Possible reason why people can't get into LFB: *spoilers*

[Rocksister]

Matrix's new avatar is killing me. I've been a Karl Urban fan since LOTR movies first came out. Chronicles of Riddick cemented that, and now Star Trek. Yeeoowww!!

[drew]

Hey.

Lord Foul's Bane was publishe in 1977; the same year Star Wars came out (and the same year I was born)

BUT

Yoda doesn't enter the films until the Empire Strikes Back; released in 1980.

Something There is in Beauty, (not even tongue in cheek) could not possibly be written in Yoda style..it predates Yoda.

[MsMary]

According to audiobook narrator Scott Brick, he went to SRD (straight to the horse's mouth, so to speak) for pronunciations of the many unique words in TCTC. Ranyhyn is pronounced RAH-nuh-hin.

For more on Scott Brick's "how do you say this" interviews with SRD (both Scott's written blog about this process and his reading of that blog so you can hear him saying many of the word we've stumbled over, including the Words of Power and the invocation of the Ranyhyn), visit:

tinyurl.com/qrhyrq

Great link, but could you shorten it? You're stretching out the forum.

You could use the tinyurl link I created above, in your quote, to replace the great big long one you inserted.

[Savor Dam]

It did not occur to me that the fully-qualified link to Scott Brick's site (admittedly three lines long) would be an issue. I tend to want to know where links are going to send me, so I prefer to see the link presented in clear text.

When posting longer links in the future, I may bear MsMary's request in mind...in any case it was valuable input on how other Watchers view lengthy links.

[Loredoctor]

I read the chronicles first when I was around 16, and I almost stopped with the rape scene. The only reason why I was able to go on is because I viewed certain events afterwards not only as punishments for TC, but as a direct consequence of the rape. As I've reread the series, my outlook has changed, and though my attitude towards the crime of rape has changed from disgust to an outright call of crucifixtion of the offender, I am always somehow able to forgive TC.... to me, this is the principle reason why I view SRD as one of the greatest authors around, since he convinced me to forgive a crime that I usually view as damn near unforgivable. Funny how such things work

For me it was the fact that Covenant never shies away from the fact that he's committed a terrible act. Although I was not aware of that when it happened, it did, in retrospect make the character likeable (as well as for his other qualities).

[wayfriend]

When posting longer links in the future, I may bear MsMary's request in mind...in any case it was valuable input on how other Watchers view lengthy links.

You don't need to create a tiny URL. Just use this:

Code: Select all

[url=http://big.long.url]shortname[/url]

And you will see this:

• shortname

If people want to see where it goes, just hold the mouse over it and look down at the status bar.

[hpty603]

It took me a while before I got into the Chronicles. I tried to read them in 6th grade before I got confused because of the ridiculous vocabulary. Then I forgot it at school...the very last day...of my last year at that school. A few years later (around last October) I ran out of things to read in my house so I picked up TIW and got absorbed immediately due to its lacking of the slow start as in LFB (though I'll have to re-read them after I finish FR because I didn't completely understand everything). Upon ordering a new LFB, I saw that there is a second chronicles too, so I ordered them and TRotE and FR. Now I'm here ^_^

Well, the first few lines are why it took me awhile to get into LFB

[Orlion]

It's interesting how perspective changes with time. When I read the Chronicles for the first time in 10th grade, I found LFB to be mediocre at best (it took me a couple of weeks to read the first two chapters). TIW was really what drew me in for the first time. Now, I love LFB and don't understand why I didn't realize its greatness before!

[Demondime-a-dozen-spawn]

Upon reading Lord Foul's sneering diatribe and his prophesy of Doom to Covenant for transmission to the Lords of Revelstone early in LFB, I was hooked. No subsequent rape or anything else was going to quell my zeal for reading the rest of the story.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

I first read Lord Foul's Bane in 1985 and have been a fan of Mr. Donaldson ever since.

I know other people from other discussion boards who are avid science-fiction/fantasy readers but they strongly dislike the Covenant books because they are "too dark". *shrug* Their loss.

[Khazduk]

For me, the poetry was one of the biggest reasons I got hooked on the chrons in the first place. It was simple, somewhat strange and at the same time (lacking a better word) perfect in the context of the story. Or perfect in relation to TC's character and the whole mindset of the books.

Like Amok. He was there for a reason - but maybe neither the reader nor the hero (or anti-hero) of the story - would truly know why. Like an answer to a seemingly obvious question, that in hindsight really was about something else entirely. That being said, some of the poetry can (and is probably meant to) be taken quite literally. But behind that palabra-para-palabra reading, there always seemed to be something... more.

But hey... you probably shouldn't take what I say too seriously. I read both TIW and TPTP before I realised that the chrons actually was a trilogy.

