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Summary: Goodkind's development as a writer continues
Review: There is a difference between storytelling and writing. Storytelling is just that--telling a story, making your readers/listeners care about the characters, and what happens to them. Writing is telling a story *about* something, writing a story with a deeper philosophical meaning, taking the story where you want it to go and where it has to go, not where you think your readers want it to go. Storytelling is more fun to read, but to a reader who has gone to the trouble of aquiring a taste for it, writing is ultimately more rewarding. The Robert Jordan vs. Terry Goodkind debate is, essentially, a storytelling vs. writing debate. Goodkind is a master storyteller, the best I've ever read. And Jordan is a great writer, one of the best (along with Shakespeare and Orson Scott Card) I've ever read. Goodkind obviously values great writing as well, for he is working hard at becoming a better writer. With his last two books, he is approaching the level of Jordan. In Temple of the Winds, he was able to retain all of his storytelling ability, but he's taken a step backwards in that respect with Soul of the Fire. Naturally, this is a big disappointment to the biggest fans of his first three books. I, too, wish he would keep his emphasis on storytelling, as it is the basis of his distinctive style. Those of us who prefer great writing, however, are pleased enough by the impovements in literary value to more than make up for that. Temple of the Winds remains Goodkind's best work, but Soul of the Fire is close.
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Summary: Buy and Read
Review: Simply buy these books along with Jordan's and read. =
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Summary: Another great book!
Review: I've read all five of the Sword of Truth novels. All were excellent fantasy novels, with engrossing characters, and intelligent stories. This is not the best of the series, (that's Wizards First Rule), but this addition left me with the same longing for the next in the series. Many authors face the challenge of retelling the struggle between good and evil. Goodkind succeeds with style. His novels, like many others, are great reads.
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Summary: Of the five this is the worst
Review: First of I feel the need to address all of those people that condemn Goodkind because of the obvious comparisons to Jordan's work. Apparently they are not aware that the major complaint against The Wheel of Time is that most of the ideas are stolen from other sources. Please read Tolkien or Frank Herbert (Dune, etc.)if you have any doubt that this is true. The point to take away from this is that there are many ideas that are inherent to the genre of fantasy. If many of these ideas were not included in the books that I have read, then I would feel cheated. Goodkind, Jordan, Eddings et al. do a great job in clothing similar ideas in differing and intriguing prose. If you pick up a novel that claims to be a fantasy novel, expect to see a good bit of what you've seen in other books. Now on to critiquing this book. In short, it sucked. It's okay for an author to moralize and present personal philosophies within a plot line so long as the plot (action, suspense, all those things that go along with it) is primary. The social commentarity should be secondary, or even better, tertiary. It should only spring out if you dig for the meaning. This book reversed that thought. It put his views on political issues front and center, rather than off to the side where someone, like myself, who doesn't enjoy that in a fantasy novel, can easily ignore it in favor of movement. Also, I miss Chase, Adie, Nathan, Sister Verna and Warren. And lastly, I strongly support the statement that Jagang and Richard need to have a knockdown drag out spat soon.
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Summary: i can't believe you people
Review: Alright, this is directed to all of the people out there who hated this book for no other reason than saying Goodkind stole Jorden's material. I don't understand what you base all of your so-called informaiton on. Just because Richard starts with a "R" and so doesn't Rand, this is some-how ripping off Jordans work. If any of you had bothered to ask Goodkind himself you may have found out that he doesnt read fantacy books. Here is a little quote from a chat setion with Goodkind at barnesandnoble.com : A chatter asked what influence jordan had on his books and goodkind replied " Zero influence. I don't read other fantasy. That said, you must understand that these kinds of stories, in other words fantasy, involve some of the deepest, deepest myths of mankind that are common to all peoples throughout all time. So, just like the fear of the dark, there will be common elements with other writers who are also touching that deep inner myth." I don't know how people became so critical and judgemental. I can almost say with absolute certainty that most, if not all of you could not write anything half as good as Terry Goodkind. And if it agrivates you so much that some concepts sound the same, then don't read books anymore.
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Summary: TWO WORDS: WHAT HAPPENED?
