Rating: Summary: another great one Review: all you jordan bashers can go finish your homework and leave jordan and his complex world and characters to the adults who understand and enjoy the work.
Rating: Summary: I wish i didn't want to know how it will all end. Review: i loved the first half dozen books of this series as much as the rest of you. but we've reached the point now where it is just painful to continue. i don't want to give anything away about book nine, but here's a hint. NOTHING HAPPENS! remember how awful book 8 was but you were trapped by the exciting ending and forced to look forward to book 9? well, you're going to have to wait another 2 years, because the battle was never discussed. didn't happen yet. that's right. 650 pages worth of two days where NOTHING HAPPENS. you want the cliff note version? read the the book summary. i swear. everything is in there. even the ending. had i just read that, i could have saved 8 hours of agony. the sad thing is that i'm going to read book ten. but i'll be damned if i spend a dime on it. i beg all of you to take it out of the library like me.
Rating: Summary: Time to Walk Away ............. Review: From the 'Eye of the World - 1990' through his fifth book "Fires of Heaven - 1994' , Jordan completely had me spellbound. I must have read each of those books 5 times. Some of the most griping and entertaining writing that I have ever experienced. Do you remember the chapter when Rand saw the history of the Aile through his ancestors eyes - Wow. Whenever someone would ask me for advice on a fantasy series to start, The Wheel of Time was #1 on my list. How could a fantasy series, and my opinion of it, degrade from such a high to the point where I've lost interest. I would now sadly recommend that any new reader stay away from this series. The "Fires of Heaven" was written in 1994. I have not read a good WOT book in 6 years. The last few books have been just plain boring. Why does Jordan refuse to move the plot. I would have loved to read a chapter about how the Black Tower defeated the White sisters. Instead we get 300 pages of Elayne's political intrigue. Jordan could have expanded the last 50 pages of the book. Some good stuff was in there. Why would he instead write 150 pages about Faile doing nothing. I'm starting to wonder if Jordan has spent too much time in his world. Is he losing is skill as a writer ?? All I know is that I've lost interest in a once great series.
Rating: Summary: Not the best in the series, but still FAR from bad Review: Granted, the pace of this book falls short of the pace of some of the earlier books in the series. Some of the descriptions do get a bit repetitive, and some key events and details were glossed over or omitted altogether (Whatever DID happen to Herid Fel's clue? And 2 sentences for Lan's fight with Toram?!?). However, Robert Jordan's story managed to keep me enthralled, as focus has shifted more towards the actual plot, which has become so detailed and convoluted that I would be thoroughly engrossed even if the characters were not developed as beautifully as they were. I think the change in tone in Jordan's more recent installments reflects the fact that much of the character development has already been accomplished. We understand the motivations, character, and thought processes of the major characters pretty well by now, as the characters have (for the most part) finished progressing from juvenile to adult. A lot of the early character development reflected the fact that the characters were still growing into the roles destined for them. Now that they have matured into their roles, Jordan's focus rightly shifts to the details of the plot. This focus on the plot appears to weaken this book, as most of the plot is either the continuation of previous storylines, or the beginning of new storylines. Very few plot elements are actually completed in this book, which only heightens the anticipation of the next book. However, the plot elements that are completed will have tremendous impact on the overall storyline. Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars, because the book doesn't have quite the impact of some of the other books in the series. However, it is a necessary piece of the larger epic, which deserves 6 out of 5 stars in my book. For those complaining because of the abundance of descriptive detailing, or the intricacies of the politics revolving around the plot, well, the interplay of the multitude of characters' perceptions, desires, and motivations are what makes the Wheel of Time such a brilliant epic. Real people plot, make mistakes, behave in a petty matter at times, and sometimes worry about inconsequential things. Jordan incorporates this into his characters, which is what makes them so believable. The idea that it would be preferable to just read plot summaries of the later books, or that the only important parts are the first couple of books and the eventual finale, is ridiculous. Why not just call Robert Jordan and say "I don't feel like reading anymore. Just tell me who wins."?
Rating: Summary: Continually amazed and, alas, dismayed..... Review: I have to admit that I am a little dissappointed at the pace of the last few novels. Then again, once I step back and review the scope at what has been written, I am impressed at the vision of what has been created. I have read, on numerous occasions, the critiques of the volumes written to date. Many lambast RJ for the wordy, pretentious length of his saga and others comment on his innate ability to drag this out and still suck people in to buy the next volume. My response is....why? Dickens was paid by the word and people in the 19th century lamented that he was not wordy enough. They waited years for his next installment of the Pickwick Papers. Yes...years (remember England was a global empire and there were no waygates). Again...why? Do you really care how many volumes it takes to finish this story? When was the last installment of the Dark Tower series by King? Anyone...? For those of us who enjoy the scope, the character development and the plotlines of what has been written we congratulate RJ on a work welldone. For those of you who are of the comicbook/videogame/short-attention-span ilk...step back, take a deep breath and concentrate on one character, say Rand for instance. Remember how he was in Book 1. Now trace his development through the series (you could, of course, trace any number of characters. With the exception of Nynaeve, all went through a growth and maturity phase). Having done that....how much time has elapsed? 5 years, maybe 6? Do you begin to appreciate the scope of what is being written here? Relax and enjoy the show. If you're bored maybe Wheel of Fortune is on and don't read the next volume (if, and when, it comes out). That may peak your interest. In the interim, let those of us who can think past the next Sweeps period on broadcast television, enjoy the ride.
