Active Users:332 Time:07/07/2025 01:07:29 AM
I'm tired of mindless readers Cannoli Send a noteboard - 06/09/2009 01:54:14 AM
Anyone else ever get tired of the action occurring offstage and being forced to learn about it through character monologues after the fact?


No. Not if the really important thing is happening in the part that is shown. You're the kind of reader who would be pissing and moaning about the waste of time/space/pages spent on nothing happening if we got treated to Nynaeve & Cadsuane interrogating Semirhage futilely. The IMPORTANT thing is that Rand is not letting them use useful methods, and what this means for him and his character! What is the point of useless dialogue between Semirhage & Cadsuane with no relevance to the plot or exposition value?

It's been happening over the last several books more and more often. The most egregious example was Rand's meeting with Logain. It's the lazy way to tell a story. Rather than write the action as it happens, just let a character remember it.


Rand's meeting with Logain WAS the action, and it WAS the important parts, NOT the by-the-book meeting with Logain. Are you SERIOUSLY complaining that RJ did not show all the logistical details of moving around armies and Asha'man? The only detail of significance that Logain reported on, which might have been an actual scene, is Taim's reaction, and Logain told us all we need to know. The friction between Rand and Logain is much more important. We know all we need to about the relationship between Logain and Taim and Rand's & Taim's has not changed. RJ was not going to write a Logain-Taim confrontation with hints as to Taim's Shadow connections, so you would have been just as frustrated had that scene been in there.

I was disappointed in the chapter, not because of the writing, nor do I think it is Sanderson's fault, but it was another 6500 words with nothing happening.


1. Does each chapter REQUIRE "something" to happen? MUST there be a fight, One Power revelation or sex scene for every chapter?

2. What chapter are you talking about? I read, and was under the impression we were discussing, The Gathering Storm, Chapter 1 (Tears From Steel), where we see Rand is further along the path of psycho-hood, losing control regarding LTT, and still unable in spite of his estrangment from his humanity to order or even permit interrogation of one of the most obviously evil Forsaken merely because she happens to be a woman. We see more clearly than ever how he is looking at the worst in every situation, expecting the worst reactions or results to everything, deliberately eradicating his own humanity and even further increasingly obsessive. As an example of the last, he contemplates opposing Ituralde to further his truce with the Seanchan, and possibly throwing Murandy to the wolves as well, overlooking that the proposed truce was merely a means to an end.

Why not tell the story of the escape, or Rand's healing, or present some of the questioning scenes?


Because...and I am going to go out on a long limb here and make a vary tenuous leap of logic...they DON'T HAPPEN IN THE FIRST CHAPTER. Just a guess.
Cannoli
"Sometimes unhinged, sometimes unfair, always entertaining"
- The Crownless

