Can’t Wait for Confessor
Originally published at Home Court. Please leave any comments there.
Now that the Harry Potter series had ended, I can’t wait for this other series that I’ve immensely enjoyed over the past few years. It is by far heavier than Potter and the descriptions so vivid there were times that I had to stop and forget I ever read some parts. Not for the squeamish and the faint-hearted.
The series is called The Sword of Truth and is authored by Terry Goodkind. Each book’s primary conflicts are contained and resolved in each novel, but there are underlying threads that are interwoven with each other all throughout the whole series. Also the most notable feature is that each book contains a Wizard’s Rule - hence, the title of the first book, Wizard’s First Rule.
Goodkind spins tales excellently and his women characters are strong - definitely not damsels in distress. I can’t make up my mind who impresses me the most, the Mother Confessor, the Death’s Mistress, or the mighty Mord-Sith because dang it, I love them all.
Goodkind describes brutality and violence in cringe-worthy fashion. He also imbibes complex philosophical issues that made me roll my eyes at times but I still go on reading anyway. Anyway, some snippets from the Wikipedia entry are below:
Goodkind portrays in his novels, through complex character development, that individuals can remain true in the face of adversity without sacrificing their values and moral beliefs. Goodkind’s protagonists show that they have courage when making choices, even when faced with difficult situations, and they remain steadfast even when faced with mistakes in their own judgment. The Sword of Truth series is also known for its intricately woven political intrigue, offering a stark contrast between Objectivist and socialist or collectivist beliefs.
The first few volumes of the series present a much more subtle tone of Objectivist philosophy, but as the protagonist Richard grows into his role through the series, Goodkind’s works feature a more prominent focus on philosophical themes.
Anyway, the main protagonist of the story is Richard Cypher, a simple woods-guide who later on discovers he is not as simple as he is. In the 1st book, he helps a stranger who is trying to find a nameless Wizard and from then onward learned to accept his heritage but not according to what others say, but getting there through his instincts and values. He fights using his beliefs as a free man against the forces of evil threatening to swallow the living world.
The books in the series are:
* Wizard’s First Rule (1994)
* Stone of Tears (1995)
* Blood of the Fold (1996)
* Temple of the Winds (1997)
* Soul of the Fire (1999)
* Faith of the Fallen (2000)
* The Pillars of Creation (2001)
* Naked Empire (2003)
* Chainfire (2005)
* Phantom (2006)
* Confessor (to be released November 13, 2007)
I stayed at home during the Golden Week trying to finish Chainfire and Phantom. These are two of the three-book story arc where the adventures of Richard and Kahlan end. At the end of Phantom, Kahlan is held captive of evil Emperor Jagang with a Rada’han (collar that restricts magic and movement at will), Richard is somewhere in the Imperial Order’s main camp as some athlete of some sort, the evil evil Boxes of Orden (from Wizard’s first rule) are put in play but both Richard and Dark Sister Ulicia, there is something with the Chainfire and it’s effect on magic in general, the Imperial Order is ready to swarm upon the main stronghold of the D’Haran Empire, and the D’Haran Empire meanwhile goes to the Order’s sources of food and supplies and cuts them off. Too many cliffhangers for my taste. But these cliffhangers are reason enough for me to wish that November 13 is near - the release of Confessor is near.
If you haven’t started, start. If you stopped at Blood of the Fold, then just soldier on till you reach the fourth book, it gets awesome from then on (I didn’t like Blood of the Fold). I started reading in 2001 (or 2000, I’m not sure) when MangJoy told me about this series. I rabidly finished every book (yes, even that Blood of the Fold thing) but the people who were with me dwindled to a few - I dunno where MangJoy stopped, MarcT stopped at Blood of the Fold I think, and Elai also stopped at Blood of the Fold. I guess it’s kinda lonely being this uber-geek and all but what the heck, Goodkind is awesome and his stories rule.
“People Are Stupid.” - Wizard’s First Rule, Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander