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Casting has been officially announced for the Royal Court of Andor:
Olivia Williams is Morgase Trakand, Queen of Andor.
Luke Fetherston is ‘Lord Gawyn’, First Prince of House Trakand.
Callum Kerr is ‘Lord Galad’, of House Trakand.
Nuno Lopes is ‘Lord Gaebril’, consort and advisor to Queen Morgase
The Wheel of Time Season 3 premieres March 13th 2025, on Prime Video.
Updated 11:00 AM EST 12/18/2024: Swapped Gawyn & Galad actors after press release correction issued
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Here is another filk song written by Semirhage and Ishamael, based on the 80s song "Rocket Launcher" by Bruce Cockburn. Sa'angreal by Sem and Ishamael (Sammael) Here comes the Whitecloaks -- second time today Everybody scatters, and hopes they go away How many Darkfriends they've murdered, only The Great Lord can say If I had a sa'angreal...I'd make somebody pay (Semirhage) I don't believe in Ajahs, and I don't believe in binding I don't believe in Amyrlins, or their stinking serpent rings And when I talk with Wilders, of oaths too sickening to relate If I had a sa'angreal...I would retaliate (Ishamael/Moridin) In the Two Rivers, one hundred thousand wait To fall down from starvation -- or some less humane fate Cry for The Black Tower, with a corpse in every gate If I had a sa'angreal...I would not hesitate (Demandred) I want to be the one to kill him -- at least I've got to try Every time I think about him, fury rises to my eyes. Situation desperate, echoes of the victims cry If I had a sa'angreal...that son of a bitch would die
Welcome back to another edition of "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog. We are going to continue our reread of The Eye of the World, chapters 14 - 16. Before we start, I do want to say that there will still be SPOILERS! With the ending in sight, much of what I point out could allude to things that happen in A Memory of Light, so keep that in mind as you read. Don't continue if you don't want to be spoiled. Synopsis: Chapter 14, "The Stag and Lion" The innkeeper—Master Fitch—takes the company further into the inn. He talks about things going on in the city, about the miners come down from the mountains and the town being full. Lan goes off to the common room to see what can be learned. Moiraine asks Master Fitch about the Whitecloaks in the city. The innkeeper says they are only making trouble for the Governor. Moiraine asks after Min, but then Rand, Mat, Perrin, and Thom are lead off to the men's baths. As they are getting clean, Mat almost lets slip about Trollocs to the bath attendant. Lan comes in and quickly dismisses the attendant and berates Mat for not holding his tongue. They are not supposed to even think about Trollocs. Perrin asks about Trollocs in Saldaea and Lan yells at them again. When they leave the bath, Rand sees Moiraine talking to a young woman with short hair, and dressed in a man's coat and breeches. They go to a private dining room. Rand has realized how they can trust no one but themselves, and tries to make up with Egwene; she turns her back on him and he swallows his apology. After Master Fitch brings them dinner, Moiraine asks Lan what news he has. Lan says there was a battle in Ghealdan—but he couldn't find out if the Aes Sedai involved were killed, captured, or alive. There also doesn't seem to be Myrddraal or Trollocs around the city. Moiraine says they will spend two nights at the Stag and Lion then leave the next morning. The Emond's Fielders are pleased with this prospect. Rand is sharing a room with Lan and Thom. Despite the excitement of the common room, Rand lays down in bed and goes to sleep. He wakes up in a stone corridor. He walks for some time, with no change in his surroundings. He tries to open a door and enters a room with a balcony that exposes a sky with swirling clouds of black, and gray, and red, and orange—no natural sky. The stones of the fireplace seem to be made of people's faces, streaming in agony. There is a mirror on the wall, and Rand's image is distorted and fuzzy. Suddenly, there is a man standing in the room in front of the fireplace. He is good-looking and dressed in dark, fine clothes. The man greets Rand, and when he does, the man's eyes and mouth become open furnaces filled with flames. Rand screams and runs from the room, falling into the room opposite. The man stands in front of the fireplace in the second room too. Rand tries to leave, but the corridor is gone. The door closes, locking him in the room. The man tells Rand that he must be thirsty, and he can drink from the goblet on the table. Rand reaches for it and lifts it to his mouth, then thinks better of it. He refuses, and the man is obviously displeased. Rand asks the man what he wants, and who he is. The man answers, "Some call me Ba'alzamon." Rand frantically tires to flee from the room, because Ba'alzamon is another name for the Dark One. Ba'alzamon asks if Rand is the one, and says that Rand can never hide from him. Does Rand expect power and glory? Does Rand expect the Eye of the World to serve him? Ba'alzamon says the White Tower would use Rand, that the Aes Sedai have manipulated him like a puppet, leading his father like a stallion and his mother a brood mare. He says Rand will be used like Davian, Yurian Stonebow, Guaire Amalasan, Raolin Darksbane, and Logain. Rand shouts the Ba'alzamon is sealed with the Forsaken, forever. Ba'alzamon says he was never bound. That he told Lews Therin to kill his family, that he shattered the Second Covenant, that he caused Artur Hawkwing to doom his own empire. Rand denounces the whole event as a dream. Ba'alzamon laughs at him and breaks the back of a rat on the table. He then points a finger at Rand, and Rand's back begins to bend. Rand wakes up from the nightmare and wonders if Moiraine could help keep them away. He scoffs at himself, realizing bad dreams are better than the Aes Sedai's help. Chapter 15, "Strangers and Friends" Rand wakes the next morning alone in his room. Lan and Thom are already out. He had more dreams but can't