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Submitted by Max 
(Dec 08, 2007)

I rarely write reviews, but for this series I feel an obligation to do so. I give the series a 2 out of 5 rating due to the first few good books.

After a dazzling start the start this series is creaking to a near standstill, which I am afraid will end either in form of a rushed last battle book by his hand or possible the writer dying of old age in his "white tower" and his son finishing the series for him (just to wring a few more coins out of the series).

I started the series in 1995 with "the eye of the world" (where amazingly 2 of the "baddies" die before being freed) and therefore expected a nice rhythm and a series that would end in 7 to 9 books. I wasn't disappointed by the next 3 to 4 books as the plot develops at a good speed and you can see how this world is preparing for the final battle. The characters (however juvenile they might be) are fantastic to read about and you'll simply love them every step of their journey waiting with eagerness for the next book.
But then it happens, books 5 to 8 where the story development starts getting slower (SPOILER some of the enemies henchmen you thought gone for good - they apparently die - even manage to come back, so what is the sense in defeating them???) and start to leave you without the feeling of actually having ended the book as there is no actual conclusion of the story-arc followed here (reminds me more of tv-soaps end their episodes rather than how a book should end). And then the disastrous books 9 to 11 where things come to a standstill, I actually just skimmed through these books as not much seem to happen in them and these books finally forced me to give up the series with disgust.

Judging by the number of side stories and other factions rising up in the story it is clear another 3 (slightly rushed) 800 page books will be necessary to end the series properly. But I for myself couldn't even bring myself to read the last few books that were published (winters heart - knife of dreams) as still nothing seemed to happen in the preparation for the last battle nor in the development of the initial main characters and their respective relationships, instead a host of new characters are introduced and explored. In this respect I have the feeling RJ is like a child who gets bored with his old toys and longs for and gets new toys to play with, while the old toys are just taken out to be dusted off or act as side characters in a game with the new toys.

I and feel a bit sorry that due to my frustration (waiting longer and longer for the next installment - first 3 books were on sale within 2 years I think, whereas it almost took 2 years for the last book - just to be disappointed)and my inability to see when this series will ever end I will probably never finish the series. I just suggest that maybe people should stop buying the books and just borrow them in the library or buy them second hand so that RJ and TOR will finally see that their milk cow is getting too old and ready for the slaughterhouse and decide to end the series (I doubt any self respecting author would leave a series un-ended). At least then the new fans (and maybe some old fans also) will have the courage to wrestle through the "filler books" (for that is what they are) to reach the end of the series.

The wheel of time series is great, you just have to adjust to the different tempos of the books. First off just because a book does not have a finite ending and little action does not mean it is a bad book. This is a series he is writing not 11+ stand alone books that are sequels of the characters. All of the books lead to one event, Taimon Gaidon. The movements and side plots all lead up to this. To judge one of the books because it had little action is just like taking a few down chapters out of a standalone book. You can't do it. So although I did like the early books better, the latter books were still great because it always kept me excited about the next one and ultimatly the final one!

I acually rather liked the books. At first I began reading and was like, "no way" I am 14, so yeah, I couldn't get into the book. Then I had nothing left to read and began to read it once more, I then started to get into the books and liked them alot. I read 1 every 3 days or so. I liked them alot. I too was very upset when I had read them all. I truely can't wait for the next one to come out. I really enjoyed them.

First, let me state that I have read all of the Wheel of Time books currently published, including the prequel novel New Spring.

Overall, the series is not bad. It is a bit on the long side, and the books tend towards being 'doorstoppers', with the page numbers usually over 800. However, it does have a series of problems:

1. The plot. To some extent, difficulties with the plot can not be helped, since the story changes its 'meta-direction' twice. You can see it in the novels.

For example, Eye of the World was fundamentally a quest novel for the main protagonists. The goal was to move forward to a goal deep in the dark lands, and while they were tempted and pursued by monsters and monstrous men, they reached the goal and ended the quest. However, The Great Hunt changed the overall nature of the series, from a 'quest' to a 'journey' novel, where the characters go about their separate ways, some with goals in mind, some without. The transition would be difficult for any author, and it certainly appears rough (at least in my opinion) in The Great Hunt.

If that were not enough, the 'meta-direction' changes again with Book Five, arguably. Now the characters are mostly in positions where they are now vying for power, so the series becomes largely a series about political scheming and manuvering while all the forces attempt to expand themselves and weaken their foes. Again, the transition is rough, and this time, Jordan seems to fail. Most of the political sub-plots and plots of the later book appear either over-extended, or unnecessary (particularly Perrin's major arc in the latest 4 books). It doesn't help that along with these are a number of unnecessary sideplots to the completion of the story.

2. The characters. I'll be brief, here, since others have covered this. Simply put, the characters seem to stop growing in the later books, particularly in maturity. Remember that nearly all of the major characters were farm children in the backwoods of the world, who are now in positions of authority for some time. While immaturity might have been expected earlier on, it's quite tedious now. Add on to that Jordan's penchant for expanding a vast number of minor characters, and it means that a lot of the novels seem to make little or no progress, and contribute little aside from a few things.

3. Prose. Aside from the infamous braid-yanking, Jordan is notorious for a number of other repeats. This is throughout the series; early on in Eye of the World, the main male characters say and think variations on "Never trust an Aes Sedai" phrasing dozens of times each. Although perhaps of few of these would be in order, dozens of them merely tires the reader.

This is now my third or fourth attempt at completing the Wheel of Time series. I think I have lost count...though this time I did make it to the halfway point of Lord of Chaos.

The first four books are stellar, no question about it. After that, the series takes a dramatic downward spiral. I swear Jordan must get paid by the word..there is simply too much detail, too many minor characters, too many meaningless sub-plots that never go anywhere, just TOO MUCH.

That's not my biggest complaint, however. Those things I could deal with. What I cannot tolerate are the immature, simpering, juvenile creatures that are Jordan's female characters. If I read about one more sniff, or pulling of a braid, I will scream. COME ON people, you're telling me that these women have such power yet they can't GROW UP?! No matter who you are, if you're trapped in a dungeon somewhere and some of those HORRIBLE MEN rescue you, then you're going to be thankful. At this point I WANT Nynaeve, Egwene, and Aviendha to die slow, horrible deaths, because that's exactly what they deserve. I officially give up on this series.

My advice:

Stick with Tolkien.