This series is an important piece of the puzzle that is fantasy literature. It truly melds the worlds of classic and modern scopes. This is indicitve in the comment sections here and on other forums. Common readers,fanboys and purists all have strong opinions when it comes to thier favorite books and of course when all of your friends are tired of hearing you rant what better place than this to carry on.

The Wheel of Time, just like Lord of the Rings, is meant to be read as a whole. When ever a new book was due to come out, I would take the time and re read every book before it. I know thats a lot of reading and most won't want to devote that much time to it, but I truly feel you get a better understanding of what the author was trying to bring you into.

That in itself is the difference between Jordans series and many many others. Most authors are telling you thier story.
Jordan, like Tolkien, Martin and a few others, brings you into thier world. The worlds these types of authors create are so daunting, so involved and so evolving, it does force some people to shun them. When an author spends a lifetime creating a world , again, not just telling a story, it is bound to change. Our lives and perspectives change as we grow why shouldn't thiers. THAT is what makes this series so spectacular. Evolution.

Paying homage to Tolkien in the first book, was a class act by Jordan. He knew full well what he had planned for his series and where he would fall in the annals of fantasy literature history. Why not acknowledge the master at the start. It is almost like he was saying thank you to Tolkien for setting him on his path. It's called inspiration, something I think Tolkien would have appreciated.

Saying that Jordans character development is in complete really doesn't make sense to me, with over 10000 pages of script how can they not. I noticed in the comments that people were reading two or three of the books and then claiming the story fell short. Read people. Read and enjoy.
As I said earlier, they are a complete story. Read them all back to back and then form a true opinion once the story is done.

Lastly, Yes, he has sold a huge amount of books, 40 million did I see? Does that mean it's bad??? Of course not.
If the masses like it does that mean it's no good???
I don't see how the book sales are even relevant to the story inside the book.
A few million people saw Star Wars and we all know Star Wars is the greatest movies series of all time.

T

I was drawn this website as I'm fed up of waiting for the next book to be released, so decided i needed my next fantasy fix. (I believe I'm going to give George RR Martin's Fire and ice - if you're interested)

I am a big fan of the WOT series, I was roped in by my brother a year ago and I swiftly got through the series. I have to be honest I'm reletively new to the genre, having only read LOTR and the Hobbit previously (exc H Potter) so my opinion on this can probably be discounted. However, I believe Jordan's early intentions for the book were incredible and clever, the book however found itself becoming guilty of it's own success. Was Jordan pushed to drag the books out to improve sales for a small publishing company? Perhaps? Or did Jordan get so immersed in the story that he never wanted it to end? I'm not sure, however I felt after maybe book 6 that the writing was getting gradually worse and I found myself bombing through chapters to get past all the 'woman' nonsense and the constant Rand - will i? won't i? should i? blah blah. Couldn't stop though because I was so intrigued by Thom, Perrin and Mat's parts to play in Tarmon Gaidon.

I would still recommend this to anyone, as beyond all the repetition there is a great story there, that although it may sound cruel, based on Sanderson's first effort, a series that may be saved at the brink of destruction. Well done Sanderson - doing a great job!

it should be obvious that i get on this forum to trash RJ and dissuade some poor souls from reading his swill. much like you, in your ignorance and poor taste, get on to laud him and convince some suckers to read him. and no janus, i have absolutely nothing better to do with my life than check this forum. somehow i'm able to spare the 5 min every once and a while. oh, and the pop-up version of LOTR, the greatest fantasy ever written, will soon be out for those, like you, who found it too challenging. don't poke yourself in the eye with cirith ungol.

it's a great series from an aspect that says it generated alot of attraction to the genre.
it brings a lot of people into a series of quite a few long books, and pulls them in, and keeps them.
but i can say now that at age 34 i can't read it as i did when i was 20.
it's not realy an adult series.
it's for young adults.
and one can't forget the fact that the last 4 books of RJ were bad.
may he rest in peace, but i can't call this a GREAT series.

Get real! What started as a brilltant tale degenerated in to soap-opera. Who could suffer the interminable discriptions of bonnets. Only for the bonnet fettish crew.

I knew I was going to hit a nerve when I said EotW rips off LOTR. I just meant the first book, not the whole series. Unless you're blind, its really easy to see that the whole plot structure of the first WoT is the same as Fellowship of the ring. But yes the plot goes in a more original direction after that, especially after the third book.
And I can see why people think LOTR is boring; it has no BS romance, no annoying characters, the writing is nearly perfect and it has no mainstream elements to dumb it down. People dont really appreciate aesthetic beauty these days. Perhaps that's one reason earthsea isn't on the new best list but WoT is still top 10. Not that it doesn't deserve it. WoT has an excellent story, despite its flaws.

I've read LOTR three times and I dont see how its boring, except for (arguably) the tree ent parts which a some people find boring. But WoTs plot drags a lot, and sometimes Jordan gets too caught up in useless details and stuff that has nothing to do with the main story. Hell, even some of the fans think the series should not be more than 8 books. At least when Tolkien strayed away from the plot, he actually does it to add more details to his secondary world and its lore/history (most of the times). If WoT isn't boring, then I dont see how LOTR is.

