# Harry Potter = Richard Rahl? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511 "2003-04-04T18:23:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/1 "2003-04-04T18:23:46Z")
Has anybody else noted the similarities between these two characters? Tnaks to the media marketing blitz, most have at least heard of Harry Potter. Richard Rahl is the hero of the “Sword of Truth” series by Terry Goodkind. Even though I’ve been only a casual reader or either series, I couldn’t help but notice the following similarities between the two lead characters: 1. Both are the children of wizards who were raised in lands w/o magic after their wizard parents fell in battle against a hyper-powerful evil magic user. 2. Both are unaware of their status as uniquely powerful, world-saving wizards until comparatively late in life. 3. Both are mentored by semi-whimsical old wizards w/ long white beards (Dumbledore for Harry and Zed for Richard) 4. Both of them actually get to fight the hyper powerful evil wizard when he makes guest appearances from the afterlife. 5. Both of them have female significant others who are very smart and powerful users of their own kind of magic (Hermione for Harry, Kahlan for Richard) 6. Both of them have no understanding of their own abilities. 7. Both of them manage to pull heretofore unknown powers out of their respective asses and save the day each time the author writes him/herself into a corner. There are some differences, too. The Harry Potter books don’t (yet) have the heavy BDSM elements that the "“Sword of Truth” stories have in great measure. My first exposure to Harry Potter was in getting dragged to the movies, and I remember thinking “Where have I seen this before?” ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/2 "2003-04-04T18:27:05Z")
I don’t think that we’ll discover at any point in the series that Harry is Voldemort’s son… Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Theobroma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@Theobroma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theobroma)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/3 "2003-04-04T18:41:38Z")
No, no, I think the OP is on to something here! After all, who wouldn’t like to see Hermione in red leather, with a single braid down the back, tapping her wand on her palm and looking sideways at Ron? I’m thinkin’ maybe in book six. ---
**Author:** ![IDemandBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a88e57/32.png) [@IDemandBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IDemandBeer)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/4 "2003-04-04T19:29:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Theobroma \* > \*\*No, no, I think the OP is on to something here! > > After all, who wouldn’t like to see Hermione in red leather, with a single braid down the back, tapping her wand on her palm and looking sideways at Ron? > > I’m thinkin’ maybe in book six. \*\* You evil, evil person, **Theobroma**. I almost snarfed coffee all over my monitor when I read this. 🙂 I’d have to concur with the OP - now that you’ve mentioned it, there are certainly some definate similarities. Who knows, maybe Harry will start swinging swords around in his later years. 😉 –IDB ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/5 "2003-04-04T19:37:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > **I don’t think that we’ll discover at any point in the series that Harry is Voldemort’s son…** No, but he acquired a lot of powers from V, which make everyone distrust him, until he proves that it’s what you decide for yourself that matters. The same as Richard. I think you’re reading too much into this, Scumpup. Lots of these crop up in all sorts of fantasy writing. BTW Hermione is so not Harry’s SO 😃 (I’l allow companion) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/6 "2003-04-04T20:20:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Who knows, maybe Harry will start swinging swords around in his later years. Um, you _have_ read or seen _Chamber of Secrets_, have you not? Granted, that’s only one sword, not plural, but I should still think that it counts. And now that you mention it, **Theobroma** , that paralysis spell she used on Neville could be useful… ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/7 "2003-04-04T21:02:56Z")
_cough._ Tim Hunter. _cough._ ---
**Author:** ![MusicJunkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@MusicJunkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MusicJunkie)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/8 "2003-04-04T22:29:05Z")
> [@](#): > > cough. Tim Hunter. cough That was the first thing I thought of when I read the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/9 "2003-04-04T22:57:17Z")
Yeah, there are similarities between these two series…and about eleventy hundred other series, too. I’ve heard people accuse Terry Goodkind of blatantly ripping off Robert Jordan, who in turn is accused of ripping off David Eddings, and all of whom, naturally, ripped off Tolkein. There are common elements throughout the genre. It’s gotten so crowded in there that it’s starting to get tough to write anything truly original. ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/10 "2003-04-04T23:41:09Z")
