I only played that fan created DOOM mod. I never read the books and saw the TV show (will I like it?). Heh.

Tipsy McStagger wrote on Apr 24, 2025, 12:54:

I sort of feel glad I didn't keep reading these after all these comments. "stop at book 6" when there's 11? books. Honestly, it sounds like a chore/job to read these now.

There are 14 books (15 with prequel). FYI, Robert Jordan died before he finished the series, with the last 3 books being completed by Brandon Sanderson, where the pacing picks up quite substantially. Jordan apparently had written quite a lot of chapters (incl the final in book 14) and had extensive notes.

Also: If you like to read about powerful women literally spanking each other, WoT is where it's at Sore bottoms abound.

VaranDragon wrote on Apr 24, 2025, 03:46:

yuastnav wrote on Apr 24, 2025, 03:28:

Also Robert Jordan has a VERY strange and problematic view of women.

Not sure what you mean by that. His portrayal of women is kind of par for the course, for a man of his generation. I wouldn't say it's problematic, he would have to be a woman to write them differently.

The biggest problem with the whole WOT opus (and why I stopped reading after about book 6 or 7) is that the story just seems to drag on, and on without much point. Nothing really interesting or worthwhile happens while we wait for the Final Battle, every book past book 3 or 4 is basically pointless.

P.S.

The whack-a-mole battles after book 3 and onwards, were so ridiculous and predictable and ALWAYS THE SAME, it was kind of laughable how badly they were written.....like a really bad RPG where you have to beat a heap of underbosses to get to the really big end-boss.....

I sort of feel glad I didn't keep reading these after all these comments. "stop at book 6" when there's 11? books. Honestly, it sounds like a chore/job to read these now.

I didn't know how to feel about the TV show honestly. This is not Game of Thrones; an adaptation that is in the Wheel of Time universe would have to skip over 95% of the details of the information in the books in order to make any semblance of a coherent narrative. I like every actor who had a role in the series, especially Moraine, but I didn't like the show, but I don't know if that's because of my pre-existing bias or that the show just sucks.

G.oZ wrote on Apr 24, 2025, 05:01:

Tipsy McStagger wrote on Apr 23, 2025, 14:48:
I read the first book "eye of the world" something like 30 years ago and there's only a few things I actually remember about it and none of them are about the plot. I know people love this series which is why I started reading it way back then but my god it didn't draw me in like LOTRs did.

I think it's Rand has boots and needs new ones at one point in the story, but he didn't want to get new ones because he just broke the ones he has on and he's worried how much his feet will hurt with new ones. He gets new ones and they are the best fitting boot he's ever had. It's just a little detail about how he is from a small podunk town that doesn't have master cobblers basically.

I remember not wanting to ever read the second book because the ending 200 pages of first book were such a slog. I honestly couldn't tell you how it ended.

That is really weird, because the passage you are describing comes from a scene in the *second* book, where he is forced to ditch his simple farmers clothing (burned, with possible good reason) and take on fine silk, cloaks, boots & other garb to reflect his new status. A status he clearly does not want due to its apocalyptic world-altering meaning. A status/look that is being used deliberately in power/political dynamics that will shake the world. In terms of character development it's not a "little detail" - and is in fact a pivotal moment.

That's ok though. Even the most die hard fans acknowledge the issues and recognise it's not for everyone. Jordan's writing often gets lost in minutia (though the passage you mentioned wasn't that) and even the best books of the bunch an average reader might find plodding, let alone the "slog" of 3-4 books where comparatively little happens.

It was almost 30 years ago, I did have the first 3 books. I probably could have started the second and stopped. It really didn't pull me in and I was trying hard to like it. I was trying hard to recall the story while writing this and I just couldn't other than the description of the warder and the road away from their town escaping the trollocs at the very start and that boot thing.

I loved the books when they initially shipped, but I became convinced that volume 10 would bring everything to a head and close the series. I was very disappointed as Jordan was selling volumes at that point and stretching things out. Then Jordan unfortunately died, and the series was wrapped up in a couple more volumes by another writer, which I finally read years later. A disappointment. But not as big a disappointment as the Game of Thrones series...;)

I’ve seen a lot of book readers commenting how bad the TV series is, but I’ve come at it with no preconceptions, and formed the unbiased opinion that it’s dog shit.

From the appalling writing to the charisma-free acting, it’s the kind of show that makes me sad about what gets multiple seasons and what gets cancelled.

So if they’re building on that, it’s going to be great!

Tipsy McStagger wrote on Apr 23, 2025, 14:48:
I read the first book "eye of the world" something like 30 years ago and there's only a few things I actually remember about it and none of them are about the plot. I know people love this series which is why I started reading it way back then but my god it didn't draw me in like LOTRs did.

