Rating: 
Summary: Blood and Bloody Ashes!
Review: A word of warning: this review is of the series so far, not just book 1. I've read up to and including Winter's Heart. Overall, I'd rate the series at 2 1/2 stars, not 3. If I were to give a rating to each book, it would be thus: EotW ***, TGH ****, TDR ****, TSR ***, TFoH *, LoC **, ACoS **, TPoD **, WH**About eight years ago a friend by the name of Jon-Paul shoved a copy of Jordan's The Eye of the World into my hands. This occurred because I had told him that I'd given up on reading fantasy. I'd read and loved Tolkien when I was ten and after doing so had jumped head first into any fantasy title I could get my hands on. After doing this for about eight years I finally came to a realization: I was reading the same story over and over again. Every fantasy story I've read, with very few exceptions, follows what I call Tolkien's formula: 1. The hobbit is taken from his simple life and forced into a grand adventure by the wizard. Please note, the hobbit can be replaced with "simple farm boy", "village commoner" or whatever. There can also be more than one "hobbit". 2. The hobbit discovers and/or quests for a wondrous device (ring, sword, shield, golden rubber ducky, whatever). This device can either save the world, and/or destroy it. 3. The hobbit discovers that he is the only one who can defeat the great evil. 4. The hobbit meets lots of interesting people on the way and gathers companions. 5. The hobbit has lots of interesting adventures. 6. The hobbit comes face to face with the great evil and triumphs over great adversity. Jon-Paul assured me that this wasn't true of Jordan. He gave the man his highest praises and swore that his literature belonged beside Faulkner and Wordsworth. I took him for his word and gave Jordan a shot. If I ever see Jon-Paul again, he'd better run like hell. Despite his assurances, the story followed Tolkien's Formula: 1. The hobbit (in this case Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene and Nynaeve) are taken from their simple village life by the wizard (Moriane) and led into a grand adventure. 2. The hobbit discovers a wondrous device (in this case the fact that Rand is the Dragon Reborn-although in all fairness Jordan doesn't come out and say so in the first book. It's only hinted at) that can either save the world and/or destroy it (in this case both). 3. The hobbit (Rand) discovers that he is the only one who can defeat the great evil (the Dark One - 0 points for originality on naming that bad guy). 4. The hobbit meet lots of interesting people on the way and gathers companions (yup). 5. The hobbit has lots of interesting adventures (yup, for nine hefty books now). 6. The hobbit comes face to face with the great evil and triumphs over great adversity (I don't know yet, maybe we'll know by book 47). You can probably tell that I'm a bit bitter about this series. Frankly, I feel ripped off. Despite the fact that the first book followed Tolkien's formula, I found it engaging enough to read the next book. Jordan does have a way with pulling the reader in. He gives just enough to get you interested and leaves enough out to keep you hooked. Book 2 was better, Book 3 was just as good, Book 4 wasn't bad, then I got to Book 5. What a snooze fest that hefty paper weight was! BOORING!! The Tanchico chapters went on forever. This book was so dissapointing, I almost stopped reading, but by this point I'd invested the time to read about 4000 pages, and I didn't feel like the story had gone anywhere for the past 1200. This has been my feeling with each progressive book. Perhaps "progressive" is not the right word. That's the problem with these books, the plot progresses at a snail's pace, despite the fact that each epic volume is of door stop proportions. Jordan fans are divided into two camps: those who say, "Be patient, he's building to something fantastic" and those who say, "Please God! Let this be the last book!" I'm somewhere in the middle but leaning towards the second camp. So why do I keep reading? For one thing, if I didn't finish the series now, I'd feel like I'd wasted my time on the past 6000 pages. I've invested so much time, this sucker better have an ending that makes my socks roll up and down. There are other reasons. In all fairness to RJ, he has made me care about his characters. Namely, Mat and Rand. I used to like Perrin, but it seems all he does lately is sniff a bunch of stuff.
More importantly, RJ has developed one hell of a world, and a cast that spans pages. As an avid gamer, this is what I appreciate about the man. He does details well. The political maneuvering is engaging. The ethnic diversity is interesting. However, I have one major gripe. Why in the hell do these people worship the Light? RJ has spent so much time developing his world, but he's over looked religion. He just rubber stamped the topic with this whole "Light" business. Are we to assume that in the far flung future of his world all electricians will be holy men? I can hear the chants in the churches now, "Oh great GE, You bring great things to life". The biggest [problem]with RJ is the women folk. I hate just about every female character in the whole stinking series. Jordan tries to give women a larger role in his epic. The problem is, if women truly acted the way Jordan portrays them, the human species would have suffered extinction long ago. Every time Nynaeve "tugs her braid" or Faile gives Perrin the silent treatment and "smells of hurt", I visibly cringe in my reading chair. If by some chance you're reading this RJ, for God sakes please kill Nynaeve and Faile! It the best reward you could give to your dedicated readers. I've been suckered, like many other people. I haven't yet waded through volume 10, but I survived A Crown of Swords, and The Path of Daggers. I won't be pre-ording vol. 10 in hardback or camping out at the book store to get a copy; however, when it goes into paperback I'll pick up a copy and pray that volume 10 is the "Epic Conclusion To the Wheel of Time Series". But at the pace RJ's held since book 5, I predict not likely.
