Thomas Covenant

Harad · 04-10-2002, 02:24 PM

Anybody like the 2 Trilogies of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson?

On the surface there are many similarites to LOTR but it is in fact a separate invention that has many fascinating ideas and characters. It is even darker than the LOTR with an Anti-Hero as the protagonist.

One particularly interesting creation is the Bloodguard who have sworn an Oath of allegiance that is so strong that the Oath makes them immortal.

Elvet · 04-10-2002, 09:25 PM

It's been a long time since I read both trilogies( in the 70's), but here's my comment on what I can remember. The first trilogy I really liked. I always enjoy a 'fish out of water' story, and Thomas didn't know about the new world he woke up in. You knew his ring was special, but not why. The second trilogy had a dark and hopeless feel to it. I found it depressing. Middle-earth is never that devastated. There is always the triumph of good, even when the land itself is destroyed - as in the scouring of the shire.

cee2lee2 · 04-10-2002, 10:08 PM

I also read them a long time ago. I like the first for much the same reason as Elvet. The second I don't remember well. But I can tell you that I still have the first trilogy on my bookshelf and I didn't bother to keep the 2nd.

Harad · 04-11-2002, 04:13 AM

Interesting reactions. Maybe if you had read the second when you were older like I did you wouldnt have had the objections?

I liked the seond trilogy even better. THe first one was more "standard." Reminiscent of many Quest stories but, of course, having its unique anti-hero and ideas.

The second trilogy had an amazing idea called the "Sunbane." In it the Land cycled thru days of Rain (floods), Heat (desert), Wild Growth (Jungle), and Fertility. The inhabitants had to gear their lives to survive in this insanity. The Sunbane was created by the Evil in the world and was controlled thru traitors that kept their own people subjugated. It was a particularly hopeless situation, as you said, yet Covenant triumphed in his unique anti-heroic way.

cee2lee2 · 04-11-2002, 08:18 PM

But I read them when I was "older" so that makes me really, really old now! Sunbane was an interesting concept but I liked the first trilogy much better.

TwirlingString · 04-14-2002, 05:48 PM

I read them and adored them. (well everything except the ending) How could they kill poor Thomas?

viggosbeard · 05-01-2002, 09:01 AM

Did anybody else just want to give Covenant a good slap - I did enjo both sets of books , I enjoyed the darkness of them , to a certain extent their realism and Covenants obstinacey,I read them a few years back and tend to dip into them occasionally still - an overwhelming sense of depression descended on me whilst reading them , I really did want to shake him , suppose any reaction from a book is a good one - the fact he was not gungho and 'good' , but a flawed normal bloke ( apart from having leprosy that is ) I found fascinating.

johnnyrod · 05-02-2002, 06:56 PM

Have you read his book of short stories? It's good, and shows a lot more of the ideas he's had. I can't remember the title I'm afraid. Well worth a look, and if you're hacked off with the Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (long, at least!) it'll restore a little faith in the author.

Speaking of short stories, I liked Burning Chrome (William Gibson) but less so State of the Art (Iain Banks). For those who wanna know.

AACHOO · 05-05-2002, 06:37 PM

The first started OK but by the end he was so spineless and unsympathetic I didn't bother with the second.

04-10-2002, 02:24 PM	#1
Harad Hobbit Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 33	Thomas Covenant Anybody like the 2 Trilogies of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson? On the surface there are many similarites to LOTR but it is in fact a separate invention that has many fascinating ideas and characters. It is even darker than the LOTR with an Anti-Hero as the protagonist. One particularly interesting creation is the Bloodguard who have sworn an Oath of allegiance that is so strong that the Oath makes them immortal. __________________ the Gremlin

04-10-2002, 09:25 PM	#2
Elvet Elven Warrior Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Orillia, Ontario Posts: 221	It's been a long time since I read both trilogies( in the 70's), but here's my comment on what I can remember. The first trilogy I really liked. I always enjoy a 'fish out of water' story, and Thomas didn't know about the new world he woke up in. You knew his ring was special, but not why. The second trilogy had a dark and hopeless feel to it. I found it depressing. Middle-earth is never that devastated. There is always the triumph of good, even when the land itself is destroyed - as in the scouring of the shire. __________________ "But do not despise the lore that has come down from distant years; for oft it may chance that old wives keep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know."

04-11-2002, 04:13 AM	#4
Harad Hobbit Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 33	Interesting reactions. Maybe if you had read the second when you were older like I did you wouldnt have had the objections? I liked the seond trilogy even better. THe first one was more "standard." Reminiscent of many Quest stories but, of course, having its unique anti-hero and ideas. The second trilogy had an amazing idea called the "Sunbane." In it the Land cycled thru days of Rain (floods), Heat (desert), Wild Growth (Jungle), and Fertility. The inhabitants had to gear their lives to survive in this insanity. The Sunbane was created by the Evil in the world and was controlled thru traitors that kept their own people subjugated. It was a particularly hopeless situation, as you said, yet Covenant triumphed in his unique anti-heroic way. __________________ the Gremlin

05-01-2002, 09:01 AM	#7
viggosbeard Elven Warrior Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey Posts: 247	Did anybody else just want to give Covenant a good slap - I did enjo both sets of books , I enjoyed the darkness of them , to a certain extent their realism and Covenants obstinacey,I read them a few years back and tend to dip into them occasionally still - an overwhelming sense of depression descended on me whilst reading them , I really did want to shake him , suppose any reaction from a book is a good one - the fact he was not gungho and 'good' , but a flawed normal bloke ( apart from having leprosy that is ) I found fascinating. __________________ You cant resist her Shes in your bones Shes in your marrow And your ride home You cant avoid her Shes in the air In between molecules Of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Only in dreams

05-02-2002, 06:56 PM	#8
johnnyrod Elven Warrior Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Scunthorpe, UK Posts: 166	Have you read his book of short stories? It's good, and shows a lot more of the ideas he's had. I can't remember the title I'm afraid. Well worth a look, and if you're hacked off with the Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (long, at least!) it'll restore a little faith in the author. Speaking of short stories, I liked Burning Chrome (William Gibson) but less so State of the Art (Iain Banks). For those who wanna know. __________________ Frodo Lives!

04-10-2002, 10:08 PM	#3
cee2lee2 Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: 2nd star to the left..... Posts: 566	I also read them a long time ago. I like the first for much the same reason as Elvet. The second I don't remember well. But I can tell you that I still have the first trilogy on my bookshelf and I didn't bother to keep the 2nd.

04-11-2002, 08:18 PM	#5
cee2lee2 Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: 2nd star to the left..... Posts: 566	But I read them when I was "older" so that makes me really, really old now! Sunbane was an interesting concept but I liked the first trilogy much better.

04-14-2002, 05:48 PM	#6
TwirlingString Elven Warrior Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: My mother would say somewhere between the adult mystery section and the YA sci-fi Posts: 489	I read them and adored them. (well everything except the ending) How could they kill poor Thomas?

05-05-2002, 06:37 PM	#9
AACHOO Enting Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 52	The first started OK but by the end he was so spineless and unsympathetic I didn't bother with the second.

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