Jordan has some of the least convincing female characterizations I’ve ever read. It’s like the man has exactly one paper doll for the entire female gender–when he needs a new one, he merely slaps on one or two “quirks” and runs with it.
Hm…stuck up assertive noble woman…stuck up assertive whatever the hell Egwene is…stuck up assertive angry woman who pulls her braids…stuck up assertive Seanchan agent woman…aaarrrrggghhh.
I actually found Edgar Rice Burrough’s female characters more convincing…
Having said that, I’ve read them all. I’m so pathetic. If you’re going to be in the mood to read crap, you could do worse than RJ. Just get really good at skimming.
To all of those who say they are going to read the entire set of the Wheel of Time series: it will never end. He will put out a new book every year or so and nothing will happen. It is the fantasy equivalent of General Hospital. How long has that soap been on the air? See? You are wasting your time with the likes of him.
Yes! I fully agree with the comments about Jordan’s female characters. They made me very annoyed, as did the way the guys would just grumble and agree with them. It did amuse me to imagine how they would react if someone with an actual spine was there, though.
Jordan has done a good job creating some of his locations and villains (the Fades and Shadar Logoth especially) and he has to be commended for working on such a huge scale, but he’s too in love with his own words.
I’m a big Jordan fan, but I’ve long ago given up trying to defend him. Frankly, the writing, while often repetitious, has never bothered me all that much. And it’s far more complex than any other series I’ve ever read, and trying to figure out all the mysteries and hints can be a lot of fun. I agree that he got bogged down there during, oh, books 5-8ish, but book 9 got him solidly back on track.
Incidentally, he’s said he should be able to get it all wrapped up by the end of book 12.
“fool, foolish, foolishness”. I’m pretty sure those words come out more often in his books than “the”
I read the first seven books 3 years ago and I loved them. Now, I was trying to re-read the series and add the 8th and 9th books but I can’t get myself to go past the fifth book. the depiction of females, as you all pointed out, is the worst I have ever seen. Lots of repetition too. Weird how you can like a book the first time and hate it the second.
Otto, have you considered telling your brother the truth? Just tell him you read the first book and didn’t like it. Sure, he might pout for a while, but you’ll feel relieved that you didn’t let this situation fester.
Finally, more people who share my opinion of Robert Jordan! My sister and brother LOVE the series, and swear by his writing. My brother consistently claims that he has a very elaborate plot with complex politics. I consistently tell him that I just don’t care. And that, furthermore, RJ is not a good writer. He is a bombastic hack who is entirely too fond of his own verbal diarreah. Writing huge books and series does not automatically grant one status as a great writer. My brother claims that I can’t understand, because I never finished the first book. And that I have no right to say anything, since I never finished it, and don’t know what I’m talking about. Oh no, brother. I know all too well; I had a good reason for putting Eye of the World down in disgust. It was appalling.
Robert Jordan is, IMO, one of the most overrated authors in fantasy. Why not just tell the truth? He’ll get over it.
At the beginning I really enjoyed Robert Jordan. But I read several of his novels in a row. Being an avid reader, it was easy to start picking out the constant repetition of how some of his characters in various situations. Most of them are arrogant whiners. The braid puller and the man she loved, that MASSIVE WHINER, pissed me off to no end. His characters need a severe slap upside their heads with the reality stick.
However, I will say this one good thing for him: he hasn’t created his own religion.
And while we’re at it, David Eddings blows goats too. How many times can a villian have some tantrum only to be met with a sigh and a wave of the hand of some powerful character that pretty much lays them out?
I tried reading the Sparhawk series and I didn’t get through it because I kept on thinking, “Hmmm, I think I read this when you called it THE BELGARIAD, you unoriginal hack!”
He hasn’t started up his own religion either…I hope.
Now Terry Brookes…that is an Author that has my backing. hopes no one here hates Terry Brookes
I’m with you there. Jordan’s writing doesn’t irritate me in the slightest. In fact, I enjoy all the details he provides. The rich and incredibly complex plot is worth any amount of irritating characterisations. (In fact, I think it’s a sign of a good writer when people feel strongly enough about his characters to criticise them as if they were real people.)
But yeah, I haven’t the energy to defend him right now.
I think that what people dislike about Jordan’s characters is not that some of them are irritating; it’s that a lot of them are irritating in the same, boring way. A lot of times the characterizations seem exagerrated. and they often don’t make sense given the context (a supposedly old and wise woman throwing a status fit at a crucial time…). In the end, it’s the sheer volume of bitching and whining that probably does the most damage to the reader; why is this type of personality so overwhelmingly prevalent in Jordan’s world?
He really, really loves his characters - loves them so much that he hardly ever lets one of them die.
He’s a pretty good fantasy writer for a Nazi.
You know, every time I think of RJ I staret imagining what would happen if a bunch of much cooler, better written fantasy characters suddenly materialized into his story and started bashing heads. I’m talking about Aragorn, Roland of Gilead, Corwin of Amber, Thomas Covenant, anyone by Guy Gavriel Kay - hell, even Kevin Lannister would make Rand Al’Thor his personal bitch in under thirty seconds.
If you’re going to be in the mood to read crap, you could do worse than RJ. Just get really good at skimming.