That is the date of my receipt.

The day began like any other, though overcast with a chill. I'm running errands, when a notion strikes me...is it possible that the tGS will be available at the LBS?

On this whim, I head over and investigate. Not wanting to let on that I know everything about the planned release, I sheepishly ask if tGS is available. "Oh honey, no. Hasn't even shipped yet, and with releases like that they normally come with a big DON'T SELL UNTIL wrapping", hinting that even should she have had it, she couldn't yet sell it. She goes on her computer to search, while discussing prior issues with large retailers undermining small bookstores, making small chat. The computer tells her it's not coming out until November! What? I hold my silence. I now realize my effort was futile, and with a sense of loss I begin to make my good-bye. Suddenly "Wait, that's from TOR right? Well, before you go, I think I've got a delivery from TOR over here. I'd hate to send you on your way only to find out I was wrong." She shuffles over to a stack of boxes, pulls one out that looks rather smallish, and begins to cut it open. My angle is wrong, and so I'm able to catch only a small glimpse of what appears to be a yellowish cover. My heart jumps. "Oh my! Well here it is!" She hands me the top book, "Here you go honey, you're the first on the block to have it." I nearly did a ho-down.

Thanking her profusely, pay my $32.39 and make for the door.

I'm ecstatic.

I don't believe she ever knew. Or she's just a nice lady.


I'm somewhere around page-150, having had to attend a party last night. Never has going to a party been so difficult before.

It's brilliant so far.

Only a few times have I found myself having the "is this BS or is this RJ" debate, and never in a bad way. Whether it's the simple fact of reading new WoT given all that's happened, or whether it's the quality of the material, or something of both, I've found myself quite moved to this point by numerous scenes.

It's truly begun people....Goddamn it's begun!