Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time (series)

[XxEvilHobbit]

This is a VERY good series to start. There iz never a dull moment but itz complicated. So complicated in fact, I can't even BEGIN to describe it. So! If u've read it, let me know! :naughty:

[Fatty]

Welcome to War of the Ring xxEvilHobbit (maybe my alter ego eh), I have not tried these books yet, but people seem to rave about them...........tell us more about them.

[XxEvilHobbit]

This iz for ppl who HAVE read the books! I said u can't explain it-itz complicated! Everything is unique! Look it up er sumthin! verymad

[Fatty]

Well it cannot be that complicated, it must have a blurb at back of book or something.........

[XxEvilHobbit]

Well, as i said, it is totally unique so even if I quoted the blurb u wouldn't get it.
:)
P.S. if u hve aol er sumthin my sn iz XxoINsANitYoxX or on MSN Xxbabigrlx87xX. I'm easier to reach then...

[Algamesh]

Wow! This hobbit may truly be evil !!! lol

Basically, in "The Wheel of Time" series, we have a world that is undergoing great turmoil. We have a group of long dead sorcerers and sorceresses who are resurrected by the main 'nemesis' - an evil deity of sorts.

Back in ancient days, both men and women could channel magic energies. You were basically born with the ability and once you were discovered by the 'guild', they assigned you a color to represent your realm of power, etc. Well, something went wrong ... After a tumultuous conflict with ye ol' evil one and his subsequent imprisonment - the magic flow of the male gender became tainted. Male sorcerers would eventually fall into madness due to the taint and would have to be destroyed. The women spellcasters found a way to purify the males which negated their magic abilities and at the same time, leached their will to live.

Our main character, Rand (I believe ... it's been a while) is born and raised in a small village ... to make a long story short - he is prophesized to rid the world of evil but he has to battle ensuing madness and several different factions with agendas of their own along the way. There are a multitude of subplots and uncounted prophesies throughout.

Suffice it to say that it is a great series and spans several thousand page novels ...

[Fatty]

Oh I might have read it, the plot sounds familiar, thought a lot of these books have a similar plot of sorts.

[A! Elbereth]

Yes Algamesh I think you may be right! lol

Wow! This hobbit may truly be evil !!! lol

But I think I will take a look at these books they must be good

[XxEvilHobbit]

Yes, I truly am evil, itz just the way I am. NOW! Algamesh, u smart-pants, hoo the hell do u think u r? pfbbt
Hmmmm!
??
:evilcool:
NM, JK...maybe...rofl

[Shagrat]

The Wheel of Time is one of my all time favourite series. Robert Jordan is a magnificent story teller.

For those of you that have read up to book nine, you can look foward to Book Ten: Crossroads of Twilight, which is released on November 12, 2002.

Also, for those of you that have not yet heard, Jordan has stated that he will be ending the series after Book 12.

[WinterSoul]

i have heard a lot of these books and R. Jordan but i still haven't explored this vast story of his.
I have a question to those who have read those series "would you recommend those books to a major Tolkien fan"?

[Shagrat]

I would recommend WoT to any fan of fantasy. The only thing that might disuade you from the series is the fact that each book ranges from 600-980 pages or so, with a total of 10 books released. That is a lot of reading, nothing like the LotR's series which is much shorter.

A lot of people tend to get frustrated with the length, but I assure you, it is not a dull series.

[WinterSoul]

wooooooooooow this is very interesting
really quite a vast story. And yes i'm sure it's not dull.
Will get busy with it as soon as i get it.
I'm very intrigued

[Celebriel_Esgaledhel]

Hey, LotR is always my most FAVORITE series, but after that, I like Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.
I'd like to get a discussion going on this series, sooo....
Several nights ago, i had a dream that I was an Elvish Aes Sedai....lol it was great....I was a Green Ajah, of course!!!!...but my warder died......

Anyways, I just thought that it would be really cool to get a discussion of the WoT going, so post ahead.....plz...lol

[Melain]

Celebriel_Esgaledhel
If you did dream that you were green, I doubt that you would be laughing about the loss of your warder. The Green love men.
Though very long and at some parts boring they are good books, but will have a bit of a time matching up to the works of Tolkien.

[Celebriel_Esgaledhel]

OH no! not about him dying! in the dream, i was so shaken, i couldn't get a hold of myself. i just thought it was neat that the dream was actually realistic.
my friend's warder also was shaken up, but anyway...
i too look forward to book 10, which hasn't yet reached my town.

[Thingolfin]

Have anyone read these wonderful books? (there are 10, but more will come)
I've just read the six first so far, but I will read the rest as soon as possible.

[Mirkgirl]

As you have probably guessed this was a new thread before I merged with this one... Now I'll disappear and let you discuss The Wheel of Time ;)

[Stone Drake]

That was Mystic Mirky again... :naughty: Just appears on the weirdest places, uses strange magic to merge threads and then vanishes in the air! :rolleyes: *Shivers* I hate it when she does that to trout someone, particulairy me...

