AHHHHHHHHHHH! I'm sooo psyched!!! This is one of my favourite Fantasy novels. I hope it goes through.
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TOR BOOKS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Elena Stokes Russell Galen

Director of Publicity Agent

Tor Books Scovil Chichak Galen Agency


Sam Raimi gets Terry Goodkind’s bestselling Sword of Truth adventure series!


Sam Raimi, best known as the director of the hugely successful SPIDER-MAN and SPIDER-MAN II films, and his producing partner Joshua Donen, have optioned film rights for Terry Goodkind’s enormously popular bestselling SWORD OF TRUTH adventure series, published by Tor Books.


Having been approached by Hollywood a number of times over the past decade, Goodkind was never convinced that his 400,000 word bestselling novels could be successfully compressed into worthwhile feature films. In a meeting at the author’s home, the renowned director and producer instead conceived of a groundbreaking mini-series. Within two hours Goodkind was sold on the concept and negotiations commenced. Ten months later the deal was finally concluded. “It’s a dream come true to work with someone of such remarkable vision, talent, and ability,” Goodkind said. “Given Sam’s sincere love for these stories and his determination to only make great films, this mini-series will be a watershed event.”


All of Goodkind’s novels have been international bestsellers. Translated into 20 foreign languages, there are over 10 million copies in print. The SWORD OF TRUTH series began with WIZARD’S FIRST RULE in 1994. The 10th novel in the series, PHANTOM, is on sale now. The 11th and final volume is under contract and will be published in 2008.


Raimi and Donen hope to begin production of the opening mini-series, WIZARD’S FIRST RULE, within the next year, to be followed by ensuing volumes of the epic novels. The development process will begin while Raimi completes SPIDER-MAN III. Definitive word on the production will be available in early 2007.


Goodkind was represented in the negotiations by Russell Galen of the Scovil Chichak Galen Agency in New York City.

Source

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Now, if only they could do this for Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Series.

Or even better, George R. R. Martin's novels turned to a mini series. I hope this will do well and hopefully allow for other fantasy novels to be made into Miniseries.

I wonder who they're going to cast as Kahlan or Richard.

Keira Knightley would be amazing as Kahlan, but the ods of her doing it are 0 lol.

An HBO mini-series I hope. Otherwise it will suck. (though I haven't read the books to begin with, just saying...)

I'd so get illegal satelite to catch HBO in Canada.

Update for Squee (who seems to be the only one interested )

The miniseries is planned to be shot in New Zealand with a budget of 50 million :D:D:D:D:D

I'm also interested, but not as much as you, as haven't yet read Goodkind's work.

Know you recommend him before, will get it soon hopefully.

I hope you enjoy it Though i've found that serious Fantasy lovers seem to not like him for some reason. And George R.R. Martin is better than him. I still have to read a feast for crows. Have you read it yet?

By The way Here are all the books in the Sword of Truth Series.

Book 1: Wizard's First Rule (Best Book in the Series)
Book 2: Stone of Tears
Book 3: Blood of the Fold
Book 4: Temple of the Winds
Book 5: Soul of the Fire
Book 6: Faith of the Fallen (Second Best Book in the series)
Book 7: The Pillars of Creation (Worst Book in the series)
Book 8: Naked Empire
Book 9: Chainfire
Book 10: Phantom

Wizard's First Rule was really good, definitely one of my favorite fantasy epics. Stone Of Tears was too long for it's own good, and too much like the first one. Starting Blood of the Fold now.

Neo - as a fan of ASOIAF - would I like this series? What fantasy series would you reccomend for someone who loves the ASOIAF series?

Hey MadGez,

ASOIAF is very different from the other fantasy authors I read. It's a lot like LOTR in that magic is not at the forefront of the series. Magic is involved but there's an added emphasis on the characters and its more warlike/medieval.

The Sword of Truth is a bit of a hit and miss. Many people don't like it because it's very "stereotypical fantasy" and many people say Goodkind stole ideas from other authors such as (Robert Jordan). Terry Goodkind denies this. The Sword of Truth is really really good in that it has strong female characters (which for me is important) and towards the end of the series it gets highly philosophical (why fight, what's the purpose of killing, what is justice). I didn't mind this at all, though I found at times that Goodkind placed philosophy and sending a message above telling a story. It's definately worth a read. The Books are gigantic though (like 900pgs).

I also read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series that is much more epic (in feel) and less philosophical. What's amazing about the Eye of the World is how detailed and complex the characters and the magic is in the series. It's kind of cool because it takes place in a matriarchal world, where the political power is held by Aes Sedai (women who can yield the one power) and me who can touch the power are outcasts.

Judging the series as a whole, I would rate Wheel of Time as the best series so far, followed very very closely by ASOIAF and then Sword of Truth.

I also read Mercedes Lackey books, which are no where near as complex as the other series, but they are great quick reads that deal with very sociological issues in magic (ie homosexuality, homophobia, power relations).

If you get a chace to read any mercedes lackey get the Last Herald Mage Trilogy (Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise and Magic's Price in that order). The first and Last book are amazing in terms of the emotional development of the characters.

And that's about the extent of my Fantasy knowledge. I have heard that Tad Williams is good and Terry Pratchet is hilarious, but I have yet to read any of their works.

Great - thanks Neostorm.

Judging from what you have written - once Ive finished ASOIF - i'll probably start The Wheel of Time. I did hear that the Wheel of Time starts to go downhill in the later books but the first few are great. Will give them a go anyway. I do prefer less magic and more reality I guess - hence one of the reasons why I love ASOIF.

One reviewer on Amazon did write that ASOIF was male dominated - but I dont agree with that. How can anyone say that when you have great characters like Daenerys, Cersei and Arya!! Not to mention Catleyn, Sansa and Brienne.

Thanks again.