The GAP series - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Foxbat · 13th September 2006, 12:57 PM

It seems the Donaldson section is almost entirely devoted to Thomas Covenant so I thought I'd just mention Donaldson's GAP series. Despite a lot of folk decrying it due to its excessive violence, I think it is actually a better series than the Covenant books.

Now don't get me wrong, much as I enjoy reading about the miserable leper, this Science Fiction is space opera on a grand scale. It is fast paced, full of intrigue and has constantly evolving characters that really does the business as far as I'm concerned.

Perhaps it's just that my natural leaning is more towards Sci-Fi rather than Fantasy but, if you like Donaldson, give the GAP a try.

baldur27 · 13th September 2006, 02:32 PM

I would'nt say better but it's definetly on par

Perpetual Man · 13th September 2006, 04:22 PM

I'd probably say that is equal to the COVENANT books.

That being said I loved the GAP series, feeling that each book was better than the last until the end. I remember getting to the end of the penultimate book and not being able to put it down, reading the entire thing in one sitting then realising that I had to wait a year until the last book would be published.

Very few books get to me like that.

Foxbat · 13th September 2006, 07:27 PM

I know what you mean. I got the feeling that The Real Story was just like a toe dipping in the literary ocean...just testing the water to see if there was a story there worth pursuing. It started to accelerate in volume two and, by volume five, had me biting my fingernails. Likewise, I just couldn't put it down.

Karsa Orlong · 13th September 2006, 11:31 PM

Terrific series, not quite as good as The Chronicles... but in fairness it's not really comparable at all. Let's not be forgetting Mordant's Need either, or for that matter, Reave the Just & Other Tales, this is all quality stuff folks.

Saltheart · 20th October 2006, 11:18 PM

I think it's Donaldson's best: he wrote it at the peek of his talent. GAP is simply amazing.

Clive Folliot · 21st October 2006, 03:38 PM

The Gap Movie: Arnie playing the lead role

Fried Egg · 21st November 2006, 12:48 PM

I thoroughly enjoyed the "Gap" series, far more than the Thomas Covenant books (which plodded in my opinion) and the "Mordant's Need" books I couldn't even finish they were so bad.

I think the "Gap" series could probably be made into a good movie. I would like to see Holt played by Ben Kingsley, Angus played by Russel Crowe, Nick played by Robert Karlyle...

Karsa Orlong · 21st November 2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fried Egg

the "Mordant's Need" books I couldn't even finish they were so bad.

grrr

Quote:

I think the "Gap" series could probably be made into a good movie. I would like to see Holt played by Ben Kingsley, Angus played by Russel Crowe, Nick played by Robert Karlyle...

Interesting choices, melikes.

I hate any books I love ever being made into movies though, so I can't support that.

Fried Egg · 21st November 2006, 04:35 PM

The question is who should play Morn and that woman who's head of enforcement (can't remember her name)...?

Rich · 15th December 2006, 06:52 PM

I really enjoyed the GAP series, I fancy a look at the covenant books but have not taken the plunge as yet.

Just1n Time · 3rd July 2008, 08:09 PM

the gap is my favorite series. i tried to read thomas covenant but i got really bored.

The Procrastinator · 4th July 2008, 06:06 AM

I'm with the Perpetual Man, the Gap series started a little slowly for me but when it got legs it was unstoppable, like a freight train - I devoured the last couple of books avidly, not too many other series have hooked me like that one did on the first reading. Both disturbing and enjoyable at once, I think it successfully straddled the fine line between pleasure and pain so to speak.

GOLLUM · 7th July 2008, 04:32 AM

I really must read GAP. The only work by him I haven't read yet.

Grimward · 7th July 2008, 05:22 AM

****Extremely Minor Spoilers****

My only complaint with The Gap series is that any chapter dealing with either Morn or Angus had to revisit their emotional scars in detail, then in context. We got the picture pretty well from the initial description, especially in Morn's case; did Donaldson really need to beat it back into us so many times, whether in descriptive paragraph or in hearing quotes again as "played back" by the character in their head? I can see a reminder with each new book, but he went way beyond that.

Also, I haven't read another author yet who uses the word "inchoate" so frequently as Donaldson. (This is true in the Covenent books, too.) Nothing wrong with it, but would a "premature/immature/nascent" every now and then hurt?

Don't get me wrong; I liked the Gap series on the whole.

