DRAGONMOUNT

For the last couple weeks, the Fan Art Friday focus has been on those Wheel of Time fan artists on the fringe of the fandom, those fiendishly flighty fellows who fashioned only one or a few phenomenal Wheel of Time works before flitting off to fairer feats.   For part 3 of the series, I'm finishing with flair.   (I know, the alliteration is shameless. Don't judge me. It's been a long day.)   1. *artsangel (Sarah Ellerton) Above (Wheel of Time): Morgase Trakand (Her work is probably quite well known to those of you who were following Wheel of Time fan art a decade ago. This is probably her most famous, but it could be this one instead.) Below (original work for her completed webcomic, Inverloch, which can be purchased here): Summon       2. ~Madarivian (Emily Doyle) Above (Wheel of Time): Rand al'Thor Below (original work): Meredith       3. ~dem888 (Eric de Mander) Above (Wheel of Time): Tarmon Gai'don (This painting has probably broken some sort of record for "most comments on a Wheel of Time fan work." Clearly, calling ~dem888 an unknown in the Wheel of Time fan community would just be silly. Once again, the awesomeness of his original works has prompted me to ignore my own theme.) Below (original work): White Rabbit       4. *caananwhite (Caanan White) Above (Wheel of Time): The Dragon Reborn Below (original work): Steel Inquisitor 2 (from Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy!)       5. *AdamMasterman (Adam Masterman) Above (Wheel of Time): Lan and Mandarb Below (original fan art of the X-Men by Marvel): Astonishing X-Men  

Not long ago, I was given the opportunity to interview the podcasters of The 4th Age Podcast. Due to busy lives, the podcast team hasn't had new episodes recently, but they agreed to sit down and answer some questions. I was able to interview four members of the team. There may be a few spoilers for those who haven't finished the series through Towers of Midnight.       Jayson Tremmel   Q: Can you each introduce yourselves and share a little bit about yourselves?   I am Jay Tremmel and I came up with the idea of a Wheel of Time Podcast because I was simply looking for a good one and found out there weren't any at all. I really wanted to listen to and/or discuss the Wheel of Time with people since I am the only person besides one that I know that enjoys the books as much as I do. I live in North Carolina but I'm originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania. I moved here 7 years ago for a better job opportunity. I have a ten-year-old daughter and a beautiful fiancée that I will be marrying on August 20th! A lot of my time has been spent over the past few months getting ready for the wedding. I think I understand now that it's a much bigger task than I had thought.     Q: How did you go about getting this podcast started (or joining for those that joined after the initial start)?   I approached Jason of Dragonmount.com about starting a podcast and he was also thinking of doing something along those lines. He knew of Carrie, who also had the idea, and we got together through Skype I believe and discussed details on how we could begin and structure the podcast. It went extraordinarily well and Carrie and I had a good rapport but decided to bring some other podcasters in to help out. By then we had a good group of folks that listened and we added Ben and Andrew shortly after. SInce then we've been fortunate to have lots of people that help both producing, editing, and podcasting for the 4th Age.     Q: What is it like working with people from all over as opposed to being all together in a studio setting? What kinds of challenges does this setup create? What kinds of benefits does this method have?   It's wonderful working with people from all over. Not only have we discussed WoT but we discuss every day things too and we've all pretty much made life long friends through our work on the podcast. The challenge of course is getting everyone together at the same time in order to record the podcasts. We've tried lots of different things to get the podcast up to par that the WoT fans should expect. It's always a challenge but the reward for me is more than worth the effort.     Q: When did you start reading The Wheel of Time?   I started reading WoT about ten years ago when I was at my mother-in-law's. I had literally JUST finished reading a book that day (don't remember which, probably Lord of the Rings again!) and was looking through my father-in-law's books. I saw The Eye of the World on his bookshelf and the cover really got me interested. I gave it a shot and loved every word of it.     Q: Which book was your favorite, and why?   