Anyway, I'd say Jordan is a much better writer than Tolkien, but well... Tolkien was the first with that, so...
The magic mentioned was drained from one, infinite source, known as the True Source... the magic power itself is called the One Power. The True Source knows two sides, male (Saidin) and female (Saidar). If someone uses the One Power he first opens himself for Saidar/Saidin in that state he is able to guide the forces into the physicall world around him. The Power that flows through him changes his senses and takes him into a state of extacy (yesyes, there is a way to touch the True Source in the real world! lol ).
Long ago, before the story starts, it was very common. But its unique and unlimited powers were more and more used and explored. One day a woman does something none had expected, she bore a hole into a place existing out of time and reality. And it was there that the ancient, and allpowerful Shai'tan [SHA-ya-tan], also known as the Dark One broke free.
The Aes Sedai (the ones that used the One Power) fought him, but one by one, the Aes Sedai armies fell.
The most powerful Aes Sedai were corrupted to the Dark One's side to fight the others. They got immortality in return, but they were corrupted that far to the evil that there was little left of what they once were. They were known as the thirteen Forsaken.
A young Aes Sedai, Lews Therin Telamon, brought back order in the armies and let the Hundred Companions (or something, I read the book in Dutch, so I don't really know the English terms) to the dungeon of the Dark One.
He drove Shai'tan back in there, together with his 13 Forsaken and sealed it off, using seven seals of Heartstone (a weird material that could not be destroyed by any means, One Power, or anything else).
Shai'tan already had his revenge, he tainted the male side of the One Power, saidin. Every male Aes Sedai lost sanity and unleashed their powers over the world. The very face of the earth was unrecognizably changed, but in the end, the remaining female Aes Sedai destroyed the male ones.
Shai'tan and Forsaken were nolonger in the world, but what was left of the Aes Sedai and the remainder of the earth was not much and eventually the Dark One would break free again, his prison would not hold forever.
Ages and ages later a man is born, carrying the name Rhand Altor.
This should explain a bit what goes on in the story... I won't tell anything about the story itself, just read it yourself!

[Black Rider]

wow. that sounds more interesting than i thought. my friend has told me not to read them until all of them are out coz she hates waiting for the next one and that the first one is similar to lotr but not the others. but i think i'll start anyway!

[Celebriel_Esgaledhel]

Robert J.'s an awesome storyteller, but his writings aren't nearly as complex as Tolkien's. Tolkien's works were more intricate, and they are, I think, better composed than Jordan's. NO one will EVER equal Tolkien in writing, but they may come close, as Jordan has, but his writing is a totally different style than Tolkien's. As i said before, JOrdan's is more of a fairy tale, a story, whileTolkien created a mythology.

[Stone Drake]

The world Jordan created, exists only as a place and world for the story. Tolkien's story describes the world, there is much more in Middle Earth than you can read in the books.
But Black Rider, you can just start with it now... by the time you get to it, he'll have finished it for sure. ;)

[Celebriel_Esgaledhel]

Yeah, read it for sure! I loved it. But I'm still waiting for my library to get the 10th book! :( someone I know has the hardcover edition, but he's already lending it out, so I might not get it for a while:(:(

[Tyrien Sedai]

Why am I here? I wonder...roflmao

May the Light illumine you all!:) I'm actually not a true fan since I'm only 3/4s of the way thru the second book, but I love 'em. Has anyone joined one of those RPing communities of "Aes Sedai"? I was looking into it...but it's confusing!

[Tyrien Sedai]

I was wondering, has anyone noticed the connection with Arthurian Legend? Sorry, I love that medieval stuff! Anyway, it's with Queen Morgase and Elayne and Gawyn. Any other connections? (I'm trying to start a discussion here!)

[Celebriel_Esgaledhel]

yeah, I think I noticed it a bit. Just wait til you get to like the 8th and 9th books! they're great

[Tyrien Sedai]

Well, just wanted to tell people that I actually got permission to do a WoT RPG and it is up now! Yay! No? Okay.

[TheLordNazgul]

Has anyone else finished 10? I just got done with it last week. I thought the story progressed very little, but book 11 is set up to be very good! Anyone have any theories on what might happen in 11?

Too bad its gonna be over a year until it comes out.

[Celebriel_Esgaledhel]

hey Tyrien - yeah, i just went and read a couple more Arthurian legend books, and TONS of R.J.'s names closely resemble those of the Arthurian chars. WOW! i never noticed that b4!

CUio mae,
~Celebriel

[Estell]

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SPOILERS AHEAD




I just read book ten ... and I'm going to spoil it for you! When the book ends, Rand has arranged a meeting with High Lady Suroth! The Seanchan woman! And do you REMEMBER what Captain Domon gave her ... you know that THING Nynaeve found ... no climactic battle in that one, I was disappointed, but it leaves you hanging!verymad

[Estell]

Okay, I'm going to be drawn and quartered for giving that away. Sorry. My mania is over now.

