[Salt-Man Z]

http://www.stephenrd...author/news.php

SRD said:

My new fantasy trilogy, THE GREAT GOD'S WAR, has been acquired for publication by Berkley in the US and Gollancz in the UK. The first book, SEVENTH DECIMATE, is scheduled for October 2017. My contracts give me 18 months per book; but I'm hoping to do better than that.

Just in case anyone is thinking otherwise: this trilogy has nothing whatsoever to do with anything I've written before. Except of course it shares my usual approach to storytelling, my usual themes, etc..

Color me interested. I haven't read a series of his that I haven't loved.

Additional book titles (announced in his newsletter):

1. SEVENTH DECIMATE
2. KNOWLEDGE AND EVIL
3. THE LAST REPOSITORY

[D'iversify]

Salt-Man Z, on 10 September 2016 - 05:19 PM, said:

http://www.stephenrd...author/news.php

SRD said:

My new fantasy trilogy, THE GREAT GOD'S WAR, has been acquired for publication by Berkley in the US and Gollancz in the UK. The first book, SEVENTH DECIMATE, is scheduled for October 2017. My contracts give me 18 months per book; but I'm hoping to do better than that.

Just in case anyone is thinking otherwise: this trilogy has nothing whatsoever to do with anything I've written before. Except of course it shares my usual approach to storytelling, my usual themes, etc..

Color me interested. I haven't read a series of his that I haven't loved.

Additional book titles (announced in his newsletter):

1. SEVENTH DECIMATE
2. KNOWLEDGE AND EVIL
3. THE LAST REPOSITORY

Is the Last Chronicles worth checking out? Have heard extremely mixed things about it.

[amphibian]

If you have read even the first chronicles of Thomas Covenant, go all the way to the end. The Last Chronicles ups the stakes, ups the action, ups the emotional intensity, and is extremely well written and connected to everything that has gone before.

It's a stunning achievement and has a few of the best "fist pump" moments I've had while reading.

[Salt-Man Z]

^ Agreed. It's maybe a little drawn-out for what it is, but you couldn't ask for a better, more satisfying conclusion to a series.

[Kruppe of Darujhistan]

As much as I loved the first and second chronicles, I could not get through the third. I gave up halfway through the second (or was it the third?) book. Don't know if I'm willing to give Donaldson another go.

[Khazduk]

It was a blurb from SRD who lead me to SE in the first place, and I'm still extremely partial to Donaldson. But I can still relate strongly to the mixed reactions to the 3rd chrons. Somehow - and don't ask me how - it is some of the best stuff he's ever written... and still it feels somewhat forced. It's like he lost the sense of wonder for his own creation, something that permeates all his other work (imho).

The newly released novellas (The King's Justice and The Augur's gambit) has him getting back to his best again, even though the plots do have some huge holes in them.

For pure Donaldson pleasure - even better than Covenant - there is first and foremost the Gap series, if you haven't already read it. The best space opera that will ever be written. (Sorry, captain Hadrian...)

[Kruppe of Darujhistan]

I have read the Gap series but that wasn't my cup of tea either. I did really enjoy the Mirror duology (can't recall the exact name).
No excuse for not trying one or more of the novellas you mention though. It's not like I'm being asked to invest time in reading multiple thousand page novels.

[Kruppe of Darujhistan]

Khazduk, on 06 October 2016 - 07:39 AM, said:

The newly released novellas (The King's Justice and The Augur's gambit) has him getting back to his best again, even though the plots do have some huge holes in them.

The novellas really are good stuff. Glad I took your advice. Lots of savory bits. The kind I like to linger on and just enjoy repeatedly.In the Covenant books it was stuff like, "It is the duty of the living to give meaning to the sacrifices of the dead."

In The King's Justice, this early line was a knockout, with many more to follow:

Spoiler

"His purpose does not care that he wants it to end."

I'm still near the start of The Auger's Gambit, but have already been rewarded with this gem:

Spoiler

"Her response dismembered his turmoil like the flick of a blade."

That's savory and delicious word-stringing-together badassery.

[Salt-Man Z]

^ Sounds wonderful.

[Salt-Man Z]

Can't wait!

http://www.barnesand...en-r-donaldson/

Cover:

Spoiler

Synopsis:

Quote

Fire. Wind. Pestilence. Earthquake. Drought. Lightning.

These are the six Decimates, wielded by sorcerers for both good and evil.

