The Runes Of The Earth

[Foxbat]

- the title of the opening salvo of Stephen Donaldson's continuation of his Thomas Covenant Chronicles. Apparently this next set will consist of four volumes and the aforementioned Runes is published on October 17th.

I know there are a few of us on the boards who quite like this series so I just thought I'd mention it.

[brightcrow]

Yes, I really liked the first trilogy of the series, the second not so much. I'm looking forward to more, but may wait until the whole series is out. However, he's coming to the con I'm going to, so I may read it in case I get to meet him or hear him read/talk.

[littlemissattitude]

I'd like to read the new book, if for no other reason than to see how he handles it. I wasn't crazy with how the second trilogy ended. It took me forever the read the last book because I knew what was going to happen and I didn't like it one bit. So, it'll be interesting to see how he transitions into a new series.

[Foxbat]

I agree with both your comments on the second trilogy (particularly White Gold Wielder). But it did have some redeeming points - The Wounded Land and the imaginitive changes the Sunbane caused, as well as the Clave and the need for blood I thought were particularly well done.
Hopefully this new set will be as good as the first

[Rane Longfox]

Bumping this... do you need to have read any previous Covenant stuff to read Runes of the Earth and understand all of it? Because Runes... looks quite good, but I haven't read any of his previous stuff.

[Foxbat]

I think reading the previous stuff would definitely help to understand the world and how Covenant's Leprosy moulds his participation within The Land.

[Rane Longfox]

I was afraid you might say something like that

[GOLLUM]

I've read all of the T Covenant series including Runes and YES you really need to read the previous series to get the most out of it.

It's not everyone's cup of tea but for me it's a landmark series in the fantasy genre that essentially deals with the psychology of the human condition in a fantasy setting.

A nice change from the standard fantasy fare one sees these days.

Good stuff!!

[Andyhug]

What has happened to me!? I Remember the first chronicles of Thomas Covenant as the greatest set of books that I ever have, and probably ever will, read. I thought the Gap series was just as good and I enjoyed the 2nd chronicles very much. But I tried to read Runes and I havent even gotten up to the land yet. I found myself reading and thinking "Nothing is happening...Will something happen soon?...Something happen for god sakes!". The weird thing is this book seems to be at the same kind of pace that all the others were. Time has moved on and maybe I have with it =(

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Andyhug

What has happened to me!? I Remember the first chronicles of Thomas Covenant as the greatest set of books that I ever have, and probably ever will, read. I thought the Gap series was just as good and I enjoyed the 2nd chronicles very much. But I tried to read Runes and I havent even gotten up to the land yet. I found myself reading and thinking "Nothing is happening...Will something happen soon?...Something happen for god sakes!". The weird thing is this book seems to be at the same kind of pace that all the others were. Time has moved on and maybe I have with it =(

Yep, being a huge Donaldson fan I've read Runes Of The Earth and enjoyed it. After the first 100 pages or so we return to The Land, although things have obviously changed from before..

Ciao for now.

[Novocaine]

Didn't Runes of the Earth outsell Lord of the Rings? It's what I heard, so I am sure as hell picking up that series.

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Novocaine

Didn't Runes of the Earth outsell Lord of the Rings? It's what I heard, so I am sure as hell picking up that series.

Runes Of The Earth is certainly worth a read IMHO. Just make sure you read the first two chronicles of T. Covenant (trilogy X 2), otherwise you won't get all of Runes. I think it's on the link of fav books I sent you?

Ciaoo for now..

[Rahl Windsong]

Aye well I think I screwed myself on this series I found The Runes of Earth at my local bookstore and when I was browsing it I noticed it said something about it being the First of the last...and like a fool I figured well if its the first it must be ok to read it so I did...good book I really enjoyed it but most likely now the previous parts will not be as good?

Rahl

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Rahl Windsong

Aye well I think I screwed myself on this series I found The Runes of Earth at my local bookstore and when I was browsing it I noticed it said something about it being the First of the last...and like a fool I figured well if its the first it must be ok to read it so I did...good book I really enjoyed it but most likely now the previous parts will not be as good?

Rahl

Actually the previous books are on a similar par so do check out the First and Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (2 trilogies). Knowing what you know from Runes shouldn't spioil things too much as there's still plenty of story in the earlier series.

By the time you've got through them and all the other books I recommended to you you'll be ready for the next Malazan book afte Bonehunters...

[GOLLUM]

Hi folks.

By way of an update the second book Fatal Revanant is near completion but requires further editing. Below are suggested tentaive dates for the remaining books in the Final Covenant series:

Fatal Revenant - 2007
Shall Pass Utterly - 2010
The Last Dark - 2013

So the message here is, make sure you have plenty of other stuff to read in the meantime...