“We present Lord Rahl, the Seeker of Truth and wielder of the Sword of Truth, the bringer of death, the Master of D’Hara, the ruler of the Midlands, the commander of the gar nation, the champion of free people and bane of the wicked, and the betrothed of the Mother Confessor.”

Would Richard Rahl be my favorite character had I not read the entire Sword of Truth series twice this year? Maybe so. Is there any doubt that Richard Rahl is my favorite character since I have read the entire Sword of Truth series twice this year? Definitely not.

“Boy fulfills destiny” is a brilliant concept, and one that I have enjoyed many times (Luke, Harry, Frodo, Eragon, Percy, et al.). Richard’s fate is far more complex than the others, and that’s what makes him my favorite character. Is he perfect? Nearly, but he can be rather singleminded (a trait which often serves him well, but when it doesn’t….oh, boy.) I think the things I love most about him are the little things; the way he “calls the target” to himself, the way he dances with death, the way he subjugates himself to make others better themselves, the value he places on those around him, and I could go on and on at this point….

Craig Horner, as TV!Richard gives us a good “face to go with a name” and I wish the television series could have gone on longer if for no other reason, to touch on the EPICNESS of the novels. Terry Goodkind, who gives us Book!Richard is the true hero, however, and I can’t wait for The Omen Machine to be released so I can get even more of my favorite character.