Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is Robert Jordan's epic fantasy series. Currently standing with over 10 books, and expected to require at least 6 more (3 novels in the main series, and 3 prequels), few authors can compete with sheer volume of time and effort spent on a single story. Opinions on the quality of the series are mixed, however. General consensus appears to be that the series started strong, but began to bog down towards the middle of the series and has not yet recovered the qualities that made it so popular at first. Given the length of the series and the time between books, many readers are now reluctant to recommend it to those not already hooked.
Still, it gained a substantial following, with its fans being particularly noted for puzzling out details of the story from hints well before the author had intended to reveal them. Those details are compiled in the Wheel of Time FAQ, from the results of discussions in the rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan newsgroup.
|
Knife of Dreams
This latest novel in Robert Jordan's long-lived and long-winded epic
fantasy series represents an improvement over his low point, now
established as books 7-10. Important and long-awaited prophecies
are finally being paid off; the plot is moving forward steadily.
While there are many decisions that I would have made differently, and many, many wasted opportunties, there is at least progress in a forward direction.
This is not a book that is worth returning to the series if you have
already abandoned it. There are two many wasted opportunities --
more than one much-heralded prophecy is fulfilled herein in a manner
that seems deliberately calculated to match the wording of the prophecy
exactly while avoiding the careful and considered dramatic predictions
of the rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan newsgroup (and other fan
locations). In other words, the author is pissed that we figured
out what he was hinting at and decided to write scenes with much less
dramatic value simply to avoid being predictable.
On the other hand, they aren't all
fulfilled in disappointing, lawyerlike ways. In fact there are
some very well-handled moments. It's just that there are at least
as many heavily-foreshadowed events that seem to have been deliberately
wasted.
It's gotten to the point where I, or any number of his fans, could
write a better story simply by using the events Jordan so exhaustively
foreshadowed rather than their cheap, but unpredictable, replacements.
This one's only for the hardcore fans. If you're committed to
seeing the series through, you already have your copy. If you're
wondering whether or not to drop it, dropping it would be the right
decision at this point -- at least until paperback, or a library.
|
|
|
Tor Books is running a contest as a publicity stunt for the October 11th release of Knife of Dreams,
the next Wheel of Time novel. The idea is that you answer a
trivia question about the series and get a chance to win a weekly
prize. They're having some technical difficulties with the
server, so this is a good time to catch up on the past weeks' questions.
I just hope that the book they release is worth the publicity machine they're putting behind it.
|
|
Lord of Chaos
Lord of Chaos, the 6th book in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time,
marks a turning
point for the series. It is the last book that can be effectively
defended as lacking major flaws. In some ways it is almost a
victim of its own bloat... almost, but not quite, for the high points
of the story are very, very high.
We are witness to Rand's struggle to control the nations he has
conquered; between Tear, Cairhien, and the Shaido, his political plate
is more than full. Yet his forces gather to launch an assault on
Sammael in Illian, even as two factions of the Aes Sedai vie for his
attention and favor. In this novel Rand and Egwene, his childhood
friend from the Two Rivers, become polarized figures pulled in
different directions by the forces of the adult world. Indeed, as
events take shape, it becomes clear that the tale Jordan seeks to tell
is one of gender-based conflict as much as the simple conflict between
good and evil. The nature of saidin and saidar
is such that they work best in harmony, yet the Dark One strives to
keep them separate, working desperately at cross-purposes, mistrusting
and divided.
There is more than enough of both politics and action in this 700-page
(hardcover edition) volume to satisfy anyone. Though some
sections seem interminable, they are amply counterbalanced by the
frantic pace of events towards the end of the book. There is more
than enough impact and oomph in the climax to leave the reader
salivating for the next book, even if the first few hundred pages left
something to be desired.
|
|
|
|
The Fires of Heaven
Jordan's Wheel of Time series continues with The Fires of Heaven,
the 5th volume of what may be the longest-running fantasy series
ever... at least in terms of page count. Rand's destiny has taken
him to the Aiel Waste, a vast desert populated by nomadic warriors,
where he will contend with the Shaido Aiel following Couladin for the
title of Car'a'carn (chief of chiefs)... and with the Forsaken, who
lurk as always in the shadows, awaiting the opportunity to
strike.
