One River

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Richard Evans Schultes was arguably this century's foremost botanist and the father of ethnobotany--the study of plants and medicinal knowledge of indigenous peoples. He inadvertently inspired the 1960s drug culture with the publication of his scholarly journals on hallucinogenic plants. A meticulous scientist, his research on Columbia's rubber-producing hevea trees led to America's mass-production of rubber during World War II, which ultimately contributed to victory. Davis, one of Schultes's most devoted students, recounts the great botanist's life--from his research along hundreds of miles of forested rivers and his jungle treks while shattered by malaria to his intuitive gift with Amazon shamans and his relationship with such cult figures as Timothy Leary and William Burroughs.

Customer Reviews:

The amazing world of plants and the people who study them.......2007-08-21

Wade Davis is a lyrical writer and an accomplished scientist. This account of enthobotanists studying the amazing properties of plants and the way they are used by indigenous people is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. Into the already-dense tapestry of medicinal, psychotropic, and industrial uses of plants he weaves fascinating details about the lives of several other brilliant and eccentric botanists, the administrative debacle of the U.S. government's rubber policy during WWII, the extraordinary lifestyles, religion and mythology of the tribes he encounters, the history of the missionaries, the cultural and nutritional significance of coca and the saga of its commercial exploitation, and the brutal history of the Spanish conquest. Add to this the sheer logistical difficulties of working in the remote rain forest -- the washed out roads, unusual diseases and parasites, harrowing plane rides, etc. -- that he, and especially his predecessors endured, and the book reads like a nail-biter adventure story. Left me with an overwhelming sense of awe as well as regret for the wonders that exist and those that have been lost.

More jouney than you can imagine.......2007-04-02

I actually teared up at the end of this book, not something I expected from a book about ethnobotany. At the end of the reading I had learned about the lives of researchers in such exquisit detail that I lived along side of them. This book is nearly perfect, much better than even the rave recommendation from some very respected friends. It's possible that there will never be anyone who will have the knowledge from experience that Richard Shultes had aquired in South America and that alone makes this book very rich, yet added to his story are the experiences of Davis and Dr. Plowman two researchers that also immerse themselves deeply into the Andes, the llanos, and the Amazon to learn about the forests, the people and the use of medicinal and psychoactive plants.

This is a long book, nearly 500 pages and is a serious commitment but well worth it as you will not experience anything quite like it unless Davis's other book is better (I have not read it yet). I only have a few complaints about the book and those are regarding omissions in some available photographs that Davis mentions in the end and a lack of maps for much of the area covered in the book. There is one small map on page 125 that shows the route of travels but it is too small and difficult to use. I resorted to a copy of International Travel Maps - South America North West to see the detail that I needed as I followed the travels of Schutes, Davis and Plowman.

Davis is an excellent writer and he has a way of conveying a sensitivity to the lives of all that he encounters. That along with his insight into the cultures that he experiences and the knowledge and history that he brings into this makes it a unique, rich read.

One River by Wade Davis.......2005-09-27

It was in better condition than I expected (it was used). The cover isn't bent at all - it doesn't look like it's been read.

ADVENTUROUS PSYCHONAUTS BEWARE.......2004-09-06

Being interested in pharmacological psychedelics and their effects, I was most disappointed by this mundane travelogue. I struggled immeasurably to get through this tome. I kept aiming it at the trash can, but kept telling myself it was going to get better. It didn't and it ultimately ended up there. I expected an adventure novel into alternate dimensions or Davis' personal journey into mind altering hyper-dimensions. It was not to be. I understand the importance of Schultes work. All psychonauts owe this man a debt of gratitude. But this book is a tedious retracing of every footstep this man made in his discoveries, along with Wade Davis' personal journey and dealings with Schultes. Very dry reading in my opinion. SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW is a better book. Readers should be warned this is NOT a psychedelic adventure story, but a tiresome travelogue of plant classification. Important, I suppose, if that's what you're looking for. I prefer Schultes' own book PLANTS OF THE GODS. It's wonderfully illustrated and an easier read. Or if you're looking for a true psychonaut's adventures in South America, I'd suggest reading anything by Terence McKenna. He was one strange and brilliant fellow. Or THE COSMIC SERPENT by Jeremy Narby. Frankly, I'm surprised by the glowing reviews for this book. I found it to be quite boring.

