How many books should there have been?

[Myrddin]

13 would have been a good number, but only if they all contained the same level of plot and character development as 1-6. As it is, I would have merged books 7 & 8, 9-11, and given more time to the events forthcoming (seems like a lot needs to happen to finish...), so my answer to the thread question is: 9 or 10.

[Stevenator]

13 would have been a good number, but only if they all contained the same level of plot and character development as 1-6

 

That's a good way to phrase it. Sadly that level has not been achieved. Just saying there should be 13 books because its a "good number", well, there's a waste of my money.

[Nerevar]

To agree with a prior poster and a shameful admission, I have been skipping parts of the books since I am rereading for what seems to be the hundredth time, I just can't bloody bear to read about Perrin and bloody Faile. It was even a struggle to give a damn when I read KoD for the first time about her being rescued. I had prayed that Mera'din bloke survived and she died or something.

 

So I think the series could have been shorted by spending less time on some of the annoying characters, but I suppose it all works out in RJs timeline.

[torrente]

If RJ didn't write 500 pages of wagon rides into each volume just so he could sell more books . . . how long would the WOT series be?

 

You bought them anyway though didn't you? Can't have been that bad.

 

Well not really, I just borrow them from the library. I do enjoy the books, but I get frustrated with all the talk of bodices and plunging necklines and braid tugging and wool-headed lummoxes and so forth. I am really enjoying CoS at the moment.

[torrente]

It's also frustrating how he adds a lot of unnecessary padding to the books, yet he skips a lot of important scenarios and just fills us in later with the barest details. It's usually stuff that happens between books.

[torrente]

I have spoken to people who have stopped reading at book 9/10 . . . now I know why :) Maybe i'll just download the audio book for those two. The abridged version :) It's a shame because he does have a lot of good ideas and a sense of the drama and suspense through most of his books, and I guess that seems to be tailing off later in the series.

 

I read people saying they re-read this series . . . wow. So far I would re-read any book except book 5, but I can't imagine re-reading the series again and again . . I'd have to learn speed-reading.

[redbj]

To agree with a prior poster and a shameful admission' date=' I have been skipping parts of the books since I am rereading for what seems to be the hundredth time, I just can't bloody bear to read about Perrin and bloody Faile. It was even a struggle to give a damn when I read KoD for the first time about her being rescued. I had prayed that Mera'din bloke survived and she died or something.

 

So I think the series could have been shorted by spending less time on some of the annoying characters, but I suppose it all works out in RJs timeline.[/quote']

 

spot on, about perrin and faile that is....

 

i genuinely feel the series could have been longer, but with different storylines....for me, they could spend half a book in the tower of genji, half a book with the ashamen and what rand has to do with them, half a book with lan...easily....more time on the final battle, more time on perrin and his wolfiness and his chasing of slayer etc etc, and less time pulling braids and wondering 'how can i figure out females?', and a shitload less time on the knobhead perrin being pussywhipped by a young anoying upstart...easyily the most avoidable subject in the whole series...why did perrin even need to fall in love/rescue faile as far as storyline goes.

 

oh yeah, and fain...more time on fain. and the left over forsaken...to me, jordan has padded and padded and padded, and now he wants to finish the series in one book?...after the last battle deserves 500+ pages in itself....not because i want issues resolved, but because after so long i want to see celebrations....commisserations....village folk scenarios...lords and their plotting after the last battle.

 

hell, i deserve it. ive spent a huge amount of cash on these books just to be left with an open ending because 'thats the way it is in real life'

 

and what about the final scenes involving a fourth or fifth age dragon being reborn...ooooo...no room for that now.

 

blast perrin and bloody faile and bloody braid pullers.

[torrente]

To agree with a prior poster and a shameful admission' date=' I have been skipping parts of the books since I am rereading for what seems to be the hundredth time, I just can't bloody bear to read about Perrin and bloody Faile. It was even a struggle to give a damn when I read KoD for the first time about her being rescued. I had prayed that Mera'din bloke survived and she died or something.

 

So I think the series could have been shorted by spending less time on some of the annoying characters, but I suppose it all works out in RJs timeline.[/quote']

 

spot on, about perrin and faile that is....

 

i genuinely feel the series could have been longer, but with different storylines....for me, they could spend half a book in the tower of genji, half a book with the ashamen and what rand has to do with them, half a book with lan...easily....more time on the final battle, more time on perrin and his wolfiness and his chasing of slayer etc etc, and less time pulling braids and wondering 'how can i figure out females?', and a Narg less time on the knobhead perrin being pussywhipped by a young anoying upstart...easyily the most avoidable subject in the whole series...why did perrin even need to fall in love/rescue faile as far as storyline goes.

 

oh yeah, and fain...more time on fain. and the left over forsaken...to me, jordan has padded and padded and padded, and now he wants to finish the series in one book?...after the last battle deserves 500+ pages in itself....not because i want issues resolved, but because after so long i want to see celebrations....commisserations....village folk scenarios...lords and their plotting after the last battle.

 

hell, i deserve it. ive spent a huge amount of cash on these books just to be left with an open ending because 'thats the way it is in real life'

 

and what about the final scenes involving a fourth or fifth age dragon being reborn...ooooo...no room for that now.

 

blast perrin and bloody faile and bloody braid pullers.

 

I think the last book in RJ's defence, will be as long as need be . . . he's said that it will be 3000 pages if necessary.

[HeartsOfWar]

RJ stated many times in the past, before getting sick, that he was planning on 15 books. Of course, no one knew he really meant 12 books and 3 prequels, but now we know.

 

It has been 12 or 15 (however you look at it) for at least 7 years now? maybe longer...

[reyler]

Thing is, book twelve wouldn't have to be any three thousand pages if he'd spread the meat of that out to the other books, which in some cases were bread and lettuce and little else, not hardly a satisfying sammich. That's why KoD fell flat for me - the few books prior were like when in school you dithered over a science project all month, doing a little bit here, a little there, and then KoD was when you realised it was due tomorrow morning.

[Graendal probably did it]

Nerevar said

To agree with a prior poster and a shameful admission, I have been skipping parts of the books since I am rereading for what seems to be the hundredth time, I just can't bloody bear to read about Perrin and bloody Faile. It was even a struggle to give a damn when I read KoD for the first time about her being rescued. I had prayed that Mera'din bloke survived and she died or something.

 

Snap! I agreen with that 100% Only in Kod did the story pick up with perrins. plot line, He has done next to bugger all since book 4.

 

I would also like to agree with Lucker's about Elayne plot being dragged out over at least 3 books (I may be putting words in Luckers' mouth here) until certain events have transpired. But I reiterate the point, Elayne could have been ditched/killed off entirely and not many would miss her. I skipped over 2 hours of her whining in a KOD reread yesterday. If I were a forsakern I reckon I would up my popularity by assassinating the sancimonious annoying airhead. Rand would proably thank a forsaken for it :lol: