Chainfire: Chainfire Trilogy, Part 1, Sword of Truth, Book 9

Terry Goodkind spends less time preaching his Ayn Rand derived ideas and more time telling the story. However, there are still significant flaws. While the preaching is much reduced there it still too much of it and it is poorly integrated in to the story. He fails to allow the story to make his points and resorts to having Richard simply "preach" his points. Further detracting from the book is Mr. Goodkind's appalling lack of skill when it comes to writing conversations. It is partly this and partly due to Jim Bond's presentation. The result is that almost every conversation sounds like the village idiot lecturing a slow child. I suspect that most (not all) of the fault is Jim Bond's as Phantom read by Sam Tsoutsouvas is much more palatable. If you like the Sword of Truth series, definitely listen to this book. If you used to like this series and gave up in frustration after the debacle of the Naked Empire (and a few of the books before it), this recording though heavily flawed, is worth hearing to advance the story.

The speeches are long and redundant. The villains the same. Evil's tool is still the same: to threaten one member of the lovely hero couple while the other suffers. And, of course, the most powerful wizard in three thousand years is still impotent. The only time he can do anything is when the story needs him to or it will end. What's more, it's never intentional. This smacks more of divine intervention than the magic every other wizard in the story possesses. Finally, and most annoying, the story now becomes almost identical to the first book.

Poor Richard - he doesn't know magic, and he can't lay with his wife. He's tortured, poisoned, or driven to madness in every book, and Goodkind makes him give the same speech several dozen times in each book. I'm beginning to think that Goodkind thinks I'm stupid.

Don't get me wrong, I embrace his ideals, but his writing treats them inconsistently. After all, if everyone has the capacity for individual excellence, then surely Goodkind can give his readers the benefit of the doubt that they will not forget his mantra after it has been delivered several dozen times. Surely those of us that have made it to book ten get the point.

This had the potential to be a fantastic and philosophically educational epic. Unfortunately, too many sermons and too little action has destroyed it. Nevertheless, I have to see how the lovely couple suffers through their next two ordeals. Who knows? Perhaps Richard will learn how to light a candle.

I love the series, but find the level of importance placed on two people nausiating. Not only does the current world revolve around Kahlan and Richard, but the world going back 3 millenia has also revolved around them. I'm also quite tired of hearing this character and that character profess their preachy, undying loyalty to Richard. Richard, Richard, Richard......RICHARD, Richard, Richard. "I would sacrifice my life to ensure he doesn't stub a toe." Good grief. If any character in a book were to mimick Jesus, this would be the one. Yet...he can never use his powers. Then she can't use hers. He and Kahlan are always separated and struggling to get back to each other. It's the same never-ending story.

Having said that, I will always admire the different directions Goodkind has taken this story on other levels. There's always older, more powerful, more complex magic to be found. Ah, I love it. Goodkind has also always had the ability to bring the depths of evil and heights of good to life - make them shocking and real. He's not afraid to let the pendulum swing well beyond what other fantasy writers would.

The narration was done quite well for male voices, but the female voices were annoyingly condescending and lifeless. Let's get real, someone with a great male voice will most likely not have a great female voice. lol I really, REALLY wish companies would employ multiple narrators.

Same title as my review for the last book. There are not many books I would want to listen to the abridged version, but this is one of them. The story is great and the narration is good. The story line starts with Richard losing something important to him. He gives up everything to get it back. He is faced with an haunting danger while early characters are brought back into the story. The ending gets you ready to listen to the next book.

There is a lot of exposition in this story and quite a bit of redundancy. Not enough happens plotwise in and it plods out like a turtle, a long and weary task for the listener (but I am sworn to listen to them all even though I question if there really is enough "meat" to justify the existence of this piece as a separate book, at least not in the form that it stands now). I would advise Goodkind to "show not tell". There are a lot of talking heads in this book and way too much "explanation/conversation". Where are the characters that we fell in love with? {We want Gratch back!} Where is the chemistry? It also feels that this book was created more for the eye than for the ear. And how many times do we have to hear the word "engendered"? I would say unless you are bound and determined to make it through these books through listening (as I am), maybe you should buy the hard copy or e-book version and read it.

The only thing keeping me from giving this the 5th star is the narrator's robotic, monotone voice. At first it made this nearly impossible to listen to as his voice grated on my eardrums. After I got used to it, it was tolerable. Love the story itself though. Thoroughly enjoy Terry Goodkind's memorable, loveable characters.

I was not very impressed with the beginning, but towards the end of part III the story started to come together. Can't wait to start the next section.

In this book, I got tired of hearing about everything that happened in the past. If you didnt read the first 8, Oh Well. Your Loss. But I hate to admit, you would think that Richard, after 8 books, would be kick ass, instead of a pussy. The only thing he does well is TALK, and he does too much of that. I loved the first 8 books, but this one is not so good. 2 more to go so I can endure the much unneeded dialogue to hear what happens. (I wish Kahlan would DIE)

After nine books where can you go with this story? How about a trilogy!!! Terry hit it on the head..This is a great first book, i feel sorry for Richard everyone thinks he is crazy but he's not!! He's the seeker and he will find the truth..He always does but in this case their is no Kalyn!! Know one can remember Kalyn except Richard.. This kind've reminded me of Dallas when Bobby Ewing came back after a year,he's just in the shower.. Chainfire gets really good in the last chapters when they figure it out and The seeker,the bringer of death,the war wizard,THE SWORD OF TRUTH figures it all out.. watch out four headed viper Richard and Zed is coming!!!!

If you like the Sword or Truth books already, you have to read it

yes, I have enjoyed all of the sword of truth books as good fiction. The last few books before this have become more and more blatant with his personal philosophies and politics though.

If necessary...his voices are good, but he has a very "whiney" voice that he uses when one character is lecturing another (which happens a lot in these books) and it is one of the few inflections that he has. In long speeches it is very grating.

yes - I miss the sword of truth TV series, I would like to see more of it translated to the screen.