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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
3-great books, each for totally different reasons, October 25, 2006
This review is from: The Sword of Truth, Boxed Set III, Books 7-9: The Pillars of Creation, Naked Empire, Chainfire (Mass Market Paperback)
As a HUGE fan of the Sword of Truth series, I have picked up each novel with a renewed interest in where Terry Goodkind will send us next, and what will happen next in the monumental battle against Jagang's seeminly endless army of the Order. Most of the novels have been absolutely amazing -- with only two exceptions, one of which has been included in this boxed set.
Pillars Of Creation ****
If this had been the very first book in the series, it would have been received MUCH better than it originally was. I have three big reasons why, and they have NOTHING to do with how good the book is. Let me explain: I purchased this book originally in hardback, and I noticed that the inside front cover *teased* us with a miniature description of the storyline...the problem is the publisher manipulates you into thinking this story features the main characters of Richard, Kahlan and soforth. The second reason is that of ALL the Terry Goodkind novels, this is the ONLY one NOT packaged as a Sword of Truth Novel on the front (of the hardback edition). WHY??? I'll TELL you why: what little we actually see of Richard contains nothing about the actual Sword itself. The third reason is the MAIN problem with the way the novel was packaged in the first place: It really moves the entire storyline nowhere. I may discover that to be incorrect after I finish the 11th and final novel (not out as I write this) but thus far, you could easily skip from Faith of the Fallen directly to Naked Empire and lose virtually NOTHING. I simply do NOT understand this type of departure from the main storytelling. I have since actually interviewed Mr. Goodkind and he is WELL aware of how this bothers a large number of his readers, and yet his explanation didn't satisfy my interest in the WHY he actually did it. Just imagine if George Lucas had decided instead of making Return of the Jedi, told a parallell story that took place within the Galaxy Far, Far Away, but not advancing ANY of the previous plot whatsoever and never including Luke, Leia, Han Solo and the droids except for the last 15 minutes ultimately giving us no real reason or desire to see the final chapter regardless of how entertaining it may have been.
With that said, I STILL enjoyed Pillars. It was well told, executed and kept my interest -- sometimes if only to continuously wonder where in the WORLD the main characters were? I liked the story of Richard's un-Gifted sister very much. That does not mean I didn't miss Richard and the rest, but felt it an odd departure and still do not feel that the novel *fits* into the saga as a whole. I enjoyed Soul of the Fire even less, but at least half of that novel introduced a situation that is critical to the on-going progression of the storyline.
Naked Empire *****
This was pure and simple Terry's effort to make up for how he disappointed us readers with Pillars. That may not be what Goodkind actually was thinking as he wrote this, but it certainly is MY opinion. In the midst of trying to handle the ever worsening war with the Order, Richard discovers a group of people who have cut themselves off from the rest of the world, seemingly on purpose, and quite literally refuses to defend themselves from the invasion of the Order. They are the pure definition of a pacifist -- times TEN. Richard becomes a bit preachy at parts, but that did not bother me the way it did others. When you actually DEAL with a committed pacifist, it takes a great deal of persuasion and repetitive speaking in order to gain any ground -- if any at all. A well-told tale that really did not advance the entire storyline much -- okay not at all, but at least featured Richard, which is really all most of us want anyway.
Chainfire *****
This was a slow starting story. But once the rubber hit the pavement, it took off with a burst of tremendous speed. The idea that some of the Sisters of the Dark could have the audacity to trigger a spell as far reaching and possibly earth-shattering as the Chainfire, well it is certainly one which is monumental in scope and amazingly creative as well and completely entertaining at the same time. The last 50 pages are as good as ANYTHING written by Goodkind, and more than that, I felt it was just about the best part of ALL of his novels period. The following novel I felt was JUST as compelling, but I already wrote about that in another review. Suffice it to say that when Goodkind is batting well, he quite literally hits home runs...some are Grand Slams, while others are just really really good, but twice he has hit a couple of fouls, one of which borders on an outright failure, but I'll leave that judgement call up to you. I still cannot wait for the 11th and final Sword of Truth novel to hit the shelves next year -- well at least I HOPE it comes out in '07...making us wait until '08 would certainly constitute a human rights violation, right?
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great fantasy series continues, February 22, 2008
This review is from: The Sword of Truth, Boxed Set III, Books 7-9: The Pillars of Creation, Naked Empire, Chainfire (Mass Market Paperback)
This set contains books 7-9 of Terry Goodkind's wonderful epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth: The Pillars of Creation, Naked Empire, and Chainfire.
The Pillars of Creation - 4 stars.
