The Wheel of Time?

[That One Six]

Wonderfully well written books. The characters are perfectly developed, the settings are so well designed that I can picture them right on the pages, and the story itself blows me away. I've read the series three times over, and I have yet to find a single flaw. But then again, I'm quite biased and I use many of Mr. Jordan's (RIP) writing techniques in my own stories that I hope will one day be published.

As for books 5+, the pace slows and it gets more political, which, in my opinion, is still quite interesting. But if you don't like that kind of plot-line, you can stop reading now, and wonder what you missed.

 

[axia777]

Battle of Dumai's Wells - Nuff said.

 

[Lady Nilstria]

Gothmogll, I read the Krondor series, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Gotta love Jimmy.

I can't believe I forgot David Eddings. I feel ashamed.

There's only one thing I dislike, or maybe love, about A Song of Ice and Fire. You never know if one of your favorite characters are going to die. Darn it, George R.R. Martin, but I liked those guys! Why'd you kill them?! T-T Of course, that adds to the dark delicious realism. George R.R. Martin is almost like a historian.

Axia777, I thought Gathering Storm was set for November, but it's coming out late October? SWEET. Now if only I could get my hands on it...

DeadlyYellow...I detest Goodkind. But that's just me. >_> And yes, I did read his first book, but was so disgusted by it that I could not bring myself to read the second.

 

[TheSupremeForce]

I actually stopped reading after book eight, because I couldn't shake the feeling that he'd slowed things way down just to stretch the series into more books. While I did enjoy the early books, by the time I "gave up", I really didn't care anymore. That being said, I did always intend to complete the series "once it was finished", and will undoubtedly do so. In a strange twist, I'm a much bigger Brandon Sanderson fan than I am a Wheel of Time fan.

 

[oliveira8]

I was just wondering what people's thoughts are on this series? I may start reading it, and just want a general idea of how good it is. Generall consensus around teh intarwebz are that at around Book 5 it seems to go downhill slightly - which, considering it's at least a 15-book series could be a problem.

So, for those Timies (?) out there - 2 major questions: A) Does the series go downhill after around 5 books, and B) Basically, is it worth my time? Plus, any additional things you think I should know would be greatly appreciated!

Just as a bit extra - my fantasy genre pedegree is basically zero, aside from a few Redwall books when I was younger!

A) Yes it does. But only after Lord of Chaos which is Book 6.

Crossroads of Twilight(B.10) is one of the worst books I have ever read. And I'm including the Dune prequels written by that hack Brian Herbert. It's really BAD. And nothing happens. Really, nothing.

Winter's Heart(B.9) holds one of the biggest events in the whole series yet, the pacing is all done wrong and Jordan regressed to high school in writing style.

And I'm not sure I think it's Path of Daggers(B.8) it's also another downer.

The Eye of the World(B.1) is kinda the basic storyline of a bland fantasy book, but it's well written. The Great Hunt(B.2) is where the fun starts, the characters get fleshed out, the evil Dark Lord actually has a proper reason to be evil, and Dragon Reborn/Shadow Rising(B.3 & 4) are epicly awesome.From The Great Hunt(B.2) till Lord of Chaos(b.6) is a great ride.
From there on the action stops on it's track and everything gets boring and lame.

B)Yes it's worth your time


Word of advice: All women PoV will make you hate every women on the face of Earth.

 

[axia777]

There's only one thing I dislike, or maybe love, about A Song of Ice and Fire. You never know if one of your favorite characters are going to die. Darn it, George R.R. Martin, but I liked those guys! Why'd you kill them?! T-T Of course, that adds to the dark delicious realism. George R.R. Martin is almost like a historian.

That is one of the major reasons I love that series. Who else has the brass balls to wreak such havoc in their own books? It is awesome.

Axia777, I thought Gathering Storm was set for November, but it's coming out late October? SWEET. Now if only I could get my hands on it....

