It’s too easy and too obvious to say that Terry Goodkind and his wife Jeri live lives built on fantasy. The problem is that “fantasy” is a word that means impossibility and a lack of reality. So, let’s say instead that their very real life is firmly rooted in the reality of the success of Terry Goodkind’s books — books that, to his chagrin, literary pundits group with the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien into the fantasy genre.

But Goodkind is firm: he doesn’t write for the Dungeons & Dragons crowd but rather, he says, “for adults,” adding, “Most fantasy is one-dimensional. It’s either about magic or world-building. Readers who are interested in story rather than world-building and details of magic would have a good time reading my books.”

And, clearly, many readers do. When newly published, his books are found on The New York Times bestseller list and, even years after, rank near the top on amazon.com. Some have even spun off into shows like “Legend of the Seeker,” the television series based on his work is on NBC Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. and on WGN Saturdays at 2 p.m.

And, to dispel the notion that he is just a writer in one genre, Goodkind’s next book, “The Law of Nines,” a contemporary novel, will be released — quite logically on September 9, 2009.

Thus their house in the Las Vegas Valley speaks directly to Goodkind’s success, both in size — the 9,600-square-foot buildings (7,600 square feet for the living quarters and 2,000 square feet for Goodkind’s office) on four acres — and in content. The home is very large, very beautiful and very clearly a personal statement by the owners.

To finish enjoying this article, please visit Border’s Books and pick-up a copy of Luxury Las Vegas.