remember any but the first. He goes downstairs for breakfast. The cook gives him something to eat, and begins to explain that a dozen rats were found with their backs broken. After he's done eating, he goes to find Thom, and ask advice. Thom is busy in the common room, so Rand goes up to Perrin's room. Perrin isn't feeling well, and hasn't left the inn. Rand asks Perrin if he had the same dream; he has. They conclude that Mat must have, as well. Rand tries to cheer Perrin up, but is unable to do so. Rand leaves the inn to explore the city. Out on the street, Rand is overcome by the press of the crowd. He sits off to the side of the road in front of the inn, trying to clear his head. He has a headache. Min arrives and makes fun of him a bit. She tells him she knows about Moiraine, and that she sees "pieces of the Pattern." Rand asks what she sees around their group. Min mostly sees sparks battling a great shadow. She explains some of the things she saw around Egwene, Thom, Lan, Perrin, and Mat. Rand finally asks her what she sees around him. Min says a few things, which don't make sense to her or Rand, but she says she will see him again. Frightened by her, Rand runs off into the city. Rand looks around the city, and is surprised at how the people don't look any different from back home. He sees Padan Fain and chases the peddler down. He tells Fain that everyone thought he was dead. Fain says the Trollocs burned his wagon and he couldn't get to his horses. Rand tells him they are staying at the Stag and Lion, and that Moiraine could help. Afraid of Moiraine, Fain runs off and Rand pursues. He bumps into Mat. Rand asks Mat if he had the same dream of Ba'alzamon; Mat has. Mat says they can ask Thom for advice, but not to tell Moiraine. As they're returning to the inn, Rand tells Mat about the things Min can see. Suddenly, Mat points out three Whitecloaks walking down the street. Mat disappears into a shop and uses his sling to make barrels fall off a wagon, spraying the Whitecloaks with mud. Feeling giddy, Rand laughs at the Whitecloaks, who accost him and threaten him. Rand burnishes his sword, and the Whitecloaks see it is heron-marked. Luckily, the city Watch arrives and chases the Whitecloaks away. Mat says Rand must be going crazy to behave so with the Children of the Light. They find Thom as they go back to the Stag and Lion. Both boys tell Thom of their dreams, and he asks them for all the details. He says it is better to keep this from Moiraine, for the time being. They rush back to the inn to make sure Perrin doesn't tell her. At the door, Perrin meets them, flustered, saying that Nynaeve has just arrived. They go in to see her. Chapter 16, "The Wisdom" As they enter the inn, Min grabs Rand and pulls him to the side. She says Nynaeve is a part of it—a part of their group. Before, three or four of them had to be in the same room together, but now she saw sparks with just Moiraine and Nynaeve present. They go into the same dining room, and Nynaeve is there with Moiraine, Egwene, and Lan. Rand, Mat, Perrin, and Thom enter—the boys and Egwene sitting at the table between the two women. Lan asks how she found them, and Nynaeve tells him that she followed his tracks. Lan compliments her abilities, and she blushes. Moiraine and Nynaeve argue about whether the Emond's Fielders should go on or go home. Rand says they need to go on, even if there is only a chance that it would bring the Trollocs back. Moiraine dismisses everyone from the room, leaving only herself and Nynaeve to chat. They wait outside the door, and when Nynaeve comes out, only Rand remains. Nynaeve comments about how he's grown in just a week. He asks what Moiraine said. Nynaeve tells him that the Aes Sedai wondered if any of the boys were born outside the Two Rivers. Then, Rand realizes that Tam's fever dream must be at least part true. He tells Nynaeve about it, and Nynaeve confirms that Tam and Kari arrived in the Two Rivers with an infant. He asks if Mat or Perrin were born outside the Two Rivers, but immediately says it's not his business. He asks her what she's going to do, and she replies that they'll just have to see. My take: Sorry for the long synopsis; a lot happened in these chapters. There's a lot to discuss, as well, so I'll try to do it chronologically. First, Rand thinks when Lan mentions Logain, that the Warder talked "as if he knew him." I believe we've touched on this before, but it's worth mentioning again. Of course, we know the end of the series, and nothing has come from a relationship between Lan and Logain, but it's curious to think that their paths might have crossed. Logain is a minor noble, and Lan and Moiraine have traveled far and wide, so it's not farfetched to think they could have met. There's also something in the scene when Moiraine tells the Emond's Fielders that they will stay in Baerlon for two nights. She smiles, and turns to Lan and says, "What does Master Andra say to that?" The tone it's told in really humanizes her. She's giving the country folk a chance in the city, a treat, and she's enjoying giving it to them. The cute, almost banter, between her and Lan lets us see she isn't all bad. She's able to feel joy and happiness. I really think that this shows us an Aes Sedai who is capable of caring. Elaida, for instance, would never feel pleasure out of seeing their grinning faces. (And we see more of this in a few chapters, when Moiraine actually dances in the common room.) Moving on to the dream sequence. This is the first time Rand is taken to the place with the bizarre sky. He revisits it several times throughout this book, and a few times in the later books. When Rand first had dreams that weren't dreams in Chapter 9, "Tellings of the Wheel," I questioned whether he was in a dreamshard or in Tel'aran'rhiod. After reading this passage, I'm convinced the first a dreamshard—controlled by Ishamael—and the latter Tel'aran'rhiod. Dreamshards, we find out in A Memory of Light, are a bit of a person's own memories and personalities. They can shape it any way they want. That makes sense for the first dream, as