The Wounded Land (The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Book 1)

THE WOUNDED LAND is a rich, and somewhat difficult book. It was certainly wonderful to return to the Land, but the book is by far the bleakest of the entire two trilogies. Donaldson clearly had to up the ante to make the book worth reading (and writing), so the despair that has befallen the Land is pretty dire.Also, even though we get to revisit Covenant, we are 4000 years in the future of the land, and all the beloved characters we came to know in the first trilogy are gone. Donaldson does manage a brief, ghostly appearance by some of them, but they are missed. After all, Covenant is aptly named an ANIT-hero, and he is tough to like. So Donaldson, while also showing us how horrible things have become in the Land, has to also give us new characters to care about.This time, Covenant brings someone with him from our time, the doctor Linden Avery. But she carries lots of baggage herself, and is also tough to warm up to...although she brings out a soft side in Covenant which is sorely needed. The author does a good job of introducing new characters to join on the new quest to save the Land from Lord Foul's machinations. Sunder and Hollian, two villagers who have learned all the history of the Land incorrectly, have their eyes opened to the truth by Covenant, and their plight of realization and acceptance is quite emotional. The character of Vain, a creature developed by the ur-viles to help Covenant, is fascinating and holds many secrets. I won't tell you too many more, because the book holds some delights in store.But it isn't easy. The first half of the book feels a bit repititive, as Covenant and his growing band struggle to cross the Land to Revelstone (echoes of the first book), and we kinda get the point early on that it isn't easy going. But things really pick up once Covenant goes to Andelain and then on to Revelstone. There are some exciting chase scenes, one in particular dealing with The Grim, a malevolent "happening" sent to destroy the group from the false lords of Revelstone.Donaldson has become an even more florid writer. His vocabulary is formidable...mine ain't too bad, but there is at least one word per page that leaves me scratching my head as to its definition, and I swear he's just made up a few. You can tell what they mean by the context, but they are distracting. He doesn't believe in subtle feelings...these characters are going through earth-shattering events, and they don't feel things mildly. They are torn, "riven", etc. etc. I still love the books, but sometimes it is a bit much.If you've read the first trilogy and liked it or loved it...then you MUST read further. If you haven't read the first trilogy, don't start here. Go back to Lord Foul's Bane. And if, by some chance, you didn't care for the first trilogy, I don't think anything here will change your mind. You either love the Land and Donaldson's way of taking you there...or you don't and won't.

Don't let this characterization fool you: I find the world of Hobbits fascinating and wonderful fare, but Donaldson manages to combine the harsh reality of flawed adulthood with the magic of fantasy. The damned of the Chronicles are truly damned, brought down by their own desires rather than some simplistic evil orientation. The heroes struggle both for righteousness and with themselves. Yet for all the dark ambiguity, the beauty of The Land makes you ache to see it and agonize for its pain. This is grownup stuff, escapism that never totally leaves our world behind. The introduction of Linden Avery opens another compelling view of a most seductive place. Unlike Covenant, whose struggles to justify and continue his existence wound himself and all who care for him, Avery is a link to our world who soldiers on with her mission of mercy. She doesn't let the shock of her arrival in The Land destroy her role of healing, yet the Second Chronicles is very much the story of how she finds personal peace as well as purpose with practicing her profession in a very sick world. It's hard to believe that this saga could sustain a second trilogy, especially with volumes of this length -- but it does. If your bookshelf has a place for mature fantasy, make room for the Second Chronicles.

Stephen R. Donaldson takes a bold step in `The Wounded Land' by allowing the existence of `the Land' to trickle out into the real world. He then transports not only Thomas Covenant there, but also a new character `Linden Avery' who offers a different perspective to the adventures they subsequently encounter. Thomas Covenant in this series seems more at ease in the Land, and less resistive to the event transpiring around him. Linden is confused by it, and endures her own personal turmoil throughout the series. This time the Land has declined to a low ebb, filled with suffering and death. The people have long forgotten their technology of living with the land, and have been demoralized to an unthinkable level by comparison with the first series. Perhaps this is the authors subtle expression and symbolic account of the decay in our own present society reflected in this fantasy world? It certainly carries with it a great deal of truth when you examine the comparison. Nevertheless, Donaldson continues his expertise with his incredibly creative characters and magical beings. He interweaves a great mix of plots and subplots and ties this series in at various points to the previous one, making it a very interesting and exciting story. This is the second chronicles of Thomas Covenant ( I recommend reading the first series before starting on this one), and it sets the stage for great adventure in the following two books. You will really become a Donaldson fan with this series, and find yourself engrossed within its pages. A great book and a very good story.

Whereas many follow ups to successful first works seem to be written purely as a vehicle to squeeze another dollar out of a good idea (see Terry Brooks' second go with the Shannara series and David Eddings' Mallorean), this beginning of the Second Chronicles logically follows the First. I read this book many years ago, and am as impressed with the concept of a "Wounded Land" now as I was then. Some refer to this work as "Dark Fantasy". I see it more as realism...within the scope of a fantasy setting, of course. Donaldson has a feel and touch to "The Land", an affiliation so natural that his third person omniscient sounds exactly so. Upon reaching the end of this trilogy--The White Gold Wielder--it is obvious that the story has not yet reached completion. We can't hold our breath, as it has been some 16 years since White Gold Wielder was published, but we can bid our time. As impatient as it seems, at times....

The Wounded Land is an apt title for this book. For those who have read the First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, this sequel trilogy is as stark a contrast as one author can offer when creating new ideas on a familiar subject. If you are unfamiliar with the first chronicles, I strongly recommend you go read it first to fully appreciate this contrast. Donaldson seeks to create a feeling of revulsion for something loved that has been violated in a way the reader could not imagine or be prepared to face. The living Land is dieing, rotting before the people who live for it. The biggest shock is for the lepor who has come to love the Land, not just for the renewed vibrance it gave him, but because of what it has done to the people. Life, love, evil, vileness, hope and sacrifice are intertwined in a heart wrenching, emotional roller coaster. A must read for Donaldson fans. Some may feel betrayed by the intentional devastation of the Land. Some may feel thrilled by the new adventure. At any rate, be prepared to FEEL!!!