TERRY GOODKIND was born in 1948 in Omaha, Nebraska. Before he became a writer, he was a marine and wildlife artist and built cabinets and violins. He has dyslexia, which is why he was never previously interested in a literary career. He was living off the coast of Maine when he began to write Wizard’s First Rule, the first novel in the Sword of Truth series, in 1993. It was published in 1994 and auctioned to publishers for a record price. He went on to write twelve books in the Sword of Truth series, which have sold 25 million copies and been translated into more than 20 languages. It has also been made into a television series dubbed Legend of the Seeker.
His writing integrates philosophical and human themes into the epic fantasy genre, with absolutely remarkable character development. He says he has been influenced by the books of Ayn Rand and her philosophical approach called Objectivism. Objectivism is briefly defined as the belief that certain things such as moral truths exist independently of human knowledge or perception of them, focusing on what is external or independent of the mind.
The Sword of Truth series immediately draws the reader into the story and evokes a spectrum of different emotions, and at times his vivid descriptions of evil situations can be disturbing. These elements all add to the story, producing an all-around classic collection that is a must-read for anybody who calls themselves a fan of the literary fantasy drama.