I am still partial to the first book in the series. That's not to say that the rest aren't amazing as well; I just love to see the characters and the beginning of the series. It's great to go back and see how things got started.     Q: Which book was your least favorite, and why?   I hate to take the high road on this but I don't really have a least favorite book. I can say though that the damane really are my least favorite part of the books but I understand why, of course. There's something about taking a person's will and power that is ugly and disturbing. I know it's supposed to be that way but it makes me uncomfortable reading those sections of the books.     Q: How many times, if any, have you gone to conventions that have Wheel of Time tracks, such as JordanCon or Dragon*Con?   I've been to Dragon*Con twice and attended many of the tracks for WoT. I even did a live podcast from Dragon*Con.     Q: Have you ever met any of the people who listen to you? What was that like?   I have. When I was attending Dragon*Con I met many of the people that listen to the podcast. It was great just meeting other people that read and love WoT as much as I do. It was a few years ago so I don't remember too many of the details but I'm planning my trip to Dragon*Con next year (this year I'm booked) and I hope to meet many new people.       Andrew Gelos   Q: Can you each introduce yourselves and share a little bit about yourselves?   Hello, I'm Andrew Gelos, senior podcaster for the 4th Age. I'm currently a serial student. I have Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and English Literature, and I am working on completing my MFA in Acting. With any luck, you'll see me on stage and television and in movies in the next few years. That or I'll end up running/managing a non-profit theatre program somewhere. I am a fount of (sometimes useless) trivia, and when on a subject I know well, I truly have the gift for talking. I am a giant Sci-Fi/Fantasy fan, which is partially how I came to find the Wheel of Time series.     Q: How did you go about getting this podcast started (or joining for those that joined after the initial start)?   I had been listening to the 4th Age since the beginning. I probably came into listening to it a few weeks following the pilot show. I was huge fan of the series, and as a result I was one of the show's early critical voices in the forums, though I used a different name back then. I would nitpick the team's pronunciations, and grab upon any little bit of evidence that ran contrary to things that were said in the early episodes. I think I was a real pain, but that never seems to be brought up by anyone but myself, so maybe I'm just inflating my own image a bit. One day I was listening to the show while working at a box office for a local theatre, and heard that the show was looking for a third host. I was beginning a second attempt to return to the performing world at that point in my life, and I felt that with my natural charisma and what I felt was a commendable knowledge of the series, I'd make a perfect edition to the cast. I missed that first call deadline by two days, because I was going out of town and didn't have reliable recording equipment where I was headed. I sent in a submission anyway, and was told the part had been filled. A short while later, Jayson, Carrie, and Ben sent out another notice. This time they were interviewing for someone who could stand in when one of the three was going to be absent. I hopped on that call the very next day, and was asked to join the crew for their next show. This was either episode 17, 18, or 19 I believe *Do we have someone who can look that up?* and the show went pretty well. We talked through the various subjects, and when the recording was done Jayson, who was the de facto head of the show then, said something to the effect of, "I think you should just stay on as a permanent member of the show." This announcement didn't get released to the listening audience for another show or two, but from the start I was part of the team. Since then I've been disabused of some of my early notions considering the show, including a few key pronunciation issues, and how in depth my knowledge of the series extends.     Q: What is it like working with people from all over as opposed to being all together in a studio setting? What kinds of challenges does this kind of setup create? What kinds of benefits does this method have?   