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Is it just me, or is Sanderson's re-read of WoT taking an inordinate amount of time? - Edit 1

Before modification by Tom at 25/04/2011 08:36:39 PM

I'm aware that Sanderson felt the need to re-read the entire Wheel of Time series yet again (I'm assuming that he had read it at least twice prior to this current re-read given that his "official" re-read was labeled as just that - a re-read, and being a fan meant that he had read everything up to that point as a fan). However, his blog stated the following:

I ask your forbearance. I do believe that as a writer who has begun series, it is my responsibility to see that the other pieces of the story are written in a timely manner. However—and it may seem odd—I need to work on these other things to keep my next Wheel of Time and Stormlight installments good. It's how my process works.

So, that's the first warning. I'm taking a break for three months. The second warning is that I can't promise I'll hit the final deadline on the Wheel of Time series. (The last one was supposed to be out in November 2011.) The problem is this: starting January, it will have been three years since I read the Wheel of Time series start to finish. That's too long. I'm starting to forget things. I won't feel comfortable starting the final book until I've done another re-read, and this is going to slow me down by three or four months. It's an unexpected delay I didn't fit into my original projections of how long it would take me to write the books.

If I miss the deadline (which is more likely than not) it won't be by much. A few months, likely the same amount of time it takes me to do the re-read. But it is what must be done. So, I'd suggest that we set MARCH 2012 as the expected date of A Memory of Light. I suspect there will be some grumbling about this, but I feel I should let you know now, rather than later. It won't be an enormous delay, however. If my previous track record earns me anything, I hope it is the benefit of the doubt when it comes to me promising the release dates of books. I won't leave you hanging too long.


I realize that he's worked phenomenally fast in the past on books and has a far better track record than some other fantasy writers who will remain nameless but whose initials are George R.R. Martin of A Song of Ice and Fire fame GRRM.

However, isn't this superfluous re-read taking a bit too long? It's the end of four months of his "re-read" and he's only 33% done according to his progress bar. Skim a bit, man! There are plenty of boring sections that involve too many dress descriptions and horse names. It's inconceivable that he needs to read every word of the whole series yet again. At this rate, he will not be done with his re-read until 2012, much less actually writing the last book.

And why doesn't he do an interview with RAFO already?

Okay, there, my rant is done.

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