Speaking of Wade Davis, there was a rumor some years ago that he was living amongst the Rastafarians in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica and planned to write a book about it. Now, that would be fascinating.

Even Deeper in the Wonder.......2004-04-15

This will be a very short review on a book that has long been with me. While working on a reproductive biology macaw research project climbing into the canopy of the Amazon each day for 3 months i found ONE RIVER one night piled amongst the research literature. Even though i had the Amazon literally ground into my bones after so many days of hard labor i could not put this book down each night reading by candle. Could one gourge on steak then still enjoy reading about cattle? This is simply a fascinating, and most well written book on arguably the most complex wonderful ecosystem as experienced by a most hard working curiously gifted individual. Do your soul a favor and read this book 5 times!!!

Average customer rating:

Amazing amount of info and inspiration & [good] price!
Great details

One Small Square: Woods
Donald M. Silver , and Patricia Wynne
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0070579334

Book Description

The woods are full of puzzles to be solved, clues to be found. Inspired by this book's hints and fun-filled experiments and activities, and using only simple equipment, young readers unlock the closely guarded secrets of the woodsfrom the strange meetings of lazy butterflies, to the miraculous "walking" of a twig, to the riddle of why the leaves turn color and fall. One small square at a time, these "detectives" plunge deeper and deeper into ancient mysterieswithout ever getting lost. Beautifully illustrated, Woods offers a picture field guide, a glossary-index, and a resource list.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing amount of info and inspiration & [good] price!.......2002-10-27

What a gem! I was surprised when I discovered this book. The gist of the book is for the child (or adult) to mark off a square space in the woods and begin exploring and learning. This book is a real integration of activities, suggested observations, and fact. The learner is to explore, dig, look, observe and investigate every inch of this square area. While suggesting the learner look for this or that, the author provides factual information about various findings. The book goes into a lot of detail and there are many things that the author thinks may be found. I bet that the learner won't find everything that is mentioned but that is OK, at least the reader can experience it in reading about it in the book if it is missed "in real life".

The book starts off in autumn, assuming the learner begins in the fall and in an area of deciduous trees. A small sampling of what is addressed in this book is why trees lose their leaves, how trees store energy and make energy, examples of camouflage with animals, migration of birds and butterflies, insects, spiders and their webs, lizards and mammals big and small. As the book progresses winter then spring then summer is discussed.

The illustrations are drawn and in color (just like the cover), these are not photographs. There are loads of details in the drawings. At the back is an illustrated guide to creatures grouped by their classification (leaves, mammals, fungi) and an index.

The learner is encouraged to do creative projects such as leaf and trunk rubbings. Also keeping a nature journal or notebook to record the findings is recommended.

I am surprised that so much information and creative ideas packed into this small and very inexpensive book. This is one in a series of "one small square" books and I plan to buy more to use in our homeschooling adventure. Now this is science!

Great details.......2000-03-30

This book provides a small instant field trip to those students who might not have access to woods. It gives incredible details of what goes on in one small square of woods. For those who have access to wooded areas for exploration...safety tips are included as well as supplies needed for collecting data while exploring. I teach second grade and use all of the Small Square books in my teaching.

One Tree Hill: Meet The Stars Of One Tree Hill: Meet The Stars Of One Tree Hill

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One Tree Hill Is A Fabulous Show

One Tree Hill: Meet The Stars Of One Tree Hill: Meet The Stars Of One Tree Hill
Monica Rizzo
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0439730368

Book Description

Think you know everything about the hot new stars from One Tree Hill? Think again! Lucas, Nathan, Peyton, Brooke, and Haley sizzle on the small screen every week. But what about the actors' real lives? This is your exclusive official guide to the stars behind the WB's hit drama -- on and off the set. Be the first to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, and the rest of the One Tree Hill gang. Packed with pix and juicy info, this book is a slam dunk!

