The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1)

Let me start by saying there is a difference in a novel being enjoyable and a novel being good. Enjoyable is subjective, good is not. For example, I did not find the Song of Fire and Ice series enjoyable (to nihilistic for my tastes), however, I recognize that it is very good. I found the Magician series by Raymond Fiest to be highly enjoyable and entertaining although I know it is not the most well written series ever. This book/series is a rare case of being both extremely enjoyable and incredibly good. The plot is engrossing, perfectly paced, and well thought out. I love the main character. Every time I pick up the book I slip into his shoes in under 10 seconds. It is so easy to feel what he feels as you follow his story. I find it incredibly refreshing that neither the problems nor the solutions to those problems require the characters to step outside of how they would rationally act in that situation. I find this to be the failing of so many novels (song of fire and ice being one of them). As I read the 1 star reviews, I can not help but think these people have low self-esteem. The common thread through most of these reviews is that the main character is to perfect. They hate that he is smart, a great musician, and can do magic. I personally enjoy reading about a great person overcoming the great problems the world presents. I want my heroes to be heroic, to be something to aspire to myself. I get that not everyone else does, the anti-hero is very trendy right now. The people who 1-star this series almost always hold up the song of fire and ice series as the opposite of the kingkiller chronicles, but don't listen to them. Like I said above there is a difference between enjoyable and good. The critics of this series are confusing not enjoyable with not good. They did not like the book therefore they think that it is bad. They want their anti-heroes in a world where everyone is bad guy and no good dead goes unpunished or the book sucks. It annoys me that these anti-hero books get the ironic label of being "more real" (its funny because they are fantasy novels). I don't not believe the natural state of man to be wicked and have found karma to me more real than nihilism. Look, if don't care about quality and are just looking for a book where everyone is a bad guy who hate life and everyone living in it then you probably won't enjoy this series. But don't call a book with a great plot, interesting characters, and well thought out themes bad. Just say you didn't find it enjoyable. That way we will understand that you simply have different tastes, and that you are not, in fact, stupid. After you read this series check out Brandon Sanderson's novels (Mistborn stuff and the amazing new Stormlight series).

It's all but impossible to be a fan of modern fantasy writing and not know the name Patrick Rothfuss. Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind is a blockbuster of the genre - the kickoff to a trilogy named The Kingkiller Chronicle - and one of those books that's basically put Rothfuss in the same realm of respect and adoration as Robert Jordan and George R.R. Martin. And though I've been wary to start another big fantasy series (especially one that's been left without the final volume for so long, with little signs of its arrival anytime soon), something made me finally pick up The Name of the Wind, only to find myself devouring it with excitement, glee, and passion. So what is it that makes The Name of the Wind so enjoyable? At least some of that has to be chalked up to the book's general conceit: the retelling of the life of the mythic figure Kvothe, as told by Kvothe himself, now posing as a humble innkeeper in the middle of nowhere. Giving us the equivalent of a bard as a hero is a fun move, and Rothfuss takes that idea and runs with it, immersing himself in folklore, myths, legends, and storytelling as a theme of the novel, be that the danger of legends or the tendency to self-aggrandize. More than that, though, it makes the story itself part of the book's appeal, making the telling of the saga every bit as important as the events themselves. And that's good, because in a weird way, after you finish The Name of the Wind, it feels like little so much as a clearing of a throat and the setting of a table, even though the book itself never feels like that at all. The Name of the Wind is all about setting up ideas for later - it introduces ominous figures like the Chandrian, but never tells you much about them; it slowly lets Kvothe find his place in the University, finally finding his niche by the end, and then ends things; it sets up conflicts with antagonists, and then hints about the outcomes to come in later books...in short, it's all definitely the first volume in a series, with all of the flaws that come with such an idea. But somehow, Rothfuss makes the book satisfying, even while only giving you this opening third of the story, and much of that is the way he revels in the telling of a good story as its own end, not just a means to convey a plot. Rothfuss's characters are compelling and engaging on the whole (although there's a "rich jerk" character who never feels like more than that archetype), existing not just as steps along Kvothe's journey but people who existed long before the book began and who will live long after Kvothe leaves them behind. Whether it's a group of teachers whose internal feuds are obvious even before they're explained, passing companions on road journeys, or a wandering boy in the woods, Rothfuss takes the time to savor all of their voices and arcs, making clear that for Kvothe - and Rothfuss himself - the journey is the destination, and not just a way of telling us how Kvothe ended up here in exile. In other words, the reason The Name of the Wind works because it does the thing that makes fantasy so appealing: it builds and populates a rich world, brings its people to life, and lets you just wander among its roads. Rothfuss doesn't give you the brutal cynicism of a Martin or an Abercrombie, but he doesn't shy away from the nature of people either, and that honesty serves the book well, making the moments of kindness and generosity all the more effective and ringing, and the moments of nastiness all the more pointed. Is it an incomplete tale? Yes, and frustratingly so, especially as I think about how little progress it sometimes we feel like we made in Kvothe's tale by the end of it all. But is it a great story? It really is - and maybe that's what's really important about it.

