[Rand Al'Thor]

I have noticed that I am the only person whoes favorite character is Rand why is that???
I loved to hear your reasons!!!!!!!!

[Keyoke]

To be honest, I use to like Rand alot, but, as I dont read the series anymore, hence, their are other characters I like better. =)

Keyoke

[Cellandros]

Rand also use to me my favorite, right up until Matt's character really started to pick up. Now, of all the WoT cast, I'd have to say Matt's my favorite--the dice don't lie http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Ravenlock]

One of the things that I find intersting about this series is that my favorite characters change throughout the story. At some points Rand is my favorite character and other times it is other poeple. The thing about Rand is that he doesn't see to be evolving he changed so quickly and now he has all this power and stress and his character doesn't really have anywhere to go. One thing I've noticed reading this forum is that a lot of people doen't like the women. Personally some of the women at certain times are my favorite characters. One of my favorite aspects of the Rand character/stoy line is the black tower. I think that sometimes Rand can however be a little overbearing and obnoxious. He could use a little humility every once in a while and not think that he is the supreame ruler of the wolrd.

[Dubious one]

I don't know why, but none of the WOT characters faze me all that much. I mean, the books are fabulous and I must admit that I'm rather hooked..but unlike with most of the fantasy series I read, the WOT characters don't really do it for me, except for a passing affection for Loial, but who doesn't have that? After all, he's pretty much a really big version of a cuddly teddy bear, without the hair problem.

You can't really begrudge Rand his frenetic behaviour though. Seeing as how he's about a toenail away from being stark raving mad.
Poor thing.

[wastra]

I'd say I might once have found his character pretty interesting, but not anymore. Rand has become this god-like creature, the most powerful force on the planet, yet his character hasn't developed at all in the last two books. I think Jordan had him develop too quickly in the beginning, and has nowhere else to go with him now until the climax of the story.

[ceros]

I actually think Rand is one of the best characters. He IS probably the most powerful character in the world, but I think he deals with it well enough. After hearing all the prophecies and duties etc. and having them thumped into his head (and ours) he approaches it as more of a duty (which it is) rather than a right. He does what must be done because he doesn't really have a choice and he doesn't really complain about it (not anymore, anyway) .... I think a lot of the negative reactions about Rand is that he just does things without having to convince the audience that it needs to be done (even if it does need to be done).

[Bear]

My problem with Rand, and all of the characters in the WOT for that matter, is that they grew and developed up to a point, then they became stagnant. I really enjoyed Perrin's character in books 3 and 4, but after that I never felt like I got to know him any better. Rand did the same thing after book 5, as did Matt. The women were pretty annoying from the get go, and by the time I reached book six, I was reading to strangle them. But the later books of the series felt stale to me, and a lot of that stemmed from my waning interest in the characters.

At this point, I still haven't bothered to pick up book ten, and I have no idea when I'll get the urge to either. From the reviews I've come across, this new one won't do a damn thing for my complaints with the series, except perhaps amplify them. I fear that Jordan has lost me somewhere along the road.

[milamber_reborn]

There are some great characters in WOT - Rand, Mat, Thom, Juilan, Elayne, Loial, Tuon just to name a few.

Plus I don't dislike other like Egwene like most people do. I could name heaps more, and that's before getting started on the enemies.

[drw]

I think most of us feel the same way. Rand was a really great character for a few books, then his story went stagnant.

Personally I think the problem is rather obviuos. RJ intended this series to be (six?) books long, and paced the characterization for that. However, after the first few books his contract err uhh, story line got longer and he suddenly had to draw the characters out futher. He was too far into the character lines to bring them back to pace with the story line so voila - stale characters.

If you take the characters as they are now, and advance them to nearly the end of the story, you would have several of the most memorable characters in fantasy.

DRW