thefonz on 14/10/2008 at 20:49
This one cropped up out of nowhere!
Its funny because I just started reading "Phantom" and am enjoying being back in the mythos that Mr Terry Goodkind created.
(
http://www.sword-of-truth.com/tv/legend-of-the-seeker)
Thoughts, impressions?
The chick playing Kahlan makes me feel funny in my boxers...
BEAR on 14/10/2008 at 21:23
I hadn't heard about that at all. I've not been up on the series for many years (I'm so fucking sick of 20 book fantasy series), but as far as other adaptations of books go (see: earthsea miniseries on sci-fi), I'm not going to get my hopes up (or even watch it in the first place possibly).
fett on 15/10/2008 at 01:46
I love what I've read of this series. Like Jordan, but without all the bullshit. And yeah, me trousers are a bit out o' whack as well.
Scots Taffer on 15/10/2008 at 02:04
These books are laughably bad so I can't in all honesty expect much from the TV series but I imagine it'll be a step above what's come before it in terms of Fantasy Action like Hercules and Xena (not that I watched either), at least in production values if not in all areas.
The problem with the books, beyond that the fact that the only real hook of the first one is as a thinly-veiled swords and magic Star Wars rip-off that sort of works in a thirteen-year-old bondage and blood fetishistic way, is that the writing is pretty dire and his world-building/characterisation even more so.
Once book one is over it's relatively clear that Goodkind had no fucking clue what he was doing. You hit books 2 and 3 and notice the Dan-Brownian level of duplicated plot mechanics, book 4 managed a slight revival for the series with some interesting twists and turns but then 5 and (what I read of) 6, before I burned it in a fit of rage after it AGAIN pulled the ole LOL RICHARD IS KIDNAPPED/ENSLAVED AND KAHLAN IS IN DANGER trick, confirmed to me that Goodkind is a no-good talentless hack who had one or two original ideas (and I've heard even that's debatable - I didn't touch the Wheel of Time with a ten foot stick with a flaming shit on the end but from what I gather there's more than a few similarities between the Sword of Truth series and its forebear) that were pummeled into submission by his shitty writing and hamfisted sermons on social and philosophical issues close to his heart.
fett on 15/10/2008 at 02:13
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
the only real hook of the first one is as a thinly-veiled swords and magic Star Wars rip-off that sort of works in a thirteen-year-old bondage and blood fetishistic way
Wait, that's a bad thing?
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
Once book one is over it's relatively clear that Goodkind had no fucking clue what he was doing. You hit books 2 and 3 and notice the Dan-Brownian level of duplicated plot mechanics, book 4 managed a slight revival for the series with some interesting twists and turns but then 5 and (what I read of) 6, before I burned it in a fit of rage after it AGAIN pulled the ole LOL RICHARD IS KIDNAPPED/ENSLAVED AND KAHLAN IS IN DANGER trick, confirmed to me that Goodkind is a no-good talentless hack who had one or two original ideas (and I've heard even that's debatable - I didn't touch the Wheel of Time with a ten foot stick with a flaming shit on the end but from what I gather there's more than a few similarities between the Sword of Truth series and its forebear) that were pummeled into submission by his shitty writing and hamfisted sermons on social and philosophical issues close to his heart.
But you did read all the way to book 5, so now you're invested. You have to watch the show. It's like the last season of X-Files. Sometimes you've just gone too far to cut your losses...:erg:
Scots Taffer on 15/10/2008 at 02:18
I had invested nothing, I don't get wrapped up in something that doesn't continue to engage me on a number of levels. I have no completionist tendencies either so if something falls below a level of acceptable entertainment value then it gets jettisoned.
And while book one being a SW rip-off may not be a bad thing as a hook, it does indicate that any other cheques arriving from Goodkind's creative bank might bounce.
BEAR on 15/10/2008 at 02:43
I read the books as a teenager and was aware even then of many of the drawbacks that Scots mentions, but at the time I didn't really seem to care that much. I found them more or less entertaining enough to read them, but it was laughable how they constantly harped on richard being "the one" and a "war-wizard" or whatever, but the entire plot would fall apart if he ever were to have learned magic in the slightest, so he doesn't. Over 7 books.
Its like going from the first matrix movie to the second. You are told that the main character is basically the man, but as that doesn't really leave much room for strife in subsequent additions to the franchise, that fact is overlooked in favor of cobbling together a story.
I have a feeling if I went back and re-read any of those books it would probably drive me mad. I remember how hard it was for me to read some of the Wheel of Time books as well. I loved the story, but I couldn't fucking stand Jordans writing. The constant harping by overly hateful bitches and page after page of descriptions of what everyone was wearing got really freaking old. Not to mention the fact that it was literally like a million books long.
I think I'm probably better off never going back to those series so as to maintain whatever fond memories remain of them.
Scots Taffer on 15/10/2008 at 02:44
I was essentially in your place about 3 years ago when I picked up the first book and attempted to read it again, then I skimmed some of books 2 and 3 and it all came flooding back.
fett on 15/10/2008 at 03:21
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
I have no completionist tendencies either so if something falls below a level of acceptable entertainment value then it gets jettisoned.
You're a better man than I. I ride shit until the very dead end, good or bad. Probably why I got caught up so heavily in the Christian thing for so long. Many times, the good outweighs the bad (see: Rush, Harry Potter, Battlestar Galactica, Thief), other times, not (see: Yes, Wheel of Time, Lost, Deus Ex).
Haven't figured out where TTLG fits into that yet. :)
Also, I intend to immediately start using the new word you just made up, i.e. "McCain has completionist tendencies when it comes to Iraq."
thefonz on 15/10/2008 at 05:49
Slightly harsher than needed words here I think. The books are indeed mindless, but i've always had respect for those authors who manage to drag you into their world and actually keep you interested. First three books were good then it got terrible but Ive recently picked up "Phantom" at the local library and its not half bad.
But what are the thoughts on this series? Watching the trailers on that site it does look like it is a bit pants. However Goodkind seemed to fill his world with beautiful, buxom women as main characters so that makes me happy.:cheeky:
