What is so great about the wheel of time series?

[Owayn The Traveller]

Ok Ive read the books 3 times through  and maybe on or two of them once or twice more than this, excluding crossroads, and I cant figure out why.

What is it about the books that you like, find original, can't get enough of and basically love more than any other fantasy series.

I love the detail and the interconnectivity of it all. Almost nothing in the book is put in just because its cool and some things keep popping up despite the lack of coolness and popularity, this is something I even like. ???

[Jemlin]

We like that it keeps going

 

and going

 

and going

 

and going

 

and going

 

and going

 

and going.................

[dwn]

It's a really good 'moderate' series.

 

There are some fantasy books I would classify as 'brain candy'; chief among those are the various series by David Eddings. I reread these frequently because they're fun, they're fairly well written, and they take almost no effort to read.

 

At the other end are the really deep books, like A Song of Ice and Fire, Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, and Stephen R. Donaldson's books. I absolutely love these, but reading them can be mentally exhausting.

 

The Wheel of Time fits right in the middle. It's well written, has a plethora of characters, lots of intertwining plot threads... but reading the books is still fun and relaxing.

 

-- dwn

 

[WWWwombat]

It's all about the characters for me.  There are hundreds of characters and a surprising number of them are really well developed.

[Muad Cheade]

The reality of the situation and politics for me.

[Mr Ares]

At the other end are the really deep books, like A Song of Ice and Fire.

I wouldn't really class ASoIaF as really deep. Really, it's in pretty much the same boat as WoT. Good writing, good characters, good plot. What's the difference? ASoIaF is a bit darker in tone.

[Nightstrike]

I really like the world that RJ created (cultures, societies, and so on). I also find the supernatural/magical stuff very fascinating to read about. The story itself is very entertaining as well. 

[JenniferL]

Tucked behind every fifth page is a five dollar bill. It comes in incredibly handy when I need gas money.

[Nightstrike]

:D I wish I had that edition. 

[dwn]

At the other end are the really deep books, like A Song of Ice and Fire.

I wouldn't really class ASoIaF as really deep. Really, it's in pretty much the same boat as WoT. Good writing, good characters, good plot. What's the difference? ASoIaF is a bit darker in tone.

 

A poor choice of words on my part, perhaps. I can pick up any Wheel of Time book, open it to any chapter, and dive right in just to kill time. I can't really do that with ASOIAF as it takes a bit more time/effort to really get into the story. Hence I don't tend to reread it as often as the WOT books.

 

So 'deep' as in required commitment rather than complexity.

 

-- dwn

 

[Al Thor93]

I think for me, its the fact that it's a combo of LOTR and HP, and Eragon. It just seems to me to be one of the best series ever written because its has so much depth and really makes you think. ;)

[singogreatest360]

It's the most well thought-out series ever. 14 books are really just one BIG book.

 

Everything has a reason and justification. 

 

Even small things can have big impact. Many authors seem to have ANY politics at all. We have seen events from New Spring still having political impact today.

 

Magic/channeling system is smart and reliable. No overpowered/infinate-power bad guys to worry about

 

It's funny. The comedy is deep and fits in the story.

[Lobododragao]

the scale of it is fantastic. characters that are easy to identify with. (though this changes with time) Situations and things that happen that don't neccisarrily go the way you are wanting them to, making you tear your hair out and jump up and down. It is a world complete that you can loose yourself in, and speculate endlessly on what stuff means. Its like an onion, everytime you think you know it you get to a different layer. (to steal someones phrase :) )

[Alea iacta est]

For me, its that channeling is one of the coolest magic systems i've ever read about.

 

And that there's so much material.

[Owayn The Traveller]

Yes it is quite possibly the best piece of fantasy writing ever produced. Does any other series come close?

[Ashaman Kovan]

Does any other series come close?

 

http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,47726.48.html

[Phariah]

i love it because of all the characters we see in the books the developement of the characters. the world and the philosophy within it. its nice to see main characters get beaten up and dirty and still strive thru and acomplish goals.

 

the world and the journey this series evokes is great.

