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.
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.
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'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.
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.
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.
Yeah, anyone whose read a little can immediately see that his characters are pretty shallow and undeveloped. If readers want to identify growth they have to pretty much imagine it for themselves. It's not unexpected really - he has over 1200 characters, and is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most detailed worldbuilders out there - though everything comes with a cost.
I'm halfway through another of Feist's books, and I think his characters are already more well developed spiritually than some of the main characters in WoT.
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Fan of Lanfear
Fan of Lanfear
Seanchan girls. Do they live in terror until 25?
02/06/2010 12:32:14 AM
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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
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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
- 868 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
- 851 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
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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
- 709 Views
Re: Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
03/06/2010 03:38:25 AM
- 560 Views
Re: Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
04/06/2010 07:46:08 PM
- 622 Views
Nobody knows about Sul'dam because it takes them extra long to learn.
03/06/2010 07:58:41 AM
- 1011 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
- 368 Views
Re: I think they retest only the sul'dam
04/06/2010 07:55:56 PM
- 701 Views
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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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
- 750 Views
Sure
03/06/2010 09:00:40 PM
- 759 Views
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
- 661 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
- 651 Views
Meh
04/06/2010 05:03:41 PM
- 682 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
- 596 Views
I think the number of characters directly contributes to the situation.
04/06/2010 03:51:42 PM
- 593 Views
Re: I think the number of characters directly contributes to the situation.
04/06/2010 05:04:52 PM
- 564 Views
Brandon brings out supporting chars. better, it's true.
04/06/2010 03:17:52 AM
- 706 Views
You're absolutely right. Sanderson gets "inside" the characters a bit more. *NM*
04/06/2010 03:52:29 PM
- 265 Views