Terry Goodkind

We've read at least one, and we'll prove it!
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Phoenix
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Terry Goodkind

Post by Phoenix »

Am I just blind or is there not a thread on Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth Novels? How can this be?

IMO one of the best book series of all time. However, after writing that ass-long SST defense post, I'll save this one for another day... or just say I will and forget about it and not end up doing it. :P

Anybody else read these books?

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Khazd
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Re: Terry Goodkind

Post by Khazd »

I started to, but I just could not get into it. I do admit that I tend to have several books going at one time, and I could have been on a Sci-fi kick at the time, but the story just did not grab me. If you say they are good I just may have to dig then out of storage and give them another go. Hopefully i can make it past the first 2 chapters.
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mountainmage
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Re: Terry Goodkind

Post by mountainmage »

I've seen Terry Goodkind books in at Borders. That's all I can contribute to this discussion.
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Phoenix
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Re: Terry Goodkind

Post by Phoenix »

You people make me sad... :(

His sword of truth series was fantastic, and the story really grabbed me... you have to read a bit before it sinks it's claws in to you, but once it does you're done for.

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Asherian
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Re: Terry Goodkind

Post by Asherian »

I have read the series. Up and to "Naked Empire" (book 6) at least partially at weapon point from an ex-room mate.

I can understand why some people like them, after all I have a love of bad movies these people can reasonably be assumed to exist for books as well. The first book is pretty good I'll give you, if you don't have issues with sado-masochistic and bondage practices (Problem for a lot of people I've known who started the series, not my own personally.). If you Do have an issue with it just wait until later books, it only gets 'better', don't expect it to go away anytime soon. Honestly some of the scenes written in that make me prefer the dolphin porn discussion going on in the pedophile's thread.*
After book one you have a bad case of DBZ syndrome. Each book progressively introduces new powers and abilities either never heard of, or 'dead for ages' which the 2 main characters inevitably achieve. Or overcome in the semi-rare circumstances the new bad-ass is a bad guy, such as our friend the dreamwalker, but don't worry! Richard is immune to him via something he had nothing to do with beyond who's his daddy, even better, swearing fealty to him makes you immune too!
Each book, or occasionally group of books, just feels tagged onto the series. Not planned, or even expected sequel because money rocks! I've read other books with this particular flaw (Vlad Taltosh series by Steven Brust for example.), it can be done without problem, yet the series tries for epic story arc and still comes off so disjointed. So you have the worst of both worlds, you can't follow a later book in the series without having read the earlier, yet the earlier aren't actually setting up the later and it feels forced.
I could be a little overly bitter due to people trying to convince me its a pinnacle of literary work who can barely fathom how to tie their own shoes, I've tried to give the series a second chance a few times, and it does have some neato factors. I still just can't forgive "Sword of really really angry" enough to want to deal with all the weird shit the author throws in. This also ignoring the -huge- political overtones in the later books, which I even come close to agreeing with but still think couldn't be heavier handed if McCarthy was involved in it.

*Re-reading that sentence I realize just how wrong that sounds, and yet, it's Still better then barbed penis demons rape!
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mountainmage
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Re: Terry Goodkind

Post by mountainmage »

Phoenix wrote:You people make me sad... :(

His sword of truth series was fantastic, and the story really grabbed me... you have to read a bit before it sinks it's claws in to you, but once it does you're done for.
That's not to say I won't ever read it. I love fantasy and you seem to think highly of it. When I get money* I'll pick up the first book.



*It always seems to boil down to this.
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Phoenix
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Re: Terry Goodkind

Post by Phoenix »

I seem to have missed that asherion posted again after me. I'll do my own write-up offering a different point of view tomorrow, but for now it's off to bed for me. Needless to say I disagree with a lot of the stuff ash posted, but not because it's untrue, but I have a different view of the same subjects.

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Maelstrom
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Re: Terry Goodkind

Post by Maelstrom »

I do enjoy the fantasy genre but never looked into this. Was looking at the tv page in Pirate Bay the other day and saw the Legend of the Seeker series. Am I right in thinking that its based on the Sword of Truth series? Is it any good as a series?

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Phoenix
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Re: Terry Goodkind

Post by Phoenix »

Yes, it's based on the Sword of Truth series loosely. About as much as Starship Troopers the movie was based on the book. If you go into it watching them as separate entities, the show is enjoyable, and fairly well-written.

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Re: Terry Goodkind

Post by Snarky00 »

Have to agree with Asherian. The first book was pretty good but the rest felt so tacked on and political that it's hard to enjoy the story.

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