The Gathering Storm - Wheel of Time Book 12 Official Discussion NO SPOILERS

[Evil Agent]

Originally Posted by Rob B

Well, there is that EA, but that road is littered with corpses, nails, barbed wire, and skunks so let's not travel down it again.

Honestly, though, I was thinking about this the other day. I was in the bookstore, looking at the book for the first time, and a few thoughts crossed my mind:

A) Didn't we see this art posted on here, several months ago, and decide that it was preliminary art and not the final version? I guess we were wrong.

B) The problem with this Darryl K. Sweet art is that every cover looks the same. If I didn't know much about the series, my eye might just skip right over the book without giving it a second thought. It doesn't look like a "new" Wheel of Time book to me.

C) I picked up the book, and it felt strangely light for it's size. Just a random observation, and in no way relevant to this discussion.

Anyways, is it really doing poorly? I'm surprised to hear that.

[PeterWilliam]

Eventually, Sweet cover art gets so bad, it will become vogue.

[kcf]

Tor is backed into a corner with the cover art - they can't change the style now because it won't match the previous books, and that would piss off many more people. The style is stuck in the early 90s - it'll be interesting to see how they approach other long-ranging series in terms of cover art after this experience (such as with Sanderson's Way of the Kings).

I expect that either shortly after or shortly before the publication of AMOL, we'll get an announcement that Tor is re-issuing new editions of the HB books with fresh cover art. They are testing the waters a bit with that now with the cover art for the ebook editions.

[huskylord]

I'm almost halfway through....and think it's a real improvement over the past few novels. The action really picks up, a whole lot less filler.....yes characters still tend to act in their predicatable mannerisms etc, but that's okay.

I'm definitley having a hard time putting this one down.

[raand]

I was amazed at how quickly I finished the book, the flow was really good. I also thought the chapters were a good length and little to no fill.

[Rob B]

And the cover art for the e-Book of Eye of the World is very bland and gives the impression that the book is a pirate novel.

As for series art for long term series, just look at the terrific art for Brandon's Mistborn series - the treatments for both the hardcover and paperback is really nice.

...or the cover treatments for their re-issued Black Company onnibii
...or even the new treatments on the Runelords books - the first books in the series were by Sweet and now they aren't.

[kcf]

the cover art for the ebooks is fan art, so each will be different. I wouldn't be surprised though if Tor is keeping an eye on the reaction each one brings.

Mistborn is a great example of good cover art, but doesn't really apply to long-term series as I was getting at. Mistborn is 3 books that were released over about a 3-year period (it could 2 or 5, but the point remains the same). With WOT we have a 14 book series over a period of 20 years. The time frame is completely different for keeping cover art relative. With Sanderson's Way of the King series we may get a look at how they may deal with this - I think it's looking to be around 10 books over at least a 10-year period, though I'd guess 15.

[Rob B]

Well, I finally got my copy of this book, but I probably won't get to it until sometime next year. I plan on re-reading the entire series before this one maybe one at a time so I'll be primed when Towers of Midnight publishes.

[m0ebody]

I haven't read any of Sanderson's other works, and I commend him on the job he did with this thankless task. I can't imagine the stress having to try to write someone else's story.

But did it never occur to anyone that this IS Robert Jordan's story? I keep reading how bad the few previous books were, and I can't agree more, but this is Robert Jordan's work. Every major plot-line had notes and full chapters were written. Jordan dedicated the remaining months of his life to ensure that the story ended the way he intended. Sanderson didn't do anything phenomenal in the fact that such monumental things occurred in this book. Just as he won't have anything to do with it in the next book. He chose which events happened and how fast for sure, but Jordan wanted this book to be his last.

For sure, nobody really thought he could do it in one final book, but that doesn't change the fact that he would have sped things up too. It was easy to see that he was building up and building up and building up in the previous books. They were slow paced, and it seemed very intentional. Things are happening fast now and I think Jordan wanted it that way.

I'm a little perturbed at how a couple of the main characters personas seemed to be changed dramatically, but overall Sanderson did an amazing job. He has me wishing for the next book to be in my hands right now, just as Jordan was able to do. But give credit where credit is due. Sanderson did a good job where he could only expect mostly ridicule if he didn't get it right, but the story is Jordan's.