Yep, it is October. I am excited. Preorder here!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0765302306?ie=UTF8&tag=dragonmount&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0765302306

 

[axia777]

double post

 

[NeutralDrow]

Easily one of my favorite fantasy series.

The world is expansive and interesting, the magic is fun, the characters are well-developed, the plot is gripping, and Mat is awesome...odd note to end on, I guess.

I never really noticed anything too wrong with the books after Lord of Chaos until book 9 (Winter's Heart). The pacing of that book is kind of off, which I never really noticed until reflection, because the single coolest thing ever to happen happens in that book. I'm also one of the few people in the world who enjoyed Crossroads of Twlight, though I admit the series picked up again in Knife of Dreams.

Word of advice: All women PoV will make you hate every women on the face of Earth.

Except Min, Moiraine, Birgitte, and possibly Aviendha.

Truth be told, other than the near-insufferable arrogance personified as the Aes Sedai, Wise Ones, and Windfinders, the only female characters I don't like are Faile (then again, who does after The Shadow Rising?) and Elayne.

Wait, what? Eddings is dead? WTF!!!

Wait, WHAT?!

...

HOLY CRAP, HE DIED FOUR MONTHS AGO?! God dammit, not again! Robert Jordan, Arthur C. Clarke, Gary Gygax...

If Terry Pratchett dies in the next year, I'm gonna be fucking pissed off!

 

[Lady Nilstria]

...and Mat is awesome...

Indeed, that is not strange to say at all. Matrim Cauthon pawns all around him.

Those darned dice!

He also has a nice hat.

 

[oliveira8]

Easily one of my favorite fantasy series.

The world is expansive and interesting, the magic is fun, the characters are well-developed, the plot is gripping, and Mat is awesome...odd note to end on, I guess.

I never really noticed anything too wrong with the books after Lord of Chaos until book 9 (Winter's Heart). The pacing of that book is kind of off, which I never really noticed until reflection, because the single coolest thing ever to happen happens in that book. I'm also one of the few people in the world who enjoyed Crossroads of Twlight, though I admit the series picked up again in Knife of Dreams.

Word of advice: All women PoV will make you hate every women on the face of Earth.

Except Min, Moiraine, Birgitte, and possibly Aviendha.

Truth be told, other than the near-insufferable arrogance personified as the Aes Sedai, Wise Ones, and Windfinders, the only female characters I don't like are Faile (then again, who does after The Shadow Rising?) and Elayne.

Wait, what? Eddings is dead? WTF!!!

Wait, WHAT?!

...

HOLY CRAP, HE DIED FOUR MONTHS AGO?! God dammit, not again! Robert Jordan, Arthur C. Clarke, Gary Gygax...

If Terry Pratchett dies in the next year, I'm gonna be fucking pissed off!

I don't remenber Min being a Point of View. She is only likable cause she only serves one purpose. To spat out prophecys. Min doesn't have no real character development, that's why she is likable.

Now the rest...oh my gods kill me now please. Doesn't help that EVERY female character is based on Jordan's wife. Jordan only meet one woman in his whole life.

Also Prattchet has alzheimer which is worse than being dead, on it's late stages.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I don't remenber Min being a Point of View. She is only likable cause she only serves one purpose. To spat out prophecys. Min doesn't have no real character development, that's why she is likable.

...you did read past Lord of Chaos, right?

Wait, you're saying Min has no character development...you did read past The Great Hunt, right?

 

[Mobung]

I did not enjoy The Wheel of Time series. Granted, I only read the first two books, but I didn't like them that much, mostly because of the slow pace. The ending (both times) felt anti-climatic. The characters spend most of the books wandering around, then have a random boss fight. If the books were only half or three-quarters as long, I'd probably read them, but as it stands, I don't feel that they are worth the considerable time investment.

 

[Altorin]

the people who like it, think it got better and better as time went on.

I couldn't get through 2 books, personally.

 

[General Torg]

I have read all the books except New Spring, and I find all except books 9 and 10 to be fantastic. #9 was the worst of the bunch (the only one that I did not enjoy reading) and #10 could of been summarized in about 15 minutes.

