The Runes of The Earth by Stephen R. Donaldson

The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant have begun!

Almost 30 years ago, Stephen R. Donaldson took the world on its introductory voyage to The Land and introduced us to Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever. It took the world by storm and a new cultural icon was born. It was like coming out of high school in the 70's having not heard of Stranger in a Strange Land to have not read the First and Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever. Well, once again, he's taking us back to The Land.

This book is set millennia later in terms of time passed in the Land, and Lord Foul is now messing with Dr. Linden Avery. She was Thomas Covenant's lover in the the last trilogy, and blessed, or maybe cursed, with Earth-sight; the ability to "see" and manipulate vitality and earth potency - or its opposite - corruption. She's been doing her doctor thing, taking care of Joan - Covenant's ex-wife - and has adopted a handicapped little boy. Her boy is limited in communication abilities, but has a gift for portraying his dreams with Legos and Erector sets. And one day he builds an exact replica of Revelstone, the Keep of The Lords in the Land. Linden is stunned. How could he possibly know of Revelstone? But then the next day - he builds a replica of Mount Thunder, home of Lord Foul, the Despiser. Enter Thomas Covenant's son, who's looking for custody of his totally catatonic mother in order to gain possession of Thomas Covenant's ring, the white gold ring. Convenant's son sets the stage for Linden to be sent back to the Land, where Lord Foul now holds her son in Mount Thunder. Things in the Land are, as might be expected, less than wonderful.

I devoured this book in two days. The characteristic polarity in motivations for the major characters is there and its excellent! There are some new characters and some well-loved old characters (the Waynhim are back!) are there, too. If you loved the original series, you'll love this book. Linden is just like she was at the end of White Gold Wielder, only older and wiser, but with all the same character flaws. And the surprise ending will have you camping-out in the book store waiting for the next book! I know I can't wait. But I seem to remember that from the last time around, too.  Oh well, guess I'll just wait - breathlessly- for the next book. The only drawback to this book is that it leans heavily on the previous series for plot elements, so while its not essential to have read the First and Second Chronicles, it sure helps a lot. But its a great read whether you've read them or not. Fortunately, in a multitude of ways, I have.