Goodkind XXXV: Ayn't Life Rand?

[Mme Erzulie]

Erzulie! Nice to see you around again!

Thanks! After I chose to rise up and live my life, I have so little time to waste on the evil, communist internet. I must have missed at least half a dozen threads completely. It is good to see that you lemmings are still marching on, oblivious to the righteousness and truthiness of objectivism and individualism.

So, no link to that previous avatar?

[Jaxom 1974]

This was perhaps not the best idea I've ever had. I forgot that the main attraction here was me, not the Yeard.

Maybe I should sign up for that porn gig, though...

What the heck is on your MySpace page that would attract a Yeardite? Other than the porn reasons...just a co-incidence it was a Yeardy?

[The Pita]

Two things:

A. A DANCE WITH DRAGONS IS GREEN! GREEN! YAY! Not related to a Yeard thread, but still.

GREEN! I WAS RIGHT! IT WAS EARTH GREEN ALL ALONG!

B. Aside from my verdephilia, I would like to ask mack if he's Shining Enigma, because it's freaking me out. Also, the PMs I sent him seem far more stupid than they did originally, and they seemed quite stupid then too.

C. I don't play fair. Green.

[Gold Storm]

I had a strange experience at the bookstore yesterday. I wanted to look at some of TG's works to see awesomeness of the covers and maybe read some of the summaries on the back. But I couldn't find his books in the literature section. At first I was puzzled but then I that "A ha!"

I walked over to the Philosophy section and looked for G. But I didn't find it there either. I was shocked. I grabbed the nearest worker and said "Excuse me, but does your store not carry the works of Terry Goodkind?"

They responded "Yes we do. They're over in the Science Fiction and Fantasy section."

This angered me. Don't they realize that Mr. Goodkind does not write fantasy? Why would the large store make the mistake of mis-categorizing such an important work that focuses on important human themes?

Has anyone else had this experience?

They lack the moral celery to see his work for the masterpiece that it is, SOT is better than literature, philosophy, and Science fiction and fantasy he deserves his own section.

[Jaxom 1974]

This angered me. Don't they realize that Mr. Goodkind does not write fantasy? Why would the large store make the mistake of mis-categorizing such an important work that focuses on important human themes?

Has anyone else had this experience?

You're obviously young. Otherwise you'd understand that everyone in the world at large knows that TG writes fantasy stories, you know, except for TG and some of his, um, devoted followers.

[diabloblanco18]

What the heck is on your MySpace page that would attract a Yeardite? Other than the porn reasons...just a co-incidence it was a Yeardy?

I list fantasy novels as one of my interests.

[The Pita]

But TG is not fantasy.

Ahh, you've found one of those people who are not fans, but Lemming incarnate. You've found that person who thinks that the series is declining since the 5th book, and not someone who thinks that each book is better than all of the others.

[Jaxom 1974]

I list fantasy novels as one of my interests.

Someone mixed the message of what you meant there then, eh?

[Agulla]

And now a very hot review for all of you:

The Book of Counted Goats by Agulla Needle Alfiler

When I was asked to review this book I have to admit that I was unsure about it. I know that I shouldn’t continue placing wagers on the success of the Dallas Cowboys against the New York Giants in hopes of being slaughtered in a book of a famous fantasy series if the price in case of losing was to read some strange and unexpected books that the author of the said series decides.

What can I say in my defence? That many would risk far more to be in that series would suffice? Or that I know that the literary taste of the author will never disappoint me in his election of the books of my penance? In the case of this one, the strange and mysterious The Book of the Counted Goats I had the feeling that the author of the great fantasy series was being cruel with me. And how wrong was I.

