ConqueringWolf
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Merry Meet And Merry Part, Until We Merry Meet Again!
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Post by ConqueringWolf on Nov 9, 2004 9:23:25 GMT -5
Now THIS has to downright be one of the best series of books I have ever read. Never has there been a hero who has been so self loathing and unwilling in all of literature. A leper who hates himself and everyone else pretty much. Yet he wields the ultimate power and at the same time is afraid to use it. For those of you who have read the books I am sure you understand what I mean and hopefully you agree it's one of the best series ever written, and there is the fact that there are 2 trilogies even. 6 books in the entire series.....that is awesome. and know what? I have a new book to go and get from the bookstore now. I was looking this up on the internet since I was going to post about it.....and saw that Stephen R Donaldson has started a new series...The Last Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant with the first book being titled "The Runes Of The Earth" and it deals with Avery Hunter from the last series....and Thomas Covenant's son....and Avery Hunter's son....and she goes back to the land 3 and a half millenia later....and it has been befouled again....and her 'earthsight" no longer works....you see the return of the Haruchai to some extent....and Mithil Stonedown is in this new book also. he has a set of four books coming out in his new Covenant series....so I think I am going to have to read them. ;D
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ConqueringWolf
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Merry Meet And Merry Part, Until We Merry Meet Again!
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Post by ConqueringWolf on Nov 9, 2004 9:28:46 GMT -5
and oh yea.....this would be one set of books I would love to see them make into movies....but I seriously doubt that is ever going to happen.....it's longer and even more detailed than LOTR was....LOL
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oblivion
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Keeper of the Chapa'i
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Post by oblivion on Nov 9, 2004 21:18:39 GMT -5
It was quite a while ago...back when they first came out in paperback I think. I REALLY tried to get into the first 3 books of this series. I read all three even though I was thinking 'ugh' the whole time.
When a book or a series of books develops a big following and I'm left wanting to wash my hands after reading them, I really have to wonder about how my brain is wired. Because I'll read almost anything (see below). You loved this series and you're thrilled there are more books to read. I ponder what in the world about the series turned me off THAT much. I know I didn't like the darkness of the theme, the complete hopelessness, the way EVERYTHING the main character did ALWAYS wound up causing destruction and despair. The hopelessness of the series just wore me down, I guess.
But, I read and enjoy Harlan Ellison, who is one of the most cynical, pessimistic SF writers of all time...so go figure.
Another fantasy series I never warmed up to was the interminable one by David Eddings. But, I liked the Riftwar series by Raymond E. Feist. I don't see THAT much difference between Eddings and Feist as writers, or between their universes, characters, and plotting. But one left me cold, and the other I read and re-read with gusto.
Now, you're probably wondering why in the world I read THREE of Donaldson's books before giving up on the series. And why I read FIVE of Eddings books.
I am addicted to the printed word. I will read cereal boxes -- all six sides -- if there's nothing else in reach at the breakfast table.
Even worse, unless I was so turned off by the book that I KNOW I'll never give it another chance (which usually means I've already read it cover-to-cover twice) I WON'T donate it or re-sell it to the used bookstore. As a result, bookcases are teetering, precariously overstuffed, in every room and hallway in the house. Wallspace? What wallspace?
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ConqueringWolf
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Merry Meet And Merry Part, Until We Merry Meet Again!
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Post by ConqueringWolf on Nov 9, 2004 21:27:37 GMT -5
I loved the Riftwar saga.....with Tomas and Pug if I remember right.....the warrior and the magician who if I remember right....by the end of the Riftwar saga were so powerful they were nearly gods. ;D
and oh yea.....the thing I loved about the Covenant series was the utter hopelessness of the series....it's like everything he did only caused more trouble.....it was great.
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oblivion
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Keeper of the Chapa'i
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Post by oblivion on Nov 10, 2004 0:02:10 GMT -5
So yeah...the cool thing about the series was exactly what I couldn't stand.
Pug and Thomas, yup! That's Riftwar!
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ConqueringWolf
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Merry Meet And Merry Part, Until We Merry Meet Again!
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Post by ConqueringWolf on Nov 10, 2004 8:02:52 GMT -5
Yea...I remember Tomas ended up with the armor of some ancient race of warriors that practically made him a god....the armor would heal him....you basically had to kill him in one shot or it wasnt going to happen...and pug just got so powerful with the magic I wouldn;t be surprised if he knew how to cast an Armageddon spell....LOL
Still hard to believe you found the Covenant series hard to read....but I can understand why. I do like how badly he was mistreated in real life....and how reserved and guarded and carful he was because he needed it to stay alive...and yet when he was in The Land he wielded the ultimate power yet he was afraid to use it because he couldn;t trust himself. He was definitely a unique hero.....Bitter, Self Loathing, reluctant.....I always loved the series ;D
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