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Wizard's First Rule
Written by Terry Goodkind
Narrated by Sam Tsoutsouvas
Book Actions
Start ListeningRatings:
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars4.5/5 (324 ratings)
Length: 34 hours
- Publisher:
- Brilliance Audio
- Released:
- Oct 15, 2008
- ISBN:
- 9781423377962
- Format:
- Audiobook
Description
In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, Richard Cypher encounters a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, in his forest sanctuary. She seeks his help...and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.
In their darkest hour, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword—to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed...or that their time has run out.
This is the beginning. One book. One rule. Witness the birth of a legend.
Book Actions
Start ListeningBook Information
Wizard's First Rule
Written by Terry Goodkind
Narrated by Sam Tsoutsouvas
Ratings:
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars4.5/5 (324 ratings)
Length: 34 hours
Description
In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, Richard Cypher encounters a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, in his forest sanctuary. She seeks his help...and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.
In their darkest hour, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword—to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed...or that their time has run out.
This is the beginning. One book. One rule. Witness the birth of a legend.
- Publisher:
- Brilliance Audio
- Released:
- Oct 15, 2008
- ISBN:
- 9781423377962
- Format:
- Audiobook
About the author
Goodkind was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, where he also attended art school, one of his many interests on the way to becoming a writer. Besides a career in wildlife art, he has been a cabinet maker, violin maker, and he has done restoration work on rare and exotic artifacts from around the world. In 1983 Goodkind moved to the forested mountains he loves. There, in the woods near the ocean, he built the house where he and his wife, Jeri, live, and came at last to tell his own stories.
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Reviews
Reviews
What people think about Wizard's First Rule
4.5Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
324 ratings / 123 reviews
What did you think?
Rating: out of 5 stars
Reader reviews
thewallflower-1
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
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This was just the sort of thing I was looking for. Swords and sorcery. Hot, mystical women. Brash heroes. Humorous side companions. Corrupt governments and ancient castle-ular conspiracies. And one really evil antagonist.What's interesting is how bad the writing style is, compared to today's standards. And by standards, I mean all the writing advice I hear these days. It's no wonder the thing is 300,000 words long. There's a lot of lines that are unnecessary. A lot of plot segments and sections that clutter up the prose. A lot of needless descriptors and sentences that are repeating what the dialogue suggests. There's lots of adverbs, and lots of scenes and characters that don't add anything to the story. I doubt you could get a work like this published these days.But you don't care because the story is easy to follow, and interesting. I don't know why. Maybe it's because of the little things, like the sausage & cheese and spice soup that add an air of world-building. Maybe it's the lovable characters (although Kahlan gets whiny and evasive with her *HORRIBLE SECRET* and Richard is a little too bulletproof and god-like smart). It makes them lovable because they're always "saving the cat", which is a standard, but cheap way to make a hero likable right off the bat (although you can also give them a dog). The world is complex, and there's a lot in the background that you need to know to understand the foreground. But it doesn't throw it all at you at once. It gives you what you need to stay satisfied.Then it got weird when we got to the dominatrix.I'm serious. The story takes a total 180 and we go to BDSM-land. The hero is unnecessarily kidnapped and forced into slavery as a part of this sect of S&M dominatrices who work for the evil ruler. And this goes on for about 1/6th of the book as the hero is sexually tortured beyond all measure of humanity. Then he escapes, but not before making his dom fall in love with him. Before, the tone of the book... well, it wasn't exactly kiddish, but it wasn't adult. It was general audiences. PG-13. But all of the sudden, he's getting some kind of magic cattle-prod pressed against his junk every day, and he apparently suffers no psychological damage. The next thing he does is befriend a mother dragon. Best WTF moment in a book.
