So I just got into this Series..

[Deap]

I've been reading a lot lately and for my birthday this last weekend I asked my Father for only a book. When he asked which, I told him to choose. He brought home The Eye Of The World. Needless to say I started in right away and as of last night I am officially one book in to this 13 or 14 book series.

 

It was fantastic and I plan on picking up the second book tomorrow.

 

I have a few questions though. No complaints. Just questions.

 

The cords that are attatched to himself, the Forsaken and Ba'alzamon etc etc. Those are the cords that follow a person through their life that make up the pattern corrrect? (That's what I gathered but to my knowledge it was never really clearly stated) It reminded me of Neo in the Matrix when he finally realized he was the one. Then he finally started seeing lines of code in the 'fake' world, just as Rand saw the cord that follows individuals and metaphorically weaves their way in the pattern of the age.

 

 

Why was Rand so belittled into thinking that he did nothing? (At the end of book one) Not only by himself but by Moiraine and the others?

 

I'll add some more questions as this thread developes. =D

[rubbernilly]

Welcome to the series, and the boards, Deap. You've got some exciting stuff ahead of you. Hopefully everyone will respect the fact that any answer they give you could potentially have spoilers that would ruin things for you... in fact, be careful on this board... there are spoilers everywhere. :)

 

For your questions...

 

The cords that Rand sees are ties to the DO that let them channel untainted saidin. The cords are a filter.

 

(There is a spoiler there, if you put things together, but it isn't a huge thing to figure out... by the next book you'd have it yourself. No deal breaker.)

 

Your other question... at the end of book 1, Rand is trying to hide what he did. He doesn't want the others to know that he can channel, or that he *did* channel. As for Moiraine... well, without giving too much away... just remember that she has near 20 years of time in hunting the Dragon Reborn... she's going to have a good idea of not only the prophecies, but things she needs to do in order to manipulate guide the Dragon where she thinks he needs he needs to go.

 

Oh, that and... what happens at the end of every horror flick? ;)

[Deap]

I was disappointed when the Green Man was only given one or two chapters of very little personal interaction. He was a very interesting character with so much capability for answering questions and giving guidence. But then again, I suppose if he lived then we wouldn't have this many books. =P Nevertheless, I'm hoping that in the books to come he or someone like him is introduced.

 

As well, I'm curious as to why Robert Jordan named the book The Eye of The World when it played as the rising action but then of course had a tiny climax of hiding the Banner, Horn and broken seal. I know that Moiraine made the comment "I begin to wonder, The Eye of the World was made against the greatest need the world would ever face, but it made for the use to which... we... put it, or to guard these things?" So basically the liquid power that the Aes Sedai died for at the end of the Age of Legend was to hide these three things. Yes I understand that but it just seems a little disappointing to me to have a title of a book and the quest end up being something that does absolutely nothing but act as a blanket. =P

 

But I still love the story, and I really like the character depth and base that Jordan established in this book. I can see it leaving a lot of room in the books to come for characters to change and develope accordingly even though I feel as if I already know everything about them.

[rubbernilly]

Yeah... interestingly, there is a thread on this very page (at least today) about the Eye, and why, exactly, it was so important. There are some spoilers on that thread, so short of reading that one I'll just give you my opinion.

 

I think that RJ needed a false ending. I think that he didn't know whether it would sell, so he wrote the ending the way he did so that there was some sort of conclusion to the whole thing. Once it sold, he could go on to expand things into the story it is now.

 

I also think that RJ had not completely settled on his metaphysical mechanics by this point... because short of some apologetics, some of the mechanics present at the end of the book either (1) change, or (2) are unsupported one-offs.

 

There is a quote from RJ (answering a book-signing question) that he had an idea for what to do with the Eye when he wrote it, but that he didn't know if he was actually going to put it to use in the text, so he gave a RAFO (read and find out) answer. To me, that means that everything else that came after is sort of patch-work, after the fact, do-the-best-we-can kind of explanation.

