Author Topic: Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time (1990 - 2009) (Read 14063 times)

Sabbie · « **on:** Apr 07, 2008, 02:19:16 PM »

Plot introduction
Rand discovers he is the Dragon Reborn and must lead the battle against the Dark One, while numerous other characters develop their own plot lines.

Wikipedia
The Wheel of Time series
Robert Jordan

Sabbie · « **Reply #1 on:** Apr 07, 2008, 02:36:38 PM »

At this point I am reading the fourth book, The Shadow Rising, and I have read the Prequel New Spring too.

I think reading New Spring at an early stage is actually really fun and I would definitely advise other people to do the same when you start reading this series. I read the prequel in between The Dragon Reborn and The Shadow Rising and I understand Moiraine and Suan's positions a lot better. I feel more sympathy for them and think their characters are a lot more interesting now, I see them more 'human' than I did before

I also feel like I understand and enjoy the books better if I read up on it here (the Wheel of Time encyclopedia) after a few chapters. There are footnotes there that tell you a bit more than you are supposed to know, but you can choose not to read those. At least it will help you to get your thoughts straight and I generally get more 'sucked into it' if I read that encyclopedia too.

I must say I am surprised at how little was told from Rand's perspective in The Dragon Reborn, so now he no longer is my favorite character. Mostly Perrin and Mat are now, although there isn't extremely much from their POV either. It's just impossible to give one character as your favorite I think, because every time you read a bit more about one person's activities, you like them best, which then changes the chapter after that. Hopefully there will be more from Rand's POV this book though, I've missed that quite a bit in The Dragon Reborn.

Apeiron · « **Reply #2 on:** Apr 07, 2008, 02:40:45 PM »

I finished the series early this year (well, apart from the final book that is yet to come of course) and love it a lot. Nearly as good as LotR imo.

Sabbie · « **Reply #3 on:** Apr 07, 2008, 02:48:37 PM »

Quote from: "Apeiron"

I finished the series early this year (well, apart from the final book that is yet to come of course) and love it a lot. Nearly as good as LotR imo.

Actually I have been thinking that it might be better than LotR :oops: Don't hit me please. It could of course be because I am totally into WoT right now, so that when I look back at both of them after finishing it, I'll think LotR is better again.

Apeiron · « **Reply #4 on:** Apr 07, 2008, 02:57:53 PM »

Yes it very probably is because you are reading WoT right now.

chionactis · « **Reply #5 on:** Apr 07, 2008, 03:27:24 PM »

I bought The Eye of the World from a used bookstore recently after reading Apeiron's glorious praises. I'm looking forward to it. Tbh, though, I probably won't get to it for another month or two.

Apeiron · « **Reply #6 on:** Apr 07, 2008, 03:33:08 PM »

Quote

I think reading New Spring at an early stage is actually really fun and I would definitely advise other people to do the same when you start reading this series. I read the prequel in between The Dragon Reborn and The Shadow Rising and I understand Moiraine and Suan's positions a lot better. I feel more sympathy for them and think their characters are a lot more interesting now, I see them more 'human' than I did before Razz

About reading New Spring early:

Good thing - You learn A LOT more about some of the characters that make them more like-able or at least understandable, and that will enhance the story.

Bad thing - The mysteries surrounding the Aes Sedai and the White Tower are substantially reduced.

Therefore I'd recommend reading it only after a couple of books, not right at the start (which would internal-chronologically be the right order).

Sabbie · « **Reply #7 on:** Apr 07, 2008, 04:05:38 PM »

Quote from: "Apeiron"

Therefore I'd recommend reading it only after a couple of books, not right at the start (which would internal-chronologically be the right order).

No definitely not right at the start. I think what I did was absolutely perfect. The mysteries and everything were already a bit lessened by all the insights you got into the White Tower, so it doesn't really matter much after the third book.

Quote

I bought The Eye of the World from a used bookstore recently after reading Apeiron's glorious praises. I'm looking forward to it. Tbh, though, I probably won't get to it for another month or two.

More praises from me!

Donnikko · « **Reply #8 on:** Apr 07, 2008, 05:21:34 PM »

I have to admit I had a little bit of a nerd breakdown when Robert Jordan passed away. I have been reading this series as the books have come out since the 5th or 6th title. Now that it is being completed I have decent hope that it may be a bearable conclusion. If nothing else I will concentrate on the incredible let down Stephen King's Dark Tower was and be thankful nothing can hit that low again.

Dave The Drummer · « **Reply #9 on:** Apr 12, 2008, 07:04:19 AM »

I love this series.
Definitely some of the best Fantasy ever written. Blows the LotR doggerel out of the water.

Babbitt · « **Reply #10 on:** Apr 16, 2008, 10:27:04 PM »

i was sooo all about this series back when i was in high school but after book 8 it started to...not suck...but...yea, it sucked. I think i lost interest during that long gap b/t path of daggers and winter's heart. it was like 2 years b/t books and then winter's heart just sucked balls IMO copmared to the 1st 8 books. never read any after that b/c I had forgotten most of the other 8 books.

plob218 · « **Reply #11 on:** Apr 16, 2008, 11:15:19 PM »

Quote from: "Dave The Drummer"

Blows the LotR doggerel out of the water.

I haven't read these yet (although I have my eye out for them at the local used bookstore), but I agree about LotR. The movies are good enough, but the books are damn dry. Every rock they pass there's a page-long description about its history and every hero who ever sat his ass on it. I give the guy props for coming up with all that history and his own languages and whatnot, but seriously, sometimes less is more. Also, Tolkien had such a hard-on for elves... Any time Legolas needs a new super power he has one (kind of like Superman). I know it's blasphemous, but there it is.

Sabbie · « **Reply #12 on:** Apr 17, 2008, 03:26:15 AM »

I will not tolerate LotR bashing in my WoT thread :shock: I mean, WoT is teh awesomeness!!one!!!111!!eleven!11111! but LotR is still about equally cool I think

dhawk · « **Reply #13 on:** Apr 23, 2008, 03:35:29 AM »

WoT, even with its weaknesses, is my favorite fantasy series. I've reread it several times. I remember in middle school hiding in my closet with a flashlight so I could read until 3am. In the summer I would occasionally have all day reading marathons, forgoing food until night. Did I mention I'm a nerd?

Vellon · « **Reply #14 on:** Apr 26, 2008, 11:01:42 PM »

I'm in the middle of Crossroads of Twilight right now, and I have to strongly disagree with anyone who says the series begins to fail in the second half. Some of the new characters in the second half of the series (Cadsuane, Tuon to name a pair) are some of my favorites. The events in the ending of Winter's Heart were amazing.

Lord of Chaos was the weak point in the series for me. Many of the events in it seem to drag on and on without anything happen. The books begin to thin a bit after Lord of Chaos, which I interpreted as a sign that Mr Jordan knew he had gone a bit long winded in Lord of Chaos.

Overall one of my favorite fantasy series of all time.