Must have Books - The Sword of Truth Series

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	Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind The magical boundaries between the three lands of forest guide Richard Cypher's world are crumbling: Strange beasts from the Midlands, where magic still exists, appear in his Westland forest. And so does Kahlan Amnell, a young woman with some interesting powers and four assassins on her trail. She is in search of the great wizard who left the Midlands not long after he set the boundaries. He is the only one who can possibly thwart Darken Rahl, an evil wizard who has set in motion a process that will result in the enslavement of the three lands. When Richard's eccentric friend and mentor, Zedd, is sought out for advice about finding the great wizard, Kahlan identifies Zedd as the object of her search. The process that Darken Rahl has initiated requires him to obtain the three boxes of Orden, and, within one year, to open the proper box. As time grows short, Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, and a border guard, Chase, go in quest of the one box that the evil wizard still lacks. Among the truths that Richard learns along the way is the wisdom of the Wizard's First Rule: People are stupid and will believe almost anything. A wonderfully creative, seamless, and stirring epic fantasy debut.
	Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind The second volume of The Sword of Truth continues the quest of Richard Cypher, reluctant hero turned magical warrior, and his beloved Kahlan Amnell, the last Mother Confessor. Twisting the traditional roles (now common enough in fiction but done particularly well here), it is Richard who has to handle the magical part of the quest and Kahlan who must lead armies against the surviving forces of the dead mage, Darken Rahl. Not as tightly written as it might be, this volume yet features plenty of action, some engaging characters, and world building full of nice touches and intelligence. Goodkind's prospective series may have been encouraged by Robert Jordan's successful Wheel of Time saga.
	Blood of the Fold by Terry Goodkind Flood of the Bold somehow seems more appropriate; still, here's another adventure for reluctant wizard Richard Cypher and his eponymous sword. Richard is joined by his beloved, the warrior Kahlan Amnell, and his grandfather, the wizard Zedd; once again their world is threatened by an ancient, unspeakable evil. What a surprise. Like the others, this entry is self-contained, though newcomers may find the references to previous events confusing. Anyhow, the outcome's all but indistinguishable from dozens of other bloated epics. Although obviously too far along in the saga to be recommended as a starting point, Blood will make those who have been following it from the beginning very happy.
	Temple of the Winds by Terry Goodkind Another independently intelligible doorstopper addition to Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. This time, sword-wielder and wizard Richard Rahl, his warrior beloved Kahlan, grandfather Zedd, and the rest of the cast are threatened by the Imperial Order and their dream walker, Jagang, who sends a wizard-assassin, Marlin, to kill Richard. Meanwhile, old flame Nadine, befuddled by a witch, shows up intending to marry Richard; close behind comes the healer Drefan, Richard's half- brother. Marlin/Jagang announces gleefully that he's caught Richard in a ``bound fork prophesy,'' a fancy way of saying heads I win, tails you lose. Another one for the fans.
	Soul of the Fire by Terry Goodkind The fifth volume of Goodkind's multivolume extravaganza, the Sword of Truth, involves a threat to magic rather than from it. When Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell invoked the Chimes to save her beloved Richard Rahl, she called magic-disrupting elementals into the world. They threaten everything that depends on magic, including the ability of the Mord-Sith to guard Richard and Kahlan and that of the secret weapon of the Anderiths, the Dominie Dirtch, to fend off the advancing armies of the Emperor Jagang, who is now even more a conscienceless thug than ever before. Meanwhile, intrigues at the sovereign's court in Anderith and feuds between Anders and Hakens among its population threaten to give the imperials a clear road forward, without any assistance from the Chimes. All comes out right, though somewhat ragged, in the end. This could be the end of an admirable feat of storytelling, but with more to discover about magic, and Jagang and company not yet cast down, one or more volumes are probably still in the pipeline.
	Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind In the sixth Sword of Truth yarn, Richard has nursed Kahlan back to health after her ordeal in Soul of the Fire and taught her to be a highly skilled swordswoman. He is resolved, however, to withdraw from the battle to keep the Imperial Order out of the Midlands--that is, until he is kidnapped by the Dark Sister Nicci, the emperor's mistress. With a particularly vicious spell, in which any harm that befalls her also befalls Kahlan, Nicci binds Richard to her. Kahlan organizes a formidable army of resistance, anyway, and Richard makes a life for himself and Nicci under the Imperial Order, a regime that combines the vices of right-wing evangelicals and Stalinist communism, unalloyed by any of either's few virtues. Skilled at wood carving, Richard creates a statue that catalyzes spiritual transformation in the emperor's subjects, replacing their despair with hope and their feeling of worthlessness with confidence. Consequently, they rise up en masse, while Kahlan holds the imperial army in the field. Nicci changes sides, leading to a conclusion that would wrap the saga up, except that the emperor is still alive. A plot summary doesn't do justice to Goodkind's well-constructed book, in which he develops marginally plausible plot elements into a credible story and says something serious about the abuse of guilt and selflessness to motivate social behavior. Goodkind is moving up in the ranks of the followers of Tolkien, Eddings, and Jordan.
	The Pillars of Creation by Terry Goodkind Fantasy bestseller Goodkind brings his usual strong sense of place and distinct characterization to his seventh sprawling novel in the popular Sword of Truth series, though the action, too often discussed rather than shown, takes a while to warm up. The struggle continues between the New World's Seeker of Truth, Lord Richard Rahl, and the Old World's totalitarian leader, Emperor Jagang "the Just," against the dry and barren beauty of the desert landscape. After deposing his father, old Lord Rahl, Richard lingers in the background at his immense fortress. Meanwhile, battling for power are the bastards that old Rahl has also sired, notably Richard's oafish lout of a half-brother, Oba, who tries to murder his way to the throne. Taking center stage is the vengeful Jennsen, who wants to kill Richard because she blames him for her mother's murder. Of course, Richard isn't the villain she takes him for, though Jennsen is slow to catch on. Amid the interminable sword-and-sorcery in the tradition of Robert E. Howard (Howard would have especially appreciated the huge serpent with which Oba and Jennsen contend), the author spouts his familiar political pieties. Lip service may be paid to public good, but passion arises only in scenes of violence. For all its clumsy exposition, unlikely coincidences and feeble attempts at humor, this latest installment, with its striking jacket art showing a beautiful desert landscape, is as certain to please Goodkind's legions of fans as previous books in the series.
	Naked Empire by Terry Goodkind Beginning with Wizard’s First Rule and continuing through six enthralling sequels, Terry Goodkind has thrilled and awed SFBC members with his sweeping fantasy saga, The Sword of Truth. Now the bestselling author returns with the latest novel in the series, a rousing adventure of epic intrigue, violent conflict and terrifying peril for Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell and her husband, Lord Richard Rahl. Richard has been poisoned, and saving an empire from annihilation is the price of the antidote. As the shadow of death looms, and the empire crumbles before the invading hordes, he is offered not only his own life but the salvation of a people. But the price is far higher than he is willing to pay. For in exchange, he must deliver his wife, Kahlan, into bondage to the enemy.
	Debt of Bones by Terry Goodkind As the Midlands’ war with D’Hara burns hot in the borderlands, a young mother begs First Wizard Zedd to save her child and her people—innocents captured by the foe, who plan to drive them between the clashing armies. At first, he sees no way to help. But Abby carries a debt of bones that binds her and Zedd by magic—a debt she calls due. The exciting prequel to Terry Goodkind's much-loved, highly successful Sword of Truth series--complete with a specially commissioned author's introduction and exclusive full-page illustrations by artist Keith Parkinson! Goodkind's fervent admirers have sent all his books in this landmark fantasy series soaring to the top of the best-seller lists...and the Debt of Bones will surely continue tradition. Pre-dating Wizard's First Rule, and featuring one of the fans' favorite characters (First Wizard Zedd), this epochal tale gives fresh insight to that later story.