(Originally published 1977, Mass Market Paperback 480 pages)
The final installment of Thomas Covenant's first trilogy is the darkest of the
three. Seven years have passed since the second book ended and Covenant returned
to his own world. The Land is in a perpetual winter and most of it is under Lord
Foul's control. When Thomas Covenant is summoned, once again, to the Land, he's
mentally and physically a mess. Heck, EVERYONE is a mess. There is no humor to
be found between the covers of this book. However, the story is a gripping,
satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
The story focuses on mostly Thomas Covenant and his journey to confront Lord Foul. Two other key characters, Triock who has a deep hatred of Covenant, and High Lord Mhoram, the leader of Revelstone are also given time in the limelight. The author spends ample time delving into these three character's internal struggles about how they don't believe they can measure up to the demands of their tasks. For a fantasy novel, Mr. Donaldson's sure has created very believable people.
As like the second book, "The Power That Preserves" is not a stand-alone book. It is important to read the two prior works; "Lord Foul's Bane," and "The Illearth War." The reader likely knows Thomas Covenant survives because a second trilogy was written in the early 1980s and a quadrilogy entitled "The Final Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" is currently being written. However, this does not diminish the high-level of entertainment, excitement and suspense of the first trilogy. I will reread the second trilogy next January. Three fiction works in a row seems to be my limit before I get restless and prefer some nonfiction material. Mr. Donaldson's work ranks right up there with "Lord of the Rings" as solid adult fare.
The story focuses on mostly Thomas Covenant and his journey to confront Lord Foul. Two other key characters, Triock who has a deep hatred of Covenant, and High Lord Mhoram, the leader of Revelstone are also given time in the limelight. The author spends ample time delving into these three character's internal struggles about how they don't believe they can measure up to the demands of their tasks. For a fantasy novel, Mr. Donaldson's sure has created very believable people.
As like the second book, "The Power That Preserves" is not a stand-alone book. It is important to read the two prior works; "Lord Foul's Bane," and "The Illearth War." The reader likely knows Thomas Covenant survives because a second trilogy was written in the early 1980s and a quadrilogy entitled "The Final Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" is currently being written. However, this does not diminish the high-level of entertainment, excitement and suspense of the first trilogy. I will reread the second trilogy next January. Three fiction works in a row seems to be my limit before I get restless and prefer some nonfiction material. Mr. Donaldson's work ranks right up there with "Lord of the Rings" as solid adult fare.
(Meyers - A few years ago, I
started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short
reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #341)
No comments:
Post a Comment