Stephen Donaldson

[AzureWolf]

I read throught the worst authors thread and to my disbelief found that many people had voted for stephen donaldson. He is one of my fav authors because his work is a bit more original alot of fantasy books i have read and does not take to heavily from tolkien. Yeah true his books do have a lot of wording in them but thats part of what makes him such a good writer in my opinion. He has created a world entirely new without the typical elder races of other books and using a new way of involving magic in the storyline or earthpower as it is used. And i heard somone say that it was annoying that even the lowest peasent could speak seven word syllables, ha! excuse me but we are not all born in arkansaw. So i want peoples opinions on stephen. not insults but proper reasons why u like/dislike him

[Fljotsdale]

Yes, I like Donaldson. He IS wordy - but he really has to be with Covenant, because the man is so annoyingly indecisive. I think the frustration and anger we feel towards Covenant is a credit to the author's ability, rather than anything else - though when you are reading the series you don't think of that - just about how much you want to kick Covenant in the pants, lol!
I had a hard time with the first book, in some ways, because of Covenant's personality, but, as you said, Donaldson has created something different and fascinating.
Many people, sadly, are used to 'instant' gratification via TV and fast, easy reading - if they bother to read at all. Even I have been affected by it, and I grew up at a time when all the available books were VERY wordy! (I read lots of Dickens, and Jane Austen, and John Buchan, for example), so Donaldson was not the chore to me that it is to many young readers today. Don't be too hard on 'em!

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Smile! Life is too short for bitching!

Fljotsdale

[Ruthafud]

Well, I took a look at this forum to ask a question about dragons, which I will, but this was the first thing I saw and had to respond.
I have read everything Donaldson has put out. I still think the First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is the only trilogy that can stand near Lord of the Rings. His incredible sense of the majestic and his patient style separate him from a great deal of modern, get to the point writers. He is powerful, but only if you have the patience to pay attention long enough to get the reward. I was always amazed at the Land that he created. Simply marvelous!

It has been a long time since I have read those books, but I will never forget how enthralled I was reading the Illearth War. A remarkable story that just seemed to go on forever about one brilliant, bright battle between good and evil. And, for all the pain that stupid Thomas Covenant gave us with his inability to get his collective shit together, he was quite a memorable character. Not unlike your average Joe trying to make it in the world sans the leprosy!

Flipside, I read the Real Story and was so excited that I was dying to read the sequel. By the end of the Gap Series, I was wondering whether Mr. Donaldson ever bothered to proofread anymore. What was once a lengthy tale to tell simply became nauseously verbose. And, trying to tell the story from a Faulkneresque multi-narrative just did not work after a certain point (see: second book).

So, I guess, overall, he is a mixed bag. One thing for sure, as far as sci-fi writers go, I have rarely encountered one capable of delivering better characters a la Angus Thermopoly. I am looking forward to his next endeavor, I just hope that he is too.


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*** FUD ***

[Fljotsdale]

Yeah, after the first few Gap novels, I found they were getting too sick for my taste, so I gave up on 'em. It was after the one where the girl went mad after the insane guy kept immersing her in excrement till she nearly smothered in it.. (can't remember the names, been ages since I read 'em).
After Thomas Covenant, I liked 'Mirror of Her Dreams' and 'A Man Rides Through' best.

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Smile! Life is too short for bitching!

Fljotsdale

[RudeDawg]

THANK YOU !!!
I keep gettin smacked when I mention Donaldson. To many, he is verbose, but what a story....
The way he makes you root for a character that can be despicable. The leper. The rapist. The savior.

I was, and still am a White Gold Wielder. The olny ring I've ever worn, I chose because of that series...

Redemption is a hard thing to write about, but he pulls it off soooo well.

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The RudeDawg
Known in these Forgotten Realms as Perin LightEyes
and my girlfriends, Pamila and Phil

[AzureWolf]

hey excellent we got some good supporteres of donaldson in here. i expected to come back and find me being the only good comment about him instead i find brilliant answers from other donaldson fans. sure did surprise me

[Axterix]

There are tons of books that don't borrow from Tolkien... and we'll just skip the fact that most of Tolkien was taken from folklore. I've read wordy. I've read slow developing. I've read books with very little action. None of those things put me off.

Donaldson manages to make the list because he's boring. Boring does put me off. As I said in the worst author's thread... I tried to read it. Got most of the way through the second book when I decided 'hey, I've got better things to do with my time'. I don't care for the hero. I didn't develop a feel for the world. And the villian didn't do anything for me either. Now, that leaves an overly verbose tale about a place that doesn't interest me populated with characters I don't care about. So a small wonder he makes my list as one of the worst

But keep in mind that I'm relatively selective in what I read. No doubt if I started picking up random books left and right or just read things because of 'brand' (like reading all the D&D/dragonlance books), I could find much worse authors.

But I don't, I try and pick out the good... and of that, he's been the worst.

And, well, also, I think we tend to look for things we can identify with in what we read/like. Myself, I like the strong, intelligent, not entirely good types. Hence why the likes of Howard (Conan), Moorcock (Elric, Hawkmoon, Corum, Erekose...), Freidman (Damien Vryce and the Prophet), Cook (Croaker), and Jordan (Matt, Perrin) rate high on my list of authors. Their characters appeal to me. Covenant doesn't.



[This message has been edited by Axterix (edited 05-07-2001).]

[Fljotsdale]

Originally posted by Axterix: But keep in mind that I'm relatively selective in what I read. No doubt if I started picking up random books left and right or just read things because of 'brand' (like reading all the D&D/dragonlance books), I could find much worse authors. But I don't, I try and pick out the good... and of that, he's been the worst. And, well, also, I think we tend to look for things we can identify with in what we read/like. Myself, I like the strong, intelligent, not entirely good types. Hence why the likes of Howard (Conan), Moorcock (Elric, Hawkmoon, Corum, Erekose...), Freidman (Damien Vryce and the Prophet), Cook (Croaker), and Jordan (Matt, Perrin) rate high on my list of authors. Their characters appeal to me. Covenant doesn't. [This message has been edited by Axterix (edited 05-07-2001).]

Ahem! Excuse ME!? You are 'selective'?
I also consider myself to be VERY SELECTIVE INDEED, lol! and I would never dream of insulting your intelligence by denigrating your selection of authors, but really - Moorcock? Come ON! Man can't write for toffee! His use of language is terrible and his style is incredibly boring... oops! Now I sound like you criticising Donaldson, lol!



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Smile! Life is too short for bitching!

Fljotsdale

[Axterix]

Hehe, that's what I meant with the whole style thing. Donaldson appeals to you. Moorcock appeals to me. By Donaldson means the book doesn't get touched by me. By Moorcock means it doesn't get touched by you. Luckily, bookstores and libraries have enough room for books by more than one author.

Just picked up another Elric book Good stuff so far.

[Fljotsdale]

Euch!! Each to his/her own!
I really tried with Moorcock - a good forum friend was SO enthusiastic about them that I REALLY tried hard to read Elric of Melnibone. I just about managed 2 chapters before I had to give up in sheer disgust and boredom! The only other book that ever affected me like that was 'Last of the Mohican's'
I understand how you feel about Donaldson, and Thomas Covenant, though. I found the first book pretty hard going, and it took me almost to the end of the first series before I started to feel some sympathy for Covenant. The only reason I kept on was because Donaldson really can write! His narrative style is excellent, and his ability to make you SO annoyed with a character and STILL keep reading is awesome, lol!
Anyway, the main thing is that we both enjoy reading!

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Smile! Life is too short for bitching!

Fljotsdale