But a seventh Decimate exists—the most devastating one of all…

For centuries, the realms of Belleger and Amika have been at war, with sorcerers from both sides brandishing the Decimates to rain blood and pain upon their enemy. But somehow, in some way, the Amikans have discovered and invoked a seventh Decimate, one that strips all lesser sorcery of its power. And now the Bellegerins stand defenseless.

Prince Bifalt, eldest son of the Bellegerin King, would like to see the world wiped free of sorcerers. But it is he who is charged with finding the repository of all of their knowledge, to find the book of the seventh Decimate—and reverse the fate of his land.

All hope rests with Bifalt. But the legendary library, which may or may not exist, lies beyond an unforgiving desert and treacherous mountains—and beyond the borders of his own experience. Wracked by hunger and fatigue, sacrificing loyal men along the way, Bifalt will discover that there is a game being played by those far more powerful than he could ever imagine. And that he is nothing but a pawn…

[amphibian]

I'm in. Preordering even though I think there should be ten decimates.

[Khazduk]

What makes you think there aren't?

[pat5150]

I have two copies of Seventh Decimate up for grabs on the Hotlist!

Patrick

[Abyss]

I haven't read any Donaldson since the second Covenant trilo a decade or two ago, but this is tempting. Tho definitely on my 'wait til its finished' list'.

[Salt-Man Z]

Abyss, on 08 November 2017 - 05:11 PM, said:

I haven't read any Donaldson since the second Covenant trilo a decade or two ago, but this is tempting. Tho definitely on my 'wait til its finished' list'.

You've read his other series(s), I hope? Also, Last Chronicles is really good, but probs best if the first two trilos are still fresh.

This post has been edited by Salt-Man Z: 08 November 2017 - 05:34 PM

[QuickTidal]

I've never read ANY Donaldson on the back of constantly hearing how extremely unlikable the protagonist is...I don't do well with those sorts of books.

[Salt-Man Z]

QuickTidal, on 08 November 2017 - 05:41 PM, said:

I've never read ANY Donaldson on the back of constantly hearing how extremely unlikable the protagonist is...I don't do well with those sorts of books.

Well, that's just Thomas Covenant, and he's only really the protag for the first 3 of 10 books. The comparison's often made between him and Karsa, on account of how much the initially-unlikable character grows throughout the series. The entire arc of the first trilogy is Covenant's growth as a person, really: In the first book he doubts The Land's reality, and is dragged along grudgingly for everything. By the end, (40-year-old spoilers ahead)

Spoiler

he comes to the realization that he loves The Land enough that it doesn't matter if it's real or not; either way, it's worth fighting for.

[QuickTidal]

Salt-Man Z, on 08 November 2017 - 06:00 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 08 November 2017 - 05:41 PM, said:

I've never read ANY Donaldson on the back of constantly hearing how extremely unlikable the protagonist is...I don't do well with those sorts of books.

Well, that's just Thomas Covenant, and he's only really the protag for the first 3 of 10 books. The comparison's often made between him and Karsa, on account of how much the initially-unlikable character grows throughout the series. The entire arc of the first trilogy is Covenant's growth as a person, really: In the first book he doubts The Land's reality, and is dragged along grudgingly for everything. By the end, (40-year-old spoilers ahead)

Spoiler

he comes to the realization that he loves The Land enough that it doesn't matter if it's real or not; either way, it's worth fighting for.

Okay, good to know. I might check the first one at least out (they always have copies at the used bookstore for a few bucks).

[Salt-Man Z]

QuickTidal, on 08 November 2017 - 06:25 PM, said:

Okay, good to know. I might check the first one at least out (they always have copies at the used bookstore for a few bucks).

Also might be worth checking out his Mordant's Need duology for a first taste, as it's only a 2-book commitment, is a bit lighter in tone (mostly) than his other stuff, and kind of straddles the line between his two other major series, Covenant (portal fantasy) and the Gap Cycle (which has similar plot machinations).

[QuickTidal]

Salt-Man Z, on 08 November 2017 - 06:49 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 08 November 2017 - 06:25 PM, said:

Okay, good to know. I might check the first one at least out (they always have copies at the used bookstore for a few bucks).

Also might be worth checking out his Mordant's Need duology for a first taste, as it's only a 2-book commitment, is a bit lighter in tone (mostly) than his other stuff, and kind of straddles the line between his two other major series, Covenant (portal fantasy) and the Gap Cycle (which has similar plot machinations).

Looked it up. Sounds very interesting to me. Thanks again.