[MrMatrim]

I always thought the Eye's purpose was two-fold.  Firstly, it was a large reserve of untainted saidin, to be used the way Rand did, to whittle down that force of Shadowspawn at Tarwin's gap and give the world a little breathing room and time to get their act together, and secondly to safely guard those three things, all of which are fairly important.  To me, it always seemed to serve both purposes at once.

[Agitel]

RJ's given us a RAFO (read and find out) as to the Eye's original purpose. He said that he had a use for it in mind, but in the end he wasn't sure if he was going to use it. So unfortunately, we may never know.

 

I'm glad to hear you liked the first book. The second poster answered about what the black threads are, but seemed to leave out the other 'threads' that Rand saw, the one coming from himself, the one the black threads wrapped around on Ba'alzamon. In my mind those were links to the One Power.

[Kadere]

The cord connected to Aginor that Rand cuts, the golden pulsing one, is Aginor's connection to the Eye which is how he is growing younger and stronger. When Rand cut that cord Aginor embraced more of the Power than any human can channel unaided and he burned himself to ashes. The cords are not their threads in the Pattern.

[Stanley the Bugman]

Glad to see you enjoyed the first book. The second one is awesome too. In fact, the first four are probably my favorite in the series. (I'm almost done with the ninth book, it's good, just nowhere near the first few.) I've read a lot of reviews and heard people say that the series starts getting really good again at about the eleventh, so I'm really looking forward to getting there.

 

But yeah, where there any specific characters, or scenes from the book that you especially enjoyed? I really like the part when Perrin and Egwene face the white cloaks, and when they are all in Shadar Logoth.

[Hunter]

I'd suggest you keep reading instead of coming here so early. You're going to ruin a lot of things for yourself by coming here. Thread titles are often full of spoilers despite intentions otherwise and even in this post there are some spoilers though I'm sure they weren't intended that way. Keep reading, and enjoy, and you will get a lot of answers. To be honest, I'd recommend you stay away from these boards until you're at least done with book 6. Unless of course you don't mind spoilers.

[rubbernilly]

Just wanted to say that yes, the others were right. I think I misunderstood what cords you were talking about... the cords you were asking about were the connection to saidin and/or the actual channeling of saidin.

[Deap]

Hunter, no worries. I came here strictly for this thread and I have no intentions of looking anywhere else on this board until I have completed the series. =D

 

In reguards to Stanley, I really thought that the book took off the moment that Perrin met his most likely mentor Elyas. Jordan finally broke the characters out of there molds and started making them each individually special. I suspect that since Matt didn't really reveal anything (like Rand and Perrin) then I'm in for a real treat for the next few books.

 

I also really enjoyed Lans character. Not so much any part in particular but from the start I knew that there was something more to him than just a warder. I really enjoy the warrior class in any book or any game for that matter, so Lan being the awesome character he is, he is definitely my favorite thus far.

 

Oh!! My favorite scene was when Lan side stepped the blow from Byar. (or whatever his name was; one of the Children of Light, we'll just say his Captore)

That was by far the pinnicle of 'awesomeness' for me with Lan. Because in earlier chapters Perrin described his "Captore" taking his axe and swinging it and speaking of it as if he knew how to use it. So when Lan walked in and just side stepped the blow and knocked him out - I just sat back and said "sweet". =D

 

 

[Deap]

Captor**

 

Wow, I got too excited and forgot how to spell. =P

[Hunter]

Lan is indeed one of the greatest characters of all time, and he only gets better. As for Mat, you won't have to wait too long. He really begins to come into his own in the third book, but you get some awesomeness from him in the Great Hunt, towards the end. Perrin will be really awesome for the next few books, so enjoy his arc. I won't comment on anyone beyond that since I don't want to spoil anything else.

 

But please continue posting here, carefully. I'd love to hear your impressions of the second and third book and beyond. It allows me to live vicariously through you, since I can never read these again for the first time. :(

[Deap]

I will definitely keep you posted Hunter. I ordered the second book yesterday and in the mean time I'm starting, and at the same time, trying to finish up George Martins A Storm of Swords before it gets here.

