Just Finished the Series...

[chriscross]

First got these books back in June, haven't been able to put them down since.  I think that's the most I've ever read in such a short period of time!  I will admit some of them got a little long, but the story and characters really hooked me.

 

 

I want to offer a few thoughts, perhaps pose a few questions other people might have opinions on?

.

 

Really, really liked to see the different uses of Traveling.  I repeatedly wondered at these other seemingly apparent uses, and if they would be left behind.  I am glad to see they were used in ways you would actually expect to use such a multipurpose ability.  The only thing that got me here was it seemed like it was a bit of an oversight in some ways, seeing as it could pull lava from a volcano, slice a person in half, etc, I would have expected it to be used more frequently in combat as a quick combat ender or for mass devastation.  

 

I thoroughly enjoyed Rand and Moiraine's meeting and interactions.  After Rand, she may have been the singularly most dedicated person and, ultimately, the most trustworthy, and I was happy to see that interaction finally occur - I only wish she had had more to do in her return (you could say Nynaeve needed more to do as well, I think).  

 

I thought the three main characters (moreso Rand and Perrin) had some nice character growth.  I didn't like how long it took for Rand to get out of his dark days, perhaps it was that the descent took to long.  I think it more likely for me it was just the constant fighting/insanity in every Rand internal discussion for much of the middle and later books.  I think he ended up being my favorite character because his changes were clearly there, and you felt the emotional connection to them.  

 

Finally, with regards to Rand/Moridin, and what Aviendha saw.  So it seems most characters accepted that the future Aviendha saw was what would have passed without intervention in Rand's treaty, yes?  As in, those events were definitively going to pass, assuming the DO was defeated.  From this, we can gather Rand has children (4) with Aviendha, four children who are known for being the Dragon's progeny.  So, here is my question: at the end of Memory of Light, it certainly seemed to me that the three women would follow Rand in some capacity or another.  Do we assume that Aviendha kept the children separate from Rand (assuming she was pregnant before the switch), or are they his children from after the change?  Or do we assume this caused the children not to be born - did Rand not change in this other future, for some reason?  I would think they are the original Rand's biological children from before the change, but how does honor play out for Aviendha in this scenario?  Would she feel compelled to tell the children their father lived on?  Would she keep him hidden?  Could she?  If she, Min, and Elayne were periodically disappearing, people would quickly suspect, especially given they each had major roles in their communities (or do we assume they leave them altogether?  I highly doubt this).  I guess, what I am getting at, is do others feel like Rand would have eventually reconnected in some way with those he left behind?

 

I get that he wants to wander/explore, be free of burdens, and I also understand the idea that his death was the price for peace.  I wonder though, would still being alive/revealing himself truly have undermined that peace?  Further, would Rand really feel no guilt or desire to return to his father, or Mat, or Perrin, even Galad (who he believed was his only living biological relative)?  I really am not sure Rand was the kind of character to walk away from all of those people for good, especially after his internal revelations regarding love, hope, etc, yet the burdens and the battle were an enormous strain of which he was finally free.  I am very torn on this question, as I think the book leans toward him keeping contact with only the 3 women (and Nynaeve and possibly Moiraine know his secret, Cadsuane definitely does), yet to me his character and who he had become would not make me think he would become a solitary wanderer.  This kind of feeds into one of the few complaints I had about the series (particularly the end).

 

I really wish there had been more to the epilogue.  I appreciate all of the detailed fighting in the 14th book, but when the battle started so early, I had figured there would be some decent time spent on the aftermath and future for various characters.  For me, parts of the book dragged (Perrin's back and forth with Slayer, certain parts of the battle, Lanfear's interaction with Perrin, etc.), and this cut away pages I thought perhaps should have been used to expand on the future.  I think this was more a style choice, but I really appreciate something after the climax, at least something more than what was offered. 

 

As a whole, I loved the series, and it is really satisfying, yet disappointing, to reach the end.  You really feel something for some of these characters by the end of so many novels, and the commitment to creating and describing a complete world was wonderful.  Unfortunately, the end to the series did take some of the luster for me.  I wish Rand had been more active outside the fight with the DO.  For example, I think the Lanfear arc should have come sooner and involved Rand in some way - no real reason it should be Perrin, and it didn't amount to much anyway.  Rand was left with large periods of time without activity, and I think his story suffered for it.  I was happy to see Perrin's final fight with Slayer, but I thought that simply could have come at the end as it was, without much of what came before.  I also have to reiterate my disappointment in no real discussion of the future or aftermath - I really longed for there to be more to the conclusion, and it doesn't really feel like the book came to a close for me.  

 

 

I certainly have a lot more I could say about things I liked, questions I have, etc., but I just finish this book at 2AM, so it is definitely time for some sleep!  Would really like other's insight on these things, however!

[mb]

about Aviendha's children; they were a Viewing (Winter's Heart).  so that part would not change.  the body swap I take does not change the genes of the children since the conception was before the body swap.

 

about the Glass Column visions; I take they were changed when the Aiel were added to the contract.

 

 

Not sure whether Rand would reveal himself to family/friends.  I imagine he would let others come along if they catch up to him.

his 3 lovers know he is alive through their Warder bond with him; if others find out, it would probably be through them.