‘Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent”
If you’re a SciFi fan, you probably remember the quote from Asimov’s Foundation Novels. It’s worth remembering as we see so much violence around the world, some initiated by us.
As we so incompetent that we can’t see how all of the violence we’ve spawned hurts us? Is incompetence becoming endemic in the world where so much hate fills people with the need to express themselves in violence?
CHANGED: To post later
WOW!
Where have I been!
I found Baen Books Free Library today. I wonder why I never found it before. At first, I thought it was probably just a few marginal books, but no … some of my favorite authors are represented there and at least a few of them have free downloadable books.
I’m a fan of David Drake’s writings for example and most of his books are there for sale and several are available for free download. I’m in heaven all of a sudden. My god, how could I have missed this before. I’m going to have to look some more and see what I can find.
Stephen Donaldson - The Gap Series
I’m re-reading the Gap Series at the moment. I need to take some time as I read it to get my thoughts in order and really understand these books. While I’m moving forward, let me say a few things about the series from my first reading several years ago.
I first learned of Donaldson when I heard about his Thomas Covenant novels. I started on his first Covenant series while he was still writing it. That was HARD. I read the first book before the 2nd came out and I was on edge waiting for more. It was incredible writing. I wished I could write like that. I went through that with the 2nd when I read it and had to wait for the 3rd.
With the second Covenant series, I decided to wait until all three were available. I was so engaged in other things that I had very little time anyway. Once they were available, I jumped on them and I read them so fast I amazed myself. I loved that series as well as the first. I had never seen a story sustained at such high quality for so long. I’ve loved Tolkien for years, but Donaldson is just as good a writer in a different way.
With my experience in the Covenant series, I had high hopes for the Gap Series. As high as my hopes were, they were surpassed. I can’t say enough about how much these books impressed me. Across five novels, Donaldson wove a complex story so engaging and enthralling that I had to force myself to put it down. I’m almost afraid to pick one of the books up because I just can’t stop.
WARNING - If you’re thinking about reading ANY of these novels, I should point out that they’re not for kids. They address some very brutal things and create some scenes that could give some people nightmares. The writing is exceptional and the story is exceptionally well crafted, but some of the characters are so brutalized in the process that it can be very hard for anyone who is not prepared.