Have we tried to reverse engineer the BUT?

[CTKShadow]

Hey guys, after a long hiatus from WoT (since 2006) I picked up tGS and gave it a read. I decided that since Asmo's killer still hasn't been revealed, I should check out the online community to see if any new and interesting theories have cropped up (although I'm still nearly certain it was Taim). In any case, I read about the BUT which is apparently the new big mystery, and although I'm not interested enough to re-read the series to try and figure it out, I was pondering it. 

 

It occurred to me that we know that the BUT is going to be revealed in ToM. So this could be a potentially useful clue to figure out what the BUT is...we just take what we know is coming in ToM and look at related things. For example, we know that we'll see Moirane, we know we'll see the ToG, and we know we'll see the dream world (Perrin storyline). Having a general idea of what sorts of events are going to occur is something that I haven't seen considered in my recent lurking (not that I've looked a lot).

 

I'm not saying that the BUT will necessarily be something we know will be in ToM, but it seems probable that if it is indeed a Big Thing it will more likely be revealed in one of the more explored storylines (Mat, Perrin, Elayne).

 

Discuss.

 

 

[OptimusPrime]

Brandon has also said that ToM is another Rand book, he has more time than Mat or Perrin.

 

The Black Tower is going to get its bit I think, and we will find out that Ishamael was brought back in Taims body, that it was Ishamael/Moridin in LoC.

[Luckers]

I did make connections between events in ToM and suggested BUT's in the Compilation thread linked at the top of the page. It's not much but I did point out where things might be coming to a head.

 

I also point out that the dusk jacket of ToM refers to Perrin facing an unseen foe, the answers to which can only be found in Tel'aran'rhiod (and who is not slayer), which as far as reverse engineering the BUT goes, points to my theory about the Unseen Eyes of Tel'aran'rhiod.

[yoniy0]

Brandon has also said that ToM is another Rand book, he has more time than Mat or Perrin.

Either you misunderstood him, or I did. I think what he said was that Rand and Egwene will have more screen time in ToM than Mat and Perrin had in TGS, but that's it. Certainly not more that they'll have in ToM, which is partly dedicated to bringing all story arcs up to speed.

[PatsNats28]

Brandon has also said that ToM is another Rand book, he has more time than Mat or Perrin.

Either you misunderstood him, or I did. I think what he said was that Rand and Egwene will have more screen time in ToM than Mat and Perrin had in TGS, but that's it. Certainly not more that they'll have in ToM, which is partly dedicated to bringing all story arcs up to speed.

 

Okay, but will Rand have CoT-like role in ToM (basically irrelevant?)

[Ishmayl]

Brandon has also said that ToM is another Rand book, he has more time than Mat or Perrin.

Either you misunderstood him, or I did. I think what he said was that Rand and Egwene will have more screen time in ToM than Mat and Perrin had in TGS, but that's it. Certainly not more that they'll have in ToM, which is partly dedicated to bringing all story arcs up to speed.

 

Okay, but will Rand have CoT-like role in ToM (basically irrelevant?)

 

I find it highly unlikely that Rand will be a non-presence in ToM.  You're talking about the main character in the penultimate book of a 14-book series.  I think Rand will have between 5 and 10 chapters dedicated to him and his revelations after tGS, as well as his meeting up with his various wenches.  Maybe a bit of a "Calm before the Storm" type of a role for him.  But he'll be there, I'd wager money on it.

[DocBean]

I did make connections between events in ToM and suggested BUT's in the Compilation thread linked at the top of the page. It's not much but I did point out where things might be coming to a head.

 

I also point out that the dusk jacket of ToM refers to Perrin facing an unseen foe, the answers to which can only be found in Tel'aran'rhiod (and who is not slayer), which as far as reverse engineering the BUT goes, points to my theory about the Unseen Eyes of Tel'aran'rhiod.

 

Luckers, What is your tag about? What was it you were so right about?

if it's your damn unseen eyes theory, and not the Dark One wanting to die, or Nyaneve resurrecting Rand in TAR like Brigette, then I'm going to be ticked off!

[PatsNats28]

Brandon has also said that ToM is another Rand book, he has more time than Mat or Perrin.

Either you misunderstood him, or I did. I think what he said was that Rand and Egwene will have more screen time in ToM than Mat and Perrin had in TGS, but that's it. Certainly not more that they'll have in ToM, which is partly dedicated to bringing all story arcs up to speed.

