Goodkind

[Morsker]

Looks like someone isn't old enough to read Sword of Truth.

Hehe. I guess some people didn't notice that this was a sarcastic comment at Goodkind. He once replied to a criticism with something like, "You aren't old enough to read my books." In fairness, the reply was appropriate; Goodkind wasn't dismissing the criticism, but noticing that the reader was under 18 and refusing to reply to him, because he doesn't condone children reading his books. Still, it's easy to make fun of, and the guy deserves it.

 

Regarding plagiarism, the clearest case is Naked Empire reusing many phrases from Ayn Rand's nonfiction essays. Philosophy is awfully flexible, and there are dozens of ways of saying the same thing. Goodkind says it in exactly the same terms Ayn Rand did, over and over again. The case for WoT plagiarism is circumstantial, but if he's clearly guilty on one count, and looks awfully suspicious on the second...

[Suttree]

Goodkind wasn't dismissing the criticism, but noticing that the reader was under 18 and refusing to reply to him, because he doesn't condone children reading his books. Still, it's easy to make fun of, and the guy deserves it.

 

The answer was ...

 

 

Terry Goodkind: If you notice a similarity, then you probably aren't old enough to read my books.

 

Seems pretty clear he was dismissing the criticism. This is also the first time I have heard mentioned the person asking the question was under 18?

[Southpaw89]

you can't argue that Jordan copied off mythology. He has clearly said that he drew different references from various mythologies and them mixed them together with different characters and a different story. If you say he was unoriginal because of that then goodluck finding anyone author who's 100% original. Using that argument you can say Tolkien wasn't original and he really was in many ways.

[Eht Slat Meit]

Seems pretty clear he was dismissing the criticism. This is also the first time I have heard mentioned the person asking the question was under 18?

 

TG's problem seems to be that he can't answer a question without coming off as a condescending tool.

 

While it's true that he was dismissing the criticism, after reading the specific question it was in reply to, his answer looks correct, if woefully lacking in any kind of insight as to why it is correct. The question:

Second Question - I've noticed similarities between your Sword of Truth series and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series...(Black Sisterhood vs. Black Ajah; The Order vs. The Seanchan; Richard vs. Rand both discovering their powers, both have Nameless evil Gods...etc.) I've often voiced my suspicion that these two series might be occurring on the same world...how crazy am I?

 

The idea that they occur in anything like the same world simply because both authors use common tropes is terribly shortsighted, and if one wanted to be a tool about it (sup TG), one might suggest that it's because the reader doesn't understand the very adult devices TG uses to convey his tropes.

 

Adult devices like rape, destruction of innocence, rape, guerilla warfare, rape, heavy-handed preaching, rape, graphic violence on such a level as to compete with ASoIaF, brutal murder of children, torture, monstrosity, rape, anti-heroism.

 

He gives the likes of George Martin (and Clive Barker) a run for their money, and both authors have a penchant for the same kind of "adult" storytelling. He may have focused on the same tropes to such an extent that he could be legitimately accused of lifting from RJ, but suggesting they're the same world is kind of insulting.

 

To RJ.

[LeeM.Erickson]

Adult devices like rape, destruction of innocence, rape, guerilla warfare, rape, heavy-handed preaching, rape, graphic violence on such a level as to compete with ASoIaF, brutal murder of children, torture, monstrosity, rape, anti-heroism.

 

Did you guys know Terry Goodkind had a small role in the Mel Brooks movie Blazing Saddles? Here's the scene:

 

http://youtu.be/2_urvjCXg6c

[Ace Sedai]

Not only is Goodkind a douchebag , his fans are as well.

Ayn Rand reading,tea partying ,vanilla coke drinking,Obama is a MOSLEM,Immigrants are taking over my country!,I'm too good for fantasy but too stupid to know garbage when I read it, douches.

I hope I made myself clear.

[Jon Paul]

I'm sorry, RJ told a great tale as did Mr. Goodkind, but even RJ borrowed heavily from LoTR he just didn't agree people would go along so readily with some wizard showing up and naming them the savior of all.

 

Please tell me that this isn't how you think TLOTR went like?

 

Love how Randsc has a nose for when the most incendiary topic is going to pop up on the boards. Doesn't matter how long he's been gone, a thread like this starts and he will arrive to be the hardline contrarian.

 

I for one(despite us rarely agreeing) tip my hat to that.

 

Honestly he's always the first name I look for in a thread. If he's not posting in it, a little part of me dies inside.

 

Not only is Goodkind a douchebag , his fans are as well.

Ayn Rand reading,tea partying ,vanilla coke drinking,Obama is a MOSLEM,Immigrants are taking over my country!,I'm too good for fantasy but too stupid to know garbage when I read it, douches.

I hope I made myself clear.

 

And Jordan fans are Dawkins reading, brainwashed Liberals, sodomite-supporting, baby-killing, Ron Paul is the devil, there aren't enough immigrants if you can still see white people in the crowds, I read fantasy because I can't handle Tolstoy though I pretend to all my left-wing friends that I read it every night, douches?

 

See what I did there? There's a lot to criticise both Goodkind and his fans for. But lets leave such ridiculous political hangups at the door.

[Morsker]

Goodkind wasn't dismissing the criticism, but noticing that the reader was under 18 and refusing to reply to him, because he doesn't condone children reading his books. Still, it's easy to make fun of, and the guy deserves it.

The answer was ...

 

Terry Goodkind: If you notice a similarity, then you probably aren't old enough to read my books.

 

Seems pretty clear he was dismissing the criticism. This is also the first time I have heard mentioned the person asking the question was under 18?

I think the reply is a perfectly reasonable thing for a fantasy author to say. The problem in this case is that Goodkind is a jerk and a hack, and what's perfectly reasonable to say for other authors to say isb't so in his case, because he's exceptionally bad. Goodkind is correct that saying "Fantasy A sure looks like Fantasy B" is almost always superficial, obnoxious, and done by kids. It's bad for the genre, and bad for our fandom. Compare people saying WoT is like Dune, or that Mistborn is full of Mormon allegory, or that every fantasy on earth is a LotR ripoff. This crap deserves the kind of response Goodkind gave it. And since it implies the commentator is a kid, it's fair to comment on that too.

 

Goodkind's mistake is in not realizing how bad his books are, bad enough that a comment that's immature and ignorant when made about 99% of other fiction is actually something he deserves. Oops.

[Vermillion]

Sorry but there are too many one for one direct comparison. Not to mention the books are released close together.

 

Sisters of Light/Dark = Aes Sedia/Black Ajah, banelings = dark friends, Bloods fold = Children of the Light, Keeper and Nameless one = Dark one, pretty non religious Creator worship. Anti-magic invaders gone for a long time of the Imperial Order = Seanchan, not mastering the gift/spark can lead to death, magic can be taught or they are born with it, collars to control magic users, male and female side magic, magic webs = weaves that can be broken, prophecies and the main character are major players in them. And more.

 

Sorry there is a difference between the WoT taking a few things from the LoTR and crafting your own story and near one for one idea after idea seemingly being ripped from the pages and put in another story released like 2 years apart.

[Luckers]

Alright, given a combination of this being more about bashing Goodkind and not about the wheel of time, and the presence of personal insults directed at Goodkinds fans, and vice versa, I'm locking this.

 

If you wish to take up the conversation of either Goodkind's work, or Goodkind in his role as author to his fans (and his various misteps therein) please open a thread on the General Discussions board. For a discussion on the value of Goodkind's purported philosophies, please create a thread on the Debates and Discussions board.