I wondered if anyone was going to bring up Tim Hunter, though the differences there are considerable. Beyond the physical similarities and the fact that both are English and involved in magic, there’s not much to link the two. They’re about as different as two English magic boys can get. Sort of like the link between John Constantine and Rupert Giles. Both are very similar when you look at their origins, and John’s role in Tim’s life is analogous to Giles’ role in Buffy’s, but they are very different characters, and the roles they play in the lives of their respective charges are quite different as well. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/11 "2003-04-04T23:43:18Z")
Tim Hunter definately has more claim to being a Harry-Potter precursor. It’s the glasses. 🙂 Tim Hunter is kick ass. ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/12 "2003-04-04T23:47:07Z")
In terms of raw magical ability, Tim Hunter by himself could curbstomp the entire Harry Potterverse without breaking a sweat. ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/13 "2003-04-04T23:47:55Z")
Have any of you ever read Tolkien’s “Tree and Leaf”? Read it. ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/14 "2003-04-04T23:48:59Z")
One more thing I just remembered, “Harry Potter” is one of the boys that get in trouble in “Scent of a Woman”. Ever see that? ---
**Author:** ![InTransit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47774/32.png) [@InTransit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InTransit)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/15 "2003-04-05T00:15:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > \*\*I don’t think that we’ll discover at any point in the series that Harry is Voldemort’s son… > > Zev Steinhardt \*\* Actually, this is one of my long-standing theories, or that they are at least related. Yes, it’s a little too Star Wars-y, but you gotta admit, there are nice details pointing toward it. ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/16 "2003-04-05T01:43:44Z")
[chick tract]VOLDEMORT HAD NO SON!!![/chick track] Sorry, I couldn’t resist! ---
**Author:** ![tool462](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e5b9ba/32.png) [@tool462](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tool462)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/17 "2003-04-05T01:53:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by InTransit \* > \*\*Actually, this is one of my long-standing theories, or that they are at least related. Yes, it’s a little too Star Wars-y, but you gotta admit, there are nice details pointing toward it. \*\* This is my pet theory as well. Harry = Luke Ron = Han Hermione = Leiah (sp?) Dumbledore = Obi Wan Voldemort = Darth Vader Hagrid = Chewbacca This of course leaves the question: Who is the Emperor? Any guesses? This is obviously not an exact parallel, but it’s pretty darned close… Just the whole Hermione-being-Harry’s-sister thing that doesn’t quite work. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/18 "2003-04-05T03:15:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Apos \* > \*\*Tim Hunter definately has more claim to being a Harry-Potter precursor. It’s the glasses. 🙂 > > Tim Hunter is kick ass. \*\* Neil Gaiman was asked about the similarities and merely shrugged it off, saying he didn’t think so and that the concepts weren’t all that new even in his case. He was a bit perturbed when the reporter made it sound like he was claming Rowling borrowed from him. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/19 "2003-04-05T05:03:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scumpup \* > \*\*1. Both are the children of wizards who were raised in lands w/o magic after their wizard parents fell in battle against a hyper-powerful evil magic user. > 2. Both are unaware of their status as uniquely powerful, world-saving wizards until comparatively late in life. > 3. Both are mentored by semi-whimsical old wizards w/ long white beards (Dumbledore for Harry and Zed for Richard) > 4. Both of them actually get to fight the hyper powerful evil wizard when he makes guest appearances from the afterlife. > 5. Both of them have female significant others who are very smart and powerful users of their own kind of magic (Hermione for Harry, Kahlan for Richard) > 6. Both of them have no understanding of their own abilities. > 7. Both of them manage to pull heretofore unknown powers out of their respective asses and save the day each time the author writes him/herself into a corner. > \*\* I have to agree with the others who say that you can find similarities betyween any two entries in the fantasy genre. The Wheel of Time Series: 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 apply. 3 applies except for the long white beard part. The Belgariad: 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 apply, and again 3 except for the beard. The Lord of the Isles series: 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 apply, and again 3 except for the beard. The Lon-Tobyn Chronicle: 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 apply. And so forth. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Quasar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Quasar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Quasar)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-richard-rahl/166511/20 "2003-04-05T06:16:06Z")
Don’t forget Dune!!! Lotsa parallels there…especially in regards to Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth. Bene Gesserit = Aes Sedai = Sisters of the Light Fremen = Aiel = Baka Ban/Tau Mana Paul Atriedes = Rand al’Thor = Richard Rahl But yeah, for the Fantasy genre, it’s kind of hard not to have similarities.