Kevin's Watch

I am going to bring up this topic on a coupel of the SRD novel threads. I'm one of those readers who absorbs intent, plot, 'feel' of a novel moreso than literal words and text. Meaning, I am not a good memorizer of text. But I am always left with 'images' from SRD's novels that stick with my for a very long time and in a powerful way.
My question to you all is: "What part of the first two chronicles has stuck with you?"

I think one of the obvious has to be the rape of Lena. And I don't know if more needs to be said about that powerful and tragic moment.

But another for me has always been when the Rayhnin (sp) rear to Covenant, and he is terrified of horses. (my reason is that when I erad the books when they came out, I was an impressionable teenager, who was, coincidentally, afraid of horses --- but only after two nasty incidents which I won't bore you with here. Recognizing the power and beauty of horses, admiring them and always wishing I could ride one, the moment when those great creatures of The Land rear to TC was so moving)

Because there are six books in this series, I will name a few more:

- "Nom" ('nuff said)
- Foamfollower laughing for Covenant in Foul's hall. (brought a tear to my eye, the tragedy, elation and nobility of that moment)

"Nom"

"Hate"

For some reason, that's always stayed with me vividly. Covenant, ankle broken, dragging himself at an exhausted limp across a Land ravaged by Foul's unnatural winter, snarling "hate" over and over through clenched teeth.

These are the pale deaths that men miscall their lives. (or something like that).

Just a piece of a poem from the books, and I rarely ever read poems/songs in books.


B

You don't seriously expect me to list just one scene, do you? There are many vivid passages in the Chronicles that have stayed in my mind.

LFB: The Celebration of Spring, the ur-vile attack on it, the desperate and hopeless countercharge of the forest animals led by an Unfettered One, and his death. This passage moves me to tears every time I read it.

TIW: The awesome appearance of Caerroil Wildwood, the dream-like passage through Garroting Deep marked by the total annihilation of Fleshharrower's army and by muffled booms from Melenkurion Skyweir, and the convergence of everyone at Gallows Howe--minus one High Lord Elena. SRD was on a roll here, and I was completely under his spell.

TPTP: High Lord Mhoram riding out of Revelstone, powering through the ur-viles, and laying the smackdown on Satansfist.

TWL: Covenant's emotional meeing with Caer-Caveral and the Dead in Andelain. Hamako leading Covenant to the secret den of the Waynhim, where they've preserved the flora and fauna of the Land. Linden and company at Landsdrop, looking out at the Great Swamp glistening seductively and eerily in the dawn light. Sarangrave under the Sunbane?? Oh my!

TOT: Nom's first appearance, and on his second, being mastered by the wild magic. The surreal, nighttime escape from Bhrathairealm. Linden making Covenant realize the awful truth at the Cavern of the One Tree: "This is what Foul wants!"

WGW: The Soulbiter. The weird battle against the arghuleh and the last stand of Hamako and the Waynhim. Linden in her full glory as Sun-Sage and white gold wielder, fashioning the new Staff and healing the Land.

Matrixman wrote: You don't seriously expect me to list just one scene, do you? There are many vivid passages in the Chronicles that have stayed in my mind.

What a terrific post. And from Runes?

Menolly wrote:What a terrific post. And from Runes?

It's not really possible to answer that in this forum. There's an identical but Runes-based topic in the Runes forum.

I don't think MM has read Runes yet, have you MM?

It's been a while, but the things that still stick with me, years after I read the books:

The Ranyhyn rearing to Covenant

The bargain Covenant makes

Andelain (particularly in the second series, where it is the last holdout against the sunbane, the last vestige of beauty and Earthpower in the land)

Revelstone - the warmth and welcome of the place

Hile Troy's army, devastated by his own foolishness

Lord Fouls' army of monsters led by the Giant-Ravers

The horrible parody of verdance caused by the sunbane

Random images stick with me as well, half-confused: Covenant making camp in the snow in TPTP; Covenant in the hills on the way to Revelstone, pursued in revenge for Lena's rape; the wounded Ranyhyn in (I think) TPTP, especially the one with the broken leg who tried to rear to him; the kresh being hunted by the Ramen.

dlbpharmd wrote:I don't think MM has read Runes yet, have you MM?

