Wheel of Time - Page 2

GreenMonkey · 11-17-2010, 01:58 AM

I find these terrible. Honestly, they're the worst best selling fantasy IMO. I thought Terry Brook's Voyage of the Jerle Shanarra and High Druid series weren't very good and didn't really go anywhere new, but WoT is far worse IMO.

The descriptions of fights aren't descriptions..."Snake Flows Down the River" or whatever isn't a description. The characters don't seem to change much. And nothing much ever seems to happen. I dropped the series around book 5 when I realized that I didn't really enjoy them, at all. It's like they just spin and spin with lengthy descriptions of vines growing on a wall or whatever but nothing REALLY happens.

Only other fantasy series I can think of that I dropped in disgust was David Edding's Dreamers books (that only took about 100 pages to notice it was a carbon copy of the Belgariad and Mallorean and the Sparhawk books...but worse).

I'm with this guy on 'em, this is a very dated site, but the way he talks about it is spot-on for me.

http://www.members.tripod.com/~wotiscrap/mystory.html

Zyzomys · 11-17-2010, 09:02 AM

I am really enjoying this series and think Brandon Sanderson is doing an excellent job with the latest two books. I have grown quite fond of all the central characters and I am simply sitting back and enjoying the journey rather than anticipating the destination. I will be of mixed feelings when the series is finally finished - happy to have read an excellent epic but sad to see it go.

darknessangel · 11-17-2010, 09:13 AM

Hell yeah! The Towers of Midnight is out!... This will be my book for reading during x-mas vacation! *scurries away to the evil internet while cackling evily*

jhempel24 · 11-17-2010, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xanthe

I've never even started it, and don't know if I ever will. After all, I've never managed to make myself read Tolkien.

Are you a fan of fantasy?? If not, I understand, if you are, that's like a Catholic saying they've never looked at the Bible!

queentess · 11-17-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I'm currently on book 6, and I can definitely see your point. Action is slowing down and the story line seems to crawl along. And the characters have the same fears and internal dialog with themselves repeatedly to the point of being tiresome.

True, in real life we go over the same emotional territory time and time again. But this ain't real life! Books 5 and 6 could easily have been edited down into a single volume of modest size.

That bing said, I still like the main characters and will probably slog along for a bit longer. But the author IS trying my patience.

DO NOT read book 10. Just don't. I say this as a fan of the series. Look up the synopsis online and then just skip the book. [I remember there being a synopsis put out by Tor, but I'm unable to locate it now. This appears to be a good summary.] I stopped reading the series at this book, but FINALLY slogged my way through it when I heard Sanderson was going to be finishing the series. (Did I mention I was bedridden?) I wish I wouldn't have. Staring at the ceiling until someone brought me a better book would be been the better choice.

Read the synopsis and then go read the reviews on Amazon. They're priceless. And the books by Sanderson are (so far) very very good.

Tattncat · 11-17-2010, 11:10 AM

It's always been a favorite, just an expensive favorite. I stopped around book nine because the length od time between books was too far out.

I have been waiting for years for it to finish, so that I could read it in it's entirety. Which I'm getting ready to do.

I think that's why I'm really annoyed with Paolini. The fourth book in the Eregon series was due out well over a year ago! Grrrrrrr /

zuul · 11-17-2010, 11:17 AM

I've been reading these books since 1990 and watched them go from the best fantasy novel since lotrs to some of the worse ever written and back again. I can't give a recommemdation until i read the final pay off, only then can i say after 20 years if it was worth it.

zuul

drofgnal · 11-17-2010, 01:36 PM

I read book one about 9 years ago. After reading book one, I never felt a serious compulsion to read any of the others.

kindlekitten · 11-17-2010, 03:22 PM

I've thouroughly enjoyed them and think that Sanderson did a superb job taking up the reins

Lady Fitzgerald · 11-17-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

Only other fantasy series I can think of that I dropped in disgust was David Edding's Dreamers books (that only took about 100 pages to notice it was a carbon copy of the Belgariad and Mallorean and the Sparhawk books...but worse).

I agree. I read them all and you were wise to drop them early. The ending totally sucked.

