The Wheel of Time is done

[MaxTheVool]

Originally Posted by Robert Jordan

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the Mountains of Mist. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings in the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.

Brandon Sanderson has sent the final version off to the editors/publishes.

I think even its most ardent fans would agree that the series wandered away from where it really need to be for quite some time... but it's still been an incredible journey that has had a special place in my heart for around 20 years. And the most recent 3 books (Knife of Dreams, the last one Jordan wrote himself, and The Gathering Storm and The Towers of Midnight, by Brandon Sanderson), have been, at least in my opinion, a definite return to form.

These characters have been close to my heart for over half of my life. I'm thrilled to finally see their truly epic tale come to an end.


(The final book, A Memory of Light, comes out in January.)

[Mahaloth]

Very cool, and I'm also glad that Sanderson can now return to his own series.

[MilTan]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

Very cool, and I'm also glad that Sanderson can now return to his own series.

Yup. I got tired of WoT around book 9, and never got back to it. But I want the next Stormlight Archive book, dammit!

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

It's about time.

[Helena]

My brother (Brandon's assistant) sent us a section where somebody's fixing a saddle, to have my husband (who does leatherwork) look it over. That was kind of cool. ("Oooh, as-yet-unpublished Wheel of Time!")

[SeaDragonTattoo]

Wow, yeah, I guess I started reading just after college. Haven't picked up any of the later books - maybe I read Knife of Dreams, that sounds really familiar - I should get back to it. Heck, knowing the series is done, maybe I'll just start from the beginning. That first book was a very long time ago!

[HazelNutCoffee]

I have a soft spot for Wheel of Time - it was the first epic fantasy series I ever read. I remember sitting in a chair for hours on end, absolutely riveted. The latter half of the series has been a bit of a slog, to put it mildly, but I am still looking forward to reading the last book!

[Maserschmidt]

Nynaeve can finally stop tugging her braid? Phew. I'm surprised she has any hair left.

[G0sp3l]

Originally Posted by SeaDragonTattoo

Wow, yeah, I guess I started reading just after college. Haven't picked up any of the later books - maybe I read Knife of Dreams, that sounds really familiar - I should get back to it. Heck, knowing the series is done, maybe I'll just start from the beginning. That first book was a very long time ago!

Some people in clothes with a bunch of stripes fight people whose customs and histories are totally not like theirs. And cross some hills.

There, you can skip books four through ten.

Of course, since, I also have been waiting 20+ years for this I'll read it also.

[boytyperanma]

Originally Posted by G0sp3l

Some people in clothes with a bunch of stripes fight people whose customs and histories are totally not like theirs. And cross some hills.

There, you can skip books four through ten.

Of course, since, I also have been waiting 20+ years for this I'll read it also.

This is a pretty good summary.

[Lynn Bodoni]

Originally Posted by Maserschmidt

Nynaeve can finally stop tugging her braid? Phew. I'm surprised she has any hair left.

That little tic might have been the straw that broke the camel's back for me. Well, that and the dangling eyebrows.

[sohvan]

I mostly just wanted to finish the series, but I've been very pleasantly surprised at what Brandon Sanderson has done with it. I was probably around 10 when I started reading the books almost 20 years ago, and I loved the first 5 or so. The 6th book was ok, and from there it just went downhill rapidly. The last few books have reminded me of what I liked about the series way back then.

[Alessan]

Originally Posted by Helena

My brother (Brandon's assistant) sent us a section where somebody's fixing a saddle, to have my husband (who does leatherwork) look it over. That was kind of cool. ("Oooh, as-yet-unpublished Wheel of Time!")

Did they manage to keep the description under 150 pages?

[elfkin477]

Originally Posted by Alessan

Did they manage to keep the description under 150 pages?

And how detailed were the descriptions of what the people, and the horse, were wearing?

[Helena]

LOL! It was a pretty short section. Mostly conversation about a leather-stitching technique.

[Lissla Lissar]

I read the first eight books on my husband's (then boyfriend's) recommendation, and by the end was flipping and muttering and making fun of everything. He gaemly kept on, even though he started MSTing it, but when he picked up and read the Brandon Sanderson books, he said, "These are actually good. I think you'd like them."

So I read them, poised to hate and mock.

They were quite good. The characters had character. I no longer wanted to punch everyone all the time. The stories made sense.

I'll read the last one.