It is a different experience from what I'm used to finding. Normally when I'm working closely with people on a show or shoot, I'm seeing those people 4 to 6 days a week in person and developing a chemistry between characters that translates to a performance for an audience. While working with the 4th Age hasn't changed the development of chemistry, the mechanics are completely different. While the audience members, by and large, have told us that they like the free form show better than our early scripted attempts, it is difficult to get together on air once a week with little pre-show discussion and bang out a finished product that the audience will (we hope) enjoy. We try to have a topic available in advance so we at least have a general idea of what we are doing, but sometimes it is rough figuring out where the other podcasters are coming from with their ideas and thoughts. That isn't saying that the others aren't all brilliant people. They are and at times I feel a bit like a relic when one of the newer members breaks out with something I had never seen or considered. I'm used to visual cues from others, and since we are spread all over the continent there is no way outside of a video conference to pick up on those with a call in show. We've toyed with the idea of making at least one video podcast show a few times, and who can say, maybe for the final release party we can work something out. Who knows? Another hurdle we face is timing. For me personally, before I began my MFA, my time was pretty open. Now that I'm in shows that available time has dwindled. The show can't be recorded without at least two podcasters, and finding time for even two to get together can sometimes be difficult. For a while, the majority of us were all in the same time zone, so it wasn't an issue, but when you have team members on both coasts finding time for a two to four hour discussion, it can be dicey. Real life gets in the way of the hobby no matter how much we love it. In a way, though, our being responsible for our own call in to the show is a blessing as well. If we were reliant on getting two to three of us into a single space every week, the show probably wouldn't happen even as often as it does, and as technology improves, we're able to do more. I was able to join the Towers of Midnight book tour and podcast live with a listening audience, which was a lot of fun, seeing as how we continued our discussion as I drove to my home town following the store's closing.     Q: When did you start reading The Wheel of Time?   The summer of 2001. My fiancee at the time had been pressing me to read the series forever, and I wanted to wait until I finished the degree I was working on. When I graduated, I fell into the series with a rabid hunger. I finished the whole series as it stood at that time (I believe it was 9 books then) in the course of two to three months. Then began the long wait for book 10.     Q: Which book was your favorite, and why?   I don't actually have a favorite book. I have favorite moments through the whole series. Some of the high emotion moments will choke me up as I read them (it is no secret by now that I read the series aloud with my wife so we can share the experience), and to this day I still have a hard time getting through the sequence with Perrin, Faile, Hopper, and the hedgehog. The forging of Mah'alleinir and Egwene's defense of the White Tower during the Seanchan attack seemed like iconic moments. Even things like Rand and Ingtar's final discussion and Rand's blessing to him. And Mat. What list of favorite things is complete without Mat? There are few things involving Mat that I haven't been a fan of, and those few things are barely worth mentioning.     Q: Which book was your least favorite, and why?   Again, I can't claim a least favorite book. I can't even claim to have moments I particularly disliked. I wasn't a huge fan of what we on the podcast call "Emo-Perrin and Emo-Gawyn." "The Shaido took my wife. They took Faile. What will I do without her? They took my wife." Then get up off your burly butt and do something about it already. "Uugh...al'Thor killed my mom. Egwene says he didn't but I'll believe hearsay over the woman I love any day. Elayne says he didn't, but she's pregnant, what does she know?" Open your ears to the people you should be trusting. And while we are on the topic of opening your ears and trusting each other, I can't count the number of times I've wanted to smack the entirety of the "good team" in their heads for not finding a way to talk to each other more, or take it on faith that they know what they are doing.     Q: How many times, if any, have you gone to conventions that have Wheel of Time tracks, such as JordanCon or Dragon*Con?   Sadly, never. I'm hoping to remedy that very soon, but it always seems like the major Wheel of Time cons are scheduled against other life events that take precedence. I do have some friends in the film/theatre industry who try to do Dragon*Con almost annually, and I may see if I can join them to help mitigate expenses the next time they go.     Q: Have you ever met any of the people who listen to you? What was that like?   