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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
This is the first time I've DNF a book in a long time. I read some reviews but thought eh, how bad could it really be. Maybe it was because i was trying to listen to an audio book. It was so bad. I don't understand why people like this book or why it was on so many reading list saying I should read the series.
This was the very first novel of Fantasy that i was ever introduced and it is the reason that Fantasy is my favorite genre. This book had everything for me. It married the real world with the fantastical. I loved that with Thomas i didnt know if i should root for him or chastise him for the really shitty things that he did. For me he was the true flawed character. I am not saying that anything i did comes close to the horrible things that he did but i could relate to his loneliness and isolation...cause that is what middle/high school is. And despite, or because, of his journey in the Land he still "saved"
the land.
I will admit that i am biased because this book holds a very special place in my heart and if i had never read it then i probably wouldnt have the appreciation of sci fi and fantasy genre books that i do. I dont care. I love this book and this first series above all others.
the land.
I will admit that i am biased because this book holds a very special place in my heart and if i had never read it then i probably wouldnt have the appreciation of sci fi and fantasy genre books that i do. I dont care. I love this book and this first series above all others.
Thomas Covenant is a character unlike most you’ll probably see in other fantasy stories. A leper, living in 20th century United States, who lives an isolated life as he is shunned by the people, he tries hard not to lose his last bit of connection to civilized life.
After an accident he wakes up in another world which is a place vibrant with life and good enough to heal his leprosy. He cannot cope and believing he is in a dream, rapes the most innocent girl who has only tried to help him.
Since he is supposed to be either the one who defeats the great evil of this land, Lord Foul, or the one who dooms it, people still try to help him. He is brought to the highest lords of the land, and there it is decided that Covenant and some others will go retrieve the powerful staff of law, which is in the hands of some vile creature. Doing so would help win time to prepare for the fight against Lord Foul.
I read this first part of the first trilogy because Steven Donaldson is an established name in the realm of fantasy. Did I like it? Yes,…no,…yes,…maybe. Thomas Covenant as a character felt different for me, and in my opinion, he is a complete dork in part one. Maybe he’ll change in the other parts of the first trilogy. One major issue I had was the rape scene. Obviously, I hated it, and it made me put the book away for a few days. The scene was only a short page long, and still is the most drastic part that I found in this book, and I still hate it. However, the scene is there to establish something that Covenant shows throughout the book, namely his inner conflict, his unbelief that he actually is in this rich and healthy fantasy world. For him, what he experiences is a sick dream that creates a false and dangerous hope in him. As a leper he has learned to be careful, to live according to the rules so that he has a chance to survive. But in the land, he is healed, healthy, can feel, and is overwhelmed by this, which is the actual reason for him committing such a crime right after his arrival in the land. So, having that scene made sense, in a sick way, and made Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever, more believable as a character.
The plot that follows is in some ways predictable in this first part of the trilogy, and I didn’t mind at all, because the world itself is rather interesting, and Donaldson has an excellent way of presenting it and the characters. What got on my nerves- occasionally- was that the inhabitants appeared naïve in a way and repeatedly used language that seemed to be so full of hidden meaning, and Covenant, as the outsider he is, could not fully understand the significance of what was being said. It was probably meant to let the detailed and rich setting appear even richer. But sometimes it would have been nicer not to have these ominous lines where you are maybe meant to be as clueless as the main character.
So, if you are interested in high fantasy stories, a colourful setting rich in magic and lore, and enjoy broken main characters, this could be a great title for you. I subtract 0.5 for some of the weirdly naïve characters. 4.5 out of 5 stars
After an accident he wakes up in another world which is a place vibrant with life and good enough to heal his leprosy. He cannot cope and believing he is in a dream, rapes the most innocent girl who has only tried to help him.
Since he is supposed to be either the one who defeats the great evil of this land, Lord Foul, or the one who dooms it, people still try to help him. He is brought to the highest lords of the land, and there it is decided that Covenant and some others will go retrieve the powerful staff of law, which is in the hands of some vile creature. Doing so would help win time to prepare for the fight against Lord Foul.
I read this first part of the first trilogy because Steven Donaldson is an established name in the realm of fantasy. Did I like it? Yes,…no,…yes,…maybe. Thomas Covenant as a character felt different for me, and in my opinion, he is a complete dork in part one. Maybe he’ll change in the other parts of the first trilogy. One major issue I had was the rape scene. Obviously, I hated it, and it made me put the book away for a few days. The scene was only a short page long, and still is the most drastic part that I found in this book, and I still hate it. However, the scene is there to establish something that Covenant shows throughout the book, namely his inner conflict, his unbelief that he actually is in this rich and healthy fantasy world. For him, what he experiences is a sick dream that creates a false and dangerous hope in him. As a leper he has learned to be careful, to live according to the rules so that he has a chance to survive. But in the land, he is healed, healthy, can feel, and is overwhelmed by this, which is the actual reason for him committing such a crime right after his arrival in the land. So, having that scene made sense, in a sick way, and made Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever, more believable as a character.