[Gukumatz]

About six years ago, I gave up at book 9. But I heard last year that Sanderson had picked up the pen and I'm a big fan of his Mistborn/Stormlight Archive work so I decided to give it a shot. While he's still constrained by the rules and universe Jordan eventually got mired in, it's a pretty fresh, competent take and it doesn't feel at all like fan-fiction. (Like I feared.) They turned out to have a significant upward curve, actually, and I'm confident Sanderson will be able to end the series on a high note.

And then get back to the Stormlight Archive, because I seriously want those books so bad.

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by Maserschmidt

Nynaeve can finally stop tugging her braid? Phew. I'm surprised she has any hair left.

You know, Nynaeve probably annoyed me more than anyone else in the series, but Sanderson really saved her...what she does in the penultimate book is seriously wonderful. She finally matures beyond her penchant for bossing people around and does an incredible and selfless thing for Lan. That whole section really moved me.

[Mahaloth]

Originally Posted by Gukumatz

And then get back to the Stormlight Archive, because I seriously want those books so bad.

Not to hijack, but was the first book really that good? I'm hesitant to begin because it is supposed to be a 10 book series, right? I'll wait until we are sure he is churning them out at a pretty good pace.

[Snarky_Kong]

Crossroads of Twilight was so goddamn bad I stopped reading the series. The series had dragged to that point, but I didn't have many series complaint. Then absolutely nothing happened in 800 pages and I was out.

I've made such a huge time commitment, and people say Sanderson put the series back on the right track, so maybe I'll finish it off at some point.

[Odesio]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

Not to hijack, but was the first book really that good? I'm hesitant to begin because it is supposed to be a 10 book series, right? I'll wait until we are sure he is churning them out at a pretty good pace.

It's a pretty good read. It's not going to blow your mind or make you a better person but it's an enjoyable way to pass the time. Robert Jordan is dead so you don't have to worry about him churning out any more books. The last book, written by Brandon Sanderson based on Jordan's notes, has apparently been given to the publisher and will be headed towards the printers soon. The middle of the series drags on very slowly. There is one book in particular where nothing happens except one of the main characters takes a bath. Seriously, 5+ chapters of her preparing, taking and finishing a goddamn bath. In all honestly the only reason I'm finishing the series is because I already have so much time invested in it.

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by Odesio

It's a pretty good read. It's not going to blow your mind or make you a better person but it's an enjoyable way to pass the time. Robert Jordan is dead so you don't have to worry about him churning out any more books. The last book, written by Brandon Sanderson based on Jordan's notes, has apparently been given to the publisher and will be headed towards the printers soon. The middle of the series drags on very slowly. There is one book in particular where nothing happens except one of the main characters takes a bath. Seriously, 5+ chapters of her preparing, taking and finishing a goddamn bath. In all honestly the only reason I'm finishing the series is because I already have so much time invested in it.

Mahaloth was talking about the Stormlight Archive, Sanderson's own proposed 10-book series.

[Helena]

I enjoyed The Way of Kings a lot. And I'd say you don't have to worry about Brandon being able to churn them out at a good pace. He's amazing.

[Smeghead]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

Not to hijack, but was the first book really that good? I'm hesitant to begin because it is supposed to be a 10 book series, right? I'll wait until we are sure he is churning them out at a pretty good pace.

I really liked it. It was one of those few books where I couldn't wait to pick it back up, and I hated having to put it down, and I've read a LOT of fantasy over the years.

Originally Posted by Helena

I enjoyed The Way of Kings a lot. And I'd say you don't have to worry about Brandon being able to churn them out at a good pace. He's amazing.

I read somewhere that he's a little concerned that his fans think he's going to be keeping up this breakneck speed forever. He HAS been publishing amazingly fast, but until now, a lot of it has been backlog - books he wrote a long time ago but has only been able to sell now that he's made a name for himself. That backlog is out now, so his output is going to be slowing down.

[Odesio]

Originally Posted by jayjay

Mahaloth was talking about the Stormlight Archive, Sanderson's own proposed 10-book series.

Move along. Move along. Nothing to see here. Nobody here with reading comprehension issues. Move along. Move along. How awkward for me.

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

Originally Posted by Lissla Lissar

So I read them, poised to hate and mock.

They were quite good. The characters had character. I no longer wanted to punch everyone all the time. The stories made sense.

I'll read the last one.

