Wizard's First Rule

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Wizard’s First Rule is the first book in the Sword of Truth series of books, published by Tor Books. It was written by Terry Goodkind and was released on August 15, 1994 in hardcover and in paperback on July 15, 1997. The book also was re-released with new cover artwork by Keith Parkinson in paperback on June 23, 2001.

1 Success
2 The Story
- 2.1 Characters
- 2.2 Wizard's First Rule

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Success

At age 45, Terry Goodkind decided to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a novelist. A year later he sent a query letter describing his first effort, the three hundred thousand word opus titled Wizard's First Rule, to Russell Galen. Galen, one of the genre's most influential agents quickly wrote back, "I feel a ripple of history in the making. Send me your book."

Ten weeks later, Wizard's First Rule made news long before its actual publication due to the fact that the young first novelist received an advance far in excess of those earned by many established authors. Wizard's First Rule sold at auction for more than six times the record price ever paid for a first fantasy novel (viz., $275,000). Published in October, 1994 with a first print run of sixty thousand copies--three to five thousand is the norm--it has become an international bestseller and garnered praise from the likes of Marion Zimmer Bradley, Piers Anthony, Anne McCaffery, and the Kirkrus Review. It is also one of the most successful debut fantasy novels in the history of trade publishing. Immediately following its success, Tor published a sequel, Stone of Tears, which was given an equally impressive launch and led to the purchase of the rights to three more books and the entire Sword of Truth series.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

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The Story

Image:Wizardsfirstrule.jpg

Wizard’s First Rule stars a young man by the name of Richard Cypher, a single young woods guide. Richard lives in an area of the fantasy world known as Westland separated from everyone else by a dangerous magical boundary that prevents anyone from passing through it. On the other side of the boundary also lies many sovereign nations, jointly known as the Midlands, and the large empires D'Hara and The Old World. Richard works as a woods guide leading important political figures through dangerous forests, while his brother's interests lay entirely in politics.

Richard is naturally compelled to investigate the mysterious murder of his father when he happens upon his destiny, a woman Kahlan Amnell, and keeps her from also being murdered by a group of four men known as a quad.

After saving Kahlan’s life, it is revealed that Kahlan has somehow come through the boundary and is now searching for the First Wizard. Richard feels that this woman is in need of protection, and takes her to the only man he can trust: his best friend, a friend who had helped to raise him: Zedd.

Richard discovers that this close friend of his has kept many secrets from him for his entire life - Zedd is not the simple man that he had presumed he was, but rather the wizard that Kahlan is looking for.

Kahlan tells him of the events taking place on the other side of the boundary. An evil leader called Darken Rahl is leading his army against the Midlands. At the same time, Zedd comes to the decision that Richard is the one true Seeker and gives him the Sword of Truth. They begin their journey together to stop Darken Rahl.

However, due to a series of events, Richard and Kahlan are forced to cross the boundary alone and go on to the Mud People village in hopes of finding out where the third box of Orden is hidden. From there, they learn that only the witch woman, Shota, in Agaden Reach, has the power to reveal to them the location of the last box of Orden.

The story continues as it follows the team of Richard, Kahlan, Zedd and Chase as they attempt to collect one of the mysterious boxes of Orden and prevent Darken Rahl from gaining ultimate power over all.

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Characters

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