The Last Chronicles - worth it?

[michaelm]

I have read the first and second chronicles a few times and thoroughly enjoyed them. The last chronicles don't see to have had the same critical response and in some ways seem to have attracted in general more negative reviews.

Without giving any spoilers, what are your thoughts on the final chronicles compared to the first and second - should I just read them because they are TC books, or should I approach them with trepidation?

Or something else?

I'd be interested to hear opinions.

[kevinswatch]

Welcome to the Watch!

Very good question. And I'm sure that you'll be getting many different responses. The range of opinions on the Last Chronicles is vast.

You are correct though that opinion on the Last Chronicles tends to skew to the negative side, to say the least. I think some of the primary things that people were disappointed with in the LC compared to the FC and SC could be summarized as:

-The lack of colorful and interesting secondary characters in the vein of Mhoram and Pitchwife.
-The pacing never seemed to hit a consistent stride; it would be slow-moving at times, followed by abrupt jumps of action.
-Not to spoil anything, but I guess it would be fair to warn you that many here were, to say the least, a little let down by the ending.

However, do I regret reading it? I don't think so. The main positive of the LC that I can say is that I still enjoy SRD purely as a writer. There's just something about his writing that I just always enjoy reading his words. And it is a Covenant series, so if you enjoyed reading about the Land, you do get more of that.

So I donno. I guess you just have to go for it and make up your own opinion.

Read them because they are TC books, but also approach with trepidation.

-jay

[Ananda]

They're just a few more books to have read in your life, so if you don't mind spending money on books you may not love, reading them won't hurt you, I think. I don't regret reading them, but they weren't really very good in my opinion. The main thing about the last chrons for me is the writing style becomes so redundant. There is just so much repetition and so little going on by the end that the fine line between the metaphor of the land as a therapy tool and the high fantasy gets shifted over into feeling like a voyeur in a group therapy session in my opinion. On the other hand, some people really enjoyed it and thought it was brilliant, so if you end somewhere in the middle, you will have still enjoyed it.

There are a few fun new characters and stories, too. In the end, it is just more fantasy and, if you like fantasy, just read it and enjoy it for whatever you get out of it. So, why not just read them! At the very least, you can then post in the last chrons forum and be moderated by Savor Dam who will shepherd you in pun format.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

I suspect that many hold negative views of the Last Chronicles because the books weren't what they wanted them to be. However, if you aren't the author then a book is never what you want it to be.

You should read them because they are Covenant books but approach them with an open mind.

[aliantha]

I personally think that the thing that put most people off of the Last Chrons -- Runes, in particular -- was the lack of the almost-poetic narrative voice they associated with the Chrons. But that was because Covenant is dead, and Linden is a different kind of character (pipe down, THOOLAHns!). She has a much more practical, hard-edged mien, and she lacks Covenant's desperation. So the narrative voice SRD uses for her chapters is less lyrical, more clinical.

Once we got to Fatal Revenant and Covenant is back as a PoV character, the narrative voice turns lyrical again. I swear I heard a sigh of relief sweep the forums here....

Anyway. The first two Chrons hold a special place in my heart. I enjoyed the Last Chrons and will probably reread them at some point, but they're not going to hold the same enchantment for me. I'm glad I read them, though.

[michaelm]

Thanks for the input. I'll probably read them anyway, but was interested in people's opinions - glad to hear some of the reasons behind the why and the comments on how they are different from the first and second.

[MsMary]

Welcome to the Watch!

Very good question. And I'm sure that you'll be getting many different responses. The range of opinions on the Last Chronicles is vast.

You are correct though that opinion on the Last Chronicles tends to skew to the negative side, to say the least. I think some of the primary things that people were disappointed with in the LC compared to the FC and SC could be summarized as:

-The lack of colorful and interesting secondary characters in the vein of Mhoram and Pitchwife.
-The pacing never seemed to hit a consistent stride; it would be slow-moving at times, followed by abrupt jumps of action.
-Not to spoil anything, but I guess it would be fair to warn you that many here were, to say the least, a little let down by the ending.

However, do I regret reading it? I don't think so. The main positive of the LC that I can say is that I still enjoy SRD purely as a writer. There's just something about his writing that I just always enjoy reading his words. And it is a Covenant series, so if you enjoyed reading about the Land, you do get more of that.

So I donno. I guess you just have to go for it and make up your own opinion.

Read them because they are TC books, but also approach with trepidation.

-jay

I agree with all of this.

I don't regret having read them, but I'm not in a hurry for a re-read.

[Frostheart Grueburn]

If huge, strong, somewhat rubenesque but definitely rabelasian ladies tickle your taste buds then have at least a peek... ;-D

It does have interesting minor characters!
.

Spoiler

At least I found Stave far more developed than his ancestors...

[kevinswatch]

I stand by my statement that there lacks interesting minor characters.

However, I agree that there is a interesting minor character.



-jay

[Frostheart Grueburn]

I stand by my statement that there lacks interesting minor characters.

