Kevin's Watch

Has anyone else been pondering why SRD is making such a big deal about the word "last"? Sure, we know that there won't be any more books about Covenant after this. And yeah, I suppose that I vaguely knew this was necessitated because of the story itself, and not just because Donaldson has decided he doesn't want to do anymore Covenant stories after this. But I've never really thought about WHY it must--according to the story--be the LAST.

Then I was reading in the GI today. Someone asked:

Could anything develope between Linden and Stave or is that just wishful thinking?

At first, I thought it was just a silly question. But Donaldson's answer got me thinking:

Now there's an idea that literally never crossed my mind. <grin> Several problems. a) . . . b) . . . c) It's neither an accident nor a marketing ploy that this story is called "The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant."

I deleted a and b because they're not relevant to my point. What IS relevant is the apparent irrelevancy of c) to the issue of whether Stave and Linden hook up. Why would the fact that this is the last Chrons matter? Why would SRD bother mentioning that fact?

It has to be relevant. So I was thinking: what if this is the Last Chrons because, by the end, the Land itself will be no more? The Arch will be broken, and everyone will be dead? Thus, there is no future for the Land or anyone connected to it. Stave and Linden don't hook up because there is no point in forming a relationship in light of the impending end of the world. A relationship is formed in an attitude of hope. But what if none of these people have anything for which to hope?

I'm starting to get anxious about these books. Covenant was already killed. If that didn't necessitate the end of these Chronicles, then something much more catastrophic must happen to bring this about.

In that particular quote, he was emphasising the fact it says 'of Thomas Covenant', I believe, as response to why he hadn't considered giving Linden a relationship with one of the other main characters.

But you're right - he has put emphasis on it being last, and there are a number of suspicions as to why, such as the end of the Land entirely.

Woops, I should have been reading some other threads here before starting a new one on this subject. I see some of you are already discussing this stuff in another thread.

Murrin, your point has some merit. However, given the fact that Linden had an entire book as the main character, I think it would be a little hypocritical of SRD to say that such an idea didn't cross his mind because this is Tom's story. If he's willing to give her an entire book, then why not a little lovin'? Doesn't make sense. Besides, just because it is TC's story, that doesn't preclude other people having relationships. I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one. I think the emphasis is definitely on "last."