The final volume of the Wheel of Time, A Memory of Light

[Limper]

Product Description

Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle, looms. And mankind is not ready.

The final volume of the Wheel of Time, A Memory of Light, was partially written by Robert Jordan before his untimely passing in 2007. Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of the Mistborn books, was chosen by Jordan’s editor---his wife, Harriet McDougal---to complete the final book. The scope and size of the volume was such that it could not be contained in a single book, and so Tor proudly presents The Gathering Storm as the first of three novels that will make up A Memory of Light. This short sequence will complete the struggle against the Shadow, bringing to a close a journey begun almost twenty years ago and marking the conclusion of the Wheel of Time, the preeminent fantasy epic of our era.

In this epic novel, Robert Jordan’s international bestselling series begins its dramatic conclusion. Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, struggles to unite a fractured network of kingdoms and alliances in preparation for the Last Battle. As he attempts to halt the Seanchan encroachment northward---wishing he could form at least a temporary truce with the invaders---his allies watch in terror the shadow that seems to be growing within the heart of the Dragon Reborn himself.

Egwene al’Vere, the Amyrlin Seat of the rebel Aes Sedai, is a captive of the White Tower and subject to the whims of their tyrannical leader. As days tick toward the Seanchan attack she knows is imminent, Egwene works to hold together the disparate factions of Aes Sedai while providing leadership in the face of increasing uncertainty and despair. Her fight will prove the mettle of the Aes Sedai, and her conflict will decide the future of the White Tower---and possibly the world itself.

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

The final book is a trilogy? Even in death the man is wordy.

[Radu]

Is anyone surprised? As long as there are rabidly obsessed fanbois out there clamoring to get one of Jordan's works there's no incentive to be concise.

I started reading the series a long time ago but gave up before I had even finished the first book. My general impression was, "too much detail on completely irrelevant and downright irritating bullshit, too little detail on things that actually matter." I think the breaking point for me was when I read through what seemed like a whole chapter on flora and fauna this guy sees while on a riverboat. I didn't buy a book on the journeys of the fucking RMS Beagle, Mr. Jordan, I bought a fantasy novel! I don't give a shit how rich and realized this world is- I'm not interested in riverside flora and fauna on EARTH, much less a fictional world. Give me enough to paint the picture then move the fuck on.

[PWD]

I'll probably read it out of morbid and horrified fascination at this point. I'm already what, 37 books in?

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

The final book is a trilogy? Even in death the man is wordy.

Couldn't have put it better myself. I've almost expunged all memory of reading the first six and a half books out of my mind.


The fact that the last "book" is a trilogy is so fitting. Not that I am wishing for this at all, but what if Brandon Sanderson died halfway through his work, then another author picks it up and adds yet another book to the final...errr...book.

[Freedom Canadian]

Well, Jordan did say something to the effect that (paraphrasing) "I said there would be 12 books and there will be 12 books even if the twelfth is a 2000 page mastodon."

And 2000 pages is where it sounded it was going.

I guess saner people have said that, no, they would not publish a 2000 book, but three 700 page books instead.

Given all the threads that needed to be resolved yet, it's amazing that the new guy can sort them out in only 3 books.

I'll probably read them at some point. But not before they are all done.

[Limper]

Given all the threads that needed to be resolved yet, it's amazing that the new guy can sort them out in only 3 books.

I'll probably read them at some point. But not before they are all done.

Its easy to wrap up the rogue plot lines... kill characters until its manageable.

[there_is_no_bob]

I'll read the wiki spoilers once it's done, but that's the extent of my interest.

[Snatch]

I'll read the wiki spoilers once it's done, but that's the extent of my interest.

I've read this thread...that's the extent of my interest. :)

[Freedom Canadian]

Its easy to wrap up the rogue plot lines... kill characters until its manageable.

Chapter One - The Great Hang-Wringing Plague

[Hatter]

Those books were infuriating. All the protagonists were so loathsome I wanted them to die, but I didn't want to root for the villains either because they were too stupid to continue existing.

Neat setting though.

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

Chapter One - The Great Hang-Wringing Plague

I think you mean to say "The Great Arm Folding Plague"...or the "The Great Braid Tugging Plague".

[Freedom Canadian]

I think you mean to say "The Great Arm Folding Plague"...or the "The Great Braid Tugging Plague".

