"Wheel of Time" author Robert Jordan passed away

[cherdman]

Originally Posted by tspin46

My suggestion would be Terry Goodkind...

Oh please no...no...no...no!

(George R.R. Martin would be a far better choice)

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by cherdman

Oh please no...no...no...no!

(George R.R. Martin would be a far better choice)

Save that he probably wouldn't do it.

Problem 1: George has a different publisher. It's a fair assumption Tor will give the nod to someone already in their stable.

Problem 2: George is too busy with his own stuff

I know him. I can't see Tor asking, or him agreeing.
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Dennis

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by tspin46

My suggestion would be Terry Goodkind. Wizard's First Rule started off as a great beginning. The series promises to be as long as WoT and each book drags slower. He seems to have found the same formula as Robert Jordan. It would work.

Jordan's formula wasn't deliberate. I believe WoT was originally planned to be a typical fantasy trilogy.

Tolkien called LoTR "A tale that grew in the telling". So it was with WoT: the more Jordan wrote, the more he realized he had to write to tell the full tale.

I met him several years back when he was in town signing the then current WoT book. In response to a question of mine, he stated he knew what the last scene in the last book was, but wasn't certain exactly how he would get there. However, he was adamant it would not be a twelve book series.

After I read the book he had signed, and saw how much it didn't advance the plot, I said "He's right! It won't be a twelve book series. It will take at least thirteen."

There's a term in chess called Zwischenzug. It referes to the situation where there is something you want to do, but you must do other things first to set up the conditions for it. That's what the last WoT book or two have been. Jordan was positioning pieces for the end game, and obviously working on concluding the series. The question after the last one was whether it would take one book or two. Jordan was then diagnosed with the blood disease that killed him, and determined to finish the series in one book, no matter how long.

Ironically, the concluding volume will be book twelve.
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Dennis

[cherdman]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Save that he probably wouldn't do it.

Problem 1: George has a different publisher. It's a fair assumption Tor will give the nod to someone already in their stable.

Problem 2: George is too busy with his own stuff

I know him. I can't see Tor asking, or him agreeing.
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Dennis

Well there you have it! I'm OK with anyone but Goodkind (sorry I'm passionate about that).

So could you ask Mr. Martin when A Dance with Dragons will be out? And can you pass on a big 'Thank You' to him for allowing his books to come out as ebooks? hehe

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by cherdman

Well there you have it! I'm OK with anyone but Goodkind (sorry I'm passionate about that).

I haven't read Goodkind, but most of what I've heard indicates I'm not missing anything.

So could you ask Mr. Martin when A Dance with Dragons will be out? And can you pass on a big 'Thank You' to him for allowing his books to come out as ebooks? hehe

Can try.

I should have George's email address around, or that of his lady, Parris.
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Dennis

[DMcCunney]

Well, we now know who it will be.

http://www.thebookstandard.com/books..._id=1003683768
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Dennis

[HarryT]

Not exactly a "big name" author, is he? Has anyone actually heard of the guy?

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Not exactly a "big name" author, is he? Has anyone actually heard of the guy?

Yes, though I haven't read his stuff yet. He seems to be well regarded on the basis of his existing output.

Since he will be completing the last Wheel of Time novel, it doesn't matter that he isn't a big name. The book will sell just fine, thanks.

It's more important that he can pick up the pieces and and finish the book, remaining true to Jordan's vision, and emulating Jordan's style, so the book is seen as a fitting conclusion to the series and doesn't feel jarringly different.

The latter requirement might be a strike against getting a big name to do it, as their own style might be too firmly embedded, even assuming they could commit the time to doing it.

Jordan's widow was also his editor, and will be editing this book, too, so we can assume Sanderson will get lots of feedback as he progresses about where he is and is not on target.

We'll see what the result is.
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Dennis

[Ervserver]

Good to hear the series will continue, at least this book anyway. I've not read any these books but the better half has been having a cow since Jordan passed on

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Ervserver

Good to hear the series will continue, at least this book anyway. I've not read any these books but the better half has been having a cow since Jordan passed on

This book will finish the series. Jordan was determined the next book would be the last, regardless of the length. Among other things, he had another series (SF this time) in planning that he wanted to write, but had to complete WoT first.

The last couple of books he's been obviously moving the pieces around the board to set things up for the end game, and clearly planning to wrap up the series.

I held off on them for a while, because they got the sort of fanatical response that has always tended to put me off of books. But Tor issued the first half of the first book as a giveaway paperback, I read it in a slow afternoon, and liked it enough to buy more to see what happened next. These days I buy them in hardcover.

There isn't a lot that is truly original, but it's a complex and highly detailed world with well drawn characters, and Jordan had a knack for not going where you expected him to go. It was hard to guess what would happen next, because it was never the obvious thing. Jordan has also been able to keep multiple plot lines going simultaneously and keep it all straight, and has been able to craft unique voices for a number of major characters so you aren't normally confused about just who is talking.

When the last one is issued, I'll probably block out a few weeks and reread the series from the beginning. Too much of the earlier stuff has flown out of memory.
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Dennis

[JSWolf]

It has been ages since I read the series. I stopped I think at either 9 or 10. I might have a start over again at reading the series.

But really, why the heck are the prologues out in ebook and not the actual books?

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It has been ages since I read the series. I stopped I think at either 9 or 10. I might have a start over again at reading the series.

Probably a good idea. The series is dense enough that a re-read will be helpful.

But really, why the heck are the prologues out in ebook and not the actual books?

Ask Tor. I have no idea.
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Dennis

[JSWolf]

Tor is just too stupid for words when it comes to ebooks.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Yes, though I haven't read his stuff yet. He seems to be well regarded on the basis of his existing output.

Since he will be completing the last Wheel of Time novel, it doesn't matter that he isn't a big name. The book will sell just fine, thanks.

Presumably his career will get a slingshot from doing the last 'WoT' book; which will be good news for him, - and Tor -, in future.

[Ervserver]

With all the voice recordings and notes left I wonder why his wife didn't decide to write it herself. I guess someone has to be editor and someone has to be writer.