A Reading Guide to Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time Books
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan is one of those epic fantasy series that is often spoken of in the same breath as The Lord of the Rings. It is a story filled with its own dramatic history, lands, and a cast of characters that continue to captivate readers 35 years and many books later.
In the world of the Wheel of Time, the One Power is a source of strength and magic for those known as channelers. This wellspring emanates from something referred to as the True Source and has two halves that are constantly working against each other and with each other. Saidin, which can be wielded only by men, and Saidar by women.
Long ago in the Age of Legends, an immensely powerful male channeler, Lews Therin Telamon, (known as The Dragon), took the Hundred Companions and worked together to seal the Dark One. But this resulted in a taint on Saidin, which went on to cause any man who could channel to go mad. This madness led to the Breaking of the World, and unfortunately, the seal was destined not to last forever, and it was prophesied that the Dragon would be reborn and spell the coming of the final confrontation between him and the Dark One, in the Last Battle. It is here that the Wheel of Time books begin.
If you are looking at getting into the books after the Prime Video series' unfortunate cancellation, the show roughly translates the first two seasons, covering the first two books, and the final third season does an amalgamation of the fourth and fifth books, with the fourth, The Shadow Rising, serving as the main base.
How Many Wheel of Time Books Are There?
The Wheel of Time is composed of 14 books and was released in mostly chronological order (a couple of books happen concurrently) and is a series best read in release order. Due to Robert Jordan’s unfortunate passing in 2007, he wasn’t able to complete the series himself, leaving the final book, A Memory of Light, unwritten. However, thanks to his notes, a substantial amount of Memory of Light was already written, and with the guidance of his longtime editor and spouse, Harriet McDougal, the final chapter was delivered to fans with the help of fellow epic fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson. The same author behind works including Mistborn: The Final Empire, A Way of Kings, and the other novels set in his Cosmere universe.
The Robert Jordan Books
1. The Eye of the World
The book that started it all. Released in 1990, The Eye of the World introduces us to the series’ major players, including Rand Al’Thor, Perrin Ayabara, Matrim Cauthon, Egwene al’Vere, and Nynaeve al’Meara, whose lives are all thrown into chaos when their home of Emond’s Field is attacked by monsters called Trollocs. Saved by the Aes Sedia (this worlds term for those who wield the magic known as “The One Power”) Moiraine and her guardian, the Warder Lan, the two of them whisk the youth away from Emond’s Field, believing one to be the mythical figure known as the Dragon Reborn, whose is destined to either save the world…or destroy it.
The Eye of the World focuses much on Rand and his viewpoint, though others, including those from Emond’s Field.
2. The Great Hunt
Picking up shortly after the events of the previous book, the identity of the Dragon Reborn has been revealed. The Great Hunt sees the Emond’s Field folk divided, with Rand, Mat, and Perrin out on a quest to retrieve a legendary artifact known as the Horn of Valere, which is currently in enemy hands. Meanwhile, Egewene and Nynaeve begin their long and arduous training, learning to control the One Power and learn the ways of being Aes Sedai.
The Great Hunt is a Rand-focused novel, with more than half the chapters focusing on his point of view.
3. The Dragon Reborn
Setting off on his own after the Battle of Falme, Rand has his eyes looking toward the port city of Tear and proving his destiny. Regardless of the arguments and disagreements between them, Moraine, Lan, Perrin, and Loial chase after him, while Mat is taken to Tar Valon to be cured of the curse he is afflicted with. Dangers lurk everywhere for both groups, from Darkfriends and the Forsaken to the Black Ajah, but even in darkness, hope can be found.
The Dragon Reborn is mostly split between the viewpoints of Egwene, Perrin, and Mat around a third each, with Nynaeve, Rand, and some others filling up the difference.
4. The Shadow Rising
With the characters all reunited in Tear following the events of Dragon Reborn, the reunion is short-lived as the group splits into smaller groups, each tackling their own dangerous missions. Rand, Mat, Egwene, and Moraine head to the Aiel Waste, while Perrin and Faile head back to Two Rivers to check in on their families after hearing troubling rumors and reports out of the once-prosperous little village. Knowing that the Black Ajah still poses a threat, Elayne, Nynaeve, and Thom head to the city of Tanchico to try to hunt them down and flush them out. To further complicate matters, the Tower - the seat of power for the Aesedai - is teetering on the brink of collapse, at the worst possible time.