KenJackson · 11-17-2010, 09:43 PM

Did you see the trailer for Towers of Midnight at Amazon? A trailer for a book! I've never seen that before.

As for the question, I'm not voting because I never heard of this series and any book that has a slayer of wolves probably wouldn't interest me (unless there's a time travel angle).

Davey O · 11-18-2010, 09:49 AM

I can easily picture a new land and areas described in these books from the detailed descriptions so even if they are a bit slow on action at times, ive never been bored of them, could some one please tell me what SOT + author is short for and if its a full series available to buy in epub format in the UK , im quite new to sifi/fantasy thanks for any reply's

Latinandgreek · 11-18-2010, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey O

I can easily picture a new land and areas described in these books from the detailed descriptions so even if they are a bit slow on action at times, ive never been bored of them, could some one please tell me what SOT + author is short for and if its a full series available to buy in epub format in the UK , im quite new to sifi/fantasy thanks for any reply's

SOT is Sword of Truth, a series by Terry Goodkind. I believe that the entire series is being released in ebook format, I'm not sure if all of the books are currently available in epub format as of yet. I enjoyed the first 5 books, my interest then started to wane a bit. I do plan on finishing the series, however. I'm on book 9 (of 11. A twelfth book is scheduled to be released.)

nathanb · 11-18-2010, 08:50 PM

I have very mixed feelings about this series. I loved the first few books.

But then it just kept dragging on and on ... and on.

I honestly feel like the original author was pointlessly prolonging the books, especially because nothing happened to move the story forward in any recognizable way. The only reason I am still reading is because I am curious as to how it all ends (if it ever will!).

I will withhold final judgement until the series is finally finished. But, I am no longer buying any more hardcover books from this series... they are getting as little of my money as possible from this point forward. They have already made enough off of me.

If I have to wait longer for a cheaper version or wait until I can borrow if from the library, so be it.

NVash · 11-18-2010, 09:12 PM

This is probably my second time trying to read this series. When I was younger I had a friend who couldnt stop singing the praises of this series. I was more into Sci-Fi, Hitchhikers Guide being my favorite series then and now, but Im willing to give Fantasy a try. The Hobbit was good right? Well I got the book from my library and got about 200 pages in before I just lost interest and returned it. Now that its almost finished I figured Id pick it up and try it again. However this time Im reading from the prequel. No matter how much I attempt to pay attention the book seems to drone on and sometimes I even find myself fighting sleep. Its a shame because I really want to like this series. It seems very well thought out and as if theres quite a story to tell. Its just taking forever to get anywhere.

View Poll Results: Do you like the Wheel of Time Novels
A Big Zero	6	10.71%
Ok	15	26.79%
Pretty Good	14	25.00%
Love it	21	37.50%
Voters: 56. You may not vote on this poll

11-17-2010, 01:58 AM	#16
GreenMonkey DRM hater Posts: 945 Karma: 2066176 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Michigan Device: Nook ST glow, Kindle Voyage	I find these terrible. Honestly, they're the worst best selling fantasy IMO. I thought Terry Brook's Voyage of the Jerle Shanarra and High Druid series weren't very good and didn't really go anywhere new, but WoT is far worse IMO. The descriptions of fights aren't descriptions..."Snake Flows Down the River" or whatever isn't a description. The characters don't seem to change much. And nothing much ever seems to happen. I dropped the series around book 5 when I realized that I didn't really enjoy them, at all. It's like they just spin and spin with lengthy descriptions of vines growing on a wall or whatever but nothing REALLY happens. Only other fantasy series I can think of that I dropped in disgust was David Edding's Dreamers books (that only took about 100 pages to notice it was a carbon copy of the Belgariad and Mallorean and the Sparhawk books...but worse). I'm with this guy on 'em, this is a very dated site, but the way he talks about it is spot-on for me. http://www.members.tripod.com/~wotiscrap/mystory.html Last edited by GreenMonkey; 11-17-2010 at 02:07 AM.

11-17-2010, 09:13 AM	#18
darknessangel Addict Posts: 297 Karma: 1018140 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: PRS-505, iPad	Hell yeah! The Towers of Midnight is out!... This will be my book for reading during x-mas vacation! scurries away to the evil internet while cackling evily Last edited by darknessangel; 11-17-2010 at 09:15 AM.