Customer Reviews:

One Tree Hill Is A Fabulous Show.......2007-03-25

This book gives the reader a inside look into the interdynamics of the show. And how the actors on the show come up with the depth of their characters.

One Tree Hill: Novelizations #2: A Heart So True (One Tree Hill)

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A Book So True
Not What I Expected.
Amazing
i LOVE this book!
LOVE IT!

One Tree Hill: Novelizations #2: A Heart So True (One Tree Hill)
Anna Lotto
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 043971561X

Book Description

Everyone at Tree Hill High knows that Brooke Davis is popular, pretty, and can have any boy she wants. What they don't know is that sometimes she is insecure and lonely, and the only boy she really wants is the one who broke her heart: Lucas Scott.

Learn what this year is like for Brooke when the parties end. Follow her as she struggles with the breakdown of her parents’ marriage, petty jealousies that threaten to tear her and best friend Peyton apart, heartache as she gets closer to Lucas and stops denying her real feelings, and triumph when she surprises everyone, including herself, with a bid for the class presidency.
See the whole OTH gang — Haley, Nathan, Peyton, Mouth, Tim, and the new kids on the block, Felix and Anna — but see them through Brooke’s eyes: sometimes funny and sometimes sad, but above all, always true.

Customer Reviews:

A Book So True.......2007-03-08

I am not the typical person who watches ONE TREE HILL and definately not the type of guy who would pick up a book based on the series. After all, I'm straight. And a guy.

But last year I was on a trip and found this book in my hotel room. Having run out of everything else I gave it a try--and was quite surprised.

Anna Lotto has taken teenage "types" and turned them into people. People with real problems, with real dreams and real love to give. As we read about the new kid who comes to school and steals her heart by playfully teasing her, I couldn't help but think back to my own days in High School and how much things have changed, and at the same time how little.

Ms. Lotto knows how to keep the melodrama to the minimum and keeps offering the reader little presents with each turn of the page.

A real treat.

Not What I Expected........2007-01-11

When I got this book I was excited to read it because I thought I was going to get a good book with Brooke's POV on the events of Season 2 and extra things about her. After reading it I was very disappointed because they just changed not only the events but the characters weren't even the same as they are on the show. It's like the author re-wrote the whole season and characters. First off the book was very anti-Haley. All you read about her was her secretly meeting and flirting with Chris, going behind Nathan's back and she never made it to formal because she was with Chris, and Brooke basically insulted her through the whole book and thought she was annoying. When in the show they were somewhat friends. Not only that but when she left to go on the tour she left a letter to Nathan that made it sound like she left to run off with Chris. Then the whole Felix thing. They painted him to be a saint. It was like I was being introduced to a whole other character, instead of the one we met on the show. Then there were certain events that were just completely changed. The only fun part to read was the end when Brooke and Lucas got together, it was the author's own way of getting them together unlike waiting like the show did. It was just disappointing to me. If you're going to write using events that happened on the show stay true to how they happened. Because if your going to completely change the history of a season you should have just come up with your own fictional events or make it better, not destroy it. Because all through the book all I thought was "That's not how it happened.", "Brooke and Haley were good friends on the show and now Brooke hated her all along?", "Haley never did that.", "That's not the way Felix was.", it was just annoying. I spent more time complaing than enjoying the book. It's a good item to have if you are a hardcore One Tree Hill fan and collect all things OTH like I do, but if you aren't I wouldn't bother.

