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New Wheel of Time Book — Chapter One Online, Released Oct 27
Tor Books has made the first chapter of the latest Wheel of Time book available to readers for free via their website. This is the first book to have work from Robert Jordan's replacement, Brandon Sanderson, since Jordan died in September of 2007. The Gathering Storm is complete and will be released on October 27th of this year. In addition, the prologue to this book will be available in e-book format on October 17th for $2.99. The whole of the Wheel of Time series will also be released as e-books with several of the books receiving new cover art as well.
Update: 09/07 23:42 GMT by KD : Reader Daniel Benamy points out that the correct release date for the prologue e-book is September 17.
Update: 09/07 23:42 GMT by KD : Reader Daniel Benamy points out that the correct release date for the prologue e-book is September 17.
It might even make sense, but Jordan was just about the shittiest successful author I ever read.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
to download this book if they followed Jordan's writing style. The first chapter alone will contain so many electrons the internet itself will become unbalanced. Seriously, I swear he was paid by the pound for how much his books weighed. Long, flowery descriptions of clothing, scenery, hell, the crust on the underside of a chamber pot in the thirteenth bathroom of the summer home of the ice king's third cousin's dog. The series ought to come with a Wheel-barrow of time to avoid slipping a disc. Still, as long as there are trees left to kill and money to be earned the series will "be continued."
www.voiceofthehive.com - Beekeeping and Honeybees for those who don't.
Not really...
Robert Jordan pretty much up and died in the middle of finishing his last book In Memory of Light. Leaving his family, publisher, and fans pretty much hanging. The recently got Brandon Sanderson to finish up the work; a very good author btw (see Elantris and the Mistborn series) who pretty much churned out part 1 of 3 in a year off of Jordan's notes. He was originally contracted to do 1 book but found it impossible due to how many threads were left open. I for one, am happy to see a good author finishing up this series in the original author's spirit (and with his family's blessing). So, as a fan I have to say fuck you for trolling.
Sanderson's said it's going to be three volumes, because Tor didn't want to print it in one large volume, and there was already an agreement to publish by the end of this year, and he hadn't finished it all anyway.
T
Laws are horrible moral guides, moral guides make even worse laws.
What makes you think that? According to the article, the new author was selected by Robert Jordan's widow.
I think it is one of the most difficult jobs in the world to finish a bestseller series. You can almost never do it right. You are always "not the original author" and therefore second best or worse. I certainly hope that Mr Jordan left enough notes for the series to be finished in a consistent state. I think it takes a lot of courage to take up this task.
Oh. And I am grateful that I will know how the story further develops!
Nae king! Nae laird! Nae yurrupiean pressedent! We willna be fooled again!
No wait, that's not right...
I read the first 3 or 4 books thinking "This just has to start getting cool soon. It's got too much cool potential not to".
Silly me.
I think the only reason the later volumes even sold was because people didn't want to admit to themselves that they'd been persuaded to waste the time and money on the earlier ones.
Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
That's one take on it. The other is to give the faithful readers of the series a much needed conclusion to a story. When Wheel was introduced, it was touted as book 1 of a 9 part series. The first few books were fantastic. Then Jordan decided to stretch out the series so as not to kill his money maker. Book 13 came and went with no conclusion to the story in sight, and Jordan seemed to be milking descriptions of everything in his world for all they were worth in order to extend the series. Unfortunately, he then became ill and died. It's a tragedy for his family. But it's also a loss to millions of fans of his who are left with a story they have invested a lot of time and money in, with no conclusion or closure. I, as a reader, would welcome a competent author, going by Jordan's writing and notes, completing the series.
Except that unlike Brian Herbert, the only actual story that Christopher Tolkien wrote was the chapter in the Silmarillion was The Fall of Doriath, because his father had only in fact written one version of that story, but in the earliest phase of the mythology, and it was entirely incompatible with the later variants. The entire History of Middle Earth series is JRRT's own writings, with Christopher Tolkien's essays and notes trying to clarify and relate various versions of his father's ever changing and rarely completed versions of the Silmarillion. CJRT apparently regretted his interference, though, after having read the History of Middle Earth series, the only alternative to rewriting the chapter was not to have released a published version of the Silmarillion.
