Rating: 
Summary: Nice Ideas, but a whole lot of drivel obscuring it
Review: I was a little critical of the WoT series when I started, mostly becasue my standards for fantasy aren't too low. I am a longstanding Tolkien fan, and I suspected I would be let down by this book. Well, I was. But not wholly. The book starts out a lot better than I expected and its not boring, just a bit slow. Rand and Co. run from Emond's Fields and follow Moiraine and Lan supposedly on the way to Tar Valon. Unfortunately there were several problems here: None of the characters are easy to like. The three boys/men are more than a little idiotic, and the two girls are REALLY annoying (Nynaeve a whoe lot more than Egwene). Moiraine and Lan are shadowy figures whom I both felt dislike for. Then, when you get to the middle book you understand what all the criticism is about. The party splits in three but the divergence isn't handled nearly as well as the Breaking of the Fellowship. Pages are spent uselessly describing Rand and Mat's journey in minute detail and wasted on showing us how the boys are constantly afraid (Rand and Mat are REALLY paranoid, even for farm boys. I mean, every person they see they think is a 'Dark Friend'). This whole section does practically nil to advance the plot and only wearies the reader with the endless descriptions of the wretched condition of the boys. On the other hand you have Perrin and Egwene, another example of poor pacing. More wasted pages in giving us every step of the way along their journey with Elyas. This author, I suspect, badly needs a good editor. I also wish the author didn't spend SO MUCH time inside the character's heads. Every single thought of Rand and Perrin is given to us, like a stream of consciousness. Its plain annoying. After a while I found myself skipping the minute descriptions of such things as inns, horses, innkeepers, stable boys, the road, the weather, the food, the grass, etc. The relationship between the sexes is also quite crudely depicted. While saidin and saidar is a good idea, the people themselves spend way too much time arguing. Even in mortal danger a character will think: 'oh no, what does she think of me? will she spurn me?' etc. Only in the end of the book does the action pick up. Here it gets interesting and the pacing is much better. If only the quality here was brought to the rest of the book, it would be much much better. The book isn't bad, but its tedious at times.
Rating: 
Summary: Are you sure Stephen King didn't write this?
Review: Apparently, this is what you call an "Epic Fantasy." Epic is right. As in never ending, which was what I was getting afraid of.Jordan uses the word "Light" so many times,I began to say to the characters- "how about darn, golly, geepers,......" I saw that Jordan offered a map of his imaginary world. Am I blind, or did he leave out Aridhol/Shadar Logath? I tried to follow the progress of the little band of travelers. Jordan seems to have been in a rush early on, then added weeks of travel time later. After the 20th tavern/hotel/barn where everyone is looking over his/shoulder, I started telling them -"Relax..you have 300 more pages to go, and this is just the first book. Get some sleep." I have not seen whinier characters since Thomas Covenant. At least he was missing fingers, and had leprosy. I will return to George Martin's and Terry Goodkind's work. They are also lengthy. But, with their story lines and characters, I look forward to the next chapter. Jordan, like King, wears me out. Why can't those guys find an editor when they need one?
Rating: 
Summary: Hackwork on an Epic Scale
Review: Let me direct this review at the minority of readers out there who consider language to be as much a component of well-written fantasy as subject matter. Perhaps you have read and enjoyed such seminal works as Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS or Le Guin's EARTHSEA cycle. Maybe you're on the verge of caving to the considerable amount of hype surrounding Jordan's THE WHEEL OF TIME series. Let me spare you some disappointment. Jordan falls flat on his face. There is no lyrical prose within the pages of this bloated and pointless novel, just a load of tripe that fits remarkably well among the work of that sword-hugging cadre of ersatz-Tolkiens who litter the bookstores with their thinly-veiled rehashings of the Christian Armageddon story. No substance. No new ideas. Jordan is praised for his "ingenious" world-building in these novels, but I see no evidence that there is any care or even thought put into the composition of his irritatingly predictable and space-opera-esque creation. In short, if you're the type who eats up every TSR novel pumped out by R. A. Salvatore or who eagerly awaits the coming of the next Shannara book; if your favorite movie is STAR WARS and you often brag about your 26th Level Half-Ogre Mage; if you've never cared to look between the lines and still perisist in reading fiction solely for its escapist aspects... Well, this is YOUR BOOK. Enjoy. On the other hand, if most of those things are not true, I advise you avoid purchasing this book at all costs. Your welcome.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful but with a warning
Review: This book ranks on my list as one of the greatest fantasy books of all time. It is beautifully written and the characters are realistic and interesting. BUT the later books are not appropriate for anyone who is not seriously interested in fantasy. Unless you are a truly avid reader, you will find them boring and hard to understand. If you think you can handle the rest of the series, definitely buy this book. If not, don't touch it with a ten-foot pole.
Rating: 
Summary: Cornerstone of a Fanstasy Epic worth reading
Review: Two mysterious strangers, Moraine and Lan, visit the humble town of Emond's Field late in a spring which cannot seem to shake the clinging frost of winter. Their inquiries lead them to believe that three young friends are at the heart of an epic struggle between the powers of Light and Dark. The humble youth, Rand, Mat, and Perrin, are quickly drawn from the only home they have ever known into an intense struggle between good and evil. Their travels reveal to them a vast world filled with many wonders and dangers and they soon realize that things may not always be what they seem. Ultimately they may have to face The Dark One himself with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Robert Jordan's "The Eye of the World" is an epic fantasy created from Jordan's expansive imagination. He has achieved what few writers ever successfully attempt. He has created a richly detailed world, filled with intriguing characters set upon the backdrop of an epic storyline. Detail and mood are set quite well by Jordan's methodical style and mystery surrounds the characters which only adds to the intrigue of the storyline. At times, Jordan's writing skill does detract slightly from the story, but never to the point of putting the book down. He tends to ramble a bit at times and occasionally fails to properly set up events that appear to happen too quickly for the reader to feel the satisfaction of discovery. In the end though, the imagination and detail of the book do keep the reader quite engaged despite small technical flaws in style. Anyone who truly relishes fantasy settings will no doubt enjoy this read, and to those browsing this review who fit that category, I recommend this book to you. If you are new to fantasy settings and wish to sample the genre, then I must recommend you begin with Tolkien. Many have compared Jordan's work Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", but in my humble estimation I believe Jordan's work, although quite good, falls a bit short of Tolkien's mastery of the craft.
