I find a number of things reading through comments here funny.

Funny is Kathryn, or Kaitlyn or whatever her name is who claims the call the series predictable, and yet has only read one book of a fourteen book series. Nice! Who knew one book = twelve? Well, I learned something here today.

Another thing is how funny I find it how great everyone seems to think A Song Of Fire and Ice is. I've read both series. ALL of both series. I've just got to point out some notes about things others have said that I find appalling.

Firstly, WOT does lose it's magic from A Winter's Heart until B. Sanderson took over. WOT is one of my favourite series ever, I'm reading it for the third time at the moment, but I plan on skipping A Winter's Heart. HOWEVER, ASOFAI in no way keeps up it's pace, and it's not even half as long. The last book before A Dance With Dragons was utter garbage. It was so bad, was as much of a chore to read as A Winter's Heart, and he focused on new and utterly joyless characters that I had no interest in reading about. I find it hilarious how highly regarded ASOFAI is when it has the same problem WOT had, except it's half as long and IMO, the best parts aren't nearly as good as WOT.

When WOT is at it's best, from Eye of the World up to (and not including) Winter's Heart, it is, bar none, the most epic story ever created. Nothing even comes close to the scale, and the depth of the world that Jordan created. Rand al'Thor isn't just the greatest hero of his world, he's the greatest hero of ALL TIME. Ba'alzamon constantly brings up that they've met before a million times, (meaning the dragon has been reborn a million times through a million weavings of the pattern) and Rand is the chosen one of that set of infinite possibilities. Again, nothing even comes close to how epic that is. The series has humour, Mat at his best is unmatched by any character in ASOFAI. The Magic system is developed so well that it is truly original, truly unique, and the way it is written is astonishing. Again, nothing comes close. The bad guys aren't just bad guys, they're the strongest, most evil "wizards" of thousands of years. They all have unique personalities. Every character is unique enough, to be considered a unique character. An estimation would put it at over 500 unique characters. What can match that? ASOFAI? LOL.

Now to discuss ASOFAI, since apparently it needs to be brought up in this discussion. Firstly, it's good. I liked it enough to read through the whole series, so that's saying something. However, it's not one of the best fantasy books ever written, there's no way you can say that. Between the last book and Dance of Dragons Martin took FIVE YEARS, off to write it. That last book and DoD were supposed to be two parts of the same book, and they happen at the same time in the universe. It's clear to me, as it should be to anyone who read that fourth book, that he got completely lost, the plot lost momentum, and fell like a rock in the ocean. It was so boring, there was this new character, who got all the face time, a short haired butch woman who I couldn't care less about, and the previous villain (Lannister) who, again, I couldn't care less about, in fact I wanted him to die. Where was Jon Snow? Daegynus (sp? lol) The two most interesting characters HAD NO PARTS. That is terrible writing, and completely destroyed any credibility that series had. That book was beyond boring, and was right down there with Winter's Heart.

Let's compare and contrast

WOT
-Page turning, addicting excitement for 8 700-900 page books, a three book lull of mediocre books and then three more, if different, still excellent books.
-Completely unique, new, complex system of magic
-Unmatched detail in world creation
-Varied and rich characters
-Unmatched conflict scale (very epic)
-Warming humour

ASOFAI
-Four quite good books which definitely stand above the rest of the fantasy genre. One mess of book that was extremely difficult to read and abandoned the best characters of the series.
-Interesting and strong female characters.
-Lots of graphic sex and rape.
-Cool animal/human relationships.
-Reimagination of medieval world.
-Same Magic Merlin and Harry Potter used.

WOT is more epic, more original, more deeply realized, and more emotionally involving than ASOFAI.

Just finished Book 6 of the Wheel of Time and the series has been terrific so far. I've heard a lot of complaining about books 8-10, particularly book 10, but I'm going to read them anyway. I'll say my opinion when I'm done

Wait wait wait, people don't like books 8-10? I don't understand!

When I first started reading this series, I found it mundane. It took me approximately 3 months to get through the first book and another 2 months to get through the second book. I was disappointed not because the world wasn't rich and interesting, but because it felt like I was reading stand- alone novels. 15% prologue, split up, development, action, get together, action, epilogue. This sums up each of the first three books. Standard fantasy.