Amazing.......2006-07-04

I am a huge fan of One Tree Hill and watch it every week. This book is by far the best One Tree Hill book. It shows all of Brooke's feeling and emotions and they writing is really great. I am a huge fan of the Brooke/Lucas relationship and of Brooke. Now if you like the Lucas/Peyton relationship or just don't like Brooke then this probably isn't the book for you. The book is mostly based around Brooke recovering from the heartache that the whole Brooke/Lucas/Peyton love triangle caused her. It most shows Brooke's relationship with Lucas,Peyton, and her parents...which is a good thing that we get to read something about her parents cause they aren't involved in the show that much. Overall this is a great book and once you pick it up you won't be able to put it down.

i LOVE this book!.......2006-05-13

This book was great! I loved how they show Brookes thoughts and feelings.It has great detail. I could read this book agian and agian!

LOVE IT!.......2006-05-13

This book was great! I loved how they show Brookes thoughts and feelings.It has great detail. I could read this book agian and agian!

Average customer rating:

Both interesting and informative

Cactus Desert (One Small Square)
Donald M. Silver , and Patricia Wynne
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0070579342

Book Description

It’s a sun-scorched world where clouds rarely come and nothing seems to move. That is, until children ages 6 - 9 up look a little closer to find tortoises, toads, and lizards, not to mention the scary rattlesnake and scorpion. Here, plants send their roots deep into the earth to find water, beetles stand on their head and shoot a stinky spray to fight off enemies, and roadrunners whiz by sleepy turtles and nervous desert mice on their way to ... where? Kids need only light clothes and a few simple pieces of equipment to explore the enchantments of cactus country.

Customer Reviews:

Both interesting and informative.......1999-04-10

I reviewed this book for The Home School Manual =============================

One Small Square One Small Square, Cactus Desert "Whew! It's hot: 115°F (46°C), and the temperature is still climbing. . . . Welcome to cactus country. Home of rattlesnakes and roadrunners, yuccas and chuckwallas. . . . In this desert you will discover animals that never take a drink of water and plants that double as 'apartment houses.' . . ." On turning the page we are told that exploring offers many surprises, but to be prepared in case one of the surprises happens to be a scorpion or another dangerous creature.

The words, "small square," emphasize the idea that careful observation, even in a small space, yields a wealth of interesting information. And the book itself is square (9" X 9"). You are shown life under the ground as well as above it. Notes in the illustrations point out interesting facts, and each chapter of two or more pages deals with a general topic like protection from the heat, dangers in the night, or how certain plants and animals take quick advantage of a rare rainfall. One chapter near the end explains that some deserts (including Antarctica) are cold. Names are given for all the plants and creatures shown. Studying this book is, in some ways, even better than visiting the desert itself. The book offers good science and would even make a great gift.

Customer Reviews:

one tree hill great .......2006-08-07

Well this is a perfect addtion to anyone who loves OTH. I just got my copy of this calendar and ths pics are great highly recomend to any OTH fan.

One Tree Hunks: The Unauthorized Biographies of Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty

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Wonderful!!!
One Tree Hunks

One Tree Hunks: The Unauthorized Biographies of Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty
Christine Roberts
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345479521
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!!!.......2005-07-14

This book is sooo cool!! It tell all the facts on THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE (Chad Michael Murray)!! Even I know everything Chad Michael Murray its fun to read about him!!!

One Tree Hunks .......2004-10-20

Ok, I absolutly LOVE Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty and follow them closly. When I heard of this book I was SO excited to read it and learn more about the two of them. But dissapointly I haven't learned much about either of them. I have learned a little but not enough for my expectation of the book.
But if you do love CMM and James Lafferty I would still recommend it, just don't expect much.

Average customer rating:

Tepui's Challenge
Great information Source
The gripping story of a remarkable environment
We Gave Up on This One!
Much good information

One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest
Jean Craighead George
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064420167

Book Description

Today is doomsday for a young Venezuelan Indian boy's beloved rain forest and its animal life—unless he and a visiting naturalist can save it. "George makes drama large and small out of the minute-by-minute events in an ecosystem . . . gripping ecological theater." —C. "An example of nonfiction writing at its best." —SLJ.

