Product Description
A new-cover reissue of the second book in the bestselling five-volume sf series created by the world-famous author of the Thomas Covenant chronicles -- and acclaimed as the 'best work of his career'.In The Real Story, Morn Hyland had survived a terrible ordeal at the hands of one space pirate, only to find herself trapped in the ship of another, surrounded by hostile, unfriendly faces.Nick Succorso had rescued her, but for what purpose? He and his crew were all illegals, and she was a cop -- a cop with gap-sickness. Just having her on board would put all their lives at risk. But Nick knew that Morn possessed something that could be of value to them all -- and he had every intention of exploiting it.As she struggled to recover from her shattering experiences, Morn would hear increasingly shocking tales of corruption in the UMCP, and even more alarming rumours of a shadowy alien life force -- the Amnion -- with their all-consuming mutagens. All too soon, on the long and hazardous voyage to forbidden space, the bizarre stories would become horrifying reality... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wild Magic against Lord Foul: Final Battle.
The first trilogy of "Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever" was Donaldson's initial opus and launched him to immediate consideration of public & critics.

One great thing about this trilogy is that it was conceived as a whole and complete work. The other Covenant's trilogies were product of editors, market and public pressure exerted on Donaldson to continue writing adventure using this great scenery.
What do I mean with this comment? Well...that reader won't be disappointed with an open end as some time occurs with sagas &series.

Donaldson's proposals are quite risky.
First: the main character is a sick man unable to compromise with the fantastic universe that deploys before him. The reader will certainly not identify with Covenant's sour & bitter personality.
Nevertheless a powerful story is constructed over this implausible pillar!
Second: he chooses a baroque language, full of exotic English words & new words from The Land. However, it seems to me that this entire word firework adds instead of detract.

"The Power That Preserves" is the third and closing volume of the trilogy and I strongly recommend reading the first two volumes before start reading this one. It is true that the author provides a two page summary of what happened before, nevertheless The Land scenery & characters is too complex to be understood with that intro only, and the reader risk to get confused and even bored.

The tale is as follows: after a second return to our own world, Thomas is recalled to the Land. Yet this time he is able to refuse returning. When he effectively and almost voluntarily returns there is a subtle difference: Covenant is in his own skewed way compromised with the Land.

This time a malignant unnatural Winter froze the Land and the soul of its inhabitants. Lord's Keep is under siege. The Giants are annihilated. The Rhiannon are decimated and the Ramen are frenzied. Stonedownors are dispersed and thrown into wilderness. Bloodguard disbanded. Ur-viles, ghouls and wicked Foul's armies are free and destroying everything.

From this starting point two main & parallel stories evolve.
One line follows the defense of Lord's Keep.
The other line follows Covenant and his small band attempting the impossible: reach Foul's Crèche and confront the Evil one in person.

In this third volume of the saga each character will be confronted with its own past acts and their consequences. Each of them should pay the highest price and will reach a point of supreme decision.

IMHO this volume is the best in the trilogy. There are not only adventures tales in this book, there are ethical & philosophical issues to be solved by characters and readers!

It is great book that may be enjoyed by fantasy fans and general public as well! But remember read Book One and Two first!

Reviewed by Max Yofre.
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