What's so bad about Terry Goodkind?

[McGooberpoot]

When I was younger, I was really into Terry Goodkind's books.

However, I actually failed to finish reading the series. I felt like his work was getting violent for the sake of showing gratuitous violence, and it started to repeat itself in terms of structure and theme. Characters became hollow excuses for Goodkind to expound upon his personal philosophy, instead of living people that I cared about.

He spent less time working on good prose and immersing us in a world, than just exposing us to a series of increasingly hateful villains, hollow heroes, and claiming that this paper, black and white world was an accurate allegory for our own.

Reading his books became unpleasant, so I stopped. I have nothing against him personally, but his writing leaves me cold, for some reason.

[Edited for grammar]

[HeclaBull]

Wasn't there a rumor circulating some time ago that he just outlines/dictates into a tape recorder and then has some poor interns fill in the actual writing? I seem to remember hearing something like that. I'm somewhat dubious but it would be hilarious if true.

James Patterson is the master of this technique.

[Spears&Buckler]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mshnd06
Wasn't there a rumor circulating some time ago that he just outlines/dictates into a tape recorder and then has some poor interns fill in the actual writing? I seem to remember hearing something like that. I'm somewhat dubious but it would be hilarious if true.

James Patterson is the master of this technique.

Sorry to go off-topic, but I am actually quite shocked to hear that this happens. Is this a fairly common practice? Man I hope not because if I find out any writers I am fond of do this I'll be severely disappointed.

[imaster]

All the detractors here - have any of you written even one paragraph that's sold anywhere near what Goodkind has?
His success is obvious. All your whining about his writing is not going to change that fact.

Well then! How about we shut down this forum because if we are not allowed to discuss or dislike authors who have sold more books/texts than we have, I´m not really sure a forum is at all necessary. And that also means that I´m not allowed to discuss my dislike for Stephanie Meyer or the myriad of really not that great Swedish crime novelists! Wow, my life really turned around today...

A little elaboration on what you were thinking when you wrote this would be much appreciated.

[assasin]

You know, I always shake my head in disgust at all the people who rag on and on and on and on about an author who is obviously a very successful one.
Hey, if you don't like his books, then don't read them

If you don't like to read this stuff than don't read the thread. the threads title is whats so bad about goodkind. we're explaining why its bad.

also some people enjoy ragging on and on and on. better than being bored. if you don't like it don't read it.

How do you come to the opinion that he's such a bad author if you haven't read his books

?

I've read up to faith. I'm not going to bother giving a review. so just read this. it'll give you all the info you need to know.

http://eragon-sporkings.wikispaces.c...f+Truth+Sporks

[DennisC]

I read one of Terry's books and it wasn't bad. It wasn't riveting, mind you, but it certainly wasn't bad.

[DennisC]

also some people enjoy ragging on and on and on. better than being bored. if you don't like it don't read it.

I wonder why some are like that. I went on a tirade about Tolkien recently. I think it may be that people grab a book without knowing if they are really going to like it or not and then they are mad about the time wasted reading it.

I personally like trying new authors and probably 50% of my reading is on authors I have not read before.

[Jo Smith]

I hate his superficial black and white philosophy. He is an ideological fanatic, and fanatics don't write good fantasy. They lack the empathy and creativity. Their protagonists are artificial cardboard characters that I can't identify with and don't care about.

[DennisC]

I hate his superficial black and white philosophy. He is an ideological fanatic, and fanatics don't write good fantasy. They lack the empathy and creativity. Their protagonists are artificial cardboard characters that I can't identify with and don't care about.

I read Pillars of Creation - another instance of me starting a series in the middle. I haven't read any of the others.

It was not a BAD read. The writing style was agreeable and early on I felt empathy for Jennsen. But the whole King's torturers in red leather thing threw me off.

However I can see your point about his clear cut lines between good and evil. But he seems to pull it off decently. As I said elsewhere I think he gets a C+ but thats it.

[DailyRich]

"Oh yeah? Well have best-selling book have you written?" is one the worst defenses you can mount. As if we don't have the right to find something lacking if we haven't produced something just as successful. Congratulations, you've just eliminated all critical thought about everything. "This steak is terrible." "Oh yeah? Where's your restaurant?" "Ugh, that guy can't hit." "Oh yeah? What major league team did you play for?" It's ridiculous. Counter the arguments instead of just tossing out sales numbers to dismiss them.

[Eliot Wild]

"Oh yeah? Well have best-selling book have you written?" is one the worst defenses you can mount. As if we don't have the right to find something lacking if we haven't produced something just as successful. Congratulations, you've just eliminated all critical thought about everything. "This steak is terrible." "Oh yeah? Where's your restaurant?" "Ugh, that guy can't hit." "Oh yeah? What major league team did you play for?" It's ridiculous. Counter the arguments instead of just tossing out sales numbers to dismiss them.

Hear!! Hear!! Excellent post. I for one thought the whole point of forums like this was for fans of fantasy literature to discuss their likes and dislikes. Personally, I don't know anything about Goodkind's political views or his ideological ramblings. He lost me only a few chapters into his first book when he attempted a hopelessly juvenile joke about disappearing penises.

I just honestly think his writing is bad, his characters are shallow, his plots are thin and his attempts at humor are painfully, embarrassingly feeble. But since I haven't written a best seller yet, I've kept all that to myself.

Just kidding. Actually, I've told anyone who's asked that very thing.

As a matter of fact, I would have loved to have made it to the parts in Goodkind's book where he started ranting like a furiously mad adult about politics. What I read (and I gave up about midway through book one) from him seemed to be targeted at readers twelve and under.

I don't expect others to necessarily agree with me. This is just the personal opinion of one fan of fantasy literature.

[DennisC]

"Oh yeah? Well have best-selling book have you written?" is one the worst defenses you can mount. As if we don't have the right to find something lacking if we haven't produced something just as successful. Congratulations, you've just eliminated all critical thought about everything. "This steak is terrible." "Oh yeah? Where's your restaurant?" "Ugh, that guy can't hit." "Oh yeah? What major league team did you play for?" It's ridiculous. Counter the arguments instead of just tossing out sales numbers to dismiss them.

Well said, Sir.

I don´t know who you were arguing with, but when someones retorts with that comment, I agree, its ad hominem and pointless.

"Your backhand needs work."
"Well, what have you done with yours?"

The argument just doesn't work.

And high sales doesn't mean the book will appeal to everyone. Just that it has appealed to quite a few.

By that measurement, much pornography is top notch.