Rating: 
Summary: This book combines realism and humanism to a fantasy story.
Review: After reading this book multiple times I would hinestly saythat it isone of the most impressive books I have ever read. From Thomas Covenant's enter to the Land and through his travels, Stephen Donaldson gives audiences a look into a tortured man's conflicts with life, reality, and sometimes love. This book is the start of a large series, which could possibly be considered the greatest fantasy set ever. The next two books in the Chronicles follow directly after this book, they are all really one long tale of Thomas Covenant's adventures and travels in the Land. The second Chronicles takes place sometime later and is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Doorway into self- perception
Review: Reading all six at a young age(15)I found the adventure to be unmatched. Re-reading all of them after years passed, I find the inner turmoil so self defining. You know it's more than just a story when you can read it over and over again, and never grow weary of it, even with the end already known to you.
Rating:
Summary: 10---Most definately!
Review: These books are truly sublime and gloriously beautiful. The theme of "service" throughout is particularly ennobling. I have read them all many times, and the themes and images remain ingrained in my deepest heart. As for a movie; it has to be Daniel Day-Lewis. He is an actor with the deep passion required for Covenant's complex character. Mr. Donaldson, thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent hook for the entire series
Review: When I read this MANY years ago, I tossed the book cover sleeve. Is there anyone who would have one of the ORIGINAL booksleeves (Lord Foul in the cave, not Thomas on the mesa)? I have read the six volume epic thrice and still cry when the giants die. Thanks.
Rating:
Summary: Dark fantasy - love it or hate it
Review: To me, it's simply the best series I've ever read. To others, it's the worst. This is very understandable, as this is probably the darkest fantasy ever written, with tragedies, anti-heroes (a hero with leprosy that rapes a young girl, and later commits incest with their daughter), main characters that die, people who laugh in despair, and descriptions of sadness, rage and emptiness. I love it. You may hate it. Any character beside 1 or 10 would be wrong for the six main books in the Thomas Covenant series.
Rating:
Summary: Never will there be a better Chronicle in my eyes
Review: And there never will I have read many books in my short years and Thomas Covenant is the best type of hero to be. He is an anti-hero hero. Also Tom Hanks? Not in this life time he is a funny man and Harrison Ford does not have the passion for the part. I have all the books even a copy of Gilden Fire in hard back. To meet Stephen R. Donaldson in person would be a great honor. IO have been loking for someone who would fit the Part of Thomas Covenant and i have not found one man yet with passion enough. Truely the memory of Thomas Covenant and the people of the Land will forever linger in my mind. For every page I turn I bring another memory that will be a memory for many, a memory to chairish.
--Patricia Corrigan
Rating:
Summary: Worth ten folds its retail
Review: The most exciting novel I have ever read and together with the others in the series it is to die for.Donaldson does a most amazing job with his character development,of all the reluctant heroes I have ever read about Covenant is the most realistic. For a part of a trilogy it is the fastest paced novel I have ever read.The different creatures, the environment and characters encountered in this novel are a brilliant work of the imagination However his most impressive work is in the development of his characters e.g Covenant's rape of Lena and her mother's sacrifice for Covenant and the land, makes this novel very interesting
Rating:
Summary: Worth The Effort!
Review: Thomas Covenant is unlike any character in the history of fantasy. For this reason it is difficult to get through this, the first of the Convenant novels, since his life is so miserable and filled with pain. It took me three tries to get through myself and, I must say, thank god I made the effort because this is, simply, the best fantasy series ever written. The characters (I include the Land as a character, since it is as important to the plot and development of the characters as any other element in the series) are remarkable and memorable, the plot fascinating, and Donaldson is a writer who, though he might love the English language a bit too much, still manages to convey a tremendous power through his writing. So take the time, make the effort, you won't be disappointed
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Fine writing. Ironically, it is my opinion that Lord Foul's Bane is the weakest of the three books in this series -- a testimony to the strength of the other two, not the weakness of this one. All three are excellent books, and belong on the Fantasy-Fiction required reading list. The lead character gets a bit whiney at times, but Mr Donaldson pulls that into the plot well and it is greatly overshadowed by the abundance of character and scenery development that goes on around him. I found the book very refreshing. Had he published this before Tolkien, Donaldson would be the flagbearer for the genre.
Something to watch out for -- there is a rape that occurs early in this book that is not appropriate for all readers. I found it VERY upsetting, which I suppose is a testament to Donaldson's skill at writing. Anyone reading this as bedtime fare needs to approach carefully.
And at amazon's discount price, HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG?
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest fantasy trilogies ever written.
Review: Lord Foul's Bane is the prelude to one of the greatest fantasty trilogies ever written. Although initially I found Donaldson's new Land somewhat strange and hard to get used to, it was well worth the time invested in reading it. This book does get a little wordy and drawn out at times, but the following two books more than make up for this. "The Illearth War" and "The Power That Preserves", the second and third books of the trilogy, compare or even surpass Tolkien's mastery of fantasy worlds. Having read dozens of fantasy series over the years, I personally consider it the best I've ever read
|
