As with previous volumes in the Wheel of Time series, Macmillan is making the prologue for Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson’s The Gathering Storm available for purchase before the hardcover is released on 10/27/09.

In the prologue, titled ‘What The Storm Means,’ Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, struggles to unite a fractured network of kingdoms and alliances in preparation for the Last Battle. As he attempts to halt the Seanchan encroachment northward—wishing he could form at least a temporary truce with the invaders—his allies watch in terror the shadow that seems to be growing within the heart of the Dragon Reborn himself.

‘What the Storm Means’ is available for $2.99 as either an ebook or an audio download. You can buy the ebook from a wide range of online retailers, and it is compatible with nearly all e-reading devices, including the Sony Reader and the Kindle. The complete list of retailers can be found here.