The reason that I come here is largely by inertia. At wotmania I had stopped going to the WoT board altogether - once I clicked just for fun and it said something like 12,752 new messages since you last viewed this message board.
However, I do want to at least know how it ends. After all, I found the books an interesting diversion through Lord of Chaos. After that it was a boring, fifth-rate diversion. Now, Sanderson has recaptured the spark of the original books and gotten me excited about finding out how it ends.
Defining "serious" literature isn't that hard. It's literature that cuts across genre lines and raises relevant issues about what it means to be human in a way people find aesthetically pleasing.
If you can get people who don't read fantasy to pick up a fantasy book and they uniformly found it meaningful, the book is serious literature. Jordan obviously doesn't qualify.
However, I do want to at least know how it ends. After all, I found the books an interesting diversion through Lord of Chaos. After that it was a boring, fifth-rate diversion. Now, Sanderson has recaptured the spark of the original books and gotten me excited about finding out how it ends.
Defining "serious" literature isn't that hard. It's literature that cuts across genre lines and raises relevant issues about what it means to be human in a way people find aesthetically pleasing.
If you can get people who don't read fantasy to pick up a fantasy book and they uniformly found it meaningful, the book is serious literature. Jordan obviously doesn't qualify.
I have read lots of fiction including serious literature and I don't really agree with you definition of it. There's a lot of "literature that cuts across genre lines and raises relevant issues about what it means to be human" that isn't very aesthetically pleasing (although this is of course subjective) and should be read anyways because of the intellectual value of the work. What you're describing is Great literature and very few books that have ever been written fall under that description. So saying that Jordan's work doesn't qualify under that standard isn't a meaningful criticism to me since by definition that covers 99.99% of books ever written, many of which are a very enjoyable read.
On the character development angle, I that the five main characters (Rand, Mat, Perrin, Nyneave, and Egwene) have all changed a lot. That criticism is valid when aimed at the cast of thousands that surrounds them, but that's to be expected given the numbers, which in itself is part of the series appeal as an epitome of world building.
When the Wolf King carries the hammer, thus are the final days known. When the fox marries the raven, and the trumpets of battle are blown.
This message last edited by Rurouni_Kenshin on 06/06/2010 at 03:58:08 AM
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
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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 05:53:14 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
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
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Re: Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
03/06/2010 03:38:25 AM
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Re: Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
04/06/2010 07:46:08 PM
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Nobody knows about Sul'dam because it takes them extra long to learn.
03/06/2010 07:58:41 AM
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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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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
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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
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I actually don't read much fiction at all to be honest
04/06/2010 04:00:03 PM
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You're right about the fact that I have mostly contempt for Jordan.
04/06/2010 05:42:49 PM
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I have read lots of fiction
06/06/2010 03:57:07 AM
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Meh
04/06/2010 05:03:41 PM
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I love that: "I'm convinced Rand al'Thor is the most monotonous man in the world."
04/06/2010 05:47:01 PM
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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
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Brandon brings out supporting chars. better, it's true.
04/06/2010 03:17:52 AM
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You're absolutely right. Sanderson gets "inside" the characters a bit more. *NM*
04/06/2010 03:52:29 PM
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