Terry Goodkind - Sword of Truth

[Ramoth's Rider]

What do you all think of this series? I know a lot of people compare it to Wheel of time, but as now that the final book in the series has been released what do you think will come next?

I will admit that i have read the whole series and enjoyed it a lot. I know that people may think its too preachy but i really enjoyed it as a story!
There's romance War Magic Dragons and no other races just humans doing human things.

 

[Lenny]

I've still to read the last one, but I've enjoyed it so far. I've got half a mind to buy the entire series sometime, too.

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Before this carries on, can I ask for people who are going to reply with trash to not reply? There've been too many Goodkind threads turned into discussions by a select few about how bad they believe Goodkind is.

If you're going to reply, then reply properly.

 

[jenna]

Well I've got nothing left to say about Goodkind, but Lenny I believe the question was "What do you all think of the series?" so if people want to reply that they dislike it and state the reasons why, then I think that is replying "properly".

 

[Max the Mediocre]

If your novel features villagers banning fire, you're doing something wrong.

WFR features villagers banning fire.

 

[j d worthington]

I've still to read the last one, but I've enjoyed it so far. I've got half a mind to buy the entire series sometime, too.

---

Before this carries on, can I ask for people who are going to reply with trash to not reply? There've been too many Goodkind threads turned into discussions by a select few about how bad they believe Goodkind is.

If you're going to reply, then reply properly.

Perhaps -- if you don't mind my tuppence being thrown in here, Lenny -- a request to avoid trashing Goodkind generally; instead, focus on the reasons you do or don't like the series, without getting into heated arguments of the sort we've seen in so many threads.

Would that sum it up adequately for you Lenny, while still leaving it open for both those who like and those who dislike to give their honest, but not heated, opinions?

 

[Lenny]

That's what I was getting at, yeah.

Those with good words about Goodkind ought to be given special powers in Goodkind threads, I says.

 

[rol7805]

I only read the first couple then put the series down. I might pick it back up now that I know an end to the series is in sight, unlike some other series that seem to go on forever (although I heard a writer was picked for the last WoT book). I think I just had fantasy series fatigue at the time though. The books were enjoyable, but they reminded me of every other series where a kindly old mage finds a young man, who turns out to be more than he always thought he was, who fights the great evil darkness consuming the land along with the young beautiful woman he's destined to fall in love with.

 

[Ramoth's Rider]

Perhaps -- if you don't mind my tuppence being thrown in here, Lenny -- a request to avoid trashing Goodkind generally; instead, focus on the reasons you do or don't like the series, without getting into heated arguments of the sort we've seen in so many threads.

Would that sum it up adequately for you Lenny, while still leaving it open for both those who like and those who dislike to give their honest, but not heated, opinions?

I really would like to know why some people seem to dislike it so much. I cant see what is so objectionable about it. Yes it tells people that they should live their own lifes ie Your life is your own. Rise up and live it., but whats wrong with that?
Dont we all want to be individuals?

 

[george c]

love the series hate the message, did terry and ann rynd come up w/ new ideas? i think not. its FICTION!

 

[Ramoth's Rider]

love the series hate the message, did terry and ann rynd come up w/ new ideas? i think not. its FICTION!

Thank You!!!
See you can read the book just for the story! I dont hate the message, just the fact that its pushed in your face quite a bit.

 

[ScottSF]

Hi Rider,

There are several discussions about TG. You can use the search feature to find them. I think the best way is to do an advanced search and type in goodkind and pull the drop down to title only. Personally I was one of those who would call his work garbage but then softened my stance a bit. I read wizard's first rule and it was good enough to get me to the end of the story but not good enough for me to ever want to read his work again. I know it may sound strange when talking about fantasy but I like novels to be more realistic. Also I like fiction in general to take a more show-not-tell approach so Terry read a little like children's fiction to me, even with the S&M. Some things I found clunky were the sword-with-the-word-truth-writen-on-it, the awkward speech agains fire and pretty much the Wizard character. It's good to know why you like things and why you don't, especially if you want to write as well. I have never witten and novel so I have to at least give kudos to Goodking for churning out the ideas, there's just so many more authors that do so much more of what I like for me to spend any more time on TG. Don't know why the extra long post other than I am thinking about giving writing a fantasy novel a shot so I'm really thinking about what I like and don't like.

 

[DarrellR]

I have to agree with Scott. I got about four or five books deep I believe and then it just felt like the same stuff seemed to happen over and over. I mean how many times do Richard and Kahlan have to get separated and Richard was so preachy it just wore on me. I may revisit it later. And honestly I really had to push myself after the whole evil chicken idea.

 

[Rane Longfox]

I'll try and skirt the edge here, but a point I might have Lenny - the reason I don't like the series is because of Goodkind as a person and how he pushes his philosophies in your face through the books... surely that's a valid reason?

The problems I have with objectivism (sp?) are many and varied, and I won't go into them here, and yet the books seem to promote the exact flaws I can't stand. Hence... can't stand the series.


On top of which, it's not actually very well written either Though the evil chicken did make me chuckle.

 

[Werthead]

Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer a series where the 'good guys' don't actually carry out genocide against unarmed civilians, butcher peace protestors, solve negotiations with other countries by chopping unarmed emissaries to bits and generally make Stalin look like a hippy by comparison. Oh, and the 50-page torture scenes, the repeated almost-rapes, the goat that saves the day and the statue storyline. Although admittedly the statue storyline is comedic gold dust.

 

[Max the Mediocre]

Yeah. It wouldn't be a problem if Richard & Kahlan were simply the protagonists, but it's made veeeerrrrryyyyy clear that they are Good! People!

And, well, they're not.

 

[j d worthington]

While not wanting to steer this too much in one direction (and despite the fact that, from what little I've read, I'm not a Gookind fan, to say the least)... Lenny has a point. Just to get a little more balance, I'd like to see some input from those who have read and enjoyed the books, and hear their arguments as to what was good about them....

 

[Shingetsu]

I enjoyed the series. It seemed to have everything I liked. There was good romance between Richard and Kahlan. Perhaps those who've read so many sci-fi fantasy books already just know what they like and dislike and can compare more then newer readers like myself. Either way, I thought it was a good story. He said in an interview that he wasn't done with the characters and the world he built. I wonder what he's writing about them next.

 

[Rane Longfox]

He said in an interview that he wasn't done with the characters and the world he built. I wonder what he's writing about them next.

He also said in an interview that gang rape is democracy in action...


No, sorry. No Goodkind-bashing... It's just hard to get used to

 

[Ramoth's Rider]

Well I originally asked the question so i guess that i should say a bit more!
It was different to everything i had read before and i enjoyed it to start with I think that once the Imperial Order was introduced properly and how bad their philosophy on life was and how goodthe rest of the world was that made it worse! The first books with him fighting the bad guys and generally struggling with his gift were fun and there were some great scenes. In later books the emphasis was more on how bad The IO were and the magic and the fun seemed to go out of the books!

The Mord sith made the books for me! If you were able to believe what they had been like before then you appreciated the change that had come over then!!

Thats all folks, its hard to say exactly why you like i book just that you do! Its depends on your taste.