The Runes of the Earth

"The Runes of the Earth" by Stephen Donaldson (first volume of "The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant"). In the trilogy "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever", Covenant, who is a leper, is transported to the Land, where his white gold wedding ring has magical powers and he struggles against the manipulations of Lord Foul, the Despiser. In the trilogy "The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" he returns in the company of Dr Linden Avery to a Land blighted by Sunbane and once again battles with Lord Foul.

After a gap of 20 years we finally have another series of books set in the Land. The first volume of which focusses on Linden as she tries to come to terms with Covenant's death and is once more caught up in Lord Foul's machinations. A complex vibrant literary fantasy - excellent, as one would expect since everything he writes is good. If you haven't read any Thomas Covenant books before then start with the first one "Lord Foul's Bane", or if SF is more your thing then his Gap series is equally good, in a dark and twisted sort of way.

Fantasy novel reviews

Here's a very brief review of various fantasy novels and omnibus editions that I've read recently:

"The Chronicles of Amber" by Roger Zelazny (Fantasy Masterworks #6). The first series of five Amber novels collected in one volume (there's a second series also consisting of five novels). Wonderfully rich and inventive fantasy, telling the story of Prince Corwin as he investigates the byzantine plotting by his family to grab the vacant Amberite throne. Excellent.

"The Earthsea Quartet" by Ursula K. Le Guin (Penguin books). The four novels "A Wizard of Earthsea", "The Tombs of Atuan", "The Farthest Shore" and "Tehanu" in one volume. The classic story of Ged as he learns the nature of magic and becomes Archmage of Roke, fighting evil and struggling with the consequences of his own actions on the way. Don't be put off by the fact that this is aimed at younger readers, nor by the poor TV mini-series based on the first two books. Very good, a classic.