Wheel of Time any good?

glen

Lifer
Apr 28, 2000
15,995
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81
I keep trying to start the first book, but the prologe sucks,a nd I can't get past it.
When does it get better?
 

datalink7

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
16,765
6
81
I thought it got better pretty quick. One of my favorite fantasy series. I have all the books and can't wait for the next one.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,071
885
126
I thought it was an excellent game. It was underated, like undying was. IMO.
 

Jfrag Teh Foul

Diamond Member
Jul 18, 2001
3,146
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I liked the series... it just gets windy at times.

Honestly though, I like the Sword of Truth series much better.
 

weezergirl

Diamond Member
May 24, 2000
3,366
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ooh i've heard a lot of good things about the wheel of time. is it a series of books? what is the first book? what is it mostly about?

 

Maverick

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
5,900
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good series...but its starting to drag a lot...unfortunately if he tries to end it quickly (which I think he will) its going to suck.
No matter what, the last battle will be a disappointment...its been hyped for 10 books...nothing can match up to that kind of hype.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
8,574
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first book is the eye of the world. mostly about the at first believable and then later boring and completely fantastical adventures of rand al'thor and his friends. 1 through 3 were pretty good, 4 got really slow, 9 was great because it dealt mostly with the most interesting (and only mortal) friend.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
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I read the first few and thought it was better than Terry Goodkind but not as good as Elizabeth Moon (Paksenarrion), David Eddings (Belgarion books), or L. E. Modesitt (Magic of Recluce). Hmm, also not as good as Steven Brust (Jhereg), Julian May (Many-Colored Land), C. J. Cherryh (Gate of Ivrel). I could probably come up with another 10-20 fantasy / science fantasy authors I think are better than Jordan but I'm supposed to be working now :)
 

DaiShan

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
9,617
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i never read the prologue and i'm not in the dark about anything, skip to the first page ;) it is a great series.
 

Mucman

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
7,246
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I have just started this series and I am loving it! In 2 weeks I am halfway through book 2.

I would suggest skiming the prologue, but read it again after you finish the book. These books always start slow because you are unfamiliar with the names. Thankfully the book has a small glossary of names and places which does not reveal anything about the plot.

I still hold Tolkien as #1 and David Eddings as #2, but Jordan has worked his way up to #3 for me.
 

NesuD

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,999
106
106
used to love the series. the first 5 books were pretty good but now it has become so long winded and pointless that i cannot read them any longer. The ridiculous waits between books now are a killer and when one does come out it seems nothing really interesting happens in the last couple although i haven't even tried to read the most recent 2. It just seems theat he built this following with wheel of time and now he is milking it with pointless story lines and not getting to the conclusion. I am tired of the waits and will probably not read the rest of the series.
 

LethalWolfe

Diamond Member
Apr 14, 2001
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IMO, the first 100 pages of The Eye of the World are kinda slow. But after that it picks up. Personally, I love the series, although I haven't had time to read the latest book. Jordan does overkill attention to detail, but I'm very detail oriented so I don't mind (or I just skim over the 3/4 of a page he spends detailing someone's socks and start "reading" again when the action/dialoge starts up). ;)



Lethal
 

Czar

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
28,510
0
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Yeah it took me almost just as long time to start on the first book and took me to read all 6 books or so that I had at that time, but sure as hell was worth it :)
 

LanEvoVI

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2001
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It's a decent series...definately worth a read...

But George R.R. Martin's A Sword of Ice and Fire series and Steven Erikson's A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy better. Those two series basically ruined everything for me. I can't read a good fantasy novel w/o comparing it to those two series. Unfortunately...not much can suprass those two...
 

Pocatello

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,754
2
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It's a good story, but the series have gone stale. I think Jordan is dragging this story on for too long.
 

Warin

Senior member
Sep 6, 2001
270
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The first five or so books were excellent, but now it just drags. I cant even get through the latest one I am just so tired of his style.

Eddings was good until he let his wife help him write ;)

George RR Martin is excellent. I cant wait for the next one, which I've heard will be out this fall.

If you want single novel stories, get anything by Guy Gavriel Kay. He does more meaningful character development and genuinely interesting plotlines in one novel than Jordan has done in all nine books. Tigana, Song for Arbonne, Lions of El Rassan and the Sailing to Srantium Duology are excellent.