Wizard

Terry Goodkind — Book Reviewlimit based story.
The Story and Writing
Wizard’s First Rule is the first TerryThe story and writing are superb. There are
Goodkind book in the Sword of Truth seriessome interesting and surprising plot twists and
which is also the basis for the ABC televisionthings that happen. In other words you go along
series Legend of the Seeker. This is a review offor quite a wild and exciting ride. And there are
this remarkable book.some unique fantasy themes and ideas like the
This isn’t your typical epic fantasy book.Boxes of Orden and the Book of Counted
Yes, it has all of the normal trappings you wouldShadows which are both central to the story and
expect such as an epic sized quest, plenty ofquite unique.
conflict, and of course a dragon or two. This bookAvoiding some of the Pitfalls of typical epic
has all those things but it has significantly more. Infantasy
Wizard’s First Rule Goodkind shows usOne of the biggest problems I run across with
more than just an epic adventure story whereepic fantasy series is the complexity they often
our hero attempts to save the world from ruin.contain. Many series of books have enormously
 Our hero is named Richard Cipher and wecomplex worlds with a cast of characters that
adventure with him on a journey to becoming anumbers in the scores if not hundreds. This
seeker.  A seeker’s role is to find thecomplexity can get very confusing as various
truth in things and a seeker’s sword hasfactions, lordships, families, and bloodlines partake
the word “Truth” engraved on it. And it is inin the story. In Wizards First Rule there is none of
this journey to find truth that Goodkind takes thisthis. We are introduced to the central characters
story from just a story to a real exploration ofearly in the book and as the story progresses we
truth and the nature of good and evil.  There aremeet a small number of new characters that are
many conversations and situations that explorecentral to the story.  It all flows very smoothly
the bipolarity of good versus evil and the greyand it all stays on target. You won’t have
area that lies between the two. Doesn’t itto take any notes to keep track of all the
make sense that even the evilest of mencharacters.
believes that what he is doing is righteous? Yes itTheme and Reading level
does and Goodkind takes a good hard look at this. This book is not for children or for the faint of
He raises questions in your mind about the wholeheart. There is some graphic violence and an
nature of truth and the real commitment it takesextended torture scene that you will find
to find the real truth.  This is an intelligentlyunsettling. I found it uncomfortable to read and
written book that gives you more than just athis is exactly the point that Goodkind was trying
story. It gives you lots of food for thought.to make.  If you want to carefully study the
Unique Twist on the storyethics and morals of the battle between good and
A typical and effective tool that a writer will useevil you have to fully show both sides of this coin
is to put our hero on a time limit -as time counts— both the good in all its goodness and the
down the tension builds. It is very effectiveevil in all its dark and unsettling reality. The only
writer’s tool and in this novel Goodkindreal way to defeat evil is to first see it and
puts a nice spin on this. He puts the evil bad guyacknowledge it.
on a timer. Our protagonist (Darken Rahl) has aWizard’s First Rule is an intelligently written
very specific time limit if he is to achieve hisand exciting epic fantasy story that goes beyond
personal goals that will bring ruin down on thejust a story. It is also an examination of ethics,
world. And our hero, along with a small group ofvalues, morals, and the perpetual battle between
companions can foil it all if they can just holdgood and evil. It will make you think about the
things off long enough for time to run out.nature of the struggle and the real purpose of the
It’s a wonderful reversal of the usual timehero.