Thanks for the heads up, Jason! Only whets the appetite more for the whole book!

That was an incredible first chapter. I really really liked it. Not often I get eyewet that early. ;-) Though the reason of course is how well the chapter ties with the ending of the last book. One of the best endings so far in this series in my view.

Wow, great first chapter. The change from the gloom of The Gathering Storm to what is in this chapter is a sight to see. I gather it won't last though....

Thanks Jason. Looking forward to reading it.

That was absolutely fantastic!!!

Wow. Fricken awesome. That chapter I thought at first would be boring. But it was bad ass

brilliant! I hope there will be more than just the glimpse of Rand that Jason alluded to in his review, this chapter was as Jimmy said, "Bad Ass"

I too agree "bad ass" chapter! Oh, I can only guess where Rand is headed, Tar Valon?

ahhhhhh, soo good, can't wait for November!! The new Rand is gonna be so Epic!!!

Bitchin' Can't wait for November 2!

oh man if this chapter is so good than i can't wait 15th October to get the another one.And finally we see Rand as something else than dark and moody character that he was in last four books.

Moody in only the last 4?! lol try since at least LoC or even earlier lol. Regardless, I agree, MOAR RAND! although I don't think we'll see him too, too much in this one unfortunately. Hopefully enough to see some arc progression though.

Jason the Seven Striped-Lass Chapter is 8 not 7 just to let you know. Thanks for the info.

Wonderful! I got goosebumps when I realized from whom we were getting a point of view. Can't wait for November 2nd!

you got goosebumps from seeing Almen Bunt's point of view? lol... me too...who ever thought we'd see him again?

Oh my god! This was amazing! I logged in to write how I have had goosebumps when I figured out who this Almen Bunt is. I did not expect that I will find two EXACTLY identical comments already posted (Kacebelle, heavytabbs). :)

Wow, Robert Jordan was a master in knowing what would excite the reader to the point of goosebumps (I don’t know if Sanderson wrote the chapter, but it certainly looks like it was envisioned by RJ)! I mean, to have this irrelevant character reappear after gazillion pages of the story have been written is just amazing! I bet that RJ had had this chapter in mind as he was writing the first book. I bet that he was giggling as he was thinking about readers’ reaction after seeing it. What a remarkable storyteller!

So, who do you think Rand is going to meet? And what is the thing that ‘she’ would not be pleased to hear?

Cheers to all!

At the end of TGS, Rand remembers a lot of past life stuff, and not just from LTT's life either. This leads me to think Rand knows A LOT of stuff which was previously unknown to everyone. Or, at least, he is able to put things together. For example, he probably remembers all the details about what went wrong the last time he tried to seal in the Dark One and we have to presume he has figured out, or is close to figuring out what he needs to do. So my guess is he is going to talk to Egwene because he needs female Aes Sedai help. What he needs them to do is probably the thing she isn't going to like. Anyway, that's my guess and it is probably wrong, but I hope we find out in November! What an awesome chapter! I was hoping Rand would become a light bender and my hope has been realized.

I love that cover being shown but did anyone notice the snake-and-wheel symbol is backwards?

Geez, I feel silly...posting again to say THANK YOU for posting a link to the first chapter!

Very nice stuff. How did I not see this until now? :p

Wow! I wonder if Rand will know the song the Tinkers are looking for?

I preordered the book

I am one month already in this panic mode. After I read this chapter, I have become like Cartman while waiting for Nintendo Vii :)

I really liked the part when Rand brings light and the apples grow back again. The pattern around Rand corrects itself.

Great way to begin right where the Gathering Storm left off. I cannot wait to read this book!

The whole aspect with the apples actually reminds me of Swan Song by Robert McCammon. If you've ever read it, you'll hopefully remember the scene. If not, it's also an important point in the story where the main character (also fairly messianic in nature) is involved in a similar act.

Awesome!! Mind Blowing :-@ Love that it reconnects with the first book and the character of Bunt. I remember him being mentioned by Gawyn in book three or so and I think it's brilliant to see him back again, to show how Rand has touched the ordinary man. What goes around comes around and Rand is finally thanking him for his help. Plus, I always thought it strange how Rand set out in Bk one to go to Tar Valon and never got there and now he is finally going to the centre of everything. COming from Dragonmount just makes it more Epic

Amen to heavytabbs comment. MORE RAND!!! Mat may be a great character but when it comes to pure awesome, it is rolling off Rand in waves