I think it's Rand has boots and needs new ones at one point in the story, but he didn't want to get new ones because he just broke the ones he has on and he's worried how much his feet will hurt with new ones. He gets new ones and they are the best fitting boot he's ever had. It's just a little detail about how he is from a small podunk town that doesn't have master cobblers basically.

I remember not wanting to ever read the second book because the ending 200 pages of first book were such a slog. I honestly couldn't tell you how it ended.

That is really weird, because the passage you are describing comes from a scene in the *second* book, where he is forced to ditch his simple farmers clothing (burned, with possible good reason) and take on fine silk, cloaks, boots & other garb to reflect his new status. A status he clearly does not want due to its apocalyptic world-altering meaning. A status/look that is being used deliberately in power/political dynamics that will shake the world. In terms of character development it's not a "little detail" - and is in fact a pivotal moment.

That's ok though. Even the most die hard fans acknowledge the issues and recognise it's not for everyone. Jordan's writing often gets lost in minutia (though the passage you mentioned wasn't that) and even the best books of the bunch an average reader might find plodding, let alone the "slog" of 3-4 books where comparatively little happens.

This comment was edited on Apr 24, 2025, 05:39.

yuastnav wrote on Apr 24, 2025, 03:28:

Also Robert Jordan has a VERY strange and problematic view of women.

Not sure what you mean by that. His portrayal of women is kind of par for the course, for a man of his generation. I wouldn't say it's problematic, he would have to be a woman to write them differently.

The biggest problem with the whole WOT opus (and why I stopped reading after about book 6 or 7) is that the story just seems to drag on, and on without much point. Nothing really interesting or worthwhile happens while we wait for the Final Battle, every book past book 3 or 4 is basically pointless.

P.S.

The whack-a-mole battles after book 3 and onwards, were so ridiculous and predictable and ALWAYS THE SAME, it was kind of laughable how badly they were written.....like a really bad RPG where you have to beat a heap of underbosses to get to the really big end-boss.....

This comment was edited on Apr 24, 2025, 04:25.

Prez wrote on Apr 23, 2025, 15:57:
I never finished reading the series despite starting it about 12 times since high school. It becomes virtually impenetrable, with dozens upon dozens of characters, villains (of which there are DOZENS) being killed then resurrected again, storylines that just NEVER FUCKING END... I decided that if you do start it, my recommendation is to read it until the end of book 6. The best ending of a fantasy book ever.

I think Robert Jordan, may he rest in peace, while clearly a brilliant storyteller, was the Chris Roberts of fantasy authors. He just never could stop adding stuff to the point that his story became suffocated underneath.

As an aside, I am fairly certain that Robert Jordan was abused by a woman in authority. Every woman in his story, EVERY SINGLE WOMAN, is an absolute cast-iron bitch who is horrible towards men, yet I am supposed to believe that 3 of them are okay with sharing a man between them? Too far for me.

Well I only started reading it once but stopped every few books. I think I'm on book 10 or 11 (of 14, I think?) and haven't read it in many years, now. I tell myself that I will finish it some day but I'm in a similar position as you are. I barely remember many of the characters and what's going on now.

Also Robert Jordan has a VERY strange and problematic view of women.

Anyone remember the Wheel of Time MUD (Multi User Dungeon)??? From back in the day?

I spent waaaay too many hours during my varsity days playing that game. Good times....

God damn it! wut, I got to start all over at book one.... AGAIN!!!!! Too eaSy!!! I just hope it's worth my time this time!!! I doubt it tho.....

Tipsy McStagger wrote on Apr 23, 2025, 14:48:
I read the first book "eye of the world" something like 30 years ago and there's only a few things I actually remember about it and none of them are about the plot. I know people love this series which is why I started reading it way back then but my god it didn't draw me in like LOTRs did.

I think it's Rand has boots and needs new ones at one point in the story, but he didn't want to get new ones because he just broke the ones he has on and he's worried how much his feet will hurt with new ones. He gets new ones and they are the best fitting boot he's ever had. It's just a little detail about how he is from a small podunk town that doesn't have master cobblers basically.

I remember not wanting to ever read the second book because the ending 200 pages of first book were such a slog. I honestly couldn't tell you how it ended.

I got the first three novels from a garage sale several years ago. I've tried the first book twice now and lost interest 50 pages in both times.

Orogogus wrote on Apr 23, 2025, 21:29:

MrCharm42 wrote on Apr 23, 2025, 21:02:

Prez wrote on Apr 23, 2025, 15:57:
I never finished reading the series despite starting it about 12 times since high school. It becomes virtually impenetrable, with dozens upon dozens of characters, villains (of which there are DOZENS) being killed then resurrected again, storylines that just NEVER FUCKING END... I decided that if you do start it, my recommendation is to read it until the end of book 6. The best ending of a fantasy book ever.