When I was at the Towers of Midnight book signing at Joseph-Beth booksellers in Cincinnati, Ohio, I was able to meet a few who had heard the show. A couple of my fellow Tower Guard had heard the show before and it was neat to sort of talk about how doing the show worked and share in our respect and admiration of the book series. But the most memorable audience member I've ever met came during the signing itself. While my recording device was parked between Brandon and Harriet, I took a turn at collecting people's numbers as they came through the line. I was chatting with people as they waited to get to the table and generally enjoying the atmosphere. At one point I was talking with a couple and the man coming up the stairs behind them suddenly says, "Waait...You sound familiar...Are you with the 4th Age podcast?" It was like getting celebrity cred based only on the sound of my voice. Since then I've been told that one of my former employers has a daughter whose boyfriend is a fan of the show, and didn't realize that I use a stage name when I record. And I've run into people who know of the show even though they aren't avid listeners. It is a bit odd realizing that my voice has been heard world wide, but hopefully it is just training for my future success.   If you have any follow-ups just let me know.   Otherwise, for myself Andrew Gelos, and everyone here at The 4th Age,   Suravye ninto manshima taishite.       Spencer Powell   Q: Can you each introduce yourselves and share a little bit about yourselves?   My name is Spencer Powell. At 21, I'm the youngest member of The 4th Age Podcast team. Unfortunately, being in college has hindered my ability to be involved recently.     Q: How did you go about getting this podcast started (or joining for those that joined after the initial start)?   I responded to several of the calls for help put out by the podcast. Once the need was great enough, Virginia got in touch with me to help with editing. And then, in an unexpected yet exciting turn of events, she invited me to join her and Andrew for a recording session. I think the first episode I was in on is still hiding somewhere in the backlog.     Q: What is it like working with people from all over as opposed to being all together in a studio setting? What kinds of challenges does this setup create? What kinds of benefits does this method have?   I've never done a "studio" style podcast, so for myself this is what podcasting is. We all sit at our computers, connect to whatever service we're using at the time, and go. Relying so heavily on the internet does provide some interesting experiences - I don't think the three of us will ever forget the "Virginia's Massive Ping" episode - but we've found more solutions than problems along the way.     Q: When did you start reading The Wheel of Time?   During an otherwise boring summer, shortly after my parents had moved us into the middle of nowhere. The "community" library was simply the school library (K-12, all in the same building) that the librarian would open up three days a week over the break. This was very upsetting on the occasions where I would finish a book in one night and have to wait for her to come back in two days. In terms of actual time frame, this was right before Knife of Dreams came out. That was the first book I had to wait for. So while I don't have the full experience of waiting twenty years for the conclusion, I've still joined with all the fans in the emotional roller-coaster of these last few years. The worry when we heard Robert Jordan was sick, the pain and loss of his passing, the trepidation when Brandon took up the pen, the joy when he did a wonderful job, but still the waiting, always the waiting.     Q: Which book was your favorite, and why?   I don't know that I have a true favorite. I guess Winter's Heart would come closest. It's the one I would haul to school and re-read sections of during boring classes. Always the same two scenes, though. Most obvious is the cleansing of the taint. The imagery of Shadar Logoth and the battle going on around it are amazing. The other scene is less obvious, though it's the first that comes to mind when I think of Winter's Heart, and that's the emotional scene between Rand and his three loves. The more subtle yet powerful writing of the emotions flying around that room before and as they bond him astounds me.     Q: Which book was your least favorite, and why?   This answer may surprise some. I really don't like Lord of Chaos. So much so that I haven't re-read the series. I keep getting hung up on it. Not because of the pacing or characters, but because of Dumai's Wells. Not so much the battle at the Wells itself, but more the scenes leading up to it. I am a very empathetic reader. I put myself squarely into the shoes of those characters I connect with. And I have no wish to be put into a box only to be taken out, tortured, and shoved back in. And so I avoid it.     