I am heavily interested in computers, software and information technology. Ok I admit it, I'm gadget...
I am heavily interested in computers, software and information technology. Ok I admit it, I'm gadget mad! I try to write honest opinions and sometimes they might be over technical, but thats the nature of computers.
Member since:28.09.2000
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I've loved fantasy novels since I read The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King, in the early eighties. From that one book I have now collected nearly two hundred fantasy novels of which I rate Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series one of the best, easily bettering Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
The Wheel of Time consists of nine novels at present (the rumour is that it will finish at thirteen).
Book 1 - The Eye of the World - 1990 Book 2 - The Great Hunt - 1990 Book 3 - The Dragon Reborn - 1991 Book 4 - The Shadow Rising - 1992 Book 5 - The Fires of Heaven - 1993 Book 6 - Lord of Chaos - 1994 Book 7 - A Crown of Swords - 1996 Book 8 - The Path of Daggers - 1998 Book 9 - Winter's Heart - 2000
The books are originally published in the US by Tor books and by Orbit in the UK.
The series starts in a little place called the Two Rivers where we are introduced to five of the central characters - Rand, Matrim, Perrin, Nynaeve and Egwene. Other central characters (including Elayne, Min, Aviendha) are intoduced later, usually upon introduction to the other five.
Rand, Matrim and Perrin are what is known as ta'veren (focal points of history) by the Aes Sedai (female users of the One Power - magic). The One power has a female side (saidar) and a male side (saidin), but the male side has been corrupted by evil's taint and prolonged use drives men insane. Nynaeve and Egwene are found by the Aes Sedai to be strong in the One Power and are taken to be trained in the home of the Aes Sedai - Tar Valon. Any men found using the One Power are 'stilled' (cut off from the source of the power) by the Red Ajah (a sect of Aes Sedai dedicated to finding and capturing men who can use the One power (channel). The problem is that prophecy says that a man who can channel will be needed to face the Dark One at the final battle. He will be the Dragon Reborn (the first Dragon was called Lews Therin and he literally broke the world when he fought the Dark One first time around)
From this humble beginning is woven an incredibly detailed narrative. From book one to book five it rushes along, enthralling the reader. It has to be said that books six, seven and eight do slow down a lot but the pace returns with book nine. It is difficult enough to give an opinion on one book, without spoiling it and to give an opinion on an entire series is even more difficult.
Robert Jordan describes the world on which the Wheel of Time is focussed, in very rich detail. Different cultures, politics and races are explored, making the world seem very real. His description of the characters is also just as good. You get so involved with the books that you genuinely care about the characters and can visualize the scenes in which they find themselves.
As with most fantasy novels the story is about the battle between good and evil, in this case the good being called the Dragon and the bad the Dark One. The difference is that the battle has already been fought before and for good to triumph, the world was broken and peoples scattered. It's always at the back of your mind that this could happen again, and that although good might triumph the cost will be phenomenal.
I cannot fully describe the depth and scope of this series. It could quite literally run and run, going as high as twenty books, because of the multiple plot lines that run through the series. If you've read anything by Feist, Eddings, Brooks, Gemmell or Goodkind and haven't read any of the Wheel of Time books then read them. While Jordan writes in a different style to any of the other fantasy authors, it is seldom boring and ultimately more fulfilling. If you've never read a fantasy book and want to know where to start, then there isn't a better place really.
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good books, although he has copied Tolken way too much....and has stretched out the story for too long. i have heard he plans to stop after the 12th book, out in 2007
034keb 04.08.2006 19:41
A good review but I have not read this series of books so I don't know the comparison to the Lord of the Rings.
cool_bob 22.06.2001 00:21
good op. Ive read the first 8 books (was gonna get the 9th, but i saw a review title that gave away the plot which i was pretty...annoyed, lets say, about). It's definitely a very good series. i agree, probably better than LOTR, but its getting to the point now, where im reading the books out of loyalty, im kinda hoping RJ will get round to finishing to story before he dies!! - **cool_bob**
Advantages: Extremely detailed, interesting storyline, lots to read. Disadvantages: Very, very long, delay between books, occasional unrealistic portraels of characters and similarities of others.
Advantages: Excellent guide to the history and geography of the 'Wheel of Time', Adds to the knowledge of the books Disadvantages: Poor illustrations, Not for those who haven't read the novels
Advantages: The characters are wonderfully written, by the end of the book they're friends. Disadvantages: It's a lenghty book.. you have to have the time to really enjoy it.
Mar 10th, 2001
(May 12th, 2001)
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