I was recently introduced to Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. Those novels have completely swept me away. I suggest everyone check them out.
Hmmmmmmmm. I read the first one in the series, and liked some things about it, but disliked some things, too. I thought the villains were kind of two-dimensional, almost to the point of being parodies. There were some cool, imaginative scenes and ideas, though.
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I fell in love with Wizard's First Rule the first time I read it and I've devoured every single subesequent volume. I spend much of each book waiting for the next rule to be revealed :)
I think the last two haven't been quite so good. In fact, I'm starting to get a bit fed up with all the political preaching that Goodkind seems to think his novels need. I read to be entertained in a fantasy world, not to be exposed to other peoples' polictics. Its quite telling that I haven't reread them since getting them.
I hope that the next one (maybe the last? say it ain't so...) returns to more of the adventuresome good vs. evil of the first two or three.
Ukos
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The politics are heavy from time to time, true, but they are necessary to paint the drastic differences in idealogies between the Old and New World. As to the end of the serious I did some research online a few weeks ago and found that Chainfire is the first in the Chainfire Trilogy, which coincedentally will end the series accorsing to TOR. So two more books to go; the next comes out in June.
Part of the problem stems from the fact that I've read all the books, most of them several times. I don't need the differing idealogies to be constantly reiterated, but I could see why a newer reader might.
That being said, the last book really made me feel that the political, and philosophical, arguments that were being put forward weren't those of the characters; they belonged solely to the author. By the end of the book, I felt like I had just been preached at. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book and I'll read anything and everything that Goodkind writes, but I feel that the change in style was not for the better.
I would have been content if a character had a chance to explain the idealogy of the Old World in a rational, eloquent, manner, without being shouted down by Richard (or somebody else). One of the big things I've enjoyed about the Sword of Truth is that the "good guys" are occasionally as morally ambiguous as the "bad guys".
I think I'll have to dig the series out and read it all again, just to be ready for June!
Ukos
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I do love this series, though I sort of read it backwards. On a three-week trip with a class to Europe, I borrowed Chainfire (and the one before it, but I can't remember what it was) from a friend since I'd read all of the books that I brought along. The first one I read was decent, but I'm absolutely obsessed with anything that involves changes in reality or messing with peoples' minds, so I feel in love with Chainfire. After we returned, I quickly read the rest of the series and am now eagerly, and somewhat impatiently, awaiting the release of the next book :). I was disappointed when they delayed the release date (gr..).
New book is out in hardcover. I refuse to buy it as I have noticed that his hardcovers quickly go to the 50% off bin in about 3 months..he writes well but the story is dragging on and on...I have 7 books not counting the new one..how many is he going to do?
I've read them all except for the newset book and agree. The earlier books were more fun, Hall of Winds being the best of the entire series so far. but as it's going on it's getting preachy, and, well dull. The last 2 books were sub par. Chain fire was meh, and the one before that he could have skippd entirely and we'd never miss it. The whole book was designed to preach and bore the reader to tears.
Besides the fact that after a certain point, what else could possibly happen to keep this poor married couple apart? The series is becoming like the movie Armageddon. We just keep waiting for "what could possibly go wrong next?"
New book is out in hardcover. I refuse to buy it as I have noticed that his hardcovers quickly go to the 50% off bin in about 3 months..he writes well but the story is dragging on and on...I have 7 books not counting the new one..how many is he going to do?
As I predicted, the latest hardcover is now 30% off at my local bookstore. Only 3-4 months and they will have it in the $5 dollar bin..I am sure of it.
I did some research online a few weeks ago and found that Chainfire is the first in the Chainfire Trilogy, which coincedentally will end the series accorsing to TOR. So two more books to go; the next comes out in June.
humph...well, I'll believe it when I see it.
Oh, it's true. I believe it's stated on Terry's site that the book after Phantom will be the last book in the series.
Never fear though, it also says on the site that Sam Raimi is producing the first book as a TV miniseries, which makes me happy in my pants. Yeah, I said it...pants-happy.