Q: How many times, if any, have you gone to conventions that have Wheel of Time tracks, such as JordanCon or Dragon*Con?   I wish I had the ability to go to any of these conventions. But, poor college student. What can I do? I was able to attend the release parties for both The Gathering Storm and Towers of Midnight, which are like smaller doses of the fan spirit that is found at JordanCon.     Q: Have you ever met any of the people who listen to you? What was that like?   I met many fans of The Wheel of Time during the release parties. However, with my memory being a wet sieve, I don't recall if any of them stood out as listeners of the show. If you did, and I don't recall, I sincerely apologize. Interacting with the listeners online has been a great experience, though. It's always a positive experience, even when they're giving critical feedback because it's always constructive, rather than degenerating into a flame war.       Virginia O'Connor   Q: Can you each introduce yourselves and share a little bit about yourselves?   Hi, this is Virginia and of course I'm a huge fan of this series. My other favorite authors and books are Colleen McCullogh for her Masters of Rome series, Barbara Hambly's Darwarth, Dragonsbane, and other series, Lord of the Rings, of course. Anything Star Trek as I've been a Trekker since Day One, most Star Wars, Harry Potter, Transformers are a new favorite and pretty much any movie Marvel cares to put out (after The Avengers I can now forgive them for poor Hulk!). I love most sci-fi and fantasy books and movies (except I am not a fan of George RR Martin's work, sorry, though I seem to be standing alone in that line). Otherwise, I'm a compulsive reader on the order of Hermione Granger. I love movies. I tell my friends that if it's a movie a 12-year-old boy is dying to see, Virginia will probably be at the midnight opening! Apart from books and movies, I'm an artist (oils, watercolors and bronze sculpture, and my 30+ year hobby is breeding and showing Smooth Fox Terriers under the Laurelton prefix. I'm probably best known for my dogs - I have dogs from my lines all over the world, and nearly everything in the show ring in the US has one or more of my breeding behind it. Apart from being great pets and my friends, like the podcast, they have opened many doors to travel and meet people and new friends that otherwise I would never had the opportunity to enjoy.     Q: How did you go about getting this podcast started (or joining for those that joined after the initial start)?   I was a fan of the podcast for some time, listening to it on my iPod every day at one of my jobs. I saw a call for host auditions from Andrew Miller, and decided to send in an mp3. I never really thought I'd get in, but what a thrill to find out I'd made it! It's been great fun and very rewarding. My fellow podcasters are awesome people with incredible knowledge and skills!     Q: What is it like working with people from all over as opposed to being all together in a studio setting? What kinds of challenges does this kind of setup create? What kinds of benefits does this method have?   It's great having people from all over, though as we are all fans we share much of the same outlook towards the books. Not a lot of cultural differences, no Illianer vs. Tairen dynamics! The biggest challenge is logistics. We are all on different time zones, so while on the West Coast I may need to race home from work, the guys in the Midwest are dealing with late hours by the time we finish a recording. We often record for three hours or so! (Some of that might possibly be visiting or unrelated topics, of course.) :-) All the podcasters and editors (indeed everyone associated with Dragonmount) have been incredibly great, and I'm proud to call them friends.   I've never worked in a studio setting, but it seems like it would be almost too easy. We always have challenges making connection and getting decent sound quality; at various times one or more of us have been in rural settings with limited bandwidth and/or phone connectivity. I joke that before I moved I lived in a town more isolated and rural than the Two Rivers, and we didn't even have an inn or a green!     Q: When did you start reading The Wheel of Time?   I started rather late with The Shadow Rising hardcover in 1992. A nice young man at a Borders tipped me off to this great series, and I will be forever grateful to him. Two of the most profound influences in my long (and sadly rather comprehensively misspent) life have been Star Trek and the Wheel of Time. I look forward to A Memory of Light, but it will be hard to see it end. So many years of impatient waiting and anticipatory delight! It had better not be like Perrin's toy wooden horse!     