The One Tree and why it's so arduous

[Vraith]

The One Tree to me is a ponderous read, and the 1 book in the series I have to force myself to read. It really adds very little if anything to the Chronicles, and could have been left out entirely.

Kinda repeating myself. But all of these I think added to the story in numerous ways...and finding ALL of them suddenly popping up in places/plots in the Land would have transcended even absurdity:
Kastenol Aredenol [and other things Haruchai]
Sandgorgons
Elohim [as a people/culture]
Second Staff of Law [and the whole Vain/Findail thing vanishes or strains credulity]
Worm of the Worlds End
Croyel
Kastenessen
That's off the top of my head, I'm sure there are others.
I think they all add something to the story.
In addition every single one
[and a number of little sides/hints I didn't include] leads to something important in the Last.
A couple of them lead to more than one thing in the Last.

Something else, which those who despise Linden won't care much about, but is IMO story-essential: I have a hard time imagining TC/Linden [singularly, but particularly the relationship] developing with as many facets/dimensions wholly under the Sunbane.

[ussusimiel]

The One Tree to me is a ponderous read, and the 1 book in the series I have to force myself to read. It really adds very little if anything to the Chronicles, and could have been left out entirely.

Kinda repeating myself. But all of these I think added to the story in numerous ways...and finding ALL of them suddenly popping up in places/plots in the Land would have transcended even absurdity:
Kastenol Aredenol [and other things Haruchai]
Sandgorgons
Elohim [as a people/culture]
Second Staff of Law [and the whole Vain/Findail thing vanishes or strains credulity]
Worm of the Worlds End
Croyel
Kastenessen
That's off the top of my head, I'm sure there are others.
I think they all add something to the story.
In addition every single one
[and a number of little sides/hints I didn't include] leads to something important in the Last.
A couple of them lead to more than one thing in the Last.

Something else, which those who despise Linden won't care much about, but is IMO story-essential: I have a hard time imagining TC/Linden [singularly, but particularly the relationship] developing with as many facets/dimensions wholly under the Sunbane.

I have to agree with Vraith (and we usually only agree on education ). I'm not sure how the 2nd series could have been all jammed into one book without, at the very least, the loss of the Caamora of the Unhomed (which is many people's single favourite scene in the entire Chrons). I suppose Linden could have been jettisoned (which would have satisfied those THOOLAH philistines ) and Covenant could have gone straight to Mount Thunder and confronted Foul, picking up what he needed on the way. Throw in a bit of help from the Elohim and a new staff is probably possible. But I'm not sure what would have been gained that hadn't already been covered in TPTP. However, there are some people who hold that there was no need for the 2nd Chrons at all. I think what we have here is a case of a purist; a 1st Chrons fundamentalist!

u.

[DrPaul]

The One Tree to me is a ponderous read, and the 1 book in the series I have to force myself to read. It really adds very little if anything to the Chronicles, and could have been left out entirely.

Kinda repeating myself. But all of these I think added to the story in numerous ways...and finding ALL of them suddenly popping up in places/plots in the Land would have transcended even absurdity:
Kastenol Aredenol [and other things Haruchai]
Sandgorgons
Elohim [as a people/culture]
Second Staff of Law [and the whole Vain/Findail thing vanishes or strains credulity]
Worm of the Worlds End
Croyel
Kastenessen
That's off the top of my head, I'm sure there are others.
I think they all add something to the story.
In addition every single one
[and a number of little sides/hints I didn't include] leads to something important in the Last.
A couple of them lead to more than one thing in the Last.

Something else, which those who despise Linden won't care much about, but is IMO story-essential: I have a hard time imagining TC/Linden [singularly, but particularly the relationship] developing with as many facets/dimensions wholly under the Sunbane.

Exactly. TOT was crucial in developing and expanding the sub-creation of the Chronicles and providing a framework for the evolution of the major characters.

[dlbpharmd]

As difficult as TOT can be to get through, it's still a better read than any part of the Last Chronicles.

[ussusimiel]

As difficult as TOT can be to get through, it's still a better read than any part of the Last Chronicles.

If TOT is arduous it is only relative to the brilliance of the rest of the books. IMO, it is a far better book than most other fantasy novels. (I'd love to be able to say that about the Last Chrons )

u.

[Savor Dam]

Patience, u. Come this fall, you and many other doubters (perhaps even those as hardcore as dlb and Fist) will know the brilliance of the Last Chrons, once you have read the final volume.

[slickthomas]

The One Tree to me is a ponderous read, and the 1 book in the series I have to force myself to read. It really adds very little if anything to the Chronicles, and could have been left out entirely.

I've felt this way for 30 years.

Part of it is that I've never gotten all the Pitchwife love but then again I don't find the Second Chronicles characters (except for Vain) to be particularly memorable.