13th September 2006, 12:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Foxbat Haggis Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,273	The GAP series It seems the Donaldson section is almost entirely devoted to Thomas Covenant so I thought I'd just mention Donaldson's GAP series. Despite a lot of folk decrying it due to its excessive violence, I think it is actually a better series than the Covenant books. Now don't get me wrong, much as I enjoy reading about the miserable leper, this Science Fiction is space opera on a grand scale. It is fast paced, full of intrigue and has constantly evolving characters that really does the business as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps it's just that my natural leaning is more towards Sci-Fi rather than Fantasy but, if you like Donaldson, give the GAP a try.

13th September 2006, 02:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
baldur27 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 48	Re: The GAP series I would'nt say better but it's definetly on par

13th September 2006, 04:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
Perpetual Man Biscuit Barrel Master Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Devon Posts: 296	Re: The GAP series I'd probably say that is equal to the COVENANT books. That being said I loved the GAP series, feeling that each book was better than the last until the end. I remember getting to the end of the penultimate book and not being able to put it down, reading the entire thing in one sitting then realising that I had to wait a year until the last book would be published. Very few books get to me like that.

13th September 2006, 07:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Foxbat Haggis Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,273	Re: The GAP series I know what you mean. I got the feeling that The Real Story was just like a toe dipping in the literary ocean...just testing the water to see if there was a story there worth pursuing. It started to accelerate in volume two and, by volume five, had me biting my fingernails. Likewise, I just couldn't put it down.

13th September 2006, 11:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Karsa Orlong Unchained Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 195	Re: The GAP series Terrific series, not quite as good as The Chronicles... but in fairness it's not really comparable at all. Let's not be forgetting Mordant's Need either, or for that matter, Reave the Just & Other Tales, this is all quality stuff folks.

20th October 2006, 11:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
Saltheart Bitter Giant Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 180	Re: The GAP series I think it's Donaldson's best: he wrote it at the peek of his talent. GAP is simply amazing.

21st October 2006, 03:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
Clive Folliot Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Philippines Posts: 1	Re: The GAP series The Gap Movie: Arnie playing the lead role

21st November 2006, 12:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
Fried Egg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Devon Posts: 357	Re: The GAP series I thoroughly enjoyed the "Gap" series, far more than the Thomas Covenant books (which plodded in my opinion) and the "Mordant's Need" books I couldn't even finish they were so bad. I think the "Gap" series could probably be made into a good movie. I would like to see Holt played by Ben Kingsley, Angus played by Russel Crowe, Nick played by Robert Karlyle...

21st November 2006, 04:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
Fried Egg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Devon Posts: 357	Re: The GAP series The question is who should play Morn and that woman who's head of enforcement (can't remember her name)...?

15th December 2006, 06:52 PM	#11 (permalink)
Rich Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 11	Re: The GAP series I really enjoyed the GAP series, I fancy a look at the covenant books but have not taken the plunge as yet.

3rd July 2008, 08:09 PM	#12 (permalink)
Just1n Time Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 7	Re: The GAP series the gap is my favorite series. i tried to read thomas covenant but i got really bored.

4th July 2008, 06:06 AM	#13 (permalink)
The Procrastinator Head in the Clouds Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia, New South Wales Posts: 237	Re: The GAP series I'm with the Perpetual Man, the Gap series started a little slowly for me but when it got legs it was unstoppable, like a freight train - I devoured the last couple of books avidly, not too many other series have hooked me like that one did on the first reading. Both disturbing and enjoyable at once, I think it successfully straddled the fine line between pleasure and pain so to speak.

7th July 2008, 04:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
GOLLUM Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 5,197	Re: The GAP series I really must read GAP. The only work by him I haven't read yet.

7th July 2008, 05:22 AM	#15 (permalink)
Grimward Where matter vanishes... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 322	Re: The GAP series **Extremely Minor Spoilers** My only complaint with The Gap series is that any chapter dealing with either Morn or Angus had to revisit their emotional scars in detail, then in context. We got the picture pretty well from the initial description, especially in Morn's case; did Donaldson really need to beat it back into us so many times, whether in descriptive paragraph or in hearing quotes again as "played back" by the character in their head? I can see a reminder with each new book, but he went way beyond that. Also, I haven't read another author yet who uses the word "inchoate" so frequently as Donaldson. (This is true in the Covenent books, too.) Nothing wrong with it, but would a "premature/immature/nascent" every now and then hurt? Don't get me wrong; I liked the Gap series on the whole.

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