Kevin's Watch

Andrew Stiles: Mr. Donaldson,

First, the obligatory praise for all of your work. Don't ever stop writing! *grin*

Second, you've mentioned a few times in the interview that you spend a considerable amount of time researching your own books in order to keep yourself consistent. Have you ever considered asking the Watch members about what you've written? I guarantee that between all of us fanatics who study your books as if they were religious texts (my, isn't hyperbole fun?) we'd be able to give you any answer very quickly. *grin*

How can you be sure that I don't already do this? <you're grinning, so I am as well>

(11/12/2004)

danlo wrote:SRD himself IS a member here, but he has only posted once...

Tony: Steve,

Thanks so much for the awesome stories.. I've read both series numerous times since the 70's. I found Covenant's view of Glimmermere very touching in the Power that Preserves, as was Coerci in the Wounded Land..

Do you happen to have a favorite chapter or touching scene from the Covenant books.

I'm particularly fond of "The Celebration of Spring" (LFB), perhaps the most ecstatic writing I've ever done. I also loved Covenant's caamora for the Dead in The Grieve (TWL), the soothtell (TWL), the scene in which Covenant acknowledges Lena as his "queen" (TPTP), and the quenching of the Banefire (WGW).

(11/14/2004)

Chris D: Just now finished Runes...nicely done. You've (to this reader) seamlesly picked up where you left off. I have one question and one comment. Q: Lord Foul, why did you limit his essence and his vehemence to the Land how is it that the rest of the "world" was spared? From a literary stand point it makes sense (well that's where all the action is! *smack*)Just always wondered why there werent more far reaching acts of "despite".
C: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions including the inane ones (see my Q above)Now please to be getting back to the salt mines I'm dying to read the next installment!

CD

Gosh, the details we could discuss.... I'll have to control myself.

I've often referred to the Land as an "arena." And I suggested recently in this interview that Earthpower flows closer to the surface in the Land than elsewhere. Naturally Lord Foul would be drawn there. BUT. A close reading of the first six books reveals that LF came to the Land from elsewhere in the Earth: the Land knew Ravers well before it met the Despiser. During the ages of the One Forest's flourishing, humankind hardly existed in the Land at all--and LF would naturally go where the people are. Furthermore, there is evidence that LF has been at work elsewhere in the Earth (long ago if not presently): the shadow on the heart of the Elohim; the fact that the Elohim appear to have an established tradition of Appointing one among them to stop evils here and there (personally, I find it difficult to believe that Findail, Kastenessen, and the Elohim sent to aid the One Forest were the *only* Elohim who were ever Appointed). And then there's the curious fact that Kevin's Council failed to recognize LF. How, I ask myself, could that have happened if the Old Lords had any previous experience of the Despiser? I may be getting myself in trouble here; but I suspect that LF didn't come to the Land until the Old Lords became powerful enough to be useful to him.

(11/18/2004)