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John Harker · Jul 19, 2006

4,000 posts - and my first Off-Topic thread. Booyah.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

On the day that she awoke remembering nothing but her name, Kahlan Amnell became the most dangerous woman alive. For everyone else, that was the day when the world began to end.

As her husband, Richard, desperately searches for his beloved, whom only he remembers, he knows that if she doesn't soon discover who she really is, she will unwittingly become the instrument that will unleash annihilation. But Kahlan learns that if she ever were to unlock the truth of her lost identity, then evil itself would finally possess her, body and soul.

If she is to survive in a murky world of deception and betrayal, where life is not only cheap but fleeting, Kahlan must find out why she is such a central figure in the war-torn world swirling around her. What she uncovers are secrets darker than she could ever have imagined.

First chapter found here:

Kahlan stood quietly in the shadows, watching, as evil knocked softly on the door. Huddled under the small overhang, off to the side, she hoped that no one would answer that knock. As much as she would like to spend the night in out of the rain, she didnt want trouble to visit innocent people. She knew, though, that she had no say in the matter.

http://www.terrygoodkind.com/chap1_phantom.html
--------------------

This comes out THIS WEEK!

Do we have any other Terry Goodkind fans here?
I can't wait, I've already bought it on BN.com - awaiting shipment.

Discuss

ronito · Jul 19, 2006

Yeah I've read a few of his books. No sir, I didn't care for it. Too renaisnce fair clichedish for me.

John Harker · Jul 19, 2006

ronito said:
Yeah I've read a few of his books. No sir, I didn't care for it. Too renaisnce fair clichedish for me.

Well, I wouldn't call this Ren faire hokey at all... its actually deeply philosophical. At least, he's a big follower of Ayn Rand, and he injects a lot of his views into his characters and stories. I've actually found his writing and his books to be the "deepest" fantasy I've ever read. Hell, he goes deeper, as far as insights go, than most authours today that take themselves far too seriously, if you ask me.

EviLore · Jul 19, 2006

Sword of Truth series:

SADISM

MASOCHISM

CHAINS

WHIPS

EAR TORTURE

DOMINATION

SWORD TURNS WHITE

OH YES OH YES, SLIDE THAT WHITE SWORD IN

TRUEEE LOOOOVE

I was coaxed into reading the first two books. Eh, readable I'd say but nothing I'd recommend; poorly written and cliche ridden.

John Harker · Jul 19, 2006

EviLore said:
Sword of Truth series:

SADISM

MASOCHISM

CHAINS

WHIPS

EAR TORTURE

DOMINATION

SWORD TURNS WHITE

OH YES OH YES, SLIDE THAT WHITE SWORD IN

TRUEEE LOOOOVE

I was coaxed into reading the first two books. Eh, readable I'd say but nothing I'd recommend; poorly written and cliche ridden.

I'll give you the earlier books in the series had a lot of those themes... but those were also the first novels Goodkind ever wrote. He wasn't a right before Wizard's First Rule - it was his first novel. With that in mind, I think it was a fantastic start to what has evolved into a world wide best selling series - he was offered $10 million from his publisher for the last few books alone.

DrEvil · Jul 19, 2006

We got this from chapters about 2 weeks ago... oddly enough everywhere is still saying it is still 'preorder only' - so yeah, someone somewhere slipped up.. that's okay with us tho.

Anyways, my gf read it, said it was really good, VERY graphic (in terms of gruesome detail) - ends a few storylines but brings back and starts new ones...

She says not to read the last page AT ALL, because even the last sentence will ruin the entire book for you.

Also, the next book is the final in the series.

d

John Harker · Jul 19, 2006

DrEvil said:
We got this from chapters about 2 weeks ago... oddly enough everywhere is still saying it is still 'preorder only' - so yeah, someone somewhere slipped up.. that's okay with us tho.

Anyways, my gf read it, said it was really good, VERY graphic (in terms of gruesome detail) - ends a few storylines but brings back and starts new ones...

She says not to read the last page AT ALL, because even the last sentence will ruin the entire book for you.

Also, the next book is the final in the series.

d

I have an awful habbit of skipping ahead in my TG books, to read the end - simply because I get so wrapped up in events, I need gratification.

Thanks for the heads up. How did she read it, if it isnt out yet, btw?

Liu Kang Baking A Pie · Jul 19, 2006

John Harker said:
How did she read it, if it isnt out yet, btw?

For someone that reads fantasy books with hundreds of pages, you're not a very good reader.