The Book of Counted Goats is a masterpiece. The story of a man who decides to write a compendium of all the books in which goats appear. He navigates the internet and travels the World in search of books that he reads trying to find references about goats to add to his book as an entry. Each time that a novelist puts a goat in a story the protagonist makes a new entry in his book telling us about the page or pages where caprids become literary devices, how are they portrayed, how many times they are named, etc. Each entry about this grass eating mammal is a short story in which the author of the book shows his genius as narrator. What in the beginning is just an absurd research of a deluded mind becomes a quest to establish the limits of reality and fantasy. This is the story of an obsessed man who finds a refuge in his quest from a reality that has become too harsh to stand but that later learns to stand up and live his life, making his own choices. Moment that is masterfully described when the protagonist leaves his parents' garage. This is a story in which the imaginary narrator and the writer are confounded in the haziness of a prose for which Hal Duncan would sacrifice his Sumerian mythology library to acquire. I’ll will not say anything else about the mind blowing plot, read this book, read it and discover a powerful new voice in modern literature.

That Agulla Needle Alfiler is a rising star of fantasy and this is already a fact. His book was auctioned and Tor managed to secure the rights for a quantity that has remained secret because it would produce envy and discontent among other well known authors who would have objected in having their long standing records beaten by such a great margin. I’ve been told by people from Bantam, Eos, Pyr and other publishing houses that “Tor offer was too high†and that they feel that they have missed a great chance. There are rumours that Subterranean Press will publish great signed de luxe and lettered editions of this book. Fear not, if this happens, I’ll have one for a giveaway that promises to beat all records. Some British publisher or another will publish it too, a few months before the Americans, with a lower quality paper and binding but in smaller numbers that will ensure that their hardcover edition is sold out soon and reaches outrageous prices in the market.

Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss, Scott Lynch and Peadar Ó Guilín (who can forget the shocking and thought provoking scene of goat eating that appear in The Book of Counted Goats that ties this masterpiece to Peadar’s praiseworthy first effort) have a new partner who will soon surpass them all, or already has.

The shock waves of this book’s arrival have already been felt in the internet. Dylanfanatic and his nemesis have started seventeen threads to discuss about it, and they both like the book.

I expect to be interviewing the author soon. I’ll ask you for questions.

This book deserves a 10/10

P.S. A fellow blogger has asked me to advice you to buy all the editions of this book; he calculates that all of them will reach the price of $1000 in few months. You can thank him later.

[mashiara]

:rofl:

Agulla, :bow: to you.

[The Shining Enigma]

Hmm...I'm unsure...

[The Shining Enigma]

I would like to ask mack if he's Shining Enigma, because it's freaking me out.

I am certainly not this 'Mack', and I see no reason why my identity should distress you so much.

You are in safe hands.

[Daralys]

Sorry if someone posted this already and I missed it. There's a poster, too, but I think we've seen it, or another version of it, already.

I'll pull out some choice quotes in case you don't want to read the block of text:

The TV series, being visual, will actually require that we expand on the book in order to make each of these episodes work . . . This means that the series will actually have more story content than the novel.

Yes, there isn't enough almost rape and butchery; please add more.

[R]est assured that I am going to be intimately involved in the writing of each of the episodes.

Thus ensuring top notch quality . . . or something.

Disney also wants to be able to develop WIZARD'S FIRST RULE and the characters into a franchise. To that end they have bought all the rights to my work (except book rights, of course). That means everything from merchandising rights to game rights to feature film rights all based on the books and the characters . . . In order to make a deal like this the rights had to be virgin.

I love how he always manages to squeeze in a word or phrase with sexual subtext.

The series is going to be filmed in New Zealand. American actors will have the major parts, while some of the minor parts may be actors from that part of the world.

Can't have any of those jibber jabber people showing up and pretending to be noble. God forbid they use any Kiwis in major roles when they're filming in Kiwiland.

If I know in advance when the auditions will be held I will try to get permission to post that information on the website.

Is it evil of me to want to go and try out? Yeah, I lack that much initiative, but it would have been entertaining.

I hear all the time from people who tell me things like how they simply must play the part of Richard because no one loves the books more than they do and all their friends tell them that they think just like Richard. Well, let me tell you, none of you love the books as much as I do and no one thinks more like Richard than me, and they still aren't going to let me play the part of Richard. The part is going to go to an actor who is right for the part, period.

