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The Wise Man's Fear

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The Wise Man's Fear
File:The Wise Man's Fear UK cover.jpg
UK cover
AuthorPatrick Rothfuss
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Kingkiller Chronicle
GenreHeroic fantasy
PublisherDAW Books Hardcover
Publication date
March 1, 2011
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages994[1]
ISBN978-0-7564-0473-4
OCLC166359830
Preceded byThe Name of the Wind 
Followed byThe Doors of Stone (working title)[2] 

The Wise Man's Fear, also called The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two, is a fantasy novel written by American author Patrick Rothfuss and the second volume in The Kingkiller Chronicle. It was released March 1, 2011 by DAW Books.[3] It is the sequel to 2007's The Name of the Wind.

Plot

Kvothe continues the narrative commenced in The Name of the Wind, wherein a younger Kvothe pursues his education at the University. There, he carries on a feud with fellow student Ambrose, culminating in Ambrose getting him arrested for calling the name of the wind on charges for Consortation with Demonic Powers, a capital crime. Despite successfully defending himself in court, Kvothe has guaranteed himself an extremely high term tuition due to the negative attention he has attracted to the darker aspects of the University. Kvothe follows the advice by his friends and teachers at the University and decides to take a term off. To prevent his debt to the loan shark Devi being due he uses several of his more prized possessions as collateral.

Kvothe then travels to the city of Severen in order to aid the Maer Alveron in courting the only bride suitable for the Maers high station, and thwarts a plot to kill the Maer. During that time, he discovers Denna living in Severen and, after several weeks of her company, gets to know the song she is working on, the lyrics violating the very core of Kvothe's knowledge about the fall of Myr Tariniel. Not able to share his history Kvothe parts from Denna after an ugly fight. As a last task the Maer charges Kvothe with hunting a group of bandits waylaying taxmen. He is accompanied by a crew of three other mercenaries as they track and kill the bandits. Kvothe then follows the nymph-like Felurian, a being of the Fae, into her own realm, where he stays for an indeterminable time. During this time, Kvothe meets and speaks to the Cthaeh, a malicious, oracular being that reveals disturbing hints of his future. Upon leaving, he learns that only three days have passed in the mortal world. On the return trip to Severen, the Adem mercenary Tempi is ordered to stand trial for teaching Kvothe the 'Ketan', a secretive form of martial arts; Kvothe accompanies Tempi to the country of Ademre, where he finishes his training in the Ketan and in the Lethani philosophy to justify Tempi in teaching him. Upon completing his training he is rewarded with an Adem legend regarding the names and signs of the "Rhinta"—known to Kvothe as the Chandrian—who he has been seeking revenge upon since he was a child.

Again on the road to Severen, Kvothe kills a troupe of robbers who pose as Edema Ruh after having murdered the original troupers. He returns to the Maer and presents the waylaid taxes. While justifying his execution of the robbers to the Maer and the Maer's wife and defending the Edema Ruh he reveals he himself is of this people. This earns him utter condemnation from the Maer's wife, who hates all Edema Ruh, which forces the Maer to send him away despite his considerable service. The Maer shows his gratitude by pardoning him for killing the robbers, ensuring Kvothe's University tuition is forever compensated and providing a writ of performance. Back home, Kvothe achieves financial stability in a deal with the University's bursar, deliberately fumbling at academic examinations in order to raise his own tuition and receive half of the tuition money above a certain amount. He begins to hear stories of his own exploits, many distorted or fabricated by the people.

In the frame story, Kvothe's friend and disciple Bast prompts two soldiers to rob Kvothe's inn in an attempt to revitalize Kvothe, who loses the fight, whereupon Bast subsequently kills the soldiers.

Release

The first draft of the manuscript was submitted to the editor on May 11, 2009,[4] and the book was released in 2011.[5]

Brilliance Audio released audiobooks of The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear narrated by Nick Podehl.

Reception

The book was a critical and commercial success, debuting at the top of the New York Times Fantasy list.[6][7] It also reached the top of the New York Times' Hardcover Fiction list approximately three weeks after its release.[8] Author George R.R. Martin blogged that "The Wise Man's Fear was worth the wait. I gulped it down in a day, staying up almost to dawn reading, and I am already itching for the next one. He's bloody good, this Rothfuss guy."[9] Locus stated that "The Wise Man’s Fear fairly leaps off the page, whatever the setting and circumstances."[10] Publisher's Weekly's review was glowing, claiming that "As seamless and lyrical as a song from the lute-playing adventurer and arcanist Kvothe, this mesmerizing sequel to Rothfuss's 2007's debut, The Name of the Wind, is a towering work of fantasy."[11]

References

  1. ^ "Home again, home again, jiggety jig…". Blog.patrickrothfuss.com. 2011-01-28. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  2. ^ "Patrick Rothfuss Interview - Page 1 of 2". Sffworld.com. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  3. ^ "I said I'd tell you when I knew..." Patrick Rothfuss' Blog. April 28, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
  4. ^ "When in Rome..." Patrick Rothfuss' Blog. May 12, 2009. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
  5. ^ "Is It Drafty In Here?". Patrick Rothfuss' Blog. February 26, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
  6. ^ "NYT Besteller fantasy list, March 15". Fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com. 2011-03-18. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  7. ^ Taylor, Ihsan. "Best Sellers - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  8. ^ The New York Times. "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  9. ^ http://grrm.livejournal.com/262170.html
  10. ^ "Locus Online Reviews » Faren Miller reviews Patrick Rothfuss". Locusmag.com. 2011-03-19. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  11. ^ "Fiction Review: The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss". Publishersweekly.com. 2011-01-24. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
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