I wish Brian Herbert would have just released the notes that his father had written about the Dune backstory and the sequel to the final Dune books. Instead he released just awfully-written trash (Brian Herbert ain't no Frank Herbert).
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
Here's Sanderson's post on why he split the book into 3 parts: http://www.brandonsanderson.com/article/56/Splitting-AMOL
This is not whoredom, this is blessed relief. I gave up on the series when I realized that the book I'd just read took 700 pages to get through... 45 minutes of real time? Or maybe it was a day, it's all lost in haze.
But anyone who's stuck to the series through however godawful books there are /needs/ an ending. They deserve an ending. I can't fault Tor here at all, they've done what they could.
I also don't envy Brandon Sanderson, having to slog through all of Jordan's books and notes and trying to make sense of it all and knowing it's probably a thankless job and the fans are going to hate you anyhow. The irony here is that Sanderson may be able to pull off something that Jordan himself would never have been able to pull off - actually ending the thing. You could see the Wheel of Time books as Zeno's Paradox in action. If with each book you only go half as far because you're cramming in twice as much detail, you will never reach the end. And I'm not sure Jordan ever would have been able to.
Realism?
Just kidding. Mostly.
It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
The author of the new Wheel of Time Book rules. He is a fairly new author, but has some awesome books. They are some of the best epic fantasy books I've ever read. I highly suggest you read Elantris (http://www.brandonsanderson.com/book/Elantris) or Mistborn (http://www.brandonsanderson.com/book/Mistborn).
I just look on the bright side - at least the new author will actually finish the series
You can say a lot about Jordan, both good and bad (my wife likes the series, I wouldn't have read it if it wasn't in the house already), but the man did not know how to finish a story. I suspect he would have died with the series unfinished, whether he died now or 50 years from now.
Rainforest destruction legend Robert Jordan has successfully evaded paying off the advance on what was originally a four-page satire of ridiculous fantasy cliches, The Wheel of Time.
The epic originated as a piece of semi-amusing cubemail circulating on a private mailing list for writers bored with their day jobs. "But I just kept adding and adding to it," Jordan confessed years later. "Then someone snuck it into an Eye Of Argon reading session. And the idio-- I mean, tasteful and discerning consumers of science fiction and fantasy loved it! They couldn't get enough of it! Certainly more than I could be bothered with, anyway. If only I could find the Caribbean island Elvis, Jimi, Janis and Kurt are hiding out on ..."
The process of writing was reflected in the work. "You get long, stringy drips of various elements. All recycled. Then you weave them together. We thought of using a wiki, but people kept putting Pokemons in. 'My Pokemans, let me show you them.' Idjits."
Plaudits came in from fellow fantasy writers around the globe. "I always found plot and characterisation overrated," said master fantasist J.R.R. Tolkein. "They only get in the way of exploring a really interesting constructed language. The more demanding sort of reader can be so very tiresome at times."
"Bugger," said David Eddings, frantically casting his eyes about for fresh sources.
"Who are you, and where did you get this number?" said Neil Gaiman.
Readers will be over the moon to learn that Kevin J. Anderson has contracted to finish the series in a suitable manner. "I figure there's another twenty, thirty books needed to finish it properly. Lotta unanswered questions, yeah. I should have 'em done by next week."
Woolheaded shepherds the world over fold their arms beneath their breasts, tug at their braids, smooth their skirts and bow their heads today, and remember Jordan's wise words:
Illustration: Robert Jordan silenced at last.
http://rocknerd.co.uk
A quick survey of the comments so far paints an overwhelmingly negative picture for the series...
I just wanted to point out, as a life long fan of this series, that there IS a reason every book the series has appeared on the New York Times best-seller list, and most of them have been #1 when they first come out.
If you'd actually read the series you'd know that it is nothing like Dune, those books had a clear ending, wheel of time basically left the whole series one or two books away from the climax. The people that have read the 13 books would really like to see some kind of finish line even if it isn't Jordan's.
I don't know what the problem is. Something happens almost every 200 pages.
My experience was similar, but somewhat different. I actually really enjoyed the first three or four books, but after that it just started to drag. He'd introduce new character after new character and then spend hundreds of pages trying (and usually failing) to make me give a damn about them. Then, from that point on, you'd have yet another interruption to the main story line to deal with before you ever got back to it.