 

Funny story, I actually did the same thing with the Eye of the World. I just finished reading A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings when I ordered A Storm of Swords. So being my birthday with nothing to read I asked my Father for only a book, as you read in my first post. So my goal was to read the book my Father brought home before A Storm of Swords arrived. I remember thinking that I just wanted to read George Martins book and be through with this outside material!, But I had to read something while I waited for the mail to arrive; never really considering or even realizing that I stumbled upon something just as great if not greater than A Song of Ice and Fire. And now that I'm waiting on The Great Hunt I just can't wait to get through a Storm of Swords and begin Robert Jordans series again.

I have a feeling that this will be going back and forth until George Martins books run out and A Feast for Crows is complete. haha =P And of course, not even considering, that he may decide to release A Dance With Dragons as soon as I finish his fourth. =D

[The Watcher and Wanderer]

Welcome to the series Deap.  Personally, I'd advise against asking questions @ this point.  After all, there are still 11 more book available to you at this time and I'm sure many of your questions will be answered within them.  Some, of course, will not but by the time you reach the end of "The Gathering Storm" you'll be in the same boat with the rest of us on those.

[The Watcher and Wanderer]

I can see it leaving a lot of room in the books to come for characters to change and develope accordingly even though I feel as if I already know everything about them.

 

You have no idea ;D

 

I suspect that since Matt didn't really reveal anything (like Rand and Perrin) then I'm in for a real treat for the next few books.

 

I don't want to give anything away so I'll just say that Mat has become a very popular fan favorite.  So be sure to keep an eye on him, for you will see good things.

[Hunter]

About A Song of Ice and Fire. It is a great series, and though I don't quite like it as much as Wheel of Time, it's close for me. That said, they are completely different types of stories.

 

One thing you might consider though, is slowing down on your read through of A Song of Ice And Fire. I've been waiting for A Dance with Dragons for YEARS, and the release appears to be nowhere in sight, and who knows how long he might take for the next book after that. You really should pace yourself, because you'll find yourself in for a LONG wait otherwise.

[Stanley the Bugman]

In reguards to Stanley, I really thought that the book took off the moment that Perrin met his most likely mentor Elyas. Jordan finally broke the characters out of there molds and started making them each individually special. I suspect that since Matt didn't really reveal anything (like Rand and Perrin) then I'm in for a real treat for the next few books.

 

I also really enjoyed Lans character. Not so much any part in particular but from the start I knew that there was something more to him than just a warder. I really enjoy the warrior class in any book or any game for that matter, so Lan being the awesome character he is, he is definitely my favorite thus far.

 

Oh!! My favorite scene was when Lan side stepped the blow from Byar. (or whatever his name was; one of the Children of Light, we'll just say his Captore)

That was by far the pinnicle of 'awesomeness' for me with Lan. Because in earlier chapters Perrin described his "Captore" taking his axe and swinging it and speaking of it as if he knew how to use it. So when Lan walked in and just side stepped the blow and knocked him out - I just sat back and said "sweet". =D

 

 

Yeah Lan is pretty much totally badass. :) I think once you really get to see how Mat's character pans out, he'll become a favorite too.

[Deap]

I HAVE COMPLETED BOOK TWO!

 

I know it took me awhile but I had a few other reads on my plate before I could start it. Needless to say.. it was awesome. The ONLY thing that I was disappointed about was when Rand faced Turak. I had noticed when I started the book that one of the chapters was named "Blademaster." So basically I was looking forward to it for 45 chapters only to be let down with a few paragraphs of sweet sweet action and then suddenly without even touching the power or really struggling too much... a blademaster falls.

I know, I know - he was thinking of Egwene and super focused, but it could have been a bit more epic for his first Bladmaster kill.

 

Ingtar's a darkfriend. =*(

 

Oh, and his sword broke. =*(

- I seem to recall reading something about weapons made by the Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends. Weapons that were forged and crafted with the Power. Though this knowledge was lost, I think that Rand will be able to recover it or recreate it somehow and reforge Tams sword. =D

 

Though this book did not develope Matt or Perrin very much, I think that the ending chapters set up the next few books to develope them further. I know that Matt yelled out the Manetheren battle cries in the first book and then in this second, he was the one to blow the horn while Perrin was the one to hold the Banner. Somehow they will become something like Rand, not the Dragon mind you, but reincarnations as well or something along those lines.