I confirm with the few other opinions in here that Goodkind is a perverted, cliche hack. I liked him well enough to get to book 5, but I couldn't stomach his poor writing anymore for the decent copycat story he had put together.

MrDaravon · Jul 19, 2006

I got up to book 5 or 6 (?) of this series, and couldn't stomach it anymore. Huge amounts of text and books resulting in little or no plot advancement, cliches, it goes on and on. At a certain point I was like, "Holy shit this is practically a self-insertion fanfiction." I thought the first couple books were pretty decent, but it just got really drawn out and boring and repetitive.

Darias · Jul 19, 2006

Now Evilore, there was not a whip mentioned anywhere in the first two books...

Quite unfair of you!

I am hoping the newest installment can do something to revitalize the series... After Faith.. it completely fell off, and the socioeconomic commentary was over the top. The plot seems to have come to a standstill, especially with Pillars...

The last wasn't that impressive, but in interviews Goodkind's said that he intends to wrap up the series in the next few books, so I can't wait to read the newest.

John Harker · Jul 19, 2006

Liu Kang Baking A Pie said:
For someone that reads fantasy books with hundreds of pages, you're not a very good reader.

I confirm with the few other opinions in here that Goodkind is a perverted, cliche hack. I liked him well enough to get to book 5, but I couldn't stomach his poor writing anymore for the decent copycat story he had put together.

I don't know what "chapters" is - I was assuming that was another poster or something here.

John Harker · Jul 19, 2006

Darias said:
Now Evilore, there was not a whip mentioned anywhere in the first two books...

Quite unfair of you!

I am hoping the newest installment can do something to revitalize the series... After Faith.. it completely fell off, and the socioeconomic commentary was over the top. The plot seems to have come to a standstill, especially with Pillars...

The last wasn't that impressive, but in interviews Goodkind's said that he intends to wrap up the series in the next few books, so I can't wait to read the newest.

You didn't find Chainfire refreshing?
It was written differently - more like a mystery or a thrillar than his usual epic fantasy or the occasional introverted, self-exposes he likes to write. And it brought back all the old characters, who we haven't seen in awhile... and anything was better than Pillars, going an entire book without Richard/Kahlan. That was the only painful trip for me.

Mejilan · Jul 19, 2006

I didn't even know the next book was out until today, when I received a coupon from Barnes & Nobles for 46% off or some such!

I loved the first two books, but the series has been progressing almost steadily downhill since then. Chainfire was so unbearable that I still haven't read it, even though I picked up the hardcover on day one. The most I could manage was a kind of gasping skim through each chapter. I'll probably never read it in full.

So... Phantom?

Adam Blade · Jul 19, 2006

Uh...a meh book to a meh series?

/Kyon-style headshake

Steriletom · Jul 19, 2006

The Sword of Truth series has become horrible, horrible, horrible. Jesus, buddy, find something else to read.

DrEvil · Jul 19, 2006

Chapters is a canadian bookstore chain, who's online front (Where we ordered it) is Chapters Indigo.... works with amazon or some shit.

I preordered it for her back in April, and for some reason, two weeks ago we got a shipment notice.. one day later the book was on our doorstep, perfect timing for our trip to punta cana - she read it on the plane ride there and back...

Still dont know how the **** we got it so early.

d

John Harker · Jul 19, 2006

Steriletom said:
The Sword of Truth series has become horrible, horrible, horrible. Jesus, buddy, find something else to read.

But how would you know how it is now, if you haven't been reading the latest?

There are 9 books, after all.

MmmBeef · Jul 19, 2006

God, you guys have such fortitude. I barely managed to slog through the first novel. A few years back, on a whim I cracked open one of the later novels to see if he had gotten any better.

He hadn't.

MrDaravon · Jul 19, 2006

John Harker said:
But how would you know how it is now, if you haven't been reading the latest?

There are 9 books, after all.

So reading say 4 books of a 9 book series isn't enough to make a judgement? And even if it wasn't, if you have to wade through several books of crap until it gets better, it's not worth it.

Steriletom · Jul 19, 2006

John Harker said:
But how would you know how it is now, if you haven't been reading the latest?

There are 9 books, after all.

I've read them all. They get progressively worse, but after Faith of the Fallen it's a straight up rollercoaster drop into horrid writing, terrible plotting, redundant flash backs, and vomit inducing political commentary.

Adam Blade · Jul 19, 2006

John Harker said:
But how would you know how it is now, if you haven't been reading the latest?

There are 9 books, after all.

