Mike (the Paladin)'s Reviews > Lord Foul's Bane

I'm not really a fan of this series so, far be it for me to defend it but, isn't the point that Thomas's view of life is gradually transformed, that he is taught to love life despite all that has befallen him? Yes, he begins as a very unlikeable character that whines a lot but this is the story of his transformation and self redemption.

Actually, this is a common theme for Donaldson in my experience. Construct a very unlikeable chracter than then gradually transform them into someone the reader likes by the end.

You hit it on the head when you said it is a common theme for Donaldson. This seris convinced me I never want to read anything else by him. I freely admit my reaction to these books is somewhat visceral. Donaldson did set out (I believe) to show the gradual change...but the key word there is gradual (GRADUAL). The "woe is me, life is s***, and everything is all about me anyway" attitue of this character drove me crazy. I suppose some would say that reflects Donaldson's writing ability. To me it was just supremely annoying, you can see how much. It is not going too far to say that looking back I almost felt trapped in these books. (A couple of friends and I were all reading them and so I needed to finish them). I don't know, I hesitate to critize any writer (as I'm unpublished) but Donaldson may be a "one trick pony"...like I said that could come from my gut level dislike of these books.

BUT let me say to those who like them I'm really happy for you. Enjoy and don't take my openion as saying everyone should dislike these books. To each their own so to speak.

As I said, I didn't really like this series much but I did really enjoy the "Gap" series. Have you read that? Again, it employs Donaldson's theme (construct a character that you will hate and then try to redeem them) but not quite in the same way. And unlike the Unbeliever series which plods, it is fast paced and action packed.

No I pretty much avoided anything Donaldson has written after this series. I guess you can tell I really had a bad reaction to these books. Later it struck me sort of funny that when the protaginist of The Mirror of Her Dreams started "bemoaning" life's unfairness...I got away from it as quickly as I could.

I will consider the Gap series...it almost gives me the shakes to think about it though. But, i do take your recommendations seriously as I've looked over some of the books you've reviewed and like a lot of the same ones.

Remember I said I'd consider it...I may need some counciling to build up to it though...maybe I'll find a therapist.

i hated this series...it was so depressing and the main character was so annoying...i've never read anyhting else by the author since.

Right beside mine. I was reading "these" with a group of friends. I read all three also. At one of these friends insistence I even read most of the first of the next trilogy...but with Thomas still being Thomas I finally came to my senses, drove to the nearest river bridge, wired all 4 books to several cement blocks and threw them in.

Free, free, free at last!!!!

I've had several interesting discussions in a few groups with people who like these. I think you may have picked up...I really don't care for them.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

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I gave this up shortly after the rape scene... I was 15 at the time.

I think I've mentioned that I read this with a group of friends. I read the first trilogy, stopped after the first book of the second. One of the group really liked these. I didn't.

There is a real problem in writing unlikeable protagonists that strikes quite a few writers. Simply, it is this:

THEY (the writer) so obviously likes this character that despite the character him/herself being thoroughly detestable, the book itself never seems to understand that.

Thomas Covenant starts off a jerk and by midway through the first novel is a criminal who has thoroughly lost my sympathy. But the book treats him like we're supposed to still be rooting for him, or caring what happens to him besides hoping he'll pay for what he's done.

This does not happen. In fact, other characters still rally to help him and look upon him as the savior of their world. Barf.

However, take another unlikeable character, Jezal dan Luthar from the First Law series. Jezal starts off a spoiled, ignorant, arrogant, pathetic little man who is deserving of little more than scorn. And yet...it's hard to not be interested in what's happening to him.

This is, in part, because it's acknowledged by other characters that he's a little sh!t. Even people who like him don't really, or they're as bad as he is, or worse.

Also, early on, seeds are planted that there is a good, or at least better, man struggling to get out. This, however, is downplayed, and subverted in the sense that not only do NONE of the other characters acknowledge that he has redeeming qualities, but also because he himself is horrified at the idea of becoming a better man (since he thinks he's above such notions).

The difference in how Donaldson and Abercrombie approach unlikeable characters is striking. And Abercrombie wins by a mile.

I quit about 80% through this book. I'm all for anti-heroes or dark heroes who redeem themselves, but I didn't see that happening with Thomas Covenant at all. I would have kept reading if I thought he was redeemable.

I stick by the advice I gave in my review of the omnibus edition...run fast, run far.

A good review,a fair assessment of what you thought of the series.

However,I'm one of the people that liked the series.This series is what made me start reading fantasy on a regular basis.

Sorry we don't agree on this one. :)

It's always a matter of "to each their own" when it comes to taste. We can't always agree.

I love Dorothy Parker- I will take your & Dorothy’s advice on this one. It started off very well. He really pulled me in - Then, his writing style went into “words per $$” from his landscape descriptions- which I thought were horrible. I stopped reading and will pass it on to the library as a donation.

At least you got away. I was trapped in the series as I had agreed to read it with some friends.... Hated these books.

He also rapes a teenaged girl, that's when I was done.

I tried reading this book in the early 90's and again kind of recently. The second time reminded me why I dropped it the first time, all the whining!

I do my best to put the warning out.

:)

I read the first two trilogies of wee Tom the ignorant git. I confess that I quite enjoyed the 2nd one but in my defence I was young and easily freudened. The third trilogy overwhelmed me with the pomposity of its ever more turgid writing style though.