Kevin's Watch

I would have to say Daughter of Regals itself, but I still have Animal Lover and Unworthy of the Angel to go.

I loved Chrysalis. I loved her story, her struggle. And I loved the world that SRD created for her.

Sum sui generis
Vs

I also love Daughter of Regals. In addition to what you said, I love the way Donaldson plays with the power of wood, stone, and blood -- the same things that can have great power in the Land.

I know, it's great!

I actually think that Daughter of Regals would make a great film. It is true Donaldson, but also enough of it is external so that it would come across as a film.

Sum sui generis
Vs

I've got to go with "Daughter of Regals" too. I think it's the perfect distillation of what at the time SRD meant by What It Means To Be Human. Being Real (i.e. Human) means having Courage, Faith, Love, Fear, Doubt, and Hatred all at the same time. It's that contradiction--the ability to be simultaneously courageous and fearful, the ability to love and hate the same person at the same time--that makes us human. It's the ability to stand in the center of paradox and choose, as Chrysalis did. (And as TC did. And Terisa. And Morn and even Angus.)

I read the book three times before I read SVT, but when I finally decided to read it, I was amazed.

I finished Animal Lover and Unworthy of the Angel yesterday at work, and while I liked Animal Lover, I thought that Unworthy of the Angel was just amazing.

Like Chrysalis', our protagonist has to choose. However, his choice is much more like Lord Mhoram's, and Bannor's and Foamfollower's.

He chooses to give aid to one who does not deserve it, because in doing so he will save someone who does, in the same way Atiaran helped Covenant so that he could save the Land.

And he doesn't give up on Reese because he has no choice. Not really. Giving up would go against who he is, even though he doesn't know who he is.

Wow is all I can say.

Sum sui generis
Vs

I'd have to agree with you there. Unworthy of the Angel is my second favorite story in the book. I think it's more atmospheric than a lot of SRD's stuff--as though it were more of an exercise in creating a sense-picture than a word picture. You can almost feel the mugginess of the streets, smell the garbage & sweat, feel the evil...Dam' good stuff.

Ilove many of them from this collection (as with the second), but I think my two fav are "Animal Lover" and "Unworthy of an Angel".

"Unworthy of the Angel", "Mythological Beast", and "Gilden-Fire", in that order.

Just picked up a copy of Daughter of Regals yesterday, so I won't vote until I've read it again. (It's been a long time)

--A

I just reread The Conquerer Worm. I'm not saying it's my fav, but EEEOUCH! What a nasty ending!

Daughter of Regals was an incredible story. I've read it at least a dozen times, and have longed for a full-length novel, if not a series set in that world.

However, I voted for Unworthy of the Angel. I remember reading it for the first time; not so much just reading it, but experiencing it, feeling it. When I finally set the book down, there was a rather disconcerting moment while the real world reasserted itself back around me.

Very, very few other stories have had that effect on me.

I voted Animal Lover; I just thought it was a great idea and a lot of fun. It was really a horror story where you were scared, which I liked. And heck who doesn’t like animals with guns? lol

But I will say I thought Daughters was the best written, but were choosing for our favorites here.

While Daughter of Regals was very good I'm going to have to go with Mythological Beast. This story for some reason just grabbed me right away & kept me interested all the way to the end. Gilden Fire I will exclude as this is in my mind apart of the Chrons.

So -

1. Mythological Beast - gripping, fast paced & off the wall sci-fi
2. Animal Lover - action sci-fi with some decent creepy bad guys
3. Daughter of Regals - epic story with excellent writing
4. Unworthy of the Angel - original take on angels & demons
5. The Lady in White - a little too ho-hum with fairy-talishness
6. The Conquerer Worm - loved the couples problems

7. Ser Visal's Tale (haven't finished yet) -

I voted for Daughter of Regals, although I rate it equal to Gilden-Fire. But I don't consider Gilden-Fire a true short story, but rather a chapter in a novel.

I'm currently rereading DoR and am currently on Unworthy of the Angel.

Really enjoyed Animal Lover. Is this the type of writing you see in the Reed Stevens novels? I have one on my shelf but have not gotten around to reading any. Loved his hard boiled detective/secret agent character. I find I remembered nothing from DoR but the title story and Gilden Fire. It's like finding new Donaldson thanks to my 25 year old memory!

You know, it's been years since I read it and can't remember! I'll be having an instore credit with B&N, may be time to remedy that!

Finished my reread. Great collection!

I rate them as follows:

5 stars
Daughter of Regals
Gilden-Fire
Animal Lover
Ser Visal's Tale

4 stars
Mythological Beast
Unworthy of the Angel

3 stars
The Lady in White

1 star
The Conqueror Worm

I really enjoyed Unworthy of the Angel.

I agree, Wyldewode. That's my favortie of the Regals collection. (Hence my screen name ). Though Ser Visal's Tale was fantastic as well.