Ishamael would be showing Rand images to frighten him and make him suspicious of the White Tower. However, when Rand enters the room with the balcony and faces in the fireplace, it seems like Ishamael is less in control. Ishamael shows that he, in some ways, has power over the world around them. When he breaks the rat's back, he forces Rand to look: However, if Ishamael was in complete control, he would have force Rand to drink the goblet. This suggest Tel'aran'rhiod to me. On that topic, what was in the goblet? Surely not poison. We know how much Ishamael wants Rand, needs Rand, to fulfill certain prophecies and schemes of the Shadow. Ishamael needs the Dragon in order to complete his plans. While there is a lot of back and forth among the other Forsaken (kill him; don't kill him), Ishamael knows the importance of Rand and the balance he brings. Rand's death this early wouldn't have worked towards Ishamael's advantage. Maybe it would have been something akin to forkroot? Something that would dull Rand's channeling? That would make it easier for Ishamael to narrow down which boy he needed. If he gave it to Mat and Perrin, nothing would happen. The only problem is, I don't know if the Shadow is aware of forkroot. Nynaeve uses it on Moghedien (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 55, "The Threads Burn"), but it doesn't say if she knew of it before Ronde Macura made it well known. It's been so long since my first read through of this book, so it's hard for me to remember what I was feeling then. I wonder if the reader is supposed to believe that Ba'alzamon is the Dark One. Rand certainly believes—though Thom doesn't seem to be nearly as afraid when the boys tell him. To the reader, we figure out soon—if we didn't doubt right away—that Ba'alzamon is really Ishamael. Looking at this chapter, though, it's incredibly obvious. Look at the phrases Ishamael uses when tell Rand he was never bound in Shayol Ghul: The prologue is probably far from the reader's mind at this point, but it's clearly stated that this man, Ba'alzamon, stood at Lews Therin's side when he killed his family, saw him use the One Power to kill himself. Elan Morin Tedroni was the only person who saw that. And while we don't know he's Ishamael, we can ferret out he's definitely not the Dark One. (Also, Elan Morin uses the name Shai'tan as a curse. I'm sure the Dark One wouldn’t swear by his own name.) And one last thing on the subject of Ishamael needing Rand, why else would he give Rand the hint about the Eye of the World? That's like giving away the location to the bank you are going to rob to the police. It doesn't make sense. They could have tried to make it a trap—with Balthamel and Aginor waiting—yet they say it was Mat's dagger that led them there, not any plan amongst the Forsaken. But letting this information slip allows Rand to not only kill two Forsaken, but also get the Dragon Banner, the Horn of Valere, and save the battle at Tarwin's Gap. Seems pretty stupid for someone of the Shadow to help the Light so much. One last idle thought about this sequence… Is this room within Moridin's fortress that's inside Shayol Ghul? In the next chapter, Rand gets his first reaction to touching saidin. The time span in-between was about eight or nine days. As he channels a few more times, the span becomes smaller. I love how it made him giddy this time. It's a sign to the reader that something is wrong—and Robert Jordan does such a wonderful job of juxtaposing this to the explanation of Nynaeve's first channeling later—but we don't have enough information yet to guess what it is. This is also where we see real differences between Mat, Rand, and Perrin. Their first time in a city, and Perrin won't leave the inn. Rand—who had the same dreams—forces himself to go out, but Perrin isn't able to do that. He says, "I wish I was back home." Mat doesn't even need to struggle to put on a normal face and act fine. This sets up Perrin for being a sort of guy who doesn't like change, who will always want to be as normal as possible. He says he knows his duty, but he fights against it just as hard—if not harder—than Rand and Mat do. And this is one of the reasons he really struggled with leadership in the later books. Many people comment how whiny he got, but if you look at his roots, at his core, you can see why he resisted so hard. And here we are introduced to Min and her viewings. Her whole purpose though the series is to give hints to the readers. The things she tells Rand never really help him. They are for us only, to try and piece together as much as we can. I love this ability; it's what's kept a lot of theories and discussions going over the course of twenty-three years. However, some of them are still a bit fuzzy—to me, at least. When Min says Egwene "won't refuse it," I don't think it just means begin Aes Sedai. I think it's referring to being raised Amyrlin. The images around Lan I've talked about several times before—mostly insisting he would survive the Last Battle. So I'll just say that they show only the future, so he and Nynaeve will have at least once child after Tarmon Gai'don. Perrin's were obvious from the start—as soon as we learned the truth of who Faile really was. Mat's too are pretty straightforward, after Towers of Midnight came out. For Rand, the only one that still eludes me is the "bloody hand and a white-hot iron." The bloody hand could be when his is blown off by Semirhage, but I'm not sure about the white-hot iron. And with Nynaeve's arrival, we see real signs of ta'veren-ness at work in the world. This could be Nynaeve's manifestation of Listening to the Wind—how she knows that emotional storms are coming—but I bet it's just Rand, and to a lesser extent, Mat and Perrin, tugging at her. Nynaeve is one of the most important characters in the story. The things she accomplished helped Rand to win. Without her, many things would have changed. That's all for this week. Let me know if there's something I glossed over. And please join me next time as we continue the beginning of this wonderful journey. Thanks for reading!
