SPOILERS CONTAINED WITHIN
I am only going to review the first trilogy of books of this series. They are Lord Foul’s Bane, The Illearth War, and The Power that Preserves, in order. I know it’s longwinded, but there’s really no other way to say it.
To begin, Stephen R. Donaldson is a masterful writer. His vocabulary certainly dwarfs those of most modern writers in comparison. Although some of his words are anachronisms or otherwise have fallen out of use from more modern times, there were very few times that context did not suffice to give enough meaning. You never feel compelled to go find a dictionary to figure out what in the world he just said. Now, onto the real review.
In the first book, Lord Foul’s Bane, you are introduced to the tortured character of Thomas Covenant. A writer, who has already produced a best selling novel, and during still the earlier part of his life manifests leprosy. He subsequently loses two fingers from one hand and struggles to deal with not only his condition but his complete banishment from his community. The people of his town loathe him and fear him because of the unknown origins of his disease. His contempt and loathing reach far into his community and into himself.
As he decides to venture into town, to renew his vehemence of being seen and having human interaction, he meets an old beggar who tests him in a way he cannot discern. Later, he is almost hit by a car but lapses into a coma-like state. He is transported into The Land. This is a magical world whose life and beauty are more fantastic than anyone can imagine. However, Covenant has been summoned to this world by a malevolent force known as Lord Foul, through his minion Drool Rockworm, a Cavewight (a type of earth creature) who desires power at any cost. They proceed to dictate a prophecy of doom for The Land, which Covenant is instructed to take to the Lords. Covenant is released and begins his journey.
His travels take him to a town populated by a people who can use magic related to rock and stone. His guide, Lena, who he rapes after being overtaken by his situation and realization that his leprosy is being embattled by The Land’s health, runs after his attack to protect the man who she knows looks identical to a previous hero, Berek Halfhand. Her mother Atiaran finishes the job and guides him to a river to meet Saltheart Foamfollower, a giant, who takes him to the Lords. He relays the prophecy and thus the epic begins.
As he holds a white gold wedding band, from his former wife Joan, he holds a metal that does not exist in The Land and has extraordinary magical abilites. However, he cannot unlock them. He battles with the comparisons to heroes and his own personal struggle to remain mentally and physically intact. The Land cannot be real as he has seen the real world and knows that leprosy demands an obedience or else he will die. This battle is given new highs and lows as the Lords strive to protect The Land from the prophecy and battle the despair that Lord Foul is using to corrupt the world.
Covenant lies, deceives, manipulates and eventually causes either directly or indirectly the death of most of the people who truly care about him, before he manages to help them retrieve the lost Staff of Law. The death of Drool Rockworm returns him to his real world.
In The Illearth War, he is resummoned to The Land. A giant war between Foul’s armies and the Lords and people of The Land wages. He and his daughter Elena (from the rape), strive to locate an ancient magic long lost. The battles are intense and through a cunning plan devised by Hile Troy (a blind man, also from the real world) a great victory is accomplished, but at the cost of many lives. Hile is a stark contrast to Covenant, as he fully believes and accepts The Land, preferring it in every way over the real world.
Covenant helps Elena to discover the lost magic, but she misuses it and causes a great woe unto The Land. And with her eventual death, he is returned to the real world.
In The Power that Preserves, Covenant manages to be returned to The Land, where Foul has corrupted much of the world, his army infests most of the holdable territory, and his everlasting winter has worn down much of the hope and resistance of those left. Now High Lord Mhoram, a constant companion through all 3 books, struggles to hold Revelstone, the Lords keep and final dominion of most of The Land. Foul’s army led by a corrupted Giant, who possesses the soul of a Raver, one of the three most powerful minions of Foul.
Meanwhile, Covenant struggles to find allies and peace of mind upon his return. Several times bordering of lunacy, he makes his eventual way to friends. He is able to penetrate deep into Foul’s territory and confront his wild magic white gold ring and Foul’s enormous power, only enhanced by the Illearth Stone. A great battle is waged and eventually The Land is spared. However, the cost was more severe than any would have expected.
Overall, this series was amazing. He is a masterful writer who compels emotions from the reader throughout the series. Donaldson is a writer who makes you feel every pain and agony through his characters, but is always able to maintain that hope in you that things could still go well. You experience to agony and hard fought joy with them. He is able to make you both hate him for what he does to you through his characters, but is still able to redeem himself in the end. Only one word of caution to readers, if you have not experienced a lot of emotional variety and been able to understand those emotions, this may come across as either difficult or dry reading. This story is one that takes you on an emotional journey, as much as it takes Covenant on one.
Final Grade: A