“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.” GK Chesteron
Deus Vult!
Reply to message
Your thoughts on TGS - Chapter 1 - 05/09/2009 05:23:47 PM 6060 Views
For all of those whining about it not sounding like RJ: - 05/09/2009 05:47:07 PM 1941 Views
Agreed. If anything, it's a tribute to RJ - 05/09/2009 06:17:36 PM 1804 Views
You're forgetting one thing. - 06/09/2009 12:13:03 AM 1932 Views
And if he were to off Egwene? What would your opinion be? *NM* - 07/09/2009 05:38:36 AM 946 Views
He dislikes Sanderson's prose. Plot content is irrelevant here. *NM* - 08/09/2009 06:44:42 PM 1040 Views
Who cares? That would have been RJs decision anyway. - 09/09/2009 06:15:16 AM 1554 Views
not impressed - 05/09/2009 06:24:02 PM 1916 Views
all recap, no meat - 14/09/2009 12:33:35 PM 1552 Views
Pretty good. - 05/09/2009 07:35:41 PM 45326 Views
Re: Pretty good. - 05/09/2009 09:13:44 PM 1890 Views
Re: Pretty good. - 06/09/2009 01:19:22 AM 2132 Views
Re: Pretty good. - 06/09/2009 08:08:38 AM 1778 Views
Re: Pretty good. - 13/09/2009 01:22:22 PM 1507 Views
I found it well-written, but rather uninteresting story-wise *NM* - 05/09/2009 08:04:15 PM 1035 Views
because there should totaly be massive plot development in the first chapter - 05/09/2009 08:29:18 PM 1662 Views
I'm tired of passive story telling. - 05/09/2009 08:57:13 PM 1646 Views
On the other hand... - 05/09/2009 08:58:21 PM 1710 Views
Re: I'm tired of passive story telling. - 05/09/2009 10:42:57 PM 1556 Views
Which escape? - 05/09/2009 11:10:01 PM 1589 Views
I'm tired of mindless readers - 06/09/2009 01:54:14 AM 1704 Views
Re: I'm tired of mindless readers - 06/09/2009 04:01:56 AM 1872 Views
Your best yet Dom! *NM* - 06/09/2009 02:04:40 PM 987 Views
Re: I'm tired of mindless readers - 07/09/2009 04:39:36 AM 1569 Views
Re: I'm tired of mindless readers - 07/09/2009 10:42:29 PM 1564 Views
I was over critical. - 06/09/2009 04:56:48 AM 1501 Views
It's been happening since Book IV btw. - 16/09/2009 05:30:52 PM 1357 Views
A few things that drew my attention... (this is long and rambling...spoilers) - 05/09/2009 09:34:44 PM 1798 Views
I think Lews Therin's comments to Rand were the most hugely significant part of the chapter. - 06/09/2009 01:15:05 AM 1534 Views
I don't really agree... - 06/09/2009 03:50:08 AM 1509 Views
Re: A few things that drew my attention... (this is long and rambling...spoilers) - 06/09/2009 02:52:47 AM 2183 Views
Re: A few things that drew my attention... (this is long and rambling...spoilers) - 06/09/2009 07:08:08 AM 1487 Views
Just answer one question... - 06/09/2009 07:53:12 AM 2030 Views
Re: A few things that drew my attention... (this is long and rambling...spoilers) - 06/09/2009 10:31:20 AM 2040 Views
Re: A few things that drew my attention... (this is long and rambling...spoilers) - 08/09/2009 10:19:13 PM 1534 Views
If I may make a few somewhat irrelevant interjections... - 09/09/2009 04:44:45 AM 1453 Views
Re: If I may make a few somewhat irrelevant interjections... - 14/09/2009 04:46:29 PM 1631 Views
Re: A few things that drew my attention... (this is long and rambling...spoilers) - 10/09/2009 06:20:56 AM 1786 Views
On Egwene... - 10/09/2009 04:33:58 PM 1515 Views
Nynaeve - 08/09/2009 05:43:43 AM 1644 Views
Re: Nynaeve - 08/09/2009 08:06:20 AM 1441 Views
Re: A few things that drew my attention... (this is long and rambling...spoilers) - 07/09/2009 04:41:47 AM 1634 Views
Answers, short, long and longer. - 07/09/2009 11:27:53 PM 1540 Views
I think you missed some things. (spoilers) - 16/09/2009 05:21:43 PM 1316 Views
People who still have their wotmania SNs draw mine.... - 21/09/2009 05:25:15 PM 1367 Views
Good post, but I have an alternative explanation for the saidin barrier - 28/09/2009 12:53:41 AM 1342 Views
First thought...a typo! ner vous = nervous. *NM* - 05/09/2009 09:55:28 PM 977 Views
I loved it! - 05/09/2009 10:52:17 PM 1608 Views