Yes, I've read them. It's still unmitigated rot though. :3

Chairman Yang · Jul 19, 2006

The first book is really good, the second is readable. The rest are unmitigated failures, and shouldn't be read.

John Harker · Jul 19, 2006

Woa, so I guess I'm alone here then in my love of these books.

I didn't realize there was such a backlash toward the latter half of this series. That's interesting to me, hmm

DarkAngyl · Jul 19, 2006

I've read them and enjoyed them, but I understand a lot of the hate they get. The preaching, especially in later books, has become very heavy handed. Actually it was Pillars that gave me hope for the series as it was a departure from where he had been going and I felt gave the series fresh life.

Goodkind's other big problem is he's suffering from WOTitis, or Jordan's Disease. He's wandering all over the place and not really covering any ground. Jordan finally started to pull it together with the last WOT book, and I'm hoping Goodkind can do the same thing.

Karg · Jul 19, 2006

John Harker said:
Woa, so I guess I'm alone here then in my love of these books.

I didn't realize there was such a backlash toward the latter half of this series. That's interesting to me, hmm

There will NEVER be an across the board acceptance of ANYTHING on GAF. The universe would explode if there was.

On topic, I'm a SOT fan and will be picking this book up, the series has been an enjoyable read for me. I like the style and I'm a sucker for when people learn about new powers they have.

DarienA · Jul 19, 2006

DrEvil said:
Also, the next book is the final in the series.

d

Yeah but the wording from Terry's site is a bit... strange:

The second installment in the Chainfire Trilogy, which will bring a dramatic conclusion to the Sword of Truth series.

As I understand it Phantom completes the original contracts # of books. But then there is a third book after Phantom that is not part of the original "sword of truth" series. So is it really the end of these characters and this world?

I agree with most of the comments here... I enjoyed the series alot at the beginning, but the preachiness of the most recent books has really cut in to my enjoyment. I'm tired of Richard and/or Kahlan losing some ability, some power, or getting kidnapped, or whatever. I still like the main cast though.

BigGreenMat · Jul 19, 2006

I thought Faith of the Fallen was a great book, but Pillars and the one after were DREADFUL. I haven't read chainfire yet so I shall see if it gets better. Goodkind is NOT original, but I think he is a good integrator. Faith of the Fallen being a good instance of combining Ayn Rand with Fantasy.

madara · Jul 19, 2006

Ack, I just read a summary of ongoing series? Damn it, mention that ahead of time! Sounds like average fair though from some of you but I sure you say same for Terry Brooks and I love his stuff.

John Harker · Jul 19, 2006

DarienA said:
Yeah but the wording from Terry's site is a bit... strange:

As I understand it Phantom completes the original contracts # of books. But then there is a third book after Phantom that is not part of the original "sword of truth" series. So is it really the end of these characters and this world?

Well, Chainfire is a trilogy that is part of the main story arche, but self-contained. So in that sense, I guess Phantom completes the "original 10-book story" but the 11th book concludes the "Chainfire Trilogy" and is an epilogue for the entire storyline.

Which is believable to me, because Chainfire is very self-contained (though I wouldn't recommend starting the series from it!), and very different in style and structure from the original 8 books.

John Harker · Jul 19, 2006

madara said:
Ack, I just read a summary of ongoing series? Damn it, mention that ahead of time! Sounds like average fair though from some of you but I sure you say same for Terry Brooks and I love his stuff.

Well beyond average fair, my friend.
It's 9 books long so far, so some gripe is understandable... its a huge series, and you can't please everyone 9 times.

At any rate, its a fantastic, immersive, deep, philosophical fantasy journey and it comes highly recommended.

From me at least. Ouch at the hate here, haha

John Harker · Jul 23, 2006

GOT MY COPY.

Will post impressions once I read more, if anyone cares... doesn't seem to be a lot of fans here.

Anyone else pick it up?

YakiSOBA · Jul 23, 2006

You only like the books for the sex scenes, admit it!

cvkpaladin · Jul 23, 2006

Isn't this the series where the main character, a person who is supposed to be noble and good, kicks an 8-year old girl in the jaw thus causing her teeth to shatter while also severing her tongue, then later bleeds to death from the wound?

DarienA · Jul 23, 2006

cvkpaladin said:
Isn't this the series where the main character, a person who is supposed to be noble and good, kicks an 8-year old girl in the jaw thus causing her teeth to shatter while also severing her tongue, then later bleeds to death from the wound?

