Rating: 
Summary: How can I say this nicely?
Review: This book reads like a serious version of the Diana Wynne-Jones "Tough Guide to FantasyLand," a melding of both Tolkien and Star Wars along with prose as dense as a fruitcake. I assure you that I went into EOTW with an open mind, and found moderately entertaining, FLAWED fantasy.The opening itself is standard, somewhat reminiscent of "Sword of Shannara": Our Hero, Rand, glimpses a dark-robed figure in the forest, which vanishes quickly. He and his father immediately head back to the village of the Two Rivers, the usual country bunch who are currently preparing the Bel Tine (Beltaine?) celebration. However, strangers have come into the village: The mysterious Moraine, whom we find out is an Aes Sedai (a female magic-user -- apparently men can't) and the dark, growly, gray-haired, outdoorsy Lan (think Aragorn with more of an attitude). Then Rand and his father Tam's farm is attacked by trollocs, which are sort of half-man with a hodgepodge of animal bits. Soon after comes a ghostly Fade -- and they're searching for Rand, for reasons he doesn't know. The locals (who don't seem to be the brightest bulbs in the chandelier) become angry, saying it's Moraine's fault. Moraine and Lan leave -- but with them come Rand, his semi-girlfriend Egwene, and a couple others. And along the path ahead, Rand discovers who he is and more about the enormous tasks that he must do. Let's get this out of the way: I have no problem with huge books. I read "Hounds of the Morrigan" in two days, read LOTR in a week, Sword of Shannara in three days. As for descriptive prose, I am Patricia McKillip's biggest fan, and nobody gets more flowery than she does. My problem was not how long it was, but how it BECAME that long. As mentioned above, the prose is as dense as a fruitcake. In my own writing, I have a rule that landscapes and physical description will not exceed three sentences. Yet after the prologue (which is beautifully and evocatively written -- I only wish the rest of the book had matched it) we get enormous descriptions of virtually nothing -- page two, two paragraphs on the wooded area where Rand sees a specter. Yet simultaneously, we get very little description of the characters: I never got a mental image of Tam, Egwene, or Rand. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The chase scene away from the village, with the Leathery Winged Avian (see "Tough Guide") in pursuit was tense and fast-paced. Their stay in the inn radiated warmth and safety, and danger of the interlude where Rand is trying to escape from the trollocs. Sadly, as "harsil" points out below, he also produces some really weird descriptions. I've never heard teeth click, seen anyone shake themselves, or seen someone widen their eyes until the pupils vanished. And there might be an error in the VERY FIRST SENTENCE of the book: "The palace still shook occasionally as the earth rumbled in memory, groaned as if it would deny what had happened." Did he shift tenses, or just write a correct sentence that sounds strangely like he did? (I really am not sure) But unfortunately it also draws from every cliche in the book -- Wynne-Jones's book. We have the mysterious stranger (though in a twist, the "Gandalf" person is a woman); we have the hardy outdoorsman should-be-king (is that you, Aragorn?); we have the naive young hero who is a pale copy of Luke Skywalker -- raised in a backwater place with no knowledge of his exalted true identity and hidden power. We have the necessary buddies like Mat and Perrin and Egwene; we have Leathery-Winged Avians, innkeepers, sinister Dark Lords, the "One Power" which closely resembles the Force, ghastly inhuman foot soldiers (not too scary though), the Lost Identity of the Hero, the "Fade" which is too much like a Nazgul, the poisoned wound that Tam got from an "evil knife", the quest, etc. The cliches stack further and further up. There are also, sadly, only a few really juicy characterizations. The women are all screechy, picky harridans who talk about what pains men are -- except for Moraine, thank God, who seems to regard everyone in the same level view. Did Jordan start this series after a nasty breakup? It's the only explanation I can think of; if aliens used this book to understand human gender relations, they'd wonder why we weren't extinct. I got sick of Nynaeve after about a page, and Egwene started grating on my nerves after she discovered that she had Aes Sedai potential; Lan's disdain for Mat, Rand and Perrin seemed unnecessary and unheroic. Mat somehow didn't register much with me, but I liked Perrin. Rand did give the accurate feeling of a naive farmboy. Jordan does provide some intriguing concepts, concerning the "Wheel of Time" and the Dragon Reborn. But these are drowned in another problem: He has so many different cultures and hierarchies and organizations that I lost track very quickly. Realistically, the heroes shouldn't know much or care much about the groups that don't involve them. (Patricia McKillip realized this in her books: less is more) Overall a nice brain-fluff read, certainly better than the "Iron Tower" trilogy but by no means as good as "Sword of Shannara" and definitely not as good as Tolkien or McKillip. I'd advise reading this only if you're unaffected by cliches.
