Wizard’s First Rule is written by Terry Goodkind and is the first book in the epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth. Wizards First Rule, published by Tor Books 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. Image File history File links Wizard's_First_Rule. ... Terry Goodkind is a contemporary American writer, author of the Sword of Truth fantasy novels, which as of February 16, 2005, have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... On the cover of Stone of Tears, Richard is seen holding, presumably, the Sword of Truth. ... High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction that is set in invented or parallel worlds. ... Tor Books is an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC which publishes popular fiction, and is particularly noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. ... A hardcover (or hardback or hardbound) book is bound with rigid protective covers (typically of cardboard covered with cloth or heavy paper) and a stitched spine. ... Debt of Bones is a novella by Terry Goodkind. ... Stone Of Tears is the second book in the Sword of Truth series of books. ... Terry Goodkind is a contemporary American writer, author of the Sword of Truth fantasy novels, which as of February 16, 2005, have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. ... High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction that is set in invented or parallel worlds. ... On the cover of Stone of Tears, Richard is seen holding, presumably, the Sword of Truth. ... Tor Books is an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC which publishes popular fiction, and is particularly noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 169 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Keith Parkinson, Fantasy Artist Keith Parkinson (22 October 1958 - 26 October 2005) was a fantasy artist and illustrator. ... June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175 th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 191 days remaining. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ...

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." Terry Goodkind is a contemporary American writer, author of the Sword of Truth fantasy novels, which as of February 16, 2005, have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. ...

Ten weeks later, Wizard's First Rule made news long before its actual publication due to the fact that the first-time novelist received an advance far above the average: $275,000, with a $300,000 ad/promo budget. Published in August, 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 Kirkus 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. Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley (June 3, 1930 – September 25, 1999) was a prolific author of largely feminist fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and was a steadfast encourager of equality (and quality) in writing. ... Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob (born August 6, 1934 in Oxford, England) is a writer in the science fiction and fantasy genres, publishing under the name Piers Anthony. ... Anne Inez McCaffrey (born April 1, 1926) is an American science fiction author best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series. ... Kirkus Reviews is an American book review company located at 770 Broadway in New York City. ... Tor Books is an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC which publishes popular fiction, and is particularly noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. ... Stone Of Tears is the second book in the Sword of Truth series of books. ... On the cover of Stone of Tears, Richard is seen holding, presumably, the Sword of Truth. ...

Plot introduction

Richard Cypher's decision to help a woman in the Upper Ven near the dangerous Boundary sires more trouble that first appeared. Kahlan Amnell seeks the Old Wizard, and she brings with her dark tiding from the other side of the Boundary between the Midlands and Westland: Darken Rahl has brought down the other Boundary between D'Hara and the Midlands. This menacing ruler continues his father's greed for control. Kahlan wants the old Wizard to name a Seeker of Truth who can stop Darken Rahl. When she finds him, the old Wizard names Richard to be the Seeker and starts him on a quest that will forever alter the world.

Plot summary

Cover of the paperback edition, with artwork by Keith Parkinson.

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 lie 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. Image File history File links Summary Wizards First Rule Book Cover Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Summary Wizards First Rule Book Cover Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Paperback may refer to a kind of book binding by which papers are simply folded without cloth or leather and bound - usually with glue rather than stitches or staples - into a thick paper cover; or to a book with this type of binding. ... Keith Parkinson, Fantasy Artist Keith Parkinson (22 October 1958 - 26 October 2005) was a fantasy artist and illustrator. ... Richard Rahl(aka Richard Cypher) is the protagonist in the Sword of Truth fantasy series by Terry Goodkind. ... Westland is a fictional location in the Sword of Truth fantasy series by Terry Goodkind. ... The boundary is a fictional location in the Sword of Truth fantasy series by Terry Goodkind. ... The Midlands are a fictional location in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... DHara is a fictional location in the Sword of Truth fantasy series by Terry Goodkind. ... Michael Cypher is a fictional character from Terry Goodkinds Sword of Truth series. ...

Richard is naturally compelled to investigate the mysterious murder of his father when he happens upon his destiny, a woman Kahlan Amnell, who he helps keep from being murdered by a group of four men known as a quad. George Cypher is a fictional character from Terry Goodkinds Sword of Truth series. ... In the Sword of Truth fantasy series by Terry Goodkind, Kahlan Amnell is the Mother Confessor and the last Confessor, originally from the Midlands. ... A quad, in this context, is a term used in the Sword of Truth fantasy series by Terry Goodkind to describe a specially trained group of 4 assassins from DHara assigned primarily to hunt down and kill Confessors. ...

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. First Wizard is a position in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Zeddicus Zul Zorander (Zedd) is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ...

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 for which Kahlan is looking. A wizard is a fictional class of people in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ...

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 and prevent him from opening the boxes of Orden. Darken Rahl is a fictional character from Terry Goodkinds Sword of Truth series. ... The Peoples Peace Army is a fictional army in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... The Seeker of Truth is a position within Terry Goodkinds series of fantasy novels The Sword of Truth: // General Description The Seeker of Truth is a position that is above any king or any other person of any station. ... The Sword of Truth is a magical sword in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... The boxes of Orden are fictional magical artifacts in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ...

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 Mud People are a fictional race of people in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Shota is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... The Agaden Reach is a fictional location in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ...

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. Chase is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... The boxes of Orden are fictional magical artifacts in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ...

Characters in "Wizard's First Rule"

• Richard Cypher
• Kahlan Amnell
• Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander
• Adie
• George Cypher
• Michael Cypher
• Darken Rahl
• Demmin Nass
• Chase
• Emma Brandstone
• The Bird Man
• Savidlin
• Weselan
• Siddin
• Nissel
• Toffalar
• Giller
• Queen Milena
• Princess Violet
• Rachel
• Denna
• James
• Shota
• Samuel
• Brophy

Richard Cypher is the protagonist in the Sword of Truth fantasy series by Terry Goodkind. ... In the Sword of Truth fantasy series by Terry Goodkind, Kahlan Amnell is the Mother Confessor and the last Confessor, originally from the Midlands. ... Zeddicus Zul Zorander (Zedd) is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Adie is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... George Cypher is a fictional character from Terry Goodkinds Sword of Truth series. ... Michael Cypher is a fictional character from Terry Goodkinds Sword of Truth series. ... Darken Rahl is a fictional character from Terry Goodkinds Sword of Truth series. ... Demmin Nass is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Chase is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Emma Brandstone is a character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... The Bird Man is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Savidlin is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Weselan is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Siddin is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Nissel is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Toffalar is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Giller is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Queen Milena is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Princess Violet is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Rachel is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Denna is a character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... James is a character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Shota is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Samuel is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ... Brophy is a fictional character in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. ...

Wizard's First Rule

In this volume we discover the Wizard's First Rule: "People will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true." In the Sword of Truth series, a new Wizards Rule is introduced in each new novel. ...

From the text: "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 all are easier to fool."