Earlier this month, the nomination process for the 2014 Hugo Awards began. The Hugo Awards are science fiction and fantasy's highest honor and awarded each year by the members of the World Science Fiction Society at WorldCon. To be eligible to nominate you need to be a registered member of either the 2013, 2014 or 2015 WorldCons by January 31. Nominating ballots are due by March 31 and the awards will be announced at this year's WorldCon in London. As we reported earlier, this is Robert Jordan's final year for Hugo eligibility in the category of "Best Novel" for the Wheel of Time series. However, there are many other categories and works eligible for nomination. If you are planning to nominate for the first time this year, we recommend participating in the process as fully as possible and nominating in several categories. Ballots from first time voters nominating one work in a single category run the risk of being discounted by the Hugo Administrators. What's eligible for a Hugo? Any work of science fiction or fantasy that was published for the first time in 2013, or translated into English for the first time in 2013. That encompasses a wide variety of novels, short fiction, artwork, graphic novels, TV shows, podcasts and more. Anything you've enjoyed or thought advanced the genre in a new or interesting direction can be nominated. The Hugo Award administrators will select the five most popular in each category to become this year's Hugo nominees. If you're still uncertain what to nominate, here are some eligible works we'd like to draw your attention to. Remember, these are just our suggestions. Feel free to nominate whatever works you enjoyed last year. Best Novel The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (We believe that the current WSFS rules allow the nomination of the entire series as a complete work now that it's complete.) Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson Best Editor (Long Form) Harriet McDougal, for her work on editing the Wheel of Time series and ensuring that her husband's vision was completed. Best Related Work Writing Excuses Brandon Sanderson hosts this podcast along with several other authors. It won the Hugo in this category in 2013. Dragonmount.com There is unfortunately no category for best fan website, but if you enjoy our work here we'd appreciate the nod. Best Fan Writer Linda Taglieri runs the excellent 13th Depository blog which features the most detailed analysis of the Wheel of Time series online. Leigh Butler is the host of the Wheel of Time Re-Read and A Song of Ice and Fire Read for Tor.com. Aidan Moher is a long time friend of Dragonmount and hosts the popular review and commentary blog A Dribble of Ink. Adam Whitehead maintains The Wertzone, a popular review and fantasy site. He is also a frequent poster to our forums. Maureen Carr, AKA "Mashiara Sedai" who writes our popular theory blog "WoT If…" and edits the rest of our columns. Best Fan Artist Amy Dale, for her "Fields of Merrilor" artwork that graces our site. Best Professional Artist Paul Bielaczyc, for his "Dragon Reborn", which is available both as a print and as a t-shirt at Ta'veren Tees. Ariel Burgess, for the body of work commissioned by Ta'veren Tees for the 2014 Wheel of Time Calendar. Additionally, our friends at Tor.com publish a large amount of eligible short fiction and art every year. (In particular, please read "The Lady Astronaut of Mars" by Mary Robinette Kowal.) Also, many of your favorite authors will post on their websites about what eligible works they have this year. If you aren't sure if something you enjoyed was published in 2013, check with the author to be sure. You can learn more about WorldCon, how the nomination process works and how to register by visiting LonCon's website. Remember, participating in the Hugo nomination process is an important way we recognize the best of science fiction and fantasy each year.
It’s Monday, and that means it is time for a new edition of the Dragonmount Weekly Roundup! This week has been an exciting week, with lots of big changes and updates, site wide! First and foremost, the ban on spoilers from A Memory of Light has been lifted. Keep in mind that some of the Social Groups and sub forums may still have bans in place regarding spoilers, and respect the spoiler policy on those boards. However, for General Discussion, you are now free to discuss any of the existing works from The Wheel of Time. Secondly, the Empy Awards are soon upon us! Now, it’s time for nominations. Before nominating, check out this post regarding nomination rules. Nominations are open until January 29. Be sure to check out the amazing forum signatures and the Empy Categories as well. With the change in the spoiler status of A Memory of Light, the Black Tower Social Group has started a discussion thread on The Black Tower in A Memory of Light. The discussion is sure to have some very thought-provoking and interesting ideas. If you still are looking to discuss A Memory of Light, the Band of the Red Hand has a thread discussing the Horn of Valere and its place within the final book. This has been a month-long discussion, but now, with the spoiler policy lifted, is sure to have a much more in-depth conversation. Finally, an update from Dragonmount’s Twitter Feed: Remember, you can get daily updates on Dragonmount and Wheel of Time related news from Dragonmount’s Twitter and Facebook pages! That wraps it up for this week! I look forward to our next edition of Dragonmount’s Weekly Roundup!