The plot that follows is in some ways predictable in this first part of the trilogy, and I didn’t mind at all, because the world itself is rather interesting, and Donaldson has an excellent way of presenting it and the characters. What got on my nerves- occasionally- was that the inhabitants appeared naïve in a way and repeatedly used language that seemed to be so full of hidden meaning, and Covenant, as the outsider he is, could not fully understand the significance of what was being said. It was probably meant to let the detailed and rich setting appear even richer. But sometimes it would have been nicer not to have these ominous lines where you are maybe meant to be as clueless as the main character.
So, if you are interested in high fantasy stories, a colourful setting rich in magic and lore, and enjoy broken main characters, this could be a great title for you. I subtract 0.5 for some of the weirdly naïve characters. 4.5 out of 5 stars
I read this book when I was about 18. This, an epic fantasy series, radically influenced my perceptions of reality. I found that these books twisted my thinking in directions nothing else in my life had challenged to that point.
Had been meaning to read this for years, since it's one of those classics of the genre. Had trouble getting into it, which was probably due mostly to the archaic writing style, and it took me far too long to read this book.
The plot itself is not bad. The world is conceptually interesting. It was just difficult to sympathize with the characters. Yes, Thomas does something pretty terrible at the beginning, but I don't think it's that action that makes it impossible to empathize with him. After all, Jaime Lannister does some disgusting things in Game of Thrones, but by the time he becomes a perspective character in Storm of Swords, he becomes surprisingly likeable in spite of them.
Interestingly, however, one of the things that I think makes Thomas difficult to empathize with is also one of the things that I appreciate (which is not to say enjoy) about the book. Thomas is transported from his world into the Fantasy setting, and really resists that world the entire time he is there, believing it to be a dream. This is probably a more realistic approach to this kind of a story, even if it makes the character's own inner dialogue somewhat frustrating and repetitive.
Its only because of this interesting approach that I give the book 3 stars. Otherwise, I would have given it 2.
The plot itself is not bad. The world is conceptually interesting. It was just difficult to sympathize with the characters. Yes, Thomas does something pretty terrible at the beginning, but I don't think it's that action that makes it impossible to empathize with him. After all, Jaime Lannister does some disgusting things in Game of Thrones, but by the time he becomes a perspective character in Storm of Swords, he becomes surprisingly likeable in spite of them.
Interestingly, however, one of the things that I think makes Thomas difficult to empathize with is also one of the things that I appreciate (which is not to say enjoy) about the book. Thomas is transported from his world into the Fantasy setting, and really resists that world the entire time he is there, believing it to be a dream. This is probably a more realistic approach to this kind of a story, even if it makes the character's own inner dialogue somewhat frustrating and repetitive.
Its only because of this interesting approach that I give the book 3 stars. Otherwise, I would have given it 2.
I'm not so sure what I think of the book. On the one hand I found it to be a very average fantasy novel, in a very average fantasy setting. I know every fantasy book leans on Tolkiens, but in this case it is so obvious it seems like it was done on purpose.
The premise of a leper patient as a main character is nice, but it is exploited so much it becomes annoying. It's not even that I found the main character unlikable, he just didn't feel much like a person. And the fantasy world itself was, excepting the plot of this particular novel, a little too perfect, with nobody harming nobody; no wars ever. Maybe I'm spoiled a bit by modern fantasy, but I like my fantasy settings a little more twisted and dangerous.
Anyhow, either this book did not age so well, or I am really missing something. Which I feel I am.
The premise of a leper patient as a main character is nice, but it is exploited so much it becomes annoying. It's not even that I found the main character unlikable, he just didn't feel much like a person. And the fantasy world itself was, excepting the plot of this particular novel, a little too perfect, with nobody harming nobody; no wars ever. Maybe I'm spoiled a bit by modern fantasy, but I like my fantasy settings a little more twisted and dangerous.
Anyhow, either this book did not age so well, or I am really missing something. Which I feel I am.
The main character goes all petulant and “rage rapes” the underage girl… and then next morning is only worried she told her family? Yeah, no.
Love this book and all that follow, not least because I have to keep a dictionary handy while reading! I understand and sympathize that the main character is mostly more hatable than lovable, but a huge part of the fascination of the story is his utterly human (American?!) reactions to fantastical beings and situations he encounters in the Land. Somehow, Thomas Covenant's continual wrestling with himself and his motives make him intriguing, if not someone to root for. The other characters are amazing in their determination to stick with him and for him, even when he doesn't believe in the Land or himself. I first read this series years ago and was drawn back in when I realized new installments are out. This series is not for everyone or perhaps even most people but if you love complex fantasy/sci fi/epic stories then it might be worth a try!
I couldn't really connect with the story or the characters. Very meh.
I didn’t find the main character compelling. He was a bitter man who did bad things under the guise of believing he was in a dream/coma. The pacing was on the slow side. The world building was interesting, but I couldn’t get past the cruel main character who doesn’t face consequences because he’s the Chosen One.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
The main character sexually assaults a minor girl who is about 16 .