The Ending... Was that really...

[CovenantJr]

I wasn't expecting Jeremiah, but I was expecting Covenant. I didn't notice Jeremiah's state at first, but on re-reading the last paragraph or so, it hit me. Possibly it's because his mind has been floating in the Land for a while and now it's finally reunited with his body. Or because it's not the same Jeremiah. Or because Foul has some need of his normality.

[A Gunslinger]

But the title of the second book is immutable. He's dead, a ghost.

I think you may be overemphasizing the literal meaning of “revenant”. Yes, it means “ghost”, but by etymology it simply means “coming back, returning” (from French revenir). And some years back Donaldson, in an interview, mentioned that since the Law of Life is broken there’s no need for Covenant to stay dead. However, if the Demondim brought him back, then I’m betting he’s come back wrong somehow, and having Jeremiah with him (who we last knew was being tormented by Lord Foul) does not bode well either. Linden may being getting her own “Something broken” returned to her—two of them, in fact.

You're correct with regard to the etymology of the word, and as I've noted in other places (and as SRD has acknowledged in the gradual interview), he loves the OED, and therefore also probably enjoys using a word more along the lines of it's etymology than its eventual meaning and general usage (although who ever uses the word revenant?).

I completely agree with your interpretation - if the Demondim actually brought him back, and it isn't an imposter. SRD's given us some discussion fodder with this.

The "Fatal Revenant" may be ANYTHING! It could be the link to the Illearth Stone. It could be Roger Covenant himself (the last, the revenant if you will, of the Covenant bloodline).

I am afraid that this ending may be a tease. Recall that there are Elohim abroad, and they can shape-shift at will.

[A Gunslinger]

I expect that Jermiah is the halfhand to beware of. His name, in the bibical sense carries a number of grim implications. When Linden was told by mahdoubt to beware of love, I kinda thought she was was speaking of her love of Jeremiah, not TC.

[burgs]

The "Fatal Revenant" may be ANYTHING! It could be the link to the Illearth Stone. It could be Roger Covenant himself (the last, the revenant if you will, of the Covenant bloodline).

I am afraid that this ending may be a tease. Recall that there are Elohim abroad, and they can shape-shift at will.

As we never learned what happened to Roger, but know that he was initially present with Linden in her trip to The Land, you're right. She was doing some mighty work with wild magic, but it was on herself, not Rog. So...if Roger is in The Land, who healed him? That lout, Esmer perhaps? What I wouldn't give to hold a few black belts, and maybe the power of, say, , and give him a solid beating. He needs it.

I don't think we're seeing Elohim approach, but I won't deny the possibility that it's them. They are really annoying

Spoiler

fucks

and have a way of messing everything up. With Donaldson's themes of redemption (that some feel are over exploited, and that he needs to come up with some new ideas), I think the Elohim have an awful lot to answer for.

[burgs]

When Linden was told by mahdoubt to beware of love, I kinda thought she was was speaking of her love of Jeremiah, not TC.

I had the same impression.

But with SRD, everything is anything, so who knows. We'll find out in 9 years or so.

[A Gunslinger]

When Linden was told by mahdoubt to beware of love, I kinda thought she was was speaking of her love of Jeremiah, not TC.

I had the same impression.

But with SRD, everything is anything, so who knows. We'll find out in 9 years or so.

You're not kidding. When I finally finished my copy I was thrilled, yet very upset becuase I knew it would be at least 1.5 years until the next book. I had thought that living this way waiting for the Dark Tower series books to come out was hard...this will be far harder.

Quick Thoughts:

With the Law of Death and Life both having been broken, but the Law of Time still dictating that actions in the past will alter a timeline...do you think it possible for the Staff of Law and White gold to ressurect the dead without evil repurcussions? I envision TC and Linden going to andelain an attempting to draw help from their dead. Mhoram and Foamfollower perhaps.

The Mahdoubts cloak and her eyes must be clue as to her identity. Note she does not serve the Masters. She serves Revelstone...a symbol of fealty and earthpower.

[Revan]

It has to be Covenant really... Linden will know striaght away if it's a fake...

[A Gunslinger]

One other quick note... let's not rush to judgement on the "normalcy" of J. He was excited and urging on the mount he was riding, but let's not presume him to be NORMAL. Once touched by Foul, the young man can't be NORMAL. Remember that he was maimed to resemble covenant (like the haruchai...though the finger loss configuration is different).

