November 09, 2005

Robert Jordan

I am reading book 11... that is ELEVEN of Robert Jordan's the wheel of time.
If you have not started this series, don't. I am stuck due to my personality and would love to be done with the story. The problem is Jordan discovered the udders on this cow and is happily milking away. Chapter after chapter of events that neither contribute to the story, nor advance it. Eleven books at an average of around 750 pages each.

I understand he wants to make money, sure we all do. What I would advise being neither a writer or a critic, would be complete the main story, then produce novellas about the side adventures. People have Jordan fatigue due to long waits between books and the lack of an ending. The 10th book was good. I really enjoyed it, this one is once again spinning it's wheels and thumping it's chest accomplishing little.

My personality compells me to finish this series, but my heart, she is not in it.

Posted by Rob at November 9, 2005 10:22 AM
Comments

Heh. I remember trying the first book of that series a few years ago. I made it through half of the first book before tossing it away in boredom, while it was taking chapter upon chapter to get across a plain and to a city, or something.

But what I dislike about Jordan most is that he created or at least helped create the current publishing trend of Sagas. Authors who would have a nice, gripping and compelling story in three books or less feel obligated to stretch these things out like taffy in order to sell more books. Goodkind. Martin. Drake. The list goes on, much like the story.

Posted by: Shannon at November 9, 2005 06:43 PM

1st half of Wheel of Time was crap... Shannon tossed just a moment too soon it would seem. Rest of book one on up through Book 6 was some of the best Fantasy I've ever read. As far as I'm concerned the series ended at the close of book 6. Everything pretty much happened that I need to happen and if I want to continue the story past that I can dream it up better than someone who is just trying to get money out of people. I read 7 and about a 1/4th of 8, and realized I got NO RETURN ON MY INVESTMENT for those books. My time was too important to me to spend reading that crap. Fortunately I've forgotten 7 & 8 and instead just look back on the first 6 (minus the opening of book 1) with fond memories.

Posted by: Jay at November 17, 2005 12:46 PM
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