EoTW 'feels' like less of a WoT book than any other in the series, to me. I get the impression Jordan was still finding his feet and working out the details of his world while he was writing it. The characterisation of Moiraine - remember that staff? jeez - was especially glaringly odd. I think it he'd had the opportunity or inclination to re-write it, it would be a very different book.
I totally agree with this! I always thought, while EoTW was a decent book, it just didn't fit in with the others in the series.
One other thing that I've noticed about Sanderson vs. Jordan: I never thought Mat was very funny until Sanderson wrote him. Now I appreciate his character a lot more.
Hail and Hallelujah, there's someone else who doesn't like Elayne! *weeps with happiness* while she can occasionally be amusing, most of her scenes in recent books have made me want to bite something. She keeps nearly getting killed in stupid, preventable ways, which wouldn't bother me, except that she doesn't stop to think if she's putting the people around her in danger too. Examples - early in PoD, playing with the ter'angreal. Remember that little hedgehog that snared Faile, and later Perrin? Or the one that gives you such a headache that you can't channel for hours afterwards? The lot of them could have been passed out on the ground when the Seanchan turned up. Did she listen when Vandene tried to tell her this? No, she did not. Elayne made an a'dam once, so she knows best.
The worst thing about Elayne, for me, is her snobbishness. Though I understand where you're coming from, in terms of her making stupid decisions that almost get her killed. I never knew what Rand saw in her. A European friend of mine says that being American makes me less likely to appreciate that she's nobility... what do you think?
As has been remarked upon, her decision making becomes - if possible - even worse after she learns of her pregnancy. Utterly convinced of her own invulnerability, she throws herself into hideous danger, heedless of the many terrible things that could happen and still leave her able to bear children. What if she was stilled, or burned out? Her bonds would be snapped, killing both Birgitte and Rand! Or what if she was kidnapped, forkrooted, and kept in Mellar's basement? Her babies might be born healthy, but she'd be wishing for death long before they were.
I don't think if she was stilled her bonds would snap. Remember, Min has Rand's bond, and she doesn't have access to the OP.
Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position. - Bill Maher
Serious ramblings about WOT
- 09/12/2010 04:10:05 AM
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Re: Serious ramblings about WOT
- 09/12/2010 04:26:52 AM
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Re: Serious ramblings about WOT
- 09/12/2010 04:44:47 AM
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Re: Serious ramblings about WOT
- 09/12/2010 05:15:12 AM
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Very interesting.
- 09/12/2010 05:50:23 AM
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Oddly enough, I'd say that the WOMEN all seem to be cut from the same cloth
- 09/12/2010 03:10:43 PM
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Oh, and a note on Sanderson: I think his WoT stuff isn't as good as his original works
- 09/12/2010 03:34:27 PM
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Re: Oh, and a note on Sanderson: I think his WoT stuff isn't as good as his original works
- 09/12/2010 03:47:37 PM
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Hm... I'm not sure if "simpler" is the right word for Sanderson's magic systems
- 09/12/2010 04:40:30 PM
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