[Catz]

no youre not..............because i put in spoiler spaces.........but please.........the next time you feel the need to give away plot details..........and this goes for everyone reading this............please put in some warning
its really unfair to ruin someone elses experience of a book, ok?
thanks
:catz:

[Estell]

I'm now embarassed. :blush:
:wiggle: notworthy

[Aranel of Mirkwood]

Has any one read Robert Jordan's the wheel of time. I think it's a really good seiries and I have only just started reading it. There are a few simeralities to LotR but a lot of fantasy books I have read have

[Mirkgirl]

There are quite a lot of members who have read it... as you can see from the thread I've merged this with (:

[Aranel of Mirkwood]

OOps Sorry

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Just the other day (Tuesday, I think, first day of school grr...), I was talking to one of my friends and he asked me if I'd read the Wheel of Time seires. I told him I hadn't, but said I'd like to. He then brought me the Eye of the World book on Wednesday, and I've been completely stuck in it since. In fact, I've only watche TTT once since I got it I've been so caught up in these books!
Yesterday I was laying on the couch reading and I heard the clock chime noon, then next thing I knew it was a chiming a quarter to one! I was completely surprised that I hadn't hear the 15 after or 12:30!! So that was a good laugh. Anyway, I read a ton yesterday, I'm just to the point where Rand and co. arrive at the Stag and Lion (I believe that's what it's called), the inn in Baerlon (sp?), so I'm not very far yet. It's great, I read the prolouge and found it more exciting than probably any other prolouge I've ever read, though I don't quite understand it yet (isn't that always the way with prolouges?). Thus far, this book is definatly one of the best I've read. LOTR will always be my favorite, but this is really really good.
One thing that I didn't like so much, though, was that there are so many similarities to LOTR, so many of the names are very similar. Like, I was looking at the map and there are "Mountains of Dhoom" to me that just seems a little odd. It really got to me for the first few chapters, but now there are less and less similarities, so I'm getting over that. Please tell me that there are fewer and fewer as I go along! Please!? lol

[Aranel of Mirkwood]

Well I am on the second book the great hunt. And so far I've not found any simaralites. I did see quite a fewq in the first one though. Lord of the Rings will always be my favourite book but The wheel of time is a great series

[Estell]

Yes, Luthien, the prologue is really spectacular, isn't it? It doesn't begin to make sense until the end of Wheel of Time, but it comes into all this. Trust me.

Now ... don't you love Dragon as a title? I think that's awesome, myself! :dragon:

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Well, I've made some headway this week, I'm now to the point where they are leaving Aridhol, just after the foggy...thing cut Moirane and Lan off from the rest of them. Wow, I must say, wow, this is a great book. I was a little surprised when the Wisdom showed up and joined their company, and I'm still not sure I see much point in her yet, but if she's there I'm sure she's necessary. I'll just have to be content with that and find out later.
Dragon is a pretty cool title, I must say, though I don't think the people of this series would enjoy answering to it much, though if I had to pick I'd take Dragon over False Dragon any day!
I don't entirely understand the whole Aes Sedai thing yet (and I'm still trying to figure out how to pronounce that...the guide in the back did nothing for me. To much Tolkien lately so the "ai" in my mind is like "I" instead of what it should be...). I guess I understand why no one trusts her, since the women were blamed for the breaking of the world (ain't that always the way, the men do something and the women are blamed! lol), but they've been with her enough to trust her, haven't they? And, why, when confronted by the Whitecloaks, was Rand so giddy!? That makes NO sense to me, it's probably the most confusing thing thus far.
I could handle all of the similarities pretty well, the one that's getting to me is one I found today, "Thorin" I don't remember who it was in Wheel of Time, but I definately know it from The Hobbit, that one's been bugging me this morning.
Well, that's all I have to say, for now...

[*Arwen*Evenstar*]

I read the first one.
The mts.of Dhoom was suspiouis.hmmmmmm
Im reading Redwall now.

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Well, I finished on Thursday, wow...that's the main thing I can say. Eye of the World spoilers will follow...
The strangest thing was at the end, just after Rand fought Ba'alzamon, and he woke up and remembered nothing, right then Mom called us to dinner. I went upstairs, and discovered that while everything was familiar, I could remember about as much as Rand. I was completely gone from this world for about 15 minutes as I ate before it started to come back. When I did realize what was so weird I just kind of shook my head and thought that's a feat, when a book can do something like that to you....I need to go to a bookstore and buy the next few, and I have to get Eye of the World eventually too. I just borrowed that one from my friend.

[Eyeris]

Wheel of time?
First five books = Brilliant.
books 6-8 = zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Books 9 - 10 = slight improvements, and at least the plot GOES SOMEWHERE.