Rating: 
Summary: A Series of its Own - Appreciate it for what it is
Review: Kicking off the sweeping epic tale, The Eye of the World is the first book in the Wheel of Time series. This book is the stage setter for the series. There is mainly one story line, following the same cast of characters for most of the book. The world that Jordan created is his own, although you only get a glipse of it through The Eye of the World. You'll come to notice that as you read the reviews from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, they get progressively negative as the series moves on. When you get to a certain book in the series, decide its worth for yourself when you get there, and don't let the later volumes disuade you from reading the earlier works. In order to fully appreciate the world created in The Eye of the World, pick up the second book in the series, The Great Hunt. In this book, the characters become people, with personalities and a certain energy that is unique to each of them. Here, you follow multiple story lines that span Jordan's globe with vivid imagry. It's a great series to get in to - don't let the number of volumes be daunting. Take it at your own speed, and let the Wheel of Time series stand as a work (and world) of its own.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother
Review: Don't bother getting started on this series unless you are prepared to slog through endless, repetitive, and boring narrative which apparently has no end. I gave up after the tenth book and as much as it pains me to leave a tale unfinished, I simply can't take any more.
Rating:
Summary: The first six books represent my favorite all time series.
Review: Robert Jordan's talent for telling an entertaining story is unsurpassed. After reading the current eight books in the Wheel of Time series, the first six have no equal. After the sixth book, though, too many sub-plots are developed in the seventh and eighth books, and the series becomes harder to follow. The necessary review of earlier material takes away from the pure enjoyment of reading, because the reader cannot always remember which chapter of which book contains the desired information that needs to be reviewed. Otherwise, the series is an excellent read for a lazy afternoon. The characters come alive with personalities that are not only believable, but that are also dependable. Nynaeve is full of surprises; Rand remains unpredictable; Mat always does what he thinks is right. And even though Robert Jordan occasionally gives extensive detail that borders upon dry reading, such background detail helps the reader to better picture the characters, lands, and events. Then, just when the reader thinks he has figured out what will happen next, Robert Jordan springs yet another surprise (or two). I can hardly wait for the next book or two.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: When i first read this book, I was somewhat recalcitrant given some of the criticism levied at the Wheel of Time. However, as I got into it, I realized how enjoyable it was. My favorite characters include Perrin, Loial, and Egwene. Jordan has done as much work as Tolkein, Martin, and Brooks in creating a truly fascinating world. For those who do not know, Red Eagle Entertainment has purchased the rights to make this book into a movie. While I do not doubt that it will be fascinating, I wonder how they're going to convert a book this big into a movie.
Rating:
Summary: Gave It 2 Chances, but Never Again
Review: Jordan, like many other writers, has created yet another epic fantasy that falls far short of greatness. The conceptual ideas and mythos are intriguing and initially piqued my interest. Jordan promises a lot, beginning the story with a visionary description of the way time moves, like a wheel, "memories...become legend. Legend fades to myth, and...myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again." Whatever hope the reader has for what follows is quickly dispelled. The underlying problem in this book is its characters. The Aes Sedai (something of a sorceress) and her trusty henchman serve not as characters, but as a device. Certainly one can ascribe characteristics to Moiraine (snobbish, proud, etc.) but really she serves only as a fountain of facts. And then she gives this information haltingly, revealing only bit by bit what the other characters might have liked to know long ago. The Aes Sedai explains complainingly: "You all want explanations, but if I explained my every action to you, I would have no time for anything else." While that may serve Jordan's purposes, not wanting to reveal too much too quickly to the reader, it doesn't seem very believable and can be outright annoying. Other reviews have already pointed out that almost none of the female characters seem to hold the men (or "wool-headed witlings" as they're called) in any high regard, but the men themselves stand in such awe of the women that they sound like 13-year-old boys on their first day of school experiencing the shock of realizing that all the girls have grown up over summer break. I guess that's okay, but it's so often mentioned or alluded to that it becomes repetitive. This ragtag group of country bumpkins and their haughty help garrishly clashes. In short, over three hundred pages into the book and I was still looking for a believable character. The villains seem to want to inspire fear, but the trollocs sounded too much like mindless Sasquatch freaks, the Myrddraal like a cheap imitation of Tolkein's ringwraiths, and the other 'badies' like contrived attempts to keep it all action-packed and ominous. Moraine growing Gulliver-size to intimidate a few religious fanatics was bad enough, but when the evil Mordeth uses the same trick in Shadar Logoth I had to laugh. Less is more. Subtlety always works better than fireworks. Two attempts and 330 pages later I, sadly disappointed, put down this book. The tragedy is that something seemingly so promising ultimately lets the reader down.
Rating: 
Summary: read this review!!!!