Originally Posted by jayjay

You know, Nynaeve probably annoyed me more than anyone else in the series, but Sanderson really saved her...what she does in the penultimate book is seriously wonderful. She finally matures beyond her penchant for bossing people around and does an incredible and selfless thing for Lan. That whole section really moved me.

+1000

I already knew Brandon Sanderson was awesome, but making Nynaeve bearable just blew me away.

To those of you who stopped because the books started sucking- the Sanderson ones are actually good.

[NAF1138]

So, as a person who generally enjoys fantasy but has avoided the Wheel of Time like it was a disease based on what I had heard about it, is it worth reading now that it is finished or should I not bother?

I am curious because it is very very famous, but it is mostly famous for starting out great and then getting terrible. Should I wade in? If yes, what books should I skip and read Wikipedia summaries of instead?

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

I was going to link you to the thread I started asking the same question, but the hamsters are seriously ill today and I can't get Search to work. Maybe later I'll get it.

[MaxTheVool]

I would do the following:

Read books 1-5

Read internet summaries of books 6-10

Read books 11-14 (one written by RJ, 3 by Brandon Sanderson) (Book 14 not yet out, coming out in January).


I think you'll enjoy them tremendously... although in this day and age of post-modern fantasy where everyone is turning convention on its head and lampshading things and so forth, they're a bit old fashioned. But it's really a marvelously constructed fantasy world. Think about it this way.... everyone agrees that books 7-10 or so are terrible, and yet people keep reading them and kept clamoring for the series to be completed, so the first 5 or so books must be AMAZING to generate that level of devotion.

[Smeghead]

There's a site somewhere that has quick summaries - a paragraph to a page or so in length - of each and every chapter in the entire series. That's an invaluable resource when reviewing in preparation for a new book or when skipping the more boring entries in the series.

[NAF1138]

Excellent. I have sort of been thinking about checking out a classic fantasy series that I haven't read yet. I'll now I'll add the first couple of books to my library list the next time I head in. Thanks.

[bucketybuck]

Its testament to how badly the series nosedived that I would still have no interest in reading any more of the WOT even if it turned out that Tolkien had risen from the dead to finish what he started.

[Lord Ashtar]

Originally Posted by MaxTheVool

I would do the following:

Read books 1-5

Read internet summaries of books 6-10

Read books 11-14 (one written by RJ, 3 by Brandon Sanderson) (Book 14 not yet out, coming out in January).

As someone who read the series until about 25% through book 10 before I got frustrated and put it down, I'm not sure I would've wanted to miss the end of book 9. That was pretty damn epic.

I've gotten more into audiobooks lately, so I've decided to give book 10 another go. I know all about the bath scene and how virtually nothing happens, but I've come this far and I really want to try and see it through.

[MaxTheVool]

Originally Posted by Lord Ashtar

As someone who read the series until about 25% through book 10 before I got frustrated and put it down, I'm not sure I would've wanted to miss the end of book 9. That was pretty damn epic.

Yeah, but that's one chapter of action in the midst of 4 books of nothing happening. My hopes were SO raised by that scene, and then book 10 just crushed them cruelly

[NAF1138]

So...are we saying I should read book 9 too? I plan on only getting them from the library so it's not like I am investing anything other than my time.

[Feyrat]

Originally Posted by Malleus, Incus, Stapes!

+1000

I already knew Brandon Sanderson was awesome, but making Nynaeve bearable just blew me away.

To those of you who stopped because the books started sucking- the Sanderson ones are actually good.

Wow, they actually hired someone with TALENT to take on a dead guy's legacy?

Instead of, y'know, Kevin J. Anderson?

Wow....

[With Rye]

Yeah, as thankful as I am for Sanderson's competence, I'm more so that the series didn't land in lesser writers' hands.

[MaxTheVool]

Originally Posted by NAF1138

So...are we saying I should read book 9 too? I plan on only getting them from the library so it's not like I am investing anything other than my time.

It would be plausible to read the chapter summaries of book 9 until you get to chapter 35, then read that chapter in full.

[jayjay]

When we're talking about "the big scene" in Book 9, that's where

SPOILER:

Rand cleanses the taint on saidin, right?

[Kiros]

jayjay: Yes

It was really quite a way to end the book, which made the fact that the 10th book was by far the worst and most painful to read of all of them that much more of a letdown.

[Lord Ashtar]

Originally Posted by Kiros

jayjay: Yes

It was really quite a way to end the book, which made the fact that the 10th book was by far the worst and most painful to read of all of them that much more of a letdown.

