The Runes of the Earth
Cover to the First UK Edition
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| Author | Stephen R. Donaldson |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Published | 14 October 2004 Putnam Publishing (USA) 21 October 2004 Gollancz (UK) |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) & Audio CD |
| Pages | 608 p. (UK hardback edition) & 532 p. (USA hardback edition) |
| ISBN | (hardback edition) & (USA hardback edition) |
| OCLC | 59265669 |
| Preceded by | White Gold Wielder |
| Followed by | Fatal Revenant |
The Runes of the Earth is a fantasy novel by Stephen R. Donaldson first published in 2004.
Donaldson returns to the Land for the third series of novels based there. We are re-introduced to Linden Avery years after she first encountered Thomas Covenant and was forever changed by the experience. We journey once more to the familiar fantasy world where everything is again under threat.
Linden Avery is now in charge of a clinic for the mentally ill and is responsible, among other things, for caring for Joan Covenant. Roger, son of Thomas and Joan, comes to visit for the first time in many years and seeks to take Joan out of care, claiming that he wants to assume responsibility for the task himself. Roger also demands from Linden his late father's white gold wedding ring, which she refuses to relinquish. Linden remains suspicious of his intentions, but she is not able to prevent his forceful removal of Joan at gunpoint, and his abduction of Linden's adopted son, Jeremiah. Casualties mount as Joan is taken and - whilst attempting to intervene - Linden, Joan, Roger, and Jeremiah are transported to the Land, where they must adjust to its new demands.
On return to the Land, she discovers that the people have no knowledge of the Earthpower she had so cherished before; this knowledge is denied them by the blight on the land known as Kevin's Dirt. This ancient lore is also kept from them by the Haruchai, who have now taken upon themselves total responsibility for the Land's defense, discouraging the learning of Law and any knowledge of Earthpower or the Land's history. They have become the "Masters” of the Land. Also, the Land has been beset by caesures (or "Falls") which are strange disruptions created from wild magic by Joan in her madness.
Linden takes under her protection an enigmatic character called Anele, who turns out to have been the son of two people that Linden had known centuries before, which appears logically impossible. He is full of Earthpower, as a result of a pregnant Hollian (from the second chronicles) being brought back to life by Earthpower. Linden also finds an ally in a Stonedownor, Liand, who quickly comes to trust Linden implicitly when she introduces him to his past and the Land, showing him an expression of Earthpower beyond all his previous experience. The Masters threaten Anele (and indirectly, Linden) as she seeks to find ways of locating and rescuing her son, a quest she keeps to herself. When a strange storm attacks Liand's village, Mithil Stonedown, he and Linden and Anele take the opportunity to escape the Masters.
Their escape is compromised when Stave, another Master, catches up with them. Initially they believe he has come to recapture them, but he actually brings timely warning of a huge pack of wolves (kresh) that is pursuing them. They are rescued by a company of Ramen, the traditional servants of the Ranyhyn horses, who seem to have made an odd alliance with the ur‑viles. They are then led to the Verge of Wandering - a valley the Ramen come to every couple of generations.
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