Because EVERYONE KNOWS that Robert Jordan sucks

[koboldninja_5]

The Wheel of Time series has its faults, certainly, but it is not entirely worthy of derision. George RR Martin wrote a very nice excerpt about Robert Jordan after the latter's death, and after rereading portions of his series, I feel like I want to write something that summarizes my view of it.

First and foremost, there are significant problems.

Comments

[forever_meg]

There are definitely good things about the series, and I agree with all of the ones you said. I think RJ tried too hard for epic and when he really set out along that path, people got annoyed. The guy writing the last book, Brandon Sanderson, actually said this a better way - he switched types in the middle of the series. He went from each book having a contained event to each book comprising a larger part of an extended storyline, which he made more epic (and slow) as he went along. You're right though, the series will end, and I wonder how it will all stand together. I think those positive traits you pointed out, probably in addition to some others I can't remember because it's been a while, will be better able to stand out.

[koboldninja_5]

I think three of my favorite Lan moments are from A New Spring

[laurion]

I do like much of the series, I just wish the whole thing had been tightened up, with less extraneous sub-plots and minor characters, better pacing, less superfluous world-building (look, I can make and describe the largest world ever, even if it isn't very relevant to the actual plotpoints!), and in general was just better edited. The first book is incredibly infectious, but by around the fourth, they just stopped editing down. The whole thing could be boiled down to at least half the number of volumes.

I can see someone doing that too, 150 years from now when it falls into public domain.

[koboldninja_5]

That would make for an interesting read. Some of the tedium is actually necessary, so I am curious what would get cut. You are certainly right, though. His greatest creative strength (the detailed world) also has turned into his greatest handicap because it gets in the way of plot. Editing would also help.

Test, just a test

[anonymous]

Hello. And Bye. fr33 pr0n this is it!

[anonymous]

I heard Jordan speak at a library in Sydney back in 2001, He said "I know the last sentence in the last scene in the last chapter, I have known the end since I started, I have the whole series plotted."

Frankly, as much as I loved his books, as I sat there I got the feeling he was bullshitting us and himself in the way so many Game Masters have claimed in gaming sessions over the years.

He had lost his way, he kept making but never really knew how to finish.

And as for the "last" book, well they went and turned it into 3 more books, can you say: milking for money?