SRD is the best

[hierachy]

You know it makes sense!
Name all the reasons why SRD is so great!

[Iryssa]

He is his own writer...he isn't trying to be Tolkien or Lewis or anyone else. He is unafraid of his influences, but he writes from his own heart and mind.

[aliantha]

SRD's characters are people, not cardboard cutouts. They have conflicting desires and mixed emotions. Horrible things happen to them, and they struggle to rise above their circumstances.

I just finished the latest Shannara book (hey, don't throw things at me! I was killing time before Runes came out!) and I was *so* disappointed. One of his main characters is raped by her captor, but the only reason we know it is through a conversation between two of the other main characters. It's like, "She was raped, you dunce, you should be nicer to her," and the guy goes, "Oh, yeah, right," and then everybody plods on as before -- including the girl who was raped. Contrast that with Covenant's rape of Lena, and how it colors the whole rest of the series. That (and a decidedly un-Elven mixed metaphor from an Elven commander) finally pointed up to me what a hack Terry Brooks is. (See, so some good *did* come of it! )

[Myste]

He understands that what makes us human is our capacity for choice.

[matrixman]

Excellent points from all three of you! One would have thought an obvious topic like this would have generated more responses than it has. Maybe that's because it's hard to know where to begin in describing all that is cool with SRD. Some of my scattered thoughts:

SRD is the best because:

-He challenges and reworks stereotypes into something new and interesting, especially in the fantasy genre, which encourages stereotypes.

-He writes for the love of writing. He commits 100 percent to writing the best story he can write, not to appease marketing research or the whims of a popular audience.

-He knows his strengths as a writer. His passion and conviction comes from creating strong stories. SRD is a storyteller, not a historian. Not that a historian can't tell good stories, but SRD's purpose is not to indulge in fatuous history texts or biographies of his characters.

-He delivers quality over quantity. He allows ideas to develop into stories first, rather than rushing out half-baked creations. He doesn't put his name on a book unless he's satisfied with it. Waiting for a Donaldson book is like waiting for a Kubrick film: it's a long time in coming, but you know it will be something that no one else could have done. It's the product of a singular artistic vision.

-He does not allow his creations to be bastardized. (Now on sale! Thomas Covenant Vs. The Nazi Vampires by Joe Blow, based on characters created by Stephen Donaldson!)

-He honestly assesses his worth and skill as a writer while acknowledging his strengths. This a guy who doesn't sit on his laurels. SRD always seeks to improve as a writer by pushing into new territory.

-He makes a positive impact on the way we see the world (e.g. brings up environmental issues through the example of the Land and the horror of the Sunbane), but he does it not through preaching or sermonizing, but through the power of his storytelling.

-His intelligence and independent thinking sets an example for his readers to think for themselves.

-He is willing to meet with fans if the circumstances are right (e.g. Elohimfest) even though ordinarily he might consider such activities an invasion of his privacy.

-He is willing to answer questions from fans (website)

[Myste]

Well said, Matrixman!

[Iryssa]

Yeah, way to go, Matrixman!
I love how Donaldson treats his fans *smile*

[matrixman]

Aww, shucks...thanks, Myste and Iryssa!

[drew]

Along the lines of what you said MM....
if SRD was a musician, a modern rock/pop musician, he would be writting these great songs, that touch everybody who listens to them, but refuses to sell out, or write any kind of Pop song. So yes, some of his songs are hits, and some aren't, but the ones that aren't are no less fantastic than the hits.
He's like Blue Rodeo

[lurch]

