The Wheel of Time bucks the trend in fantasy toward bleak stories of morally compromised 'heroes' crushing sympathetic antagonists by being about heroic heroes banding together to defeat the dark lord. Does it succeed?
The Good
The world is rich and interesting, with lots of history and a reasonably well-thought-out political layout. In keeping with the theme of eternal recurrence, there are parallels to real-world cultures, but they are still original creations.
Magic is innovative and well done. Themes of memory and storytelling are well explored, with lots about how knowledge of history and mythology diverge wildly from reality.
The idea of a messiah who nobody wants to be reborn is interesting and original. The friendship between Rand, Mat, and Perrin is well-written and feels real.
Jordan writes good, exciting battle scenes, apparently drawing on his own experiences.
The Bad
There's a lot of padding. As the books progress, characters are separated and have their own plot threads, slowing the pace, which isn't helped by Jordan spending too long describing clothing.
The nadir comes in Crossroads of Twilight, where between the first part of the prologue and the last two chapters, nothing happens. After that, Knife of Dreams wraps up a number of stretched subplots, and is overall a better book. The last three books, finished by Brandon Sanderson, cut Jordan's worst excesses and are exciting and fun - but if you've already given up on the series, they aren't good enough to justify continuing.
The other issue is the treatment of women. There are plenty of strong, independent female characters, and a complete lack of "Surprise! I can use a sword!" moments.
Unfortunately, what started off as a joke about how men and women can't understand each other came to be be regarded as an inviolable natural law. Sanderson improves the relationship writing a lot by mostly excising this theme, except for Mat, who in fairness draws it on himself.
Strangled by the Red String is unfortunately present in strength. The universe literally forces characters into romantic relationships. This leads to numerous unsatisfying romances, and the sweet and genuine Rand/Egwene relationship is soon set aside for of something inferior.
A curate's egg
The Wheel of Time bucks the trend in fantasy toward bleak stories of morally compromised 'heroes' crushing sympathetic antagonists by being about heroic heroes banding together to defeat the dark lord. Does it succeed?
The Good
The world is rich and interesting, with lots of history and a reasonably well-thought-out political layout. In keeping with the theme of eternal recurrence, there are parallels to real-world cultures, but they are still original creations.
Magic is innovative and well done. Themes of memory and storytelling are well explored, with lots about how knowledge of history and mythology diverge wildly from reality.
The idea of a messiah who nobody wants to be reborn is interesting and original. The friendship between Rand, Mat, and Perrin is well-written and feels real.
Jordan writes good, exciting battle scenes, apparently drawing on his own experiences.
The Bad
There's a lot of padding. As the books progress, characters are separated and have their own plot threads, slowing the pace, which isn't helped by Jordan spending too long describing clothing.
The nadir comes in Crossroads of Twilight, where between the first part of the prologue and the last two chapters, nothing happens. After that, Knife of Dreams wraps up a number of stretched subplots, and is overall a better book. The last three books, finished by Brandon Sanderson, cut Jordan's worst excesses and are exciting and fun - but if you've already given up on the series, they aren't good enough to justify continuing.
The other issue is the treatment of women. There are plenty of strong, independent female characters, and a complete lack of "Surprise! I can use a sword!" moments.
Unfortunately, what started off as a joke about how men and women can't understand each other came to be be regarded as an inviolable natural law. Sanderson improves the relationship writing a lot by mostly excising this theme, except for Mat, who in fairness draws it on himself.
Strangled by the Red String is unfortunately present in strength. The universe literally forces characters into romantic relationships. This leads to numerous unsatisfying romances, and the sweet and genuine Rand/Egwene relationship is soon set aside for of something inferior.
Also, Faile should have died.