 

Okay, but will Rand have CoT-like role in ToM (basically irrelevant?)

 

I find it highly unlikely that Rand will be a non-presence in ToM.  You're talking about the main character in the penultimate book of a 14-book series.  I think Rand will have between 5 and 10 chapters dedicated to him and his revelations after tGS, as well as his meeting up with his various wenches.  Maybe a bit of a "Calm before the Storm" type of a role for him.  But he'll be there, I'd wager money on it.

 

Well yeah, but he won't take any significant action, which I suppose is okay after everything we saw in tGS. He'll probably get everything going to the North at the end of the book, in preparation for TG.

[Luckers]

I did make connections between events in ToM and suggested BUT's in the Compilation thread linked at the top of the page. It's not much but I did point out where things might be coming to a head.

 

I also point out that the dusk jacket of ToM refers to Perrin facing an unseen foe, the answers to which can only be found in Tel'aran'rhiod (and who is not slayer), which as far as reverse engineering the BUT goes, points to my theory about the Unseen Eyes of Tel'aran'rhiod.

 

Luckers, What is your tag about? What was it you were so right about?

if it's your damn unseen eyes theory, and not the Dark One wanting to die, or Nyaneve resurrecting Rand in TAR like Brigette, then I'm going to be ticked off!

 

Kath's comment? It's a joke. But one I'm thinking I should maybe remove... Kath was not speaking of ToM spoilers.

[jemron]

Maybe this is the wrong place for this, but have the "precepts" or "rules" within T'A'R been discussed as possibly being related to the BUT?  They, in my mind, correlate directly with the "Unseen Eyes" theory, which I'm in full support of too.  But I wonder if there is more to the precepts that will follow in ToM.  This could relate to Perrin's "unseen foe" in the world of dreams, and it could relate to the Finns as well, IMO.

[OptimusPrime]

Brandon has also said that ToM is another Rand book, he has more time than Mat or Perrin.

Either you misunderstood him, or I did. I think what he said was that Rand and Egwene will have more screen time in ToM than Mat and Perrin had in TGS, but that's it. Certainly not more that they'll have in ToM, which is partly dedicated to bringing all story arcs up to speed.

 

Yeah I reckon it is my error seeing as the Tower of Midnight blurb goes on about Mat and Perrin but doesnt even mention Rand. So maybe we will get some Rand (Black Tower! Come on!) and some Egwene (Die! Diiiieeeeeee!) but central will be Mat and Perrin and possibly their reuniting with Rand, Mat with Moiraine and Perrin with...  No wife? Normal eyes? A pregnant Berelain?

 

Also, Slayer may not be the unseen enemy, but I still think Slayer will be a problem in ToM. My theory is that Mat will be hunted by Cyndane and the gholam, and Mat will be hunted by Moghedien and Slayer. Although the hunters will not work together (like, Cyndane wont be getting help off the gholam, and Moghedien probably wont work with Slayer).

[mikedotcom12]

Hmm has anyone considered that Moraine knows the the face of her husband?  What this meaning she gets married and knows who, or that she knows she won't marry?

[The Watcher and Wanderer]

Brandon has also said that ToM is another Rand book, he has more time than Mat or Perrin.

 

The Black Tower is going to get its bit I think, and we will find out that Ishamael was brought back in Taims body, that it was Ishamael/Moridin in LoC.

 

No because Rand has seen both Moridin and Taim and therefore would recognize them as the same person.  And I highly doubt that a mask of mirrors would be in play since Moridin's and Taim's respective physical appearances have been consistent.

[The Watcher and Wanderer]

I guess I'm a little out of the loop these days, but what is the BUT?

[jemron]

There are several threads about it, but it stands for "Big Unnoticed Thing."

 

BWS said at several signings during the TGS tour that there is a big unnoticed thing in somewhere (or in all three) in books 4-6 and possible sometimes mentioned after that as well, that hasn't been discussed in forums as far as he knew, that would be a critically important part to the series in the end.

 

Many have speculated about what it is, but BWS wouldn't say for sure what it was.

 

I think that Luckers is right, and it is the "unseen eyes" of the World of Dreams.  But many many theories have been posted on the subject, and it is supposedly going to be more clear after ToM comes out.