Kevin's Watch

Hello everyone. I just joined today and wanted to say hey. I've been a long time avid fan of SRD since I first picked up Lord Foul in 1985.

I have not spent much time yet checking out Kevin's Watch but I certainly will.

I just finished reading (okay listening to actually) to The Runes of the Earth for the second time, in order to be ready to dive into Fatal Revenant.

Later

Be welcome to the Watch, Michael. Be Well Come and True.

Was it Scott's reading of Runes to which you listened?

Welcome to the Watch, Michael!

Menolly wrote:Be welcome to the Watch, Michael. Be Well Come and True.

Was it Scott's reading of Runes to which you listened?

Yes, bought it through Audible (3 month trial).

I heard an old audiobook recording of Lord Foul a few years back, but it was dreadful.

Normally I like to read the books, but with three children it has become too difficult to find the time so I listen while I drive and work around the house. I figure as long as they are unabridged I am still reading it.

michaelklouda wrote:

Menolly wrote:Be welcome to the Watch, Michael. Be Well Come and True.

Was it Scott's reading of Runes to which you listened?

Yes, bought it through Audible (3 month trial).

*nodding*

Scott is a Watcher. He posts occasionally.

michaelklouda wrote:I heard an old audiobook recording of Lord Foul a few years back, but it was dreadful.

Yes, I heard there was a Library of the Blind recording available. Is that the one you heard?

Scott has released a recording of LFB, and I believe TIW is on it's way. His reading of LFB can be acquired at store.iamplify.com/product_info.php?products_id=2045

michaelklouda wrote:Normally I like to read the books, but with three children it has become too difficult to find the time so I listen while I drive and work around the house. I figure as long as they are unabridged I am still reading it.

I understand completely. My sister has never read TCTC because she doesn't enjoy reading in general. But she travels for her job, and enjoys audio books while traveling. I think it may be time I guided her to Scott's site as well. hmm...

Wow, I leave for three weeks and suddenly there is a flood of new newbies. Maybe I should stay away to increase membership!
(Welcome to all, btw.)

Welcome to the Watch, Michael!

Hi all *waves*

I've been a SRD fan since the early 80's when I discovered 'Lord Foul's Bane'. Since then I been a TC fan and I'm very happy that SRD is writing the third set of books. Lets see what each can I tell you about myself. Well I love reading and writing fantasy, I'm married and I live in New Zealand.

I look foward to inacting with you in these forums in the future.

- Raven

Welcome to the Watch!

To say I'm a Donaldson fanatic would be an understatement. Since I was in 9th grade and first read The Illearth War (by mistake, then going back to LFB), I've been hooked. There is nothing else in epic fantasy that compares to Tolkien's work that I've found.

I teach Philosophy at Fordham University. Though it was doubtless Tolkien (and a couple books on the history of philosophy) that got me into this, a lot of my own ideas -- especially on the will -- are deeply indebted to Donaldson's work. I've published one essay on Tolkien (in *The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy*) that makes some mention of The Chronicles of TC, but there was not room for more discussion there. Life is busy with a family and many wonderful courses to teach (including one titled "Fantasy and Philosophy") but if time permits, I hope to publish a couple other articles related to themes in The Chronicles and other Donaldson works. I still have incomplete drafts of three "commentaries" on each of the three books in the First Chronicles, written back when I was in college. I may try to post these, along with a couple essays on epic fantasy and romance literature, on a section of my subpage of my professional website.

A bit of history. I spent a good part of 11th grade trying to convince my English teacher (one of those few amazing teachers you always remember) that Donaldson's Chronicles were serious literature of great importance. He made fun of me the whole year for it. Then he actually read them. While teaching at Kingswood-Oxford high school a few years later (I was a freshman in college nearby) he invited Donaldson to come up as "artist in residence" for a couple days. This school had a program where students in the middle school and high school read work by a living author who then visited. I came out to deliver a talk to the English department to explain the literary and philosophical significance of the books, and to answer their anticipated worries (of course: could a rapist become a hero? etc). It went over well. Then Donaldson's visit took place a couple months later. It was incredibly exciting for me; the talk to the high school students and a later talk to the faculty were quite inspiring. I still have video of several of his talks, and submitted a transcribed version of his talk to the faculty to Kent State library (a version of this paper on epic fantasy is supposedly available on his website, though I've not been able to find it poking around there). My own discussions with Donaldson were very fruitful (for me at least; who knows what he thought), though I tried not to monopolize his time. This event was in spring 1987, I believe.

I also met Steve at a book signing in London the next year. This was not planned by me; a wonderful friend of mine (now passed away due to bike accident) tricked me into coming to an event and it turned out to be this Q&A session with Donaldson. We had more discussion about moral themes in the Second Chronicles esp. We also exchanged about three substantive letters. I had not written to him again until posting a question about the movies on his webpage (gradual interview) in 2006.

I understand -- now -- that prospects for movies of the First Chronicles are poor, and there is little that Steve can do, given that some major directors have tried. This seems to be a terrible tragedy to me. As I work my way through Fatal Revenant with stunned amazement not felt since reading the end of White Gold Wielder (my kids wonder what's wrong with me!), I'm more convinced than ever that deeply moving, visually overwhelming, awe-inspiring films could be made of all three Chronicles. Having taught college students who say the Tolkien movies (granted all their imperfections), this is surely the way to immortality for the best epic fantasy works ever written -- I'm happy to explain why they are superior to the LOTR if anyone wishes. So I'm willing to do whatever I can to help revive such prospects. We have to remember the miracle story of how these books first got published, and believe that a similar miracle can occur with the films.

Welcome, mhoram99. Allow me to add that I am in awe after reading your life story. I am sure you will enjoy the many discussions taking place here.

Be welcome to the Watch, Raven-sb. Be Well Come and True.

Many of us are married, and parents as well. Many are married. Many are parents. And many are neither.

We have several other Watchers from New Zealand. One of the mods of this forum currently resides there.

Be welcome to the Watch, mhoram. Be Well Come and True.

It seems obvious your interactions with SRD have touched you deeply. You must plan on coming to our third elohimfest with him in Albuquerque, whenever that may happen.

Welcome Raven-sb!

Woohoo !! Another Kiwi amongst our ranks. Soon we will take over the world

Kiwi!

Welcome to the watch, a mostly harmless group of SRD fans.

Oh, and be sure to look into the Anthology.

stutt

Hello Raven-sb make yourself at home. Kick off your shoes and put up your feet and relax. See you around.

Are you a Kiwi Stutty?

Vain wrote:Are you a Kiwi Stutty?

I thought Stutty was from Germany.

Oh, and welcome Raven-sb! Almost forgot.

A warm welcome to Michael and Mhoram99! I hope you enjoy your time here as much as I am.

Andy