[Elendur]

as eyeris said, the start was brilliant.. I would go up until book 7, but for the last three.. all I see is Jordan changing his focus and expanding more of the story.. and just becoming more confusing!
If this is a ploy to sell more books.. It will prob work!
I seem to remember .. back in 1989 when I read book one that it was going to be about 6 books.. then extended to 10... now possibly 13... when will this wanton story end!!
Never the less I am sure that when book 11 comes out the hardback version will find its way into my .. not so self righteous hands!!:naughty: :p

[Ohtarien]

I too have read up to book 10 of the Wheel of Time, and it is a really awesome series. As for whether Tolkien or Jordan is a better writer.... I'd say it's pretty hard to compare. The Lord of the Rings is just a small part of all of Tolkien's writings, but you have got to love that it is short and sweet. :) (Plus, I'm a little biased towards Tolkien, because he developed languages for his mythology, and languages that people could learn and use....)
Robert Jordan, on the other hand, has stuck to his one main plot and just expanded immensely on it. Which has it's positives, but still - it's soooooo long! I devoured the first six or seven books - kept me riveted the whole way through - but it became more of a chore to read the last couple of books. And to know that there are still more to come.... In my opinion, this is a case where it's simply too much, too long. I would have a better opinion of the series if Jordan could've ended it at about book 8 or 9, and then gone on to do other stories from the past, future, or whatever.

But still, a major must-read for fantasy lovers! The books are pretty clean, except there are some innapropriate situations starting from book 5, I believe. And the intricate plot line, intimate characters, and dazzling story-telling make it a pure joy to read. When I first read through books 1 to 5, I remember just reading for hours and hours at night, and then realizing that I had better get to bed if I had any intention of getting up the next morning! So if you start the series, be prepared to be addicted to the whole series! ;)

[Eyeris]

LOTR is the holy Grail of course, but reading WoT is like a tour of duty for any Fantasy reader. If you can get thru THAT, you can get through anything. lol

I also read the first five books non-stop, couldn't put them down, but when Rand kept getting thwacked, or disregarded everything to go fool around with his THREE girlfriends, it got a bit too tedious.

And lets not even go into his endless introduction of charcaters into the mix. by the 200th Aes-Sedai he threw in, I was already hoping Jordan just kill them ALL off.

[Catz]

lol i just LOVE that sig lol
and as for Jordan......ok the first 5-6 yeah.......the rest? pure self indugence.........and the plot isnt really THAT intricate........it only seems that way cos he keeps padding it out with extra sub plots......but IMHO and i hate to say it, cos when it started it had such promise.......this series is about to implode under its own self important weight........and not before time either ;)
:catz:

[Eyeris]

My advice to people is always to read the first five books, then skip to the 9th, and you still wouldn't miss a thing. lol

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Wow, I started the fourth yesterday (right now I'm to the point where Mat came back from playing cards with the "lordlings" and is playing stones with Thom), and I have to say, I love these books. You say some "stuff" happens in book 5, well I was beginning to think some "stuff" would happen in the beginning of book 4 when Berelain payed her visit to Rand....As much as I love this series so far, I suddenly find myself hoping the next 2 books go on forever and I never get further. lol Are the next few, confusing, or pretty pointless, or are they just plain bad?
I can't believe you'd say something like kill off all the Aes Sedai, even joking, after what Min saw for them I'm afraid they will all die.

SPOILERS:
I know Min is one of Rand's girlfriends, and that Egwene is not one, after it said he loves her as a sister now (it was hard to believe that), and I would find it hard (but not impossible) to believe that Elayne was one of them. Zarine is the falcon, but I have no clue about the...what's the other one, hawk, I think? Don't tell me too much, though!

This week, right after I finished the Dragon Reborn I finally got my LOTR book back from my friend (she's had it since February, and stopped reading in the middle of TTT!!!), so I tried to read that in the middle, but I couldn't. I think I could have, but I have this habit of listening to music when I do anything, and Evenesence was mostly what I listened to while I was reading WoT, so whenever I listened to that this week I wanted to pick up the Shadow Rising. Last night was the last straw, I picked it up and read a bit before bed. I have a feeling that I'll have to force myself to bed tonight because I have school tomorrow. This Daylight Savings Time thing is seriously messing with me, I'll be going to bed at 8 or 8:30 tonight, an hour early! then I'll want to get up early in the morning (ok, probably not, I like the extra sleep). So I doubt I'll read as much tonight as I would...oh who knows?

[Eyeris]

Originally posted by Luthien Tinuviel

I can't believe you'd say something like kill off all the Aes Sedai, even joking, after what Min saw for them I'm afraid they will all die.

Yeah, but you haven't got to the part where Jordan throws in as many characters and Aes Sedai as possible!

The story has so much potential, but the at rate Jordan is going, the series is getting more and more pondersome. any other author would have finished off the story in less than ten books.

[Catz]

i think what disappoints me most is that there isnt any story anymore.......he has, im a most literal way, lost the plot i think
:catz:

[Cuiel Rilwen]

Too true...and repeting himself until agravation and/or boredom takes me!

[Eyeris]

Yeah. Jordan pretty much lost the plot in the 6 - 8 books. the main plot hardly MOVED at all until Winter's Heart, when THAT significant event happened in the end. THEN in Crossroads of Twilight, he went and did the 'not advancing plot' thing again. And to think Mat's story has only JUST STARTED.

