The Illearth War

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Book 2

By: Stephen R. Donaldson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

After scant days in his “real” world, Thomas Covenant finds himself again summoned to a strange world of magic and Earthpower. There, 40 bitter years have passed, while Lord Foul, immortal enemy of the Land, moves to fulfill his prophecy of doom - his countless minions are already on the march, cutting a devastating swath of destruction across the Land.

The Council of Lords find their spells useless, however, now that Foul the Despiser holds the Illearth Stone, the ancient talisman of evil. High Lord Elena turns in desperation to Covenant and the legendary wild magic of his ring, but nobody knows how to use the white gold - least of all Thomas Covenant himself.

©1977 Stephen R. Donaldson (P)2020 Brick by Brick Audiobooks

sad

spoiler plot why oh why unbeliever couldn't you save her

Outstanding

Flawless narration. He brought new life to a well known story. i was at the edge of my seat.

great story

I read this in the mid 80s this is as good as I remember.

I’ve been pulled back to the land once again

Scott brick is a star and his narration brought the story to vivid life. If you’re a fan of the “Thomas Covenant chronicles” then this audiobook is a must. I remember skipping over some areas of the books when I last read it, Now I have the complete picture because of this superlative narration.

Great trilogy. Enjoying it as an audio book 25 years later.

Spoilers. Kinda.

These books are groundbreaking fantasy writing from the 70s and are just as compelling story telling today. The audio versions are even more subjective given the reactions I've read in the reviews. Bricks narration is clearly not for every taste but I enjoy it nonetheless.

The hero of the story is a broken, angry human being. The most obvious tell is his rape of a young girl early in book one during his first encounter of the land's ability to heal him physically. This depiction of rape and another taboo by a hero character no less is an essential component of the story and it is chilling today just as it was in my reading of the books in the 80s. It transforms Covenant from a character you pity into someone the reader struggles to forgive in order that the land and it's people might survive the greater evil ahead.

What is nearly as shocking to a 50 year old reader is the constant comments in readers reviews of the books to the authors need to be educated in morals or boundaries maybe? Yes the content is disturbing and grotesque at times. Yes the rape is a terrible part of the story that does not ever leave you as you progress through the journey of the salvation of the land. Could it be published for today's audience as a new book? No. And we'd be less as readers of fantasy if it was never there. Is it the Iliad or A Mid summer Night's Dream? No again. But it is a great story and like all great stories it must move your emotions. Why are many readers today so easily offended and why is their natural reaction to call for a ban or tell others what they must feel? The world is full of shocking events and suffering by the innocent. Children and adults alike. Families brutalize each other and incest and rape occur whether you want it to our not. Turning away as a reader is your choice just as it is in real life. Safe spaces do not end pain or evil or injustice. And to get on a review site and act as though your feeling about a novels character is virtuous or righteous is arrogant and frankly immature. Learn to live in the real world and take literature and stand-up and commentary as one person's expression of their perspective at a given point in time.

These books are Donaldson's creation and his imagination of a hero with terrible flaws that created storms of consequences for those around him. That's the lesson for the reader in my opinion. We all see ourselves as the hero of our story but are we not just like Covenant? Are there not those we leave the victims in our wake because of our flaws and weaknesses? Can we not see Covenant in the mirror? Really?

High praise for both Stephen R. Donaldson & Scott Brick

I read these ageless books as a teen, when they were new 4+ decades ago. I enjoyed the rediscovery as much just now as I did then. Scott Brick is a master at narrating emotional and subtle nuances into his reading! With the help of Scott Brick, I gained many more insights into Covenant’s persona and discovered foreshadowing of events in The Land yet to come that I missed the first time.

It poetry

The book is read as poetry with cadence. whether that was.the intent of the author of the skill of the reader I do not know.

Great 70s Fantasy

This is one of the first fantasies I read growing up. It’s a good story albeit with an unlikeable protagonist.

The problem is the narration. Scott Brick’s overwrought, sing songy narration is hard to slog through. Brick can read “it’s raining outside” as though it’s an emotional cauldron. I’ve tried to listen to Brick many times because he reads several of my favorites, but I just can’t get into the flow of a story that Brick reads.

Narration is so important in an audiobook and a bad performance kills any book.

Powerful and Riveting

I first began reading “The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant” in the late 70’s. I was enthralled then. Now, 45 years later, I wondered if I would still be impressed. I always wondered why I didn’t hear any rumblings of film rights and so forth. It’s like it’s relatively unknown. Well, I am here to tell you that these works withstand the test of time. Donaldson’s powers of description and mastery of language create indelible images., woven into a storytelling tapestry of epic proportions. Scott Brick’s mellifluous narration is at times beautiful and profound. I am so glad to be reintroduced to these writings.

Lessons of power

Power isn't what Covenant is seeking. Yet even in seeking to evade the responsibility of power, he finds that it corrupts.