book.
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Summary: It doesn't get any better than this
Review: First off - The main character, Thomas Covenant is not a hero. He never claims to be, and the author does nothing to make him into one. Mired in self-hate, Covenant turns within himself (or is this really happening?) and is forced to recognize that there is, in fact, good in the world. In a masterfully created Fantasy world love, hate, trust, distrust, good and evil are mostly handled in the fashion that they exist in the real world - grey and (sometimes) unrecognizable.
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Summary: A rapist can't be a hero.
Review: I only made it half way through this book. Early in the book the hero rapes a girl. I pushed on trying to be interested in what happened. Without the rape it may have been worth reading, however there is no way you can make a rapist into a hero. Half way through I gave up.
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Summary: Tired of Jordan? This series is the way to write...
Review: After suffering through all of Robert Jordan's books, I was linking through to related books and came across one of my all time favorites, the Un-Believer series... which I read over 15 years ago! This series has been the watermark that I've measured all SF/Fantasy series by...the only other series that comes close was the Terry Brooks (Shanarra Collection)... I've read all of Jordan's and have do so but grudgingly... a sense of duty, not enjoyment...IF YOU ONLY READ ONE SERIES IN YOUR LIFE, START HERE!
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Summary: Superb high fantasy literature!
Review: Donaldson is one of the best authors when it comes to character and storyline development. His attention to details and interactions among his characters is flawless. I have read the double trilogy 3 times and will read it again soon. All of my friends have read it as well, and agree that it is high fantasy at its best. I wish Mr. Donaldson would write another book about The Land and its people. There is plenty left to write about without being redundant. Thanks to Mr. Donaldson for a true masterpiece!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Loved it when I was 17
Review: just wanted to make 2 points clear:1. Covenant rapes Lena in what he believes to be a dream - he doesn't think its real. He ends up being the Unbeliever because to accept the reality of the Land is to accept he is a rapist for real. This act is absolutely never condoned and shapes the rest of the series. 2. Incest - Covenant does later sleep with his daughter, but only when neither of them are aware of their relationship. He is not 'capable of committing incest' - he has no idea he is doing it. Good people sometimes do bad things, and just because an author writes about something it does not mean he condones it. Ok?
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Summary: A masterfully executed, emotionally moving work
Review: The fact that so many previous reviews evoke such hate for this series of books is the one of the finest testaments to their value. Donaldson is doing more than entertaining the reader. He is providing insight into human nature through fabulous symbolisms. Those who hate TC are likely people who read books searching for an escape from real life . They want to associate with characters who are delightful and who can provide the reader with a sense of self-transcendence into what they want to be. TC offends these people because he is real. His actions and thoughts are real. His internal struggles are real. He is, in some way, all of us, and the reader who takes the time to ponder the web of complex symbolisms spun in these books will gain a sense of frightful fulfillment not found in any other series. Donaldson will expose your soul in his story. If you are not timid, you won't close the door on it.
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Summary: One of the best you'll ever read.
Review: I've read Stephen R. Donaldsons trilogies several times now and each time is as good as the first.
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Summary: Great language but horrid story
Review: Donaldson uses language in a very artistic, poetic manner. However, his creative use of words was the only thing about this novel that made it at all readable. The world presented is shallow and simplistic, the characters are monochromatic, the story events are monotonous and repetitous (and they traveled yet another day, stopping to eat around noon....) and the whole work is marred by Donaldson's preachy attempts at depicting the superior morality of pacifism. The main character is a pathetic self-pitying rapist who loves to make a grand cynical drama out of every narcissism that he can come up with. The supporting characters are one-dimensional and static; their actions are predictable from their first appearance in the story. The geography is unrealistic and poorly detailed and the historical backdrop is laughably juvenile. Donaldson obviously thought he could emulate Tolkien's success by "borrowing" the main plot elements of Lord of the Rings, spreading it over a fairy-tale history, and sprinkling it with creative word usages. Unfortunately for him, it takes much more than this to craft a fine fantasy novel.
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Summary: Challenging, but well worth the effort.
Review: Both the First and Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant are masterful examples of fantasy writing at its best. As many other reviewers have pointed out, they are not for the faint of heart, but are rich, challenging works that only get better with repeated readings. Yes, Covenant is an infuriating main character and inspires disgust as well as respect. But Donaldson has created a magnificently detailed world and his poignant descriptions bring tears to the eyes; Giants, Bloodguard and Ramen are fantastic creations and the Land itself is heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Even when Covenant does descend into agonizing bouts of self-pity and loathing, keep reading. The rewards of finishing both series will more than make up for the effort.
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