The Runes of the Earth

The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant

By: Stephen R. Donaldson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 27 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Since their publication more than two decades ago, the initial six books in The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series have sold more than six million copies and have been published in 10 countries around the world. Now, starting with The Runes of the Earth, Stephen R. Donaldson returns with a quartet of new Covenant novels that are certain to satisfy his millions of fans, and attract countless new followers.

In the original series, a man (living in our world and in our time) is mysteriously struck down with a disease long since believed to have been eradicated. He becomes a pariah in his small town and is abandoned by his wife who departs with their infant son. Alone and despairing, Thomas Covenant falls and, while unconscious, is transported to a fantastic world in which a battle for the soul of the land is being waged. Christened "The Unbeliever", for he is convinced the world is only an illusion, a dream, he finds himself slowly forced to accept the role that seems to be his destiny: savior of the Land.

At the end of the sixth book, Covenant is killed, both in the real world and in the Land, as his companion, Linden Avery, looks on in horror. His death is both the ultimate sacrifice...and his redemption.

At the opening of The Runes of Earth, 10 years have passed. Linden Avery comes home one day to find her child building images of the Land with blocks, and senses a terrible foreboding. She had thought that she would never again be summoned to the Land, nor ever again see her beloved Thomas Covenant. But in the Land, evil is unmaking the very laws of nature.

©2004 Stephen R. Donaldson (P)2004 Penguin Audio and Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A reawakening of a classic fantasy saga.” (Library Journal)

“Startlingly original antiheroic fantasy resonating with echoes of both Tolkien and Philip K. Dick.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Impressive...filled with splendid inventions.” (Booklist)

need next book

I enjoyed the book, but am disappointed that the next book is not available on audible.

The least of the three trilogies

So far I would rank the Thomas Covenant trilogies in this order:

2nd Trilogy (the best)
1st Trilogy
Last Trilogy

I love the first two trilogies of Thomas Covenant & have been a huge fan for decades. I was afraid to read this book because I didn’t want to spoil what was already such a good thing.

This book felt more like Donaldson’s version of a kind of Silmarillion. He seems to really want to flesh out the history of the Land & its creatures, explaining more than he does in the earlier books. In a way this was interesting. But it also made the book itself tedious at times and cumbersome.

Major quibbles: Linden Avery knows far more about the land than is realistic. Am I supposed to assume Thomas Covenant taught her all this before his death? If so they must have spent many long hours discussing it. Also it seems Linden’s rather significant love for the land is a bit inexplicable since she only came to discover this love when she went with Covenant into Andelain—and was only there a few days.

I found very little action happens in the first half of the story. We are just so busy listening to dialogue between the characters that just seems endless. Also unlike in the first books, I had a difficult time visualizing the Land or where the characters were half the time. I just felt like the description of where the characters were at any given time was a little sparse.

Lastly, it’s really important to care about the characters and so far I have zero concern for Jeremiah. He is a non-character to me. I don’t understand Linden’s love for this child at all, so her motivation and drive to rescue him…when he is nothing but an empty shell (according to the Despiser)…mystifies me. I am sure a mother can understand, but this reader has never had kids and I can only react accordingly. How can you form such a strong attachment to a child that does not respond to you in any way?

Anyway, I just feel the motivation for Linden’s love and desire to get her son back is lacking. Maybe if we had gotten to see more of Jeremiah before his kidnapping besides just a Lego statue…???

Last point—I don’t understand why Joan’s madness creates storms in the land, even when she is in her own world. I feel like this could have been explained better as well.

Awesome Narrator and Good Story

The narrator was excellent and the story itself was really good. After many years I am finally getting around to finishing the Covenant chronicles and I agree that the conversations and headspace were repetitive but it did feel like they provided reinforcement and a gateway to empathy which is what I have always loved about Donaldson's works.