With this novel, Rand's transformation from an untutored country youth
to a ruler of nations is complete. What begin as a simple
adventure tale did not end when the Dragon Reborn pulled his sword from
the Stone of Tear; instead the tale itself changed, mirroring the
changes in Rand's own personality, beginning to focus on politics and
intrigue as well as simple adventure. The transition adds depth
and freshness to a tale that began with all the standard fantasy
tropes, and Jordan handles the changes in emphasis and pacing very
well.
The Aiel culture is also explored in more depth, with the conflicting
demands of the two cultures, and two prophecies, both demanding Rand's
attention.
Unfortunately the deftness in pacing is not consistent throughout the
book, as Elayne and Nynaeve spend most of the novel traveling together,
able to interact with the rest of the characters only through their
access to tel'aran'rhiod, the
World of Dreams. The result is an extended, awkward journey that
exists primarily to touch minor plot points, along with a great deal of
filler material. Later books will continue this theme.
Overall, The Fires of Heaven
is a well-written addition to the series, advancing the plot
significantly while maintaining the reader's interest. The
beginnings of pacing problems can be discerned, but they have not yet
becoming glaring enough to dissuade.
|
|
|
|
The Shadow Rising
The Shadow Rising is the fourth book in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.
The Stone of Tear has fallen, and the Sword That Cannot Be Touched has
been drawn in accordance with prophecy, confirming Rand as the Dragon
Reborn. But there is much yet to do before he must face the Dark
One at Tarmon Gai'don. Goaded by Moiraine, who seeks to
guide his path towards Sammael in Illian, Rand remains determined to
choose his own path, and to move in a direction that no one
expects. For the Dragon, to remain in one place is death -- and
the Aiel, who took the Stone and allowed Rand to sieze the Sword That
Is Not A Sword, have their own prophecies to fulfill.
Meanwhile, Perrin is torn by rumors from the Two Rivers: rumors of
Whitecloaks, there to hunt him, threatening the friends and family he
left behind. Since leaving home, Perrin has grown into both a man
and a warrior, but how can one warrior stand against a legion of
Whitecloaks? How can a man refuse to do so? It is clear
that destiny is not yet done with Perrin, even as his path must diverge
from Rand's for a time.
The Shadow Rising is generally
considered one of the best novels of the Wheel of Time series.
What has been up to this point a well-executed, if fairly unsurprising,
fantasy series takes a step up with this tale, gaining depth of
characterization and a sense of drama previously lacking. If
you've read this far, don't stop here.
|
|
|
|
The Dragon Reborn
The Dragon Reborn picks up several weeks after where The Great Hunt
left off... although relatively little has happened in that
timespan. Rand struggles with the implications of events at
Falme, where he raised the banner of the Dragon and battled Ba'alzamon
in full view of thousands of soldiers and citizens alike. Rand,
Moiraine, Perrin, and their small party of dragonsworn Shienarans are
trapped near Falme, unable to move to rally the other small bands that
have declared for the Dragon for fear the established rulers will crush
any evident focal point for the chaos. Rand is trapped as well by
his own doubts; though the Pattern seems to be forcing him into the
role of the Dragon Reborn, he is not yet ready to accept it;
incontrovertible proof is required, an undeniable prophecy fulfilled,
before he can accept.
When Rand sets off, alone, to find that fulfillment, Moiraine, Perrin,
and the rest must give chase in the hopes of averting disaster... as
the Pattern weaves itself around the footsteps of the Dragon Reborn.
The Dragon Reborn is widely
held to be one of the better books in the Wheel of Time. Despite
the title, Rand is almost absent as a character in the book; he has
only a few viewpoint chapters. The rest of the book is devoted to
the Perrin and Mat, the former following Rand and the latter recovering
from his Healing in Tar Valon. Yet Rand remains a powerful
character throughout the novel despite the limited number of direct
appearances; we are given the opportunity to witness the effects of ta'veren at one remove, seeing the ripples that Rand leaves in the Pattern as he moves towards the fulfillment of his destiny.
