"The Name of the Wind"

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

Me,

I'd agree provided it wasn't more of the University without plot progression. The more I think about it the more I suspect there is something up with Master Lorren and Kvothe's ban from the Archives. It's simply to convenient a roadblock to Kvothe's discovery of information about the Chandrian and the Aymr. I also hope we get beyond the desperate for money thing.

[McGinnis]

Alright, I just finished it. I said earlier that I'd have liked if the complexity of the story would increase after the first part of the book. Sad to say it didn't until very near the end, but I still really liked the book.

First of all, the writing style was excellent. I have a feeling that Rothfuss might have a bright future ahead of him if he keeps improving and taking fair and constructive criticism to heart. His prose is smooth, easy to read, eloquent and non-pretentious.

Now, the story has some flaws, I will admit. Mostly it's a bit shallow after having read Ice and Fire. Of course he has to throw in that bit at the end with Bast that made me go a bit "WTF?" (in a good way). I might have missed some hints earlier (as I usually do on first reads) as I'm quite casual in my reading approach.

The draccus thing... Well, I can understand why some people didn't like it and I kind of had the feeling it was just an "excuse" for him to have that bit with Denna (whom I'm not fond of at all). I didn't find it tedious, but I'd have been more interested in more University stuff. If it turns out, after the second or third book, that the sequence was important in another way, then I'll grade it up a bit. Otherwise it'll just be an average scene in an otherwise great read.

I don't really have any problems with Kvothe being a genius in most aspects. Normally I'd have at least a bit of a problem with it, but for some reason I find it easy to forgive. I know one person who's probably even more of a genius at EVERYTHING he tries and it annoys me greatly (it takes him weeks to master what I struggle to learn in months - like drawing, or guitar, or languages... ugh...). Despite that I sympathize with Kvothe and I find his story believable in the context of the novel.

Maybe it's because I could identify with the guy. I felt at home with him. I would probably not have liked the novel if I wasn't "compatible" with Kvothe. At least in most other fantasy novels you have several characters and if you end up really hating one or two, it won't matter much. In a novel like this, the main flaw is that the story hinges on the one main character. So for me it's a hit, for others it might be very miss, and that's perfectly understandable.

The whole being poor and struggling bit... Yeah, I could have done without that. I felt like as soon as he got hold of even a few talents that there'd be another scene, in the not too distant future, where he'd lose it all again in some way.

Also a bit sad that he managed to get rid of Devi so quickly (I take it that's what he referred to when he mentioned having bought a bottle with his own blood). Especially since Kvothe mentions her as one of the more dangerous people. The story did not reflect that at all.

Same with Ambrose. Just a snob with influence over people because of his family's wealth. I didn't get the potentially dangerous life-destroyer Kvothe makes him out to be, despite the attempted murder and the eventual expulsion from the University.

Normally in books I find that some of the bigger ones could do with about 50-100 pages less pointless writing, whereas in this one I'd say that the book would have benefited from 100 pages extra, spent on fleshing out some more interesting side-characters, or showing the world in a bit more detail. Give it some extra garnish.

All in all, though, I can forgive most of the flaws as the good stuff more than makes up for it. I'm happily awaiting The Wise Man's Fear and if it's "more of the same" then that'll be reason enough for me to buy it.

[Foreverlad]

Me,

I'd agree provided it wasn't more of the University without plot progression. The more I think about it the more I suspect there is something up with Master Lorren and Kvothe's ban from the Archives. It's simply to convenient a roadblock to Kvothe's discovery of information about the Chandrian and the Aymr. I also hope we get beyond the desperate for money thing.

Agreed. From the get-go, I was getting a Snape vibe from Master Lorren, though far more even-handed. Between knowing of Kvothe's father, being the one dissuading Kvothe from research, and later outright banning him from the archives, it's too convenient. He's not spiteful, he's well aware of Kvothe's talents, and appears to be holding Kvothe back more for the sake of his own survival (and later successes?) than out of any true punishment.

There's no reason to doubt he was awfully pissed about there being a flame in the library, but he's not a stupid man.

[Eponine]

I don't really have any problems with Kvothe being a genius in most aspects. Normally I'd have at least a bit of a problem with it, but for some reason I find it easy to forgive. I know one person who's probably even more of a genius at EVERYTHING he tries and it annoys me greatly (it takes him weeks to master what I struggle to learn in months - like drawing, or guitar, or languages... ugh...). Despite that I sympathize with Kvothe and I find his story believable in the context of the novel.

I didn't have a problem with Kvothe thinking he was a genius in multiple things, but I figured that his talents were relative. It didn't strike me that he was necessarily the greatest in the whole world - that would probably have annoyed me. The university focuses on one subject(and in many cases, he has to do the work just like everyone else, only those parts are glossed over as less interesting) and Kvothe seems to be able to take fewer classes in areas that's he's weaker in, and he's also a good musician in what seemed to be a fairly small venue, albeit one with prestige involved. You don't actually have to be the world's greatest musician to be considered absolutely wonderful by many people - I know some legitimately talented musicians who are comparatively good in small settings, but aren't anywhere close to the greatest.

Anyway, I prefer that Kvothe is really very smart and talented and had previous training, then the hero model of the guy we're told is absolutely normal, but is going to go on to learn everything he needs to know and save the world anyway. In real history, we're not surprised to learn that a great leader also had other talents and skills instead of just being some dumb guy.

[pat5150]

All in all, though, I can forgive most of the flaws as the good stuff more than makes up for it. I'm happily awaiting The Wise Man's Fear and if it's "more of the same" then that'll be reason enough for me to buy it.

It is, so go ahead and pre-order it! ;)

Patrick

[me399]

I want the second damn book right now. OMG... I hate waiting. :) Is it March 1st yet?