11-18-2010, 09:49 AM	#27
Davey O Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: sony e reader prs 300	SOT + author ? I can easily picture a new land and areas described in these books from the detailed descriptions so even if they are a bit slow on action at times, ive never been bored of them, could some one please tell me what SOT + author is short for and if its a full series available to buy in epub format in the UK , im quite new to sifi/fantasy thanks for any reply's

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11-17-2010, 09:02 AM	#17
Zyzomys Hooked on Phonics Posts: 122 Karma: 24 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ottawa, Canada Device: Kindle	I am really enjoying this series and think Brandon Sanderson is doing an excellent job with the latest two books. I have grown quite fond of all the central characters and I am simply sitting back and enjoying the journey rather than anticipating the destination. I will be of mixed feelings when the series is finally finished - happy to have read an excellent epic but sad to see it go.

11-17-2010, 11:10 AM	#21
Tattncat Bookworm Posts: 673 Karma: 1029391 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Device: Nook Tablet, Samsung Galaxy Tab3, Sony PRS700, Sony PRS505	It's always been a favorite, just an expensive favorite. I stopped around book nine because the length od time between books was too far out. I have been waiting for years for it to finish, so that I could read it in it's entirety. Which I'm getting ready to do. I think that's why I'm really annoyed with Paolini. The fourth book in the Eregon series was due out well over a year ago! Grrrrrrr /

11-17-2010, 11:17 AM	#22
zuul Bookworm Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, USA Device: ebookwise 1150 & Kindle	I've been reading these books since 1990 and watched them go from the best fantasy novel since lotrs to some of the worse ever written and back again. I can't give a recommemdation until i read the final pay off, only then can i say after 20 years if it was worth it. zuul

11-17-2010, 01:36 PM	#23
drofgnal Wizard Posts: 1,402 Karma: 10519918 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Ipad Pro/Kindle Oasis 3/iPhone 13 Pro Max	I read book one about 9 years ago. After reading book one, I never felt a serious compulsion to read any of the others.

11-17-2010, 03:22 PM	#24
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	I've thouroughly enjoyed them and think that Sanderson did a superb job taking up the reins

11-17-2010, 09:43 PM	#26
KenJackson Addict Posts: 256 Karma: 112042 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Maryland, USA Device: Sony PRS-650	Did you see the trailer for Towers of Midnight at Amazon? A trailer for a book! I've never seen that before. As for the question, I'm not voting because I never heard of this series and any book that has a slayer of wolves probably wouldn't interest me (unless there's a time travel angle).

11-18-2010, 08:50 PM	#29
nathanb Connoisseur Posts: 56 Karma: 400 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Far East Device: PRS 600	I have very mixed feelings about this series. I loved the first few books. But then it just kept dragging on and on ... and on. I honestly feel like the original author was pointlessly prolonging the books, especially because nothing happened to move the story forward in any recognizable way. The only reason I am still reading is because I am curious as to how it all ends (if it ever will!). I will withhold final judgement until the series is finally finished. But, I am no longer buying any more hardcover books from this series... they are getting as little of my money as possible from this point forward. They have already made enough off of me. If I have to wait longer for a cheaper version or wait until I can borrow if from the library, so be it.

11-18-2010, 09:12 PM	#30
NVash Wandering Vagabond Posts: 282 Karma: 350000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: iPod Touch	This is probably my second time trying to read this series. When I was younger I had a friend who couldnt stop singing the praises of this series. I was more into Sci-Fi, Hitchhikers Guide being my favorite series then and now, but Im willing to give Fantasy a try. The Hobbit was good right? Well I got the book from my library and got about 200 pages in before I just lost interest and returned it. Now that its almost finished I figured Id pick it up and try it again. However this time Im reading from the prequel. No matter how much I attempt to pay attention the book seems to drone on and sometimes I even find myself fighting sleep. Its a shame because I really want to like this series. It seems very well thought out and as if theres quite a story to tell. Its just taking forever to get anywhere.

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