Kevin's Watch

I'm sure most folks here are ardent fans of the Thomas Covenant series, so this is the best place to turn.

I just started reading Lord Foul's Bane after many years of meaning to get to it. The publication of the newest volume of the series finally motivated me. But now, early on, I have stopped. I was really put off when Covenant rapes Lena. I read a little further beyond that, but then put it down, thinking maybe this isn't for me.

Mind you, I'm not normally bothered by depictions of sexual violence. I can't quite put my finger on why this would make me stop, but it did. Maybe its the simple fact that I'm not used to having a protagonist in the fiction I read commit such a dispicable act without provocation.

So could someone help me out here (without spoilers of course) and explain why I should keep going? Thanks.

tylertoo,

Welcome to the Watch, and make sure to avoid the Covenant forums, which are rife with spoilers. Many people are really turned off by Covenant's rape of Lena in Lord Foul's Bane. It was a horrible act. All I have to say is that the Covenant trilogies are simply great literature, and trust me: Covenant deals with the ramifications of Lena's rape in future books. It's just an awesome series, in my opinion. If I were you, I'd finish up Lord Foul's Bane, and then decide whether or not to continue.

Welcome to the Watch, tylertoo!

I am still fairly a newbie here myself, and others will be much more qualified to speak on this, but for me the point is that TC isn't so much a protagonist in the first book as an anti-hero. SRD wrote him so that you're supposed to dislike him.

The series is all about coming to grips with decisions and mistakes that arises out of them. And learning to go on with goodness and love in spite of those mistakes. The rape of Lena is an integral part of the story, but much like Dena's 'ceremony of womanhood' in Anita Diamant's The Red Tent, it is a hard chapter to read.

Tyler -

First, Welcome to the Watch!

Funny how we all were talking about this just this weekend - how new readers are put off by this horrible deed.

It's certainly true that SRD's writing is not for everyone - but Tyler, I encourage you to pick the book back up and continue. All of the members of this website love the Covenant trilogy, and we can't all be wrong.

If it helps (without getting too spoilery) -- Covenant will have to come to turns with the horrid (and it is meant to be horrid) crime he has committed.

Welcome -- welcome and true!

Welcome Tyler. I simply want to add, that if you do finish LFB and still simply cannot abide Covenant, there are so many other people to love that you'll surely keep reading!

Welcome to "our" Land, Tylertoo.
As said above, try to finish LFB and then decide
if you want to continue or not.
If you want to go on, then you won't be dissapointed.
(And yes, Covenant does pay a price for his actions.)

Thanks, everyone, for the coaxing, and the warm welcomes. Knowing that I'm not the only one who had this reaction, and knowing that the rape is clearly much more than a gratuitous event, motivates me to press on.

I remember back in the 70s, as a teenager, noticing my older brother had a copy of Lord Foul's Bane. I was very curious about it, it looked intriguing. But I never read it then because it was "Fantasy" and I didn't read fantasy, I read only science fiction (hence I was much cooler than my brother).

In the last few years, after finally plowing through LOTR, I've been finally reading some more contemporary fantasy. I have read all 3 (so far) volumes of George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series (which I highly recommend) and a Drow trilogy by R. A. Salvatore, and a couple of others. Now, finally, I'll take a stab at Thomas Covenant.

And yes, I'll avoid the TC forum until I'm finished! Thanks again.

"A Song of Ice and Fire" is excellent. We have a forum for that series here by the way.

Lord Mhoram wrote: We have a forum for that series here by the way.

Uh... where? At least there I won't need to worry about spoilers.

In The Library, under George R. R. Martin.

Once you've get over Donaldson's way of storytelling, and you are brave,
check out his science-fiction writings.
AKA: the "GAP" series.
(Beware: sex and violence, but another great story
that spreads over a series of novels.)

tylertoo wrote: I was really put off when Covenant rapes Lena. I read a little further beyond that, but then put it down, thinking maybe this isn't for me.

Let's just call it a "nessesary evil" that doesn't repeat itself and enjoy the rest of the show.

Thanks again folks... and who gave me all that white gold?

<heads over to the casino to spend it all...>

Since you were so easily put off, SRD's writing obviously isn't for you.

You should just put it down, and go find the latest Terry Brooks.

*JOKE!*

If you enjoy GRR Martin, you obviously have the capacity to appreciate SRD! Please carry on reading.