Q: Which book was your favorite, and why?   That's a tough call! I've read and reread them all. They seem like old friends or even family members, and we tend to forgive any little defects or foibles. I'd have to say The Dragon Reborn might be my favorite, with The Shadow Rising, Lord of Chaos, and Knife of Dreams tied for a close second. But then there's The Great Hunt, and Eye of the World, and New Spring...Hmmm. Still, The Dragon Reborn saw so many profound changes in the characters and their lives, and it was that book that made me realize we were in this for the long haul.     Q: Which book was your least favorite, and why?   Wellll, New Spring, but only because Robert Jordan stopped the main sequence to do it, and maybe he would have finished the main series if he hadn't. But then we might not have had the prequel, and otherwise I really like it. Least favorite was always Winter's Heart, but after Leigh Butler's reread and insights, certain of the scenes I liked least (Far Madding, for one) are now viewed in a more favorable light, especially Rand's total bad-assery with the renegade Asha'man, so that now Crossroads of Twilight might be my least favored. But really, I love them all!     Q: How many times, if any, have you gone to conventions that have Wheel of Time tracks, such as JordanCon or Dragon*Con?   In my heart, every one of them! In the so-called Real World, I've been to a number of book signings, with Robert Jordan and with Brandon Sanderson, but sadly I haven't yet made it to either JordanCon or Dragon*Con. Not for lack of desire, I assure you! As a longtime veteran of many Star Trek conventions until recent circumstances have restricted those activities, it absolutely appalls me not to do conventions on something I hold so dear as WoT. I still hold out some small hope for the Memory of Light festivities, if my health will allow!     Q: Have you ever met any of the people who listen to you? What was that like?   Several times! It's funny, like meeting old friends - we have such a lot in common right off the bat. Best was a fellow at the WoT section of the bookstore. He seemed unsure which book to get so, being me with an Aes Sedai's conviction that OF COURSE anyone would want and need my opinion, I butted right in with advice, lol! He had read a few and drifted away, then found the podcast and decided to get back in it again! I was able to point him to the next one he needed. That was fun, we had a lovely chat.   If I could somehow meet Robert Jordan again, I'd tell him again what I said at the Knife of Dreams signing: Thank you for such and amazing and life-changing series of books! Thank you yet again, dear Brandon, for bringing them to completion. Thank you to Jason and Team Jordan and everyone else who has made this such a great community of friends! May the Light ever shine on you!

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Now that you've had a chance to read the Prologue of A Memory of Light, why not take a look at the first chapter? Today, Tor.com has released "Eastward the wind blew", chapter 1 of A Memory of Light in its entirety for your perusal. Although you need to register for their site in order to read it, it's completely free! Here's more information from Tor: Tor.com is pleased to offer “Eastward the Wind Blew,” the first chapter of A Memory of Light, the final book in the Wheel of Time series. This chapter is available to registered Tor.com users only. Registration is free and straightforward, and Tor.com members receive early access to exclusive excerpts, original fiction and special offers, as well as our weekly e-newsletter. New visitors can register at the link below. Regarding spoilers: “Eastward the Wind Blew” contains spoilers for the A Memory of Light prologue, “By Grace and Banners Fallen.” The spoiler and speculation thread for the Prologue itself is here. Read “Eastward the Wind Blew,” Chapter 1 of A Memory of Light. Have fun! About A Memory of LightDragonmount features complete coverage of AMOL. Check back regularly for updates as well as exclusives such as our early review of the book. In the meantime, there's plenty for you to enjoy: Read Jason's "response" to AMOL Purchase the prologue and support our website Read the opening portion of the AMOL prologue for free. Read the opening portion of Chapter 1 for free. Read the opening portion of Chapter 11 for free. Visit our complete AMOL info page. Discuss A Memory of Light on our forums.Follow us on Twitter or "Like" us on Facebook.Please consider pre-ordering the full book through one of our international Amazon affiliates, and help support our website.       