Uh I don't remember that.

cvkpaladin · Jul 23, 2006

DarienA said:
Uh I don't remember that.

I believe the event was in the first book. I think her name was Princess Violet IIRC. I never read the books however and just heard about it. I could be thinking of the wrong series.

Limedust · Jul 23, 2006

When Terry Goodkind penned in a death chicken... a MF'ing DEATH CHICKEN... into one of his books (I forget which), aside from laughing hysterically through however many chapters that covered, I pretty much lost my motivation to go any further in the series.

I used to read the books as a guilty pleasure, because the series was always pretty bad. Now I consider it more pathetic than anything else.

Liu Kang Baking A Pie · Jul 24, 2006

cvkpaladin said:
Isn't this the series where the main character, a person who is supposed to be noble and good, kicks an 8-year old girl in the jaw thus causing her teeth to shatter while also severing her tongue, then later bleeds to death from the wound?

It's also a series where super-hot lesbian ass-kicker couples die, an entire chapter is devoted to men ****ing their wives during their period and making her suck the blood off his penis, women **** demon beasts, entire cities of women are raped and forced to breed, etc.

The first book in the series had like over 75 pages devoted to S&M torture. It's just ****ing childish. I mean, this is AWESOME when you're 13-years-old and your parents are all about you reading 800 page novels because they don't know almost half of the writing is devoted to rape and violent sex, but anyone older should just get themselves a dirty romance novel.

YakiSOBA · Jul 24, 2006

Liu Kang Baking A Pie said:
but anyone older should just get themselves a dirty romance novel.

Requesting some choice titles please.

John Harker · Jul 24, 2006

hey, that girl who got kicked isnt dead.... this series loves coming full-circle.
Nothing happends, even the slightest, without a consequence that isn't delt with or paid for later on.

And I will give you the torture thing. These books DRIP with it.
Phantom is almost too much for me. The graphic detail is appalling...

But Goodkind always said, he shows the worst mankind can do, the worst of our imaginations, to highlight and contrast what is pure and fundamentally good. He strives to create desolate circumstances so that he can show how strong mankind really is when we rise up, grasp what it really means to be alive, and fight for what we are and what we are given and we overcome.

Something like that.

And p.s. - it isn't a DEATH CHICKEN. It's a demon that can take other forms - so it took that one to fit it, since they were near a chicken coop. Thing. Whatever. It was blending.

snaildog · Jul 27, 2006

Terry Goodkind's books are steaming piles of crap. I used to quite like the first ones when I was about 15 and the terrible writing didn't bother me so much, but his writing hasn't improved since then and the story has gone downhill. I admit I've still been reading them, mostly out of fascination; they've turned into propoganda for his whacky philosophy, which is Ayn Rand's "objectivism". They're full of repetitive ten-page speeches on freedom and the nobility of manking and the evil commies (a hilarious army of straw men).

The sex scenes are there for no reason at all - he claims he writes for intelligent adults, but I'm sure most of his readers are horny teenage boys. I remember in one of the later books, one of the main HOT WOMEN in the story is getting escorted into the enemy camp, and she takes off her shirt so that the baddies will be too busy staring at her boobs for the whole trip to recognise her face. Seriously.

Oh and go and read some interviews by the man; he's pretty much insane, and there are plenty of parody sites and huge message board discussions mocking him. He's killed off the fantasy genre, drug users are a party to murder, people that don't like his books any more hate freedom, Canadians can get arrested on the streets for speaking against their government, etc.

John Harker · Jul 27, 2006

snaildog said:
Terry Goodkind's books are steaming piles of crap. I used to quite like the first ones when I was about 15 and the terrible writing didn't bother me so much, but his writing hasn't improved since then and the story has gone downhill. I admit I've still been reading them, mostly out of fascination; they've turned into propoganda for his whacky philosophy, which is Ayn Rand's "objectivism". They're full of repetitive ten-page speeches on freedom and the nobility of manking and the evil commies (a hilarious army of straw men).

The sex scenes are there for no reason at all - he claims he writes for intelligent adults, but I'm sure most of his readers are horny teenage boys. I remember in one of the later books, one of the main HOT WOMEN in the story is getting escorted into the enemy camp, and she takes off her shirt so that the baddies will be too busy staring at her boobs for the whole trip to recognise her face. Seriously.

Oh and go and read some interviews by the man; he's pretty much insane, and there are plenty of parody sites and huge message board discussions mocking him. He's killed off the fantasy genre, drug users are a party to murder, people that don't like his books any more hate freedom, Canadians can get arrested on the streets for speaking against their government, etc.

harsh.

still sells millions though.