[jacob Raver, sinTempter]

Being critical of the Chrons isn't a bad thing. Plus, the Yoda thing cracked me UP!

Also, from the negative reviews on amazon, its not really the rape, its either TC being a naggy, whinny b!tch, or SRDs writing style, or others were saying the pace was wayyyyy to slow.

[Orlion]

Also, from the negative reviews on amazon, its not really the rape, its either TC being a naggy, whinny b!tch, or SRDs writing style, or others were saying the pace was wayyyyy to slow.

This seems to be the case when I introduce the Chronicles or one of SRD's short stories to family or friends. They either love it, or are put off by the set-up (what many call the 'slowness' of SRD's writing style). It's a shame... I understand that some want things to happen NOW, but some of the best writings I've read have always been set up... well, at least the writings worth re-reading and discussing for any period of time... but now, I'm just straying into commentary

[jacob Raver, sinTempter]

I understand what their talking about...one could have a little more 'pull' going on if Foul had put a slightly more immediate demand the Message, say the Loresraat gets burnt down in seven days or something?

[Wheelwash Whitecap]

I am reading LFB for the first time and wanted to voice my opinion of why it is that it is taking me so long to read it.

Today while sitting at the dining room table with my husband, who has read the series twice and loves Donaldson, I realized why it is that the book is taking me so long to read.

One reason of mine is because parts of it drag on and on. I was thinking about the boat scene and how the trip last days and I understand that has to be said, but come on did he have to tell us about everytime that the giant sang or something little happened? I was telling Wheelwash that I got it the first two times it was mentioned: okay they are in the boat and the giant is singing, I understand lol.

Second reason that I am totally not happy with the book is the rape scene. I read drama books constantly (romance, mystery, etc) and I did not draw the conclusion to why that had to be placed in there. Again Wheelwash had to explain his thoughts of SD's reasoning.

Lastly, and the funniest reason as far as I am concerned, is that everyone keeps interupting and I have to read the same paragraph 4 and 5 times. Funny right? Come on laugh...I know this has happened to all of you.

Just my thoughts and now I'm going back to try to finish the book I started forever ago lol

Wheelwash Whitecap Mate

[CovenantJr]

Second reason that I am totally not happy with the book is the rape scene. I read drama books constantly (romance, mystery, etc) and I did not draw the conclusion to why that had to be placed in there. Again Wheelwash had to explain his thoughts of SD's reasoning.

That scene is one of the most important in the entire Chronicles, and will have repercussions for at least three more books, possibly more. Of course, you don't see all the consequences straight away, but then that's the nature of stories. Consequences aren't always immediate. Short of Donaldson adding in brackets 'by the way, reader, this will be important later' I don't see how it could have been improved.

How can you know the rape is gratuitous without reading the rest of the story? The same could be said of any scene. It was completely gratuitous for Foul to speak to Covenant. It was gratuitous for Covenant to have leprosy. It was completely unnecessary for him to even be in the Land. But no-one moans about these elements being unnecessary because it's obvious that there's a story being told. Why should the rape be any different? Because it's unpleasant? What kind of story only contains happy things?

[Wheelwash Whitecap Mate]

You are right about the point you make. I guess it is a personal feeling about what I believe needs to be included in books, but seeing it from your perspective then I have no qualms with the scene.

Wheelwash Whitecap Mate

P.S. Sorry for posting the message earlier under my hubbys name; I did not realize that he was signed in and not me.

[Orlion]

You are right about the point you make. I guess it is a personal feeling about what I believe needs to be included in books, but seeing it from your perspective then I have no qualms with the scene.

Wheelwash Whitecap Mate

P.S. Sorry for posting the message earlier under my hubbys name; I did not realize that he was signed in and not me.

It's cool, this happens to me a lot with other websites since I normally use my roommate's computer... Kevin's Watch is the only website that I can be sure that only I would be signed onto!

Keep up the reading! I had a similar experience with what you're going through. First time I read LFB, I didn't see anything special going on ever and I was seriously put-off by the rape scene. For reasons unknown to me now, though, I continued with the series and it paid of for me in the end. However, now I'm a Donaldsonholic I thought this website was a support group, but it has only increased my addiction

[Menolly]

I thought this website was a support group, but it has only increased my addiction

If you're on Facebook, you totally should join us here, even though nothing really happens, since we don't really want to be helped...

Hello, I'm <name>. It's been 45 seconds since I've visited Kevin's Watch

[Orlion]

I thought this website was a support group, but it has only increased my addiction

If you're on Facebook, you totally should join us here, even though nothing really happens, since we don't really want to be helped...

Hello, I'm <name>. It's been 45 seconds since I've visited Kevin's Watch

*sigh* Yes KW-Mother...