Wheel of Time, The by Robert Jordan

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Submitted by Shawn
(Jun 05, 2000)

The Wheel of Time series started out as potentialy one of the best series of all times.  The first three books took the main characters and developed like few other series has been able to.  Books four through seven seemed to start to lose track of themselves just a bit.  The fights are poorly written, but the amazing plot developement easily makes up for this one area.  Book eight however is definatley the most disapointing book I've ever read.  I can hardly believe it was included in this series.  To spend so much time on trivial characters that are puffed up with delusions of self grandure and to leave out one of the three most important characters was unforgivable.  I see that book nine is comming to us soon now.  With the potential of this series I will give book nine a try with the hope that Mr. Jordan will get on with the story and quit wasting our time with the witches and bring on the Tavern.  Hopefully Rand will be more tollerable this book as well as he is not even likeable any longer.  The Seanchan is a must to develope out the subplot with Mat, but sheesh talk about boring.  I think there has been too much comparison of Robert Jordan and Tolkien, he is starting to become just as drawn out and boring.  If book nine is not back on track with the story, with Rand, Perrin and Mat having at least as much story time as the meaningless characters, then it will be the last I read.  Unfortunatley, nobody I personally know is even willing to give book nine a try after the terrible book eight.  Mr Jordan, I do so hope that you can make us believe again, as it stands now I'd have as much faith in David Eddings to write a good story.

The best fantasie series out. As good as The Lord Of The Rings. If you pick one up you won't be able to put it down.Can't wait for Winter's Heart to come out since All as good as the last. I suggest it to everyone.

I read only 2 books by Mr Jordan and it's nice, real nice, BUT....i don't agree with all the reviews about it. i mean, it's a good story and the story is very rich but who can compare it to the one and only master, Tolkien?? jordan will never be able to achieve what Tolkien did. in some parts of the book I thought to myself "I can't read this anymore, let's read the Unfinished tales again". The black rider seems a copy of the nazgul (doesn't cross flowing waters? i wonder!) and that's just an example. I found quite a few similarities. I think Jordan stole a ideas from Tolkien. and the way he tales his tale is so dull compare to the master. it just doesn't do IT for me. all of you who love Tolkien and didn't read Jordan yet, you can enjoy him BUT don't have false hope that it's even close to the source.

Today I finished reading tPOD and decided to check out the internet re:  RJ.  I did enjoy tPOD, however, it didn't have as much punch as the the other books - it was much easier to put down.  I'm sure that RJ is going somewhere with Nynaeve, Elayne etc but they took up so much of tPOD I got excited when the next chapter was reserved for someone else.  Where are Mat and Thom?  They seem to be lost!  I hope that tPOD was the calm before the storm and I hope that 2000 is the year for Book Nine!  Having begun reading the series in mid-1999 I wasn't aware of the two year wait between books!!  Anyway, lets hope for a rejuvenated RJ in Book Nine - and a re-incarnated Moiraine or a more prominent Cadsuane.

The first thing I feel I must say is that Jordan and Tolkien are two totally different authors.  Tolkien has a classic style, first learned in England and worked on around the world.  He fought in World War I and held a professorship in one of the most revered academies of learning in the world.  Jordan is an excellent writer with very good credentials.  Does that mean I like Jordan less?  Not at all.  I find his work very appealing and, despite its great length, hope that he continues to write.  It does mean, however, that in terms of literary style and background, neither author has quite the same reasoning, background or message.  If you wish to compare, however, remember that Tolkien did indeed create an entire language for his books.  A written language, and a fully functioning one.  Also, he continued to write until his death at a very old age.  As Jordan has yet to die, I doubt we've seen the full depth and extent of his work, at least in relation to Tolkien's.