Updated: New New Wheel of Time Book out Today

[Coffee Warlord]

Just to remind the the fans of the series. Time to see how new guy does.

And the new guy did pretty well. Round 2 commences today.

[RomaGoth]

I need to read these again. Haven't done so in several years.

[claphamsa]

didnt the author die? I got about halfway through the 3rd book.... they were all the same, and hard to read, but I HAD to know what happend... so I read the wiki spoilers!

[spleen1015]

Shit. I thought this came out next month.

[Coffee Warlord]

Picked it up over lunch. Good lord, sucker is HUGE. And this is part 1 of 3? Lordy.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Well, time to 86 this thread until I catch up. Just started Lord of Chaos today...I've read them all before, but I want to hit the new book fresh off the latest.

[RomaGoth]

didnt the author die? I got about halfway through the 3rd book.... they were all the same, and hard to read, but I HAD to know what happend... so I read the wiki spoilers!

Yes, he picked a successor to finish the series for him though. Kinda like he was the Dragon Reborn or something.

[terpkristin]

Jordan died, I don't know if Sanderson was picked to finish the series before or after Jordan's death (I think it was after, based on things I read, and Sanderson was picked by Jordan's wife, Harriet, who has been his editor).

Currently about 1/4 through the 9th book in a re-read of the series before reading this one. Going to get it on Audible, though, if it's available, I strongly prefer listening to detailed descriptions of embroidery than reading them.

/tk

[RomaGoth]

I strongly prefer listening to detailed descriptions of embroidery than reading them.

/tk

freak :p

[terpkristin]

freak :p

:D

I do the same with George R. R. Martin. Allows me to unfocus on the overly long descriptions of blades of grass and queue back in when it actually gets good. :)

Oh, and the book IS available on Audible, so I'll pick it up "soon."

/tk

[RomaGoth]

:D

I do the same with George R. R. Martin. Allows me to unfocus on the overly long descriptions of blades of grass and queue back in when it actually gets good. :)

Oh, and the book IS available on Audible, so I'll pick it up "soon."

/tk

I loved reading the first couple of books in the WOT series. Then, unfortunately, Jordan became obsessed with creating thousands of main characters that I was forced to keep up with and understand every essence of their being. My brain exploded several times when reading books 7 and 8, and I finally gave up in frustration.

Perhaps I will give it another try in the future, but right now...meh.

[Coffee Warlord]

Jordan died, I don't know if Sanderson was picked to finish the series before or after Jordan's death (I think it was after, based on things I read, and Sanderson was picked by Jordan's wife, Harriet, who has been his editor).


I believe it was before. I seem to remember reading how RJ and Sanderson had some time to speak and go over the plots before he died.

[spleen1015]

Sanderson was picked by his wife after he died. Jordan left lots of detailed notes though.

I believe I read on his blog(Jordan's), that he sat down with his wife and his cousin Wilson and told them how it all ended. I think it said this was recorded as well.

[Eaglesfan27]

I've been anxiously waiting this since I re-read the entire series last year. I'll be picking it up Friday at lunch.

[Abe Sargent]

I read this series until the

books has establsihed he was going at a quick clip, killing off Forsaken, until he resurrects two at the begnning of a novel.

I was done then. Never went back, and never intend to.

[aran]

These books became unbearable after the fourth. The writing is banal. The characters are bland. The stupid abstract magicy stuff is the only reason to read.

[Schmidty]

These books became unbearable after the fourth. The writing is banal. The characters are bland. The stupid abstract magicy stuff is the only reason to read.

+1

[Autumn]

Wow, that came sooner than I had realized. I used to buy these in hardcover as soon as they came out, but I'm not sure what to do this time . I will read it though, definitely.

[Bad-example]

These books became unbearable after the fourth. The writing is banal. The characters are bland. The stupid abstract magicy stuff is the only reason to read.

Sadly, the guy with the great imagination is dead, and the editor that failed so miserably is still prominently involved. I don't see this series improving much.

[Mota]

If the series continues like it has, the new author will suddenly decide to introduce a few new factions with about 12 new main characters, decide to extend the series to 18 books because of this, and then die after book 16, causing another author search to happen.