Bless the return of The Land

If you like fantasy plot twists that will keep you up and reading for days on end, then Stephen R. Donaldson is the author for you. Beginning with Lord Foul's Bane, the series runs through two complete trilogies and into the third, with The Runes of the Earth. Donaldson creates a hero that you will both love and hate. He is Thomas Covenant, successful writer, until he contracts leprosy. Then his family leaves him, his town people shun him, and he becomes a bitter hermit. One day, he gets a knock on the head and wakes up in a totally different reality, a place called simply "the Land". It is a place of magic and wonder, ineffable beauty and many conflicts with Lord Foul, the Despiser. Covenant commits acts that will rend your heart, and tries to deny the reality of the Land. But he also falls in love with it- and must come to terms with his paradox. He becomes know as the Unbeliever and White Gold Wielder- his wedding band is a talisman of incredible power, the "Wild magic that destroys peace." He encounters giants, Lords, ordinary people of surpassing strength and will, and of course Lord Foul.
This is a series of books that will challenge your mind, your imagination and your endurance for sleepless nights, for if you are like me, you will not be able to put them down!

Give Me More

Giant of a series, when it comes to film please call I will be waiting.
Star Wars
Indiana Jones
Cronicals of Thomas Covenant
I Will Be Waiting

Racing to the End of the Runes of the Earth

If you could sum up The Runes of the Earth in three words, what would they be?

More But Less.

The first two trilogies seemed more epic to me. After listening through to the 3rd part of this recording it dawned on me that only five days had passed in Land-time from the beginning of this book to around the middle. I'm not saying it's slow moving, but dang. So, what we have is more of a story that involves characters that I've loved and read about since I was 17, but the story doesn't seem as important as the first and second trilogies conveyed. Still a good fantasy story but not as consuming.

Would you be willing to try another book from Stephen R. Donaldson? Why or why not?

Absolutely! I've invested a lot of time in Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery. I don't intend to quit now. You should probably be warned though: Audible does not have the second book of the final set (Fatal Revenant) in their store. However, if you are as much of a Scott Brick fan as I am, you may want to consider getting it from his website, Brick By Brick - it looks like he may own some sort of licensing rights about who can distribute this recording. Kind of pricey, but the alternative is to read the book while imagining Scott's voice.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He understands the characters in this book. His performance of the Haruchai is what I consider to be spot on. Aneal's affliction is excellent as well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not like in the first trilogy. This is a good start to a familiar story - I'm not expecting too many surprises, though.

Any additional comments?

Fans will probably consider this a must read. Some of us who have waited decades for the conclusion of the series will also fall into this category; I'm still a fan! New fans: beware of dismissive reviews! As an old time Land Lover, I've needed the years between publication to digest and reread the first 6 books to understand and appreciate the Land. I've had the time to reflect on the motivations of the main characters. Some readers write this off as a series of books about a rapist, but that is way too simple. Donaldson's characters are complex and their reactions are usually unpredictable, much like most humans. You probably won't want to plow through all these in quick succession - let them mellow and age. You'll know when you are ready for the next one.Enjoy!

love Stephen's writing and Scott Bricks naration

can't wait to start the next book. Having bad dyslexia has hampered my enjoying the written word for years. This is great

Donaldson Triumphs

Donaldson's writing remains as sharp as ever. His prose is more thightly contained than it was in the original Covenant Triology and some of the operatic descriptiveness has been trimmed, but he still manages to impress with his command of the English language and his ability to use that mastery to play our emotions like a violin. After so many years, Donaldson makes a triumphant return to the Land, where his career began and takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride through the beginning of the end of Thomas Covenant's journey.

This, as with all of Donaldson's works, is not a story for readers who do not enjoy an emotional, evocative journey through some of the darker aspects of humanity or readers who don't enjoy thinking, sometimes deeply, while they read. Donaldson is not a light, beach read and so is sometimes very underappreciated by the masses. But if you enjoy thought-provoking drama in a fantasy setting with rich characters, a feeling of profound depth in the world, and a sense of adventure and growth through trial and adversity, don't miss this book.

Wonderful in every respect

Donaldson's series "the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant", of which, this is the 1st book in the 3rd Trilogy, is one of the greatest works in all of Fantasy. The narrrator, Scott Brick is masterful at telling the story. He has a warm, pleasing voice that resonnates with all the emotion and excitement Donaldson intended. Very well done indeed.

Better than...

Obviously its not great literature like Tolkien, which it borrows from, but it is far more entertaining than Robert Jordan"s wearily drawn out muddle.