Suffering from “Seeker” withdrawal? Check out the books
In just two seasons, the television series Legend of the Seeker (based on Terry Goodkind’s “Sword of Truth” novels) has won the type of fan loyalty usually reserved for shows twice its age. How can we tell? Because when the cancellation of the series was reported on April 26, fans began a campaign called “Save Our Seeker.” These earnest individuals are manning tables at fan conventions, sending DVDs to public libraries, and purchasing ads in trade magazines. Goodkind himself has published an announcement supporting the campaign, but the show’s fate remains in flux. If you can’t get enough of the wood guide Richard Cypher and his companions, now’s a perfect chance to check out Goodkind’s original novels.The eleven-book series began in 1994 with Wizard’s First Rule and ended in 2007 with Confessor. The television series roughly covers the first three novels, although the show’s producers Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert have stated that it’s more important to keep the feel of the characters faithful rather than slavishly follow the events of the series. Perhaps inspired by the success of the show, a new novel, The Omen Machine, has been announced on Goodkind’s website.Those viewers who check out the novels will find a much wider world than even a two-season-long show is able to convey. With most of the novels hitting over 500 pages, this is hardly surprising. The series itself is grouped into larger arcs, much like seasons or sub-plots on a television show. After the first book, which establishes the world, the next five books describe a formidable army called the Imperial Order and its invasion of the New World (the main setting of the series). The second two novels describe the characters’ adventures within the Old World and their quest to return home. The final three books of the series to date are known as the “Chainfire Trilogy,” named after an insidious spell cast by one of the villains. The latest book doesn’t have a release date yet, but there’s obviously a lot to explore already for those interested in the Seeker’s world.