I'm on holidays, and I've got Runes right beside me. I have every intention of catching up to Jay.

Foamfollower, Bannor and T.C. at the Colossus.

CovenantJr wrote:

Menolly wrote:What a terrific post. And from Runes?

It's not really possible to answer that in this forum. There's an identical but Runes-based topic in the Runes forum.

Ah...

OK, I'll look for it.

CovenantJr wrote:"Hate"

For some reason, that's always stayed with me vividly. Covenant, ankle broken, dragging himself at an exhausted limp across a Land ravaged by Foul's unnatural winter, snarling "hate" over and over through clenched teeth.

For me its the way that hate turns to "Mercy" after his encounter with the healer.

Lord Hyrim facing the Giant Raver in Seareach

Lord Mhoram's victory

Sunder tasting aliantha for the first time

Foamfollower, Bannor, & Covenant at the Collossus -- and Bannor turning his back on violence and vengeance (and becoming the greatest haruchai of all time in my eyes in the turning)

Hamako...ah, Hamako

Linden's victory over the Sunbane

"NOM"

And when Linden tries to break the spell of the Merewives over the Bloodguard:
"And now I'm going to break your arm."
(I've used that line a few times!)

Coercri

Lord Mhoram's Victory

Coercri

"Am I your queen then, Unbeliever?"

Coercri

Ridjeck Thome and The Unbeliever...Foamfollower laughing

Coercri

The Healer

Coercri

Andelain Forgive!

Coercri

"Glimmermere recognizes me!"

Coercri

Hold Possession

Coercri

Also Love in the World

Coercri

"Giant, do you know me?"

Coercri

The Sun-Sage

Coercri

"Joy is in the ears that hear"

Coercri

Good choices. The scene with the elderly Lena and Covenant, where he calls her his Queen always makes me cry like a baby. As does the great caamora in Coercri.

And what about when Foamy shows back up at Foul's creche as the Pure One?

Matrixman wrote:

dlbpharmd wrote:I don't think MM has read Runes yet, have you MM?

I'm on holidays, and I've got Runes right beside me. I have every intention of catching up to Jay.

That would not be that impressive of a feat.

Page 237 and counting. I'm almost done with Part 1! Woo hoo!-jay

LFB -- Invitation to a Betrayal --

Say to the Council of the Lords, and to the High Lord Prothall son of Dwillian, that the uttermost limit of their span of days upon the Land is seven times seven years from this present time. Before the end of those days are numbered, I will have the command of life and death in my hand. And as a token that what I say is the one word of truth, tell them this: Drool Rockworm, Cavewight of Mount Thunder, has found the Staff of Law, which was lost ten times a hundred years ago by Kevin at the Ritual of Desecration. Say to them that the task appointed to their generation is to regain the Staff. Without it, they will not be able to resist me for seven years, and my complete victory will be achieved six times seven years earlier than it would be else.

That was the passage that sucked me into the Land forever.

FoamFollowers Song of the Unhomed

Joy is in the ears that hear

TWL:

Giant, do you know me?

The great caamora at the Grieve.

WGW:

I have named you Giant-Friend, but that is not enough. You are the Earth-Friend. No other name suffices.

That last one, and his first meeting with the Search, brings tears to my eyes without fail.

--A

Not my favourite but when Covenant taste amibivan and kills everyone in his dreams in TPTP always sticks with me.

CovenantJr wrote:"Hate"

For some reason, that's always stayed with me vividly. Covenant, ankle broken, dragging himself at an exhausted limp across a Land ravaged by Foul's unnatural winter, snarling "hate" over and over through clenched teeth.

I agree. And him biting into amanibhavam. Very powerful.