Over the last several months, there have been many exciting announcements about A Memory of Light, the highly anticipated final volume in The Wheel of Time series. In case you've missed our previous coverage, here's what we know so far.

Brandon Sanderson finished the first draft of the book on December 21st, 2011. It was immediately turned over to Team Jordan for review. Brandon anticipates needing at least a dozen drafts before the book is ready for publication.

Tor announced that the hardcover and audiobook releases will be on January 8th, 2013. The eBook release will be April 9th. If Tor follows their usual pattern, the paperback mass market release will be approximately one year after the hardcover release.

We anticipate that Brandon and Harriet McDougal will both go on a signing tour for the hardcover release, however no cities have been announced yet.

Also in December, series artist Darrell K. Sweet passed away, leaving the cover art for A Memory of Light unfinished. You can view his draft on our A Memory of Light info page.

Michael Whelan was announced as Mr. Sweet's replacement. More info about Mr. Whelan's cover can be found here. Tor.com has posted the full cover, as well as notes from Whelan on the process and some of his rough sketches.

Orbit Books, the UK publisher who publishes the WoT books, has also released their cover.

At this year's JordanCon, Harriet read to us a portion of the prologue of A Memory of Light. While no recordings were allowed, Tor and the Jordan estate have graciously allowed us to reprint the text of the preview. If Tor follows their usual pattern, there will be an eBook version of the complete prologue available for purchase sometime between now and the release date. Orbit has also released the jacket text for the book. We believe the same text will appear on the US editions as well. We have reprinted the text here for your convenience:

And it came to pass in those days, as it had come before and would come again, that the Dark lay heavy on the land and weighed down the hearts of men, and the green things failed, and hope died.’ From Charal Drianaan te Calamon, The Cycle of the Dragon.

 

In the Field of Merrilor the rulers of the nations gather to join behind Rand al’Thor, or to stop him from his plan to break the seals on the Dark One’s prison – which may be a sign of his madness, or the last hope of humankind. Egwene, the Amyrlin Seat, leans toward the former.

 

In Andor, the Trollocs seize Caemlyn.

 

In the wolf dream, Perrin Aybara battles Slayer.

 

Approaching Ebou Dar, Mat Cauthon plans to visit his wife Tuon, now Fortuona, Empress of the Seanchan.

 

All humanity is in peril – and the outcome will be decided in Shayol Ghul itself. The Wheel is turning, and the Age is coming to its end. The Last Battle will determine the fate of the world.. For twenty years The Wheel of Time has enthralled more than forty million readers in over thirty-two languages. A MEMORY OF LIGHT brings this majestic fantasy creation to its richly satisfying conclusion.

 

Working from notes and partials left by Robert Jordan when he died in 2007, and consulting with Jordan’s widow, who edited all of Jordan’s books, established fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson has recreated the vision Jordan left behind.

A Memory of Light information and discussion

A Memory of Light discussion forum. (Beware, some threads have prologue spoilers!)

A Memory of Light info page

Listen to or read Chapter One of A Memory of Light

Our friends at TarValon.net are re-reading the series and giving away free audio books in preparation for the release.

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