[Silvorn]

SPOILERS FOR WINTERS HEART

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Agreed. Wonderful series for the first few books, but it's kind of just been drug on since the 5th book or so. Winter's Heart was ok, but the only real pivotal point was the clensing of the male source. If Jordan keeps delaying the ending and prolonging the series I'm a afriad the repitition will numb our minds so we don't fully grasp the ending, and it will all seem kind of anti-climactic. Does anyone get what I'm trying to say?

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Wow, now I really don't want this book to end. How can the plot stop? How can anything happen if nothing happens to Rand? So much depends on what Rand does, thinks, decides, and says.
CLEANSING OF THE MALE SOURCE?? What??? NO! Don't tell me! I don't want to know! I can wait out 5 more books to find out!
I've changed my mind, Elayne is certainly one of Rand's girlfriends, I read that much today. So we have Min and Elayne, and Egwene is definately a no, I just need the last one. And I still don't know Perrin's hawk.
Right now, there are just enough Aes Sedai not to confuse me, but I knew there'd have to be a lot more with Egwene, Elayne, and Nyneve all being Accepted.
Can Egwene and Elayne actually teach Rand anything about the Source? If Moirane can't then what chance do 2 Accepted have? It seems really unlikely, but the goosebumps thing was weird.

[Silvorn]

Oops! Sorry, let my tongue run a little too much. Don't read my last post if you haven't read Winter's Heart!!!

edit:ive added in spoiler spacings for you ;)
:catz:

[Eyeris]

I think Perrin only meets his 'hawk' in books 6: Lord of Chaos. can't rememberexactly which book, since its been ages since I read it, which goes to show how darn long Jordan is taking to finish the darn books!

[Elendur]

Mat has been dancing around "the Daughter of the 7 (odd)? moons" for about three books now. That would not be so bad, but as Catz said.. the main plot seems to have lost itself, as he has introduced so many sub-plots...and is now running around trying to line up all the threads.. and losing me for one in the process. The writing is still good..but it would just be better if he concentrated on what he has.. rather than trying to expand it in more confusing directions... And yes there seems to be a new bunch of 20 odd Aes Sedai jumping out of the woodwork at every turn!

[Silvorn]

Thanks for adding the spoiler there Catz.

[Luthien Tinuviel]

I don't know if this needs spoiler space or not, so...

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Originally posted by Elendur
Mat has been dancing around "the Daughter of the 7 (odd)? moons" for about three books now.

Is it nine? I read today about when Mat goes into the ter' angreal, and finds out he has to marry the Daughter of the Nine Moons. That bit was confusing, if he was only supposed to get 3 questions, why did they not do something to him when he yelled other questions after, all they did was answer him, does anyone know why?

[Elendur]

when someone would notice that.. Thanks Luthien.. that was part of my pun meaning that it was easy to forget what was going on with RJ these days!!
As for Mat.. as far as I remember, they actually tried to hang him, and If Rand had not come along when he did they might have succeeded.. was that not punishment enough!??:thumbs: ;)

[Elendur]

also noticed that RJ is now splitting some books into two.. namely the first volume of the wheel of time?? More cash for less work!mecry

[Catz]

:elfeek: :elfeek: :o :o :elfeek: :elfeek:
so how many volumes does that make it???
ahh its just a ploy to fill the shelves at the book shops........this way Jordan gets a shelf all to himself.....i really hate that sort of carry on........it shows no respect for your readers
:catz:

[Cuiel Rilwen]

In to two...well some of the volumes are devided in to three...so I guess he's aiming for and extra shelf!lol

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Divided? Right...I'll just pretend I understand and go on with my life now....
Tried to hang Mat? When? All I remember from when he goes into the first (I reached the second today) ter' angreal is that he gets about 7 questions answered instead of just 3. I don't know what happens with the second yet, I just got past the bit where he passed out, then I took a nap.

[Eyeris]

Mat is still my favorite character though. Love his spear. :)

[Luthien Tinuviel]

I don't know who my favorite is, I love them all. I found out what you meant by trying to hang Mat, I am truly confused by that, they weren't there to answer questions I guess, but to do what?
I'll admit, I cried both last night and this morning, when I read about the al' Thor farm burning and the Aybaras dying. I don't know why, but the Emond's Field folk (and all those in the Two Rivers for that matter) seem to touch closer to home, there were only a few chapters about them, but they seem like family almost, as if I were one of the main characters.

[Eyeris]

Then you'll be glad to know that The Two Rivers is gonna play a bigger role, rather, its archers will!

