The News that Set SRD Fandom on FIRE! (the Last Chronicles)

[Dragonlily]

Did you see the thread about Juan (Hi, Juan!) in General Discussion?
kevinswatch.ihugny.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1025&highlight=juan+valdez

and welcome back to you, hamako.

[duchess of malfi]

Hamako, that title thing was a joke from a long. long time ago. I guess it HAS been awhile since you've been here! I'll toss you some money so you can go to the shop and change your title to whatever you wish it to be.
Good to see you back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hamako]

thankyou for the donation ma'am. I now need to think if a suitable title so's to make good use of it.

cheers

J

[Patient Fan]

I was 14 yrs old when White Gold Wielder came out, and while having a conversation with Mr. Donaldson and some of his (older and more mature) fans near the elevator at a hotel in Chicago, he made two comments that I have never forgotten.

Frst, I had asked him how he had come up with the character of Vain. My barely capable mind couldn't comprehend what I believed to be an invention of such remarkable creativity. His answer was simple, and is an answer that has served me well (I hope) in my own writing: "I needed him." (I sensed my fourteen year old brain wasn't impressing him.)

Second, he acknowledged then (1983) that he had a third trilogy "mapped out". It's one thing to read a book (and realize that the story hasn't ended, and another thing entirely to hear the author acknowledge that the story isn't finished.

It's somewhat embarassing to admit, but my desire to read the Last Chronicles hasn't waned ONE BIT in the last 21 years. I had been keeping tabs over the years (never coming to this website or forum) just to see if any acknowledgments had been made, and, of course, reading everything he was publishing. When I heard that he was writing it and was searching for a publisher, I felt faint. It was like a dream - perhaps part of me hadn't been sure I'd heard him correctly back in 1983. That my ears were indeed functioning has brought more joy than I can express. In a year that has seen the culmination of the most magnificent fantasy movie(s) ever brought to screen, this was like finding yet more icing as I ate into that celebration cake (11 Oscars!).

If A Feast for Crows finds its way to the bookstands this year, and Gene Wolfe's new series (what a remarkable writer he is) is as strong as its buzz, this will be a very, very exciting and satisfying year for fantasy.

Also, back in 1983 Mr. Donaldson mentioned that some discussions had been made for bringing the first Covenant trilogy to the screen. With the success of The Lord of the Rings, I hope those discussions are re-opened. I'm somewhat fearful that The Sword of Shannara will be more appealing to Hollywood - if anyone there is even looking for something like this, and if they are, I hope they take a risk in this increasingly censorship ridden age we find ourselves in and begin filming a movie about a leper who commits a rape... I firmly believe that the story would translate strongly to the screen, and if this were 20 years ago, would say that William Hurt might make a good Thomas Covenant. Anyway, I'm rambling.

Sorry for the length of my post.

[birdandbear]

Welcome to the Watch, Patient Fan!!

It's great to have you! Another lost wanderer, drifting alone on the tumultuous seas of the WWW, cast at last upon friendly shores, where kind fate has brought you at last to a community of acceptance, fealty, and understanding....

(We only shish-kabob every 10th new member on our little island in the sun. )

It's one thing to read a book (and realize that the story hasn't ended, and another thing entirely to hear the author acknowledge that the story isn't finished.

Ain't it the truth?!?!

Anyway, Welcome, and well met!

[centauratlas]

This is what Amazon.co.uk is now saying:

Paperback 896 pages (October 1, 2005)

So, I am hoping that this means that they'll be releasing the paperback version to coincide with the hardback version of the 2nd book.

Hadn't seen this mentioned so thought I would.

[Dragonlily]

I like an optimistic person, centauratlas , but SRD is estimating three years for the writing of each book.

Gives us plenty of time for those rereads. You know, the ones where you discover new wonders each time you reread.

[Patient Fan]

So he's taking a page out of Martin's, er, book?

That would be fine. Martin is a nearly flawless writer. Maybe he's so good because he takes so bloody long!

[Dragonlily]

I expect that's part of it, Patient Fan. Plus, we will read whatever a genius puts out, no matter when he puts it out.

