It is always curious to see fantasy authors who don't consider themselves to be fantasy authors. Case-in-point: Terry Goodkind. The former landscape painter has told us how he isn't a fantasy author in every interview he's ever given:"The books I write are first of all novels, not fantasy, and that is deliberate; I'm really writing books about human beings."(1)"To define me as a fantasy writer is to misunderstand the context of my books by misidentifying their fundamentals."(2)"The stories I'm telling are not fantasy-driven, they're character-driven, and the characters I want to write about could be set in any world. I'd like to address a broader audience."(3)""What I have done with my work has irrevocably changed the face of fantasy. In so doing I've raised the standards. I have not only injected thought into a tired empty genre, but, more importantly, I've transcended it showing what more it can be . . ."Then the interview usually devolves into a discussion of Ayn Rand and 'the meaning of art', just in case you missed the pretension of declaring fantasy books 'not fantasy!'The guy certainly has a chip on his shoulder, but it makes me wonder whether he has actually read any fantasy. He doesn't seem to realize that the things he claims separate him from fantasy are fundamental parts of how modern fantasy works. A novel that's fundamentally about character interactions with a magical setting? How droll. Goodkind doesn't reinventing the novel; he doesn't even reinvent the fantasy novel, he just twists the knobs to get a little more steam out of it.Michael Moorcock critiqued Tolkien as a false romantic, which is rather apt considering that his love story takes place almost entirely in absentia (prompting Peter Jackson to infuse some extra loving with a hot, elven, psychic dream sequence). Most fantasy authors rectify this by having the girl come along for the journey. Goodkind likes to keep the separation for much of the story as our hero tries to seek her out across a continent (though she is often just in the next room! Oh! What a tragic coincidence!) Actually, after the first time it's just an annoying and painfully artificial way to try to hold off the conclusion for another hundred pages. It's a good thing Terry doesn't have to rely on magical or artificial means to keep his stories fresh!The rest of the time, the hero finds the girl and lovingly transfixes her on his mighty sword. No, really. I'm not sure why these authors always end up feeling as if they have to dump their sex fetish issues at this particular juncture: "Huh, I dig BDSM. Maybe I should confide my fantasies in a book for mass publication".I cannot think of a single female character in the entire series who isn't either raped or threatened with rape. If you want to give me an example of one, remember: I'm counting magical psychic blowjob rape as rape. I wish I never had the opportunity to qualify a statement with 'don't forget the psychic blowjob rape'.I don't mind actual BDSM literature, but I'd rather have my own reaction to it than be told "isn't it totally dirty and wrong!? (but still super sexy, right?)" Porn for porn's sake is fine, but remember, Goodkind isn't some escapist fantasy author, these are 'real stories about real people' so he has to act like his magic porn is somehow a reflection of real life.Goodkind's books are cookie-cutter genre fantasy, but the first few aren't that badly done, and if you like people narrowly missing one another, bondage, masochism, rape, and dragons, it might work for you, but the series dies on arrival part-way through, so prepare for disappointment.If you are enjoying the series, you should probably avoid reading any of his interviews, as he rarely misses an opportunity to claim that he is superior to all other fantasy authors, and never compare him to Robert Jordan, because"If you notice a similarity, then you probably aren't old enough to read my books."(4)Goodkind truly lives in his own fantasy world if he thinks his mediocre genre re-hash is 'original' or 'deep'.Then again, I've never met an adherent of Ayn Rand who didn't consider themselves a brilliant and unique snowflake trapped in a world of people who 'just don't understand'. The Randian philosophies are also laid on pretty thickly in his books, but at least he found a substitute grandmother figure to help him justify his Gorean sex-romp as 'high art'.All in all, he's just another guy who likes to hear himself talk. Despite what he says, nothing separates his work from the average modern fantasy author, and like them, his greatest failing is the complete lack of self-awareness that overwhelms his themes, plots, and characters.My Fantasy Book Suggestions
Meh. The beginning was good, but the remainder was pretty boring and drawn out until the last 100 pages or so. Several events occurred, without giving spoilers, that were completely predictable and not at all surprising or insightful. Considering how good the first 2 books were and how "better than ok" the third book was, this one is quite a let down. By now, readers expect a lot of the main characters, as Goodkind has built them up to personify specific characteristics, but Richard and Kahlan continue to exhibit childlike attitudes with regard to the simplest obstacles. Richard literally throws a tantrum and pouts for an indeterminable amount of time.This book could have been shorter or much more exciting had Goodkind chopped out a lot of the unnecessary repetition and pointless banter. The back and forth conversations between Kahlan and Nadine, Kahlan and Richard, and Anne and Zedd, and Richard and nearly anyone else are so painful to get through that the reader would be better served listening to their grandparents breathing through their noses while they eat sandwiches. Through their conversations, Goodkind paints his characters to be quite idiotic, needing things explained in every possible way before any hint of understanding occurs.
What do You think about Temple Of The Winds (2007)?
Steve wrote: "This is one is the best in series for me so far..."I'm re-reading this series right now actually! Because I love it so much! :D I think my favorite is Faith of the Fallen!
—Branwen *Blaidd Drwg*
Definitely the worst of these yet. I almost one-starred it, but the main thing that was making me want to do that was semi-addressed by the end, so I don't think this series has quite reached the point of untenable badness just yet. I've been forcing myself to write reviews immediately after finishing books, but I'm going to make an exception with this one because a) I need a break from it, and b) I annotated the shit out of my copy of the book and will need to put actual effort into going back through it for quotes and such. So: full review later, but for now, 1.5 stars, rounded up.
—Ashley
The Temple of the Winds was the best installment of the Sword of Truth series, so far. I was enthralled from the very beginning and felt compassionate with the main characters, immediately and unconditionally. I bled with Cara, I cried with Kahlan and I felt desperate with Richard. Every novel of this series I've read so far, came with a lesson. A so-called Law of Magic, but in it's essence is a lesson in morality. THis novel delves deeper in the finer workings of forgiveness and what a powerful tool it is. As Richard and Kahlan begin to understand it's power, even I feel like I've learned something from it.
—Nathalie