The Shadow Rising is split relatively evenly between the three groups, with a slight majority of its viewpoints going to Perrin.
5. The Fires of Heaven
Rand, now in command of his own Aiel army, along with Mat, must travel over the Spine of the World in pursuit of a rival clan of Aiel that is pillaging the area around Cairhein. With the White Tower seeing the rise of a new Amyrilin Seat and internal strife, some orders of Ajah are preparing for war against the Tower and those loyal to the new Seat. Friends are lost and the Forsaken continue to make the lives of our protagonists more and more difficult as new revelations are uncovered.
The two primary viewpoints of The Fires of Heaven are Rand and Nynaeve, with other characters sprinkled throughout. Perrin is absent from this book.
6. Lord of Chaos
As Rand’s exploits and control grow, so do his enemies’ plots against him. Perrin returns, bringing forces with him from Two Rivers to assist Rand as they journey together towards Cairhien, filling him in on the events from back home. The struggle between the White Tower and the rebel Aes Sedai reaches the next phase as the rebels elect their own Amyrlin Seat and begin their trek towards Tar Valon while tasking Elayne and Nynaeve to seek out the ter’angreal, the Bowl of the Winds.
The Lord of Chaos sees Rand’s viewpoint receiving the most attention, with Egwene, Nynaeve, and Mat roughly splitting up the second-place spot.
7. A Crown of Swords
Working together with the Aes Sedai sworn to him and his Asha’man, Rand prepares to confront one of the Forsaken and remove them from the board while Mat, Elayne, and Nynaeve continue their search for the Bowl of Winds, aided by some friends. On the rebel Aes Sedai front, Egwene and Siuan attempt to push the rebels to attack the White Tower and the forces loyal to its Amrilyn Seat. A small light of hope comes from an ally thought to be lost, found, and sent to aid Nynaeve.
A Crown of Swords is one of the rarer books of the series as it doesn’t have a real central or primary viewpoint or two, and instead is divided fairly evenly with Mat, Rand, Perrin, and Egwene getting about equal shares of the viewpoints.
8. The Path of Daggers
The Seanchan threat is making its big play in a large-scale invasion in Altara that Rand has to contend with and work to repel, while Elayne and Nynaeve work to escape it. Our good friend Perrin heads southward to confront and stop a false prophet of the Dragon as the siege of the White Tower marches closer, and Rand’s encroaching madness from tapping into the One Power exacts a terrible price.
The Path of Daggers is one of the smaller books in the series, at only 31 chapters, with Elayne, Rand, Perrin, and Egwene being the most prominent characters, having roughly equal shares of viewpoints. Mat is absent from this book.
9. Winter’s Heart
Things aren’t going too well for our band of heroes, with Perrin chasing after those who kidnapped his wife, Mat being trapped in a city controlled by the Seanchan, and Elayne dealing with nobles who aren’t too keen on her taking the Lion Throne. Rand and Nynaeve make a bold and risky play and head to Shadar Logoth with the goal of clearing the taint from Saidin. Winter’s Heart takes place concurrently with the following book, “Crossroads of Twilight”.
Elayne and Mat share the spotlight in Winter’s Heart, with Rand’s viewpoint coming in third place. Perring and the rest of the cast fill in the rest.
10. Crossroads of Twilight
Crossroads of Twilight takes readers a bit back in time, predating the dramatic world-changing events with Rand at the conclusion of Winter’s Heart, and focuses more on the events surrounding other characters. Perrin is chasing after his wife and friends, trying to rescue them, Mat and his prisoner/ could-be future wife, and Egwene’s siege on the White Tower. In order to come out victorious, a truce with the Seanchan may be necessary.
In Crossroads of Twilight, Egwene takes center stage with the largest percentage of PoVs in the book, with Perrin and Mat tied for second and Elayne coming in behind them. Much to many readers' annoyance, Rand is nearly absent from this book, with most of his time coming during the Epilogue.
11. Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams marked the final book that Robert Jordan would write for the series before his passing. Releasing two years before his passing, this eleventh book sees Egwene dealing with her capture by the Tower’s Aes Sedai while trying to sow discord and sway whoever she can from inside, while Elayne works to pull back the veils of the Black Ajah within Caemlyn. Perrin is able to rescue his wife, and Rand looks to turn one of the Forsaken’s traps back on them, while the last of the Two Rivers boys, Mat, having dealt with battles left and right, receives word that someone long thought to be dead may in fact be very much alive. New signs are beginning to present themselves that the Last Battle, Tarmon Gai’don, is drawing closer.