Rating: 
Summary: One Chapter and You're Hooked
Review: This book is simply amazing. Take Tolken and double the content, and you've got one of Jordan's books. The start of the book is a little slow, but around page 75, things heat up, and the action never stops! The story is so wonderful. It is the tale of three simple farm boys who must leave their village because some force of evil is after them, and attacked their village. Thus, the three take off, with a gleeman (a storyteller), an Aei Sedai (a witch), a Warder (a guardian), and a female friend. As the novel wears on, the six are joined by the village wisdom - an oracle of sorts. The seven partake of a dangerous journey into the center of complete evil, to keep the world safe. As to the writing style of the novel - it is stupendously descriptive, yet very engaging. The characters' thoughts are so complete, and their descriptions and actions are perfect. They actually seem real. I'd recommend this series to anyone who enjoyed Tolken's books, or even those who enjoy watching the Lord of the Rings. Moreover, one of the best things about Jordan is that women play a much larger role than in Tolken - but just enough to equal the men, but not overshadow them. And, after all, who couldn't love a book that has a dragon-reborn, a scarier-than-Solomon-character, tollocks, gypsies, half-men (fades) with hollow eyes that see everything, the Wisdoms, Aeis Sedai, Children of the Light, a black mist that kills, queens and princesses, the Ways (a worm-hole type phenomenon), not to mention Wolf Friends and hundreds of others.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST BOOKS EVER PUBLISHED
Review: Good reading to all the viewers. My name is ... from israel so you will have to excuse any spelling mistakes.
If you are reading this preview i must assume that you are thinking, or may have even bought this book. I have but one advice for you:
DO NOT STOP THERE!!! The wheel of time are the best books ever written. I have read them 5 times already, and i am reading them now for the 6th time, i just can not stop!
Rating: 
Summary: Fun fantasy read
Review: Its been a long time since I've have read this book, but it started me on the WoT never ending series. I feel that it was a fun read and explained just enough of the series plot to make me want to read the next book in the series. This first book was about a group of friends that leave home for the first time to escape danger and to embark on a journey that will change their lives forever. The series will tell each character's story in vivid detail. I have read all of his books published up to date; and I will admit I've read better. Some of his books in the middle get a little dull and it becomes obvious that he is drawing it out to make more money. If you can't stand authors that draw out a plot over way too many books, then do not even start this series. But if you like lots of detail and side stories in a book, then this is the book/series for you. If you are looking for a good fantasy story series with less books, try Terry Brooks Magic Kingdom Series.
Rating:
Summary: I Wanted to See What the Fuss Was About
Review: I have been reading fantasy novels since 1976. By 1986 I had read much of what was still in print - even Robert Jordan's Conan books up to that date. I then stopped reading fantasy for awhile (due to school and other things). Now, I have recently begun reading fantasy once again and several friends recommended that I read Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series. Having read many of the reviews here at Amazon for "The Eye of the World" and other works in this series, I decided I needed to see what all the 'fuss' was about these books. I just finished "The Eye of the World" and must say that I was very impressed. It was slow at first, difficult to 'get into' the intricate detail and plot that Jordan was weaving (I must admit that I almost quit reading several times due to all the detail, etc), but once I got adjusted and settled into the storyline and characters, the book just took off. Jordan, at least in this volume (I am about to start vol. 2 and read on) has really put together a complicated story with characters that have substance. This work is much different than some of the hackneyed garbage I have read in this genre in the past. I can see that this work has an intricate history already worked out, a history that is revealed piece by piece as one reads through this volume. Moreover, Jordan has taken the time to develop personalities to his characters. Often times I will pick up a fantasy story and the characters seem to be there merely to fill page space. This is not the case in this work. Also, Jordan is careful in the way he tells his story using foreshadow and other grammatical tools to his advantage in order to help the reader not only anticipate what is about to occur in the storyline, but to also throw the reader off so not to be too predictable. This is hard to do, especially in a genre where so much has been written that all the books begin to read like Tolkien, or each other (i.e. the same hackneyed garbage). This first volume was a grand story and has me impatient to begin the second volume. If you are patient and willing to work your way through this story and then let it take hold of your imagination (once you get the detail straight), it makes for a great and entertaining read!