Our next filk song from Semirhage and Ishamael is based on the 80's classic "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell. The Watcher's Watching Me, from the POV of: Osan'gar, and Aran'gar, and Sammael, and Semirhage, and Demandred, and Mesaana, and...and...and By Sem and Ishamael I'm just an average Chosen with an average lifeI work to remake the world Hey, hell, I pay the priceAll I want is to be left alone in my average home But why do I always feel like I'm in the vacuole zone? And I always feel like The Watcher's watching me And I have no privacy oh o oh I always feel like The Watcher's watching me Even in Tel'aran'rhiod When I come home at night I bolt the door real tight People gateway in unannounced, I'm trying to avoid But can the people I spy on see me or am I just paranoid? When I'm at a meeting of the Chosen, I'm afraid to drink my tea Cause I might taste something foul if The Watcher has poisoned me Darkfriends say I'm crazy, just a little touched But maybe tea reminds me of forkroot too much That's why... I always feel like The Watcher's watching me And I have no privacy oh o oh I always feel like The Watcher's watching me Who's playing tricks on me? I don't know anymore Are Graendal and Lanfear watching me? Well is a Gray Man watching me? And I don't feel safe anymore, oh what a mess I wonder who's watching me now -- (BOO!) --The Spider? I always feel like The Watcher's watching me And I have no privacy oh o oh I always feel like The Watcher's watching me Even in my dreams I always feel like The Watcher's watching me Who's playing tricks on me? Tell me it cant be I always feel like The Watcher's watching me
Waygate Foundation is hosting a live writing event with Brandon Sanderson. Get more information on this event here.
Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog! I hope you all had a good couple of weeks whether or not you observed a religious celebration, had a holiday, or if life went on as normal! This week we are going to talk about something I got into over the winter holiday season, a BBC television series called Sherlock. It is a modern day adaptation of the character Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the late 1800's and early 1900's, and the plot lines throughout the series often hold subtle homage to the plot lines of the original novels. This is different from your ordinary television series in a couple of ways. Firstly, the seasons are very short, only 3 episodes each. Noticeably as well, the main actors are very well known for television work. Sherlock Holmes himself is portrayed very well by none other than Benedict Cumberbatch who has appeared in more than one high profile movie recently, notably Star Trek: Into Darkness. And his companion Dr. Watson is equally well depicted by Martin Freeman who you may recognize as Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit. I won't spoil any of the series for you, but it is intelligent, witty, personable, and it's adaptation into a modern day setting is well done. As a childhood reader of Conan Doyle's works, I am satisfied with this rendition of the characters and settings, whereas with the feature films of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, whilst reasonable movies, I felt were not really true to the original works and would have been better served as their own animal. Give it a go and see what you think! It isn't my favorite series ever, there are several that come to mind that I enjoyed much more (perhaps a future article on that!) but I would recommend it as worth a watch. I understand there is also an American take in the same character on-going presently called Elementary, but I have not seen it and have heard mixed opinions on it so far. That's all for now! Have fun! Until next time, friends! (image by allegator) (Editor's Note: Season 3 of Sherlock premiered in the UK on January 1st, 2014. For US viewers, the season will begin on PBS on January 19th, 2014.)
This week, we have a few more filk songs sent in by Semirhage and Ishamael. Chosen Christmas List (2005) By: Semirhage and Ishamael Semirhage wants 13 Aes Sedai to torture and turn. Ishamael just wants someone else's eyes to burn. Demandred wants the head of the Dragon Reborn under his tree. To own Callandor is Osan'gar's only Christmas plea. Aran'gar only wants to be a man, Moghedien would like a place to hide for as long as she can. Graendal, of course, wants another pretty pet. Mesaana will take what ever she can get. Cyndane wants to be tall. Will the Great Lord grant any of these at all? The Chosen XMAS Song (2012) By Semirhage and Ishamael The Dragon is roasting on an open fire Trollocs nipping at his nose Yuletide carols being sung by Darkfriends And Gray Men dressed up like Eskimos Everybody knows an angreal and the Dominion Rod Help to make the season bright Mesaana's tots with their eyes all aglow Will find it hard to sleep tonight They know that The Great Lord's on his way He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh And every Black Sister is gonna spy To see if Draghkar really know how to fly And so I'm offering this simple phrase To my Chosen and all of you Although its been said Many times, many ways Merry Christmas to you... *music* {10 stanzas} Ishamael, Lord of the Chosen Based on Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler" From the point-of-view of the Dark One By Charlotte You got to know when to grovel, Know when to worship, Know when to hit the floor, And know when to pray. You never count your blessings, When you're in the Great Lord's presence. They'll be time enough for counting, When the pain is done.