 

[oliveira8]

I don't remenber Min being a Point of View. She is only likable cause she only serves one purpose. To spat out prophecys. Min doesn't have no real character development, that's why she is likable.

...you did read past Lord of Chaos, right?

Wait, you're saying Min has no character development...you did read past The Great Hunt, right?

I did. And she has no real character development. Unless you mean Character development=showing up more and trying to get into the pants of Rand.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I don't remenber Min being a Point of View. She is only likable cause she only serves one purpose. To spat out prophecys. Min doesn't have no real character development, that's why she is likable.

...you did read past Lord of Chaos, right?

Wait, you're saying Min has no character development...you did read past The Great Hunt, right?

I did. And she has no real character development. Unless you mean Character development=showing up more and trying to get into the pants of Rand.

That's certainly part of it, yes.

 

[Puzzles]

I couldn't stand The Wheel of Time. I simply had to give up after a few hundred pages. Too wholesome, poorly written or a certain je ne sais quoi missing. I don't even salivate over gritty novels, but this series was just too childish.

 

[oliveira8]

I don't remenber Min being a Point of View. She is only likable cause she only serves one purpose. To spat out prophecys. Min doesn't have no real character development, that's why she is likable.

...you did read past Lord of Chaos, right?

Wait, you're saying Min has no character development...you did read past The Great Hunt, right?

I did. And she has no real character development. Unless you mean Character development=showing up more and trying to get into the pants of Rand.

That's certainly part of it, yes.

You need more than that to say you evolved as a character. xP She's still better than the rest of the female characters.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I couldn't stand The Wheel of Time. I simply had to give up after a few hundred pages. Too wholesome, poorly written or a certain je ne sais quoi missing. I don't even salivate over gritty novels, but this series was just too childish.

...I have to admit, I've never heard that adjective used to describe it. Especially since I'm fairly certain Jordan was deliberately emulating Tolkien in the first book. The writing style changes a lot starting with The Great Hunt.

I don't remenber Min being a Point of View. She is only likable cause she only serves one purpose. To spat out prophecys. Min doesn't have no real character development, that's why she is likable.

...you did read past Lord of Chaos, right?

Wait, you're saying Min has no character development...you did read past The Great Hunt, right?

I did. And she has no real character development. Unless you mean Character development=showing up more and trying to get into the pants of Rand.

That's certainly part of it, yes.

You need more than that to say you evolved as a character. xP

She's the normal person.

Her viewings are the reason she's caught up in superpowered company, but her purpose is not the same thing as her character. Ultimately, she's quite a strong person in light of that normality, and is one of the few characters who's self-confidence never descends into arrogance (something she shares with Moiraine, who's still my favorite). From what we've seen of her point of view, she's aware that she's likely in over her head, but while she's perfectly capable of being sardonic about that out loud, she's afflicted with the same tension as most everyone else. She's kind of like a female Mat in that regard, though given her unerring visions of the future, she's far more complacent than he is. Even despite that, she's still willing of her own accord to stay with Rand, who she loves, trying to keep him sane (even as his encroaching madness terrifies her).

She's also a decent hand with knives, very friendly with Rand's Far Dareis Mai bodyguards, and an avid reader, and once stared down an Aes Sedai.

She's still better than the rest of the female characters.

I agree. Like I said, Min, Birgitte (who's just cool), and Moiraine (debatable to some, perhaps, but not in my mind). And maybe, maybe Aviendha.

And I still have kind of a soft spot for Nynaeve that even The Shadow Rising and The Fires of Heaven didn't destroy completely. Maybe because of the fact that she finally succeeded at several things, and has had some really awesome moments, but she's still undeservedly going through a ton of crap.

...*sigh* not to mention Egwene has been impressing me for a bit. That drastic piece of stupidity (<color=white>getting captured) at the end of Crossroads of Twlight was easily undone in my mind by her actions in Knife of Dreams.