After that WoT swept me off my feet. The overarching plot was astonishing, the characters were broken and reforged again over the course of the story and I felt like I saw consistent growth that left me staggered at the depth of the imagination and consideration of the author. However, I think I truly fell in love with this series when I reached book 5 and 6 (and especially the end of book 6). Just look at the story, it SHINES with awesomeness. At about this time it almost completely stopped being about Rand and turned into a story about the end of an age. At this point you can finally feel the words "The Wheel weaves as The Wheel wills." ringing true. All the characters are swooped up into the pattern, with what feels like zero control of anything beyond their immediate reach, ta'veren or not ta'veren.
Cadsuane is amazing, Rand is out-of-control, Lan and Nynaeve are torn between the past and the future, Mat between who he wants to be and has to be, while Perrin and Faile's story lines attempt to teach you what it means to appreciate people for who they are rather than who you want them to be. I love how The Forsaken are given a bit more depth and begin feeling more... human.

The Wheel of Time is a must read, it is an epic fantasy in every sense of the word.
If you want to read a story for the sake of rapid plot development with a mindset of "I want STUFF to happen", read the first three books and be done with it.
If you want to read an epic story of the end of time, in which the actions of every character influence the world, read everything, not as if you're reading a story, but rather as if you actually live in this world and are lucky enough to get a glimpse of the lives of all the people that are key in the pattern shaped by the Wheel of Time.

This series is the best. And by "the best" I mean it's truly innovating (in as far as "magic" system goes, the depth of story and philosophical implications, etc.) The only story that I've seen that has a potential to match WOT is Kvothe's but that yet to be seen. The only place that WOT should be at is 1st or at the least 2nd, right behind LotR (as it being first of its kind in many ways and all).

For me Wheel of time is better. I've read game of thrones plus other stories but I appreciate Robert Jordans mind when it came to making this. When I first read it, the first 200 pages were slow. It was the second fantasy series I tried to read (first being harry potter) After that, I honestly don't recall putting the books down till I got to book 8. Book 8 took a bit to get through. Book 9 was slow as well until Mat Cauthons storyline kicked in. For book 10 and 11 tbh, It was all Mat's storyline that kept me going for I found it very entertaining. Book 12 is Sandersons first book and it is the only book I have read once. Book 13 is the best in the series. The storyline really takes a hit and for me It's either the best or it's the second best book next to Shadows Rising. Regardless of the wayward plot Jordan went to in the end. I think he just went a bit to vast in the world of the book and in the end had to try and tie off some story lines from the earlier books before getting down to the last parts. Sanderson can sure write the action scenes better though.

This series was recommended to me by a friend who absolutely adores it. I'm not much of a fantasy fan really but I do love to read so I'll give anything a go.

The first 6 books were actually pretty fun and I ripped though them at a decent pace. Then came book 7 and the wheels pretty much came off. I could barely force myself through this mess. I've had it for probably almost a year and I still can't bring myself to finish it.

I'll give Jordan props for weaving an extremely detailed and intricate story, but it's too convoluted for it's own good. There's definitely such a thing as too many characters. He'll throw a minor character into the mix who hasn't been seen in eons without any sort of reminder of who this person is. It got to a point where I simply had no idea who two thirds of the cast was.

My biggest gripe with the books however is the characters - I simply don't like them. I honestly would not like any of these people if I knew them in real life, (well except maybe Thom). They are whiny, petulant, narcissistic children half the time. I had read once that the Sword of Truth was comparable to to the WoT only "the characters behave like adults." I didn't know what that meant at the time but I sure do now.

I appreciate what this series does correctly but it's probably one of the most overrated things I've ever read.

I find it funny that people can read the same books and come to such a different opinion than my self...of the thousands of books that I have read I would have to say this is the most complex weaving undertaken by any author. if tolken had another fourty years and the funding he and probably only he could have overtaken ( maybe Herbert ) Jordan in his world building. best all time series!

Everyone seems to be arguing that Brandon Sanderson brought the series back to life after Robert Jordan died. However, he was using Robert Jordan's notes. Robert Jordan clearly knew how the book would end, but he just didn't know how to get from Book 6 to the end. Book 12 was so big that it had to be split into 3 parts. 2 of those 3 books could be put into the previous books, there was obviously room.

I was absolutely obsessed with the first probably 7 books. They were all fantastic. Especially what happened to Moiraine at the end of 6 or 7 (It's been a while I can't remember), honestly almost made me cry. Being a guy and a fairly unemotional one at that, that's pretty significant. That being said, I could not stand Winter's Heart. Faile and Perrin's whole situation made me want to throw the book across the room after just about every chapter. I had to force myself to finish it, even with the big build up with what Rand was doing. I looked at CoT, realized I had to trudge through an 80 page prologue just to get to chapter 1, and promptly decided to quit the series. I read the wikipedia summary on CoT to see what I was missing out on, and it was honestly only two sentences. Any 800 page book that can be summed up in two sentences is not one that I want to read. The Seanchan were another reason I quit reading the series. The whole thing with the Damanes was just disgusting in my opinion, it was really hard to read. Loved the Aiel, loved the One Power idea, but ultimately the Seanchan, all the woman issues, and Winter's Heart killed it for me. I know I would enjoy reading 12 and 13, but I don't think I have the tenacity to read the whole series again to get back to that point.