I didn't like the opening sequence. - 05/09/2009 10:58:17 PM 1622 Views
Robert Jordon vs Brandon Sanderson - 06/09/2009 12:02:13 AM 1564 Views
Re: Robert Jordon vs Brandon Sanderson - 06/09/2009 12:44:11 AM 1618 Views
Re: Robert Jordon vs Brandon Sanderson - 07/09/2009 09:08:21 AM 1519 Views
This is what RJ said. - 06/09/2009 12:47:26 AM 1539 Views
Re: This is what RJ said. - 06/09/2009 01:24:36 AM 1558 Views
Re: Robert Jordon vs Brandon Sanderson - 06/09/2009 05:12:25 PM 1423 Views
Re: Robert Jordon vs Brandon Sanderson - 06/09/2009 07:20:45 PM 1419 Views
Re: Robert Jordon vs Brandon Sanderson - 07/09/2009 04:05:09 AM 1454 Views
Re: Robert Jordon vs Brandon Sanderson - 07/09/2009 09:33:25 AM 1439 Views
I found it...interesting --spoilers-- - 06/09/2009 01:33:11 AM 1739 Views
Re: I found it...interesting --spoilers-- - 06/09/2009 01:42:07 AM 1616 Views
Re: I found it...interesting --spoilers-- - 06/09/2009 02:54:17 PM 1661 Views
I'm excited. (Here be spoilers) - 06/09/2009 03:29:59 AM 1525 Views
six questions and nine statements - 06/09/2009 04:47:52 AM 1562 Views
Re: Your thoughts on TGS - Chapter 1 - 06/09/2009 04:51:04 AM 1543 Views
Re: Your thoughts on TGS - Chapter 1 - 06/09/2009 07:30:53 AM 1612 Views
I liked it - 06/09/2009 07:58:09 AM 1524 Views
Some questions... - 06/09/2009 08:04:30 AM 1553 Views
Re: Some questions... - 06/09/2009 08:11:08 AM 1627 Views
Re: Some questions... - 06/09/2009 08:53:20 AM 1529 Views
Re: I liked it - 06/09/2009 09:55:41 PM 1558 Views
Theory: Rand and Egwene. What is up? - 06/09/2009 07:59:58 AM 2419 Views
Also - 06/09/2009 08:24:45 AM 1543 Views
A simpler answer - 06/09/2009 03:04:04 PM 1621 Views
Really? - 06/09/2009 03:38:59 PM 1472 Views
are we already at the location of the book cover? - 06/09/2009 11:49:06 AM 1507 Views
Re: are we already at the location of the book cover? - 06/09/2009 02:43:24 PM 1511 Views
I still think it's Aviendha - 07/09/2009 05:14:50 AM 1370 Views
Omniscient narrator not neutral enough, for one... - 06/09/2009 04:17:51 PM 1697 Views
Yip - 06/09/2009 04:29:40 PM 1619 Views
Yes... - 06/09/2009 04:39:00 PM 1496 Views
I totally agree...the narration was the biggest put-off for me - 09/09/2009 09:51:52 PM 1373 Views
Two Things - 07/09/2009 12:25:31 AM 1566 Views
Moiraine - 07/09/2009 01:19:08 AM 1643 Views
The Moiraine thing is dumb - 09/09/2009 09:53:51 PM 1537 Views
She fell through the doorway with Lanfear - 09/09/2009 10:18:55 PM 1467 Views
uh - 09/09/2009 10:57:17 PM 1509 Views
Timeline? - 07/09/2009 05:10:16 AM 1523 Views
Re: Timeline? - 07/09/2009 05:52:50 PM 1484 Views
So what chapter symbol is it going to have? *NM* - 07/09/2009 08:09:54 AM 898 Views
the dragon in COT chap 23 ornaments *NM* - 07/09/2009 01:28:58 PM 903 Views
The Seanchan are up to something - 07/09/2009 10:26:23 AM 1520 Views
Red stone doorway. - 07/09/2009 03:27:22 PM 1417 Views
The whole thing was explained by Rand in KoD. So no, not new. - 07/09/2009 06:35:01 PM 1419 Views
No - 07/09/2009 07:57:57 PM 1413 Views
Questions, Comments Thoughts and Theories about tGS - 07/09/2009 09:09:05 PM 1584 Views
My thoughts are that the main page is being crowded by too many duplicate threads - 07/09/2009 10:23:41 PM 1542 Views
Hrm... - 08/09/2009 05:28:19 AM 1585 Views
Enjoyed it - 08/09/2009 01:35:03 AM 1517 Views
Ready for More - 08/09/2009 04:25:19 PM 1544 Views
... - 08/09/2009 07:24:46 PM 1478 Views
Not sure what I expected, but not this... - 09/09/2009 04:07:10 PM 1559 Views
I know why Rand is mad at Egwene...read inside to find out - 11/09/2009 03:15:00 AM 1596 Views
It's his increasing paranoia and dehumanization. - 15/09/2009 03:03:53 AM 1490 Views
Re: Your thoughts on TGS - Chapter 1 - 16/09/2009 06:20:14 AM 1303 Views
Semirhage isn't scaring anyone - 28/09/2009 02:32:34 PM 1802 Views
Indeed... - 28/09/2009 03:36:55 PM 1415 Views
Will the Chosen pass that edict down or just not act themselves? - 28/09/2009 10:29:53 PM 1405 Views

Reply to Message