Yes. :o

[PWD]

I think you mean to say "The Great Arm Folding Plague"...or the "The Great Braid Tugging Plague".

No love for "The Foot-Stomping Fiasco"?

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

No love for "The Foot-Stomping Fiasco"?

Did you yourself forget "The Great Sniffing Shambles"?

[PWD]

You know, he's laughing at us from beyond the grave, because once, just once, he was gonna have them fold their arms *above* their breasts.

Then we'd have been gobsmacked.

[Ancalagon]

I think I gave up after book 6 - it had a lot of promise, and it got so... annoying...

[Dr. Paragon]

I started reading the series a long time ago but gave up before I had even finished the first book. My general impression was, "too much detail on completely irrelevant and downright irritating bullshit, too little detail on things that actually matter."

I take it you've never read Tolkien then...
If you haven't don't start, you won't like them.

[Ergeheilalt]

I'll probably read them when they're all out.

I made it up to Knife of Dreams or whatever in high school mostly cause I'd read my way through all the other fantasy novels in my local and my high school library.

Brandon Sanderson is an good author. His Mistborn books are top notch and fairly entertaining. That setting is definitely one worth siphoning off ideas. It's very internally consistent and his blog, which sort of like DVD commentary for his book, is a neat insight into the process.

If you're not going to read his Wheel of Time finish-up, I'd suggest checking out his other work.

[Radu]

Oh the contrary, sir, "The Hobbit" is still one of my favorite books. And Lord of the Rings is good, provided you're willing to skim/skip entire segments (songs cough cough). At my first reading I did read every word, being a voracious consumer of print. I've since come to the conclusion that my time is more valuable than that, and if a book doesn't entertain me I stop reading. Simple as that. I have no need to justify my taste to anyone else, nor to live up to expectations of what a "good" book should be. Robert Jordan simply does not entertain me. At all.

[tleilaxu]

WoT is tripe

[Kastil]

OOOooo... I can't wait to read the detail on their meals and the triangle love in.... and.... FUCK! Die, series, DIE ALREADY!

[AZRogue]

A lot of the concepts, while rehashed, were well done I thought. They have traction and resonance, which is probably why some of them are so popular. The perpetual sniffing and braid tugging I might be able to forgive. What I can't forgive is the devotion of so much material, entire books towards the middle-end, devoted to side plots. I mean, what the fuck?

Of course I only read some of them, and not in order, so that might be part of my disdain. If I had started from the beginning and kept up with them, I might be tempted to finish them just to get it over with after having invested so much time. Or maybe not. Either way, there are things in there that are entertaining and worth their ink. There's just, in my opinion, so much other bullshit mixed in that the gems are diffused and lost behind the avalanche of pointlessness.

[obryn]

I gave up after, I think, Book 7 or 8. I have no idea where it is right now, but I take it that up to 11 have been published?

I dunno, it was somewhat generic, but still a fun yarn for a while. It just kind of collapsed under its own weight for a while.

I think what killed it for me was how some character spent - what, like three books? - looking for some damn bowl which I barely remember and never understood the significance of. I don't mind wordy, and I don't mind detailed, but by damn, I want something to happen.

-O

[obryn]

:mad:

Now I'm deeply unsettled. For some reason, I suddenly have a desire to dive in and actually read this blasted thing. Either again, or for the first time for some of the later books.

I blame Wikipedia.

-O

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

It's funny but I ran into the two guys that actually started me, my friend and my wife on this series. I hadn't seen them in years and one of the first things they mentioned was about Jordan and his death and the series and how they're still (re)reading it. It sort of made me sad. For a minute I thought about telling them of "A Song of Ice and Fire", and how much better written it is (despite it's well known delays). But in the end I didn't. They're Jordan zealots, and there's no talking to them about any series being better than WoT.

I understand the need of an author to milk an extra book or two out, after all it's their livelihood and it's a big payday for them. But when it's so blatent it really makes you question the integrity of the author, and I did question Jordan's integrity. Why else would you write a book where, according to numerous Amazon.com reviews, nothing happens (CoT).

[Freedom Canadian]

I don't think Jordan was trying to milk anything. After all, even if he had finished that series and started a new one, it would have sold a lot of copies since he was Robert Fucking Jordan. :D

He did have a huge problem with starting secondary storylines and being unable to end them.