Notable 1990 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1990 (NSTA/CBC)

Customer Reviews:

Tepui's Challenge.......2003-06-18

ONE DAY IN THE TROPICAL RAINFOREST
AUTHOR-JEAN CRAIGHEAD GEORGE
GENRE-ADVENTURE/REALISTIC FICTION
PAGES-66

SETTING-TROPICAL RAINFOREST OF THE MACAW
CHARACTERS-TEPUI, DR.RIVERO , A ORNITHOLOGIST, HERPETOLOGIST, MAMMALOLOGIST , AND A BOTONIST.

THIS IS A MUST READ BOOK IF YOU LIKE ADVENTURE OR THE RAINFOREST! IT'S ABOUT A BOY NAMED TEPUI AND A SCIENTIST NAMED DR. RIVERO. THEY HAVE AN URGENT PROBLEM, THERE ARE 11 BULLDOSERS AND FOUR TRUCKS CARRYING 20 CHAINSAWERS THAT WANT TO CUT DOWN THE RAINFOREST FOR FARMLAND. TEPUI AND DR. RIVERO MUST FIND A NEW BUTTERFLY TO SAVE THE RAINFOREST, BUT THEY ONLY HAVE LESS THAN A DAY BEFORE THE DESTRUCTION BEGINS. CAN THEY DO IT?

The author writes very suspenseful, and teaches us valuable lessons throughout the story. We are constantly learning more about the BALANCE of the Rain Forest and the miraculous events going on simultaneously around the main characters. I can't wait to read other books by this author. You can tell she does a great deal of research about her topics and enjoys the outdoors.

Great information Source.......2001-08-01

This book was a great information source. You can tell that the author did a lot of research for this book. It records a young boys journey through the rain forest in search of the butterfly that will save the rain forest from the bulldozers. During his journey he encounters many animals. The author gave very useful and vivid detail. However there were some points where the book was kinda hard to understand. I can also understand why some people might think this book was dull. It is just a nature book without much excitment. I recommend this book to anyone who loves nature or is doing research on the rain forest!

The gripping story of a remarkable environment.......2001-04-22

Here is another superb entry in beloved nature writer Jean Craighead George's informative and thrilling ONE DAY. . . series. The award-winning author of JULIE OF THE WOLVES, MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, and more than eighty other wildlife books for young readers does a great job of bringing to life the magical setting of the tropical rain forest. Tepui, a young boy who lives in Venezuela's Tropical Rain Forest of the Macaw, befriends some biologists who are studying the rain forest. To his and the scientists' dismay, the rain forest is scheduled to be chopped down and destroyed one afternoon. The only way to save it is to find a special butterfly that has never before been identified and present it to a wealthy businessman who wants to name the butterfly after his daughter. So Tepui and his friend Dr. Rivero--a lepidoptorist--set out to find the elusive insect. But the human characters are only a small part of the story. The rain forest is alive with thousands of species of creatures--amusing ones like a leisurely sloth, and creepy ones like flesh-eating ants. There are birds of all the colors of the rainbow, mammals like jaguars and tapirs, magnificent tree giants, and, of course, millions of insects. This is a fascinating glimpse, written in a fast-paced minute-by-minute style, into an environment so complex and diverse that there are many creatures who don't even have names, and have never seen humans. It is also an important story that all young people should pay attention to to better understand their natural world and help to preserve its unique magnificent ecosystems. Other titles in the series are: ONE DAY IN THE. . .ALPINE TUNDRA, PRAIRIE, DESERT, and WOODS. Any ecologist will also want to check out Jean Craighead George's Eco-Mysteries series: WHO REALLY KILLED COCK ROBIN?, THE CASE OF THE MISSING CUTTHROATS, THE MISSING 'GATOR OF GUMBO LIMBO, and THE FIRE BUG CONNECTION. These include information on chemicals, the ozone layer, human development, and how these things threaten our wild places and creatures.

We Gave Up on This One!.......2000-06-19

This book was a reading assignment for my 9 year old son. He could not read many of the words, he found it very dull. I can't imagine that the average 9 year old can read this book without alot of help. Maybe we gave up too soon, but it was dull!

