I had originally read the First and Second Chronicles years and years ago, and then re-read them over the course of the Last Chronicles prolonged release schedule. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the Second Chronicles much more the second time around. "Nom" has got to be the best moment in the series.
On to the Last Chronicles. Donaldson's puissance for thesaurietical research in the gloaming of his career has already been reknown. However, I must say that I have read some more classic books (particularly Last of the Mohicans) which makes Donaldson's literary aptitude look like a grade school rough draft. Not a dig on Donaldson at all.
The plot in the Last Chronicles had me guessing right up to the very end. And the cliffhangers were enraging (mainly because I had 2+ years to wait for the next volume). However, what I did notice about the Last Chronicles is that there's either a few hundred pages of the crew standing around talking, or the pace is so astronomical that I found myself saying "You spent 4 chapters eating lunch, and now you're on the other side of the Land.....eh?" There were a number of cop-outs thrown in to aid in the plot that I don't necessarily like, but it is what it is. And a few things that I had theorized that were never mentioned nor elaborated upon (one being that Berek's Staff of Law never came from the One Tree but was, in fact, given to him by Linden, which is the Staff formed by Vain and Findail. The other is that the Haruchai gained their mental telepathy and longevity by rending a 4th Raver much like Non did in the Second Chronicles -- you'll see similarities between them).
All in all, thought, they're required reading, as they are the culmination and conclusion to the series. Did I enjoy the? Absolutely. Did I wish they as simplistic yet at the same time as epic as the First Chronicles. Of course. But still worth the read.
Regarding hating Linden.... There is a group on Donaldson's forums that calls themselves THOOLAH - The High Order Of Linden Avery Haters! LOL!!Statistics: Posted by zhammy — Wed Jun 17, 2015 1:20 pm
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