A prolific author of fantasy, science fiction, and mystery, Stephen R. Donaldson (1947- –) is best known for his three separate

Chronicles of Thomas Covenant

and his

Gap

sequence, a highly original blend of space opera and cyberpunk. At heart a humanist, Donaldson’s major themes include freedom, power, existential responsibility, and “Christian archetypes” such as guilt, sin, and redemption.

Early Life and Education

Early Life and Education

The parents of Stephen R. Donaldson were Presbyterian missionaries and preachers—a branch of fundamentalist Christianity that, as an offshoot of Calvinism, believed in predestination and biblical literalism. When Donaldson was three years old, his family moved to India. His father, James R. Donaldson, became Chief of Orthopedics at a mission

2715 words

Citation: Wise, Dennis Wilson. "Stephen R. Donaldson". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 October 2018 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=14121, accessed 31 October 2024.]

14121 Stephen R. Donaldson 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

Save this article

Leave Feedback

The Literary Encyclopedia is a living community of scholars. We welcome comments which will help us improve.