Rating: 
Summary: The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1)
Review: Sadly enough, I wasn't familiar with Robert Jordan's series, The Wheel of Time. And I say sadly in that I wasn't able to experience this series earlier. I'm a fan of the old Tolkien Lord of the Rings series and this book (series) is one of the few fantasy novels that has come close to the imagination and brilliance of the fantasy novel's forefather. (Tolkien) Let's be realistic - most of the fantasy titles out there are third grade trash and rip-offs of a "cult fan mentality." For instance, the numerous Star Trek and Star Wars novels that have low talent authors but people buy them because of the theme. This is a fantasy series that WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN! The author comes up with new and original concepts and you will be amazed by subtle insertions that predict the outcome of the book and series. The ONLY low point of the first book is that the beginning is a tad bit too slow. I'm on the third book as I write this and hope that the sequels do not let me down. So far, so good. :)
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story, even the second time through
Review: Reading the series over the course of 7 years caused me to forget the origins of characters and events, so I recently started over. I fell in love with the story all over again. I made it half way through book six, but I can't wait to get back there again and continue on with the story. I own every book including the commentary book with all the "art work" (I don't think highly of it). I rarely read books twice, but this book worth it. I'm keeping it for possibly a third read in the future. I love the story, enjoy the characters, and loose myself in the world RJ portrays in every sitting when I read. I'm definately a RJ junkie!
Rating: 
Summary: dont bother starting the series
Review: I had heard a lot about how great the wheel of time series was, I noticed that most of the books sold very well, and saw that it was generally well reviewed, so I decided I would give it a shot. I must say that I honestly do not know what the fuss is all about. This book was average at best, with nothing that really set it apart from anything else out there in fantasy today. I just do not see any reason to invest the amount of time it will take to finish this series. Do not be fooled by the glorious reviews this book and the series in general has received. If you really want to read an original and worthwhile series then go start reading Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Beginning For A Great Series
Review: This Book had me hook from the prolouge. It is simply wonderful.
Rating: 
Summary: not great literature - but still great storytelling
Review: This review refers to the whole series: Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series was my first attempt at reading "modern" fantasy writers. Up untill then I read only the classics: Tolkien, Zelazny, etc. I considered the more recent fantasy books to be aimed at children (the D&D-playing type of kids)and I shamefully admit that I judged those books only by their covers (literally): muscular men wielding big swords, curvy women wearing tight skirts, dragons flying and spitting fire, and so on. I was wrong, ofcourse. although I became hooked on this series only at the second part of book 1, I now consider my self an addict (I read the first 8 books in a row, even taking time off work to do it...). True, it's not great literature. you'll hardly find any great truth about the human condition or human relationships in this series. In that aspect, it can't compete with Tolkien's masterpiece or even with the writings of more recent authors, such as Robin Hobb. The use of language is also not very sophisticated, and Jordan's use of the same gestures and phrases to depict his charcters' looks or state of mind over and over again (he is obsessed with women's dresses, cleavages, hair, and even men's thighs) is quite annoying at times. But this is the wrong way to approach Jordan's books - they should be read like the adventure books we read when we were kids - a strong, gripping plot (with many, many sub-plots, masterfully combined, simultanious and overlapping - but sometimes too many to handle, as is apparent in books 7 and 8 of the series, which were a bit weaker, and opened up more questions than they gave answers), well-defined charcters you can identify with, romantic adolescent love (no matter how old the charcters are - they can be forty years old and still be adolescents) and a fast, action-packed pace which was the strongest element in the series up to books 7 and 8. Another element which elevates this series above the average in the fantasy field is the depth of the world created in it: complete with geograpy, history, myth, etc. the myths of that world are not just out there in the background of the story, as with other, inferior fantasy books (in such books, the so-called "myths" can be replaced by others without any effect on the plot of the book), but are an integral part of the ongoing story, and are crucial to the understanding of the story and to the creation of reader expectations about certain gaps in the information given and about what will happen next in the story. The depth of the world created in the series correlates with it's vastness - numerous well-defined and different cultures and nations, many, many charcters (a new one popping up in almost every chapter), and distant countries and continents yet to be explored - all masterfully handled by Jordan. In short: it's not great literature, but you won't be able to put the book down. I'm now waiting for books 9 to be translated into hebrew.