Seriously though, I'm only done book 8, and 6-8 have been REALLY hard for me to read over the years because NOTHING HAPPENS. There's so many characters that to move everybody's story forward one inch means an 800 page book, the first 650 pages are intensely boring and then the last 150 pages are usually pretty exciting.

[Coffee Warlord]

Seriously though, I'm only done book 8, and 6-8 have been REALLY hard for me to read over the years because NOTHING HAPPENS. There's so many characters that to move everybody's story forward one inch means an 800 page book, the first 650 pages are intensely boring and then the last 150 pages are usually pretty exciting.

Hate to tell you, but be ready for pain in books 9 & 10. I'll never read 10 again..ever.

That said...this latest one was pretty enjoyable.

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm less than a third of the way through as I'm only reading a chapter before bed each night, but I've found this book to be the most enjoyable since the first few in the series.

[Eaglesfan27]

Impatience got the best of me and I finished it today reading the last 200 pages during the course of the day. To me, this is the most enjoyable book in the series since the early ones. I think Sanderson did a great job of sticking to the best elements of Jordan's style. I'm eager to see what happens next when Towers of Midnight comes out next year.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Excited to hear that Eaglesfan - I just started Winter's Heart (9) in my re-read and it's really starting to bog down. The Path of Daggers (8) was much more difficult to read than I remember it being, and I was thoroughly disappointed in the book in general.

[RendeR]

These books became unbearable after the fourth. The writing is banal. The characters are bland. The stupid abstract magicy stuff is the only reason to read.


Kinda telling then since the 5th book is the best of the entire series....

[Eaglesfan27]

Excited to hear that Eaglesfan - I just started Winter's Heart (9) in my re-read and it's really starting to bog down. The Path of Daggers (8) was much more difficult to read than I remember it being, and I was thoroughly disappointed in the book in general.

IMO, those are the 2 worst books in the series.

[Eaglesfan27]

I also think Sanderson (or Jordan?) did a great job in the latest book of legitimately explaining/closing some of the biggest loop holes/plot issues/criticisms that were raised by earlier books.

[Vince, Pt. II]

IMO, those are the 2 worst books in the series.

I agree. I'm about 200 pages into book 9 and nothing has really happened.

[Autumn]

Wow, just finished book 12, and I agree with EF. Not amazing, and there were some parts where he was a little bit too Jordan for me (it seemed like the Mat story was mostly filler, along the lines of books 9 and 10). But he concluded it well, actually got somewhere with the characters, and somewhere that made me excited about them instead of exasperated. I'm actually eager to keep reading this series now, which is a big step in the right direction.

[spleen1015]

I haven't read it yet, but my wife says there's good stuff in there.

I just started book 9 in my reread so I will get there eventually.

[Eaglesfan27]

Wow, just finished book 12, and I agree with EF. Not amazing, and there were some parts where he was a little bit too Jordan for me (it seemed like the Mat story was mostly filler, along the lines of books 9 and 10). But he concluded it well, actually got somewhere with the characters, and somewhere that made me excited about them instead of exasperated. I'm actually eager to keep reading this series now, which is a big step in the right direction.

This sums it up for me perfectly. It's not amazing, but it is very good. The early books I couldn't wait to read what happened next. Book 10 sat for months before I even picked it up. This book has me once again eagerly anticipating the next book.

Edit: I agree that the Mat chapters seemed like mostly filler except for his interaction with one Aes Sedai. That is very interesting. However, this book did the best job of keeping the filler chapters very short. It seems like there were very few pages dedicated to Mat's story in this book.

[terpkristin]

GAH!
I am now about 1/3 through Knife of Dreams, and am looking forward to getting to The Gathering Storm next. Luckily (ok, not really), I cannot play video games right now (sprained thumb a month ago, spent the last month in a cast, now another month in a splint), otherwise books would have fallen by the wayside for Dragon Age.

/tk

[spleen1015]

I am about halfway through the book.

This book is a lot different than the last few books. I don't know if it is because it has been a long time coming or what, but it seems like something is happening in almost every chapter. I don't know if it because Sanderson wote most of it or not. It doesn't feel like Jordan wrote much of it because there's not a lot of the boring descriptions that were in the previous books.

I don't think large boobs have been mentioned at all in the book. :D

The Perrin story line is still like it has been for a few books, but otherwise I am really enjoying the book.

[spleen1015]

Elaida in a collar. I love it!!