[Tranthalar]

I know its fun to speculate so I will. If an uncurable disease like leprosy is cured in the Land, what about autopsy? I wonder, since Linden is perfectly fine with the Land now, if shes going to be surprised when her adopted son is fine? Or conversely, if he doesn't get cured if she is going to wonder why? Also, I am excited about this new series but I don't know if I am that excited to read about the Land's history. I mean, in all the other books we read about those things that happened in the past, and that makes them interesting, but to actually be there when it happens...its like, you'll be trying your best to tell Kevin that the desecration isn't going to work...and that kind of thing. I think I understand what the author is saying when hes says hes challenged by this kind of thing. He's referenced how emotionally distraught Kevin was but now he actually has to show it all. Oh and something else. If you read on the interviews on his official webpage, he says that when Lester Del Ray convinced him to write again he sent him bad ideas, and someone asked him what they were, and he said he didn't remember but an example was like to change Berek's name and write the story again...but isn't that what hes doing?

[dlbpharmd]

ROTFLMAO!

I'm sorry, but....

I think you mean autism.

[variol son]

The argument could be made that everything I've written since I first conceived "The Last Chronicles" has been an attempt to expand my abilities and resources; to make myself ready for the story I'm writing now.

Does this mean that we will be seeing GAP-like character depth in the Last Chronicles? No wonder he's scared. Covenant can be harrowing enough without going that deep.

Sum sui generis
Vs

[Ryzel]

Let us hope not.

[matrixman]

I am excited about this new series but I don't know if I am that excited to read about the Land's history.

You're not excited to read about the Land's history? Well, I for one am glad to know where you stand on that issue. Thanks, I'll remember not to pester you with any boring questions about the Land when Runes comes out.

[variol son]

My local bookshop expects to be able to get Runes of the Earth in by mid-November. I have an approximate date.

Sum sui generis
Vs

[savant]

My local bookshop expects to be able to get Runes of the Earth in by mid-November. I have an approximate date.

Sum sui generis
Vs

Oh, man~!

I've read the first two chronicles over and over and just noticed the other day I couldn't find my copy of Lord Foul's Bane and so went out and found an old used copy for .99, and I got interested in seeing if SRD's been doing anything new...

only to be UTTERLY and totally freaked out that he's dealing with the Land again~!!!!!!!

I'm glad I found out now rather than back in '03, as I'm already chomping at the bit to get to that first new book~!

I'm just imagining what a magnificent movie series these chronicles would make if they were ever put to film~! I don't know that anything could compare to actually reading through the books, though~!

[savant]

The "shall pass utterly" comes from "Lord Kevin's Lament"

"Ah Creator, was it your intent that beauty and truth should pass utterly from the Earth"

Maybe THAT book will be the book of the Old Lords!!

WOW...can you imagine this...going back to the One Forest...the coming of men...the Viles, the Demondim, the King and Queen, the maiming of the Trees, the coming of the Ravers, the coming of the Forestals and the Colossus, Berek making the Staff of Law from The One Tree...on and on and on...the coming of the Giants, the befriending of the Unhomed by Damelon, the construction of Revelstone, Loric and the sedution of the Viles by the ravers, the making of the krill...then KEVIN!!! The Haruchai, the Ramen and the Ranyhyn... Foul joining the council... THE RITUAL OF DESCREATION...OH MY!!! But, Foul is going to be corrupting TIME...something is going to happen to the history...

I can't wait for this!!!

okay...calm yourself Furl...whew...

Sorry I'm joining so late and just responding to this early post, but I have no recourse except to do so~! I agree 100 +%~!!!

[dlbpharmd]

Welcome to the Watch, Savant!

I know exactly what you mean when you say "chomping at the bit." I learned of Final Chronicles last September.

Please jump in anywhere, and enjoy yourself!

[CovenantJr]

Welcome, Savant! If you visit the Thomas Covenant section of the site, you will find discussion of both existing sets of Chronicles in abundance, and at least one thread on the Chronicles as a film series, a la Lord of the Rings.

Make yourself at home. Pull up a chair.

[savant]

Welcome to the Watch, Savant!

I know exactly what you mean when you say "chomping at the bit." I learned of Final Chronicles last September.

Please jump in anywhere, and enjoy yourself!

Thanks dlpharmd~!

I'm working on the last year of prereq's to try and get into pharmacy school and now know it'll be a little tougher studying for those bio and chem classes with having so much desire to get started on the first and second chronicles again to warm up for the big new 3 (and working PT at a call center)~!

I just finished reading this thread and am definitely enjoying myself and am happy to see all the other SRV readers intently awaiting the arrival of this much longed for epic continuation~!