Donaldson is an author you either love or hate. There is a certain tapestry he weaves that seems to draw a defined group of people into a world of wonder, terror, loss, hope, and painful fullfillment. Maybe not the read for just anyone. I can understand why some do not see what lays beneath the written word, but, for those of you that have, it is an incredible journey through the life and history of 'The Land' that can only end with the reader wanting more.

The best writer of modern fantasy.

Absolutely some of the most trying books to get into in the world. I never felt any personality in any of his characters.

Once you get your head around the flawed heros of the Donaldson epics (Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Second Chronicles, etc) you are launched into the most incredible (but at the same time very real!) worlds. Better that Tolkein at his best, if it is not sacralige to say so! For me only Tad Williams (and Tolkein of course) comes close.

I thought they were ok, and I liked the idea of a person being an anti-hero leper in our world, and a hero in another. The character of Drumgool owes A LOT to Gollum though.

This guy writes circles around most other fantasy authors out there, including hacks like Robert Jordan. For the serious reader, let alone the serious fantasy reader, check these books out. True, they are dark and at times hard to read because of that; at times, you really hate Covenant. However, it is well worth the effort. Start with the first series, with Lord Fouls Bane. As well, if you want something a little lighter to start with, try the Mirror of Her Dreams series; it's good and a little lighter.

HACK

For the person who said that Donaldson's books weren't for the young, I'm young. I will agree, though, that his books are kinda heavy; they're generally not for beginning fantasy/sci-fi readers. Unlike many other fantasy/sci-fi books that concentrate almost exclusively on a defined villian and a defined hero, Donaldson's books do not potray everything as black and white; Donaldson is truly masterful in his use of gray area. In his Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Donaldson constructs a love/hate relationship between the characters in the books and also between the reader and Thomas Covenant, the main character. I am only giving it four stars because it seems that Donaldson was pressured into following up the original trilogy with another. Even though I like the second trilogy, it probably could have been better if it had more time to be brooded over. In spite of that minor flaw, I think Stephen Donaldson shows remarkable originality and talent. Edit: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant may be a little weighty to be a movie. However, if they make a movie, I think they should use Ode by Creed and Headstrong by Trapt for the movie. Everytime I hear those songs, it reminds me of those books.

As far as I know, Stephen Donaldson's only contributions are the two Thomas Covenant trilogies. As other comments have accurately noted, the first three books (Lord Foul's Bane, The Illearth War, and The Power That Preserves) are exceptional, but the second trilogy is much weaker. This could be because Covenant is much more likeable in the second trilogy but also much more immaterial to the story. Also as others have noted, these books are for more mature readers. For the uninitiated, Covenant (who suffers from leprosy) is drawn into a parallel world filled with people who draw power and energy from stone and wood, those who tend magical horses, lost seafaring Giants, restless trees and their shepherding forestals, sleepless and deathless super warriors (the Bloodguard), and benevolent Lords who lead them all and fight to preserve all that is good but are slightly obsessed with the failures of their ancestors. Opposing the powers of good are lorewise ur-viles, brutish cavewrights, and Lord Foul himself who is evil and hatred incarnate trapped in this parallel world. Covenant's appearance starts a chain of events resulting in clashes between the powers of good and evil outside and within Covenant himself. Donaldson succeeds in creating an imaginative world and good character development, with an excellent use of color (ie blue, green and white) to visualize the clash of powers.

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant: The Unbeliever are simply brilliant! His anti-hero with leprosy is deftly crafted!

Lovely. The first three is slightly better than the last three. Therefore I couldn't give it 5 stars. Read it and enrich your life slightly.

The first chronicles of Thomas Covenant are quite good but the second trilogy is abismal

The 6 books in the Thomas Covenant series are still some of my favorites. I really enjoyed the hero as anti-hero aspect of the story.

The first Gold Ring Bearer was great, but then it went down hill to a point why do we can about Thomas Covenant

Wonderful stories and rich enthralling characters.

I agree completely with everything you say engr9519om with one exception - his rating does suffer 4 instead of 5 as punishment for a poor second trilogy. Cash in - perhaps - maybe the theme just ran out of puff. I read these in my 30's and before David Eddings. Influenced opinion perhaps?

Terrible in my opinion, but all things deserve a 2nd chance. I did read LORD FOUL'S BANE a few years back (I think I was 13), now that I'm 21 perhaps I should read it again before I cast my final opinion. I'll get back to you on this one.

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant: The Unbeliever (first trilogy) were wonderful. Thomas Covenant, the compelte anti-hero: the man you love to hate and hate to love. I read these books in the late 1970's / early 1980's ... still they haunt me. Love 'em. The second trilogy in the set (The Wounded Land, The One Tree, & White Gold Wielder) seem to be written more to cash in on the first trilogy rather than out of a driving passion to write in the fantasy genra. So, overall, the firt three rate a 6+ but the last three at best a 3 ... I just loved the first three so much that I had to give him an overall rating of 5

Could be hare for some. Had to re-read them after some years befor I could appriciate them.

I think that Donaldson gets a bad rap because he writes perhaps a little too deep for the average fantastical taste. However, he is a master storyteller who writes very intelligently. I believe that he is the most underrated author in Fantasy. I didn't understand him until I got older, so he is not a writer for the young, but he is still a master nonetheless.

The six Wounded Land books were the longest, most boring books I have ever read. Would never read anything else by him.