I quit somewhere around book six. It just got to be too much. The fact that there has since been *five* more books and they're still not done, with these last three still on the ledger, convinces me I was right to do that. In fact, the fact that Sanderson couldn't even wrap up all these damn sub-characters' plots in one book is telling enough that Jordan never stopped that nonsense and got to the point.
Still, I dragged myself through at least one book or so before I just couldn't take it anymore, and you're right about the reason: When books weigh in at 700-1000 pages and you're already 4-5 deep, there's a powerful incentive to keep plodding along to the end.
On a semi-related note, Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy I found to be very good. They picked a good author to continue the work, and if not for all this Wheel of Time stuff I probably wouldn't have found him. So I guess some good came of it at least.
I'm tugging it.
I don't understand, if you skip all the text referring to someone "smoothing out her split riding skirt" you could have probably saved a couple of volumes.
Melvin [Jack Nicholson] from As Good As It Gets
Anyone who loves or hates any language, platform, or manufacturer, doesn't know what they're talking about.
You had possibilities until the phrase "...to finish the series." No true WoT acolyte would ever utter those words. I believe the only reason it was called "Wheel of Time" is because "The Neverending Story" was already taken.
Now, if you change the phrase to "...to continue the series" then you might be on to something.
Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
The fact that there has since been *five* more books and they're still not done, with these last three still on the ledger, convinces me I was right to do that.
So a series is automatically bad if it is unfinished at the end of book eleven? I must say, that notion seems quite ridiculous to me.
(Disclaimer: I've read the Wheel of Time series four times. I've read other almost-equally-lengthy series as well. IMO, length doesn't make a series bad, poor writing makes a series bad. RJ's writing style is not for everyone, but it works for me; apparently it doesn't work for you.)
On a semi-related note, Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy I found to be very good.
Agreed. I would also recommend Warbreaker (available online as a free PDF, or you can get it in hardcover) and Elantris. If you have kids or youngish siblings, Sanderson also writes a children's series that I've heard good things about.
The basic fantasy world was so derivative of Tolkien that I just wanted to barf
Having read both the Wheel of Time and the Lord of the Rings several times (as well as various LotR-related books like the Silmarillion), I'm not sure what you're getting at. I can think of only a few small similarities:
- Lan Mandragoran has a backstory similar (but not identical) to that of Aragorn, but the characters themselves are quite dissimilar.
- The Myrdraal bear a passing similarity to the Nazgul, but only because they wear black and cause fear; the Myrdraal are otherwise entirely different.
- The Trollocs bear a passing similarity to the Orcs, but only because they're the "bad guy" infantry; what we know of Trolloc and Orcish social structures are entirely different.
These are minor similarities at best; arguably, none of them are key to the plot. None of them are vomit-worthy, either. So, I ask you: in what ways do you think the Wheel of Time world is derivative of Tolkien?
If you think *that* is fantastic, you must have a very shallow knowledge of fantasy.
Gosh, gee-wilikers, I wish I had such an in-depth knowledge of fantasy as you. Piss off. If you have a different taste in books that's fine. If I happen to like something you don't, that's fine too.
since when is expanding a world to make it have more content and be more vivid a bad thing?
The goal is not to close up the series as quickly as possible, but to make it an interesting read.
When did I EVER say expanding a world to make it more vivid was a bad thing? I didn't. It simply shouldn't be done at expense of the telling of a story you started.
Tolkien didn't go off track in the LOTR and insert 7 books between The Two Towers and The Return of The King because he wanted to describe intricacies of how Galadriel liked to play with here hair or the affair her blacksmith was having with some maiden. Or give the entire histories of the Silmarillion in there. He tried to keep to the story and complete it. He gave enough details to flesh out the world, but didn't let himself get distracted entirely by them. Further materials to further detail his universe could be published separately, or as part of another set of stories as appropriate.
While the OP's post may admittedly be flamebait and inappropriate, that is no reason to dismiss the opinions of the many OTHER people who are disappointed with the series and who chose to express that throughout this article's comments. The story is of interest to a lot of people; I don't remember slashdot stories being restricted to certain interest groups, and even if they were, it wouldn't be for you to decide who gets or doesn't get to post.
