[Hocknose]

I have been reading fantasy books for about 15 years now and one series that I've never read but always meant to was the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan. I've always avoided spoilers of this series as I've known I would read it one day. With the news that the final book is due to be released in about a year I though it would be the perfect time to start.

What would you guys say I have in store for me? How does it shape compared to Erikson, GRRM, Bakker et al

I was considering reading the re-read notes on TOR after every chapter...is that worth doing or will it spoil things?

update: just read the introductory post to the re-read on Tor.com and it said it was rife with spoilers so wont be doing that then!!

This post has been edited by Hocknose: 22 February 2012 - 11:48 AM

[Tattersail_]

Hocknose, on 22 February 2012 - 11:35 AM, said:

I have been reading fantasy books for about 15 years now and one series that I've never read but always meant to was the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan. I've always avoided spoilers of this series as I've known I would read it one day. With the news that the final book is due to be released in about a year I though it would be the perfect time to start.

What would you guys say I have in store for me? How does it shape compared to Erikson, GRRM, Bakker et al

I was considering reading the re-read notes on TOR after every chapter...is that worth doing or will it spoil things?

You will get many varied replies with this one on this forum. I guess if I was to judge books on quality by the amount of times I have read them then my favourite series of all time would include Malazan book of the Fallen, Harry Potter and The Wheel of Time. I've read each set at least 5 times.


I love the story and world. I love the characters. I love the books.

People will say that books 7-10 aren't worth it and they don't like it.

I'd say read the first one and if you enjoy it go for the rest.

I'm not good at book reviews but even after the final book comes out and has been read i'll be re reading the series many times more.

[Terez]

Hocknose, on 22 February 2012 - 11:35 AM, said:

I have been reading fantasy books for about 15 years now and one series that I've never read but always meant to was the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan. I've always avoided spoilers of this series as I've known I would read it one day. With the news that the final book is due to be released in about a year I though it would be the perfect time to start.

What would you guys say I have in store for me? How does it shape compared to Erikson, GRRM, Bakker et al

Most would say that those guys fall in the postmodern category. I like to think of RJ as being the pinnacle of traditional contemporary fantasy, and Tolkien as being the genesis of it, but that's just me. Well, me and millions of other people. But don't worry about those guys. Some of them like Goodkind and Eddings. Anyway, the the problem with WoT, such as it is, is that it went on for 20 years and outlived its era. It's still awesome, though, in so many ways that I've never seen in any contemporary literature. Malazan has a lot of those elements, but (sometimes deliberately) lacks a few of them.

What you should expect: something that is not what it seems on the surface. That is the best summary I can give of WoT.

Quote

I was considering reading the re-read notes on TOR after every chapter...is that worth doing or will it spoil things?

That would spoil everything, from the Prologue. She assumes you've already read it. You can always ask questions here, though. I'll subscribe to the thread.

[Jade-Green Pig-Hog Swine-Beast]

It's far more 'traditional', as Terez said, and it's not so deep and philosophical as Malazan is but the level of detail and the layers and layers of world-building and history is astounding.

Again, in some ways it's more complicated and intricate than Malazan but less confusing at the same time. That said, they're kind of totally different.

This is, of course, my personal opinion--just read and have a good time.

[Hocknose]

Tattersail, on 22 February 2012 - 11:53 AM, said:

You will get many varied replies with this one on this forum. I guess if I was to judge books on quality by the amount of times I have read them then my favourite series of all time would include Malazan book of the Fallen, Harry Potter and The Wheel of Time. I've read each set at least 5 times.


I love the story and world. I love the characters. I love the books.

People will say that books 7-10 aren't worth it and they don't like it.

I'd say read the first one and if you enjoy it go for the rest.

I'm not good at book reviews but even after the final book comes out and has been read i'll be re reading the series many times more.

Thanks Tattersail, I'll always give a book a try. I manged to get the 2nd one very cheap so I think at the least I'll read the first 2

Terez, on 22 February 2012 - 11:56 AM, said:

Most would say that those guys fall in the postmodern category. I like to think of RJ as being the pinnacle of traditional contemporary fantasy, and Tolkien as being the genesis of it, but that's just me. Well, me and millions of other people. But don't worry about those guys. Some of them like Goodkind and Eddings. Anyway, the the problem with WoT, such as it is, is that it went on for 20 years and outlived its era. It's still awesome, though, in so many ways that I've never seen in any contemporary literature. Malazan has a lot of those elements, but (sometimes deliberately) lacks a few of them.

What you should expect: something that is not what it seems on the surface. That is the best summary I can give of WoT.

Quote

I was considering reading the re-read notes on TOR after every chapter...is that worth doing or will it spoil things?

That would spoil everything, from the Prologue. She assumes you've already read it. You can always ask questions here, though. I'll subscribe to the thread.

I had an inkiling that it was gonna be a more traditional type of fantasy. I have read Goodkind and Eddings, as long as its better than Goodkind I'll be able to stick with it :-)

Yeah I noticed that on the first blog...wont be going back to that which is a shame cause the Malazan one caters for new and old readers alike.

thanks Terez I probably will have a few questions...

This post has been edited by Hocknose: 22 February 2012 - 12:42 PM

[Jade-Green Pig-Hog Swine-Beast]

I disapprove of WoT and one who I shan't name being mentioned in the same sentence.

[Drae]

I couldn't get through it. I found it unbelievably long winded and dull, but it was a number of years ago.

Just my opinion.

[Terez]

Jade-Green Pig-Hog Swine-Beast, on 22 February 2012 - 12:41 PM, said:

It's far more 'traditional', as Terez said, and it's not so deep and philosophical as Malazan is but the level of detail and the layers and layers of world-building and history is astounding.

