A couple of points: 1. SRD has discussed his religious beliefs publically.I think he wrote a preface to the novella "Godbody", noting that he had different beliefs than his Presbyterian parents, but feeling that the religious allegory of "Godbody" came through to him. His latest ...

Here's just a bit more info on the new Chronicles and may add a tidbit or two to what is known (my daughter works at Simon & Schuster and noticed this): The final four books in Stephen R. Donaldson's series THE CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT, beginning with THE RUNES OF EARTH, to Jennifer Hershey...

I've said it before but it is a point to consider:

Wouldn't you think a famous author like Thomas Covenant would have read Tolkien?

If so, wouldn't you expect some "spillover" into any internal fantasy world his mind created? Thus the Ents, ur-viles that are like Orcs,etc.?

SRD weaves so many different themes into this work; I've previously written here on the religious themes but I also sense a deeply imbedded theme of ecology in this book , well exemplified in this chapter. Isn't there a comparison between what the Sunbane does to the land and what humans have done t...

Sorry but here's yet another of senor Trout's musings on the religious implications of this work. This is in reference to Joy's discussion about: "Quote: ...[He] raged at the brutality which had taught people like Sunder to think of their own lives as punishment for a crime they could not have ...

Can anyone explain the situation with the people in the ochre robes? Maybe I missed it in previous sections of the "dissection". Anyway, there are confusing references to these folks. They wear ochre robes, they hand out little phrases like "Jesus Saves", and participate in ritua...

I remember when I first read this climactic chapter, finishing the first trilogy as I recovered from case of strep throat and near delirium! At the time I thought it had been a good but perhaps not great series, and like everyone else, was happy to see Foul go down. I also found the part where Foamf...

I prefer the Second Chronicles by far! The First Chronicles are great sci-fi, but the ultimate answer is just the same as used by old President GWB: use your power to wipe out the bad guys. The Second Chronicles, however, bring us through some marvelous new lands (yes, the Elohim's land seems a bit ...

One of the most moving parts of all of the Chronicles for me is when Mhoram reveals that he has found that their weakness is what they thought was their strength, the Oath of Peace. He feels this has kept them from understanding Kevin's wards. He is honest enough, and has become brave enough, to que...

There's a few reasons why I think this topic is interesting and important, but ultimately not a question that can be answered, or even should be answered. First of all, let's always remember this is all fiction. SRD didn't write it as "verbally inspired" scripture, but as a story which has...

"Realmtreader"s wonderful post includes some replies that indicate some degree of discomfiture regarding the upcoming 3rd (or final?) Chronicles. I must admit personally to some considerable apprehension regarding this new series. First, we must remember that, despite the apparent faith of...

I have always identified with Covenant. My first name is Thomas, I'm a pessimist (but would try to make things better for others!), have a scraggly beard, and my darn hair is turning gray. I look quite a bit like Covenant on the paperback cover of TWL. And, ultimately, I would do almost anything for...

The Chronicles are by far my favorite literature of my 40 odd years of reading, including Tolstoy, Tolkien,and Steinbeck. I have found no other work with such depth, color, interest, and spiritual significance. So, I've taken it upon myself to share this great gift with others. I have bought about 1...

Good and evil are so much the same regardless of the setting. Covenant , perhaps unwittingly, utters the words of doom given to him by Foul, communicating Foul's evil plans to the people of the land. Does he abet Lord Foul by passing on this message? Is he part of Foul's plan for the destruction of ...

There's a lot of talk here about Lord of the Rings(LOTR). Certainly there are numerous comparisons or even "crossovers". Trees that are alive, evil powerful beings, armies of "orcs" or "demonspawn", a ring that is the ultimate power and cannot fall into the hands of evi...

The "ethical question" is somewhat confusing, and I'm not sure I'll ever completely understand it. Within the context of the book, it obviously comes from "The Creator" and just as obviously prophesies the ordeal Covenant is about to go through. I've given a lot of thought to the...

Some of my favorite scenes are the most positive,optimistic scenes (in a work of much darkness and misery): When Covenant swims into Adelain upon his return to the land with the 2nd Chronicles; when Covenant and Linden actually have some happy romantic time together onboard ship in The One Tree; the...

You guys are asking what address I used for Stephen Donaldson. As a simpleton, I just wrote to the publisher of his books and they forwarded it. He might be more reclusive now, probably not busier as I think he was probably a bit more generally popular when I wrote him then. Sorry I don't have a mor...

I wrote Mr. Donaldson after reading the third book of the Gap series and was delighted to receive a personal letter back from him. At the time, I was somewhat dismayed at the depth of depravity expressed in the Gap books, perhaps deepest when he described women who disemboweled themselves for entert...