Rating:
Summary: A fun & entertaining book
Review: I think a lot of people take these books too seriously, honestly. They're fun, and hold my attention. I don't care that its the same story as Tolkien, its interesting. The formula works, even if its been used before. It's definetly worth a read, if you can look past the fact that its been done before.
Rating:
Summary: And so we begin....
Review: I can remember a time in my early teenage years when I picked up The Eye of the World to read, because I had seen my older brother reading it, and since I had been accruing an interest in the fantasy genre, I thought that I, too, may have liked it. But much to my surmise I realized quickly that I could not understand the first few paragraphs, much less the first chapter. So I delayed my reading of it for a few years, until my reading level matured significantly. I was not disappointed. I believe that I completed the Eye of the World in less time than perhaps any book I have ever read. Mind you, I am not some avid, die-hard fan of books, but I like to have two or three going at a time. I read when I can, but I do not make time each night to read. I read for reading's sake, and nothing more. Keep that in mind, and you will understand that for me to read such a large book so rapidly must have spoken a great deal to the shear pleasure of the read. Having read the complete Lord of the Rings before picking up this first book in Jordan's series, I must confess that The Eye of the World, as well as the rest of the series, have been much more enjoyable to read. The reasons for this are several. This work introduces a world which is fantasy in the truest sense, but which is so plausible that one can picture the circumstances and events vividly. Jordan's characters, while magical, are very tangible and very imperfect, which is so great to find. Just when you think one thing is going to happen, in comes a horde of Trollocs, and Rand covers for his fallen comrade's mistakes. Furthermore, Jordan, while providing ample detail, never falters in including wonderful action sequences or engaging dialogue. This novel is the first novel in a series, not a stand alone novel. If you are seeking for fast paced acion and plenty of immediate resolution, this book is not for you. Read it with the intent to keep on going in the series; after all, that was the purpose for which Jordan wrote it. The lengthy descriptions, the intertwining story lines, and the full-bodied characters all speak to a fantasy series of (literally) epic proportions. Enjoy!!
Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece
Review: The start of the greatest fantasy series ever written! The Eye of the World intoduces some of the most memorable charecters ever conceived. You will live and breath with Rand, Mat, Perrin, and so many others during your epic journey. Jordan's writing ability is almost god-like. The Wheel of Time is addictive, huge, and great fun! This is the place to start.
Rating:
Summary: In the Eye of the Beholder
Review: Author Robert Jordan has a strong, almost fanatic fan following that confuses me utterly. He is sometimes credited with healing a wounded fantasy genre, and once again I am baffled. This novel, The Eye of the World, is the first in the long-winded series, and though I cannot understand for the life of me what all of this fuss is about, even I must admit that it's a good yarn in many ways. This is not to say that I do not take offense as a rabid Tolkien zealot (as rabid as any Wheel of Time fan, but justifiably so!), for not since R.A. Salvatore have I seen such blatent thievery from the high father of contemporary fantasy. The parallels are outrageous, and yet, as is the case with most Salvatore works, it did not stop me from taking some enjoyment away from the experience. I have given the book a rating of four stars, but I do so almost with reluctance, for in a way it feels like I am only encouraging fantasy writers to clone the works of those who have come before. However, if one can overlook Jordan's somewhat jagged writing style and sometimes slow pacing, all copy-catting aside, then The Eye of the World may just be the dose of high fantasy they've sought. Of the Wheel of Time series, I have only dabbled in The Eye of the World, and it will probably remain so. I had gone in with no clear idea as to just how many installments there were in this series, and still it continues to grow - much to the delight of its fanbase, certainly. However, the depth of Tolkien's world and characters far surpassed all that is here, even if one only counts The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I get the feeling that Jordan could have ended this series long ago and been the better for it, but he clings desperately to the works that have made him famous. If, like me, you seek a heroic quest, but one that won't take years to complete, then I still recommend the Eye of the World half-heartedly, for though it clearly ends with a sequel in mind, it is an enjoyable stand-alone read. My final verdict is that Jordan certainly weaves an interesting tale, even though it's sometimes just a little too "been there, done that." If you can overlook the similarities between Eye of the World and The Lord of the Rings not only are you more tolerant than I, but you'll probably enjoy yourself a little more as well and, though I loathe to admit it, that's certainly saying something.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: If you ate up the stories of J.R.R Tolkiens Middle-Earth, then this will meet your appetiate. Filled with well planned plots, deep characters and a wonderfully developed setting which you can lose yourself in, this book is a must for fantasy lovers. I also must say books 1-8 are at the same level. The only negative I found in this book is the plots can become very complex and deep, and many plots do happen at once. The characters over the course of 8 books keeping tracking of characters does become a challange so I suggest if you want to start the series off and read the entire thing keep a piece of paper handy to write down who that character is, so later references in the book down leave you confused.
|
