The Last Dark

The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Book 4

By: Stephen R. Donaldson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 33 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Compelled step by step to actions whose consequences they could neither see nor prevent, Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery have fought for what they love in the magical reality known only as "the Land." Now they face their final crisis. Reunited after their separate struggles, they discover in each other their true power - and yet they cannot imagine how to stop the Worm of the World's End from unmaking Time. Nevertheless they must resist the ruin of all things, giving their last strength in the service of the world's continuance.

©2013 Stephen R. Donaldson (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Joy is in the ears that hear.

The 10th book in the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series brings it all to a close (for the 3rd time.) I started the original series in 1979 and the first two Chronicles remain some of my favorite books to this day. Donaldson instantly trapped me between sympathy for Covenant the leper and hatred for Covenant the rapist. The Land and the people in it were amazing and I was forced to root for Covenant the antihero to succeed because the Land was so special: Bannor, Saltheart Foamfollower, Mhoram, the Forestals, the Raynyhyn, Revelstone, Andelain, Soaring Woodhelven – I loved it all. That is, except for Covenant himself, although I was willing to let him slide if he would step up and save everyone else.

Then the second series started and my heart was broken when I saw the devastation that had been wrought upon Land. The pain I felt for the inhabitants of the Land was palpable. All of a sudden I was a fan of Covenant because this travesty had to be addressed and he was the guy to do it. Now I resented Linden because she wasn’t Covenant and had no right to be more important than him. Again Donaldson convinced me to change my mind and root for her to succeed so that she could repair the damage that had been done to the Land. I even enjoyed his wordy writing because I was able to spend more time in the Land that way. Those two series turned me into a lover of Fantasy books.

When the third series started I was ecstatic and pre-ordered the hard cover version of the first book. It didn’t take long for the series to feel like a money grab that was exploiting my love for the Land. The books were full of uber-beings, time travel, and forgettable new companions for Linden. The Giants, which were so memorable in the first two series, had become expendable and boring. The same could be said for the Haruchai and when Linden once again summoned Covenant from beyond the grave I felt like a fool for continuing to read. The third book was by far the worst of the bunch and thus my expectations were pretty low heading into this finale.

But if you are reading this review then you have probably read/listened to the prior books in the series and there is little reason to stop now. Donaldson returns to his old self (too much at times) and once again I found myself rooting for the defenders of the Land. I started to care about the Giants and the Haruchai again and it felt a lot more like the first two series. Donaldson couldn’t resist mixing in more uber-beings, time travel, and “Deus ex machina” but he doesn’t go too far. This book felt more like the original books than any other in the final series and I don’t feel exploited for having listened to it.

As any Giant will tell you, “Joy is in the ears that hear” so if you are a long-time fan know that it is worth being summoned to the Land for one final time. This finale has stirred within me a desire to re-experience the first two series again and I plan to do just that. I still have my beaten up original paperbacks but this time I plan to listen instead of read and have picked up the First Chronicles on Audiobook. (It’s not available on Audible but if you search you will find it.)

Be true Unbelievers!

The Last Dark

What made the experience of listening to The Last Dark the most enjoyable?

I have the opportunity to listen to audiobooks while I work, so I listen to a lot of books. Some are captivating, entertaining, educational, some are sleep inducing. And then there are those that are inspired. I'm in awe of the last book in The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, The Last Dark... not just the story, which I do love - I love The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, but the narration is absolutely beautiful. I don't think I've ever heard better.

Any additional comments?

All of the Thomas Covenant books should be made available - read only by Scott Brick. I would buy them all.

Great story, great ending!

The story of the Land and all its wonders - giants, magical horses, healing mud, and virtuous life giving plants to name just a few, was great fun to read. The thoughts and attitudes of the various players in the drama were thought provoking though at many points admittedly frustrating to my thinking. Yet, the shear majesty and wonder of the tragedy and triumph Donaldson weaves with his eloquent prose is undoubtedly satisfyingly. My one criticism would be his cartoonish characterization of supposedly "Christian" believers in one part of his story. Scott Brick does a fantastic job of brining the story to life, a usual! Be sure to read the whole story from the beginning!

Exhausting

80 hours of feeling sorry for Jeremiah was severely exhausting with absolutely no relief. Stuck it through the series of three with great regret. My chagrin from the start never improved sorry this series was not for me

Amazing ending to a truly epic tale!

Although portions of this book are slow and filled with self loathing and endless introspection of the main characters, this is a fitting end to the Thomas Covenant saga. Of course Scott Brick is amazing in this reading and of this last series, The Last Dark is by far the best book. I initially read and loved the first and second chronicles in high school so I was already invested emotionally to start the last chronicles. In fact, I actually had to pre order White Gold Wielder because it wasn't out yet so when I founded out that Donaldson had written 4 additional books in the Covenant series I had to plunge in. I'm glad I finished them but saddened the story is over.

Fabulous!!!

Bring your dictionary and get ready for an apt and fitting end to the wondrous saga of the timewarden and the chosen!!!

Fading Series

What would have made The Last Dark better?

Not to have written it.

Has The Last Dark turned you off from other books in this genre?

Yes. Although I did like the first three or four of the entire Covenant series.

What didn’t you like about Scott Brick’s performance?

The sing-song pattern and almost maudlin tone.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not really.

Any additional comments?

To spend two pages saying although the character doubted what she was to do and remembering five other times she did similar things before sh does it, it INFURIATING!

I have enjoyed this entire series since I was a ki

loved it, great series, I wished it would never end. I didn't need fifteen words!

A total letdown

Stephen Donaldson can build and hold suspense in a novel like no other author. I remember reading the last book in the 'Gap' series and for 300 pages the last book in the series suspense and tension built and built. So too with the third book of this series - the race to Lord Foul's stronghold was full of tension, held for chapter after chapter.

However, my main anxiety in the third book was caused by the number of pages left versus the amount of story details needing to be tied up. The tension was caused by anxiety over the author not finishing the book in the pages he had left, and having to wade though another volume to torturous prose to finally resolve the series. And alas, my fears were well founded.

So... like a marathon runner in agony in the last few miles of the race, I punched though the wall and of pain and was determined to finish the Covenant series I had started reading 40 odd years ago. Failing eyesight led me to the audio book to reach the finish line.

I have to say that the narrator did his best with the material. Scott Brick is a talented reader, and I would happily listen to anything he narrates. But you can't turn a pig's ear into a silk purse.

This last novel of the far too long saga of Thomas Covenant and his rape victims is utterly disappointing. There is no redemption, no resolution of anything, and nothing essentially changes for any of the characters. The main protagonists continue to be the same whiny self doubting pains int he butts they have been for the last eight novels, and the side characters continue on in their naive stupidity as victims of the authors plot devices.

All in all I am very glad this series has finally ended.

INCREDIBLE!!

I read the first book the first time,in 1983. I now have finished the 6th reading of the series. Such an incredible story, and the characters are pure joy,and sorrow.