[AZRogue]

I don't think Jordan was trying to milk anything. After all, even if he had finished that series and started a new one, it would have sold a lot of copies since he was Robert Fucking Jordan. :D

He did have a huge problem with starting secondary storylines and being unable to end them.

The dude really loved his own prose. I can't help but think his editors gnashed their teeth a lot. It might hurt to cut and rewrite your own words, but as any Marine author would say, the pain is just weakness leaving the novel.

[Kastil]

It's funny but I ran into the two guys that actually started me, my friend and my wife on this series. I hadn't seen them in years and one of the first things they mentioned was about Jordan and his death and the series and how they're still (re)reading it. It sort of made me sad. For a minute I thought about telling them of "A Song of Ice and Fire", and how much better written it is (despite it's well known delays). But in the end I didn't. They're Jordan zealots, and there's no talking to them about any series being better than WoT.

I understand the need of an author to milk an extra book or two out, after all it's their livelihood and it's a big payday for them. But when it's so blatent it really makes you question the integrity of the author, and I did question Jordan's integrity. Why else would you write a book where, according to numerous Amazon.com reviews, nothing happens (CoT).Yeah.. those reviews were priceless and spot on for book 10. (http://www.amazon.com/Crossroads-Twilight-Wheel-Time-Book/dp/0812571339/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248116838&sr=1-12) Looking at it, I think that's the book I said fuck this shit.

This guy's review is beyond compare: :heh:

Those who can appreciate great setup will really love this book. Personally, I thought the setup in books 8 and 9 were good ... but this was absolutely stupendous. Fans of total plot inertia will be in heaven.

I've grown to hate the character of Rand because whenever he makes an appearance the plot is in danger of moving incrementally forward. Thankfully, Mr. Jordan saves us from any threatening plot developments by keeping Rand almost totally absent from this book. And when he is introduced - briefly - towards the very end, Mr. Jordan quickly whisks him off to the sidelines before anything interesting can happen. Whew! I'm wiping the sweat off my brow becasue that was a close one.

Have you ever wondered how many stripes should be on the dublet of an important dignatary from Illian? How many shawl twitches are appropriate when Aes Sedai negotiate momentous agreements? What kind of stool the general of an Aes Sedai army sits on, and how stable said stool might be? Well buckle up for a wild ride, amigo, because you're going to learn all that (and more!) by the time you've tediously slogged to the conclusion of this book.

Part of what really makes Mr. Jordan's worlds so unique are the wonderful characters which populate them. I like nothing more than to scratch my head in befuddlement as yet another Aes Sedai is reintroduced into the plot whom I can no longer recall. It gives me an excuse to page to the back of the book and open up the 'Robert Jordan Appendix of Useless and Irrelevent Characters' which is always such a joy. I've created my own drinking game based on this called, [...]
For anyone who wants to play along the rules are simple:

1.) Is the character you're looking up totally irrelevent? Take a drink.
2.) Do you have reason to suspect said character will remain totally irrelevent? Take a drink.
3.) Does the character twitch her shawl? Take two drinks.
4.) Is she looking "cross-eyed" at someone? Take a drink.
5.) Do you know the exact design of the embroidery on the fringe of her shawl? Of course you do - take a drink. For your own sanity, consider taking another.

Anyhow, I don't want to pretend everything about this book is negative ... there are a few positives.

First off, Nynaeve is completely ignored. I suspect Mr. Jordan will make up for this oversite by indulging in an orgy of braid-tugging, yellow-shawled action in books 11-16, but you will be blessedly free of it in this tome.

Secondly, Jordan has stopped even pretending to provide "setup" for future books with CoT. Nothing Of Any Signifigance happens - at all - in this novel. Nothing. There's not so much as a cliffhanger. He's no longer bothering to maintain any facade. I appreciate that kind of bold honesty. He's just holding out his hand and saying, "Listen suckers ... we all know you're going to give me your money - so just hand it over. I could personally visit each of your homes and beat it out of you, but isn't this more civilized?". And, yes, I suppose it is more civilized. So I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Jordan for allowing me to voluntarily hand him my hard-earned money rather than forcing him to pummel it out of me in my own house. It is very much appreciated.

I can't wait for Volume 11.

[Vermicious Knid]

I'll probably read it out of morbid and horrified fascination at this point. I'm already what, 37 books in?


Same here.


I will finish the entire bloated atrocity. If I am unthrilled at the end it is roadtrip time...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFl7f_Q3uKM