...His capacity to draw the empathy and pathos from the reader strikes me as significant. His use of the English language has become truelly awesome imho. perhaps i am just rephrasing what has been said before, but allow me to sharpen the focus..SRD treats the reader as an adult with abilty to " grow". Therefore the reader " expands" his or her world on reading him, which is a positive reinforcing experience...He tells storys from original and unique perspectives that challenge the mind. He is not easy.
..His " cadence" of writing,,the alliteration,,lyricism,,enchants the reader, as if always a step ahead saying, come, follow me, follow me. I am amazed by all the posts of ,,Lord so and so said this and that in LFB but so and so said this in TOT and doesn't that mean that TC and Linden are actually brothers and sisters?..I mean..forrest for the trees!!
...In the GAP series it became clear to me that SRD is not afraid of doing research or at least keeps on top of current theorys in science and cosmology...And then has no fear in taking things another step farther. As well with some of his short storys, i came away with a feeling of him doing research in to medival times,,well, just the words he digs up, my god!..
...But greatness comes at a price. As posted elsewhere, when I walked into the bookstore and saw Runes up on the new Releases display..i was froze by it. I actually thought about if i was prepared for the read. Did I really wish to go " There" again? Was I up to the task? What had I planned to do in the near future that now would have to be postponed?.. How deep and for how long would the scathe be this time? I knew he was going to get inside of me, was I ready?...So I picked up Suzanna Clarke's " Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel" at the same time and began it after the 2nd read of Runes....I'm almost at the end of fantastic story,,but I haven't had to look up one word of hers in the dictionary,,,and she writes the story in the time of the early 19th centuary,,in England..Believe it or not.. there are similarities between plot and theme lines of the two different authors..So,,SRD remains the preffered,,but Clarke's tome has been an excellent life bouy saving me from drowning in the Runes. Highly suggest the read while waiting for SRD to issue book 2 of the Last...MEL

[Cheval]

I really credit Mr. Donaldson for not writing one kind of style:
just fantasy, just sci-fi, just mystery, just horror, or just adventure.
He is a man of different writing themes.
What other popular author is that diversified?
Sure, a few may have tried a few styles, but go back to what they know best... their one type of catagory.

[Rowan]

SRD is the best because

- the characters in his books are real people with good and not so good qualities. They don't always do the right thing everytime they are challenged. They don't always finish first, or even finish. They struggle to find the best way to "Be True". They are people I want to meet and know.

- those same characters are people you come to care about. You feel real pain when they hurt and you feel real joy when they survive and triumph.

- putting one of his books down, even for a minute or two, is like leaving your best friend behind somewhere. You can't wait to get back to them and just be in their company.

- with mere words he can make you feel what the characters are feeling. No other author has ever made me cry while reading a book. No other author has ever made me feel as if I was witnessing the events first hand. The feelings are so strong and absolutely real.

- he is ever so kind to his fans by taking the time to really communicate with them.

Thank you Mr. Donaldson for the terrific website you have and for answering so many fan questions like you do. We love you and the wonderful stories you tell!

[Steerpike]

He is great--I've been reading him since I was 12.

But let's be honest--he's no Mervyn Peake or Gene Wolfe.

If the two writers mentioned above are 5-star writers, and the Jordon crowd are 1-star writers, I'd say Donaldson is 4-star.

[matrixman]

But let's be honest--he's no Mervyn Peake or Gene Wolfe.

And I'll be honest--I frankly don't care about Wolfe or Peake. If you're going to be patronising in your assessment of SRD, then it's fair for me to reciprocate concerning those authors you mention.

[The Dark Overlord]

SDR is # 1

[Cagliostro]

To add to the sycophantic revue, I'd like to say that I really like Donaldson for really going into the dark of human nature. There are a lot more movies and books that are going there these days, but he was definitely the first I came across. And he has a talent for the viceral as well. But mainly it is the emotions he puts across, at least in the Covenant books. If you read through all of the Covenant books, it's hard not to feel strong emotion for these characters.
As for the Gap series, it is pretty much a perfectly honed set of books. I was especially impressed with this series. Gone were the characters that you just couldn't help but love, yet despite all the crap they do, eventually twisting things around until you could actually give a crap about someone like Angus...that's master storytelling there.

And yes, as someone said above, I've never wept over a scene in a book, before or since reading Covenant.