[Alucard]

It's been about a year since I've read this, but I was wondering how everyone else felt about this book. I must say, although I have my gripes with the man, I like jordan's story and I like his characters. But I also must say, the eye of the world almost made me drop the series. I thought the book was terribly paced, not very well written, and about half of it hardly seemed necessary. Then, to top it off, the ending was strangely rushed, which felt even more exagerated because of the generally slow pace of the rest of the novel. Not to say that the book had no redeeming qualities, I really liked some of the ideas, but I honestly didn't think I could stomach eight more books in the same fashion. In fact, the only reason I kept on reading is because I had bought the first two books at the same time, and since I didn't have anything else to read at the time, I started the great hunt. The second book was a vast improvement over the last, and I liked the third better than the second, and the fourth better than the third (though the train stopped there. The fourth was my favorite). So in the end, I'm glad I stuck with it, but if I hadn't bought that second book, the series would have more than likely ended on the first book with me.

So I was wondering, what did you all think of this first installment?

[matthewajg]

Jordan's WHEEL OF TIME series ranks among my favorite works of fantasy. His ability as a storyteller is spellbinding, his characters rich and palpable, his imagery evocative and vivid. HOWEVER, after reading the first one hundred pages of THE EYE OF THE WORLD, I almost gave up on the series before it ever got started.. In 1994, I attempted to read this book, and found it such a morass of muddled style, slow action and uninspired dialogue that I actually stopped reading it and put it aside for two years. Only at the insistence of a friend, did I pick up the book and attempt to re-read it. I still found the first hundred pages dreadful, a sure cure for insomnia...put I plodded through it, only to find myself at the end (which did seem terribly rushed after moving at 'molasses' speed for the previous hundreds of pages) wanting more. In the subsequent books, I found myself in love with Jordan's world and his writing. His books, although very lengthy and sodden with description, read easily. His world and characters have inspired a whole new generation of fantasy readers, who either were intimidated or bored by the heightened language of Tolkein. Jordan's books are ripe with intrigue, romance, action, drama, mystery and epic fantasy at its best....the EYE OF THE WORLD was a shaky start. But I thank my friend whenever I see him for insisting I read it again. Otherwise I would have missed the joys of reading the further installments in the WHEEL OF TIME series.

[Bond]

I agree wholeheartedly with the two previous posts. Eye of the World is one of the bad books in the WoT series. I feel sorry for those who stopped reading Jordan based solely on this work and there are some--mundanemies I take it is one.

Well maybe I shouldn't feel too sorry for them. They can come back later and get the whole dose all at once without the wait. Here I am left hanging with no end in sight. Still Eye of the World resembles more Jordan's later slow books in the series than his best efforts which are just above and beyond most things I've read. Anyone who didn't continue with the series because of this book EotW must be told.

[This message has been edited by Bond (edited December 10, 2001).]

[mundanemies]

If one day, be it before the world ends or I die, Jordan will finish his mammoth of a series I promise I'll give it a second chance and read the whole thing. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif OK Bond?

I don't remember how I put my words in the earlier postings, but the main reason for me not to read more of Jordan was and is my unwillingness to read series that aren't finished. I don't like to be left hanging about.
Though I must say that The Eye of the World wasn't too gripping either, so I didn't felt too betrayed way back then. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[jbcohen]

I must say that some authors get better as they keep going along. I bet that this is also true of Jordan as well. I must be honest it has taken me several readings to get interested in his novels but I think that I have finnally managed to get interested in the novels. Although I agree that his sucessive novels are better than the ones that came before there is one bit of critisism I would venture to Jordan himself if I ever met him. He has a very large number of characters that tend to be a bit hard to keep track of. He has something like fiffty characters each doing different things in his novels. Although I do agree that these are great novels he really should thin the field a bit.

[ookey]

This book was my first experience with the genre of fantasy. For this reason, I have good memories of this book in particular; however, if this had not been the case The Eye of the World would probably not stand out.
One portion of this book that I still think is noteworthy though is the way in which Jordan grabs the reader's attention. The suspense builds slowly and all of a sudden you are hooked. I do agree that the ending seems rushed. Thinking back, I remember asking myself who was it that died at the Eye of the World and how. An okay book in my opinion but not near as good as the next three in the series.

[jbcohen]

ookey - my recommendations to get you hooked on the genre are:

1) R K Rowling's smash hit Harry Potter
2) Dragon Lance Chronicles

Anyone else want to venture recommendations to get him hooked on the genre?

[Sammie]

It's not what i read now, but what got me hooked was Eddings - followed in quick sucession by McCaffrey to seal the deal!

[jbcohen]

Eddings? I did not care much for eddings. Which title by him did you read first? Perhaps I read the wrong one, or perhaps I need to reread the novel. I started to read a title called Guardians of the West.

[jbcohen]

Don't mean to hijack this discussion but I have a Robert Jordan question and this appeared like an appropriate place to ask. Where does Robert Jordan come up with the names for his books? I can see where the first four came from but the next four?