This hardcover edition of The Name of the Wind, the first book in The Kingkiller Chronicle, is a very premium-looking book with a classy and well-designed dust jacket. The overall build feels solid, and the page and font quality are good, making it comfortable to read for long sessions. As for the story, it’s easily one of the best fantasy novels I’ve read in a long time. The book follows Kvothe as he recounts his extraordinary life, from his early childhood with a traveling troupe to his time surviving on the streets and his journey into the world of magic and learning. The way the story is told—through memories and storytelling—adds depth and emotion to every chapter. What really stands out is the atmosphere, the music, and the slow unfolding of legends that surround the main character. It’s not just about magic or action; it’s about ambition, loss, and the price of chasing knowledge and fame. If you’re looking for a good hardcover edition of a beautifully written fantasy story, this book is absolutely worth owning and reading.

Kennt ihr das, wenn ihr Ewigkeiten für ein Buch braucht? Aber nicht, weil es schlecht oder so langweilig ist, sondern weil ihr einfach nicht möchtet, dass dieses wunderbare Buch zu Ende geht und ihr möglichst lange darin verweilen wollt? Genau so ist es mir nämlich mit „The Name of The Wind“ von Patrick Rothfuss ergangen. Der Fantasyroman ist ganz anders als alles bisher gelesene. Man muss sich von Beginn an im Klaren sein, dass es eine besondere Geschichte ist, die nicht von Heldentaten sondern vor allem durch seine dichte Atmosphäre lebt. Es gibt keine heroische Krieger und/oder Schlachten, stattdessen erzählt Kvothe seine Geschichte, also eigentlich ist es beinahe mehr eine Autobiographie. Wie schon erwähnt, lebt das Buch von seiner dichten Atmosphäre und dem wunderbaren Schreibstil. Jedes mal wenn ich das Buch zuklappen musste, brauchte ich kurze Zeit um mich zu orientieren, denn ich war vollends in die Welt von „The Name Of The Wind“ abgetaucht. Der Autor schafft es, die einfachsten Dinge und Handlungen so wunderbar zu beschreiben, dass man einfach immer mehr lesen möchte. Es gibt zwar keine großen Schlachten oder ähnliches, aber die actionreichen Szenen kommen dennoch nicht zu kurz. Die Geschichte hat dabei so viel Tiefgang und bis ins letzte Detail ausgearbeitete Charaktere, dass sie den Leser sehr schnell in seinen Bann zieht und nicht mehr los lässt. Patrick Rothfuss Schreibstil ist wirklich grandios, und das macht das Buch so extrem gut. Jedes einzele Wort und jede Formulierung passen zu hundert Prozent und wirken, als wären sie mehrmals überdacht worden. Es gab keine einzige Stelle, wo ich mir nur ansatzweise dachte, dass die Wortwahl hier etwas besser sein könnte. Und genau wegen diesem Schreibstil habe ich auch beschlossen das Buch in Englisch zu lesen. Ich wollte nicht von Übersetzern abhängig sein, sondern bei einem so hochgelobten Buch die eigenen Worte des Autors lesen. Und ich war wirklich traurig, als ich das Buch beendet hatte, da ich mich noch nicht von dieser großartigen Geschichte losreissen wollte/konnte. Fazit Einer der besten Fantasyromane die ich bisher gelesen habe. „The Name Of The Wind“ lebt durch seine dichte Atmosphäre und durch den Schreibstil von Patrick Rothfuss. Daher gibt es 5 von 5 Sternen.

