All the anticipation I have ever had boiled down to that final moment when I pushed play on my PS3 to watch the recorded first two episodes of the Legend of the Seeker (My area did not carry the show. I acquired it through other means). The sheer awesomeness I was about to witness ran through my head. I had just finished reading all the books and  everything is fresh on my mind. This will be epic.

Now, I’m going to take a time out here and state that yes, I am aware certain deviations were going to take place in the translation to an episodic TV formula. I did read the announcement letter.

Continuing, I watched with a twinkle in my eye as things familiar started happening. Then slowly, my mind started fumbling with pieces of a puzzle that should fit together but were now in the wrong shape. Things were familiar but different. It was like the show was rubbed on cheese grater and instead of using what was left of the block of cheese, they used the scraps. Filaments of the books exists, mostly in names of characters, but these aren’t the same characters. No, no - they are mere shadows of the characters in the book during an eclipse of the sun.

I found myself distracted during the show. Things that I knew held importance in the books were cast aside. I could not stop thinking about them and how the show could even follow the arcs in the books without them. My frame of mind was my prison. Having read the books barred me from watching the show. My fiancee got up and left at the end of the first episode. Her mind wouldn’t even let her get past the first fundamental flaw (all I’m going to say is: Book of Counted Shadows) and she is only on Blood of the Fold.

I really wish I could open my skull take out my knowledge of the books. If I was able, I’m pretty sure this could be one of those awesome shows that I rush home to see in time. Sadly, for me and I suspect many others, this might just be torture.

Lets start of by saying this was the longest series of books I have read. While Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game series is roughly the same number of books, Sword of Truth books seem a lot thicker individually. This series is fantastic. I recommend this to any fantasy or even science-fiction reader because I read more science-fiction then fantasy and I was intrigued. Please, I implore you read the first book, Wizard’s First Rule, at least. If you don’t feel like picking up the second one, fine. But I bet you will

If you don’t want any spoilers, I don’t recommend reading any further as I will be discussing points that I would like to point out in various spots in the series. (more…)

I cannot begin to hold in my excitement for The Sword of Truth series, The Legend of the Seeker that will premeire on November 1st to ABC. This series is based on the Sword of Truth books by Terry Goodkind. As one who is on the final book Confessor, my anticipation for this series could not be any more pegged at the top of anyone’s anticipation level.

From Sci-fi.com:

The weekly hourlong series follows Richard Cypher, a young man who makes his living leading people through dangerous forests, as he investigates the murder of his father and finds himself opposing Darken Rahl, the son of an evil wizard.
Goodkind’s popular novels, first published in the mid-’90s, span 11 volumes so far. Wizard’s First Rule will be shot in high-definition video.

Check out the promo after the break. (more…)