Lord Foul's Bane (Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever): 1 (The First Chronicles: Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever)

Product Information

Fonstad, Karen Wynn (1985), The Atlas of the Land, New York: Ballantine Books, ISBN 978-0-345-31433-8

In 2009, James Nicoll said that Thomas Covenant would win a "special lifetime achievement award" for the "most unlikeable supposedly sympathetic protagonist". [5] Everyone Calls Her "Barkeep": Everyone (including the narration) just calls her "the First" except for her husband Pitchwife, who when he wants to be affectionate uses her actual name, Gossamer Glowlimm. Names to Run Away from Really Fast: The names that others have for them (Jehannum, Herem, and Sheol) are all terms for condemnation or damnation, reflecting how the other inhabitants of the Land see them. In their Giant forms their names are Fleshharrower, Kinslaughterer and Satansfist.

Best Fantasy Books praised Donaldson in their very positive review for being able to explore the nature of being anathema while removing all blame from those who would despise the target. They go on to say that the entire book becomes an exploration of the interpersonal, psychological, and physical effects on a man become pariah. [4] Ravers are bodiless evil spirits with the ability to possess and control some lesser creatures, and most humans as well. Giants and Bloodguard are typically immune to this power, and there are no known instances of a Raver possessing a Ranyhyn. There are only three Ravers, ancient brothers who each have many names but are commonly called Turiya Herem, Samadhi Sheol, and Moksha Jehannum. Their greatest hatred is reserved for the trees of the One Forest of old, and their loathing of the Earthpower and all good things has led them to become Lord Foul's willing servants. The Despiser is somehow able to enhance their abilities when he pleases, but can prevent them from possessing individuals he deems too powerful (They were not allowed to possess Thomas Covenant, for instance, because his ring would make them too powerful for Lord Foul to control). This possession can be, and in some cases needs to be, facilitated by some external power. In the 'Illearth War' the Ravers were only able to possess their giant 'hosts' when they worked in harmony with the power of the Illearth Stone. They often serve as leaders in Lord Foul's armies, or as spies among his enemies. Covenant delivers the message of Lord Foul to the Lords. Despite the obvious danger, the Lords decide to make an effort to wrest the powerful Staff of Law from Drool's evil grasp. Rather than waging an all-out war, the Council sends four Lords and a band of forty warriors to attempt to infiltrate Drool's lair at Mount Thunder. Classical Antihero: With shades of Nominal Hero. Covenant is a pretty pathetic shell of a human being, largely devoid of heroic (or even particularly pleasant) qualities, and though he's more ineffective and unpleasant than outright evil most of the time, his first major action in the Land is practically a Moral Event Horizon crossing. That said, he gets a hefty dose of Character Development across the First Chronicles, and by the Second Chronicles he's more of a Pragmatic Hero, still not classically heroic or particularly pleasant company, but much more genuinely devoted to protecting the Land and its people. Psychoactive Powers: Apparently, Covenant's troubles with making his ring work stem from his own self-doubt, self-loathing, and fear of responsibility. Other people can make it work fine, though without the same potential level of power Covenant as the rightful wielder possesses.

Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: She breaks the Law of Death to allow Lord Kevin Landwaster to be resurrected, which just made things worse. Far worse. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is a series of ten high fantasy novels written by American author Stephen R. Donaldson. The series began as a trilogy, entitled The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever. This was followed by another trilogy, The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, and finally a tetralogy, The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. The Man Who Killed His Brother • The Man Who Risked His Partner • The Man Who Tried to Get Away • The Man Who Fought Alone Cynicism Catalyst: His bitterness comes from being diagnosed with leprosy and losing his wife and child. Celebrity Resemblance: The fact he looks like famed hero Berek Halfhand down to missing fingers doesn't help Thomas' insistence he's not The Chosen One.Well-Intentioned Extremist: The organization as a whole claims (falsely) to be this. Certain individual members are, though. Character Development: Truly massive amounts of it. It's a long, hard road from the cynical, spiteful husk of a man of Lord Foul's Bane to the messianic figure of The Last Dark.

All-Loving Hero: Though he's not as blatant about it as Foamfollower. Mhoram tends more towards quietly believing the best of everyone around him, and his skill as a leader owes in many ways to bringing that best out. Flat-Earth Atheist: Though to be fair, he's convinced that if he allows his worldview to contain anything but leprosy, he'll lose his self-protective skills and die a very prolonged and unpleasant death.

The Creator

Foil: Knowing that Lord Foul is just another side of the same coin (hatred vs. self-hatred) allows Thomas to defeat him.