Welcome back to another edition of "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog. We are going to continue our reread of The Eye of the World, chapters 10 - 13. Synopsis: Chapter 10, "Leavetaking" Rand, Mat, and Lan all go into the stableyard where Perrin is standing guard. Lan asks if Perrin checked the area and Perrin says he has. Lan sets to work saddling horses. Mat notices that Rand is wearing Tams sword, and makes a joke about it. Perrin also has a weapon, an axe made by Master Luhhan. The boys talk about whether to believe Moiraine's claim that the Trollocs are after them. Rand confirms that she told the truth about their homes being burned first. When Rand mentions his father also agreeing that they had to leave, Moiraine appears suddenly and questions him. Mat and Perrin swear they only left notes, as instructed. Lan tells them they are ready to go when Egwene comes into the stableyard, insisting she will go along with them. After some argument, Moiraine says Egwene can accompany them. Lan says she can take Thom's horse, when Thom pops out of the hayloft and says he will travel with them as well. After more discussion, Thom is allowed to go. They choose Bela as a horse for Egwene. They sneak out of the stable and into the night. They pause as mounted riders—the organized watch discussed before Winternight—ride past. They go quietly through the outskirts of the village; Rand constantly looks about, holding on to the last images of Emond's Field. Traveling through the countryside, parallel to the North Road, Rand see a shape in front of the moon, something like a bat. He tells Lan, who calls it a Draghkar. Wanting speed, Moiraine directs them to the North Road at a gallop. Chapter 11, "The Road to Taren Ferry" The group races up the North Road. Rand didn't anticipate running at such speeds, and begins to worry about Egwene and Bela. The old horse surely couldn't keep up with this pace for long. He vows to drop back if Egwene slows. He silently cheers Bela on, trying to give her strength, asking the Light for help. Lan slows them down and Rand sees in surprise that they are already to Watch Hill. The villagers and Thom discuss resting in the village, but Lan only gives them a moment to catch their breath. Moiraine circles the horses, draining their fatigue with the One Power. When she gets to Bela, she tells Rand that the old mare has a good heart, and is the least weary of them all. The Draghkar's scream fills the night, and the horses spook. Rand barely holds onto Cloud's reigns. They mount up and run. As they run, Rand notices sudden banks of fog appearing around them. Rand suspects Moiraine must have used the One Power to summon it. The riders clump together, still running at full speed. After several hours, Lan slows them again. They are in Taren Ferry. The houses are strange to Rand's eyes. The Warder leads the group to the ferry owner, then makes a deal with him to carry the group across the river. Master Hightower agrees to meet them at the landing. Chapter 12, "Across the Taren" They take their horses to the ferry landing. Following the examples of Thom and Lan, Rand tries to make himself look more intimidating. Hightower appears with his workers and demands the money promised. Lan informs the man he will receive it on the other side of the river. As they cross, Rand asks Lan if Hightower would rob them. Lan comments on human nature, that men are more likely to do bad things if their deeds are hidden. This makes Rand worry about Darkfriends. On the opposite bank, Hightower wants his gold. Moiraine says each worker will also receive a silver mark. The men walk off the ferry. As Lan hands out coins, Moiraine looks at the river. Suddenly, the ferry comes lose, and is sucked into the water by a whirlpool. Moiraine apologize that they lost their ferry in her service and has Lan pay the man more money. Hightower takes the coins, then rushes into the fog. The fog ends a few feet up the bank. Thom wonders why Moiraine didn't make the fog extend all the way to Baerlon. Moiraine explains that this will trick the Draghkar into thinking they have taken a boat up or down river. Mat finally works up the courage to ask Moiraine if she caused the whirlpool. She only says that she intends to get them all safely to Tar Valon. Lan had prepared a campsite along the bank on their way to the Two Rivers. After hobbling the horses, they go inside a small covered area. Moiraine and Egwene are speaking about the One Power, and a bit about the Red Ajah and insane male channelers. Moiraine tells Egwene that she is one of a handful of people who will channel the One Power whether she wishes to or not. She is also close to her change, and it would be better if Moiraine guided her in it. The Aes Sedai pulls out her blue stone and holds it between their hands. Small lights flash off the stone. Egwene produced the last light on her own. She rushes to Rand, proclaiming she will be an Aes Sedai. Chapter 13, "Choices" Before going to sleep, Moiraine uses the Power to drain the fatigue out of all the travelers. Thom tries to pull away, but Moiraine forces him. They rest for an hour, then remount and continue on their way. They travel north, taking great pains to avoid towns, farms, or people. Their first night, Lan begins to teach the boys how to use their weapons. Moiraine tells him to continue the lessons. Thom entertains them at nights with juggling and stories. Two days after they leave the river, Egwene unbraids her hair. She and Rand shout at each other, and Rand says Aes Sedai are Darkfriends. Lan quiets them down, and Rand realizes he said more than he should have. Two nights after that, Mat suggests that they head south once they reach Caemlyn, instead of going to Tar Valon. Moiraine heard him, and threatens the boys. She would rather kill them herself than let the Dark One have them. Another night, Rand sneaks close to listen to Egwene's and Moiraine's nightly chats. The two women talk about the male Aes Sedai who went insane, and of the taint on saidin. Moiraine accidently lets slip that someone else in Emond's Field can learn to channel. Moiraine tells Egwene that Aes Sedai are both good and bad, strong and weak, brave and cowardly. The Power will not change who she is. Egwene then asks why the Trollocs came to the Two Rivers. Moiraine's eyes look to Rand's hiding spot, and he quickly, and quietly leaves the area. After a week, they