The Omen Machine: Again?

Popular fantasy giant Terry Goodkind takes a very meta approach to his usual formula. The ruling elite have a "machine" that makes predictions for them. Their high priests are the only people allowed to work the machine that speaks in very generalized omens. Interpretation of these omens is, by spiritual law, left up to the people. Of course this means the loudest mouths have access to the most people, and therefore have the most influence over how omens are interpreted.

Blah blah blah. It's pretty obvious from the first twenty pages this is an allegory for modern society's punditry and sensationalism. An unlikely band of heroes forms and manages to expose the man behind the curtain after journeying far and wide to gather proof and the materials they need to defeat the powers that be. Once the evil overlords have been either killed or taken captive, the book ends in an obvious set-up for several sequel adventures sure to carry on this, and many other themes until Goodkind can expound upon them no more.