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Post by avilyjerome on Feb 23, 2010 23:59:22 GMT -5
Ok, just felt like starting a new thread, because I couldn't figure out how to comment on some of the other ones that weren't already started.
So I jumped right in with Robert Jordan's "The Wheel of Time," since I'm currently in the middle of re-reading the series.
First off, as you can probably guess by my use of the term "rereading," I LOVE the series. I got the latest installment for Christmas, but it has been long enough since I read the others that I felt the need to read them over before diving into the new one.
Anyone who follows the series knows, of course, that the latest book is written by another author using Robert Jordan's notes, since Robert Jordan passed away before he finished the series. I've heard mixed opinions about the new book/author. Some thought it was a really good read, while others really didn't like it nearly as much as the others.
If you've read it, what are your thoughts? Is it as good as the others? Even if it's not, are you glad you read it, just so you can get further along in the story? Are you eagerly anticipating the next ones?
I look forward to sharing my thoughts after I get to that one!
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Post by David James on Feb 24, 2010 0:50:20 GMT -5
Yes, Brandon Sanderson. An excellent author I still haven't read. He and a few other national and international best-selling authors are doing a major nuts-and-bolts seminar in March and if two people go and sign up before the end of February, you get two for the price of one! The five authors are: Kevin J. Anderson Brandon Sanderson David Farland Rebecca Moesta Eric Flint Here's the site to sign up - www.superstarswritingseminars.com/Sorry to sort of hijack the thread a bit right at the beginning, but you mentioning him made me think of this. Ah, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. Never finished his own books yet, so I will one day. I love all I've read so far. A very intriguing take on the hero/messiah/journey themes. Haven't decided if I entirely like it or not, but I'm still reading and wanting to finish Robert's originals so I can then see how Brandon finishes out the series. If you are at all a fantasy lover and haven't picked this one up, then you must do so the very next time you are shopping for books. Either the first novel The Eye of the World, or the prequel New Spring. Either one is an excellent start! *EDIT* I moved this to Fantasy Novels because this is more about the novels than the authors since it's titled "The Wheel of Time" even though the different authors are mentioned. I can move it back if you want if you retitle it and mention more about the original author and what you know about the new author. No prob. *END EDIT*
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Post by Bainespal on Jul 9, 2010 16:42:32 GMT -5
I've been slowly reading The Wheel of Time series since 2006. I could myself a minor fan. I'm not sure I enjoy everything in all the many plot developments, but I love the background setting and worldbuilding. I also like the historical epic element, meaning the epic proportions of the imaginary history of the fantasy world as they relate to the specific characters and the storylines of the novels. It's almost like an alternate-world end-times thriller, in a way. The messianic themes are notable, as are the Zoroastrian/Buddhist/Hindu themes. I've long that the main character is sort of like the perception of Jesus to many people who are not orthodox Christians. That is, he's a great and noble man of prophecy, but he's still a very flawed and pitiable individual, who is only one of many saviors that have arisen in the infinite ages. Although that is not actually my view of the real Messiah of the real world, I nonetheless find The Wheel of Time to be entertaining and interesting.
Half an hour ago, I just finished reading a chapter of The Gathering Storm. I'm only maybe a quarter of the way through it, so please, no spoilers! However, I do have a sense that the style is not really that of good old Robert Jordan. Sanderson's take on the characters seems genuine to me so far, but I haven't read enough yet to be confident in that assessment. Still, the novel just doesn't quite seem like the genuine article. Sanderson uses a different sort of narrative style, I think. He doesn't do stream-of-consciousness as coherently as Robert Jordan, I think. But maybe I'm just imagining things, and I wouldn't have noticed anything if I hadn't known that this one was largely written by a different author.
Mostly, my reaction is not one of disappointment, but of sadness. I remember being quite shocked when I found out about Robert Jordan's death. The style differences that I think I see just make me sad that we'll never have the novel that the original author would have written. It is a tragedy that he passed away before he finished what he had devoted so many years to.
I've also read one other novel by Brandon Sanderson, Elantris, which I liked. I've been wanting to read the Mistborn trilogy for awhile, but I haven't gotten around to it.
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