Rating:
Summary: Tolkien meets Taoism.
Review: "The Eye of the World" is the introductory volume of the mammoth and immensely popular "Wheel of Time" series. It lays the foundation to the series by introducing us to three young men who are central characters in the great and cosmic conflict against evil, describing their difficult and dangerous journey to the Eye of the World, constantly facing the perils and powers of magical abilities wielded by friends and foes. The series bears the unmistakable imprint of two main influences. 1. The worldview of Tolkien. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" was the ground-breaking fantasy that firmly established the future direction of this genre. His originality and imagination pioneered the structures of the fantasy playing field within which Jordan works. Although Jordan's characterization, description, and use of language rarely equals that of Tolkien, many of his concepts and ideas (notably "The Dark Lord" and his "black riders") will be recognizable, and this epic fantasy with its cosmic conflict is superior to most other modern efforts in the genre. Like Tolkien, Jordan's characterization and conflict parallels much found in the Christian Bible. Underneath the trappings of fantasy, "The Wheel of Time" is actually a very religious book. Aside from the central struggle between good and evil, there are many unmistakable Biblical parallels and allusions, such as the idea of the tree of life, and the multitude of prayers to "Light". One only has to substitute the constant references to "Light" with "God" and the point is already made. In contrast to the Creator and the "Light", is the Dark One, "Shai'tan". Is it a coincidence that this sounds like the Biblical "Satan"? "Shai'tan" shares many other titles with his Biblical namesake, notably the "Father of Lies" and "Lord of the Grave." And just as the fallen Satan and his angels of the Bible were destined by God to be bound in "Sheol" or realm of the grave, so Shai'tan and his followers ("the Forsaken") are bound in "Shayol Ghol." Jordan closely mirrors the eschatology of the Biblical Revelation, where Satan is set free from his prison, leading to a final cosmic battle between good and evil that ends the world. There is even a Messianic Christ figure - "the Light in the flesh" (p.779 ) - upon whom the hopes of the world rest, and like Jesus, Rand is tempted by Shai'tan to receive great power by kneeling before him. Jordan plainly borrows from Tolkien, and from the source that inspired Tolkien's cosmic conflict - the Bible. But this is not to say that Jordan is not original. Quite the opposite: he is far from a Tolkien carbon copy! Within the contours of a Tolkien-style genre of fantasy, he has created his own medieval type world, with his own conflicts and cast of characters. "The Eye of the World" has captured the hearts and imaginations of readers by its own strengths, not merely strengths borrowed from Tolkien. Although he rarely matches the epic grandeur and heroic tone of Tolkien's classic, Jordan in fact even surpasses Tolkien in suspense and action. 2. The worldview of Taoism. Yet Jordan does not slavishly follow Tolkien's Christian worldview, but significantly departs from it by strongly incorporating elements of New Age Eastern thinking, particularly Taoist religion and philosophy. In contrast to Tolkien and the Bible, where history is portrayed as linear, progressing towards a final goal, the history portrayed in "The Wheel of Time" is circular, repetitive, and without end. Jordan describes history as a "Wheel of Time" (a symbol for eternity) which turns, and ultimately repeats itself. Not surprisingly, this history features reincarnation. At the heart of the wheel of history is the "True Source" of power, consisting of equal male and female halves (saidin and saidar). This is clearly the Taoist yin-yang (Taiji) concept dressed in new clothing. Jordan's universe is actually very pagan in character, because the characters do not find success and salvation by reaching to God, but to the magical powers of this "True Source." Jordan's fantastic universe is governed not by the Creator, but by the "Wheel of Time", which leaves little room for the exercise of free will, since history is destined to repeat itself, and events are largely determined by the previous revolution of the "Wheel of Time". The Creator makes the wheel, but then it is the "Pattern" which weaves - "Everything is part of the pattern. We cannot pick or choose." (p.143). "It will be as the wheel weaves." (p.422). It is the Deistic, deterministic, circular universe of Taoism. But don't let the