The book was not in new condition. There was discoloration and damage corners. Also very dusty.

Todo aquel que lo había leído me lo había recomendado mucho y finalmente decidí meterme con él para descansar un poco del último libraco de la especie “qué libros más raros lees” que me estaba metiendo entre frontal y occipital, y la verdad es que la primera lectura, en español, me gustó mucho. Narra a la historia de un cronista que escribe la historia de un tendero que cuenta la historia de un mago, y va alternando con astucia y brevedad entre los tres niveles como recurso para mantener el ritmo narrativo. De hecho, el propio nombre del protagonista, Kvothe, es un juego de palabras respecto a esta técnica narrativa, ya que se pronuncia, en inglés (idioma original) exactamente igual que “citar” o “cita” (quote). El universo que describe me recuerda mucho al de Terramar, aunque el estilo sea más directo y moderno que el de Ursula K. Le Guin; y la historia es atractiva, quizá un poco “culebronesca”, pero no todo va a ser Umberto Eco. Bastante recomendable, la verdad; no es Canción de Hielo y Fuego ni la saga Vorkosigan pero por ahí anda. Un buen libro para regalar con el que es muy difícil equivocarse. Hay que decir que unos meses después, tras comprarme The Wise Man’s Fear (no pude esperar a la traducción en español así que debió gustarme bastante más de lo que mi primera crítica dejó entrever) me lo compré en inglés y me lo releí. Es bastante mejor en el irioma original, hay muchísimos juegos de palabras y connotaciones que se te escapan cuando lo lees en castellano, y lo recomiendo mucho a quien pueda con él. Y recomiendo a quienes se lean El Temor de un Hombre Sabio que luego relean El Nombre del Viento. Te das cuenta de muchos detalles que probablemente se te pasaran en la primera lectura, como cual es el temor de un hombre sabio (pista: lo dice cuando le pillan con una vela en la biblioteca), ciertos detalles sobre los Chandrian sobre los Lackless (pista: la canción que canta cuando es niño y no se da cuenta de de qué va hasta que le pilla su madre) y algún otro más que no voy a contar aquí. Gana con la relectura, que recomiendo, y como ya he dicho es bastante mejor en inglés aunque la traducción sea buena.

Il libro è molto bello, scritto divinamente e costruito con molta cura. Il mondo di Kvothe è abbastanza complesso da non sembrare vuoto ma comunque non sufficientemente mappato da contare come personaggio per conto proprio. Toglietevi dalla testa Martin o Tolkien, questa è la storia di un unico protagonista e narrata dal suo pov. Da un lato questo semplifica la lettura, perché ti lascia tempo di acclimatarti ai cambiamenti nella vita del protagonista, i suoi viaggi e le sue avventure, dall'altro non ci vengono risparmiati tempi morti e punti di minimo nella narrazione. In 700 (~) pagine e qualcosa gli avvenimenti degni di nota si contano sulle dita di una mano...e senza nemmeno impegnare tutte le dita. La lettura non è noiosa, a mio parere, ma un po' lenta si. Per darvi un'idea, ho letto le prime 200 pagine del libro successivo e la storia è ancora ferma alla conclusione del primo volume. E c'è un altro problema, lo scrittore. Patrick Rothfuss è un secondo Martin, nel senso che i fan aspettano da troppi anni la conclusione della storia e l'ultimo romanzo è ancora TBA. Fortunatamente Rothfuss è giovane ma io personalmente mi metterei comodo per il terzo libro, qua la cosa andrà per le lunghe. Lascio comunque la 5a stella (non fosse altro per controbilanciare la recensione tarocca ad una stella qui sotto) ma ad un giudizio più obiettivo darei 4.5 o poco meno. Sia chiaro, per me i limiti del libro sono ampiamente stracciati dalle tante qualità della saga ma potrebbe essere solo la mia opinione. Buona lettura!