@moses - so I should check out Eddings? with WoT, sometimes I'm enjoying it, but then it feels like I'm dragging myself when the plot slows down to a snail's pace, or there's the silly girly stuff or the forced romance. I really love it when the story kicks in though. I might hold on till Lord of Chaos. I have to start working soon, so I dont know if I can get enough time

I read the first one, its alright, and i would have read more but school kinda got in the way. Aviendha is just like the rest of the perfect women in the book, but she is Aiel so that means she can work the spear, and that's pretty awesome.
How the hell is WOT twilightish? Nobody in the series spends three books, as far as i know about twilight, pining over two sub-humans and never making up her mind. If you're suggesting the love square between Rand, Min, Elayne, and Aviendha, Rand doesn't have to choose...he gets them all, and he pretty much knows in The Fires of Heaven; furthermore, he doesn't sit there on his hands dicking everyone around. They know whats up and so does he, because of Min.
How did you like The Hobbit and not The Lord of the Rings? The sequence with the animals prancing up on their hind legs in Beorn's house serving Bilbo and Gandalf, and the troop of dwarfs, breakfast was; however, charming, but a little wierd. The Elfs in The Hobbit were also a little silly and under developed; singing and drinking and not too concerned with outside events. They were much more developed and admirable in Trilogy. I do realize; however, that The Hobbit was written as a children's story unlike The Lord of the Rings. The Two Towers is probably the greatest Fantasy book ever; far surpassing The Hobbit. I just can't see how you don't like them; especially if you liked The Hobbit. Why? Why? Please tell me how the fell short for you.

And Ben, you don't have to get all snooty. I do realize there is limited space on the list. How is Eddings not quality work, and I'm sure Goodkind isn't Begginer's fantasy either..... maybe Eddings, but it's still quality. Your as bad as evan when you speak like that. Tsk Tsk

first. the series is long and has flaws, such as the overbearing women and the drawn out/twilightish romances. however they are still a good read. not every book is perfect. perhaps jorden did get too caught up in his own world and maybe he should have stayed more focused on the main plot, but his series, despite it's flaws is never the less a fantastic series and is a must read.
as for the people who think WOT rips off LOTR. IT DOES NOT.
an explanation.
it seems as many books do, to rip off LOTR because tolkien stuck very close to the archetypal hero cycle. (if you don't know what that is then google it.) it is not because they are ripping off tolkien that their works seem familiar it is because they are built around the same archetype. (and bearing in mind the consequenses of insulting the nerds of nerdvana, i am going to say this anyway.) don't flatter yourselves excluding the hobbit The Lord of the rings is THE single most boring series EVER.
P.S,
Evan, If you hate the series so much then stop reading the reviews for it.
Why do you check up on it? are you just an attention whore or do you really, honestly have nothing better to do.

nups. Haven't read it. I'm sure I've seen wizard's first rule somewhere in one of the bookstores I go to, but that was some time ago. I haven't read many epic fantasy. Just LOTR, Inheritence cycle, earthsea, some dragonlance and Thomas covenant. I read shannara couple of years ago but I quit after the first book. Didn't like it much.
The Aiel are really awesome, yes. But I dont like Avendha. She's as annoying as the three female leads.
Have you read David Eddings? I've seen a lot of stuff by David Eddings someplace, but I wasn't sure if his Begariad series is good enough or not.

The Wise Ones are awesome. All the Aiel are cool...except the honorless Shaido of course. I think that might be Jordan's intention; to allow the women to think they know what's best and then allow Rand to sweep past them through their hubris. I really hate all the Aes Sedai; however, it is interesting the way Egwene reshapes everything (I would go into detail but I can't rightly remember where the split occurs). I will warn you: it does get a little boring, in my opinion, in the Lord of Chaos, but if you've already committed to finishing the series, like I have, it gets exciting toward the end of that book. Have you read Terry Goodkind?

it gets more annoying? aah crap man. I'm at fires of heaven now (200 pages in), and I think there's gonna be more annoying girly stuff in this one. The only things that's keeping me from quitting is some of the interesting characters and the way their roles play out and the politicking. The good thing is not all women are annoying. I like Seun sanche, Moraine and Min. And maybe the wise ones.
I've been looking for song of ice and fire since ages man. But somehow I've never found them here in my city (another downside of living in a third world country :S ) I'll probably have to get it on Ebay or something, but I've never bought something over the internet hehe

When I first started reading and noticing the strong role women played in the series. I was, at first, very interested to see the way it would play out, with the world flipped on it's head, but it only gets more annoying. You are right though, The Eye of the World does follow the archetype set forth by The Lord of the Rings. I really enjoy the books, and I'm on page 309 of A Crown of Swords, but if when you've finally reached your limit, and it gets pretty bad, of stupid women thinking they know everything, may I suggest the Song of Fire and Ice Saga by George R.R. Martin. It is highly original, and a fantastic read. I haven't stopped reading The Wheel of Time because it is really engaging; Rand, Mat, and Perrin are some really great characters, and I love all the politicking.

ok but still, he's a wizard and an outsider. You're right though. But I still would've liked it more if it started with something more original. I'm a little less pissed right now, now that the annoying parts with the stupid woman and their stupid BS has been pushed back a bit and the actions really getting me worked up (about to finish the fourth book). It's enjoyable I guess, despite some flaw. I just wish Jordan (RIP) hadn't put all this romance and man Vs Woman and these stupid women in the book. I would've really really enjoyed it then. If anything, the plot/story is really really great.

Gandalf the Grey wasn't a stranger to anybody in The Shire; however it does follow the pattern set forth by Tolkien, but only because it is doing just that. Robert Jordan is really only expounding upon the Tolkien's outline.