I have noticed the people in the thread about the new book seem to have somehow gotten there grubby little hands on the book and have finished reading it already. How on earth do you guys get your hands on these things so early. Is it out somewhere? Do you know someone? Are you on a special list? Has the damn thing been pirated already and you have somehow tracked it down? Just wondering.

[AverageGuy]

I want the second damn book right now. OMG... I hate waiting. :) Is it March 1st yet?

You SFWed SFWing SFWer-- some of us read it on release instead of this past January, you know!!! :tantrum:

:P

[Horza]

I admired the prose, was interested in the story but was a little jaded by the end. The university section definitely needed trimming - it plays on far too many cliches and large parts of the Denna storyline sink into excruciating Lynch-style angst.

[Kosciuszko]

I've recently bough this and am reading it right now.

Kvothe's family just died.

My impressions so far...

The book itself sings to me. The prose is very polished, something I admire.

The plot? Its kinda alright, not something amazing. But, being the first in a series, I'm digging the seeming implications of what's to come. Kvothe is clearly meant to be extremely overpowered, living legend type figure, but I can respect that. I'm certain, due to what he's said/saying, he'll meet real challenges.

Very worthwhile for the prose alone though. I feel like I could read absolute Goodkindian level crap if it was this well written.

[me399]

Got the book a couple hours early from iBooks on my iPad.....F*ck yes!!!!! off to read I go. :)

[mjgambino]

(posting this here so I don't get any accidental spoilers for WMF)

Pat mentions on his blog that his publisher expects Wise Man's Fear to sell extremely well. From a purely anecdotal observation , it seems like more people I encounter have read The Name of the Wind than most other modern fantasy novels.

So, did The Name of the Wind really sell THAT well? Anyone know how its sales compare to some of his peers (Abercrombie, Lynch, Bakker, ect)?

BTW: I tried to use the search function to see if this has been discussed, but I couldn't find anything... if I missed it, a link would be cool.

[End of Disc One]

So, did The Name of the Wind really sell THAT well? Anyone know how its sales compare to some of his peers (Abercrombie, Lynch, Bakker, ect)?

I'm pretty sure TNotW outsold those easily. I think it's the most successful modern epic fantasy after Wheel of Time, Sword of Truth, and ASoIaF. I'm not sure though, Wert probably has numbers for this.

[Happy Ent]

I'm pretty sure TNotW outsold those easily. I think it's the most successful modern epic fantasy after Wheel of Time, Sword of Truth, and ASoIaF. I'm not sure though, Wert probably has numbers for this.

I take umbrage with "epic fantasy." It's a boarding school YA novel that has much more in common with Harry Potter, was marketed to ride on the HP wave, and (I'm sure) isn't even close to outselling that one.

ETA: Maybe we can agree on “secondary world” fantasy instead?

[End of Disc One]

I take umbrage with "epic fantasy." It's a boarding school YA novel that has much more in common with Harry Potter, was marketed to ride on the HP wave, and (I'm sure) isn't even close to outselling that one.

ETA: Maybe we can agree on “secondary world” fantasy instead?

Maybe, there are hints that it will later get epic.

[Grack21]

I hate genre labels. They're either to general or too specific. Either you get something crazy specific like Historical Bugpunk Romance or something like Historic Fiction which covers everything from Cornwell to Borderline Tudor porn.

But back to the topic, holy crap book two is HEAVY. I mean the poor girl at the counter could barely lift the thing! Did they use extra think paper or am I just getting old. :P

[me399]

I hate genre labels. They're either to general or too specific. Either you get something crazy specific like Historical Bugpunk Romance or something like Historic Fiction which covers everything from Cornwell to Borderline Tudor porn.

But back to the topic, holy crap book two is HEAVY. I mean the poor girl at the counter could barely lift the thing! Did they use extra think paper or am I just getting old. :P

That's funny. Mine is only as heavy as my iPad :).

[Grack21]

That's funny. Mine is only as heavy as my iPad :).

iPads must be heavy!

[me399]

iPads must be heavy!

About a pound and a half. Its gotta be much less than the printed book.

Is there audio for this book. I checked audible.com and I did not see a thing. Anyone know whats up?

I am on page 130 on my ipad, That is not as far along as it sounds cause the font is much different. Page 130 of 3400... does not sound so hot when I put it that way. In actual book form I think that works out to be about 40 pages in. Kovthe just got back to his story. I'll read more tonight after my long walk and the kids are asleep.

I like it allot so far. More of the same "goodness" like book 1.

[Grack21]

About a pound and a half. Its gotta be much less than the printed book.

Is there audio for this book. I checked audible.com and I did not see a thing. Anyone know whats up?

I am on page 130 on my ipad, That is not as far along as it sounds cause the font is much different. Page 130 of 3400... does not sound so hot when I put it that way. In actual book form I think that works out to be about 40 pages in. Kovthe just got back to his story. I'll read more tonight after my long walk and the kids are asleep.

I like it allot so far. More of the same "goodness" like book 1.

I saw the audio book on the B&N website. Don't know if its actually out in stores yet.

[RedEyedGhost]

I've recently bough this and am reading it right now.

Kvothe's family just died.

My impressions so far...

The book itself sings to me. The prose is very polished, something I admire.

The plot? Its kinda alright, not something amazing. But, being the first in a series, I'm digging the seeming implications of what's to come. Kvothe is clearly meant to be extremely overpowered, living legend type figure, but I can respect that. I'm certain, due to what he's said/saying, he'll meet real challenges.

Very worthwhile for the prose alone though. I feel like I could read absolute Goodkindian level crap if it was this well written.

It's posts like this that remind me why I enjoyed reading the book so much, because characters and plot are usually what stick in my memory and it was a bit weak on that. I'm now really excited about book two, thanks.