[Luthien Tinuviel]

I finished the Shadow Rising last week, and I'm almost done with the Fires of Heaven now, are you sure they get worse, they've been so wonderful so far I wouldn't believe it if so many people hadn't said it. The whole reason I'm never on the internet anymore is that I'm so stuck in these books, I can hardly bring myself to do my homework. I think I've decided Perrin's my favorite character after reading the end of the Shadow Rising. He got married, and he has a cousin!!!! :hooray: I cried during the rest of Perrin's story as well, it was so sad! :mecry:
Is he not in the Fires of Heaven at all, I expect I'll finish it tomorrow or the day after, how can he not be any more than mentioned or remembered? There should be at least one chapter about him!
I finally figured out Rand's 3 girlfriends, Elayne, Aviendha *cough*:cuddles:, and Min, though they haven't spoken forever.
Stilled! Stilled! I couldn't believe it, and Elaida took her place!! Tell me something good comes of this...somehow, though I don't see how. :angry

[Elendur]

Luthien.. there are lots of good surprises still to come! The stories are still great and things are moving.. just slowly! Jordan had built things up so well in the first seven books that they were difficult to put down.. He then seems to have said that "hang on I could get this finished.. but have not made enough cash!" so has now really dragged out the story and the pace is down to a crawl in the last two odd books.
He could hopefully get moving again in the next one.. thats my hope anyway!
Siuanne (almost correct spelling) .. still has a major role to play in the story.. just keep reading!!:thumbs:

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Yeah, I can tell Siuan still has a big role, just from the bit of the proloug I've gotten to in Lord of Chaos. I finished Fires of Heaven on Friday and left Lord of Chaos at a friend's house last night, so I don't know much about it yet. I know that the proloug is rather long....lol
And author who says "wait, I don't have enough money yet!!" has no respect for his readers, and is way out of line, only thing is, it doesn't matter because the books are so good! It's not fair! lol
My friend's older brother already has New Spring, he's had it for quite a while...I don't know how he got it though.
Perrin is in this one, at least, I love him, he is my favorite character, and I had to go a whole week without him! mecry lol
SPOILERS!


How many of the Forsaken are left? Aginor I don't know Asmodean is dead, but I don't know how, Balthamel I don't know, Be'lal I don't know, Demandred is still alive, as is Graendal, Ishamael is dead, Lanfear is dead, Mesaana I don't know, Moghedien is alive, but captured, Rahvin is dead, Sammael is still alive, and Semirhage is too, right? That's seven, since I don't know the names of the 2 that died in the first book, right?

[Elendur]

I am a little further ahead than you, so I don't want to say much about other forsaken being dead or not.. although as Lanfear and Morraine went into a portal.. there is still plot possibility that they may return?????
The two at the start were supposed to be Aginor and Balthamel

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Ah, I couldn't remember that, and since I borrowed the book I couldn't look, thanks. Does that possibly mean that Moiraine and Lanfear are alive, or just that you don't know?
Are Aran'gar and Oran'gar (is that right?) Forsaken-come-back, or what? If so, who are they, I can't figure it out....I started A Crown of Swords yesterday! I kind of see what you meant by after the 5th they get off...nothing much happened in the 6th, did it, I can't even tell the end of one book from the beginning of the next. I know that the end of Lord of Chaos (Or John Chaos as my little brother calls it...not sure how he got that one) would have made me sob if I hadn't been sitting in study hall with a bunch of other people around, it was so sad, and so was the beginning of this one! mecry
I was wondering if Elayne is sooo sure she's going to bond Rand, how will that work, if he's already bonded by Alanna, sure Aes Sedai can bond more than one Warder, but can a Warder belong to more than one Aes Sedai, I don't think so....
Healed! I can't believe Nyneave Healed Leanne Siuan and Logain! That was supposed to be the one thing short of death that couldn't be Healed, even Moghedien said so! And Alvarin being Black Ajah was a surprise, did I read that in one of the other books and forget or was this the first time it was revealed to us??
I don't think I like Gawyn too much...I mean, Egwene told him that Rand didn't kill Morgase, so he should trust her, and not want to kill Rand. I don't know...it just doesn't seem right, he's on Egwene's side, but he's against Rand, and he's on the Tower Aes Sedai's side, but he'd do anything for Egwene, it just doesn't fit very well.
The choice of Amyrlin was no surprise, Elayne said as much in one of the other books, so I've just been waiting for it since then, and before that everyone was thinking that she'd be Amyrlin if she kept on as she was.
Lan showing up, however, was a surprise, and now I don't know any more than he's there...I have this over whelming urge to pick up my book now! lol

[Elendur]

quite a few things in there that you have mentioned. I think that you are correct...Aran'gar and Oran'gar are forsaken possibly re-born one a man in a womans body and the other a woman in a man's body.. now if the woman is Lanfear.. then my idea of her and morraine still being alive is a little thin!!
I think but it does not seem to be common ..yet.. is that Nyneave "healed" Logain and Siuain .. and her friend, remember that Logain is healed completely ie back to his old strength.. but the others are not. I think that it takes the male half of the source to heal females??
I think Gawyn is starting to understand the choices that he has made.. but remember he was used to being around Eliada since he was a child and his views are clouded by his sense of duty.. and everyone knows males who wield the source go mad and are dangerous!!
Um keep reading there are some really good surprising bits to come in later books!
The bonding is something that can be done but as Alanna found out bonding someone who can wield the source and is stronger than you, does not have the effect that you first desired.. I always liked Alanna.. don't know why!!