Just finished reading the Wheel of Time last week, and finished New Spring yesterday. It was one of the best series' I've ever read! It took FOREVER (about a year all up reading nothing but that, but I did have other very large commitments that slowed my pace right down, otherwise it would have been knocked over in half the time), but well worth it. The only downside to getting involved in a series so big is that I had to watch as my shelves were lined with new books that I couldn't touch yet.

I loved the series, the characters were wonderfully vibrant and deep, the world was beautiful and so were the intruding worlds (the Seanchan for example, before we got an Empress with a face to her name, I was always intrigued by the all powerful force of Seandar who bowed to a mystery Empress leagues and leagues away). The series certainly had its down points, often times I found myself gritting my teeth and knuckling down only because I wanted to see the series through, but those times were balanced out with many wonderful and shocking twists that immediately caught your attention and made you want to read on.

Love Mat, love Rand, adore Aviendha and Elayne, Nynaeve I eventually warmed up to and I fell so nose over tail for Lanfear it's not funny. And all the while I'm still harbouring a simmering hatred for Min, and a hope that in the final installment she walks herself off a cliff somewhere.

An absolutely wonderful series though, and I'm very pleased to see it with a spot on this list.

I love the wheel of time series.... The only book series that surpasses it in my mind is Dune.

the books get harder to follow later with all the main characters getting new side kicks and kinda slows down too

I can understand drain from the middle part of the series. But i remember the breathtaking moments of unexpected triumps within each of the books that shocked me so much. Perhaps because I was hanging on to so many threads and became lost in the realism of the monotony and detail. There were definitely moments in every book that made reading worthwhile. Also Jordans motivations included having characters that didn't understand each other as is the problem in reality. So he got lost writing and I got lost reading. I'm surprised that there is no mention of his combat experience bleeding into the battles with incredible strength. As if a general is writing. Even the sword fights or melee battles are detailed with names for every move and counter move. He explains and I visualize the skill, luck, or failure that decides who lives to fight again. I seem to remember the moves by name. Also his magic is influenced by his knowledge of quantum physics as I believe he was a nuclear scientist. If you have studied the subject you can see how he traces the magic back to forces and laws. The dogma of WOT is a spin off of Hinduism and that is the most scientific to choose from. The detail of the story draws me in so much that I never paid attention to the things people are complaining about. After all thd characters are aging and I can buy the fact that these kids are adults now because I have grown up with them. I think some people only read with a first order of thought. Jordan however writes in multiple high orders of thought. The series was intended to be three books and it grew on it's own foundation. I got lost just writing about it.

Everyone is entitled to like different things, and I love these books.
I first read WOT when i was 13, i actually bought the companion book first because it looked like a fascinating and inspiring world. I was right, I was hooked immediately. Yes the series has flaws, but I cared, really cared what happened/happens to the characters.
That was over a decade ago, and I re-read books 9-11 recently on my commute to work. I've grown up but the books to me are like old friends that I still appreciate as wonderful stories that draw me in to a fully realised fantasy world. I've read ALOT of fantasy in my time, both then and now. I like the new types of fantasy, I like Martin, Sanderson (haven't actually got round to reading WOT 12 and 13 yet though), Rothfuss, Lynch etc etc. but I don't see how their brilliance should detract from a different kind of book. WOT will always have a place in my heart, I still call my sister a Trolloc sometimes, we still theorise on who is a dark friend etc. That is the mark of a great enduring fantasy.
Also whilst I think books 1-5 are still the best, re-reading 6-11 made me appreciate them more. Yes even book 10, i enjoyed it more the second time around and I can't be the only one in the world. I look forward to the last three even though I've been putting it off as I'm worried they won't feel the same or as real.

Maybe it was great 20 years ago, when fantasy was nothing but farm boys and dark lords, and the only competition was the same thing but badly written (e.g. Eddings), but these days it looks rather dated and corny. It is also a bit simplistic.

I quit in Book 6 when Rand was Warded. I highly recommend books 1-3 to anyone. After that, I think the series starts to drop in quality.