underlying philosophy behind the universe of the "Wheel of Time" scare you. I found it stimulating, particularly the notion that all of history and even my individual life is part of a grand pattern, woven by the hand of an unseen Creator. But "The Eye of the World" is not primarily a book about philosophy, but an exciting story. Although I do not share much of the thinking behind the implicit world-view of the "Wheel of Time," this did not prevent me from enjoying the book as an engrossing story. Jordan has created a series that lacks Tolkien's grandeur, but is more readable. Admittedly, the first hundred pages are somewhat difficult to read, because you are introduced to a new world, with new characters, creatures, and conflicts. But once this world becomes familiar, you will find it completely captivating. The action and suspense rarely lets up, and you will find it hard to put this book down. One could argue that the ending is somewhat rushed, but on the whole, these hundreds of pages are sure to keep you constantly surprised and satisfied. "The Eye of the World" absolutely deserves its place as one of the best contributions to contemporary fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: A good start
Review: This is a very well written book. It shows a lot of promise for a good series to come.
Rating: 
Summary: A Complete Waste of Time...
Review: Don't you people ever read anything of importance? This airplane literature stuff is a complete waste of your time, money, and mind.
Rating:
Summary: Second best in the series
Review: This first book in the series stands out, because it adheres much more firmly to classic fantasy plot devices. It does have a fairly unique plot though. The world is the classic swords and sorcery setting, however, the past of this world was one similar to our own, although magic was the source of all their power, not electricty.
The story centres around three main characters, Rand al'Thor, the shepherder who lives with his father, Perrin Aybara, the blacksmiths apprentice and Mat Cauthorn, the prankster. These three boys (all about eighteen) live in a tiny village far away from any major city. From the start of the story, it is obvious that Rand is Lews Therin reborn - the hero who originally defeated the forces of darkness three thousand years before - and several forces have converged on the tiny village in search of him. What makes this book so great is that it is well written, and it explores a large and incredibly detailed world through the eyes of three wide-eyed youths. What makes the series so great is that the plot is incredibly intricate and interesting. Where the series later fails is when Jordan starts concentrating on the female characters.<HR> Jordan has a single mould for women within the book (he does manage to succeed in creating a few who are markedly different, such as the fiery Aviendha. However, even these characters seem to become similar to the rest as the series moves on), the only real difference being their different skills and abilities.
Also, Jordan's writing process seems to have slowed. The first six books jumped from character to character quickly, covering many events in a single book. The last three books have fixated on a single character for several chapters in a row, seemingly covering every little detail of their various quests. This means that while each book progresses, the progression is slow, and the readers are becoming increasingly frustrated. However, the first six books in the series are very readable, and very good. Once you've finished these six, you, like me, won't care anymore, and just ravenously devour the next ones.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect Book?
Review: This book in my own personal opinion was absolutely perfect. Iloved it all, even beginning with the dull beginning. [Are] thecharacters being whinny[?] Well, how [would anyone] feel being brought into a world of monsters, beasts, knights, and other deadly enemies[?] That is what makes this one of the greatest books in my opinion. These characters are normal people being brought into this kind of world.A prankster, a shepard, and a blacksmith. Along with others, a gleeman(a traveller who tells tales, sings and juggles)a Wisdom(one who listens to the wind to know of weather) and just a normal girl. Like normal people, they become scared, frightened, frozen in their own fear. They don't just go out there and manage to kill all of thee horrid and powerful beasts. They don't try to take out an army, they try to keep safe, and not become heroes.I personally feel this as the greatest book I've read ever.
|