[Eaglesfan27]

Elaida in a collar. I love it!!

That was one of my favorite moments as well.

[spleen1015]

Sanderson tweeted yesterday that he has finished the first draft of Towers of Midnight. Says in on scheduled for a late October/early November release. He estimates it will end up being about 20k more words than The Gathering Storm.

[Eaglesfan27]

Sanderson tweeted yesterday that he has finished the first draft of Towers of Midnight. Says in on scheduled for a late October/early November release. He estimates it will end up being about 20k more words than The Gathering Storm.

Great news. I can't wait to read it.

[Autumn]

Wow, that is massive. It boggles my mind to think Jordan was going to try to do this in one book. I dont think he would have, but if he did it would have been a really crappy book.

I'm eager to read this next volume, I think Sanderson did well on the last one.

[GrantDawg]

I recently finished reading the whole series and the latest book. I agree it was much better than the last several Jordan books, and look forward to the next book.

BTw, Forget Elaida in a collar. Flippin Verin was both Black Ajah and good. That was one of the most interesting twists in the series.

[spleen1015]

I recently finished reading the whole series and the latest book. I agree it was much better than the last several Jordan books, and look forward to the next book.

BTw, Forget Elaida in a collar. Flippin Verin was both Black Ajah and good. That was one of the most interesting twists in the series.

Yes. That was pretty awesome.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Completely agree. I was very curious as to how that was going to play out, because I knew there was something off there, but couldn't put my finger on it. The ending to that thread was particularly brilliant I thought.

[bronconick]

Wow, that is massive. It boggles my mind to think Jordan was going to try to do this in one book. I dont think he would have, but if he did it would have been a really crappy book.

I'm eager to read this next volume, I think Sanderson did well on the last one.


I think by the time he had said that, he knew his time was probably measured in months, and just didn't want to leave it unfininshed. He had gotten his groove back somewhat in Knife of Dreams, but frankly, Crossroads of Twilight and Winter's Heart primarily caused him to run out of time.

[Eaglesfan27]

I recently finished reading the whole series and the latest book. I agree it was much better than the last several Jordan books, and look forward to the next book.

BTw, Forget Elaida in a collar. Flippin Verin was both Black Ajah and good. That was one of the most interesting twists in the series.

Yes, that was one of my favorite moments in the book.

[terpkristin]

Completely agree. I was very curious as to how that was going to play out, because I knew there was something off there, but couldn't put my finger on it. The ending to that thread was particularly brilliant I thought.

agreed

/tk

[spleen1015]

Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday!

[Autumn]

I think my wife pre-ordered it for me for my birthday. Luckily these always come out around my birthday - I'm stuck in a habit of getting the hardcovers and it seems silly to stop at this point.

I probably should reread the last book, but I'm not sure I have all that much time in my reading schedule for two!

[CarterNMA]

I think my wife pre-ordered it for me for my birthday. Luckily these always come out around my birthday - I'm stuck in a habit of getting the hardcovers and it seems silly to stop at this point.

I probably should reread the last book, but I'm not sure I have all that much time in my reading schedule for two!

Autumn, check out this link for a very good synopsis of each chapter of The Gathering Storm, which includes footnotes and links to all key terms. It's how I've prepared for The Towers of Midnight!

http://www.encyclopaedia-wot.org/books/index.html

[Eaglesfan27]

Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday!

Awesome! Thanks for the reminder!

[terpkristin]

I pre-ordered it from Amazon, I should get it on release day. Unfortunately (?), though, I am going to finish reading The Once and Future King before diving back into the WoT world. I'm very much enjoying Once and Future King, though.

/tk

[spleen1015]

I guess I'll be nice and let my wife read it first. I'll get some reading in while she's not reading, I guess.

[Coffee Warlord]

Picking it up over lunch, hopefully nobody bothers me at work and I can sneak in a few chapters.

[Autumn]

Autumn, check out this link for a very good synopsis of each chapter of The Gathering Storm, which includes footnotes and links to all key terms. It's how I've prepared for The Towers of Midnight!

Good idea, but I don't see the link there?

TK, I've been thinking about reading Once and Future King. You recommend it? What's it like?

