Possibly Best Book in the Series

books:


	• The One Tree (The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Book 2) Stephen R. Donaldson Del Rey, 1987 - 496 pages average customer review:based on 23 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Donaldson slipped just a BIT...

This book, though still an exciting and deep tale, is slow and not as eventful as the previous books. Also, it was in the POV of Linden Avery who is not a "love to hate" person like Covenant. She is rather...whiny.

The One Tree is about Covenant, Linden, a group of Haruchai, and a group of Giants who take a voyage across unknown sections of the world to find the One Tree and craft a new Staff of Law. However, Lord Foul sends his Ravers in order ensure the mission's failure and the world's destruction. From the faery home of Elemesnedene to the Sandhold of Braithairealm to the Island of the One Tree, the company meets dangers and enemies that want nothing more than power. The ambiguous Elohim, Kasreyn of the Gyre, and the mysterious ur-vile Vain all contribute to the frustrations and griefs of Covenant and Linden.

Although possibly the weakest book of the series, it is still a knockout and a must-read. Fantasy addicts will not be disappointed.

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Not Free SF Reader

We fought the Law and, well, the dark lord pretty much came out on top of that one.

Covenant wants to do something about the whole screwed up Staff of Law situation, and this involves a quest with Avery and some Haruchai.

Many mysterious mythological races and monsters to be encountered along the way to the One Tree and World's End. Not that Covenant really knows what to do when he gets there.

3.5 out of 5

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Possibly Best Book in the Series

Even whiny Linden could not slow this book down. Although not much gets accomplished to further the story line, the book does flow with non-stop action. The questers are besieged with one peril after another. Typical of other books of the series the good guys manage to scrape by, but only after death and loss, and they end up worse off than they began. The entire series is somewhat depressing as every small triumph is offset by a larger failure. At least Covenant is struck by a form of paralysis early in the story and so we don't have to hear him moan. Unfortunately, Linden is still around to fret, cry, whine, and hesitate in Covenants stead. Even with all of this there is plenty of action and surprises to keep the reader turning pages.

My two biggest complaints with this book are complaints I've had with other books in the series. My first complaint is Donaldson's use of incomprehensible words. I initially kept a dictionary close by to look up some of the very unusual words that Donaldson fills the story with. However, after a while I realized that many times he uses the words out of context, or in ways that do not make sense even when you know the words meaning. Donaldson is definitely lexiphanic in his writing (using ostentatiously recondite words). Ha! Two can play at this game........try to find that one in your dictionary Donaldson.

My second complaint concerns the Ravers in the story. In this book, once again we have an immortal creature that can travel the world instantaneously at will. A creature that can take any form, possess almost any creature (giants and the Haruchai are a little harder than others). A creature that cannot be killed or harmed (they just move into a new form). Donaldson has created these 3 Ravers with unlimited power, but never uses them in any way that makes sense. I've seen this same problem in other fantasy series where the author unwittingly creates a creature, form of magic, or power that if actually ever properly used would prematurely end the series. The end result is that the Raver's power and attacks are limited in the story in ways that confuse and never make sense.

Even with my complaints, I'd have to say that this book has been one of the best of the series so far.

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The story continues

In The Wounded Land Covenant confronted the Clave, strange governing body of The Land that has replaced the council of Lords, and learned the truth about Lord Foul's role in the desecration of The Land. Covenant decides the best course of action is to leave The Land to search for the Isle of the One Tree. Centuries before, Berek Halfhand had forged the Staff of Law from a branch of the One Tree. Covenant feels the only hope of redemption for The Land is to forge a new staff and restore the laws of nature that were broken when the original staff was destroyed. Accompanied by Linden Avery and a ship full of giants they depart The Land. Since no one knows where the One Tree is located, the giants suggest that the company seek the help of the Elohim. The Elohim are a fairy people that appear to be earthpower incarnate. But the Elohim have their own plans for Covenant and the white gold.

A great deal of this book explores the character of Linden Avery. She has terrible secrets in her past that she must explore and confront to overcome her feelings of helplessness. Her confrontation with the leader of the Clave in The Wounded Land left her doubting herself and feeling that she is inherently evil. She must work through her feelings and find a way to help Covenant on his quest to redeem The Land. The giants are all terrific characters, which add to the enjoyment of this book. There is a great deal of action in this book, which flows exceptionally well and never drags.

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Search for the One Tree

'The One Tree' is the second book in 'The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever'. It is a direct continuation of 'The Wounded Land' which should be read first.
When we last left Covenant he had decided that the only way to fight the Lor Foul's Sunbane was to create a new Staff of Law to replace the one Covenant had destroyed in the first trilogy. So he enlisted the help of the giants and their ship to search for the One Tree in oder to create a new Staff.
Like the middle book of the first trilogy which focused on Hile Troy for much of it, 'The One Tree' focuses on Linden Avery's point of view for most of the story. The story drags a little when the quest is on board the ship, but the scenes on land are better. Especially good were the scenes with the wizard Kasreyn and the Sandgorgon. Besides the slow sections this installment definitely has a couple of weak points. First of all the character of Findail is annoying. He keeps warning Covenant not to do something, but won't say why, so naturally Covenant does it anyway and disaster ensues, then Findail complains that no one listens to him. It's pointless. Secondly the whole plight of the Land seems a lot less terrible when it becomes clear that the Land is only one part of a much bigger world. Part of the attraction to 'The One Tree' is the introduction of places outside the Land but at the same time it dilutes the urgency of the fight against Lord Foul. Finally the fact that the whole quest ends in failure, with very little to show for it leaves the reader with kind of a 'what was the point' vibe.
To sum 'The One Tree' is somewhat uneven, and not as good as 'The Wounded Land', but still enjoyable as it introduces new vistas and provides interesting background for the series as a whole.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery begin their search for the One Tree that is to be the salvation of the Land. Only he could find the answer and forge a new Staff of Law--but fate decreed that the journey was to be long, the quest arduous, and quite possibly a failure....

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