[Knight of Bowen]

Im 2 books away from finishing the series. it was the second fantasy author i had read at that time, i think i was waiting for Bonehunters. at the start of the year i picked up the first in the final series (runes of the earth) at a bookstore with a very suprised look on my face. and was skeptical as to how he could go on with the series. having now read runes of the earth and the second (fatal revenant). im being suprised time and again how hes tying everything together. and how its survived being based on another character. eagerly awaiting the third and then final installment. anyone with comments on any of his books?

[Salt-Man Z]

I'm a big Donaldson fan, and the Chronicles are good, but I honestly think all of his other series (The Gap Cycle, Mordant's Need, The Man Who...) are much better. I have yet to read Fatal Revenant, but I hardly remember anything from Runes (even though I just read it only two years ago.) I'll probably just end up waiting until the entire Last Chronicles are out in paperback, and then read all 10 books straight through.

It should be interesting to see how the Last Chronicles tie everything together. Donaldson has said that he conceived the Last Chronicles at the same time as the Second Chronicles, so he planted all the seeds for the third series in the second. If you haven't yet checked out the "gradual interview" he has on his site, you should do so post-haste!

[Nequam]

I've only read the first chronicle, but so far I'm really, realy enjoying his work.
He is one of my favorite authors...though it seems lately a lot of people are one of my favorite authors.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Was anyone taking bets on how long it would take me to hit this thread? I am, after all, the ranking resident Donaldson fan. How do i begin?

tCoTC is great. Absolutely great. So is the second. The final are also very good, I'm eagerly awaiting the last two books. This series was the first serious adult fantasy books I got into. I read them way too young, and have been rereading them for years. Great characters, amazing world, good stuff. The new books don't quite do it for me like the old ones, but that's just nostalgia talking. They're actually better written.

The Gap Cycle is the best scifi ever.

Mordants Need is very good, with a very fun magic system. I wish he'd write more in this world.

Short stories? Donaldson rocks at those too.

Never read the Man Who books.

[Pallol One Eye]

I started on the First Chronicles pretty much as they were being published, I was still in high school at the time. Having only read Moorcock's Corum, Hawkwmoon and Elric Series, and LOTR, I couldn't beleive how great this level of complexity was in comparison.

There really wasn't a lot of fantasy great or otherwise out there back in the 70's. Howards Conan, Shanarra was just starting. MOorcock LOTR.

All the Covenant, Gap and Mordant's need books are great.

Donaldson was the first and only author I had to read with a dictionary handy. I remember thinking what the hell does incarnadine mean back when I was in high school.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Yeah, the vocabulary can get intense. You either need a dictionary, or your context clue-fu must be strong indeed.

[Gem Windcaster]

Mordant's Need made me gag. The beginning were intriguing, but he never did anything with it. I hate the female main character. I even like the WoT women more, and that is saying a lot.

I enjoyed the Covenant, I guess. But it is kinda slow at times. And the interesting parts never get where I wanted them to go. Lots of potential, but not much fulfilled. Largely a disappointment. His language is very good though.

Never read the Gap Cycle.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

You, madam, are a hater.

[Salt-Man Z]

Raymond Luxury Yacht;343007 said:

Never read the Man Who books.

O RLY?

You disappoint me, sir.

I've even got the "Reed Stephens" editions. Track 'em down; they're all great. The fact that they're mysteries are just a bonus; the main draw is the usual Donaldson characterizations -- in first person, even.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

I'd like to read them, just because I like his writing so much, but haven't run across them.

[Mushroom]

Nom.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Nom spelled backwards is Win.

[Mushroom]

I absolutely loved that scene when Thomas said that word and they had to wait a little while for Nom to do his destruction and travel all the way across the world.

That was Pure Win.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Great scene. Anything with the Sandgorgons is great.

[Nequam]

Aaaahhhhh!!! Don't say anymore! I'm not far.

...I know a lot of people on this forum will really not like this next sentance. But I'm likeing Donaldson a whole lot more than I'm like GRRM. Though both are great, GRRM is good in a different way that just doesn't suit my unique tastes. SRD does.

Hmmm, maybe I should wait until I've finished reading more of both series befroe finalizing that opinion. If only I had more money!

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Oops, sorry about the spoilers. Forgot you weren't done yet. As far as SRD being better than GRRM, it's all a matter of taste. They are both talented writers, it's all a matter oof which appeals to you personally.

[Bhurnae]

Gem Windcaster;343098 said:

Mordant's Need made me gag. The beginning were intriguing, but he never did anything with it. I hate the female main character. I even like the WoT women more, and that is saying a lot.

I enjoyed the Covenant, I guess. But it is kinda slow at times. And the interesting parts never get where I wanted them to go. Lots of potential, but not much fulfilled. Largely a disappointment. His language is very good though.

Never read the Gap Cycle.

Kirrect for first one........ Gem have a look at the Gap books,well written rocks along at a pace and has space ships......... I put off reading them for ages because of the covenant stuff

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

All this Mordant bashing. Teresa can be a bit much sometimes, but the books are good overall.

[Salt-Man Z]

Yeah, Terisa got slightly annoying at times, but really, she was the least interesting part of the series.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Yeah, if you're reading to see what she's going to do next, you've got problems.