After 7 months, I am done my first WoT re-read in about 10 years.

[Mithan]

Back in the 90's after the first book came out, I used to reread the series yearly, as each new book came out.  My last re-read was in 2001, right after Winters Heart came out.  At that point, I stopped reading the series, NOT because I was in any way disappointed (this is my favorite series) but because I wanted to try and wait for the series to finish up, then read them all in one fell swoop. 

 

This means that I had not read Knife of Dream or Crossroads of Twilight, which was tough to have on my book shelf in hard cover unread :)

 

Obviously, Robert Jordan died and the final book got split up into 3, with an "end date" of 2011 or so, and in September of 09, I found I couldn't hold back any more so I decided to re-read the entire series and after 7 months, I reread the series and got "up to date" on the last 3 books.  It was a treat to read 3 new books all at once.

 

 

How do I feel?

I think the series is still the best, most detailed fantasy series out there.  Reading the series makes me always feel like I am with an old friend as well, which adds another element to it which I can not really explain, as it is more of a "feel" than anything.  Finishing always makes me a feel a bit empty after a read through...

 

As for the Gathering Storm, I wanted to comment a bit on that book.  Overall, I think Sanderson did a fairly good job moving the series along.  He does not quite have the flair for words that Jordan does, but in my view, very few authors do.

 

The biggest thing I was worried about was Sanderson rushing the series to get it done, and screwing it up.  I am more than happy that he has split it up into 3 books, and seems to be taking his time to finish the series.  Some people are like "ya, you want the money", as if money matters.  No, if you are building a master piece, do it right. 

 

 

 

 

My only wish is that when the main series is done, they decide to visit other parts of the world.  I would love to see a few books on the Age of Legends, Artur Hawkwing, the Seanchan, Trolloc Wars, etc, etc.  In my view, Jordan has created the most detailed fantasy world ever, and should expand on it.  That would be awesome for somebody like me who loves the series and it would be a shame NOT to expand more on these great writings.

 

 

 

[Suttree]

My only wish is that when the main series is done, they decide to visit other parts of the world.  I would love to see a few books on the Age of Legends, Artur Hawkwing, the Seanchan, Trolloc Wars, etc, etc.  In my view, Jordan has created the most detailed fantasy world ever, and should expand on it.  That would be awesome for somebody like me who loves the series and it would be a shame NOT to expand more on these great writings.

But there is the problem, RJ is not here to expand on it. The prequels and outriggers would be pushing it and as much as I want those stories I am still not sure about having them put out. Anything beyond that Trolloc Wars, Hawkwing etc. would just be horrific. No way to do that and keep the integrity of the series alive.

[Majsju]

Other than possibly the outriggers and/or the prequels, there will be no more WOT books written, ever. No AOL, no Hawkwing, no Manetheren, no Herid Fels wild youth...

 

RJ was very much against the idea of other writers messing with the world he created. It was not that long ago that he was still entertaining the idea that in case he should die, every single piece of WOT material not published should be destroyed, rather than completed by someone else. Fortunatly for us, he changed his mind about that. But stories he himself had never planned to write, that is a completely different issue.