[kcf]

As I indicated earlier, I'm more than a bit confused why people seem to think that TGS is selling poorly and that Tor didn't do much promotion for it.

The proof otherwise is pretty clear - it's just been announced that TGS will debut as the NY Time #1 Bestseller. It will be bumping Dan Brown from the number 1 spot.

[SerJaime22]

Well that's great news!

I guess I was wrong about TOR not doing enough to promote the book. Looks like they did a great job of getting the word out. I really didn't think TGS would be able to topple Dan Brown from the #1 spot. Well deserved success for Brandon. He really did a tremendous job with this book.

[Daddy Darth]

Originally Posted by Evil Agent

C) I picked up the book, and it felt strangely light for it's size. Just a random observation, and in no way relevant to this discussion. .

It is so weird you said that. I said the exact same thing when I picked up my copy.

The cover - not so much. Who is the lass - Aviendha. Quite the v-cut there. and what is that blue stuff on her eyes.

Now the actual book. I am just over 100 pages in and I am really enjoying it. I am sipping it like a fine red wine. Maybe I am not an afficianodo but for the most part, and I do mean most part, I would not really be able to tell it was not Jordan himself writing.

But what do I know I am on my 4th Martini this evening.

Cheers good people!

[peepingyoda]

Originally Posted by m0ebody

I haven't read any of Sanderson's other works, and I commend him on the job he did with this thankless task. I can't imagine the stress having to try to write someone else's story.

But did it never occur to anyone that this IS Robert Jordan's story? I keep reading how bad the few previous books were, and I can't agree more, but this is Robert Jordan's work. Every major plot-line had notes and full chapters were written. Jordan dedicated the remaining months of his life to ensure that the story ended the way he intended. Sanderson didn't do anything phenomenal in the fact that such monumental things occurred in this book. Just as he won't have anything to do with it in the next book. He chose which events happened and how fast for sure, but Jordan wanted this book to be his last.

For sure, nobody really thought he could do it in one final book, but that doesn't change the fact that he would have sped things up too. It was easy to see that he was building up and building up and building up in the previous books. They were slow paced, and it seemed very intentional. Things are happening fast now and I think Jordan wanted it that way.

I'm a little perturbed at how a couple of the main characters personas seemed to be changed dramatically, but overall Sanderson did an amazing job. He has me wishing for the next book to be in my hands right now, just as Jordan was able to do. But give credit where credit is due. Sanderson did a good job where he could only expect mostly ridicule if he didn't get it right, but the story is Jordan's.

Sure, Jordan is a master plot weaver and world builder, but I've enjoyed Sanderson's characters from his novels a bit more. I was pleased that a few character made a quantum leap in maturity. 11 books into the story and several character still seemed incredibly dense, or at least incredibly ignorant of other characters feelings, motives, etc. Most of the characters thought and actions from TGS were plausible for rational adults. I really think we really got the best from both worlds in this novel.

[ChrisW]

As I indicated earlier, I'm more than a bit confused why people seem to think that TGS is selling poorly and that Tor didn't do much promotion for it.

Well I was basing my view on amazon sales which seem to be less than the previous books(before the recall). I'm glad to see it is debuting at #1 but they doesn't mean it's selling aswell as previous books. As for online promotion I don't see much difference from what they did with the last two books.

kcf what was the signing like? Lots of people?

[m0ebody]

Originally Posted by peepingyoda

Sure, Jordan is a master plot weaver and world builder, but I've enjoyed Sanderson's characters from his novels a bit more. I was pleased that a few character made a quantum leap in maturity. 11 books into the story and several character still seemed incredibly dense, or at least incredibly ignorant of other characters feelings, motives, etc. Most of the characters thought and actions from TGS were plausible for rational adults. I really think we really got the best from both worlds in this novel.

Some of that ignorance was well plotted. I just read the books again and I was amazed at how much Jordan kept track of. Most of the ignorance you speak of is probably because that character hasn't been around the other character for very long. I don't think many of Jordan's characters were dense. Maybe misunderstood