[quote:4656f293bc="Garner"]So, as I've mentioned elsewhere, I've begun re-reading the Wheel of Time, I've caught up to where I'd previously read, and am now in new territory with book 8 (Path of Daggers).

I understand Jordan's been given a very short time to live by his doctors, but is certain he'll have book 12 out before he dies, which will finish off the main storyline even if it doesn't address every plot thread. (That'd require a few more books, appearantly)

Anyway, for anyone who's never read the stuff, this is one possibly the 'great fantasy epic' of our time, and its sheer scope (2.6 million words and counting, i think) contains the full gammut from dross to brilliance. He's often considered to have lost his touch somewhere around books 7-9, but opinions vary and some say they started to slip sooner or continued on later. A lot of the fault gets placed on the fact that the story/setting is just too damn big, and it's outgrown its ability to be condensable into a decent novel legnth segement anymore.

A counter opinion, based on the most recent book(s) suggests that Jordan's back on fine form and the lulls of the others was a necessary calm before a storm. As I haven't read that far yet, I can't comment at all.

Still, it's a richly detailed (a little TOO much, at times) setting, and Jordan's writing style is also richly detailed (a little too much, most of the time). I find that once you get into it, though, it moves at a good pace. There are laugh out loud hillarious moments, and frentic fast paced action, ranging from cliffhanger adventure to epic battles.

So, for those who HAVE read it and might like to discuss stuff, so long as we agree on where a spoiler line needs to be drawn, perhaps we could have a nice little discussion?

I know there's an awful lot I've missed in my readings, and all sorts of 'easter eggs' if you will, hidden throughout the text. Consider the Whitecloaks... I remember reading book 4 or 5 before I suddenly repictured their uniforms and had a perfect mental image of the Klu Klux Klan. not sure if that was deliberate (though I hardly think Jordan would have missed the connection) or if I was just a bit thick. Then again, something I only noticed when it was pointed out to me last week... the character of Egwene Al'Vere's name is a re-spelling of Guinevere.

anyway, just thought i'd get the ball rolling on this.[/quote:4656f293bc]

Have you ever read a song of ice and fire by george r.r. martin? I thinkk it's the best fantasy book so far...it even beats tolkien's ability to write something stupid in a way that it sound poetic...

I disliked the names and the names of the species in a wheel of time. Trolloc's and such just sound so fake and forced to me...he could leave them as trolls and it would have been good...what he did just sounds like he wanted to be original to me but he failed miserably...