Rating: Summary: Editor Needed Review: Jordan's done it again, and that's not a compliment. I was 400 pages into the book before I realized nothing had happened yet. I finished it thinking it could have easily been about 4 chapters in a well-edited book (which could have included book 7 & 8 as well). I've got a new rule about series, which is I don't read them unless they're completed. This rule is prompted by Jordan's Wheel of Time. I'm addicted to it, and I appreciate the rich fantasy world he's built (amazing political, racial, and cultural differences) along with the myths and magics he's populated it with. But it seems he's decided to make it an ongoing soap-opera, as opposed to finishing it off in proper form. I think he needs to hire himself a good editor and cut the crap. It wasn't so bad in the beginning, the books were more concise and seemed to come out every 12 months, but now it's 2+ years between fluff pieces. If you haven't started reading this series, don't. You will ultimately be disappointed, at least until it is completed (and maybe even then).
Rating: Summary: Robert Jordan is a God Review: So many people say that Jordan's writing is too wordy and to involved. That's the idea. You can't paint a picture without descriptive imagery, and that's what he does. Winter Hearts was a great ninth book that leads readers to want more. For anyone who loves fantasy, and anyone who has read Jordan before, they'll love Winter Hearts plot and intricacies.
Rating: Summary: Rather disappointing Review: Well... it seems that most of the reader doesn't matter how high they are rate the book agree that it is better them previous one. I'm not sure. There are even less major events then in POD, plot development is really slow. Just as in previous book only about half of expected events really took place. On the other side there few new characters in WH with the including long awaited Daughter of Nine Moons and one former damane. By the first look they are different from other women characters but first look could be deceptive. There is no solution for any riddles from previous books (murders, who is who and others). While the book becomes richer from its many subplots at least some of them must be resolved. The only relieve that this time Jordan didn't add anything new. This gives us hope that story finally will come to conclusion. Still despite all of this book definitely worth time to read. It's weaker comparing to the first books in the serial but it doesn't mean it weak.
Rating: Summary: Please, kill me now. Review: This would have been a good book, five books ago. I appreciate complex plot developments. I appreciate fully-fleshed out deep characters. I appreciate grand scale and scope in a series, but for the love of G-d, we are nine books deep and there is no end in sight! Even L. Ron Hubbard could wrap up a series faster than this. Complaining aside, it is a good series and we have been well and truly hooked. If there was something more to this book than the last 60-100 pages, it would have rated higher.
Rating: Summary: Just cook me up a hit of Jordan! Review: Ten years ago, when I was a young stud in high school, A friend gave me his copy of the first book in what we laughably thought would be a trilogy. Now, ten years later, even the critics have stopped predicting. And it's becoming clearer that I'll have grandchildren before this series ends, or the main characters turn eighteen. But if I stop reading, it'll mean I really have wasted a whole decade of my life. Jordan's adolescent heroes continue to wade through a murky sewer of plotting, whining incessantly about how unfair life is--as if anyone reading this series needed a reminder! What was, in the beginning, a refreshing intricacy and attention to detail, has become a bewildering labyrinth of names, places, reincarnations, intrigues, betrayals, love, lust, livestock... you get the picture. It seems even Jordan has FINALLY realized that his everything-and-the-kitchen sink writing has become off-putting to his fans, as this novel is trimmed down compared to its immediate predecessors (much like the Q.E. II is trim if compared to the Titanic). And the rich characterization we all loved in the beginning has become little more that worn out catch phrases (wool-head) and strong-arm hyperbole (everyone, it seems, could now give an Aes Sedai lessons in tranquility, unflappability, stone-facedness, etc.). But this book is better than the last few. He has mostly stopped skipping about willy-nilly between the main characters, instead following each for a while, and then leaving them there. This approach, unfortunately, makes it even more clear that there will be at least another five books before they finish what they're already doing, much less reach a conclusion. Still, it's an improvement. And relatively little time is spent dwelling on the plottings of the Baddies. But the greatest improvement over the last book is the return of Mat Cauthon! The coolest character in all the Multi-verse! Woefully absent for the last book-and-a-half, he shows back up mid-way through book nine. Unfortunately, even he is whining and moody, but he's there (you all knew he would be, right?). And steps do get taken. Slow, plodding, tortuous steps, but steps. It's just enough to ensure I'll be waiting in line when I'm forty, trying to get the new release of book twenty-two, "Sidewalk of the Forsaken", in which they all celebrate their seventeenth birthdays. If you're lacking funds, spend your money on George R. R. Martin, and borrow this one from a friend. It's not going anywhere soon. P.S. I've just recently begun to see in the book stores that where we would look for, perhaps, the next installment, Jordan has begun to ***RE-RELEASE*** "Eye of the World" (the first title in the series, for those who don't keep up)--split into two over-priced, trade-edition paperbacks. Guess he finally started listening when we said the earlier books were better...
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