did u know Donaldson writing 3 more books to end Covenant series?

[lon gallamour]

i somehow stumbled across that about a month ago. I honestly cant see how you could write a book after The Power that Preserves, since a (spoiler alert) major character is dead.. but you never know, he did have alot of loose threads. Especially stuff about the Banefire and whatnot.

i had always hoped he would do a prequel about Berek HalfHand himself, but i guess not.

[Karsa Orlong]

He already wrote The Runes of the Earth, the three books you're talking about are books 2, 3 and 4 of the Last Chronicles! Where've you been?

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by lon gallamour

i somehow stumbled across that about a month ago. I honestly cant see how you could write a book after The Power that Preserves, since a (spoiler alert) major character is dead.. but you never know, he did have alot of loose threads. Especially stuff about the Banefire and whatnot.

i had always hoped he would do a prequel about Berek HalfHand himself, but i guess not.

I quite like the idea about a prequel with Berek Half-Hand in it. Unfortunately, it would have the effect of legitimising The Land and destroying the need for Covenant's unbelief (and therefore upsetting the whole premise of the story). This was the reason why the chapter that became the novella Gilden Fire was removed from The Illearth War.

[Blind Prophet]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

I quite like the idea about a prequel with Berek Half-Hand in it. Unfortunately, it would have the effect of legitimising The Land and destroying the need for Covenant's unbelief (and therefore upsetting the whole premise of the story). This was the reason why the chapter that became the novella Gilden Fire was removed from The Illearth War.

A prequel with Berek Halfhand would be a good idea, but most of the tale has already been told over the first chronicles (I haven't read the second yet).

As for it legitimising the land, have you seen a programme called "life on mars" It was about a policeman who was hit by a car (similar to TC in the first book) and in the final series he gets back to the future, but we do not find if he was in a coma or if he had gone back in time. He manages to get back after seeing his mother (by jumping off a building), but it did not prove
weither it is a coma or not, so the prequel may not legitimise the Land.

[manethrall jimbo]

Originally Posted by lon gallamour

i somehow stumbled across that about a month ago. I honestly cant see how you could write a book after The Power that Preserves, since a (spoiler alert) major character is dead.. but you never know, he did have alot of loose threads. Especially stuff about the Banefire and whatnot.

i had always hoped he would do a prequel about Berek HalfHand himself, but i guess not.

i recently read an interview with the man 'imself...apparently the idea for the "last chronicles" was concieved at the same time as the "second chronies",(early 80's), enabling him to leave open all the loose ends 'n stuff.runes of the earth was amazing(nothing new)but i couldnt resist the temptation to read chapters 1and2 of "fatal revenant" on the donaldson site-1 word- OHMYGOD!!!!!!! waiting for the latest instalment is becoming unbearable... wheres thelma???

[gil]

Bad news, as far as I can see. Sure, I know he has some following, but Donaldson writes as if he had just swallowed a thesaurus and can't wait to bring it up. I seldom give up on a book, and I got through two and a half of the second trilogy before abandoning the last in depression and despair. Covenant is a man with a vast track record of bad decisions martyring himself in a land where Donaldson can make it difficult for him every two pages or so with some deus ex machina surprise that's never been mentioned before in his quest for The Stolen Broccoli Stalk of Transmogrification (or some such lacklustre talisman).

Nope. Not my cup of tea, as you prolly noticed!

Still, live and let live, eh? After all, I quite enjoy Harry Potter, who has his detractors!

[GOLLUM]

Yes, the other books are:

Fatal Revenant (already out)
Against All Things Ending (still in planning - 2010)
The Last Dark (still in planning - 2013)

[TorrnT]

I read all the covenant books, And as much as i enjoyed them, I couldn't bring myself to read another. They were the most grueling books (for me) i have ever read. Its seemed to me he decided to to write a trilogy and found he only had enough material for 2 books so filled them out with loads of dialog.
I repeat, I throughly enjoyed the the stories but its exhaustive reading.

The Stolen Broccoli Stalk of Transmogrification

Gil, quite simply hilarious.

{what type of story could be so long it does not have an ending}

[Grimward]

Think the Covenant books are grueling? Try Donaldson's Gap series. I couldn't put them down, but boy were they taxing, all the same. And yes Gil, I also agree with the Torn One above; you should copyright "The Stolen Broccoli Stalk of Transmogrification"...hysterical....

[TorrnT]

Hmmmmm... the Gap series. Nah, I have every respect for Donaldson, but i know when I am beat, I wouldn't survive another round with him. (He is the only writer i have read and deem reading his works as a one sided battle of attrition). I put this down to me not being intellectual enough to properly appreciate his work.

[Tansy]

I can't face picking up another Thomas Covenant book, read em years agao and they were as gruelling and enjoyable as LoTR. I didi enjoy them but was glad to finish them.

I much preferred Mordant's need, although I did discover that first

[Grimward]

Mordant's Need and A Man Rides Through were excellent, Tansy! For Donaldson, you could even call them "lighthearted"

[andrew.v.spencer]

He's a laugh a year is old Stephen D.

That said, the First Chronicles blew me away in the eighties. It was a revelation to me that a fantasy novel could twist the genre, (as I then understood it, essentially Tolkienesque), quite as much as it did.

That's not to say I didn't want to kick TC around the room on occasion. I also struggled with the second chronicles. I never liked Linden Avery, consequently as she got more air time, I had to force myself to read on.

[Tansy]

yeah forgive me, but I like reading to be a joy not a chore lol

I just found Covenant really hard going and don't want to get back into the "I must finish them.. I must.. I must.." scenario. I read the previous ones when at college and life was less stressful Now work stresses me out I like my reading to be an escape from the drudgery.. I don't get that with Covenant and may save the latest lot for when I retire