Wheel of Time is probably one of my most loved fantasy series. And if you are a true fantasy fan, then you should give it a try. To read the series, you need to have a good amount of patience and love for the genre though.

Books 1-3, feels a lot like LOTR, it may be a little cliche, but it's entertaining.
Books 4-6, expands the world of WOT, the last chapter of book 6 was simply epic, and it made me love the series.
Books 7-10 are... painful. This is where your patience and love for fantasy gets tested.
Book 11 sorta makes you forgive book 10.
Book 12 makes you forgive books 7-10
Book 13 makes you salivate for book 14.

WOT is far from perfect, it has a lot of nasty flaws, but it hasn't reached the crap level of the Sword of truth series. Brandon Sanderson is doing a good job making us forget about it's weaknesses. This series is definitely a must read.

May you always find water and shade

I'll be honest, there are definitely some characters that I hate and I quickly skim through their chapters so I can get back to the good stuff. The -only- character to have redeemed themselves (to the point that I went back and re-read some of his chapters) was Perrin. I don't know if it was RJs intention or if Sanderson did it, but when Balefire was used in the dream world and Perrin dispelled it, I started laughing soooooo hard at everyone's reaction and his whole 'this place isn't safe'

So I've read the first volume of the Wheel of Time, and I agree with everyone, this is a fantatic book! I mean this is a great parody of the Lord of the Rings and it's amazing how every clichés of Fantasy are put together in one book.

Let's sum up the book. It begins with Rand al'Thor, who is a young farmer in a backwater. But wait, maybe since he is the main character of the book he will discover his super powers and kill the big bad guy in the end - just a thought.

So Rand go to the village nearby with his father Tam where he meets the main support characters :
- His friend Mat (what a nice choice of name after Tam, not at all confusing) whose main purpose in the book will be to find a dagger that will make him get ill and hmm that's all.
- His friend Perrin who will communicate with wolves and ... won't do anything with his ability.
- Egwene, the girl he loves (love is truly blind because she seems like a pain in the ass) and who loves him in return - not that they will do anything together - and who happens to have some potentials in magic - but don't worry she won't be able to do anything, maybe in a few thousands pages?
- Morain, an Aes Sedai. She has powers and will use it! Jordan have been a bit subtle with her. You will ask yourself during ten seconds if she might be evil.
- Lan, her warder. Think badass protector.

OK. We are at page 100. Time to launch the attack against Rand.
Make all the characters run away to the nearest city chased by a dozen Trollocs. Make Morain and Lan kill most of the trollocs. Make Rand and his friends kill a few too just not to be too lame. Repeat this a few time, each time with a bigger city, more trollocs than previously, alternate sometimes with dark friends. Change a few stuff to not make it look too much like a giant copy/paste.
By the way the trollocs were sent by the big bad guy/thingy, called the dark one, who is locked but can send his minions (think LOTR).

OK. We are now page 600. Already? Actually it was quite long and painful, lots of boring details and stretched descriptions.

Time to end the book now. So they were crawling, now they find a secret way to go to the other end of the world in just a day to kill the bad guy. OK not exactly, they wander during another 50 pages. Then Rand destroys the bad guy in 3 pages.

The End. Clap clap clap.

Honestly I hate this kind of book where you can guess what will happen minus some minor details from page 10.
It looks like a very looooooong excursion where nothing happens despite Jordan's attempts of action. Sending trollocs against people you know won't die is not action. At least he could have killed one of the support character but no, they're all alive and well (except the gleeman but no one cares about him and he seems to be alright).

And what about the concept of a wheel of time, time repeating itself, that could have been interesting but it's not exploited. Moraine speaks of the wheel weaving the pattern but that sounds hollow.

Worse the character building is bad. You don't care for any of them. Mat and Perrin can die, I won't shed a tear.

Some parts are plain lame, e.g. a dark friend try to kill Mat by throwing a dagger at him, Mat catches her, but Rand tell him to let her go saying something like "remember they're evil not us, we don't kill people". Yes, yes, let her go and tell a million trollocs where you are, that's the moral thing to do. I hope you'll still be glad when you'll be sodomized by a a 30-inches trolloc dick. O yeah I forgot that can't happen in a book targeting the 10-year-olds.

Worse fantasy book I've ever read. OK I don't read a lot of fantasy but I've read series like the Farseer trilogy, The Sword of Truth or A Song of Ice and Fire (remember the first scene with Eddard Stark beheading a deserter not because he likes it but because he must, this scene is stronger than this whole book).