Very Stupid Question (Be Patient, Newbie and New to Books)

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Thu May 06, 2004 2:28 am

So as I said above, be patient with me and my stupid questions.

Donaldson's Bibliography is as follows:

"The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever"
"The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant"
"Mordant's Need"
the GAP sequence
the Mick Axbrewder/Ginny Fistoulari novels
two short story collections

My question is?
Mordan's Need, Gap Sequence, Mick Axbrewder/Ginny Fistoulari Novels, are these other series, in any way connected to the Chronicles.

Also, if I'm correct with discussing this world with my friends, there is a 3rd chronciels coming out and it has 4 books in it correct, this is the gossip I was told, so please bear with me concerning these silly questions and answers. Cheers.

Post by **Furls Fire** » Thu May 06, 2004 2:32 am

Fitz, check out the thread "News that sets SRD fandom on fire!" There you will find all the info on the Last Chronicles...

And all the other works by SRD are seperate from the Chronicles. The Gap series is actually a Sci Fi epic. Mordant's Need is fantasy and the others are mysteries he wrote under the name of Reed Stephens

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Thu May 06, 2004 2:40 am

Thank you kindly for answering my questions. Cheers.

Post by **Seafoam Understone** » Sat May 08, 2004 4:17 am

Remember, the only STUPID question is the one you didn't ask.

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Wed May 26, 2004 10:45 pm

You know, I'm about 160 pages away from finishing The Illearth War and I find myself in a very love hate relationship about finishing this book. It's harsh getting through this book. I had a little trouble getting over LFB but that was due to the Lena scene, once I got past that I was able to speed through and finish the book.

And I am not struggling b/c I dislike what is going on, but b/c its very emotional. I don't know if what I'm saying makes sense to anyone.

What Troy is doing to the army, the number of people dying. It's really affecting me, I find myself quite depressed chapter after chapter. It speaks volumes of how well SRD writes, but at the same time its difficult to get through. From what some people have told me, this is only the begining of so much drama and etc.

Anyways, it's an interesting emotion I have with this series, one I've never really had with other books or authors. The writing is beautiful and yet draining, the story pulls you in such a way that you want to finish, but you're affected very deeply by it, and sometims I feel as if I don't want to be in the same world as the characters, having to go through so much.

Post by **Byrn** » Wed May 26, 2004 10:56 pm

Finish it, The Ending is Fantastic.

Donaldson does send you on an emotional rollercoaster. one minute it seems Despite has been thrust back, the next hope is nearly gone. I first read the series when I was 13 or 14. Before that the only Fantasy I had read was Tolkien and Eddings. It was very difficult for me to finish aswell.

Post by **matrixman** » Thu May 27, 2004 12:05 am

You make perfect sense to me, Fizban. In fact, I think you've summed up the emotional quality of The Illearth War eloquently. The book lives up to its title, doesn't it? It's a gut-wrenching story for me as well.

I agree there are definitely parts in the book that one almost dreads reading, because of the amount of pain and psychological damage inflicted upon the characters.

Hile Troy: one minute you're rooting him on as this great defender of the Land, the next you're wondering if this guy is fit for command. I find him both heroic and pathetic.

It's fantastic that you're so moved by this book! Praise for the Chronicles coming from a dedicated book connoisseur like you means a lot to someone like me, Fiz. It means that even among the all the literary greats you have read, SRD still stands out to you as a unique and compelling voice. That's a beautiful thought!

Post by **duchess of malfi** » Thu May 27, 2004 12:31 am

Fiz, hang in there. The Power That Preserves is one of the most uplifting books you could ever find.

Mordant's Need is a two book fantasy series. The books are named The Mirror of Her Dreams and A Man Rides Through. I find them to be the most "human" in scale of Donaldson's works. It also contains a very, very sweet love story at its center.

The Gap is very dark space opera and is a five book series. Parts of it are much darker than anything in TCTC...but the ending is still uplifting.

The short story collections are primarily fantasy and science fiction stories. Many of them are very, very good.

I hope Donaldson issues another anthology someday.

One very special story in the anthology Daughter of Regals is called Gilden Fire. It is part of the story of the mission to Seareach from TIW from Korik's point of view.

I have not read the detective stories yet -- they seem to be a bit to locate, especially book three, which I see listed on Amazon, etc. at $100 used.

Post by **Cheval** » Thu May 27, 2004 1:54 am

The Chronicles are well written indeed! Illearth war is, to this day,
still one of my favorites. (I also thought The One Tree was a
fantastic journey from page one.)

The GAP saga(?) is as Duchess had said: The Gap is a very dark
space opera and is a five book series. parts of it are much darker
than anything in TCTC...but the ending is still uplifting.

No comment on Mordant's Need nor any of the mystery novels,
because I hadn't read any of Mr. Donaldson's other stories.
But I plan to before long.

Post by **Nightraven** » Thu May 27, 2004 2:59 pm

FizbansTalking_Hat wrote:
Anyways, it's an interesting emotion I have with this series, one I've never really had with other books or authors. The writing is beautiful and yet draining, the story pulls you in such a way that you want to finish, but you're affected very deeply by it, and sometims I feel as if I don't want to be in the same world as the characters, having to go through so much.

That my friend is the glory of the chronicles. Enjoy the ride.

Post by **Durris** » Thu May 27, 2004 3:06 pm

I'm having a similar experience with The One Tree, which I read 20 years ago and had only revisited certain parts of. Rereading it all in sequence, in step with the Dissection, has proven very difficult at some points: the reason I remembered so few of its details is that so many of them are traumatic.

Post by **Furls Fire** » Thu May 27, 2004 4:56 pm

Don't give up on it. It's one of the best series ever written. Emotionally draining? Yes. Triumphantly fulfilling in the end? Yes.

Keep reading, Fiz. You will have no regrets...

Ah, ur-Lord. You have said that the Land is a dream for you--and that you fear to be made mad. But madness is not the only danger in dreams. There is also the danger that something may be lost which can never be regained." --Lord Mhoram to Thomas Covenant, The Illearth War: Ch 4, "May be lost"

Ride the dream, Fiz

Post by **amanibhavam** » Thu May 27, 2004 5:34 pm

TPTP is the strongest of all 6 books so far - to me at least.

Spoiler

Covenant's arduous journey, his encounter with Lena, Foamfollower's death and return, the jjeherrin, Triock's loss

- all are gut- and heart-wrenching.

Post by **theDespiser** » Fri May 28, 2004 2:05 am

no stupid questions, only stupid people

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 4:28 pm

Well, finally begining The Power that Preserves, and from page one it starts with power adn hits you like all the other books. I love this series, but I do get so drained reading this book. The characters and the land itself, which is a type of character, I feel make you very empathetic to the plight and suffering of the world. It's harsh and beautiful at the same time, so here goes.

Post by **Furls Fire** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 4:47 pm

Thomas Covenant was talking in his sleep...

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Very Stupid Question (Be Patient, Newbie and New to Books)

Very Stupid Question (Be Patient, Newbie and New to Books)

Thank You Kindly