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.

**SPOILER ALERT**

Let me start off by saying I couldn’t put down the first 3-4 books. I raced through them almost faster then Amazon.com could ship them too me. While the love story is a little thicker then my tastes it serves the purpose of driving the characters through every crazy thing that could possibly happen that happened. One of the books should have been called, “Murphy’s Law“. At one point, I even remember thinking to myself, “Now, come on… give this man a rest.” I don’t know a human being alive that could have so much stuff thrown at him and still want to get up the next day. I guess Richard never had that problem since THE MAN NEVER SLEPT. The things that bothered me about some of the first books is that some of the well rounded characters disappear after The Temple of the Winds. I missed Gratch.

Also, there were many points in these first few books that I wanted to scream at one of the characters to at least tell the other one something they learned. It seems no one wanted to give the information that was so vital to the mission. I guess that is life. Maybe this was a point the author was trying to make since the series seems to revolve around “life” in general.

When I come to Soul of the Fire and Faith of the Fallen, they were good reads as well. They progressed, although not as fast paced as the first ones, but I thought those were pretty awesome as well. I don’t think Zedd ever told Richard he was a bird though. Most of the characters we learned about in this book fail to make it past these two books. I understand that is usually what happens when you open your arms to an invading army but I still would have at least wanted to see Beata again.

Then I hit The Pillars of Creation. It wasn’t till over half way though that large book did I even read about any familiar characters. It took me a while to get through that book.  All Pillars did was set up the next book Naked Empire. There was so much character development for characters that weren’t used past Naked Empire. This was sort of the lull in the series. It took me the longest time to get through them.

Now the last 3 books, dubbed “The Chainfire Trilogy“, should have all been one book. I don’t know why they were split up because at the end of one, nothing really truly climaxes enough to be called an end. This, being the end of the series, wraps up most of everything happening in the series.  There are a few holes or questions that never get answered and a few opening for a sequel. What happened to Jebra? What else to Richard do to the Temple of Winds? Is magic back in the world? Will people be born with it now? Where all Sister’s of the Dark taken? What did Nathan mean by, “A person not of this world will save it” [sic]? I wish I new more clearly what the unwritten rule was (without using wiki). Will Kahlan and Richard ever have a monster kid? Will Shota come to kill it?

I remember thinking as I was finishing Chainfire that I hope Terry Goodkind doesn’t go with the whole, “The magical world forgets magic and is now modern day earth” cliche. Least he did that with a mirror world instead.

Overall though, I would recommend at least reading this. It is a series you can’t go without reading. It is one of those things you read and learn from and take with you.

Lastly, WHY THE HELL WAS THE CONFESSOR PAPERBACK A DIFFERENT DIMENSION THEN THE REST OF THE BOOKS? That is all.

UPDATE: Don’t forget to watch Legend of the Seeker Nov 1st!

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.

Hey guys! TWoW’s comic host SpiderForest has spent the last couple weeks getting ready to unveil an entirely new front page system that we hope will benefit not only the webcomickers hosted there, but also the READERS. It lists the last 10 updated comics in order on the front page, with links to more longer descriptions and more information. What we don’t want to do is have a static main page.

Check out our new main page! Spread the word if you like.

The bimonthly caption contests are back! This month’s caption image was created by Zach Weiner (http://www.smbc-comics.com/).
The Prize for this month will be two books (Evil Inc AR #1 and Lightning Lady) generously donated by Brad Guigar (http://www.evil-comic.com/).

Entries will be judged on creativity and humor; the winner will receive both books. A winner will be announced on November 7th with their entree being displayed on the main Rampage Network site along with the details on the next contest. The top 10 will also be displayed on that announcement thread.

Visit here for more information.

Each deck consists of 42 cards which includes: a standard 40 card WAGON deck, a symbol reference card, and special release Boosted Character card. Each deck also includes one of the top placing winners of the “Draw to Win” Jenny Everywhere card design contest, brought to you by The Shifter Archive Project. Pre-order Alpha and Beta now and you’ll also receive a bonus rare “Kitten of Chaos” card as well.

WAGON Webcomic Battle: Alpha and Beta decks include cards inspired by the following comics:

I just wanted to drop in and update the review I did on Warhammer Online: Preview Weekend. Every issue that I mentioned was resolved in the latest Beta Patch. I have no complaints so far, and it really looks like Mythic Entertainment is really listening to their players.

The current hot issue is of realm types and how the chicken mechanic works in each (open RvR and core RvR). It looks like Mythic is reading the player suggestions and really working hard to strike a fair compromise. We will see how it turns out.

WAAAGH!!

Best part of this issue was the flashback when Kovacs became Rorschach. He gave that dude a choice. Either he didn’t take the choice or he failed at doing it, I don’t know. What a way to go though. He deserved it though. Bastard.

Also, as a personal comment, the last vote asks you to submit your choice for what movie you’re dying to see. I humbly suggest REPO! The Genetic Opera as the vote you cast.

EDIT: Fixed link.