In 1977 the first volume of the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant hit the bookstalls. Five books later his characters and world had developed into a magnificent series of adventure and breathtaking enchantment, a true phenomenon: an epic fantasy instant bestseller that has now sold millions and millions of copies across the world.

You really would appreciate this one, the first of three in the Last Chronicles sequence - more fully if you had read those first six books but Donaldson is very good at recapping so you do not necessarily need to. This starts ten human years after the close of the last or 4,000 of ‘the Land’s’ years. If you haven’t read the early books it would be unfair for me to tell you too much now. If you have, then you will appreciate how wonderful it is to be back in his world. This is a truly stunning work with depth, sensitivity, warmth and intelligence. An absolute must for fantasy fans.

Comparison: J R R Tolkien, Tad Williams, Terry Goodkind.

Similar this month: None but you’ll love the Terry Pratchett and the Haruki Murakami.

The Thomas Covenant titles in order:

THE CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT THE UNBELIEVER

Book 1: Lord Foul's Bane

Book 2: The Illearth War

Book 3: The Power that Preserve

THE SECOND CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT

Book 1: The Wounded Land

Book 2: The One Tree

Book 3: White Gold Wielder

THE LAST CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT

Book 1:The Runes of the Earth

Book 2: Fatal Revenant

Book 3: Against all Things Ending

To view all the titles in the sequence click here.

Comparison: David Gemmell, Tad Williams, Raymond E. Feist
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Synopsis

Thomas Covenant is mysteriously struck down by a disease believed eradicated; abandoned by his wife and young son, he becomes a pariah. Alone, despairing, Covenant falls - and is drawn into a mysterious new world where gentle people work magic and the earth itself brings healing. He is welcomed as the reincarnation of a legendary saviour, but Covenant is convinced he's having delusions. At the end of the sixth book, as Covenant battles to save the world, he is killed - in both worlds - as Dr Linden Avery, his horrified companion, looks on. Now comes the book every fantasy reader has been waiting for. It's ten years later and Linden Avery thought she would never see the Land, or Covenant, her beloved, again. But Lord Foul has stolen her adopted son, and is unmaking the very laws of nature. And though she believes Covenant dead, he keeps sending Linden messages: 'Find me', 'You're the only one who can do this' and 'Remember that I'm dead'. The Land is in turmoil, and Lord Foul has plans for them all ...

About the Author

Stephen Donaldson lived in India for 13 years with his father, a medical missionary, who worked extensively with lepers; it was here that he conceived the character of Thomas Covenant. He was awarded the John W. Campbell Award as Best Writer of the Year for The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever, which, with the sequel trilogy, became instant bestsellers. He is also the author of the fantasy duology 'Mordant's Need', the SF epic quintet 'The Gap', and a number of mysteries written under the pseudonym Reed Stephens. He won the World Fantasy Award in 2000.   Comparison: J R R Tolkien, Tad Williams, Terry Goodkind,  Terry Pratchett and Haruki Murakami.   He is probably best known for his incredible CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT fantasy series.  To read them in order though not essential as Stephen does recap very well:   The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant titles in order: THE CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT THE UNBELIEVER Book 1: Lord Foul's Bane Book 2: The Illearth War Book 3: The Power that Preserve THE SECOND CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT Book 1: The Wounded Land Book 2: The One Tree Book 3: White Gold Wielder THE LAST CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT Book 1:The Runes of the Earth Book 2: Fatal Revenant Book 3: Against all Things Ending More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation