They're often spelled "gryphons" and also show up in Baroque architecture on the old cathedrals and such. What that has to do with fantasy novels, I have no idea...
And Rob, agreed about the Giants.
Rereading all the books before AATE comes out...
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Earthpower
- Servant of the Land
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I started reading the books again like many here while waiting on the next book in the third trilogy. It's been about 15 years since I last read the books. I'm finding I like Covenant a lot less and I'm less forgiving of the rape this time. I'm only half way through LFB so let's see how it plays out.
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Hashi Lebwohl
- The Gap Into Spam
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I don't think anyone in this world forgives Covenant. Only the folk of the Land seem to be able to do that; whether or not they are better than we are or not is a discussion for another place and time.
In this regard, Covenant is a little like Angus--a reprehensible protagonist in whom we can believe; despite what they might have done they manage to rise above their personality defects to save the day.
Note that Thomas Covenant predates the other dark heroes with which many people are familiar such as Rorschach from Watchmen and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (the graphic novel, not the movie). I can't think of any other examples outside of comic books right now; I know The Punisher, Blade, and Ghost Rider were this kind of anti-hero during the late 70s, the time during which the first trilogy was written.
In this regard, Covenant is a little like Angus--a reprehensible protagonist in whom we can believe; despite what they might have done they manage to rise above their personality defects to save the day.
Note that Thomas Covenant predates the other dark heroes with which many people are familiar such as Rorschach from Watchmen and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (the graphic novel, not the movie). I can't think of any other examples outside of comic books right now; I know The Punisher, Blade, and Ghost Rider were this kind of anti-hero during the late 70s, the time during which the first trilogy was written.
The Tank is gone and now so am I.
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Hashi Lebwohl
- The Gap Into Spam
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Re: Rereading all the books before AATE comes out...
I have the same feeling.... almost as if i do not want to reach the end.... could it be that you are timing it so you finish right in time for AATE? maybe not.. on my 2nd or 3rd read I actually was only able to read 15 minutes per night and the long drawn out reading process actually made me feel i was going at about the same pace as actual time in the story.... I also used to read them by Candle light to create a more land like atmosphere for reading....soft one wrote:And I discovered something. Up until this reading, TOT was by far my favorite book, because it had my favorite scene... "Nom", but I also enjoyed the Giants, Brathairealm, and even the Elohim. However, this reading has taken me almost 3x the time to get through it, if not longer. I dreaded each upcoming chapter, and even put down the book for a week or so. I finished it yesterday, and I brought WGW with me to work (I read at lunch instead of going out to eat), but I didn't even crack it open.
I wish I knew what's going on.
oh btw..if you try this..just make sure you dont fall asleep while the candle is going...I had to throw a disclaimer in there
could it be that you do not like the third chronicles as much as the first two and do not want to leave the best parts of the TC Chronicles behind?
as my signature still holds true....
Re: Rereading all the books before AATE comes out...
I like them well enough, but they DO require work to get through them. While reading them, I realized I needed to reread the Second Chronicles again. I figured I would reread everything. The timing just might work out perfectly...Blackhawk wrote:I have the same feeling.... almost as if i do not want to reach the end.... could it be that you are timing it so you finish right in time for AATE? maybe not.. on my 2nd or 3rd read I actually was only able to read 15 minutes per night and the long drawn out reading process actually made me feel i was going at about the same pace as actual time in the story.... I also used to read them by Candle light to create a more land like atmosphere for reading....
oh btw..if you try this..just make sure you dont fall asleep while the candle is going...I had to throw a disclaimer in there
could it be that you do not like the third chronicles as much as the first two and do not want to leave the best parts of the TC Chronicles behind?
as my signature still holds true....
Covenant turned in time to see a short figure detach itself from the burning mud, step queasily onto the hard ground.
The figure was scarcely taller than the skest, and shaped like them, a misborn child without eyes or any other features. But it was made of mud. Flames flickered over it as it climbed from the fire, then died away, leaving a dull brown creature like a sculpture poorly wrought in clay. Reddish pockets embedded in its form glowed dully.
The figure was scarcely taller than the skest, and shaped like them, a misborn child without eyes or any other features. But it was made of mud. Flames flickered over it as it climbed from the fire, then died away, leaving a dull brown creature like a sculpture poorly wrought in clay. Reddish pockets embedded in its form glowed dully.
It took me a lot longer to read the Second Chronicles because I think that just as I was getting used to the Land and it's wonders, they leave and go to Brathairealm and whatnot. Also, it took me a long time to read and re-read some parts of the battle on the ship because it was really hard to picture due to my limited ship knowledge. I seriously might've read that part at least 3 times before I got the basic gist of it...It also took me awhile to get through the end of WGW because I liked the whole part under Mount Thunder I read it several times
Linden should have quailed. His certainty was as bitter as the touch of a Raver: it should have defeated her. But it did not. How often had she heard Lord Foul or his servants prophesy destruction, attempting to impose despair? And how often had Thomas Covenant shown her that it was possible to stand upright under the weight of utter hopelessness?
