In every one of Sanderson's books that I've read (and I've read most of them), I've seen characters who are believable. Elantris, Mistborn, Warbreaker - they all had people who were complex and fully developed. Few characters were "static" or "two-dimensional"; they would act in ways that were unexpected yet entirely in keeping with who they were, intellectually and emotionally.
Jordan's characters, on the other hand, have largely been ersatz humans with two-dimensional personalities and little emotional, intellectual or spiritual growth. When they display emotion, it is often with stock phrases and cliches.
Jordan's characters, on the other hand, have largely been ersatz humans with two-dimensional personalities and little emotional, intellectual or spiritual growth. When they display emotion, it is often with stock phrases and cliches.
See, its easy to make statements like that. Provide me with examples of where a major character acted in a way that was unbelievable, then we can actually have a discussion.
One of the very few instances in the entire series that has had any real depth has been Rand's "soul-searching" on Dragonmount at the end of The Gathering Storm. I'm not sure how much of that scene was Jordan and how much was Sanderson, but I'm willing to bet that it was more of the latter than the former. I never saw anything that real or immediate in Jordan's writing.
Really? Then maybe its just that you didn't keep the history of the characters in mind when you read, because I'm sure I read somewhere that Brandon said that last part of DM was almost all Jordan.
As for the other points, it's obvious Jordan's "Old Tongue" is a pile of crap, linguistically speaking. He would have been better not trying to write "in" it if he can't be like Tolkien. But he so desperately wanted to be like Tolkien.
Jordan wants to be like Tolkien? How, exactly?
I'll give you that the Old Tongue is crap, but what of your other claims? You said the world's history makes no sense. That RJ made mistakes with Ajahs? Neither of those is true.
Seanchan girls. Do they live in terror until 25?
- 02/06/2010 12:32:14 AM
1489 Views
It's a huge honor to be a sul'dam, and they test for that on the same day
- 02/06/2010 01:06:32 AM
866 Views
Re: It's a huge honor to be a sul'dam, and they test for that on the same day
- 02/06/2010 01:50:49 AM
867 Views
Re: It's a huge honor to be a sul'dam, and they test for that on the same day
- 02/06/2010 05:53:14 AM
848 Views
Re: It's a huge honor to be a sul'dam, and they test for that on the same day
- 04/06/2010 07:19:36 PM
684 Views
A few details to consider
- 02/06/2010 01:11:12 AM
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Re: A few details to consider
- 02/06/2010 02:31:08 AM
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Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
- 02/06/2010 08:57:43 PM
708 Views
Re: Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
- 03/06/2010 03:38:25 AM
559 Views
Re: Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
- 04/06/2010 07:46:08 PM
621 Views
Nobody knows about Sul'dam because it takes them extra long to learn.
- 03/06/2010 07:58:41 AM
1010 Views
I think they retest only the sul'dam
- 02/06/2010 04:13:55 AM
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I'll have to check my EotW, but I think Eg did have some fevers before Winternight. *NM*
- 02/06/2010 06:34:35 PM
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Re: I think they retest only the sul'dam
- 04/06/2010 07:55:56 PM
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Point on the testing
- 08/06/2010 02:15:26 AM
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Re: Point on the testing
- 08/06/2010 02:46:06 PM
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I'd think that would be a tiny chance given how diligent the Seanchan are in this regard
- 08/06/2010 02:58:15 PM
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Remember, Seancean have no idea channeling can be "learned"
- 02/06/2010 07:04:11 AM
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This is how Damane and Sul'Dam are determined, straight from tGH
- 03/06/2010 08:14:03 AM
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That doesn't make sense. Are you sure they don't put the BRACELET on the girls, not the collar?
- 04/06/2010 01:35:08 AM
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I am absolutely sure. Quote from book.
- 04/06/2010 03:09:08 AM
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*NM*
Toun, though too young can be collared
- 06/06/2010 03:29:29 AM
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I don't think Tuon will ever Channel
- 06/06/2010 03:39:16 AM
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Re: I don't think Tuon will ever Channel
- 06/06/2010 05:07:40 AM
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I just see all of that as potential plot lines for the planned follow-up Mat/Tuon in Seanchan novels
- 08/06/2010 02:09:26 AM
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Not at all
- 02/06/2010 03:52:31 PM
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As with most things in Jordan's universe, I don't think it was thought through very seriously.
- 03/06/2010 08:05:04 PM
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Huh?
- 03/06/2010 08:44:35 PM
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Sure
- 03/06/2010 09:00:40 PM
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Bah...
- 03/06/2010 09:51:09 PM
706 Views
Jordan definitely made mistakes with the Ajahs. In particular, the Black Ajah ones who fled.
- 03/06/2010 10:56:39 PM
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Re: Sure
- 04/06/2010 04:55:23 AM
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I don't know if that's totally true
- 04/06/2010 12:09:29 PM
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Maybe you don't read that much serious literature? I just don't see why you are arguing this.
- 04/06/2010 03:47:50 PM
660 Views
I actually don't read much fiction at all to be honest
- 04/06/2010 04:00:03 PM
684 Views
You're right about the fact that I have mostly contempt for Jordan.
- 04/06/2010 05:42:49 PM
650 Views
Meh
- 04/06/2010 05:03:41 PM
681 Views
I love that: "I'm convinced Rand al'Thor is the most monotonous man in the world."
- 04/06/2010 05:47:01 PM
595 Views
I think the number of characters directly contributes to the situation.
- 04/06/2010 03:51:42 PM
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Re: I think the number of characters directly contributes to the situation.
- 04/06/2010 05:04:52 PM
563 Views
Brandon brings out supporting chars. better, it's true.
- 04/06/2010 03:17:52 AM
705 Views
You're absolutely right. Sanderson gets "inside" the characters a bit more. *NM*
- 04/06/2010 03:52:29 PM
265 Views