Tell me about it. I was so psyched to see how that played out, but all I was getting was the other characters going about their business, then pausing to look at the horizon and say, "What's that? Oh, it must be Rand doing something epic." Then they go back to whatever it was they were doing.

The Amazon.com reviews of book 10 didn't exactly fill me with confidence, either.

"Nynaeve continues to..."
"Perrin continues to..."
"Elayne continues to..."
"Mat continues to..."

Just get on with the damn story already! I can't skip the book because I'm anal retentive like that, but I really hope the audiobook makes it a bit more palatable.

[Inner Stickler]

I was crushed when

SPOILER:

Moiraine fell through the ter'angreal.

I read a few more (ok, five) in case

SPOILER:

she fell out again

but my heart just wasn't in it anymore and the first time I had to wait for a book to come out, I moved on and by the time it was released, I couldn't remember the various plot threads. I don't really have anything to say, I just wanted to pout again.

[MHaye]

Originally Posted by NAF1138

So...are we saying I should read book 9 too? I plan on only getting them from the library so it's not like I am investing anything other than my time.

I think your best bet is to read each book as it comes, personally. When you find them frustrating, put them aside and read chapter summaries, then come back to what sound interesting chapters in the book.

It's worth remembering that the action is faster-paced in the early books because they cover longer spans of time.

• Books 1 and 2 cover about one year; book 1 starts at what should be early Spring, book 2 ends in the late autumn of the same year.
• Books 3 to 6 cover about a year, starting in winter and ending early the next year.
• Books 7 to 14 inclusive cover less than half a year.

If you don't like The Eye of the World don't bother with the rest.

My big problem with the mid-period books is that he lets the insanity of two of the lead men drag on too long; they weren't resolved until after RJ died and Brandon Sanderson took over.

Then, hardly anything happens in Book 10; although it has some payoff later it's too long. There's a distinct lack of editorial oversight in the middle books.

On top of that, there's the unsanity of Nynaeve. (Anyone who can go from "maybe I was wrong to insist on going overland" to "I knew we should have gone by boat" in the space of less than a day (iirc) has serious mental problems.)

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by Inner Stickler

I was crushed when

SPOILER:

Moiraine fell through the ter'angreal.

I read a few more (ok, five) in case

SPOILER:

she fell out again

but my heart just wasn't in it anymore and the first time I had to wait for a book to come out, I moved on and by the time it was released, I couldn't remember the various plot threads. I don't really have anything to say, I just wanted to pout again.

Spoilers about what you were spoilering about (spoilers for book 12 or 13...don't remember precisely which)...

SPOILER:

Moiraine does get rescued from the Aelfinn by Mat and Thom and Jain Farstrider.

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

YMMV, but I liked the Mat sections even in some of the boring books. He actual DOES stuff- at least compared to the other characters.

[Inner Stickler]

Originally Posted by jayjay

Spoilers about what you were spoilering about (spoilers for book 12 or 13...don't remember precisely which)...

Of course. Somethings happens the book after I give up. Story of my life, my friends, story of my life.

[Morelin]

nm

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

I just spent a couple of hours on TVTropes getting distracted from looking for my favorite post-Jordan quote, from The Gathering Storm:

Mat: I'm not giving up gambling. Or drinking.
Talmanes: So I believe you've told me. Three or four times so far. I half believe that if I were to peek into your tent at night, I'd find you mumbling about it in your sleep. "I'm going to keep bloody gambling! Bloody, bloody gambling and drinking! Where's my bloody drink? Anyone want to gamble for it?"

[Kylede]

Originally Posted by MaxTheVool

I would do the following:

Read books 1-5

Read internet summaries of books 6-10

Read books 11-14 (one written by RJ, 3 by Brandon Sanderson) (Book 14 not yet out, coming out in January).

Max, good idea, but there are certain chapters in books 6 - 10 that should be read, not jusy the summaries...like someone mentioned..the last 2 chapters of book 9. Maybe it should be "Reed the prologue, first 2 chapters, last 2 chapters and epilogue along with the internet summaries". Or even better then the summaries, the TOR website has their "re-reads" of all the books and that give a 1-2 paragraph summary of each chapter. use them to decide what chapter to read of books 6-10

[MHaye]

The Encyclopedia WoT has chapter summaries, notes on who's who and so on, for those who want to play catch-up.