Kevin's Watch

Indeed, I'd rather withhold judgment until the distant day when all four books are in my hands, and I can read the Last Chronicles front to back in a single reading - otherwise, any kind of opinion would be skewed, since after all, when I read the First Chronicles, and then when I read the Second Chronicles, both were in omnibus edition and didn't require me to wait three years between installments.

Cameraman Jenn, I think I love you.

You know that Cameraman is a misnomer don't you?

--A

Cameraman Jenn and Ur Dead reflect my opinion with more eloquence than I could muster.

Cameraman Jenn, I agree that the situations you presented here are poignant. [I also disagree with Jay - I liked Runes - a lot!] I just think the style of SRD's earlier writing - TWL passage reference - evoked an emotional response better.

I reread that passage, after reading the two you presented. TWL focused on the emotion, the tears welling [hell, I almost got teary!] at seeing the Giants, of Saltheart Foamfallower ... The current style of writing seems more discourse ... factual.....

I agree with Jay, I was horribly disappointed with Runes. I thought that everything was hokily contrived, and time travel? Dear God no.

Hopefully the next book redeems it, but Runes is an overlong prologue that I will have to fight my way through when it comes time to re-read it prior to FR.

Well, I enjoyed Runes and I am saddened to hear that others did not.

I'm with you Jenn. I loved it too.

Cameraman Jenn wrote:Well, I enjoyed Runes and I am saddened to hear that others did not.

I don't know about anyone else, but nothing *I* said indicates that I did not enjoy it.

I stand corrected, saying that others did not enjoy it was pretty presumptive of me.

I also think that Anele is very emotionally provocative. I was pained by his dual dilema. His self imposed madness is a self inflicted condition to keep him from his breaking point over his guilt for losing the staff and therefore allowing Kastenessan to free himself from the Durance. His madness also allows his possessions by other beings. So many passages clearly reflect his inner struggle and anguish. I find this to be very emotionally moving.

Maybe part of my problem was that I didn't like Anele. At all. I found his character to be annoying, and he reminded me too much of a Golem knock-off.

Anele got *slightly* more interesting when it was revealed that he was

Spoiler

the son of Sunder and Hollian.

But still...I donno, but Anele just didn't do it for me. I never really got into his character. Unlike, say, Esmer. Or Stave, who was kinda cool. (Although he was Haruchai, and they're all cool, heh.) Maybe I'd have a better appreciation of Anele if I read Runes again.

[Edit]

I should say though, that it wasn't that I *hated* Runes. Just like now I don't really *hate* Linden. Runes was just a disappointment to me, that's all. I mean, it took me a year to read the bloody thing. That's saying something, even with my crappy reading skillz.-jay

Avatar wrote:You know that Cameraman is a misnomer don't you?

--A

I am well aware of that Avatar. She just manages to put so beautifully how great I felt runes was. Totally different to the rest of the chronicles, but still great.

Ah Variol Son....you are making me blush.

I just write what I feel and hope I don't sound too much like an ass....

Creator wrote:Cameraman Jenn, I agree that the situations you presented here are poignant. [I also disagree with Jay - I liked Runes - a lot!] I just think the style of SRD's earlier writing - TWL passage reference - evoked an emotional response better.

I reread that passage, after reading the two you presented. TWL focused on the emotion, the tears welling [hell, I almost got teary!] at seeing the Giants, of Saltheart Foamfallower ... The current style of writing seems more discourse ... factual.....

Hey Creator, I think what you're saying is similar to what I was saying. I certainly agree that the writing seems more factual.

But, I suppose I should clarify: that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy Runes, and what I was talking about isn't saying I was "disappointed". I was merely saying that I missed the "music" and that's important to me because I gravitate towards books that sing to me (they're the ones that move me the most). The lack of that music softened my emotional reactions to it.

All that said, I *believe* in its potential (Runes is, after all, only the first book). I'll wait until I've read all 4 before I make up my mind.

Usivius wrote:Cameraman Jenn and Ur Dead reflect my opinion with more eloquence than I could muster.

Hey I said I liked it too!

I did say about that I stood corrected and my assumption of people not enjoying the book was wrong.....

Creator, I understand what you are saying about his writing style having changed which is totally expected given the years of difference between the new books and the first two chronicles. However, I still find his writing moving emotionally. I will agree that parts of it seem very factual and less descriptive. However I feel that the charactor interactions that he portrays in ROTE have in some ways become more meaningful than some of the "Hellfire and Damnation" outbursts found in say, LFB.

Jay...Anele annoying and a Gollum knockoff? Wow...I didn't get that at all. But now that you said it, I can see the annoying part but the only real common denominator that I see between Gollum and Anele is that they are both charactors to be pitied, that and they are on a quest. Hrmm....

See, that's part of what bugged me about Runes...It didn't move me.

Drool is more of a gollum knock off than Anele.

Anele is one of my faverite charactors in ANY book. (Not just Donaldson)

WARNING**** FBH SPOILER****

Drool and Gollum parallel....AH now THAT I totally agree with! (she writes while thinking of the action sequence for episode 37)

ROTE has not affected me emotionally, like TWL and WGW did - but then again, I'm a different person now than I was in the '80s, so how could I expect the same reaction?

I thought the prologue - before Linden arrived in the Land - was some of the best writing SRD has ever offered. My heart was racing at the confrontation scene with Roger!

The "What has gone before" - written by SRD himself this time - was incredibly insightful, and I enjoyed every word.

Anele was annoying at times, but I loved when he read the history of the Land in stone.

By far, the most interesting new character is Stave, and his confrontation with the Haruchai was heartbreaking.

Esmer is this series' Vain - the mysterious character.

What I don't understand are the ceasures, and I hope SRD explains them better in FR. I also don't understand Linden's reluctance to use power, when she was so hungry for it in 2nd Chronicles. There's something not quite right about that.