Wizard's First Rule
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| Author | Terry Goodkind |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Doug Beekman |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Sword of Truth |
| Genre | Epic fantasy |
| Publisher | Tor Fantasy |
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Publication date
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August 1994 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 836 |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 30547887 |
| 813/.54 20 | |
| LC Class | PS3557.O5826 W59 1994 |
| Preceded by | Debt of Bones |
| Followed by | Stone of Tears |
Wizard's First Rule, written by Terry Goodkind, is the first book in the epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth. Published by Tor Books, it was released on August 15, 1994 in hardcover, and in paperback on July 15, 1997. The book was also re-released with new cover artwork by Keith Parkinson in paperback on June 23, 2001. The novel was adapted to television in the 2008 television series Legend of the Seeker.
Goodkind had no trouble selling his first book to a publisher. "I'm sort of the exception that proves the rule," he says. "I wanted to be represented by the best agent in the country and I wrote him a letter. He asked to see the book and he liked it. He showed it to a number of publishers. Three of them had an auction. Ten weeks after I'd written 'The End' it sold for a record price ($275,000)," the most money ever paid for a fantasy novel by a first time author.
The primary protagonist in Wizard's First Rule is Richard Cypher, a young woods guide. Richard lives in an area of the world known as Westland, which is one of three parts of the known world, divided by magical underworld boundaries. Of the three, Westland is united under one government and contains no magic, the Midlands are a coalition of sovereign nations with magic, and past another magical boundary lies the empire of D'Hara - a single kingdom ruled by Wizards. Richard works as a woods guide leading important political figures through dangerous forests, while his brother, Michael, is a newly elected minister of the Westland .
After the unexplained murder of his father, Richard feels compelled to investigate. He discovers a small piece of vine in his father's house, and searches the mountains for a live part of the plant, thinking it might lead him to the murderers. He finds the plant, but it attacks him, implanting a poisonous thorn. Trying to return to town to find healing help, he happens upon a woman named Kahlan Amnell, who is being hunted by a group of four men sent to assassinate her.
Richard helps to save Kahlan's life from the men, and learns that Kahlan crossed the boundary with the aid of five wizards searching for the First Wizard, who is rumored to have crossed into Westland after the creation of the boundaries. Richard takes Kahlan to his best friend and mentor, Zedd. Soon after arriving at Zedd's, Richard collapses from the illness caused by the vine after showing Zedd his vine piece. Zedd identifies the plant as snakevine, and treats Richard.
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