Perrin's story sees further development that his fans will welcome, as
his tie with the wolves, the conflict between hammer and axe, and his
own yearning to return to the simple life of a blacksmith is expanded
upon. There are other surprises in store for him, too --
surprises that should not be spoiled by a mention here.
Mat sees his first opportunity for significant character development in
this novel, when he is separated from his friends and forced to rely on
his own talents to keep him alive and free in the city of the Aes
Sedai. This he does remarkably well, becoming a memorable and
enjoyable character in his own right for the first time.
Egwene, Elayne, and Nynaeve, having managed to escape the Black Ajah that sought to chain them as damane in The Great Hunt are now set against the Black Ajah -- and a formidable challenge that will prove to be.
The Dragon Reborn is epic fantasy at its best.
|
|
|
|
The Great Hunt
The Great Hunt continues the story that began with The Eye of the World.
Rand, Mat, and Perrin are three young men recently plucked from their
quiet farming community and thrust into the center of events as the
Pattern weaves itself around them... possibly in accordance with
the ancient Prophecies of the Dragon, prophecies which describe a man
who once broke the world and who will be reborn to do it again.
When the Horn of Valere, built to summon forth the heroes of the ages
in Tarmon Gai'don, the Last Battle, is stolen from a keep in the
borderlands, the three boys must set forth to recover the
treasure. Perrin rides as wolfbrother, able to track the thieves
by scent and pack; Mat rides to rescue the dagger from Shadar Logoth, a
dagger which still holds a claim to his soul; and Rand rides to help
his friends, and perhaps to find a way to live with his fate: a
man who can channel the One Power, doomed to go mad, and perhaps
worse. And throughout it all, the secretive Aes Sedai seek
to manipulate events from the shadows, pushing Rand towards a destiny
he refuses to accept.
The Great Hunt
is a worthy sequel, bringing the characters forward in
time and allowing them to begin to grow and develop. The author
is still developing the world, and many new and strange things are
introduced. The result is engaging, exciting, and in some cases
brilliant, but also uneven; some sections lack polish or
fluidity. Still, there are fewer rough edges than the prior book,
and while The Great Hunt does not by itself reach the level of a great book, as a part of the whole it is not unworthy.
|
|
|
|
The Eye of the World
The Eye of the World is the first novel in Robert Jordan's epic series The Wheel of Time. The series, which began in 1985 and presently spans more than 10 books, has been wildly popular ever since.
The author has described the first part of The Eye of the World as a
homage to Tolkien's epic trilogy. Whether the series is worthy of
that comparison remains to be seen, but there are certainly many
elements that the initial part of both series have in common.
Readers who find the similarity uncomfortable should remember that it
was deliberately done, and that the pattern is broken about halfway
through the book.
The story begins in the small farming village of Emond's Field, part of
a loose community called the Two Rivers. It is a simple
community, filled with simple folk content to raise sheep and grow
crops. A hard winter is coming to an end, the wolves are hungry, and there are rumors of
strangers in town -- a lady and her guard, and a threatening, silent
man in a black cloak who prefers to lurk.
From that point on, things get complicated.
This author, especially in this series, writes smoothly flowing prose
that occasionally reaches (sometimes successfully) for a poetic turn of
phrase. Jordan does a remarkable job in providing a story complex
enough in plot, setting, and characters to satisfy adult tastes without
indulging in either graphic violence or explicit sexuality. The
surface tale is a standard fantasy trope: the end of the world is nigh,
and the protagonists must save it. Below that level is a message
about gender roles and feminism that provides for additional depth to
the attentive reader. Deeper still, over the course of the
series, are any number of other serious issues on which there is
something to be said.
As far as the whole series is concerned:
although the opening is very strong, the series remains unfinished and
the later books have bogged down somewhat. If you're not prepared
to spend years waiting on the series to finish, it's wiser to wait on
starting the series until the last book is finally published.
|
|
|
<-- Prev Displaying results 0 - 8 of 8 Next -->
Read this group via RSS or
Atom.
Enter your email address to receive email updates for new entries in this group:
|
|