Much good information.......2000-05-30

An unnamed butterfly must be found today in order to save this chunk of the rainforest. Loggers are already on the way to cut it all down. The premise is exciting, but the execution of the story, particularly in the beginning, is often less than pulse-stirring, weighted down by a thousand facts about rainforests. These facts are, however, by far the most interesting part of the book, and there's even an index. Once I was into the book, I enjoyed it very much. So far I have not been able to get my son to do more than open it, and I think the slow start may be the problem. This would be an exvellent book to have in a classroom during a unit on rainforests.

One Small Place in a Tree (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 (Awards))

Average customer rating:

great science lesson

One Small Place in a Tree (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 (Awards))
Barbara Brenner
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 068817180X
Release Date: 2004-03-16

Book Description

Deep in the forest . . .

A bear sharpens her claws on a tree trunk. The scratched bark chips; a tiny hole forms. Timber beetles tunnel inside. The hole grows bigger and bigger.

In lyrical prose, Barbara Brenner reveals the fascinating happenings in one small place. She explains how, over many years, the rough hole transforms into a cozy hollow -- home to salamanders, tree frogs, a family of white-footed mice. Tom Leonard's absorbing illustrations take you beneath the bark to a hidden world. His warm, lifelike depictions of squirrels and bluebirds, snakes and spiders show the splendor that dwells in the most unexpected places.

So stop. Observe. Explore your natural world. If you look closely enough, you will surely find . . . one small place that is home for something.

Customer Reviews:

great science lesson.......2005-04-01

One small place by in a Tree takes the reader on an imaginary journey to a forest where a brown bear is clawing a tree trunk. A hole is made from the claw marks. Then timber beetles eat away at the wood inside. The hole grows bigger and bigger. It starts to die inside because bacteria has set in. The tree then becomes home to many woodland animals.

The book was very informative. I learned a lot about forests and ecology while reading this book.

I would recommend it to all parents who wish to give their child an appreciation of nature, and to every teacher as a curriculum-enrichment aid.

Average customer rating:

Possibly Best Book in the Series
Donaldson slipped just a BIT...
The story continues
Donaldson Stands Alone
ONE OF THE BEST OF THE SERIES

The One Tree
Stephen R. Donaldson
Manufacturer: Random House Value Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0517660881
Release Date: 1987-12-02

Book Description

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....

Customer Reviews:

Possibly Best Book in the Series.......2007-07-21

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.

Donaldson slipped just a BIT..........2006-07-29

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.

The story continues.......2005-05-24

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.

Donaldson Stands Alone.......2005-04-28

And the epic continues. SRD is one of my all-time favorite fantasy writers. It's been awhile since I picked up the First and Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. But these books are so rich in symbolism and meaning. Some people are turned off by the main protagonist dreery and often pessimistic viewpoints. And these books are quite anti-typical and anti-archtypical fantasy, in similar likeness of Martin and Erikson. But Donaldson speaks with a rich prose that ignites off the pages in a similar fashion -yet completely different than that to- of Lovecraft. The Land is a wealth of wonder and awe wreathed in mysticism, myth, and held in otherworldly Laws.Now Donaldson is not for everyone, optimism is not always a focus but seeking solutions, accountability, love, and drama are deeply examined. Never expelled. And some readers are turned off and despise the leper Thomas Covenant because of his actions whom mysteriously arrives at a alternate reality aptly called simply The Land, whether real, imagined, hallucinated, or dreamt is a question that may or may not be answered. His science fiction The Gap series should not be dismissed by serious readers but is even more brutal than TCoTC in regards to portraying the baser nature of human beings in a most graphic sense. It's about the human condition. Except for a couple of events, TCoCT is more filtered in fantasy entrappings but no less diminishing on it's impact on readers. Truly emotionally moving in a high order. Great sci-fi reading, but might be a bit too harsh for new readers introducing themselves to this remarkable writer. These are the books that I read with the same amount of zeal, color, and drama as watching the Original Trilogy of Star Wars as a youngster only deeper. A complex Star Wars series in fantasy trappings. Be warned, this series is not for everyone as I said before. IMO, kicks the tail off Tolkien in-spite the latter's great literary merit and love how it takes many of the master's long established and overused archtypes and sacred literary laws and dumps them on their head, such as one Thomas Covenant that is relunctant, griping, cowardly even, indecisive, discompassionate, selfish, and capable of even heinous crime. And for those that thought they'd been dragged through a wilderness of morass self-pity, remember... Star Wars. IMO, one of the greatest fantasy series ever written and would love to debate or discuss it with anyone. It is a realm where one's choice are held balanced in scales, bearing gravity on one's own or other's futures. Even possibly whole civilizations. A stunning and thoroughly thought provoking and stimulating masterpiece.Love it or hate it, SRD's works have left their mark.There are so many awesome moments in both trilogies. TCoTC is quite biblical in that sense but not expounding age old religious stories and principals and spiritualities of course.These books discombobulates the mind, with the wide range of fluent implications and messages. Allusions are confounding and staggering.Probably my favorite moment, of countless, countless favorite moments is Blood of the Earth piece in The Illearth War:TCoTC Book 2.And..."Covenant! Beloved! Strike a blow for me!" rings in my ears forever.