Well, i still stand by it. The first part of Phantoms was brutal, ill grant you that - the gore and debauchery was as thick as ever, but damn the story is just so fascinating, and Richard is such an amazing character.... aw well.

Anyway, I like it. But im terrified of everyone here. Im gonna let this thread die. I'm retreating back the gaming side, yikes.

Liu Kang Baking A Pie · Jul 27, 2006

John Harker said:
the story is just so fascinating, and Richard is such an amazing character.... aw well.

Sure, if the last book you read before Wizard's First Rule was Charlotte's Web.

Seriously, branch out a bit. Goodkind is the bottom-feeder of fantasy authors.

John Harker · Aug 3, 2006

Phantom goes to No. 1 on NYT best sellers list

Phantom was number one in sales for it's first week of release. It will apear as number one on the NYT best sellers list. (most likely a week from this Sunday)
This is the first book to hit number one. Terry is extremely happy and wants to thank all of his fans.

See, I knew I wasnt the only fan.

Anyone else read it, I'm almost finished with the monster.

John Harker · Aug 3, 2006

Ohh, EVEN COOLER.

WFR to be made into TV miniseries

TOR BOOKS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Elena Stokes Russell Galen

Director of Publicity Agent

Tor Books Scovil Chichak Galen Agency

Sam Raimi gets Terry Goodkinds bestselling Sword of Truth adventure series!

Sam Raimi, best known as the director of the hugely successful SPIDER-MAN and SPIDER-MAN II films, and his producing partner Joshua Donen, have optioned film rights for Terry Goodkinds enormously popular bestselling SWORD OF TRUTH adventure series, published by Tor Books.

Having been approached by Hollywood a number of times over the past decade, Goodkind was never convinced that his 400,000 word bestselling novels could be successfully compressed into worthwhile feature films. In a meeting at the authors home, the renowned director and producer instead conceived of a groundbreaking mini-series. Within two hours Goodkind was sold on the concept and negotiations commenced. Ten months later the deal was finally concluded. Its a dream come true to work with someone of such remarkable vision, talent, and ability, Goodkind said. Given Sams sincere love for these stories and his determination to only make great films, this mini-series will be a watershed event.

All of Goodkinds novels have been international bestsellers. Translated into 20 foreign languages, there are over 10 million copies in print. The SWORD OF TRUTH series began with WIZARDS FIRST RULE in 1994. The 10th novel in the series, PHANTOM, is on sale now. The 11th and final volume is under contract and will be published in 2008.

Raimi and Donen hope to begin production of the opening mini-series, WIZARDS FIRST RULE, within the next year, to be followed by ensuing volumes of the epic novels. The development process will begin while Raimi completes SPIDER-MAN III. Definitive word on the production will be available in early 2007.

Goodkind was represented in the negotiations by Russell Galen of the Scovil Chichak Galen Agency in New York City.

echoshifting · Aug 3, 2006

Why does this thread keep popping up? These books are unreadable.

John Harker said:
Anyway, I like it. But im terrified of everyone here. Im gonna let this thread die. I'm retreating back the gaming side, yikes.

You should have stuck to your guns!

Chairman Yang · Aug 3, 2006

I'm not a Goodkind fan or anything, but the first book was really good, so that miniseries sounds awesome. Now HBO (creators of "Rome") just has to start work on a giant, big-budget, bloody series based on George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire. Let's say one season of 24 episodes per book.

John Harker · Aug 3, 2006

echoshifting said:
Why does this thread keep popping up? These books are unreadable.

You should have stuck to your guns!

I don't blame you for saying that.

But I thought I could possibly trick some Sam Raimi fans into the thread! haha

snaildog · Aug 3, 2006

John Harker said:
See, I knew I wasnt the only fan.

Nobody's denying that they sell well, but like most EA games, they still suck. Objectivist nutters and horny teenagers with low writing standards ensure their success.

gblues · Aug 3, 2006

Ah, Terry Goodkind.. never read a single one of his books, but I hear 'em advertised on the radio; the ads are pretty horrible, too. Not quite "APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD!" bad, but still laughable. And it's pretty freakin obvious from the ads that he's the heir apparent to Ayn Rand.

Which means, of course, it stinks on ice and I'm going to avoid like the plague.

Nathan

phinious · Oct 5, 2006

Ok I just finished this book, and I dont understand WTF is going on.

Can someone explain putting the box's of orden into play for me?

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