thewallflower-1
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
This was just the sort of thing I was looking for. Swords and sorcery. Hot, mystical women. Brash heroes. Humorous side companions. Corrupt governments and ancient castle-ular conspiracies. And one really evil antagonist.What's interesting is how bad the writing style is, compared to today's standards. And by standards, I mean all the writing advice I hear these days. It's no wonder the thing is 300,000 words long. There's a lot of lines that are unnecessary. A lot of plot segments and sections that clutter up the prose. A lot of needless descriptors and sentences that are repeating what the dialogue suggests. There's lots of adverbs, and lots of scenes and characters that don't add anything to the story. I doubt you could get a work like this published these days.But you don't care because the story is easy to follow, and interesting. I don't know why. Maybe it's because of the little things, like the sausage & cheese and spice soup that add an air of world-building. Maybe it's the lovable characters (although Kahlan gets whiny and evasive with her *HORRIBLE SECRET* and Richard is a little too bulletproof and god-like smart). It makes them lovable because they're always "saving the cat", which is a standard, but cheap way to make a hero likable right off the bat (although you can also give them a dog). The world is complex, and there's a lot in the background that you need to know to understand the foreground. But it doesn't throw it all at you at once. It gives you what you need to stay satisfied.Then it got weird when we got to the dominatrix.I'm serious. The story takes a total 180 and we go to BDSM-land. The hero is unnecessarily kidnapped and forced into slavery as a part of this sect of S&M dominatrices who work for the evil ruler. And this goes on for about 1/6th of the book as the hero is sexually tortured beyond all measure of humanity. Then he escapes, but not before making his dom fall in love with him. Before, the tone of the book... well, it wasn't exactly kiddish, but it wasn't adult. It was general audiences. PG-13. But all of the sudden, he's getting some kind of magic cattle-prod pressed against his junk every day, and he apparently suffers no psychological damage. The next thing he does is befriend a mother dragon. Best WTF moment in a book.
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johnmunsch_1
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars(3/5)
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Fun sword and sorcery stuff with heroic heroes (both male and female) and villainous bad guys. Overall an enjoyable book.
johnmunsch_1
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars(3/5)
Fun sword and sorcery stuff with heroic heroes (both male and female) and villainous bad guys. Overall an enjoyable book.
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redderik_1
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
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Good book, ended a little to dark for my taste
redderik_1
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
Good book, ended a little to dark for my taste
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bea_writer
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5/5)
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I have read this book (series) countless times. In it I find wisdom and philosophies that I can apply to everyday life. I think we can all agree with Wizard's First Rule.
I know that some argue the series is derivative of other's work, but I would argue that most stories have kernels of other's truth. Look at Shakespeare or George Bernard Shaw, did they not base their works on other's ancient writing?
I believe that Goodkind created in Richard a person whom we all could both identify and strive to emulate. His descriptive writing pulls us into his world and I would even argue changing our perception of our own. It is not a perfect series. The Pillar book is practically useless except for the last bit. But as a whole I consider the Sword of Truth series a classic. The only thing that annoys me is Kahlan, her often defeatist and whiney attitude can be annoying.
Overall it is a great series. Enjoy.
I know that some argue the series is derivative of other's work, but I would argue that most stories have kernels of other's truth. Look at Shakespeare or George Bernard Shaw, did they not base their works on other's ancient writing?
I believe that Goodkind created in Richard a person whom we all could both identify and strive to emulate. His descriptive writing pulls us into his world and I would even argue changing our perception of our own. It is not a perfect series. The Pillar book is practically useless except for the last bit. But as a whole I consider the Sword of Truth series a classic. The only thing that annoys me is Kahlan, her often defeatist and whiney attitude can be annoying.
Overall it is a great series. Enjoy.
bea_writer
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5/5)
I have read this book (series) countless times. In it I find wisdom and philosophies that I can apply to everyday life. I think we can all agree with Wizard's First Rule.
I know that some argue the series is derivative of other's work, but I would argue that most stories have kernels of other's truth. Look at Shakespeare or George Bernard Shaw, did they not base their works on other's ancient writing?
I believe that Goodkind created in Richard a person whom we all could both identify and strive to emulate. His descriptive writing pulls us into his world and I would even argue changing our perception of our own. It is not a perfect series. The Pillar book is practically useless except for the last bit. But as a whole I consider the Sword of Truth series a classic. The only thing that annoys me is Kahlan, her often defeatist and whiney attitude can be annoying.
Overall it is a great series. Enjoy.
I know that some argue the series is derivative of other's work, but I would argue that most stories have kernels of other's truth. Look at Shakespeare or George Bernard Shaw, did they not base their works on other's ancient writing?
I believe that Goodkind created in Richard a person whom we all could both identify and strive to emulate. His descriptive writing pulls us into his world and I would even argue changing our perception of our own. It is not a perfect series. The Pillar book is practically useless except for the last bit. But as a whole I consider the Sword of Truth series a classic. The only thing that annoys me is Kahlan, her often defeatist and whiney attitude can be annoying.
