Terry Goodkind SOT Series

III · Apr 19, 2007

As Terry Goodkind approaches the end of his epic Sword Of Truth series, I'm interested in what other fans have thought of the series so far. I just finished reading Phantom and thought it was a return to form and I'm really looking forward to a stellar conclusion to the series.

Books 1 - 6 were just fantastic (Stone of Tears being my favorite). I thought Faith of the Fallen was great too, although quite a few readers didn't like it.

Book 7 (Pillars) was just terrible. Book 8 (Naked) wasn't much better, although at least it got back to the main characters. But the speeches ... oh, the unending speeches....

Book 9 (Chainfire) started the "final trilogy". I thought it was better than the last two books, but still got bogged down in too much repetitive lecturing about the Imperial Order (we get it - they're bad!) Goodkind coralled many of the storylines from earlier books to come up with a dilemma stew. I wasn't sure how to feel about that.

Book 10 (Phantom) started off with more of the same - dozens of pages of re-hashed speeches, but I thought Goodkind returned to form with the second half of the novel, setting up some great dilemmas and some great action.

Book 11 (Confessor) is due out in November. I only hope Richard doesn't open the boxes of Orden and wish the Imperial Order off the face of the earth. Goodkind has been building towards something for thousands of pages, so I just hope it's a worthy conclusion to a truly great fantasy series.

Mr. Funktastic · Apr 19, 2007

Hrm... This is a big one for me, because Wizard's First Rule is what got me really interested in fantasy. I love books one through four, but I hate Soul of the Fire. Faith of the Fallen was wonderful, I think, and the philosophy was intriguing, but Goodkind has just drilled it in so much since. The Chainfire trilogy is a good return to the original appeal of the series. I just hope he can keep it up with Confessor.

I really think the lectures in the latter books are what killed the series. Another thing, though, is the Imperial Order being communist. I don't remember this really being mentioned until Faith of the Fallen. I think this took away from the real focus, which is the possible extinction of magic.

Vomaxx · Apr 19, 2007

I cannot praise his books too much.

MattW · Apr 19, 2007

I also have little good to say.

I did manage to get through two or three volumes before I got tired of his shtick, but that just tells you how limited a selection of fantasy my library had.

The only piece I really liked was the prophet in chains.

The dominatrii were unnecessary for anyone over 13, Richard conveniently discovered a new power that fit perfectly with the conflict of each book, Kahlan was entirely unbelievable and a prop to create artificial tension, and the Onion of Evil theory was in full effect.

JBI · Apr 19, 2007

Can't stand him. liked him when I was 6 or so and read the first 4 or so. Now I can't stand him. Then again, I think anything with sex in it appeals to a 6 year old.

I can't stand this author, and especially despise his "Philosophy".

~JBI

Death Wizard · Apr 19, 2007

George R. R. Martin, Stephen Donaldson, and Steven Erikson are much better, in my humble opinion.

III · Apr 19, 2007

JBI said:
Can't stand him. liked him when I was 6 or so and read the first 4 or so.
~JBI

You were reading thousand page books when you were six years old??? I was barely mastering Sally, Dick, and Jane books at that age. I'm proud to say I've mastered them now.

Looks like the cheese stands alone so far on liking Goodkind. It's probably fair to say his writing is pablum, but I've enjoyed it.

David McAfee · Apr 19, 2007

I won't say there aren't better writers out there (there are, of course), but I really like the SOT series. I have not read Phantom (yet), but I have read all the rest. My favorite was Faith of the Fallen.

I think Goodkind tends to ramble on about some things that really don't require [as] much in the way of explanation. Also, sometimes I think his characters overreact or just do things that aren't very believeable. Still, all in all, I'm quite fond of the series. Having read the first nine, I'll have to read the last two.

Troo · Apr 20, 2007

I really liked Wizard's First Rule, but the series started going downhill after that. Eventually I gave up at around book four (I think. I can't really remember), and mostly because Kahlan stopped being a confident, powerful woman protagonist and devolved (rapidly) into a screaming feeble-minded two-dimensional slut-damsel, leaving Richard the centre of the universe. Richard, who was so awesome he just so happened to evolve the power necessary to defeat whatever problem had arisen this week.

I can't be bothered to go back to this series. I'd have to wade through too much pap to catch up, and I have better things to be doing with my time

Terry Goodkind SOT Series

III

rockin the suburbs

Mr. Funktastic

The name says it all.

Vomaxx

MattW

Company Man

JBI

Death Wizard

Tumhe na koci puujetha

III

rockin the suburbs

David McAfee

God of Squirrels

Troo