Terry Lee Goodkind (1948–2020) was an American author of fantasy novels and thrillers. He was known for the epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth and the contemporary suspense novel The Law of Nines (2009.) The 17 books in The Sword of Truth series sold 25 million copies worldwide and were translated into more than 20 languages.
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Goodkind worked as a woodworker and wildlife artist before publishing his first novel when he was 45.
Goodkind began publishing his famous Sword of Truth series with the novel Wizard’s First Rule (1994) and continued with Stone of Tears (1995,) Blood of the Fold (1996,) Temple of the Winds (1997,) Soul of the Fire (1999,) Faith of the Fallen (2000,) The Pillars of Creation (2001,) Naked Empire (2003,) Chainfire (2005,) Phantom (2006,) and Confessor (2007.) The TV series Legend of the Seeker, based on his Sword of Truth work, ran 2008–10.
Goodkind wrote many associated series as well. He was a champion of Ayn Rand’s philosophical approach to objectivism and mentioned Rand’s concepts and novels in his works. His standalone books include The Law of Nines (2009,) The First Confessor (2012,) Nest (2016,) The Girl in the Moon (2018,) and The Sky People (2019.)
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To exist in this vast universe for a speck of time is the great gift of life. Our tiny sliver of time is our gift of life. It is our only life. The universe will go on, indifferent to our brief existence, but while we are here we touch not just part of that vastness, but also the lives around us. Life is the gift each of us has been given. Each life is our own and no one else’s. It is precious beyond all counting. It is the greatest value we can have. Cherish it for what it truly is….. Your life is yours alone. Rise up and live it.
—Terry Goodkind
I am who I am; no more, no less.
—Terry Goodkind
Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed
—Terry Goodkind
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