Overall it is a great series. Enjoy.
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michellebarton
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars(3/5)
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the first in his Sword of Truth series. Richard Cypher is a woodsmen who comes across a beautiful, mysterious woman, and they end up teaming up to help save the world from an evil tyrant. They meet many interesting people and have many exciting adventures. I had watched and loved the TV series, Legend of the Seeker, before I had read the book. I think I may have even liked the TV series better (hard to believe, that never happens, right?).
michellebarton
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars(3/5)
the first in his Sword of Truth series. Richard Cypher is a woodsmen who comes across a beautiful, mysterious woman, and they end up teaming up to help save the world from an evil tyrant. They meet many interesting people and have many exciting adventures. I had watched and loved the TV series, Legend of the Seeker, before I had read the book. I think I may have even liked the TV series better (hard to believe, that never happens, right?).
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marybeth494
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5/5)
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The Premise: Richard Cypher's decision to help a woman in the Upper Ven near the Boundary between the Midlands and Westland sires more trouble than first appears. Kahlan Amnell seeks the help of a wizard in the Westland, and she brings with her dark news from the other side of the Boundary: Darken Rahl, Ruler of D'Hara, has brought down the other Boundary between D'Hara and the Midlands. This menacing ruler continues his dead father's quest for control by pressing war on the now vulnerable Midlands. Kahlan wants the wizard to name a Seeker of Truth who can try to stop Darken Rahl. When she finds the Old Wizard, he names Richard to be the Seeker and starts him on the quest that will forever alter the world. (from Wikipedia)My Take on the Book: This is one of those books - the kind that leaves you wanting more when you're finished. Lucky me, I think there are 10 more books in the series. This is also the type of book that has you wondering what to read next because it is hard for anything to measure up. The characters keep coming to mind, even in my dreams. That's a sure sign that a book has deeply affected me. I have a request for the 2nd book on paperbackswap.com - hopefully it will be coming soon, otherwise, I see a visit to Borders in my near future:) There is a lot of violence in this book, both mystical and natural. There is a war going on between the D'Harans and the people of the Midlands, and many of the atrocities of war show up here. There are also some sexual situations, most not by choice, so if that offends you, this may not be the book for you. One of the things I really liked is the intelligence Richard Cypher shows in his behavior and in the way he handles difficult experiences. He questions things rather than just accepting them. In one instance, rather than offending the people he is staying with by not accepting their customs because it goes against what he believes, he comes up with a unique solution that stops him from doing something he is morally against, while allowing his hosts to "save face".
marybeth494
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5/5)
The Premise: Richard Cypher's decision to help a woman in the Upper Ven near the Boundary between the Midlands and Westland sires more trouble than first appears. Kahlan Amnell seeks the help of a wizard in the Westland, and she brings with her dark news from the other side of the Boundary: Darken Rahl, Ruler of D'Hara, has brought down the other Boundary between D'Hara and the Midlands. This menacing ruler continues his dead father's quest for control by pressing war on the now vulnerable Midlands. Kahlan wants the wizard to name a Seeker of Truth who can try to stop Darken Rahl. When she finds the Old Wizard, he names Richard to be the Seeker and starts him on the quest that will forever alter the world. (from Wikipedia)My Take on the Book: This is one of those books - the kind that leaves you wanting more when you're finished. Lucky me, I think there are 10 more books in the series. This is also the type of book that has you wondering what to read next because it is hard for anything to measure up. The characters keep coming to mind, even in my dreams. That's a sure sign that a book has deeply affected me. I have a request for the 2nd book on paperbackswap.com - hopefully it will be coming soon, otherwise, I see a visit to Borders in my near future:) There is a lot of violence in this book, both mystical and natural. There is a war going on between the D'Harans and the people of the Midlands, and many of the atrocities of war show up here. There are also some sexual situations, most not by choice, so if that offends you, this may not be the book for you. One of the things I really liked is the intelligence Richard Cypher shows in his behavior and in the way he handles difficult experiences. He questions things rather than just accepting them. In one instance, rather than offending the people he is staying with by not accepting their customs because it goes against what he believes, he comes up with a unique solution that stops him from doing something he is morally against, while allowing his hosts to "save face".
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