I totally agree that Egwene is a reasonable choice for the first person Rand meets after Dragonmount.
But Jason clearly said was (paraphrased): The last book ended with Rand on DM, looking at the sky and asking "why". This book begins with Rand coming down the mountain, like Moses, to have a long overdue chat with someone.
While I know the chapter names were not in order for the Great Hunt for the Seven Striped Lass, the first there was "Questions of Leadership", which is a fairly fitting title for a discussion between Rand and Egwene. These two are clearly the two big leaders of the Light, the on whom the Foresaken are likely going to concentrate the most in the next two books.
And like you, I'll be pissed if this is indeed the first chapter. It screws up the chronology way too much. A scene like this would work better later in the book, when the other characters are closer to Rand and Egwene's final chapters.
Here's a prediction: since the end point of ToM is definitely going to be ahead of that of tGS (since there has to be a reunion), I think the role Rand and Egwene will play is in making this reunion happen. It may well be that even with their differences, these two decide that they need to get their respective factions in order for a big meeting before they decide how to push against Shayol Ghul. Rand will deal with his in-house issues, followed by the Black Tower and maybe Arad Doman/Saldea. Egwene will whip up the Tower, work with Elayne on Andor and Cairhein. Once all this is set, they may plan for a big push to resolve the Seanchan issue (since they both will now think this is the thing that has to be tackled before TG). Decision made, they'll part to do their thing, and I think there on, we'll kind of loose focus on them and shift to Mat and Perrin. I think both their stories will move more quickly towards the end point of tGS (when the clouds break over DM, and the attack on the Tower is one day old).
Once Perrin and Mat have reached that point, we'll have their stories move into Rand and Egwene's plans for the BT and the Seanchan, which serves as an excellent reason for all the main characters to end in the same general location.
But Jason clearly said was (paraphrased): The last book ended with Rand on DM, looking at the sky and asking "why". This book begins with Rand coming down the mountain, like Moses, to have a long overdue chat with someone.
While I know the chapter names were not in order for the Great Hunt for the Seven Striped Lass, the first there was "Questions of Leadership", which is a fairly fitting title for a discussion between Rand and Egwene. These two are clearly the two big leaders of the Light, the on whom the Foresaken are likely going to concentrate the most in the next two books.
And like you, I'll be pissed if this is indeed the first chapter. It screws up the chronology way too much. A scene like this would work better later in the book, when the other characters are closer to Rand and Egwene's final chapters.
Here's a prediction: since the end point of ToM is definitely going to be ahead of that of tGS (since there has to be a reunion), I think the role Rand and Egwene will play is in making this reunion happen. It may well be that even with their differences, these two decide that they need to get their respective factions in order for a big meeting before they decide how to push against Shayol Ghul. Rand will deal with his in-house issues, followed by the Black Tower and maybe Arad Doman/Saldea. Egwene will whip up the Tower, work with Elayne on Andor and Cairhein. Once all this is set, they may plan for a big push to resolve the Seanchan issue (since they both will now think this is the thing that has to be tackled before TG). Decision made, they'll part to do their thing, and I think there on, we'll kind of loose focus on them and shift to Mat and Perrin. I think both their stories will move more quickly towards the end point of tGS (when the clouds break over DM, and the attack on the Tower is one day old).
Once Perrin and Mat have reached that point, we'll have their stories move into Rand and Egwene's plans for the BT and the Seanchan, which serves as an excellent reason for all the main characters to end in the same general location.
Jason's review... Looks like DomA was right (Review is now removed)
25/09/2010 05:40:18 AM
- 3425 Views
Re: Jason's review (spoilerish thoughts from me, so BEWARE!). Looks like DomA was right
25/09/2010 06:00:46 AM
- 1250 Views
Everyone seems to think Rand will talk to Egwene, but a male channeler also makes sense
25/09/2010 10:44:18 PM
- 996 Views
No Elayne hopefully, but again it looks like Egwene has everything fall in her lap
25/09/2010 08:10:54 AM
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No Elayne hopefully, but again it looks like Egwene has everything fall in her lap
25/09/2010 08:11:37 AM
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Perrin will probably gather the wolves...
25/09/2010 09:57:06 AM
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this "we like it because it's family" stuff is worrisome
25/09/2010 10:18:22 AM
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After his COT review, a less then gushing review isn't great
25/09/2010 11:42:39 AM
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But he is specifically trying to avoid being overly fanboyish BECAUSE of that CoT review. *NM*
27/09/2010 04:19:21 PM
- 499 Views
Damn, his COT review was infinitely more enthusiastic. What could it all mean? *NM*
25/09/2010 01:06:00 PM
- 515 Views
But his CoT review was also more enthusiastic than his KoD and TGS reviews *NM*
25/09/2010 01:07:15 PM
- 522 Views
Hmm, interesting point. Could a guilty conscience be setting in? *NM*
25/09/2010 01:26:30 PM
- 476 Views
I'm guessing Olver will sacrifice his Snakes and Foxes game his father made for him *NM*
25/09/2010 06:09:10 PM
- 655 Views
I haven't read the review but...
25/09/2010 07:22:48 PM
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That's not what I meant...
25/09/2010 08:25:42 PM
- 1098 Views
It's odd, I didn't see any reference to Rand descending from DM in his review.
25/09/2010 08:39:33 PM
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It was the very last line...
25/09/2010 08:55:49 PM
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Re: It was the very last line...
25/09/2010 09:03:14 PM
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Re: It was the very last line...
25/09/2010 10:09:58 PM
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I blame JordanCon too.
26/09/2010 02:17:50 AM
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Regarding the WOTFAQ, Tam,
26/09/2010 10:04:40 PM
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Regarding Brandon's messing up of the timelines...
25/09/2010 11:34:06 PM
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To me it's two different things
26/09/2010 01:48:13 AM
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I remember the timeline was discussed much at TL prior to TGS release.
26/09/2010 03:04:24 AM
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Re: I remember the timeline was discussed much at TL prior to TGS release.
26/09/2010 08:31:00 PM
- 1076 Views
KOD and TOM show where TGS could have been 'fixed'
26/09/2010 10:27:04 AM
- 961 Views
The review is back up...
27/09/2010 01:59:50 AM
- 936 Views
It wasn't quite identical... It was missing the line about Rand walking down from DM
27/09/2010 06:42:47 AM
- 940 Views
The line about Rand wasn't there when I read the review Saturday morning either. *NM*
27/09/2010 01:57:00 PM
- 428 Views
It was...
27/09/2010 04:22:24 PM
- 794 Views
I must have missed it then. It does fit with Tor's not releasing Chapter 1 early. *NM*
27/09/2010 05:06:36 PM
- 439 Views
What do you mean?
27/09/2010 11:33:15 PM
- 850 Views
I read somewhere that they'd release two different chapters this time. Could well be wrong though. *NM*
28/09/2010 02:15:28 AM
- 460 Views
Olver
27/09/2010 11:34:40 AM
- 1090 Views
doubt he'll die. Jason's review is too much of a spoiler if he actually dies *NM*
27/09/2010 11:46:16 AM
- 478 Views
One problem with the idea of a Rand-Egwene meeting in Chapter 1 beyond timeline issues
27/09/2010 10:29:15 PM
- 873 Views
Not true...
28/09/2010 01:00:40 AM
- 861 Views
Good call. I assumed, and still do, that the two events are one in the same.
28/09/2010 01:10:13 AM
- 940 Views
Not true indeed... and....
28/09/2010 02:24:00 AM
- 1098 Views