Terry Goodkind - General comments

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Submitted by Eagle Eye 
(Jan 03, 2008)

When I read Wizards first Rule way back in 1999 I thought WOW!! what a brilliant book. But as this series has gone on especially from faith of the fallen I cant help but think what a hypocritical so and so Goodkind is. He talks about nobility of the human spirit and so on but all he has done since book 5 is rip of his loyal fans by giving them lectures on sociology as well as lining his pockets with loads of cash, this series should have ended on book 6 but goodkind has dragged it on and on just to cash in on what began as a truly brilliant series of books the characters have become one dimensional and boring, not to mention the corny dialogue (especially nicci when she goes on richards side). Richard has become such a tyrant, because everybody else is wrong and he alone knows the truth (rather like GW Bush). This series could have gone down in history as a masterpiece but it will now go down as a huge disappointment to many of the fans, Goodkind should have stuck to storytelling like in the first five books instead of bombarding his readership with his personal beliefs of how people should lead their lives! Goodkind you did it all for the MONEY!!!

I've been reading his books since they came out and I love them. The story is solid and the charcters are interesting, unlike some other fantasy novels. He doesn't bore you with lengthy explanations, but he definetly isn't skimpy on detail either. I love the way you will be in the middle of a tense part in the novel when suddenly a character says something, or thinks of something funny, I love it. I definetly suggest reading this series, it's by far the most interesting fantasy series I have ever read.

The Sword of Truth series is by far the best I have ever read. It is original in that there is no long build-up toward some final "SAVE THE WORLD, YAY" thing, but rather they save the world every book. Terry Goodkind's writing style is more mature than your typical fantasy books, I would probably not recommend it for anyone under the age of 13, but this adds a more realistic element to the books.

Ok. 1.Wizards First Rule, not bad, little bits ripped off from here and there ( LOTR, WoT, Star Wars!) but passable. Richard saves Kahlan 2.Stone of Tears - now the rip off begin to seriously hamper likability eg: Sisters of the Light/Dark (WoT's Aes Sedai). You've got to be kidding me. Richards the Caharin to a warrior people (Rand Car'a'carn of Aiel). Was it really necessary to bring Darken Rahl back just to kill him again so quickly? With a stone? This seperates the first two books from the rest of the series. 3.Blood of the Fold. Eh Whitecloaks. And again something that could have been interestingly developed utterly destroyed. Richard saves Kahlan 4. Temple of the Winds - What the hell happened. Someone went into a temple released a plague. Richard goes in and stops it. ???. Here's another good plot, someone goes into a temple and everyone in the world falls down dead. Why not, same principle, much more effective. An awful plot that we're just supposed to accept, just cos, ye know. Kahlan saves Richard 5. Soul of the Fire - Another completely unfathomable scourge released, this time against magic. Most of the book's about chaps we've never seen before and will never see again cos they all die. Whats the point? Not a bad read but don't call it part of a series. Again Richard saves the day by doing something particularly mysterious. Just accept that he does it seems to be the message. Richard saves Kahlan. 6. Series really began to get on my nerves here. Richard was always a bit of a ponce but in this book he exceeds himself. I wish Righteous Richard was living in our world so we could send him, a man alone into N. Korea or Burma so he could fix everything. G.W. Bush would absolutely love this guy. Plus it must be really difficult for Richard being right all the time and the only one who really understands freedom ' "no" Richard answered with a twinkle of amusement in his eye to the slack-jawed zealots before him " freedom is not about anything you people think it is, not killing, rape, sloth, apathy or cannibalism. That's silly. Come on now. ". /Idiots: " Will you show us the way Lord Rahl" /Richard: (Pats old man on head) " of course i will, you just have to join up with my Empire D'Hara. " /Man standing at back, not part of the reverie " so you're asking us to hand over our sovereignty to you, your son, your son's son etc. Well we know of six Rahls, 4 were evil, one a loony old prophet and one you. No can't find one problem with handing the lives of my children in the care of the distinguished Rahl clan".' You see where i'm going with this. Book 7. Rubbish. Book 8. The Worst of the lot. People were pacifists for centuries. Rand turns them into killers in a matter of minutes. Then cuts down those who refuse to take up arms. Very admirable.
Overall series is bad, got that, bad. Fun game: Where is Shota, Chandaelen, Jebra, Du Chailliu, Chase (just returned) and all other characters introduced then discarded. Rant over.