Rating: 
Summary: An unoriginal yet satisfying read
Review: For those readers starting into the fantasy genre, this is a great book. If you are in junior high, this book would be considered "deep". However, for those past the age of twenty and have experienced other authors work will soon realize that the Young-boy-from-a-small-village-who-dreams-of-adventure-but-is-too-practical-to-leave-until-a-stranger(s)-comes-to-town-and-something-happens-forcing-him-to-leave-with-a-few-friends-and-he-may-or-may-not-be-the-lost-heir-or-savior-or-a-weidler-of-an-ancient-but-lost-power has been approached much more effectively by Terry Brooks and Terry Goodkind. The characters are interesting, but they don't grow. After 700+ pages, reading about the near misses and overwhelming dangers pursuing our heroes, you would figure that the wisecrack of the group would learn to shut his mouth. The author, however, is able to keep the story moving and the reader interested. Jordan is also good at throwing the reader into confusion, only to explain the actions later. Something of a cheap trick, but one of the more enjoyable aspects of the book. You can tell also that the "grand scheme" is not going to be explained in this first volume, and it is interesting enough to make this reviewer want to pick up the second book. If you have this on your shelf, or if a friend gives this to you (such as mine did) read it. But those looking to buy, there are better authors out there.
Rating:
Summary: WoT The books of wonder and length
Review: I must admit that it took me several tries to finish this book.. There is a very long and I mean long character building chapter er chapters that is.. But, once you settle in and say I am going to tackle this beast it is worth it.. there is tons and tons of information and subplots loaded into this one book.. And then just as you are nabbed.. it ends.. Ohh well guess you gotta be caught for the next book no? Overall the whole series is well written and worth the read if you like epic adventures.. On the other hand if you are looking for characters that leap off the pages and join your life.. You may want to look at some other authors.. For although the characters are well written that is all they are characters in an ongoing adventure.
Rating:
Summary: If "Lord of the Rings" Was A Blockbuster...
Review: This book was awesome, exciting, page-turning...whatever. The way that Jordan describes the evil guys almost makes you want to join the armies and help whoop him. Some reviewers complained that the book was TOO long and expansive. I personally enjoyed all of the unnecessary parts... it probably made the book all the more better! The end/climax was very short, it kind of confused me.
Yet, like "Lord of the Rings," its a cliff hanger& makes you want to go run and buy it. Speaking of which.........
Rating: 
Summary: Not the work of a Master
Review: I began reading WoT several years ago, and at first, I really liked it - it was suspenseful, the characters were funny, and the action sequences which wrapped up each of the books were especially exciting. At the time, I thought it was one of the best series I'd ever read. But now, with a little more experience under my belt, I've noticed a lot of defects in these books.
For one, Jordan, although he is a skilled writer, seems to be unable to create anything new. Every aspect of his story has been copied somewhere else. All right, I know that every author does this - but not to the extent Jordan does, and not as blatantly. Even the Lord of the Rings took its inspiration from Norse literature, and from epics like the Iliad and the Odyssey. Every author does this to some extent. But perhaps an author's skill lies in how well he can take the great body of literature that has preceded him, and create something new from the old bones.
Jordan has not been able to do this. His basic storyline - a gifted young man who saves the world - is amazingly stale. His world is an uninteresting mishmash of petty kingdoms, without even a striking geographical feature among them. Worst of all, his characters belong in a cartoon.
Which is unfortunate, because the Wheel of Time revolves around the characters instead of the plot. And unfortunately, Jordan cannot create realistic people. Every last one of his characters is a cardboard cut-out. It's as someone had taken a collection of robots, slapped some personality traits on them - like "noble" or "snooty" - and set them loose. No one ever changes!
And the women! Good Lord! Is Jordan a foaming-at-the-mouth feminist? Is his wife hovering behind him as he writes? These women may be most annoying gaggle of harridans to ever fill the pages of a book! Especially Nynaeve - she reminds me of Elizabeth Taylor in a particularly nasty mood. And then there are the obligatory warrior women, like Aviendha. Even the better ones are constantly belittling the men, who, for the most part, deserve it. Unfortunately, this merely reflects a growing trend in literature. Authors seem to be unable to create gentle, yet strong, female characters, who would be much more accurate reflections of real women, than the current "she-man" stereotype. When will they realize that women don't need to be men to be respected?
These flaws are tragic, because Jordan isn't a bad writer. He simply doesn't have the soul to write truly good fantasy. I think that a true fantasy writer must have a longing for the golden "other" - something indescribable, yet desperately needed. Maybe that sounds a little strange, or even high-flown, but I believe it is the truth. The best fantasy gives the reader that same sharp stab of longing for something "different", whatever that may be. And it can come from a thousand sources - maybe even from Jordan. But I find that he confines himself too much to the small and petty things in life. Maybe that is what is wrong with his books. We don't read fantasy just to be entertained - we want to go higher, to escape from the pettiness of the world that we now live in. But he has brought the world back to us, merely in a different shape.
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic first novel...but.....
Review: I always thought that Jordan's Wheel of Time series to be the best of modern fantasy...that is, until I read George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. The WOT series is brilliantly paced (at least for the first three-four books) but Jordan eventually becomes his own worst enemy. His style really works for the first three books, but he goes on overkill...and some of his character's quirks that were interesting at first get rather dull as all of his new characters seem to be exactly the same as everyone else. George R.R. Martin has done the best job at writing character development I have ever seen. If you like Jordan's books (and I do!!!!) you will LOVE George R.R. Martin!!! Jordan himself called Martin's books "brilliant!" You MUST give the Martin books a try!
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