However, I agree that there is a interesting minor character.



-jay

Spoiler

Mahrtiir. Rime Coldspray (plus she's not such a fountain of tears as Gossamer... ) the kick-arse grandma...

[kevinswatch]

Spoiler

The First of the Search could kick Coldspray's ass any day of the week!

-jay

[ussusimiel]

My advice would be to approach the Last Chronicles as if they are a separate series altogether. It is a difficult thing to do and I found the writing, plotting, characterisation and pacing to be so significantly different as to render it well nigh impossible for me to reconcile the LCs with the 1st and 2nd Chrons.

Approach with care and if you are not enjoying them stop reading. At that stage, maybe dip into the Runes forum and sample some of the discussions there. That may whet you appetite to read some more, even if only to be able to be part of the discussion. There are certain things in the LCs that illuminate and explain stuff from the 1st and 2nd Chrons that it is cool to learn and know about.

u.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

If huge, strong, somewhat rubenesque but definitely rabelasian ladies tickle your taste buds then have at least a peek... ;-D

I am always ready to peek at giantesses.

[Frostheart Grueburn]

Spoiler

The First of the Search could kick Coldspray's ass any day of the week!

-jay

Spoiler

But she specifically told she never were the mightiest of the hird! how do you know Ironhand Glowlimn did not mentor her, though?

People complain about Linden weeping, but the First does that about s much. Count the occasions!

Now, about Hashi...

Spoiler

Few ken that he is an Insequent whose sole purpose was to materialize whenever the giantesses bathed, and peek at them from the bushes. At one point Bluntfist's keen eyes spotted him, and...for some reason, there's a page missing from my edition of AATE atthis point. Anyone aware of what befell?.

[wayfriend]

I'd be interested to hear opinions.

Dude, you just walked into a vegan forum and asked if baby seal burgers are tasty.

[michaelm]

I'd be interested to hear opinions.

Dude, you just walked into a vegan forum and asked if baby seal burgers are tasty.

Or at least asked about the club sandwich...?

(Sorry, my jokes are really bad...)

[Vraith]

I'd be interested to hear opinions.

Dude, you just walked into a vegan forum and asked if baby seal burgers are tasty.

Or at least asked about the club sandwich...?

(Sorry, my jokes are really bad...)

That is SWEEET! A man after my own taste.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

Now, about Hashi...

Spoiler

Few ken that he is an Insequent whose sole purpose was to materialize whenever the giantesses bathed, and peek at them from the bushes. At one point Bluntfist's keen eyes spotted him, and...for some reason, there's a page missing from my edition of AATE atthis point. Anyone aware of what befell?.

Some secrets are worth keeping. *innocent whistle*

I'd be interested to hear opinions.

Dude, you just walked into a vegan forum and asked if baby seal burgers are tasty.

Or at least asked about the club sandwich...?

This is classic.

[michaelm]

Well glad to know that my bad taste jokes don't offend too much...

[Zarathustra]

I've been pretty hard on the LC, but it does have a few amazing scenes, perhaps one or two per book.

However, the problems are deep, systemic, and irredeemable. It's not simply a case of people wishing for a different story, or having unreasonable expectations, or nostalgia for the earlier Chronicles. It has problems that would be an issue no matter which series or author this was. It's not just the anti-climactic, jump-the-shark, too-easy ending. There are 200 page spans where the characters do nothing but sit in one spot and recover from trials, while feeling angst-y. There are plot mechanics that are contrived for the sole purpose of keeping the reader ignorant in order to shock and awe later ... reasons that strain credulity in terms of the story itself, and blatantly call attention to the author's manipulation of the audience. There is a bewildering host of "bad guys," most of them largely off-screen for most of the time, and not a single one of which has a satisfying resolution to the conflict they add to the story, thus needlessly complicating things for sheer effect.

The main character of this story is there for less than half of it, perhaps less than a quarter of it. But apparently, it's his story. There is another main character who doesn't even become conscious--and thus, an actual character--until 75% of the way through this story. And then he adds nothing to the tale, except for some whining and then the jump-the-shark ending. There are other significant characters who add nothing except pointless death scenes (at least three), not to mention all the insignificant characters who exist for the same pointless reason.

The equivalent of the Sunbane this time around--the large scale threat to the Land (or one of them)--is barely noticeable (literally!), and hardly impacts the plot at all, except as a personal obstacle for Linden. But she can overcome it pretty easily, and does so repeatedly, like an afterthought.

The history of the Land is entirely rewritten to incorporate a race of characters invented solely for the LC, but we're supposed to accept that they were there throughout the Land's history the entire time. As expected, this produces (or exacerbates, calling attention to) significant plot holes and inconsistencies which even Donaldson himself has admitted.

Donaldson also admitted that the ending could have been written better. So the author that has been telling us for years that he writes his stories primarily for the ending, admits that he messed up the entire point of writing this Chronicles, namely, the ending.

So, you've been warned.