Review: In ToW, and indeed, all of the SoT books, the reading has been intense, but also had a restraining sense of steady progression that made the book "feel" real. Now, in Soul of the Fire, Goodkind rushes through the events with the haste of a high-schooler writing his first piece. Then, what irks me most of all is that he has given his characters (and readers) what they want most: happiness. An in the space 500 short pages, he snatches it away. I, for one, am totally and utterly disappointed, and hope that Mr. Goodkind will make an effort to amend his mistakes in future installments.
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Summary: How to enjoy this book
Review: I must say that I really liked the book, although I agree with a lot of negative comments about it that I have seen here. The key to enjoying this book is to stop lamenting about "oh so slow pace" and "oh so unimportant characters" and look at it as it stands in the context of the entire series. Yes it was slower than the rest, and yes, some characters were not mentioned while other "unimportant" ones were introduced. But think the way Terry had to introduce new region, new culture, new people, new majic, all in one book, and it will become apparent that the pace HAD to slow down for this one. But who says faster is better than slower? I personally was ready for a respite from all the action taking place in one book after another. You go slower, but you have a chance to enjoy the surroundings more. And who is to say which characters are unimportant? Even the ones that die, convey something the author wants to tell his audience through their lives, short as they might be. And I am sure we'll see some of those that survived in later books. In fact, even those that die, can come back as spirits, as we all know. How cool would it be if all we read about was 2 or 3 main characters and the world through their eyes? Think of all the people as they stand at the end of this book and about the lessons they learned. Now the stage is set for a major development, now the avenues for plot advancement are wide open, and my imagination fails me in predicting where it will go next. Jagang will have to be faced eventually, of course, but think of what position he is in now. In short, I was not ready for the series to end, and it didn't, so I am happy for it. Jagang can wait another 20 years. I think this book is a major landmark in the series, precisely because it's slower and more solid than the other faster, action-based ones. And as far as it not being "Sword of Truth" book: who cares about a stupid angry sword, we are in it for Richard and Kahlan, right? And comparing Jordan and Terry, compare their latest books. Since the are both slow, it's a fair comparison. Honestly, which one did you like more? Based on that, I will still buy both next books, but I will wait for paperback for Jordan's. That's my personal, subjective, unfair, biased opinion. Plus, I like the covers on ....(take a guess whose) books much more to make it worth 20 bucks. Feel free to offer ways to save my wicked black soul from liking this book, and I promise I will listen, since I hear the Keeper is in foul mood these days and not gentle with those in his care.
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Summary: Majorly disappointed
Review: SOTF is a major disappointment. The book was well written but I felt increasing resentment at having to plod through seemingly endless pages on Anderith and a whole new set of characters that turned out to be insignificant anyway. Way too much time was spent on setting up the situation for a very minimal payoff. With so much time spent on developing these characters, I at least thought it was for a grand purpose, something truly climactic, but all of the characters were dismnissed casually and quickly, hardly signifying at all. I also resented the minimal participation of the main characters, Richard, Kahlan, et al. who had no new development, got nowhere in their quest for their own education in magic or their quest against the Imperial Order. It seems they were relegated to the sidleines in this story which to me is sad and angering. Part of the "magic" of the previous books is the chemistry and interaction between the characters; how they find themselves and learn about their place in the word as a result of their experiences together. We get to see very little of this in SOTF. My last bone to pick is the ending, which came very suddenly and I found exasperating. Confusing, too. Dalton Campbell's actions at the end were to me toatlly unbelievable and out of character.All in all, I think I'll forget SOTF even exists and wait in hopes the next installment will return to the formulae of the past books. Even Blood of the Fold, which to me is the weakest in the series and mostly a "filler" book, was light years ahead of SOTF.
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Summary: crap.
Review: This fifth book in Goodkind's series is crap. Nothing more. Hmm... let's see... could it be a rehashed story written only to make some money and tide over fans until he feels like writing a real book? I would have to say yes. The same storytelling ability Goodkind has demonstrated in the past is still there, but that's about it. The main characters that were developed through 4 books are practically missing from this fifth. TG: I got your point, but you didn't need 500+ pages to make it. Perhaps make your point, then tell some more of the story? Oh, wait, but then you couldn't make as much money...
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Summary: A great work of epic fantasy!
Review: Since my introduction to the works of Goodkind, I have waited for each new book. Every book has great detail that leaves very little to the imagination. Again, Soul of the Fire was no disappointment. It has all the thing that made the other book in this series so great to read.
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