Text File

Aucf-cs.524 net.sf-lovers utzoo!decvax!harpo!duke!ucf-cs!bratman Wed Apr 21 12:34:16 1982 Review

After just finishing THE ONE TREE, I found it an enjoyable continuation of THE WOUNDED LAND. There seems to be no limit to Donaldson's ability to create facinating characters with unique abilities for the protagonist to contend with. His style is getting better and better. I was very upset, however, that the book came out in $14.95 hardcover only. To those of us who paid $3.50 apiece for each of the original paperback versions, this seemed like a breech of faith, probably due to greed. The basic story line was consistent and well laid out. It was time to expostulate Linden Avery's inconsistencies, since we already knew Covenant's, and both will probably be exploited by Foul in the final book, WHITE GOLD WEIDER. The two mystery characters, Findail and Vain, are developed just enough to leave you waiting with baited breath for the next book. In this regard, Donaldson duplicates what Jack Chalker did in his Well World tetrology. The only paradox I could find in this volume was that given the strength of purpose and will of the Haruchai (Bloodguard) which enabled them even to resist the ocular of the Kemper, it doesn't seem possible that they would succumb to the song of the sea sirens. Donaldson's explanation for this seemed kind of weak. All in all, though, another classic which belongs in your bookcase ( if you fit it in with 4 other paperbacks).

Steve Bratman

----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen <jgoerzen@complete.org> of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/

This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided:

1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles.

2. The following notice remains appended to each copy:

The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.