I'm not really sure if or why any reader would need to suspend disbelief to enjoy WoT
RugbyPlayingAshaman Send a noteboard - 30/11/2010 10:31:49 PM
Personally, I find many of the themes and the plot points of WoT to be unbelievable, but I can enjoy the series because it wasn't meant to be "realistic" or "believable". It is meant to be fun.
Once I got over my need for this story to have a deeper meaning beyond engaging my imagination, I started to enjoy it for what it is. I feel that there are works of fiction, such as "War and Peace" that try to comment or reveal something about the human condition. While "Wheel of Time" certainly has themes, they apply only as far as the bounds of this fantasy series.
The fact that we have characters whom unlikely events occur around to the extent that they seem uberpowerful and lucky (t'a'veren) in the story stretches belief enough to make suspending your disbelief a non-issue. You aren't supposed to 'believe' these characters issues are real. IMHO you are supposed to have fun with the ride getting from Point A to Point B.
Once I got over my need for this story to have a deeper meaning beyond engaging my imagination, I started to enjoy it for what it is. I feel that there are works of fiction, such as "War and Peace" that try to comment or reveal something about the human condition. While "Wheel of Time" certainly has themes, they apply only as far as the bounds of this fantasy series.
The fact that we have characters whom unlikely events occur around to the extent that they seem uberpowerful and lucky (t'a'veren) in the story stretches belief enough to make suspending your disbelief a non-issue. You aren't supposed to 'believe' these characters issues are real. IMHO you are supposed to have fun with the ride getting from Point A to Point B.
"Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness."
Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
- 28/11/2010 03:38:14 PM
2601 Views
Re: Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
- 28/11/2010 04:05:48 PM
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Re: Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
- 29/11/2010 12:27:27 AM
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Re: Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
- 29/11/2010 12:36:49 AM
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Re: Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
- 29/11/2010 01:59:18 AM
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Yes, she still lets herself be ruled by her desire to control everything
- 29/11/2010 02:39:34 AM
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I vote it has come to pass
- 29/11/2010 02:48:26 AM
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Re: I vote it has come to pass
- 29/11/2010 09:42:51 AM
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Re: Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
- 28/11/2010 04:43:46 PM
1213 Views
Re: Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
- 28/11/2010 04:49:23 PM
1138 Views
Indeed
- 28/11/2010 06:16:41 PM
1092 Views
am i the only one who acknowledges that it's a jerk deal for jerks
- 28/11/2010 08:00:23 PM
1283 Views
Re: am i the only one who acknowledges that it's a jerk deal for jerks
- 29/11/2010 06:40:18 PM
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And in the interest of fairness, SH should've been all up in Osangar's intimate business
- 29/11/2010 11:34:21 PM
1093 Views
Agreed. The series is formulaic and predictable, and even I expected a few more twists.
- 28/11/2010 07:47:10 PM
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I'm sure that all the men Ituralde lost would agree with you about it being a breeze -_-
- 29/11/2010 12:32:56 AM
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Byar was compulsed
- 29/11/2010 12:46:01 AM
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Re: Byar was compulsed
- 29/11/2010 12:54:38 PM
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Re: Byar was compulsed
- 29/11/2010 12:59:31 PM
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Re: Byar was compulsed
- 29/11/2010 01:10:18 PM
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He disbelieves in the Heroes
- 29/11/2010 03:33:27 PM
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I think that's his mind deceiving itself
- 29/11/2010 07:19:05 PM
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I didn't say he was necessarily Compulsed
- 30/11/2010 07:40:51 AM
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Do we have his reaction to the Heroes themselves?
- 30/11/2010 11:55:42 AM
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They did get another thing right
- 29/11/2010 12:40:52 AM
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Not Mat's fault, really - Verin didn't rehash her opinion of him.
- 29/11/2010 02:18:17 AM
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It's the WOT Red Shirt syndrome
- 29/11/2010 04:29:12 AM
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I don't want everyone to win and end up happily ever after though.
- 29/11/2010 04:33:06 AM
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The disney ending is not realistic - or at least not as believable
- 29/11/2010 04:41:04 AM
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Re: The disney ending is not realistic - or at least not as believable
- 29/11/2010 09:50:26 AM
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It's a well told story with fun characters overall, but it's definitely not "War & Peace"
- 29/11/2010 06:33:12 PM
1176 Views
*NM*
War and Peace was very thematic
- 30/11/2010 05:00:30 AM
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Re: War and Peace was very thematic
- 30/11/2010 09:35:50 AM
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I'm not really sure if or why any reader would need to suspend disbelief to enjoy WoT
- 30/11/2010 10:31:49 PM
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I've always thought of this series (and fantasy in general) are a bit like Aesop's Fables
- 30/11/2010 10:44:09 PM
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Please tell me what drugs you're on
- 01/12/2010 04:04:39 AM
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It's called 'reality' - I agree with LadyLorraine & Moratcorlm
- 01/12/2010 07:57:35 PM
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You are absolutely wrong.
- 02/12/2010 04:53:52 AM
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You are incorrect - you should read the definition you reference before posting it.
- 02/12/2010 04:19:16 PM
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No, I read the ENTIRE article, unlike you. You have to scroll down a bit.
- 02/12/2010 05:47:13 PM
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No, you need to read and comprehend. That was a THEORY.
- 02/12/2010 07:11:01 PM
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It's really very simple.
- 04/12/2010 12:31:16 AM
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mk, I think I understand more what you meant now after reading this exchange
- 05/12/2010 05:42:47 AM
1016 Views
I still don't agree; sorry. I don't think this theory applies to everyone.
- 06/12/2010 05:30:41 PM
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No, those are disbeliefs that you must suspend.
- 01/12/2010 08:18:25 PM
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You have to feel the characters are somehow believable to empathize with them.
- 02/12/2010 01:05:29 AM
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I don't see how WoT's writing (Before, or now) prevents that
- 02/12/2010 04:12:54 AM
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I'm not arguing that it necessarily does for everyone, just that YOU HAVE TO SUSPEND DISBELIEF
- 02/12/2010 04:48:51 AM
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Black Tower
- 30/11/2010 01:50:29 AM
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Re: Black Tower
- 30/11/2010 01:57:48 AM
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No, the worst case scenario is that the entire tower becomes 13+13'd and fights for the Shadow
- 30/11/2010 04:03:07 AM
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Hopper's death... oh god...
- 01/12/2010 01:00:12 AM
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while i miss hopper
- 02/12/2010 04:19:28 AM
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Re: while i miss hopper
- 02/12/2010 05:30:52 PM
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Hopper wasn't that important, either, though.
- 03/12/2010 02:32:10 PM
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- 05/12/2010 07:07:44 AM
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- 05/12/2010 07:07:44 AM
883 Views