I've read them all, some twice, but I agree with stopping after 6 and skip to book 10 or 11 - the pace picks up again when Brandon Sanderson finishes the story. That's the guy George RR Martin needs to hire.

Sanderson has said he's not interested (and he doesn't think he'd be asked). He doesn't write or appreciate explicit sex and violence, probably due to his Mormon worldview, and the dark nature of A Song of Ice and Fire doesn't really work for him.

Link on Reddit.

Also, George RR Martin has said that he doesn't want anyone else to take up the books if he dies. Although I think he said that ten years ago and he might have changed his mind since then.

I think that by now we can conclude that Martin does not intend to finish Winds of Winter much less the next book(s) to complete the series.

MrCharm42 wrote on Apr 23, 2025, 21:02:

Prez wrote on Apr 23, 2025, 15:57:
I never finished reading the series despite starting it about 12 times since high school. It becomes virtually impenetrable, with dozens upon dozens of characters, villains (of which there are DOZENS) being killed then resurrected again, storylines that just NEVER FUCKING END... I decided that if you do start it, my recommendation is to read it until the end of book 6. The best ending of a fantasy book ever.

I've read them all, some twice, but I agree with stopping after 6 and skip to book 10 or 11 - the pace picks up again when Brandon Sanderson finishes the story. That's the guy George RR Martin needs to hire.

Sanderson has said he's not interested (and he doesn't think he'd be asked). He doesn't write or appreciate explicit sex and violence, probably due to his Mormon worldview, and the dark nature of A Song of Ice and Fire doesn't really work for him.

Link on Reddit.

Also, George RR Martin has said that he doesn't want anyone else to take up the books if he dies. Although I think he said that ten years ago and he might have changed his mind since then.

Prez wrote on Apr 23, 2025, 15:57:
I never finished reading the series despite starting it about 12 times since high school. It becomes virtually impenetrable, with dozens upon dozens of characters, villains (of which there are DOZENS) being killed then resurrected again, storylines that just NEVER FUCKING END... I decided that if you do start it, my recommendation is to read it until the end of book 6. The best ending of a fantasy book ever.

I've read them all, some twice, but I agree with stopping after 6 and skip to book 10 or 11 - the pace picks up again when Brandon Sanderson finishes the story. That's the guy George RR Martin needs to hire.

Three years in and only NOW are they starting development on the video-game? That shows a lot of confidence in your series, Amazon.

I always enjoyed the 1999 game. It wasn't the greatest experience in terms of gameplay, but it had a wonderfully moody atmosphere (helped immensely by a fantastic soundtrack), and it had some neat features like a mode where you could set up traps and soldiers in a sort of proto-Tower defense game. It was one of the earliest games to license the Unreal engine too, and that allowed it some impressively large and gorgeous landscapes compared to its contemporaries.

It encouraged me to try and re-read the books. I'd given up on them after book three but this time I persevered and got to book 8 (which, I think, was the latest to be released at the time). But it was such a slog to get there that I knew that I'd never go back and finish the series as newer books came out... if only because the plots were so convoluted and the characters so numerous that I'd have to re-re-read the first 8 books just to catch up, and I'd no desire to do that again.

Jordan desperately needed an editor who wasn't afraid to excise whole chapters and tell him to get to the fucking point already.

Slashman wrote on Apr 23, 2025, 18:03:
I started it years ago and never stopped until it was done. It isn't for everyone, and there are things in it that will grate on, you but it wasn't a bad series by any stretch.

Its weird how people act like there is no precedent for the women acting superior in the books. They are literally the only ones who can channel without going insane (except for the Forsaken) and the Aes Sedai are the root of all power in the lands. It turned society backwards and reflected what women must have felt through out the ages as men told them exactly what to do and how they should feel about it. I'm not saying it was pleasant...but there was a basis for it.

^The books started out great, then just turned a long boring series that family had to complete---- Jackson could turn it to becomes 10xs as long to milk it even more. Gave up on the books by the 4th one. Nothing but a good way to get to sleep fast.

I started it years ago and never stopped until it was done. It isn't for everyone, and there are things in it that will grate on, you but it wasn't a bad series by any stretch.

Its weird how people act like there is no precedent for the women acting superior in the books. They are literally the only ones who can channel without going insane (except for the Forsaken) and the Aes Sedai are the root of all power in the lands. It turned society backwards and reflected what women must have felt through out the ages as men told them exactly what to do and how they should feel about it. I'm not saying it was pleasant...but there was a basis for it.

WoT maybe the only fantasy series where time is not linear. There are 7 ages, repeating for all eternity and the same events always reoccurring. I find that fascinating.