Knife of Dreams sees Mat with the largest amount of the story told from his point of view, with Elayne second, with Perrin and Rand tied for third.
The Brandon Sanderson Books
Brandon Sanderson took the work that Jordan had done already on Memory of Light, and with approval and support from Harriet, opted to split it into three novels and expanded on it to deliver the final part of the Wheel of Time series.
12. The Gathering Storm
The first book of the trilogy that Brandon Sanderson wrote, based on the notes and partially written manuscript from Jordan, The Gathering Storm, focuses heavily on Rand and Egwene. Rand has resolved himself to rid himself of emotion, and as it gets closer to the Last Battle, Rand’s actions are becoming more and more severe, scaring his loved ones. Egwene continues to destabilize the White Tower, and the siege of the White Tower comes to its conclusion.
The Gathering Storm gives Egwene and her work in the White Tower the most focus in the book, with Rand coming up second. Other familiar faces like Mat and Nynaeve get a few bits to play with, some, including Perrin and Elayne, getting merely a wisp of time, if any at all.
13. Towers of Midnight
Towers of Midnight puts both Perrin and Mat in dangerous situations that could spell their demise, and keeps them from helping as the Last Battle begins and the Dark One’s prison walls crumble. Perrin has an army of Trolloc closing in around him, and if he is to survive, he will have to master his abilities finally. For Mat, his luck continues to be tested as he once again has to deal with the Aelfinn and Eelfin and discover secrets that may lead him to a long-lost friend.
Towers of Midnight is a Perrin and Mat story, with Perrin taking a majority of the PoVs and Mat only a little less so. This book is based on materials he left behind prior to his death and was finished by Brandon Sanderson.
14. A Memory of Light
The final book in the Wheel of Time series, everything has led to A Memory of Light. The forces of Light and Shadow prepare for Tarmon Gai’don, and the players are all in place. Rand, Egwene, Nynaeve, Perrin, and Mat are far more than simple villagers from Two Rivers, and the fate of the world rests on them, and if Rand can fulfil the Dragon’s Prophecy. The Last Battle is here.
Being the final book, it makes sense that A Memory of Light has a strong focus on Rand’s point of view, with the other folks from Two Rivers also having a strong presence.
Other Stories
New Spring
Released in 2004, New Spring is a novella that takes place 20 years before The Eye of the World. After it is revealed to Moraine, Siuan Sanche, and the Amyrlin Seat of the time, that the Dragon has been reborn. This tells the tale of how Moirane and her Warder, Lan, first meet, and the early days of Moirane's search that will one day lead her to a small village called Two Rivers.
River of Souls (Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson) - Unfettered Collection
River of Souls is a small selection of scenes that were written for A Memory of Light from the perspective of the Forsaken Demandred during his time in Shara. It was included in the anthology Unfettered, which was put together to help author Shawn Speakman with his medical debt gained while being treated for Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Companion Books
With such a large and expansive world full of lore and its own history, companion books have been released that give additional details and explanations to aspects of the story.
The World of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time
Written and edited by Teresa Patterson, The World of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time collects notes and information provided by Jordan. This was originally published with Illustrations in 1997, with an updated one a year later, with information up through The Path of Daggers. This book, while still worthwhile to look through for die-hard fans, doesn’t include details of the later books or the end of the series, as they hadn’t been written yet.
The Wheel of Time Companion: The People, Places, and History of the Best Selling Series
For anyone who really wants to dive deep into the lore of the world and characters of the books, should check out the Wheel of Time Companion book. This volume, formatted almost like a dictionary with an A-Z format, gives you great breakdowns and details of your favorite characters, maps, portraits, histories, and so much more. A great tome to add to your shelf once you finish A Memory of Light!
Origins of the Wheel of Time
For folks that want to know more about the story behind The Wheel of Time and the man who wrote it, Origins of the Wheel of Time is a non-fiction title that reveals details of Jordan's writing process in creating these books and various real-world inspirations he found to pull into it.
Comic books
Comics writer Chuck Dixon, with input from Jordan’s estate, created visual novels for the very beginning of the Wheel of Time series with both graphic novel adaptations of the New Spring short story and the first book, The Eye of the World. These are great ways to dip your toes into the series and give you a basis on which to base your mental images of the characters on that - if you continue the series - will be spending a lot of time with.
from IGN Articles https://ift.tt/ItPqkZ2
via IFTTT