Review: first of all let me say that overall the wheel of time series is a series u dont want to pass by. the books are for the most part well written however i have some things i need to say about it.first of all jordan can be very frustrating at times. the way he develops the male and female characters is just irritating. to clarify, all women think men are "wool headed fools" and they voice this very often. the men are the perfect steriotype of either heroes or reluctant heroes. Also most women are extremely beautiful and for some reason have "big eyes".second thing, nynaeve al' meara. most readers agree this character just irritates them. you will understand what i mean soon enough.third of all, jordan like many other authors, often seems unable to wrap up a story. as a result some may find his books drawn out and at times boring. now on to the good stuff. the plot is fantastic. it is intricate and will keep you turning the pages. many of the characters, though they are at times predictable will warm your heart. the battles are epic and real page turners. Throughout the series you will follow the characters including three "ta'veren", Rand, Mat and Perrin, as well as Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve (to name a few). if you can make it pass some annoying character quirks and some unnecessary material you will revere this series.
Though i did not go at all deep into character development or plot, this review will give you a very good general idea of what to expect from the series. Happy reading!
Rating:
Summary: Great, not Perfect.
Review: Wheel of Time is a series that I consider well-worth what I payed for them. Eye of the World is the first and I finished it in a day. The world evolves from the eys of Rand Al' Thor, a country-bred sheepherder and the world is thankfully not one of the poorly undeveloped ones that seem so popular these days. It's a vivid place and though most people seemed to find it monotonous, I've always loved just reading about other worlds in fantasy books. My main attraction to this book was it's close attention to detail and character development. Not all conversations are necessary for the plot or plot-driven, Jordan's content with showing some of everyday life. Even the minor characters have their own personalities. Another bright point with the characters over the course of the books is that their views constantly change as they're exposed to new things. As well as those, Jordan combined the two common aspects of fantasy which is questing and more political battles. My main dislike in the series is that Jordan seems to attached to his characters, they've all begun to seem immortal. But onto what the book was about: Rand Al' Thor and hs closest friends are forced to flee from their home town of Emond's Field after it's raided by trollocs. Assisted by one of the manipulative Aes Sedai, they travel towards Tar Valon to discover why the trollocs seeked to end Rand Al' Thor. In retrospect I would have to say that Eye of the World is sort of a massive prologue for the Wheel of Time, an opening to Jordan's world. Note to the Curious: This series is nothing like his Conan or Fallon series, they're completely different from eachother so don't condemn Jordan for those.
Rating:
Summary: A Worthy but familiar read
Review: I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to reading the next installment of the series. The interaction between men and women can be annoying at times, and there are stiking similarities to Tolkien and I would imagine other fantasy epics. The thing is that I love Tolkien and the entire fantasy prototype, so a new face on an old idea works for me. Though while the skeleton is the same, do not fear, the comparisons are not so much as to take away from the book. Also similar to other fantasy series, with so much introduction, the book does not tend to grip you (or I should say me) until you are well into it. I read the first half casually and the second half relentlessly. I highly recomend this book, even if I am told that the series drags in the later books.
Rating:
Summary: The Wheel of Time Turns¿
Review: The wheel of time turns, and ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. From the moment I read that line written by Robert Jordan, I knew this was going to be something special. I admit I am very new to Robert Jordan's Wheel of time series. But it is not hard to get lost in Jordan's world within the first few pages. I started Eye of the World in August 2003 and have not stopped yet (except for a small break with Stephen King's release of the Dark Tower V). It was at the time I recently picked up book nine of Jordan's masterpiece, I decided, after reading countless of poor reviews, it was time to share my most memorable moments and of course the low points of the series. Eye of the World is hands down the best book of the series. Like Fellowship of the Ring is to Tolkien or The Gunslinger is to King, this is where all the magic begins. Jordan is brilliant when it comes to revealing his vast world to the reader a little at a time. As if transported into this realm as a stranger, you begin to feel like going out and exploring the vastness of this new world. Nothing is left to the imagination as Jordan's descriptions weave stunning color and overwhelming detail to this beautiful complex land. The greatest part of a good epic fantasy series is to have a great coming of age story. In this story we get to see several characters grow as they are ripped away from the small village they have always known and thrown into a world full of adventure. The three main characters are Rand Al'Thor, Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara. These three are the ones you really fall in love with. Jordan's cast of characters is immense and it continues to grow as each new volume is added to the saga. The characters, like the highly detailed world, are all complex and different in their own special way. Most of the characters are very enjoyable and as always the selected few you love to hate. A lot of things happen in Eye of the World. As compared to later books in this series, for just under 800 pages long, this one moves at a quick pace with an exciting climax that leaves you ready to jump to the next book. The story grabs you right away as the three main characters and their friends are driven out of their village and find out that their lives play an important role in saving the world. Eye of the World is a great read and an excellent start to a saga that is destined to be remembered as a classic.
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