[Clansman]

DT: I think you are on to something...

Is this similarity a rip-off, or an influence, or a tribute? The sacrificial leading man (Paul Atreides and Rand al'Thor) is also a parallel (I am sorry, but Rand has to die to end this series right).

I would put Goodkind more in the unimaginative rip-off category, as he came out with his stuff very soon after Jordan started.

But Goodkind writes "Romantic Literature" (as in, from romanticism), not fantasy literature. PHHHHHHT! You can call it a rose if you like, but it still stinks! (I stole that from Andy, the station manager on WKRP in Cincinatti).