Paul’s Blog

For those who have ever talked about books (especially fantasy novels) with me, they know that Robert Jordan’s (and now Brandon Sanderson’s) Wheel of Time series is my favorite of all time. Though the series is immense, it is in scope, story telling, characterization, world-building, and a host of other things an immense accomplishment. Its tragic that Robert Jordan passed away before finishing it, but his wife & editor Harriet McDougal couldn’t have picked a better author to finish than Brandon Sanderson.

As of January 2010, a site I’ve started to frequent, BookLoveAffair.com, has begun a discussion of the books, starting with the first book, The Eye of the World. I’m going to put their questions, as well as my answers to their questions here as part of the discussion.

The discussion is at: http://www.bookloveaffair.com/2010/01/review-discussion-robert-jordan.html

I didn’t really see the parallels to LotR until later on. I read that trilogy first when I was too young to really appreciate it. I had the somewhat backwards experience of rereading LotR when I was in my early twenties and seeing the parallels (though knowing it was Jordan emulating or giving homage to Tolkein).

1) What do you think of the women in EotW? Which do you view as the strongest?
I liked the women a lot in EotW, but there was a long stretch in later books that I really found them annoying. This wasn’t the case in EotW. I loved Nynaeve’s strength and concern, even at a relatively young age. She had so much responsibility and didn’t back down even when confronting Moiraine. The series shows her starting with confidence, almost too much in herself, losing some of that and getting too insecure, and eventually turning confident without being overconfident or haughty.

Egwene’s simple fascination with her ability with the one power, and seeming childlike innocence made her transformation over the series the most stark among the main female characters. Elayne I didn’t really care for though it took until the later books for her to actively annoy me.

In general though – perhaps because it was the first book but the ‘we’re always right, men are always wrong’ attitude of Nynaeve and to a lesser extent Egwene did catch up to me later but in the first book it didn’t bother me much. Partially because the men did do some pretty stupid things at times (like Rand’s reaction to Egwene wanting to learn to channel).

2) Of the three young men (Perrin, Mat, and Rand) which are you most predisposed to like/dislike?
As for the men, I will start off saying I’ve never been terribly interested in, nor cared much for Perrin. I felt this when I first read EotW and I still feel it now at the (nearly) end of the series.

Rand I’ve always seen as my favorite character. I felt that his relationship with his father was the strongest (at least as it was portrayed) than any other Emonds Fielder and their family. This makes it doubly harder for him to both leave, and face the possibility that Tam isn’t really his father. Mat I enjoyed but he didn’t really become one of my favorites until Shadow Rising. The changes that happened to him after taking the dagger from Shadar Logoth showed the power of that place, but even with that he still always was there for Rand. Without that strength of character the dagger’s evil would have kept him from staying with and helping Rand.

3) What do you think of the role of fate/free choice in EotW?
In terms of fate & free choice in EotW I don’t think it is as much of an issue as in later books. This isn’t Sophocles or other greek tragedies where everything is predestined. Much of the prophecies are clearly meant to be one thing and they don’t turn out exactly as the characters believe. The main characters have every ability to do what they want, but they are choosing to do what they believe has to be done (whether it means fleeing Emonds Field to save their families and friends, or going to the Eye of the World in the Great Blight.

4) Did the end work for you? Did you immediately want to pick up The Great Hunt or were you ready for a break?
I IMMEDIATELY picked up the next book (though I had the advantage of having books 1-5 purchased all together from the Sci Fi book club. I remember the wait for book 7 (after rushing through 1-6 in 1994/95) being an INCREDIBLY long wait – especially for a then 16/17 year old.

5) What was your favorite scene and why?
My favorite scene(s) (can’t pick just one) was Rand’s flight from the farmhouse with an ailing Tam, and when Aginor & Balthamel confronted the heroes at the Eye. Both for completely different reasons (one for emotion, one for pure action and anticipation of what will happen).