 

I also enjoyed the brief bit - where Min was helping Rand get better and noticed that his sheets were cold so just randomly decided to snuggle with him. =P Cute - I thought it was also really funny how the only words out of Egwene's mouth were "Oh" hahaha - Poor Girl =( But also very interesting how Min said that there would be a Fourth. AND Lanfear just showing up and making random comments about Rand and then poofing immediately after.

 

I don't think that Rand actually fought the Dark One in the sky above Falme. I think it was someone else. A Forsaken perhaps? I would think that the dark one would know something like - you didn't blow the horn.

 

But I'm in class now, so enough with my rantings. Overall this book was fantastic. I can't wait to pick up the Dragon Reborn after class. =D

 

 

[Elend]

Some of your theories will be answered in the third book.

 

Also, be happy. Next book is Mat Development Book 1. Enjoy his scenes :D

[Hunter]

How easily Turak was defeated by Rand has been an issue long debated. I believe RJ mentioned at some point that Turak wasn't truly a Blademaster, since standards on the other side of the Aryth are lower for naming a blademaster. Add to that that Rand achieved some kind of surprise Zen state and that Turak was overconfident and toying iwth him when he was surprised, and it's forgiveable. Still, it was a bit of a stretch.

 

Next book is really good for development of both Mat and Perrin. it's funny because it was the first book I read in the series, so I was a huge Perrin fan from the get-go. Keep us updated. Can't wait to hear your impressions on book 3. I'm living vicariously through you on this lol. Since I'll never be able to read it for the first time again.

 

You'll definitely get the answers to your theories in the next book, but then you'll have a dozen new things to look out for and forward to.

[BoostedBob]

I never really thought Rand should not have had a hard time with Turak, Only reason why he did was cause he refused to use the void, Saiden taunting him, I think he just realized at the point that he had to use the void regardless(I could be wrong its been over a year since I have done a re read on TGH).

[Impressive Bosom]

Deap - please allow me to join others in welcoming you to this amazing epic, and to tell you that you might enjoy your second read through the series even more.

 

My sister just began and she's about where you are, so I'm going to give you a tiny piece of advice that I gave her. You are about to be (or already have been) innundated with Aes Sedai, and that theme will continue throughout the books - just keeping their names straight will be difficult for a while. To help a little, and this might seem obvious to you but it was not to me my first time through, focus your attentions on Leanne, Elaida, Verin, and Alviarin... that's in addition to Moiraine and Siuan, obviously. On my first re-read I realized how helpful it would have been to me to have known that. The Aes Sedai mentioned don't necessarily have anything in common (apart from being Aes Sedai and all that entails), but you don't want to miss anything they do because you never know what it might eventually portend.

 

Of course, there are many other AS who play significant roles, and none of us even know the entire story yet, so you can take that bit of advice with a grain of salt.

 

I'm really looking forward to following this thread so feel free to post often - you only get to experience it for the first time once, but following along with a new reader is almost as rewarding... and let me echo the sentiments of others to be very, very careful to avoid spoilers - even in thread subject lines! This is NOT a series where you want anything spoiled.

[Taryntula]

Welcome Deap! So good to have a new reader around to revitalize our love for the series.

 

I noticed in your initial feelings towards TGH you put "Ingtar is a darkfriend." I don't know about you, but that was one of my favorite moments in the WHOLE SERIES, and definitely that particular book. For some reason Ingtar's redemption was such a beautiful scene; even with only Rand to witness it. When you go back and reread TGH someday, you'll be watching the signs Ingtar was giving throughout the book...especially the part where they all lived their alternate lives through the portal stone.

 

What was your favorite part of TGH?

[NoGuessing]

Heh, enjoy your first read. Be careful though. I got spoilered by a friend when I was on book 7. They blurted out events at the end of books 9 and 10  :'( I had to wait until 11 to get back to the "what will happen next?" stage.