I think they shot him down when he tried, so it's likely they'll appease him by not casting anyone who doesn't worship the ground he walks on. All must bow to the Yeard.

I know that I have the support and best wishes of my readers, and even though I rarely get the chance to tell you so, it sincerely does mean a great deal to me to have your support and encouragement. You all give me strength. Without all of you I would not be able to do any of this. Through your love of the books you have helped make this next step possible.

He thanked his fans . . . kind of. Well, he acknowledged them, at least. I'm still in shock.

ETA: The Yeard also has an essay/letter/speech about his philosophy. It ends with this lovely bit of encouragement:

Now that you are armed, go out there into the world and be the best you can be.

That sounds alarmingly like that army motto: Be the best you can be. That's the army, right? Unless I'm getting things mixed up again. It's either the army or my high school's motto; I forget which.

[The Wolf Maid]

Here's a question: If you could snap your fingers and be the author of the SoT series, and you would have all the fame and riches that TG has received, would it be worth it? I mean, you'd have an amazing house and everything but you'd have to explain to everyone "Yes, I did write that."

Your friends and family would obviously be interested in your books that were so popular and many of them would read them and think "WTF?"

NO.

So, no link to that previous avatar?

You missed a few great quotes from the interviews. as for the link, I'll see if I can hunt it down. It's a pretty popular pic, I think. Hm.

[Gabriele]

[R]est assured that I am going to be intimately involved in the writing of each of the episodes.

I pity the poor scriptwriter who'll have to put up with His Yeardiness. No raise in pay can make up for that.

[Patrick Mallister]

I hear all the time from people who tell me things like how they simply must play the part of Richard because no one loves the books more than they do and all their friends tell them that they think just like Richard. Well, let me tell you, none of you love the books as much as I do and no one thinks more like Richard than me, and they still aren't going to let me play the part of Richard. The part is going to go to an actor who is right for the part, period.

i really hope no actors i like sign up for this....i'd really hate having to hate someone i previously respected and enjoyed in the past. PLEASE BE NO NAMES!!!!!

[The Pita]

When you read about philosophy it's crucially important to keep in mind that those who try to make it so complex as to be impervious to the "lay mind" have a motive for clouding their views: those views will not stand up to the light of reason.

One of the Yeardites quoted this originally, and I think it speaks for itself.

I guess we have a lot to thank Tairy for.

If he wasn't born, some of us might have had productive lives to deal with, and who wants those?

[danro]

One of the Yeardites quoted this originally, and I think it speaks for itself.

It's both the funniest and saddest thing I have read today.

If everything between Aristotele and Ayn Rand seems incomprehensible to him it certainly can't be because of any failure on his part?

How come these intellectual midgets always fancy themselves the supermen of one elitist philosphy or other?

[Wine-skin changer]

It's both the funniest and saddest thing I have read today.

If everything between Aristotele and Ayn Rand seems incomprehensible to him it certainly can't be because of any failure on his part?

How come these intellectual midgets always fancy themselves the supermen of one elitist philosphy or other?

I think it's a self-esteem thing.

[The Pita]

Don't talk about intellectuals.

I hate them with all of my 15 year old angst. I want to almost democratize each and every person who has ever analyzed a poem for something other than lit class.

Anyway, danro, that second to last sentence in your post reminded me of something that happened when I was still on speaking terms with He Whose Star is His, where I said that I found depth in ASoIaF, so he replied with "I didn't, so you must have been skimming it."

I was banned for my response.

Heh.

I think I'm gonna compete with Myshkin for title of "most banned from TG.net", but I'm too lazy to try.

Anyway, Mindonner et. al, I bid thee good night.

Israel lost the Foreign Film oscar. WE MADE A MOVIE ABOUT THE WAR! WHAT CAN BE BETTER THAN THAT? WE CALLED OUR MOVIE BEAUFORT! GAH!

And Johnny Depp didn't get anything, which also annoyed me.