arrive at Baerlon. The city has a twenty-foot high wall surrounding it. The Emond's Fielders gape at it and Thom rolls his eyes. Moiraine instructs them not to talk about Trollocs or Fades. She warns them that Darkfriends may be in the city, so they need to be careful. They approach a small, closed gate, and the gatekeeper hurries to open it for them. He tells them of a battle between Aes Sedai and the False Dragon in Ghealdan—and that the man can channel and is heading for Tear. He also says Whitecloaks are in the city. Rand asks Thom what heading for Tear would mean, and Thom explains about The Karaethon Cycle. The Prophecies of the Dragon state that the Stone of Tear will only fall when the Sword That Cannot Be Touched is held by the Dragon. The group goes down an alley and enters into the back entrance of an inn. The innkeeper, Master Fitch, rushes out and welcomes them to the Stag and Lion. My take: In all honesty, not much happens in these few chapters. This is the calm before the storm unleashes. As far as pacing goes, I think Robert Jordan used this time intentionally to lull us—like Mat—into a false sense of security. Moiraine warns repeatedly of the danger, but our wayward heroes often disregard her advice (like when they get to Shadar Logoth). One curious thing about the trip across the river, Moiraine tells Lan that they don't want to stand out in Master Hightower's mind. However, their actions are very suspicious. When Lan doesn't put away his coins, he lets on that he knew more than he should have. When Moiraine insists they pay the man before he could demand it makes them seem like they're scheming. The situation could have been handled better, I think. I also think it's funny that Mat already has an aversion to the Power being used on him. The other two ta'veren quickly get over this fear. Mat keeps it till the very end. I like that, despite how much he does grow, some of his roots are still the same. Moiraine's character also changes a lot over these chapters. Our first impression of her is of a kind noblewoman, who hands out coins to children in town with a ready smile. Next, we see her as a figure of power, regal despite her soot stained clothes, as she Heals Tam. Here, we see her merciless and far beyond the typical Aes Sedai coldness: Knowing what we know now, we are outraged at this flippant disregard for the Pattern. What would have happened if she tried to kill Rand? But, at the time, she only has clues about who, or what, they are. Would it be better if Rand were killed than turned towards the Shadow? The Borderland rulers seem to agree with Moiraine's way of thinking when they approach him to fulfill the prophecy (Towers of Midnight, Chapter 51, "A Testing"). There's also the use of Moiraine's passive aggressive way of bullying: A lot of Rand's inner confusion stems from these few simple words. How long did he fight against things, struggled against the Pattern itself, because he felt he had no choice? We know he did. We saw how many choices he had when he used the Portal Stone in The Great Hunt (Chapter 37, "What Might Be"). Moiraine, I feel, only spoke the truth as she saw it, yet I think this had unexpected consequences for Rand, and his relationship with her in the future. One last thing to pull out from this section. One thing I've always disliked about Mat's character in the beginning is how quickly he turns away from Rand when he finds out Rand can channel. That told me that Rand wasn't a true friend of Mat; true friendship accepts no matter what. And I was moved to tears when at the end of The Eye of the World Egwene only hesitates a moment before throwing her arms around Rand when she finds out he can channel. The two contrasted so greatly. However, on this reread, I wanted to pay attention to the opposite side of the argument. How did Rand react when he found out Egwene could channel? The scene where she finds out is quickly cut—the chapter ends right after she tells him. However, in the next chapter, Rand and Egwene have the argument about her hair being braided: He realized he hadn't talked to her in two days, since he found out she could channel? I was incredibly disappointed! I always thought better of Rand. I thought he would be the type to accept others as they are, not take Mat's way of isolation. But I was wrong. It did take Rand time to come to terms with Egwene channeling the Power. I think the only one of the bunch who wasn't put out at all was be Perrin. Likewise, he doesn't really judge Rand when he finds out in The Great Hunt. That's all I've got for these chapters, but let me know if there's something I overlooked. Join us next time when the storm (Nynaeve) unleashes its fury on our travelers. Thanks for reading.
Happy New Year! Hopefully, the Wheel’s turning from 2013 to 2014 has been safe and happy for us all. With the holiday season behind us, and a new year beginning, it is time for another exciting edition of Dragonmount’s Weekly Roundup! The Band of the Red Hand is preparing to discuss the Horn of Valere in A Memory of Light. Note that spoilers are not allowed yet, but the thread has started to prepare those interested in the discussion to begin talking about the Horn and its place within the Wheel of Time series. The Kin are discussing motivational quotes and phrases. Is there an image, a quote, or some saying that motivates you? Share it with the Kin, and join the thread to learn more phrases that inspire. Do you know some really neat trivia? Can you relate it to the Ogier or any other Wheel of Time Culture? The Ogier now have a trivia battle! In Shayol Ghul, the Forsaken have taken over and are plotting the new reign for the new year. Plans include ruining resolutions, Cursing the New Year, and turning the baby New Year to the Dark One. In the White Tower and Warders, the White and Brown Ajahs have combined forces to host an Olympic Carnival! Discussions include an opening ceremony and ball, knowledge about Sochi, Russia, a lodge for discussion, a forum signature contest, and a Winter Dessert contest. To round out the social groups, the Wolfkin are discussing how long it is acceptable to live in pajamas. Finally, an update from the Dragonmount Twitter Feed: Remember, you can get daily updates on Dragonmount and Wheel of Time related news by subscribing to Dragonmount’s Twitter and Facebook pages! Please remember to sign into your social groups and have a fantastic New Year!
