Wizard’s First Rule (1994) by Terry Goodkind is the explosive debut of the Sword of Truth series, a high-fantasy epic blending magic, philosophy, and brutal political intrigue. The novel follows Richard Cypher, a humble woodsman who discovers his destiny as the Seeker of Truth after encountering the mysterious Kahlan Amnell, a woman fleeing the tyrannical wizard Darken Rahl. Armed with the titular rule (“People are stupid”—easily manipulated by lies they want to believe), Richard battles Rahl’s forces across a richly imagined world, wielding the sword Truthseeker and grappling with the moral costs of power.
Goodkind’s worldbuilding draws from Ayn Rand-esque individualism, with protagonists opposing collectivist villains. The story’s unflinching violence (e.g., the Mord-Sith torturers) and eroticism polarized readers, but its propulsive pacing and twist-laden plot made it a ’90s fantasy staple.
A divisive yet influential entry in post-Wheel of Time fantasy, praised for its intensity and criticized for didacticism.
