I know that almost everyone has not read the book yet. There have been some great moments in this series. I hope I will not be alone in the following observations, especially once everybody gets the book.

I was most impressed with the way RJ writes about death. RJ's past experiences prepared him well to write about death in previous books. But there was one distinguishing characteristic that I think distinguishes RJ's writing about death in tGS from other books. You see, in the past, RJ wrote from the perspective of someone who knew death could come at any time, but just like you and I, he didn't expect it to come soon for himself. tGS was different. The portions of tGS that RJ wrote, he wrote KNOWING he would die. I loved his optimism in his battle with amyloidosis, don't get me wrong. But there was DEFINITELY a difference.

Not that I'm arguing with you about it, but I just want to through out that RJ had written from the perspective one dying. Back in WH, when Fain kills the renegade Asha'man Kisman.
RJ addressed the subject of death, redemption, forgiveness, etc. with many past characters. The best example I can think of is Ingtar in the Great Hunt, or when Fedwin Morr goes crazy in tPoD and Rand has to give him the cup of poisoned wine. But if you look at Masema's death and the other death's in tGS, you'll agree with me that a little of RJ himself was transmuted to the characters in tGS. Contrast that with the characters in the past, and you'll see that previous character deaths were not nearly of the same caliber. RJ delved more deeply into the characters who die in tGS than he ever did before.

The difference: we don't just read third hand about someone else dying, we feel and see it through the eyes of the dying person him/herself, a la Masema. And we feel the pain and heartache personally through Rand.

I realize now that I'm in for a lot more heartache as the story unfolds in the last two books. I was terribly saddened by tGS and the accounts of personal tragedy and anguish that accompany death, and I know that we are in for a lot more of this in the next two books.

Let me give a comparison/contrast for you. When I read, in the beginning of EotW about LTT going insane and killing everyone close to him, it didn't really mean much to me because these were just characters in a book and I had no experience with them...I had no personal investment at stake. But now that I've invested so much time into this series (I named my daughter "Moiraine" in real life), everything seems different. When someone dies now, or Rand gets hurt, it hurts me. I know that might sound weird to some of you, but it's true, at least for me. I probably should have felt that way about LTT back in the EotW, but I didn't. The difference is I've changed. I KNOW Rand. I KNOW the characters in these books and this series is amazing.

Having seen where RJ took us to so far, I know that this story is going to take us even further. I look forward to it, but at the same time, I know it is going to hurt because there is a lot more heartache, pain, and anguish for the characters, and consequently for me.

Oh, and Lanfear is the best!