It's January and that means awards season is upon us. The biggest award in science fiction and fantasy literature is the Hugo Award, awarded by the members of the World Science Fiction Society at the annual WorldCon. The Hugos are often described as "the Oscars of speculative fiction." They are one of our oldest awards, being granted since the 1950's. Brandon Sanderson won the award in 2013 for his novella, The Emperor's Soul and many other significant writers have won this award as well. Notable Hugo winners include Robert Heinlein, Lois McMaster Bujold, Orson Scott Card, Kurt Vonnegut, and Anne McCaffery. It's truly the highest achievement that an author can obtain and perhaps the most meaningful, as the Hugos are not awarded by a jury or committee, but rather by a direct vote of the members of the World Science Fiction Society. Who is the World Science Fiction Society? It's one of the oldest, if not THE oldest fan club for science fiction and fantasy fans in the world. It's made up of thousands of fans like you and me, as well as writers, artists and editors and other professionals in the field. In short, these are the people who care about science fiction and fantasy and want to see more quality work done in this area. WSFS has been in existence since the very first WorldCon, held in 1939. Anyone can become a member of WSFS by paying the membership fee, which can include entrance to that year's WorldCon. LonCon, the 72nd annual WorldCon, will take place in London this year. The members of that convention will award Hugos for works published, broadcast or otherwise made available during the 2013 calendar year. This includes A Memory of Light, the final book in the Wheel of Time series. As an active member of WSFS, I'm very excited at the prospect of being able to nominate this book and honor my favorite author and the amazing literary achievement that is the Wheel of Time. But... In re-reading the WSFS Constitution recently, I saw this clause in the Hugo eligibility rules: Simply put, because no portion of The Wheel of Time has ever been nominated for a Hugo, the entire series became eligible as a single work when it was completed. I've contacted the Hugo Administrators for this year and they declined to rule on this interpretation, preferring to wait and see if the nominations received require one. So if more folks nominate just A Memory of Light, that will make the ballot. If more nominate for the entire series, then the series will be listed. If it doesn't make a difference either way, then they won't need to rule. There's a precedent for this interpretation, though not quite on this scale. Black Out and All Clear, a duology by Connie Willis was nominated and won in 2011 for Best Novel. The first season of A Game of Thrones was nominated as a whole, and won in the Best Dramactic Presentation-Long Form category in 2012. So not only do we have the opportunity to honor one of the most significant fantasy authors, but also to make Hugo history. Oh yeah. We. As I mentioned before, the Hugos are an entirely democratic process. There is no jury or committee. Anyone, including you, can participate in the process. All you have to do is register as either an Attending or Supporting member of this year's WorldCon. Attending membership is just that. You plan to attend the convention and your membership includes all WorldCon and WSFS publications, attendance at the convention and voting rights for the Hugos and WorldCon Site Selection. Supporting membership is usually significantly cheaper and includes just voting rights and publications. Both categories of membership include access to the Hugo Voter Packet, which in past years has included electronic copies of all or most Hugo nominated works that year. This ensures that all voters have the opportunity to read and fairly evaluate all the works before completing their ballots. If you'd like to participate in the nomination process, you need to be a Supporting or Attending member by January 31st. Attending membership is currently US $185. Supporting is US $ 40. You can register at the LonCon website, as well as read more information about the Hugos, WSFS and WorldCon. Even if you don't think that Robert Jordan deserves a Hugo for his work on the Wheel of Time, I still invite you to join WSFS. Its a truly international organization of fans and being a member connects you to a much wider world of fandom with rich traditions and stories. Voting in the Hugos is an incredible privilege and one that I encourage you to take advantage of, regardless of who you plan to nominate or vote for.
Welcome to another edition of Fantasy Review. This review might contain a few spoilers. Domain by Steve Alten Synopsis: The story is based on the Mayan prophecy that the world would end in 2012. Dominique Vasquez is a psychologist transferred to the case of Michael Gabriel. Her superiors think she is new and easily manipulated and would help in their motive of keeping in their care. But Michael Gabriel spent years with his father, Julius Gabriel, researching about the end of the world. He is convinced that the world would end unless he does something. But he is kept under psychologists so he cannot escape. He sees hope in Dominique as she believes he can get well and works to get him out of that institution but even she does not believe his talk about the world's end. But things take a turn when mysterious things start happening. Things hidden for thousands of years awaken and wreck havoc. Dominique can believe Michael and try to get him out while being chased by people in powerful positions. This book is followed by Resurrection and Phobos. Pros: This book provides an interesting look at 2012. This book was first published in 2001 and it's interesting to see in which areas we have developed and in which we have not. I have had experience with some other fiction on the Mayan prophecy of the world's end and to be honest I find this to be the best among them. The facts are quite thoroughly researched. If you have ever heard about ancient alien conspiracy theories, you might get the references. Cons: It is written in present tense. I find it difficult to read books written in present tense. I won't notice it for a while but once I do, it doesn't stop bugging me. If you keep up with the series, the timeline gets difficult to follow. By Phobos, there has been so much of past-present-future-past-future that you start losing sense of what is happening when. My Rating: For only this book (not taking into account the rest of the books in the series), I will give it a rating of 4/5. If you are interested in reading this book, you can buy it here from Dragonmount's eBook store.
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