Kevin's Watch

And did you see his photo?

Why does his hair (face and head) look airbrushed? The mind boggles.

He looks like a Wrestler from the WWF (or whatever they are called these days), and that is not a good thing.

Heh, yeah, that place is hilarious.

Well, I just finished WFR, and sort of liked it. I've started SoT, and can already tell it's gonna be a long haul. I generally like tomes, but they have to have something for my teeth to sink into...

And having read through this thread, I can see that it is probably not in my best interest to go beyond the first few books.

I like his notion of the Seeker...the concept reminds me of Sufis, but his treatment of the character most assuredly does not.

I had a nice little laugh while reading how he thinks he's at the forefront of fantasy...he's saying it, but SRD is actually doing it!

One of the reasons there are so many negative comments on Goodkind's books may be this place - the Kevin's Watch. He is in so many ways nearly opposite to SRD - ideas, style, attitude...

I find that his books can provide food for thought. Simply don't feel like I have to even generally agree with the author's ideas (and some are agreeable even) to find something of interest in his stories.

Also, as already mentioned here, he really writes something more like fantasy world placed political satire. That's neither for better nor for the worse - just another genre, but someone who expected fantasy and is in no mood for satirical stories can be thoroughly disappointed.

Effaeldm wrote:One of the reasons there are so many negative comments on Goodkind's books may be this place - the Kevin's Watch. He is in so many ways nearly opposite to SRD - ideas, style, attitude...

...talent, humility, respect, self-awareness, fashion sense, tether to reality...

Also, as already mentioned here, he really writes something more like fantasy world placed political satire.

I've read all the books but PoC, and I have to strongly disagree that there's any satire to it. Allegory, moralizing, and polemicizing in spades, but no satire.

I disagree with his politics, but that's not the issue. The problem is that he thinks knocking down strawmen constitutes revolutionizing the fantasy genre (or makes interesting reading).

Effaeldm,

Effaeldm wrote:One of the reasons there are so many negative comments on Goodkind's books may be this place - the Kevin's Watch. He is in so many ways nearly opposite to SRD - ideas, style, attitude...

I find that his books can provide food for thought. Simply don't feel like I have to even generally agree with the author's ideas (and some are agreeable even) to find something of interest in his stories.

Also, as already mentioned here, he really writes something more like fantasy world placed political satire. That's neither for better nor for the worse - just another genre, but someone who expected fantasy and is in no mood for satirical stories can be thoroughly disappointed.

What I really enjoy about the SoT books are the Chickens that are actually "evil incarnate" and the "hero" breaking the jaws of small bratty children.

That's the "don't feel like I have to even generally agree" I already stated. It's usually more like he writes something and I think out what a reply to that can be.

And some things are actually useful, though this will take longer to explain - part of it as a sample of debating argumentation and behavior, part as a transitional way to get some people to understanding of other ideas and stories later, etc.

As for his views, maybe he got distracted because of some child, stumbled on a chicken and hit his head or something I'm far not saying to go and accept his ideas, instead that it may be interesting to read them - he has his reasons and motivations, why not look at them. There's as well the reasoning that books are read for information, not for morals.

Also, I'm not easily discarding most different options and opinions, let alone people. If I may quote a character from a book you're quite likely to know , "I have no special virtue to make me resent him. One must have strength in order to judge the weakness of others. I am not so mighty." I far don't fly above the clouds with a nimbus over my head, his works have thought in them - I can think on that, on his morals, adequacy and such the most I can say is that I regret they are as they are and wish him more wisdom and deeper understanding.

I love to tell this story from WFC two years ago...

I was in a group of writers on the morning of the last day of the convention. My table mates were Steven Erikson, Ian Esselmont, Michael Stackpole, Bob Vardeman, Nathan Lane and some guy who's name I don't remember. We got into a conversation about jacket photos and I went off about how I can't stand the melodramatic brooding angry artist photos. When Steve asked me what I meant exactly I offered up Terry Goodkind and proclaimed him the posterboy for really horrible jacket photos.

Had an edition with no jacket photo, googled, thank you for mentioning this one

Well, being a poseur is hardly a crime. More like a punishment even.

OMG NOOOOOOOOOO