Pillars of Creation FROM OUR EDITORS
Tormented her entire life by inhuman voices, a young woman seeks to end her intolerable agony, but silencing the voices unleashes torment on everyone else. In this Sword of Truth book, it falls to Richard and Kahlan to stop the unearthly threat that comes out of the darkest night of the human soul.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Richard Rahl and his wife, Kahlan, have been reunited after their long separation, but with winter descending and the paralyzing dread of an army of annihilation occupying their homeland, they must venture deep into a strange and desolate land. Their quest turns to terror when they find themselves the helpless prey of a tireless hunter." "Exploited by those intent on domination, Jennsen finds herself drawn into the center of a violent struggle for conquest and revenge. Worse yet, she finds her will seized by dark forces more abhorrent than anything she ever envisioned. Only then does she come to realize that the voices were real." Staggered by loss and increasingly isolated, Richard and Kahlan desperately struggle to survive. But if they are to live, they must stop the relentless, unearthly threat that comes out of the darkest night of the human soul. To do so, Richard will be called upon to face the demons stalking among the Pillars of Creation.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Fantasy bestseller Goodkind brings his usual strong sense of place and distinct characterization to his seventh sprawling novel in the popular Sword of Truth series, though the action, too often discussed rather than shown, takes a while to warm up. The struggle continues between the New World's Seeker of Truth, Lord Richard Rahl, and the Old World's totalitarian leader, Emperor Jagang "the Just," against the dry and barren beauty of the desert landscape. After deposing his father, old Lord Rahl, Richard lingers in the background at his immense fortress. Meanwhile, battling for power are the bastards that old Rahl has also sired, notably Richard's oafish lout of a half-brother, Oba, who tries to murder his way to the throne. Taking center stage is the vengeful Jennsen, who wants to kill Richard because she blames him for her mother's murder. Of course, Richard isn't the villain she takes him for, though Jennsen is slow to catch on. Amid the interminable sword-and-sorcery in the tradition of Robert E. Howard (Howard would have especially appreciated the huge serpent with which Oba and Jennsen contend), the author spouts his familiar political pieties. Lip service may be paid to public good, but passion arises only in scenes of violence. For all its clumsy exposition, unlikely coincidences and feeble attempts at humor, this latest installment, with its striking jacket art showing a beautiful desert landscape, is as certain to please Goodkind's legions of fans as previous books in the series. (Dec.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
VOYA - Ann Welton
Fans of the seven-volume Sword of Truth series, which is strenghtened with the addition of this title, will be thrilled to find the story of Richard Rahl, Lord Rahl of D'Hara, and his wife, Kahlan, the Mother Confessor, extended. Richard and Kahlan are bit players until the very end, as Richard's half sister, Jennsen, and his murderous half brother, Oba, must come to terms with their heritage and their destiny. Raised as fugitives by their mothers, Jennsen and Oba are ungifted children of Lord Darken Rahl. Conduits between the world of the living and the Keeper's world of the dead, they possess a lethal power and the capacity to undo all magic. Neither Jennsen nor Oba is aware of this potential, although both are troubled by internal voices. As Oba increasingly is lost to the murderous bidding of the Keeper's voice, Jennsen is led astray by a devious servant of Emperor Jagang the Just, drawing both out of D'Hara to a confrontation with Richard at the Pillars of Creation. Plot is definitely Goodkind's forte, and the story unfolds compellingly, with near-perfect pacing, well-realized settings, and superior descriptive narrative. Where this novel falls short is in characterization. Jennsen is easily the most aggravating heroine since Scarlett O'Hara and occasionally makes one long for Scarlett's grit. Always just a bit lost, Jennsen constantly leans on some Big Strong Man for help as she bumbles through situations with implausible luck, an unsympathetic and helpless pawn. Oba is completely sadistic, and Goodkind's enthusiastic descriptions of beatings and quasi vivisections contrast with his restraint in soft-focus sex scenes. None of this will matter, of course, to aficionados of theseries, who will be eager to read another installment in Richard Rahl's story. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P S A/YA (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2001, Tor, 512p,
KLIATT - Ginger Armstrong
Providing a different focus from his previous novels, Goodkind features Jennsen Daggett, the illegitimate daughter of Darken Rahl. In D'Hara, children born to Darken Rahl without "the gift" are sought out and murdered. Jennsen happens to be one of those children. As a result, throughout her childhood, Jennsen and her mother have moved from town to town in an effort to stay alive. When Jennsen discovers what she thinks to be a dead D'Haran soldier in the woods near her home, she knows that her father is getting too close. With the help of Sebastian (a spy of Emperor Jagang's intent on destroying the House of Rahl), Jennsen hides the soldier and quickly hurries home with Sebastian in tow. That night soldiers invade the Daggett household and Jennsen's mother is murdered. Sebastian saves Jennsen and they flee to find Althea, a sorceress Jennsen believes will protect her from Lord Rahl and provide her with knowledge of her puzzling family history. To learn the truth and to become safe, Jennsen must travel into the heart of danger to the People's Palace. Although both Sebastian and a Sister of the Dark persuade Jennsen to kill Richard Rahl, Jennsen soon realizes upon meeting Richard that he is not like his father. Former readers of the series will predict the happy ending. Without Richard and Kahlan in the forefront of this story, fans of those characters may be disappointed, but those who simply enjoy Goodkind's world will find this novel thoroughly entertaining. Goodkind can always be counted on to relate an adventurous and heroic tale. The characters spring to life and Oba as evil personified is creepily compelling. In the spirit of Robert Jordan and Robert E. Howard, this novel is highlyrecommended for those who enjoy epic fantasies though readers may want to start with the first book of the series, Wizard's First Rule, to fully appreciate Goodkind's work. KLIATT Codes: SAﾽRecommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2001, Tor, 725p.,
Library Journal
Goodkind takes a left turn in this seventh entry of his "Sword of Truth" series. He abandons his main characters for a time and concentrates on the life and adventures of a young woman named Jennsen, the illegitimate daughter of Darken Rahl. Jennsen hears voices (complete with Cecil B. Demille effects) and is pursued by dark forces seemingly because of her heritage. She flees her home after her mother is killed in search of a sorceress she thinks holds the keys to her destiny, only to discover more than she bargains for...such as a big swamp snake. Goodkind's D'Hara world is a glittering tapestry described in immediate and sometimes gruesome detail; it is interesting to hear how he has turned it upside down in The Pillars of Creation. The narration by Jim Bond is crisp, well done, and dramatic. Thankfully, Brilliance Audio seems to have abandoned its former whirlwind reading pace. Listeners will be enthralled and eager to sample more series entries. Though the price tag and length will deter some libraries, this is enthusiastically recommended for anyone who enjoys monumental fantasy. Barbara Perkins, Irving P.L., TX Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Home