And an added comment about flamebaits:
fuck you for trolling.
Your mom
anal smartasses like yourself.
It's a very relative concept. I am discussing this matter in a perfectly civil and neutral manner, while you fanboys are being aggressive and insulting people just for disagreeing with you. I wonder why I can't take you seriously.
L Ron Hubbard was the most successful shitty author ever. If you have ever voluntarily decided to torture yourself and you get tired of ripping fishhooks through your testicles, you can read his series.
I quite enjoyed James Rigney's writing style, and I thought his approach to Conan was well done. I have a lot of respect for him. He is a genuine hero and deserves props for his service, with a distinguished service cross and a bronze star acquired during two tours in Vietnam.
He also deserves props for having graduated with a bachelors in Physics, a degree plan which is definitely not for the faint of heart.
As to his Wheel of Time series, I found it to be highly entertaining and involving. His characters have a depth to them, and he allows those characters to act according to their strengths and weaknesses, even if it having them act in a different manner would make it easier to advance the plot. If a character is scared to death of heights, he isn't going to cross over a tightrope, even if that were the smart thing for the character to do. The character freezes, and gets caught.
The world he created was immense, and one could write hundreds of books inside that world. The mechanics of the world are reasonably consistent, providing an even backdrop to the heroes and the villians.
His book was also only one of two books that have ever made me physically react while reading. Stephen King's IT actually made me jump in a chair while reading it, and Robert Jordan made me so mad at one of the characters I jumped up, screamed curses, and threw the book across the room.
While his writing style is not for everyone, those of us who find it enjoyable are overjoyed that Brandon Sanderson will, with the help of Jordan's widow and his notes, finish the series. James Rigney worked as hard as he could the last month or two of his life to get as much information down for the next author to continue his work and finish the series. I for one, can't wait for it.
who prays for Satan? Who in 18 centuries has had the humanity to pray for the 1 sinner that needed it most? ~Mark Twain
As someone who isn't big on reading but has finished the entire WoT series twice now, I can't see this as first and foremost being about making money. Of course the publisher wants as much money as they can get but from interviews I have read they seem to also have a healthy respect for Robert Jordan's work. I feel like I "know" the characters of WoT in a way, and I desperately want to know how their stories end! I have faith in Harriet (Jordan's widow) finding a good author to complete R.J's legacy and with the amount of notes and work Jordan left behind, the "finish line" of which you speak will be the one Jordan intended (if the brand of shoes used to get there might be different).
You should read up on what Harriet, Sanderson and Tor publishing has to say about the subject. Mr. Sanderson has already completed a good bulk of the three last books, with the last one containing Tarmon Gai'don.
Now, you might argue that Tor might want Sanderson to write the Infinity of Heaven series, as well as other side stories and prequels. However, Sanderson has already publicly posted a refusal to do this as he thinks it would just be milking Jordan's amazing work (of which Sanderson has been a fan for many years).
I think we're safe. I might check out Mistborn though. Can anyone tell me if that series is any good for someone who loves the works of Tolkien as well as WoT?
If after the third volume we can see that the three volumes were filled with needless fluff, then sure, we can say Brandon was making the books longer than necessary to get more money.
If after the third volume, we can see that the three were filled with needless fluff, then all we can say is that they're just like the previous six or seven books.
Karma: Poor (Mostly affected by lame karma-joke sigs)
Why would it upset you if the series go to book 20 if every one of them is good? Is it because you no longer like the book and just have to "finish" it? If so, why not just consider the last book you read as "finished" and move on? I did that with the Sword of Truth series, I just stopped after book 6 or 7 and never bothered the rest.
Can't speak for the rest of the universe, but for me the big issue is that Jordan lost track of what the series was about - there's so many sub-plots, and new characters, and little side quests, that you can go through an entire book and the main plot didn't advance at all.
I'd be happier if some of the little side plots were moved to their own books, so that the main plot could, ya know, advance
The only female character I had a problem with was Elayne; at some point, my feelings about her side of the story came down to, "Someone either give her the damned throne, or kill her. I don't care anymore, I just want this part to stop."
Other than that, I'd say the books were mostly good.
Learning about brewing beer, by brewing beer.