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Description edit
In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help ... and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence. In their darkest hour, hunted... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
The hero is Richard-the-Seeker, a woodsman with a magic sword. One day in his forest he rescues a woman pursued by assassins. She turns out to be Kahlan Amnell from the neighboring kingdom of Midlands who is seeking a wizard named Zedd to help her destroy the tyrant ruling her kingdom. Richard... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters edit
- Richard Cypher: Main character. Richard believes in "doing the right thing" no matter what the consequences are. He refuses to lower his moral standards to make his life easier. He is a woods guide and has only ever wanted to live peacefully in the woods.
- Kahlan Amnell: A young woman from the Midlands. She has a cool confidence and aura of authority that makes one think that she must be someone important.
- Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander: A quirky old friend of Richard's.
- Darken Rahl: The leader of D'Hara and the son of Panis Rahl.
- Adie: An old and powerful sorceress, she is also called the bone woman.
- Toffalar: One of the elders of the Mud People.
- George Cypher: Richard's Father
- Nissel: A healer of the Mud People.
- Dell "Chase" Brandstone: A Westland boundary warden and also a very close friend of Richard's.
- Brophy: A wolf. Friend of the Mother Confessor.
- Queen Milena: Queen of Tamarang in the Midlands.
- Siddin: Savidlin and Weselan's son.
- The Bird Man: The spiritual leader of the Mud People.
- Weselan: A Mud Person. Wife of Savidlin.
- Savidlin: A member of the Mud People.
- Denna: A Mord-Sith who works for Darken Rahl.
- Shar: A night wisp who served as a guide to Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell through the boundary between the Midlands and Westland.
- Panis Rahl: The ruthless ruler of D'Hara who was killed by the great wizard just before the boundaries went up. Father to Darken Rahl.
- Constance: Mord-Sith of Darken Rahl and "friend" to Denna.
- Giller: A wizard of the second order. He left the Wizards keep to serve a queen.
- Demmin Nass: Darken Rahl's right hand and the leader of the quads sector
- Sara: Rachel's doll given to her by the Wizard Giller
- Samuel: Shota's companion
- Violet: the daughter of Queen Milena and the heir to the throne of Tamarang
- Chase: Dell Brandstone, commonly referred to as Chase, is the leader of the boundary wardens of Westland and an old friend of Richard
- Shota: A powerful and feared witchwoman that resides in Agaden Reach.Her actions are often considered evil but she may just see the world through different eyes.
- Rachel: Playmate of Princess Violet
- Michael Cypher: Richard's older brother, first council of Hartland.
- Scarlet: A red dragon who is enslaved by Darken Rahl.
Quotes edit
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“No one is as fanatical as a convert.”
Kahlan -
“Given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe its true, or because they're afraid it might be true. Peoples' heads are full of knowledge, facts and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool.”
Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander -
“Many people must be ruled to thrive. In their selfishness and greed, they see free people as their oppressors. They wish to have a leader who will cut the taller plants so the sun will reach them. They think no plant should be allowed to grow taller than the shortest, and in that way give light to all. They would rather be provided a guiding light, regarless of the fuel, than light a candle themselves...some find, once that guiding light is lit, that they are wearing chains, and then it is too late.”
Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander -
“Wizard's First Rule: people are stupid”
Zedd -
“Queens bow down to the Mother Confessor.”
Kahlan Amnell -
“It was an odd looking vine.”
First line in Novel
- Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
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“Wizard’s First Rule: people are stupid.” Richard and Kahlan frowned even more. “People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it’s true, or because they are afraid it might be true. People’s heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool.
Highlighted by 100 Kindle customers -
Sometimes, making the wrong choice is better than making no choice. You have the courage to go forward, that is rare. A person who stands at the fork, unable to pick, will never get anywhere.”
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“Because, Richard, many people must be ruled to thrive. In their selfishness and greed, they see free people as their oppressors. They wish to have a leader who will cut the taller plants so the sun will reach them. They think no plant should be allowed to grow taller than the shortest, and in that way give light to all. They would rather be provided a guiding light, regardless of the fuel, than light a candle themselves.
Highlighted by 67 Kindle customers -
People need an enemy to feel a sense of purpose. It’s easy to lead people when they have a sense of purpose. Sense of purpose is more important by far than the truth.
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“Everything is valuable under the right conditions. To a man dying of thirst, water be more precious than gold. To a drowning man, water be of little worth and great trouble.
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“There have always been wars, Richard. Every war is a murderous struggle between foes. And yet, no army has ever marched into battle thinking that the Creator had sided with their enemy.”
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Being afraid something is true is accepting the possibility. Accepting the possibility is the first step to believing. At least you are smart enough to question. Think of how easy it is to believe, for people who don’t question, who don’t even know how to question. For most people, it’s not the truth that is important, it’s the cause.
Highlighted by 50 Kindle customers -
“Life for the strongest. There is no sympathy for the slain, only admiration for the winner’s strength.”
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Wizard’s First Rule: people are stupid, they believe what they want to believe.
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And if Darken Rahl takes the whole world into madness, then we will die with a sword in our hands, not chains on our wings.
Highlighted by 27 Kindle customers
Setting & Locations edit
- Westland: The place that was separated from the Midlands where there is no magic.
- Midlands: Home to the Confessors, Wizards and creatures/people with Magic. Separated from both Westland and D'Hara by Boundaries.
- Wizard's Keep: a refuge; a place where the wizards preserve important things of magic
- Hartland: The seat of power in Westland. Where Richard is from and where Michael hold's his seat as First Chancellor.
- D'Hara: Home of Darken Rahl, or Father Rahl and The People's Palace.
- Kings Port: A small town full of thugs near the Boundary in Westland... near Addie's home.
- Hartland Woods: The woods in Westland where Richard is a Woods Guide
- Southaven: A town in Westland
- Aydindril: The home of the Confessors and The Wizard's Keep. (Midlands)
- Agaden Reach: Located within the Midlands, it is the home of Shota the Witch Woman.
- Tamarang: Located in the Midlands it is the home of Queen Milena.
- The Wilds: A large area that covers the southern part of the Midlands. It is also home to the Mud People.
- Rang'Shada Mountains: a vast spine of rock that ran northeast across the "back" of the Midlands - from the northeast corner down the center of the Midlands, leveling off as it reached the Wilds in the south. The word Rang translated loosely as "The Chosen" and Shada was the word for an armored war gauntlet with spikes. Rang'Shada translated roughly as "War Fist of the Chosen". Cradled within the mountains was the remote place known as Agaden Reach, home of the Witch woman, Shota.
Organizations edit
- Council of the Midlands: Add a description of this organization.
- Order of Confessors: Wizards created them during the Great War to help ascertain the truth in certain situations. They are considered to be the rulers of the Midlands.
- Mord-Sith: They are a unique group of female warriors who serve the Lord Rahl.
- Boundary Wardens: Guard the boundary between the Westland and the Midlands.
- Mud People
First Sentence edit
It was an odd-looking vine.
Glossary edit
- Agiel: Weapon of pain used in torture
- Book of Counted Shadows: Book that contains the knowledge of how and which box of Orden to open.
- Boxes of Orden: Three boxes that have different types of magic.
Themes & Symbolism edit
- People Are Stupid: To quote Zedd on the Wizard's First Rule, “People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it’s true, or because they are afraid it might be true. People’s heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool."
Series & Lists edit
This is book 1 of 14 in Sword of Truth. (standard series)
Preceded by Debt of Bones, and followed by Stone of Tears.
This is book 62 of 99 in National Public Radio's Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy. (authoritative list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Terry Goodkind (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Tor Books
Country: USA
Publication Date: July 1995
ISBN: 0312857055
Page Count: 573
Publisher: Tor Books
Country: USA
Publication Date: July 1995
ISBN: 0312857055
Page Count: 573
Awards edit
- Locus Award (Finalist, 1995: Best First Novel)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PS3557.O5826 W59 1994
- Dewey: 813.54 20
Notes for Parents edit
Reading Level: AdultsThis book contains some violence and a solid chunk is devoted to the torture of one of the characters (although it isn't horribly graphic), references to child molestation, and references to rape, as well as a scene where several men attempt to rape a woman.
Subjects edit
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Movie Connections edit
- Legend of the Seeker (IMDb): This is a television series based on this book. 2008
More Books Like This edit
Books with Additional Background Information edit
Books That Influenced This Book edit
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