I'll agree with WoT not being as overtly philosophical as Malazan, in the sense that the characters don't have long conversations and internal monologues that amount to philosophical screeds. There is a pretty wide range of philosophical thought represented in WoT, though. I wouldn't agree it's not as "deep". You just have to dig a little to see how deep it is.

Quote

Again, in some ways it's more complicated and intricate than Malazan but less confusing at the same time. That said, they're kind of totally different.

Right. The thing about WoT is that it's specifically designed to be relatively easy to read, though it gets a little more difficult as the minor characters pile on. But partly that's because by that point you're not reading it like you have to pay very close attention. It's an engaging story, and it pulls you along. Erikson dispenses with the niceties, throws you into the deep, cold world without respect for your shrinkage, and laughs as you struggle to keep up with his multiple characters and sideplots from the beginning, all the while wondering if the story is actually going someplace. That's part of what puts Malazan firmly in the postmodern category.

[Jade-Green Pig-Hog Swine-Beast]

Indeed.

I need a new copy of LoC...I lent it to someone who left it on a plane, bought me a replacement but borrowed that too, and then never gave it back. D:

This post has been edited by Jade-Green Pig-Hog Swine-Beast: 22 February 2012 - 01:00 PM

[Deadsmell]

Its a fantastic fantasy book. It's like a great adventure stretching out across the 10? 11? books. Has humour, epic moments and ones that will make u want to put it down and feel miserable Let us know what you think when your done.

[Jade-Green Pig-Hog Swine-Beast]

Deadsmell, on 22 February 2012 - 05:57 PM, said:

It's like a great adventure stretching out across the 10? 11? books.

Or 14.

[JLV]

As someone else said, read the first book, if you don't like it stop. If you do, keep reading. The first few are amazing, in my opinion. They continue to be quite good, though in some parts toward the end of the series it drags a lot. I think you'll avoid the pain because you can read them straight without the year wait for the next book.

It's quite worth it, I enjoyed them a lot.

[MWKarsa]

There are definite problems with the series and certain things might start to irritate you in the later books but overall I would definitely recommend the series. The first several books are excellent reads and after a couple you become hooked on the series and story enough to make it through the not so great ones later in the series. Really can't wait to see how it all finishes up.

[worry]

I've never read it either and I sort of half plan to sometime in the future, but I've read plenty of opinions on it, and my main question for the fans is: are the later books where supposedly "nothing happens" the kind of thing that irks habitual whiners and malcontents who only want plot plot action plot action (re: the kind of awful awful people who don't care for RG-through-DoD), the kind of impatient wieners who keep haranguing GRRM about the waits, or would you say there was genuine rampant wheel-spinning/time-wasting going on in these latter volumes?

[HoosierDaddy]

It gets pretty bad at times in 8-10. Granted each of those have some pretty kick-ass sequences, but they also contain the pinnacle of RJ's rambling and extensive detailing of the most miniscule of irrelevant things. Waiting a couple years to read the vast majority of something you've already been tired of for 5 books assuredly compounded that problem.

That being said they aren't so god-awful as to ruin everything else fantastic about the series.

[JLV]

There are massive plot developments, epic battles, amazing confrontations... but Jordan took to long to get to that part. If you have any patience at all you can read them, it might just irk you. I wouldn't worry, worry.

[Slow Ben]

Yeah, even with bits of shear mind numbing boring shit, the series as a whole is pretty damn fantastic.

[Terez]

worrywort, on 23 February 2012 - 12:20 AM, said:

I've never read it either and I sort of half plan to sometime in the future, but I've read plenty of opinions on it, and my main question for the fans is: are the later books where supposedly "nothing happens" the kind of thing that irks habitual whiners and malcontents who only want plot plot action plot action (re: the kind of awful awful people who don't care for RG-through-DoD), the kind of impatient wieners who keep haranguing GRRM about the waits, or would you say there was genuine rampant wheel-spinning/time-wasting going on in these latter volumes?

They're good books, and there's nothing in them that doesn't have a purpose (some of which only becomes clear later on down the road). I read straight through them and noticed a little lag in certain parts, but was honestly shocked to find out how much people hated those books when I found the online fandom. As I've said before, waiting 2-3 years for these books seriously exacerbates the impression of 'drag'. My impression of you is that you'll see through the surface to the 'deep' more easily than most readers.

[worry]

H.D., on 23 February 2012 - 12:31 AM, said:

It gets pretty bad at times in 8-10. Granted each of those have some pretty kick-ass sequences, but they also contain the pinnacle of RJ's rambling and extensive detailing of the most miniscule of irrelevant things. Waiting a couple years to read the vast majority of something you've already been tired of for 5 books assuredly compounded that problem.

That being said they aren't so god-awful as to ruin everything else fantastic about the series.

Well it should be apparent by now I have an unhealthy affinity for self-indulgent and aimless rambling, so a few bouts of long-windedness from RJ isn't gonna dissuade me. Also I think I did read the first book when I was in high school, and the word "trolloc" irritated me so much I never continued. Knowing that there's some deliberateness and homage to what he's doing actually assuages some of my worries. Thanks everybody! And sorry for the interruption of your thread, Hocknose.

[Hocknose]

No probs Worry, what you asked are similar things to what I was thinking anyway. I think being round Fantasy forums you wil always get references to WoT and I had similar thoughts in my head to you.

I think my biggest concern is that I love authors such as Erikson (obviously), Bakker, GRRM, Abercrombie and they all write very deep adult fantasy. For some reason I've always got the impression that Jordan might be a bit "kiddie" to me after reading those other guys, so thats why I held off. And then to hear that Sanderson is finishing the books kind of made sense to me because I've read the mistborn trilogy and even though I thought it was good, it seemed aimed at the teenage audience.