An Elohim has said beware the halfhand: Is it ..

TC?

The Voice or any of the Humbled?

Jeremiah

Berek himself?

I think it is J. The parallel between he and Roger is too keen. I could foresee TC having to kill his own son AND Linden's to protect and/heal the land. SRD has no fear of the tragic!

I agree that Linden SHOULD be able to discern a fake...but recall that Mahdoubt is somewhat closed to her.

[Revan]

Remember, there's no-one that Linden knows better than Thomas Covenant. No-one that she is closer to... Not even Jeremiah... because Linden doesn't really know the kid inside... Linden will know any flash of "Un-Covenant" behaviour from Thomas. And she'll be on the alert. So even if it's not actually Covenant, He'll have to act like Thomas Covenant for quite a while...

Let's face it people, these stories need Thomas Covenant; Stephen can't make him not appear in the flesh thoughout the entire Chronicles.. he can't.

[A Gunslinger]

I agree. *will never admit to agreeing with Revan again*

[Revan]

I agree. *will never admit to agreeing with Revan again*

Why not?

[Aleksandr]

but recall that Mahdoubt is somewhat closed to her.

I thnk that was true only because her health sense was fading again under the influence of Kevin's Dirt.
I agree that Jeremiah is most definitely not going to be *normal*, though I would not be too certain that Foul actually had him-- I don't think Foul is above lying through his teeth to provoke Linden to extravagant actions. But for sure he is no longer quasi-catatonic.

[burgs]

Let's not forget that these two people aren't inside Revelstone yet. So they're seeing them at a considerable distance.

Heck, Roger *resembles* TC. In her mad desire to be reunited with TC, Linden *could* momentarily see Roger and think it was TC.

[dlbpharmd]

Except that SRD used the word "unmistakably." I've never known him to say something with such certainty that wasn't true.

[burgs]

Ever one to be a trickster...unmistakably to whom? Unmistakably at what distance? Unmistakably to her heart - at that moment in time?

I agree that's very concrete for SRD, but we already know that the intentions of this set is to be far more complex than anything he's written before. I question every word and phrase.

[A Gunslinger]

I agree. *will never admit to agreeing with Revan again*

Why not?

Just out of general principle! Trying to raise thy ire.

Do you still have your job in the co-op?

[Raist]

Revenent... I assume it means he's back from the dead... it means one who has come back to life... supposedly from the dead. It's got to be Covenant at the end...

Also, he said "Remember I'm dead"

But he also said "Find me, I can't help you unless you find me."

here's another crackpot theory to throw into the mix...

Maybe we will have TWO Covenants in the storyline. The one that turns up at the end of Runes (who may or may not be Foul), and the voice in Linden's dreams, who will "always be with her".

Just an idea...

R.

[Raist]

I'd love to think that it's really our Covenant, but he did say to Linden, "find me" rather than "meet you at Revelstone!"

He may not be an imposter, but I don't think he's going to be the Covenant we know and love, if you get what I'm saying...

I agree. I did wonder about the lack of active finding. He may or may not be the Covenant, but either way I don't think he'll be the same.

Linden once had to "find him", even though he was right in fromt of her in the flesh. Maybe he will be lost in the same way the Elohim once silenced his mind. Maybe she'll have to re-connect the Covenant voice inside her with the empty flesh...

Yes, more random speculation

R.

[burgs]

That's good speculation.

I really need to reread the second chronicles before rereading Runes. It's been...um...13 years since I read it last. And he's said that the framework for this series is to be found in the second.

More reading...

[A Gunslinger]

I'd love to think that it's really our Covenant, but he did say to Linden, "find me" rather than "meet you at Revelstone!"

He may not be an imposter, but I don't think he's going to be the Covenant we know and love, if you get what I'm saying...

I agree. I did wonder about the lack of active finding. He may or may not be the Covenant, but either way I don't think he'll be the same.

Linden once had to "find him", even though he was right in fromt of her in the flesh. Maybe he will be lost in the same way the Elohim once silenced his mind. Maybe she'll have to re-connect the Covenant voice inside her with the empty flesh...

Yes, more random speculation



R.

Maybe she "found" him by loosing the staff?