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Terry GoodkindTerry Goodkind (born 1948) is an American fantasy writer, author of the Sword of Truth series. Currently the following books have been released: The 2001 Legends anthology, edited by Robert Silverberg, features a short story, "Debt of Bones," set a few decades before the events in the main series. Later the same year, it was published as a stand-alone novella. Mr. Goodkind was born in Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America. He then attended art school and became a wildlife artist. Before becoming a writer he was also a violin maker / restorer, as well as a cabinet maker. Mr. Goodkind also restored many antiques from around the world. In 1983 he moved into his house in the forest. The forest is a primary influence for the protagonist in Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. Mr. Goodkind enjoys his privacy, and his exact place of residence is essentially unknown, stating only that the lives in the Western United States. Mr. Goodkind is highly influenced by the writings of Ayn Rand. He uses many symbolisms in his books. Most notably are the following: Symbolism in Sword of Truth - Richard (name), Kahlan, Michael | Darken Rahl, Demmin Nass: The names Richard and Kahlan were common in medieval England. The names Darken and Demmin, are semi-common Russian names. As stated below, this is just another way of comparing and contrasting Eastern and Western Culture.
- Westland: Representitive of the western world; democracy and capitalism being the chief focus with this metaphor.
- D'Hara: D'Hara is the Easternmost land in the series, representitive of (currently fading) Eastern culture; communism, strongarm governments, so-called dictatorships of the proleteriat. Most representitive of Russia and the USSR.
- The People's Palace: Obviously, another representiation of Russian communism and and the USSR. Possibly representitive of St. Petersburg. The central square in the end of the first and second books may also be references to Red Square in St. Petersburg.
- The Old World: Once again representitive of Eastern culture, an even stronger metaphor for communist society.
- Richard (Altur'Rang): Richard's revolution in Altur'Rang brings capitalism to an otherwise communist society. His "invasion" could be seen as a somewhat skewed metaphor of the Vietnam War.
- The Collar (Palace of Prophets): Losing Richard to the Old World is symbolic of places lost to communism.
- Mord Sith: Representative of the KGB - Goodkind uses these to show that the KGB was evil and used for interrogation and arm-breaking.
- Magic: Symbolic throughout the entire series for freedom. Additive is for the addition of freedom, Subtractive to the loss of freedom. Subtractive is viewed as evil because it subtracts freedom.
Goodkind's works have been deeply influenced by Ayn Rand's objectivism. The inclusion of that particular philosophy has been controversial among readers. Some, especially young people, view his books as uplifting and life-altering; others object to them as overly derivative, preachy and pretentious. External links Goodkind, Terry Goodkind, Terry Goodkind, Terry Goodkind, Terry
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