[Cellandros]

I started out loving this series, it instantly went to my 'honored books' shelf. Sure there were some slow points in books 3 and 4 as I read them but I'm patient.

Then, the outstanding book 6, Lord of Chaos, came out, and I thought for sure, this would go down in my history as the greatest. The last two installments though, have left me with a sour taste in my mouth.

First off, since I've caught up with Jordan, and now have a two year break between reading the novels, I find that I simply can't keep all the characters or plots straight, and I certainly don't have the time to reread the entire series each time a new book comes out (way too many other good books out there). Couple that with the fact that nothing has really happened in the last two make me wonder -- has Jordan lost it? Does he know where he's going? Did all the little plotlines get crosswired so much that he's written himself into a trap ( Ding! that's what i think has happened).

Hopefully he can get things going again in the upcoming installment. It really is a good story, but its hurting right now. I will certainly still read them, and hope that Jordan will prove alot of us skeptics wrong.

The big thing that concerns me is that alot of people I know (myself included) keep thinking the end is going to be this huge dramatic satisfying ending where things are wrapped up, and questions answered. Problem is, while attending one of his discussion panels at a convention, he made a point of saying that everything will not be wrapped up at the end of the series. That alot of questions won't be answered. Could be we're in for a big dissapointment.

[Nikoli]

I also like Cellandros have an 'Honored Books' shelf. After I had finished book 1 of WOT it went straight there. I am only reading book 5 at the moment, but have not lost interest at all. And unlike others, I find the women intriguing, and very likeable. All everyone has done is made me want to read faster, to find out what you all are talking about.

[Liselle]

HI all!
I only red the first WOT book, but now I know that I must read the others, too. My only problem is, that I am a German girl, but I've heard, that the translater is not very good... can anybody tell me something about it, please? Thanx, Liselle

[dura]

Hi Liselle,

I am dutch, so I know your problem. My advice is to read the English versions if you can. You might need some perseverance at first, but I find it is worth it. I was lucky though, all my studybooks were Enlish so I had to learn to read English.
A lot gets lost in translation, and (in Holland) books are twice as big and twice as expensive as English paperbacks.

[Liselle]

Hi Dura!
Yes, I think to read the English version is the best solution, also because for me the author's style is very important. I managed to read the first book, and so I will manage the others, too, I hope!
Liselle

[kestra]

I am surprised to see so many fans move to past-fans based on POD. I think the story is completely consistent, but I would suggest there was some harsh editing done to what someone thought was too long or too detailed. Unfortunate! Jordan's talent is in the detail. Some of the jerky dialogue and events where I had to reread sections to make sense of who said what seems to say "editting" rather than writing. I hope whoever it may have been has learned the lesson of the fan-critic and returned to leaving creation to its own format.

[Elric]

Personally I think the WOT is a fabulous series. The characters are intricate, believable, likable and different in their own subtle ways.

The fact Rand/Mat/Perrin are all a little bit too-goody-goody is a little annoying. Maybe it is the company I keep, but no one is this cosistently 'nice'...are they?

As for the women, heck who know's how they tick..can't blame a (male) writer for writing female characters as he experiences them in life. They are the most 'human' female characters I've read in a fantasy story. Usually, in the genre, they are absurdly bitchy or they are doe-eyed, chaste objects-de-quest. Writing from a first person perspective for the opposite gender must be quite harrowing (or arrogant) but I think he's pulled it off quite well.

I may be wrong, but Jordan does appear to be dragging out the saga. I don't care. Even during the dullest part of the books I have been unable to put the books down. I suspect the bits I find 'dull' are just part of a particular sub-plot I am not particularly interested in. Such a complex saga with interwoven plots is bound to have aspects that appeal to some and not others. I can live with that.

[wastra]

Early on in the writing of the WoT series, Jordan mentioned in an on-line chat room that he wanted to go over 10 books from the start in order to surpass the longest single series to date (which I believe he said was 10 books by L. Ron Hubabrd). Simply put, he's not stretching it out for money, but for pride.

I don't really have a problem with that idea, but I think he's gotten carried away. It's time to start at least moving toward SOME kind of resolution. It's still one of the top series out there so fa, but it has definately started to ramble a bit.

Personally, I think Path of Daggers was a great step in bringing the series together so that it can be ended at some point in the future. I can't wait to see if he takes the series and runs wit hit from here on out.

[Ravenlock]

I think it is interesting that everyone loved EotW so much. I bought it in hardback because my friend said that I would love it and then I didn't so I decided not to buy the rest, but just get them from the library. It took me like three or four months to read the first one, but then I read the rest of them in less than a week each. I've really enjoyed the rest of the series. I even like the first one better now that I'm reading a second time. There is so much stuff in the first one that you don't get the first time because you don't know anything about the poeples and places yet. I did like PoD I just thought it was too short and really annoying that he just cut the ending off like that and is making us wait for the next book.

[Cellandros]

Lol, if RJ started out with the goal of at least 10 books because he wanted to beat the 'Mission Earth' dekology by Hubbard; in terms of quality, he beat Hubbard's series by the end of the first chapter in EotW.

The thing frustrates me about WoT is I want the series to end, so RJ could move on to something else. I'm really curious to see what his next will be like. I was at a convention a few years ago when he was a guest, and he gave a little run-down on one idea that he like for a new series, and it sounded alot more interesting than WoT, which really got me excited about it. Sad thing is, I really have to question whether he will get around to doing it.