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Originally posted by Elendur
[B]quite a few things in there that you have mentioned. I think that you are correct...Aran'gar and Oran'gar are forsaken possibly re-born one a man in a womans body and the other a woman in a man's body..I think but it does not seem to be common ..yet.. is that Nyneave "healed" Logain and Siuain .. and her friend, remember that Logain is healed completely ie back to his old strength.. but the others are not. I think that it takes the male half of the source to heal females??
I think Gawyn is starting to understand the choices that he has made.. but remember he was used to being around Eliada since he was a child and his views are clouded by his sense of duty.B]

The Forsaken being switched from male to female and female to male is not something I would have suspected...or not for a long while I think.
I also never would have thought about the need for males to Heal stilling in females...or, again, not for a long while....:)
True, Gawyn has been around Eliada for all of his life, and I can see how that would make sense. The only thing I would say is that Elayne had not trouble breaking away, but she's spent much more time with Rand, and she's in love too.

[Eyeris]

I'd totally forgotten the entire plot and characters of the entire series until I read this discussion... sigh... goes to show how much faith I have left in Jordan...

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Which of the books have you read? If you've just finished reading them all recently and you've already forgoten them, then I'm really scared of what the next books will bring....

[Elendur]

I think read them all. He might even have borrowed the last Hardcover from me?!!
If you go back to the start of the thread you will see we discussed this earlier.. how Jordan seems to be expanding the story but leaving so many plot threads open that it is difficult now to follow!
And as I can confirm he has now split book one into two parts... Something like From The Two Rivers, and Into the Blight!.. I am sure that each individual volume will cost the same as Eye of the world was originally!
Poor show!:(

[Luthien Tinuviel]

That is one of the dumbest things I've heard, what self-respecting (and fan-respecting) author would split his books in 2, especialy when he's abandoning the story so he can write more books?

[Elendur]

... with the forst comment Luthien.. but as to the second...he's not actually abandoning the story.. just stretching it out more.. as if you almost thought you were building to a climax.. and then you find its a long way to the top of the mountain... and a few more hills have been placed inbetween! (excuse the metaphors!!):thumbs:
I have noticed quite a few authors are doing this splitting of large novels these days.. especially fantasy genre, as they tend to write one book epics quite often... Tad Willians and Chaz Benchley to name but two!

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Well, that's good news, the way everyone talked I was thinking that instead of "taking the long way", he was deciding to stop and take a long break or something....I doubt I'll get to much read for a while, with Christmas coming up and going shopping all the time...oh well, I love Christmas!!

[Silmarillion]

I've only read the first in the series. I've gotten all of them but I haven't had the chance to read the rest...I have to say the first one is excellent. But yeah, I'm hearing that as the books go on...they get kind of tedious...I don't know. :p

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Well, I'm on the 7th right now, almost finished with it, actually. And the first 5 are wonderful, absolutley brilliant. After that, the next 2 were a little more...tedious (to use your word), but they were still really good. Rand has gotten to be a very hard person, it's sad, but necessary. He's also got his 3 girlfriends pretty secure, 2 of them, at least...so far. The stories still focus around him for the most part, though they do tend to go away for over 100 pages sometimes....They're still really really good books, better than most I've read, but they did get a bit more tedious at the 6th book.

[Khallandra]

Big Jordan fan I've read the series twice all the way through. CoT was a little dissapointing but good none the less. Fav characetr would be Perrin of course :)

[Luthien Tinuviel]

I'm now almost done with the 8th, to the part where Rand got wounded against the Seanchan. I can't wait to finish and get to the next two! I know some of the stuff that's going to happen from talking to people, and that kind of makes me more eager to get there. New Spring is out today!!! It is today, isn't it? lol

[Elendur]

.. that he has actually written his new book already.. I was expecting at least another 6 months!
Ah I have just checked with his publishers website (www.tor.com)..It went on sale on 6th Jan and this is going to be a PREQUEL to the Wheel Of Time.
Does this man have no shame.. can't he finish the story first before trying to make more money from a prequel?? I know that the information will be good to have, but why introduce a prequel now, after 10 books and still a few more to go??
Arrgh I am now very unhappy
:angry: verymad pfbbt

[Cuiel Rilwen]

When I was little and got mad my mum would tell me to run a coupple of laps around the house so maybe you should just dash off lol!

I have actually left mr. Jordan alone for quite some time now...what can I say I got terribly tired of that Nyaneve pulling her hair whenever SHE got hot tempered ...if I hadn't dropped him I would prob be out there running with you right now! lol

[Luthien Tinuviel]

I love the books, but I'm a new fan, so what can I say? Yeah, New Spring is actually the first of a trilogy prequel to WoT. It does seem really dumb, but we will get to see the test for Aes Sedai, that's something I'm looking forward to. I try not to think about the fact that he could have finished the series in 7 or so books, and just enjoy the stories, and so far it's worked fairly well. I'm not too upset about it just yet, but maybe I will be, who knows? :p

[Elendur]

If I had discovered the books recently and had them all laid out before me to read, then things would not be so bad. But he has been writing this series now for almost 15 years. To suddenly change track, and write a prequel .. of now 3 books.. before finishing the story really smacks of a total lack of respect for the readers who have followed him for so long, and made his books bestsellers!