[Ahaz Flagg]

  For me it is that the  series lives!!!!  Robert Jordan does not just write a story, he makes you live the story!!.  Few stories keep me reading and rereading.

[Mr Ares]

Tucked behind every fifth page is a five dollar bill. It comes in incredibly handy when I need gas money.

Hemingway did the same thing with The Old Man and the Sea. It didn't prove as popular.

 

Yes it is quite possibly the best piece of fantasy writing ever produced. Does any other series come close?

A Song of Ice and Fire and Prince of Nothing. George R.R. Martin and R. Scott Bakker are both incredible writers.

[Delvoire]

The characters and the history of the Randland is what hooked me.  I'm going through the re-reads on tor.com right now, and just going back through TEOTW there is so much richness in the history that is told in that book.

[Wingendosering]

Everything about it combines to make the perfect enjoyable formula. 

 

You have enough characters to satisfy anybody.  There's enough variation in them for everybody to find some characters they like and some they don't.

 

An epic storyline that lasts pretty much forever.

 

A classic tale of light vs darkness.  In fact, Jordan's works are full of classic literary techniques and cliches, but he's put his own spin onto each, to give it a new feel.

 

And my personal favourite: his world is immense.  He has fully fleshed out cultures and societies, cities and towns, etc;  The only thing missing are different languages, but I can see why that would be left out.  The whole series just screams of extra backstory that didn't make the cut, and that appeals to people.

[bmunge]

The world is awesome. The different cultures and cities are very diverse and creative. Also, I love all the prophecy and history throughout the books. Rand's journey to the columns in Rhuidean is one of the best fantasy scenes ever.

[OptimusPrime]

Im saying this first because it is what surprises me the most. The female characters in Wheel of Time are incredible. I have never enjoyed female characters as much, and never have they been among my favorites in a story. Moiraine, Verin, Cadsuane. Nynaeve. Nynaeve is funny without being too comical. Aviendha. She is the first fantasy female warrior that didnt piss me off.

 

The story has a freaking pulse. Not a single character is there without his or her place in the world, as opposed to other books that has so many 2D characters. Everything people say or do, every single detail, seems important. Every nation, organization, tradition or law feels like those of a real world, when you are drawn into it. RJ pulls you into the world more so than any other author I have read.

 

Already been said, but the power system is great. The fact that the One Power doesnt resemble anything Ive encountered in books before is a rare thing; no spells, nothing that is "cast" and no mention of magic... IIRC there was one time where someone (Herid Fel?) uses the word "arcane" but thats not even one of the key One Power terms. So many things about the Power fit perfectly; balefire burning away someones thread from the Pattern, gateways ripping holes through the Pattern (if Rand is right, obviously) and so on.

 

Everything about it combines to make the perfect enjoyable formula.

[Owayn The Traveller]

 

Yes it is quite possibly the best piece of fantasy writing ever produced. Does any other series come close?

A Song of Ice and Fire and Prince of Nothing. George R.R. Martin and R. Scott Bakker are both incredible writers.

I havent read anything be either of those, have been tempted by George R.R. Martin although the R's put me off put I might give him a shot - going to need something to read the day after or possible the second day after The Gatheing Storm comes out. I'm lucky I've the two days off work.

As to the other guy don't know him at all I'm afraid ???.

 

  For me it is that the  series lives!!!!  Robert Jordan does not just write a story, he makes you live the story!!.  Few stories keep me reading and rereading.

Ya I only started the books back in 1999 , got them the library no bookshop in town at the time as of going to print still isn't, and I've got through at least three times. Always something new or something I didn't figure first time around when you zoom through the book. Does everyone else do that like speed through the book? I do and it bugs me as you get information indegestion and there ain't no nothing you can take for that.

The Thomas Covenant books are great aswell, havent started the new cycle yet and there it is I couldn't wait like that for the Wheel of Time.

[42Bonzo88]

    All of the posts have been great and I agree with all of them. With me it's the humour first and foremost. The action is sometimes few and far between, but when you get there, it is AMAZING!! The characters are believable you can relate to them.