This is not among the best books of the series--some of the new characters are better than others, and some parts of the story more engrossing than others--but it is still quite good. I especially liked Althea and her husband Friedrich, and Tom. Jennsen is a mixed case, but more good than bad. Oba was a bit annoying. Sebastian is one of the best new Goodkind characters, good or evil (perhaps in this case not obviously either), in a long time. The section when he takes Jennsen to meet Emperor Jagang for the storming of Aydindril stands up to almost anything in the series thus far.
And, as usual, Goodkind's story illustrates important political and philosophical themes. Here we have a novel about the crucial need of, appropriately enough in light of 9/11, good intelligence agencies (though this is hardly an Ian Fleming novel), and more deeply of using your own judgment rather than relying on what others tell you is the right or wrong thing to do. A worthy message well told.
Naked Empire - 4 stars.
In Naked Empire, Terry Goodkind weaves a plot that, through the action of the story, illustrates increasingly deeper themes with great relevance to our culture today. Politically, and most superficially, it is a story about the hopelessness of the doctrine of pacifism for establishing genuine peace, but that it rather leads to tyranny. Ethically, it is about whether people are justified in fighting for their values by retaliating against physical threats to them, or whether it is ever proper to turn the other cheek. Epistemologically, it is about whether genuine knowledge comes by revelation from another world, or by reasoning about our perception of this world. And metaphysically, it is about the doctrine of mind-body dualism versus that of mind-body unity, and the results of accepting each. (There is even a bit about esthetics, though not nearly as a much as in Faith of the Fallen, in which the nature of art played a much more central role.)
As usual, the plot advances the stories of the characters and the world in which they live, and Goodkind's characterization is excellent (though Owen is a bit obnoxious at first, but not as bad as Nadine in Temple of the Winds).
Chainfire - 5 stars.
I would rank this book up there with Faith of the Fallen as the best book in the series so far. While not as explicitly philosophical as Faith of the Fallen (which, aside from Richard's first premature and out-of-place philosophy speech at the beginning, seamlessly integrated philosophy with dramatic action so that by the climax I was on the edge of my seat not in spite of, but because of the ideas involved), Chainfire cashes in on the reader's love for the characters, and their value to each other, that has been built up since the beginning of the series. The scene in which Richard contemplates suicide is particularly stunning. Publisher's Weekly's complaint that there's not enough action is shallow and stupid. Who needs sword fights when you've got drama like that? Besides, the "beast" that's after Richard is the best antagonist Goodkind has created yet.
A word about the box set itself: it would have made more sense to box Pillars and Naked Empire together with Debt of Bones instead of Chainfire; that way, when Confessor comes out in paperback, they could have done a fourth set consisting of the Chainfire trilogy (Chainfire, Phantom, and Confessor). But I suppose they will instead do Phantom, Confessor, and DoB for the last set, and it's a minor complaint in any case.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Striking series! Respectful, honorable and endearing!, September 11, 2008
This review is from: The Sword of Truth, Boxed Set III, Books 7-9: The Pillars of Creation, Naked Empire, Chainfire (Mass Market Paperback)
I've read many a book, but none reach me like this series has. The entire Sword of Truth series, sets a pretty high standard for epic fantasy, let along a good book series. Early books had some places that were a bit clunky, (it was the authors first books if I'm not mistaken), but don't we ALL start out something a bit green, and then hone our skills?
The more books by Goodkind you read, you clearly see the excellent progress he's made in his craft. Goodkind does what so few fantasy authors do, that being have true heroes, heroes who use reason, heroes who do not become the enemy or become cowards and most important, heroes that stand up for what is honorable and true. And heroes that do not sacrifice their values to accomplish their goals.
You will not see nasty words, vulgarity, incest (unlike some series), porno, or any kind of depravity in the name of literature. This series touches on some violence and deals with real world issues like war and the true horrors of war. It exposes evil for what it is and it shows that mankind can rise up and be truly noble!
While I see there are a few people who want to vote poorly and post negative comments, it is your right. But when you post such acerbic comments, it is easy to see that you simply think it funny. Like anyone would take your petty comments as anything but jealousy and immaturity.
While this series has its merits, it has its problems as well. No book will have everything to speak to every person.
This series starts in easy, and right away you grasp the wonderful story telling ability of Goodkind, and as you go on, it delves deeper into the nature of man. This series explores deep human themes and exposes the fallacy of collectivism.
This book has a striking romantic aspect as well as plenty of heart wrenching twists. While I personally love the philosophy, I can see why some may not. That (IOHP), is why we have arena such as this, so that we can offer up likes and dislikes. Most who do that have offered up an HONEST review. The rest simply are offering up vitriol, because they fear this series for the good that it does and they fear it because they feel it a threat to their favorite author.
BE HONEST, give the book its due.
Support your book stores! Support the Publishing world, and for goodness sake buy a book so we can drive these whacked out "save the rain forest" freaks crazy by cutting down a few more trees!
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