Gripping Epic (Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, The - Stephen Donaldson)

Name: Waikie

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Product:	Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, The - Stephen Donaldson
Date:	10/05/01 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Amazing fantasy world

Disadvantages: All Books are too Expensive!

From the very first chapters I was hooked, this is a grand epic, where a modern edge is given to a world rich in fantasy, similar to Lord of The Rings in someways, and yet utterly different in others.

The hero of the two 3-part series is Thomas Covenant, a leper who is shunned in his own world. A series of strange occurences brings him to 'The Land' time and again, where he discovers his resemblance to an ancient hero, whose help is sorely needed.

Aided with the random power of the White Gold of his wedding ring, and friends from the forces of good who protect the land, Thomas sets out to destroy the Despiser - Lord Foul, intent on corrupting and destroying all before him.

With many epic battles, a siege, intrigue, plenty of diplomacy, fantastic beings with powers our hero can barely comprehend, and love (and the problems it brings to one who isolates himself) - the story plays out in a rough allegory of Covenant's own illness.

His only weapon against Foul is his own unbelief (he is always referred to as The Unbeliever), his refusal to accept this strange land as more than a dream. In a way this refusal to fully immerse himself in the Land, yet save it nonetheless is parallel to his own struggle to cope with the enforced isolation of his Leprosy, and how ultimately his own victory over it (his leprosy fades after the first series of books) is brought about by a fight against acceptance - that of helping and being helped, but never allowing his destiny or actions to be directed by anyone in his own world or in the Land.

A touch deep maybe - i could just be mad, but as the author grew up watching his father fight Leprosy as a medical specialist, it seems a fair assumption that the books are a stuggle played out through fantasy.

Whatever your opinion, this is a fantastic read, a thrilling set of books that will keep you locked in the fantastic Land until you reach the end. Maybe then you'll start al
l over again. I did!

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