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Rocksister
- Giantfriend
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Hey, I've read these books countless times over the years, doing it again right now, and actually just posted a new thread on "Elena's discovery" because I noticed something new this time around. That's SRD's genius. Details abound and you can't suck it all in with just one read. And it's all interwoven so well. This series could go on for a hundred more books, there is so much that can be done with it.
Heard my ears aright? Did not the gaddhi grant me this glaive?
One must have strength to judge the weakness of others. I am not so mighty. Lord Mhoram in TIW
One must have strength to judge the weakness of others. I am not so mighty. Lord Mhoram in TIW
On a related note... I caught something at the beginning of WGW (yes, I finally finished TOTRocksister wrote:Hey, I've read these books countless times over the years, doing it again right now, and actually just posted a new thread on "Elena's discovery" because I noticed something new this time around. That's SRD's genius. Details abound and you can't suck it all in with just one read. And it's all interwoven so well. This series could go on for a hundred more books, there is so much that can be done with it.
), that I didn't recall. All through the series, TC talks about his inner Despiser. In WGW, he mentions Linden's struggles with her inner Sunbane.It's been too long between readings. I'm sure it is of dire importance, but I'm old and I forget things.
Covenant turned in time to see a short figure detach itself from the burning mud, step queasily onto the hard ground.
The figure was scarcely taller than the skest, and shaped like them, a misborn child without eyes or any other features. But it was made of mud. Flames flickered over it as it climbed from the fire, then died away, leaving a dull brown creature like a sculpture poorly wrought in clay. Reddish pockets embedded in its form glowed dully.
The figure was scarcely taller than the skest, and shaped like them, a misborn child without eyes or any other features. But it was made of mud. Flames flickered over it as it climbed from the fire, then died away, leaving a dull brown creature like a sculpture poorly wrought in clay. Reddish pockets embedded in its form glowed dully.
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wayfriend
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Donaldson drops lots of little hints and ironic foreshadowings throughout his stories. It's always a pleasure to find another one.Rocksister wrote:Hey, I've read these books countless times over the years, doing it again right now, and actually just posted a new thread on "Elena's discovery" because I noticed something new this time around. That's SRD's genius. Details abound and you can't suck it all in with just one read. And it's all interwoven so well. This series could go on for a hundred more books, there is so much that can be done with it.
Can this possibly be coincidence?
In [u]The Illearth War[/u] was wrote:"Come on," Troy said. His tone was full of the power of command. "The Lords are doing something you ought to see."
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His own feelings for the High Lord were confused: he could not fit them into any easy categories. She was the Lord who had taught him the meaning of sight. And as he had learned to see, she had taught him the Land, introduced him to it with such gentle delight that he always thought of her and the Land together, as if she herself summarized it. When he came to understand the peril of the Land-when he began to search for a way to serve what he saw-she was the one who breathed life into his ideas. She recognized the potential value of his tactical skill, put faith in it; she gave his voice the power of command. Because of her, he was now giving orders of great risk, and leading the Warward in a cause for which he would not be ashamed to die.
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Lord's eyes gleamed with hazardous potentials, and the bones of his skull had an indomitable hue. The contrast to his own weakness humbled Troy. He turned away to look out over the Plains again. The ponderous movement of Lord Foul's hordes continued as before, and at the sight he felt a resurgence of panic. But he held onto his power of command, gripped it to keep his shame at bay. Finally, he said, "All right. Let's get going. Tull, you'd better go back to the Stonedown. Have the Ranyhyn brought as far up the trail as possible. We've got a long run ahead of us."
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Black Asgard
- Woodhelvennin
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I'm racing through them all very quickly. I read fast to begin with, but since it's summer, and my girlfriend is away until this coming Sunday (left Thursday) and I have no distractions, I've managed to read both the One Tree and I'm a third of the way through White Gold Wielder already.
I've noticed that with most other authors, I can tear through a book about every three days, only allocating an hour or two a night to read. I'm talking 3-- or 400 paged books, not little Mitch Albom thinkers; full sized novels. But with Donaldson, if I don't offer up three or four hours a day to reading, a single book can take as much as a week or more to finish.
That said, I started the Wounded Land last Monday...and I'm probably going to finish the White Gold Wielder tomorrow or the morning after (I work nights, so I can read then).
My goal is to finish RotE and FR by the end of July.
I've noticed that with most other authors, I can tear through a book about every three days, only allocating an hour or two a night to read. I'm talking 3-- or 400 paged books, not little Mitch Albom thinkers; full sized novels. But with Donaldson, if I don't offer up three or four hours a day to reading, a single book can take as much as a week or more to finish.
That said, I started the Wounded Land last Monday...and I'm probably going to finish the White Gold Wielder tomorrow or the morning after (I work nights, so I can read then).
My goal is to finish RotE and FR by the end of July.