Currently reading Knife of Dreams, the last Wheel of Time book written by Robert Jordan before he passed away. The series was eventually finished by Brandon Sanderson, who wrote the final three books, making full use of Robert Jordan’s notes. It’s been quite the journey so far, eleven books into the series (twelve counting the ‘prequel’), and I will really miss Robert Jordan’s prose. I have no doubt Sanderson, amazing story-teller that he is, with his famous “Sanderlanche” endings, is one of the few authors who could’ve done justice to this series. Nevertheless, I will miss Robert Jordan’s touch.
Robert Jordan created an amazing world filled with memorable characters (some may argue too many!), and if you’re looking to read an epic fantasy, it rarely gets more epic than this. Jordan’s world building is magnificent, and if you’re familiar with Brandon Sanderson’s famed endings, I’d say Jordan has written some of the best ever in fantasy. Two of my personal favourite epic battles were in The Great Hunt (Book 2) and Lord of Chaos (Book 6).
I am not one who focuses too much on prose, but Robert Jordan excelled in that department as well. I am not a huge fan of descriptions of articles of clothing and attire that drag on for fifteen pages, but Jordan’s writing is beautiful. He paints a vivid picture that sticks in your mind, and makes it so much easier to distinguish between all the different factions in the book.
I am halfway through the final book written by Robert Jordan, and wish he could’ve written so much more. Will always be grateful to him for creating this wonderful world, and gripping storyline that keeps you glued to the books. For all the braid tugging and skirt smoothing, the 4.4 millions words that this series consists of are rarely dull (except perhaps a prologue or two in the middle books). There is talk on the internet and among fans of a so-called slog in the middle of the series, but I personally never felt it. The prose, the story, and the amazing set of characters will keep you going. And best of all are his endings to each book. Even after devouring a 800 plus page epic, you immediately want to move on to the next one.
It’s also a great time to start the series, in my opinion, given that The Wheel of Time will soon be a series on Amazon. Rosamund Pike as Moiraine looks to be an inspired choice, but the main cast of six (Rand, Perrin, Mat, Nynaeve, Egwene, Elaine) will be played by relatively new actors. Just don’t expect a Game of Thrones. While George R.R. Martin was in fact the first choice to finish the series after Robert Jordan’s death, the stories are quite different. Definitely not as much in terms of sex and violence, though some battle scenes, if properly executed on screen, will surpass anything we have seen on Game of Thrones. While grimdark is a popular term used to describe so many fantasy series these days, Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy being one of the best examples, perhaps, this is definitely not grimdark. The heroes and villains are clearly defined, and in the midst of despair, there is hope and positivity.
Another major difference is that this is a series that is complete, unlike A Song of Ice and Fire, which was perhaps one of the biggest factors that had a negative impact on the Game of Thrones tv series in its final seasons. While I haven’t reached the end of my Wheel of Time journey yet, I have full faith in Robert Jordan’s planned ending, and in Brandon Sanderson’s execution of it.