ONE OF THE BEST OF THE SERIES.......2005-01-19

THE ONE TREE is in many ways Donaldson's most richly complex book from a psychological standpoint, up to this point in the series. THE WOUNDED LAND dealt primarily with the visceral shock Covenant experiences upon returning to said land and the physical reactions of Linden Avery. We met some new characters and marveled at the changes in the land. And that was enough.

In THE ONE TREE, the relationship between Covenant & Avery grows ever more complex at every turn. They push & pull at each other, struggling with urgent need and vastly divergent understandings of where their quest should take them. We also get to revisit the wonderful giants, briefly reintroduced at the end of THE WOUNDED LAND. In the previous trilogy, we had come to know and love Saltheart Foamfollower, probably the single greatest character ever created for a "quest" fantasy story. While the giants in THE ONE TREE are wonderfully rich and alive, they don't quite reach Foamfollower's status in our hearts. BUT, we get to understand their race more clearly and experience their unbelievable strength and character.

I don't want to rehash the plot...it's been done well enough previously. Some reviewers have complained that the book is too episodic, or that some of the events that take place are just there to fill out the book to proper length. To my mind, the hardships the characters endure serve to illustrate their strength of character and the parts of their psyches that are conflicted or downright torn. I love that. Also, some mention that Covenant isn't the focus of the book as much as Linden Avery...that's okay with me. Covenant, in many ways, is less interesting than most of the other characters. He has my sympathy and support, but he's not the REASON I love these books.

Donaldson makes some remarkable leaps of imagination, and the Bloodguard are very richly portrayed. As readers of past Covenant books know, Donaldson is often very ambiguous about good vs. evil. Yes, Lord Foul is the bad guy, no question about that. But it's the bad impulses in otherwise "heroic" characters that make the books so complex. If you like that element of these books, then you'll love THE ONE TREE. It's full of conflict within the "good" guys.

Many middle books in trilogies have the problem of dangling a little at both ends. They're picking up from a thread of the first book and leaving one behind for the final book. THE ONE TREE has some of that, but the intensity of the final scenes and the resolution of some of the characters is richly satisfying, so rather than feeling let down at the end, you just want to immediately grab the next book. And thank goodness you can...unlike Donaldson's current Covenant books, which are planned to have three year gaps in between.

So, if you've like the Covenant books up until now, you'll love THE ONE TREE. It's more action-packed than THE WOUNDED LAND and more rewarding. If you haven't enjoyed the books (but for some strange reason have read up to this point), your mind won't be changed. And obviously, if you haven't read them but would like to, you MUST go back to the beginning. Do not hope to start reading at this point and just "pick it up as you go along." You'll completely miss 95% of what's going on.

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