Wizard's First Rule

Version: Abridged
Author: Terry Goodkind
Narrator: Dick Hill
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Other Series
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Published In: October 2003
# of Units: 3 CDs
Length: 3 hours
Ratings:
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Overview

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 a dark age it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims. Beyond awaits a bewitching land where even the best of their hearts could betray them. Yet, Richard fears nothing so much as what secrets his sword might reveal about his own soul. Falling in love would destroy them--for reasons Richard can't imagine and Kahlan dare not say.
In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword--to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed . . . or that their time has run out.
This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.

Selected Reviews

Wizard's First Rule

by gcornish
  • Book Rating: 2/5

Read Full Version!

by Anonymous
  • Book Rating: 1/5

More...

Read All 15

Reviews (15)

Wizard's First Rule

Written by gcornish on December 20th, 2011

  • Book Rating: 2/5

Way too complex to appreciate in abridged version. Look forward to listening in unabridged format!

Read Full Version!

Written by Anonymous on February 19th, 2010

  • Book Rating: 1/5

I've read the full version of this book before and wanted to read it again so I rented the abridged version. It leaves so much out that much of it doesn't make sense. The narrator is good except for when he tries to make voices for characters. A combination of the narrator and the abridged version makes the characters sound like idiots.

Boring

Written by -- Robert from Plano, TX on July 8th, 2009

  • Book Rating: 2/5

I need to agree with the other reviewers that don't like the Abridged version. I started to read this book a long time ago and then diverted to the Wheel of Time series instead. Anyway, I was looking forward to hearing what I decided to forego and wasn't impressed. The reader reminded me of a bad actor in an after-school special, somewhat talented, but trying too hard in some places and it could be distracting. And maybe it's because it is abridged but the narrative seemed more suited to a juvenile novel. I will need to find an unabridged version to listen to and I would suggest doing the same. I didn't even finish listening to the 2nd CD before I decided I had wasted enough time with it.

Delightfully short

Written by Christine B. from Monroeville, PA on July 16th, 2008

  • Book Rating: 4/5

Having started this series with Book 10, I assumed all the prior books would be as convoluted and drawn out as Phantom had been. I was pleased to be wrong! This book really is only 3 discs and the story is surprisingly wrapped up in a brief period of time. While it was interesting to learn the beginnings, some terms and beliefs could have been explained a little more clearly before being rushed forward to the next. I gave it 3.5 stars because it was short, to the point, but still vague on character development and emotion.

Do not get the abridged version

Written by Andy on September 25th, 2007

  • Book Rating: 3/5

it was painful to listen to probably the most anticipated book I wanted to read in the last 5 years. The Abridged version was so difficult to follow and there are so many twists to the plot I want to know that I have to give this version 3 stars when it deserved 1. The story deserves 5 stars but I can't rate this version with that honor. Simply audiobooks - get the unabridged version soon!!

Wizards Most important rule

Written by Jo Lindsey on September 4th, 2007

  • Book Rating: 2/5

I was familiar with this novel and had enjoyed it some years ago. I wanted to hear the novel again but this abridged version left out so much that it does a great dis-service to whomever gets it. Don't cut a long novel down to 3 cd's and think that you are doing justice to the novel because you aren't. Dump this abridged version and get the real novel.

Wizard's First Rule

Written by Boonierat on November 30th, 2006

  • Book Rating: 3/5

Great story. I've read the book twice. Rent the unabridged version. The abridged version cuts out too many details that are important to the storyline. I wish the narrator would have gotten opinions about his choice of voices for the characters.

Bad Narrator

Written by Dian Tardiff on May 18th, 2006

  • Book Rating: 4/5

I absolutely LOVE the whole series. Terry Goodkind has imagination that few can match. However, the narrator of this book is terrible. His voice is plesant enough. But his inflections of the characters are terrible. When he stays in character, he misses the tone of what they are saying. If the dialogue is supposed to be serious, he often inflects them with a happy, almost jovial tone. He also protrays Kahlan as somewhat condesending. And sometimes its difficult to tell when the dialogue stops and the narration begins again because there is no change to his inflection. The only thing that keeps me listening, is 1) I LOVE the story and 2) His voice isn't irritating to listen to. I've read the book enough that I can still picture what the scenes are as I first imagined them and not the boring drone of what the narrator portrays.

Unabridged - definately

Written by Anonymous on January 12th, 2006

  • Book Rating: 4/5

The book HAS to be heard UNAbridged. No doubt. The book is awesome. however - that narrator SUCKS. So sad that such a great book has a terrible narration. If you can get past the drone............ the book itself is unbelievable! Would be 5 stars - if the narrator was better.

heard the unabridged vs.

Written by Anonymous on November 10th, 2005

  • Book Rating: 5/5

I heard this book first. I was fascinated, loved it. It hooked me on the rest of the series. The amount of suspence did get overwhelming sometimes, but only because I wanted it to hurry up and continue. Like a kid Christmas Eve. I hope people don't rent it so I can rent it again at a later time. It was that good. I'm trying patiently to wait for the next to last book in the series. If you do rent this book go ahead and rent the next couple too. I also have heard the abridged vs. It did crop the book like a movie does, don't get the abridged version.

Selected Reviews

Wizard's First Rule

by gcornish
  • Book Rating: 2/5

Read Full Version!

by Anonymous
  • Book Rating: 1/5

More...

Read All 15

Author Details

Author Details

Goodkind, Terry

Terry Goodkind was born in 1948 and raised in Nebraska in the United States. Goodkind, slightly unusually for an author, suffers from dyslexia. He worked as a carpenter and a rare artifact restorer and painted some beautiful marine and wildlife paintings.

Whilst building his own home in the middle of a forest on Mount Desert Island, Maine, Goodkind began writing his first novel. The novel later became Wizard’s First Rule and was published in 1994. So began a series of books that formed the Sword of Truth series. The following year, in 1995, Stone of Tears was published and Blood of the Fold followed this in 1996. Of all of the Sword of Truth books only Wizard’s Rule and Stone of Tears have failed to reach the New York Times Bestseller List.

The series continued in 1997 with Temple of the Winds, with Soul of the Fire and Faith of the Fallen following in 1999 and 2000 respectively. The Pillars of Creation (2002), Naked Empire (2003), Chainfire (2005) and Phantom (2006) take the total number of books in the series up to ten so far. His latest book, Phantom, entered the New York Times Bestseller List at number one.

Each book in the Sword of Truth series has sold better than its predecessor and to date the series has sold over twenty million copies.

Terry Goodkind lists Ayn Rand as a huge influence on his writing. He has sold over twenty millions books and these have been translated into over twenty different languages. He also feels that while his novels are placed firmly within the fantasy genre, the philosophical and humane elements in his books take them into a different genre. He believes that the fantasy settings and themes of his books make it easier for him to get his ideas across.

Did you know? Terry Goodkind’s Wizard’s Rule holds the record for highest amount paid at auction for a first fantasy novel (over five times the price paid for any other). He now lives in another self-built house with his wife Jeri. The house is located in a desert region in the south west of the United States.

Goodkind’s main reason for writing fantasy novels is to inspire. If you wish to get a signed copy of a Goodkind book then please go to www.bettsbooks.com, this is only way to get a signed copy.