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
1409 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
798 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
798 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
785 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
620 Views
A few details to consider
- 02/06/2010 01:11:12 AM
796 Views
Re: A few details to consider
- 02/06/2010 02:31:08 AM
807 Views
Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
- 02/06/2010 08:57:43 PM
626 Views
Re: Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
- 03/06/2010 03:38:25 AM
498 Views
Re: Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
- 04/06/2010 07:46:08 PM
554 Views
Nobody knows about Sul'dam because it takes them extra long to learn.
- 03/06/2010 07:58:41 AM
928 Views
I think they retest only the sul'dam
- 02/06/2010 04:13:55 AM
837 Views
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
335 Views
Re: I think they retest only the sul'dam
- 04/06/2010 07:55:56 PM
633 Views
Point on the testing
- 08/06/2010 02:15:26 AM
605 Views
Re: Point on the testing
- 08/06/2010 02:46:06 PM
673 Views
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
777 Views
Remember, Seancean have no idea channeling can be "learned"
- 02/06/2010 07:04:11 AM
729 Views
This is how Damane and Sul'Dam are determined, straight from tGH
- 03/06/2010 08:14:03 AM
1030 Views
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
558 Views
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
552 Views
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
579 Views
Huh?
- 03/06/2010 08:44:35 PM
674 Views
Sure
- 03/06/2010 09:00:40 PM
677 Views
Bah...
- 03/06/2010 09:51:09 PM
642 Views
Jordan definitely made mistakes with the Ajahs. In particular, the Black Ajah ones who fled.
- 03/06/2010 10:56:39 PM
631 Views
Re: Sure
- 04/06/2010 04:55:23 AM
716 Views
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
585 Views
I actually don't read much fiction at all to be honest
- 04/06/2010 04:00:03 PM
608 Views
You're right about the fact that I have mostly contempt for Jordan.
- 04/06/2010 05:42:49 PM
586 Views
Meh
- 04/06/2010 05:03:41 PM
600 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
523 Views
I think the number of characters directly contributes to the situation.
- 04/06/2010 03:51:42 PM
490 Views
Re: I think the number of characters directly contributes to the situation.
- 04/06/2010 05:04:52 PM
493 Views
Brandon brings out supporting chars. better, it's true.
- 04/06/2010 03:17:52 AM
626 Views
You're absolutely right. Sanderson gets "inside" the characters a bit more. *NM*
- 04/06/2010 03:52:29 PM
240 Views