[Luthien Tinuviel]

I agree, it's dumb, which I see more and more as I near the end of the series, he could have waited to do the prequel. But maybe he just couldn't think of anything for the next book, and he had ideas for a prequel, and people were probably asking for one. And, maybe he'll come out with the next WoT book before he finishes the prequel, just a thought.:huh:

[Elendur]

.. crossed! I e-mailed the publicity people at TOR books, so am hoping for a reply to this question very soon! If not .. nasty reviews in M & C!!:naughty:

[Elendur]

.. oh well!
I read New Spring. Its pretty good.. but just padding to characters and plot lines that are already touched on in the main story.

[Gwaihir]

I can't believe this thread hasn't been updated in over a year! :o
I've started reading the Eye of the World recently, and I like it so much that I can't stop reading it! :) So exciting! I really like the way Robert Jordan writes... paints vivid images in my mind.

I wouldn't compare it with LotR, though, unlike some people. It's just that the two worlds are very different and shouldn't be compared just because they both go under the fantasy genre. I like both almost equally, in different ways.

I feel so sorry for the people who have been waiting for a long time for the next (11th?) book to come out... Robert Jordan is taking his time!

[Silvorn]

Taking his time, indeed! Sadly enough, Gwaihir, I'm one of those fellows that has been waiting... and waiting... and waiting for RJ's next installments.

I read the series (at least what's completed of it) a while back, and I must say, while I'm continually impressed by RJ's imagery and diction, the old toad just needs to finish the blasted series so that I can at last finish collecting the flaming books. Don't get me wrong, I admire the series although I wouldn't exactly honor it by suggesting it measures up to Tolkien's caliber.

The first five or so books are great stuff! Absolutely fantastic, exciting, and filled with surprises; however as the series drolls on it feels more like RJ is trying to milk more out of the story than completely necessary. Many times I'll close one of the latest books after a long reading and feel like nobody really accomplished anything.

But, patience is a virtue after all, and if you're the type that can endure to the end and can relish in the innumerable details and plot twists of a gigantic story, then you'll probably love the series. I'd encourage everybody to at least give the first few books a read, even if you don't plan on sticking it out. Meritable stuff, really.

[Gwaihir]

Hopefully I have enough patience to go through all the books! I hear that the 11th book will be released on October this year, but with Robert Jordan, who knows? He may just write another prequel instead! lol

I am currently on the 2nd book, The Great Hunt, and am really enjoying it! :grin: More exciting than the first book... but there are many more characters, and I think I have to try to remember who each of them are when I see their names! How many Aes Sedai are there going to be??

[Mánalinya]

How many Aes Sedai? Too many to possibly count in this lifetime! lol.

The Great Hunt was actually one of my favourites. That and Lord of Chaos (6th, I think).
Actually, it was the first six books that I really liked. After that, it seemed to me to kind of spin out of control. Sometimes I wonder if Robert Jordan even knows what he's doing with it anymore. Don't get me wrong - the rest are still good books. But I agree with Silvorn; reading the latest books, I've gotten through almost an entire book without feeling like the story has actually moved forward at all.
But, I'm persevering, and I encourage anyone else who does the same. There just better be one heck of a finale, eh? lol

[Silvorn]

It better be one heck of a finale!

Sometimes I worry that one of these days RJ is just going to keel over and die in the middle of writing one of the next installments, and we'll be left with an unfinished story. Ok, maybe that's a little extreme, but then again, he's not exactly the youngest guy, and at the rate he's puffing along, I'm worried that the old steamer won't quite make it up the stream before it runs out of fuel, if you catch my meaning.

Anyways, I'm with Mánalinya; The Great Hunt definately stands out as one of the most thrilling books. A bit of Trolloc bashing is always good fun. It should keep you busy for a time, Gwaihir ;).

Hah! You think there are a lot of characters to keep track of now, eh? Well, your memory's in for a real treat; the list only gets bigger...

[Gwaihir]

Sometimes I worry that one of these days RJ is just going to keel over and die in the middle of writing one of the next installments, and we'll be left with an unfinished story. Ok, maybe that's a little extreme, but then again, he's not exactly the youngest guy, and at the rate he's puffing along, I'm worried that the old steamer won't quite make it up the stream before it runs out of fuel, if you catch my meaning.

God forbid!! :o It's only a couple more books he has to write, right? (though that will probably take another several years)

Right now I'm on the 5th book, The Fires of Heaven. The story is getting more and more complicated, though so far I've been able to keep track of all the patterns! :) You're right Silvorn, my memory is in for a treat! lol

Here's a question: What first attracted Lan Mandragoran to Nynaeve? I can understand Nynaeve falling in love with him, but what did Lan find so special about that girl? I really don't understand... is it because she was so different from Moiraine?