[spleen1015]

http://encyclopaedia-wot.org/ (http://www.encyclopaedia-wot.org/)

You can read all of the books in about an hour a piece. :)

[Autumn]

http://encyclopaedia-wot.org/ (http://www.encyclopaedia-wot.org/)

You can read all of the books in about an hour a piece. :)

Thanks. Some of the books *should* have been an hour a piece in their unabridged form!

[terpkristin]

TK, I've been thinking about reading Once and Future King. You recommend it? What's it like?

I'm enjoying it, though there have been some in my reading group who are irritated by some of White's "side comments." If you didn't know, it's divided into 5 books (The Sword in the Stone, The Witch in the Wood, The Ill-Made Knight, The Candle in the Wind, and The Book of Merlyn--the last wasn't part of the original and was published post-humously). In The Sword in the Stone in particular, there were a fair few anachronisms, which set some people off. I didn't mind them. There are definitely places where I wish the pace would pick up a bit, but I'm enjoying it all in all and expect to finish it by early next week (and then move on to Towers of Midnight).

/tk

[Coffee Warlord]

CW's spoiler free 5 second review, upon finishing Book 13.

Not bad, though Sanderson decided to channel a bit too much Jordan in my opinion. There was a lot of dragging in places, and it felt like there was a lot less going on. Not NEARLY as painful as, say, book 9 or 10, but a little draggy and uneventful.

It didn't help this book focuses heavily on Perrin and Elayne, the two POV's that have just gone to shit, in my opinion.

[Autumn]

CW's spoiler free 5 second review, upon finishing Book 13.

Not bad, though Sanderson decided to channel a bit too much Jordan in my opinion. There was a lot of dragging in places, and it felt like there was a lot less going on. Not NEARLY as painful as, say, book 9 or 10, but a little draggy and uneventful.

It didn't help this book focuses heavily on Perrin and Elayne, the two POV's that have just gone to shit, in my opinion.

I agree pretty much with this. It was a good read, I enjoy some of the directions characters have gone in. But I am surprised at some of Jordan's bad habits that Sanderson is imitating. I wonder if he feels like he has to in some of the cases.

I'm very eager to read the last one now!

[spleen1015]

My only complaint is that after the revelation that Rand went through at the end of The Gathering Storm, we didn't have a single POV of his this book.

[Autumn]

Thoughts on the book and guesses as to the future. Spoilers abound!


That's a good point about Rand, but I think I was so pleased by the way they've taken his story that I didn't mind. I think we got a clear view of how his character has changed. And I can't be more relieved that he is no longer a mopey ass, but instead someone you want to root for and believe can kick some ass. I loved him showing off his integrated personality to Cadsuane, for one. And I loved that we kind of see the Creator stepping into things a bit, the idea that Rand is powerful in more ways than just being able to channel.

One thing I disliked is how the concept of him being connected to Moridin didn't come up at all in the book. But that is just one of many things that are being very awkwardly handled. I feel like the entire series could use a giant rewrite. The Black Tower still hanging out there, only barely being touched in this book is just ridiculous after the way they built up Taim books and books ago. The Ogier have disappeared for quite a while as well. No POV of Tuon except in the prologue. JOrdan and now Sanderson clearly got lost in plot threads, I wish Jordan had planned the plot out better, I feel like paced well this could have been an amazing series.

As for looking ahead, I think it's clear that Rand will need to use the True Power (the dark one's power, right?) at the Last Battle. We were given one fairly clear clue to that this book, but now I forget what it said. I have some ideas how that will happen. I wonder what part Moiraine will play, it had better be big enough to warrant all this time to bring her back. What are Min's visions on Callandor about do you think?

And what was the deal with Lanfear at the very end? That seemed ... odd.

[spleen1015]

Last book due on 1/8/2013.

The Release Date for A Memory of Light Has Been Set | Tor.com (http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/02/the-release-date-for-a-memory-of-light-has-been-set)

[terpkristin]

I'm debating if I want to re-read them all in advance of this..

/tk

[Mota]

Obviously I must read a lot less than you Terpkristin, I'm still reading book 8 and have been following the series since the beginning :)

[terpkristin]

Obviously I must read a lot less than you Terpkristin, I'm still reading book 8 and have been following the series since the beginning :)

Hehehe. I found audiobooks work wonders for re-reads like this. I have read each book in print once and listened to each at least once. Last time I did a re-read was before The Gathering Storm. Just seems fitting to do it now, one last time..

/tk