Hello, all. Welcome to "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog. For this edition, I want to look closer at the Dark Prophecies we've been given throughout the series. Despothera did a blog on this last year, but I'd like to look at them again; after all, we have different perspectives on many things.   Spoiler warning! This will include content from many books in the series, including Towers of Midnight, and speculation about A Memory of Light. Please read at your own risk.   Also, this WILL NOT contain spoilers from A Memory of Light's Prologue, Chapter 1, or Chapter 11. Please refrain from posting any spoilers from A Memory of Light in the comments section. The spoiler discussion board for A Memory of Light is found here.   The first Dark Prophecy we get is in The Great Hunt. According to an interview with Robert Jordan, it's written there by a Myrddraal. The first question I have is why would the Shadow even bother? Why would they want to give any information to the Light? The second question is who made the Myrddraal write it?   So, number one, why write it in the first place? We've seen that Trollocs like to write blasphemies to taunt their enemies, but Robert Jordan's quote says the Myrddraal was threatened into writing out the prophecy. He didn't do it to strike fear into the hearts of our main characters. What information in the prophecy does the Dark One, or at least one of the Forsaken, want the Light characters to know?   There's plenty of spoilers of the Dark One's plans here; a lot is actually given away. For example, it explains that Lanfear is seeking Rand; we could have figured this out, but now we have confirmation. It also tells us the true nature of Luc and Isam. Why would the Shadow reveal insight to their greatest assassin? That whole last stanza lets the Light characters know about the Seanchan army's invasion. How could that possibly help the Shadow? Let's hold onto that thought and see who ordered the Myrddraal to write this prophecy.   There's plenty of intrigue going on in Fal Dara. To the best of my understanding, it happened like this. Ingtar, at the Darkfriend social (The Great Hunt, Prologue), seems to have his strings pulled by Ba'alzamon (Ishamael, at the moment). So, logically, Ishamael is the one who wanted the Dark Prophecy written on the wall in the dungeon. It was Ishamael who wanted to reveal all this information to the Light characters—probably Rand, more specifically.   This might be reading too much into it, but there are several theories that say Moridin (Ishamael's latest identity) will turn back to the Light, or that he's been a double agent from the start. With his talk of theology and the nature of good and evil, his desire to see the Wheel broken, plus his reputation for being insane, it's understandable to think he might have ulterior motives when serving the Dark One. Could letting sensitive prophecies, such as this, slip into the hands of the Light characters imply that Ishamael is on their team, giving them aid?   Later, though, Moridin seems to have a change of heart. When speaking with Graendal about the Dark Prophecy, he says this:     When characters are inconsistent, it points to deeper secrets.   The part about Lanfear is interesting:     Notice the line about her lover, "who shall serve her and die, yet serve still." Despite the scene in Towers of Midnight when Cyndane begs for Rand's help, I think this prophecy is showing her true intent. Some people believe Cyndane will be the Forsaken who returns to the Light, but I don't think so. In my personal opinion, there are further hints to this in the A Memory of Light Prologue, but I won't go into it here.   Now for the part about Isam and Luc:     There's a few things to point out. Luc and Isam are merged; we know that. But why does the line, "The hunt is now begun…" come before, "One did live…"? It breaks up the topics. Most believe the first line refers to the Darkhounds hunting, but I'll offer a different opinion. Slayer thinks of himself as a hunter; he also serves the Dark One. Is it possible he's the Shadow's hound? Also, since it's plural, the other hound could be Fain. Then, if that line is also referring to Slayer, it stays on topic, not jumping around. That makes more sense, to me.   Another thing to note is the line, "The Time of Change has come." Since this is so ambiguous, I don't think there's much we can say for certain about it. However, I do want to point out that—to the best of my knowledge—the only other time we hear this phrase is from Bair:     There has been some debate over whether one of the prominent Wise Ones is a Darkfriend. The two most often suspected are Bair or Sorilea. It seems a bit odd that Bair would use a random phrase we've only ever seen in Dark Prophecy.   Since we talked about the Dark Prophecy in Towers of Midnight last week, it got me thinking about the different ways it could be interpreted as well. First off, we can't be 100% certain that the prophecy printed in the Epilogue is the same one Moridin and Graendal talk about. So, maybe they have a different passage that says more firmly that Perrin will be killed by the Shadow, because I don't think the "Broken Wolf" refers to Perrin.   First, let's look at the second stanza of the prophecy:     Let's take that first line, but remove the dependent clauses: "In that day, the last days of the Fallen Blacksmith's pride shall come." It's easier to see the main point of the sentence this way. My first instinct was, like Despothera said, to think that the pride represents Perrin's wolf pack. They aren't called a pride, of course, I think it's still possible. Other words for pride are:   Arrogance (not something Perrin has) Satisfaction or delight (perhaps in terms of Faile) Self-respect (his confidence in himself has grown over the last book).   I can see Perrin having pride and satisfaction in Faile, or perhaps in their child. However, Faile getting captured again seems pretty unlikely. Likewise, I don't see him losing all his self-respect or confidence after having just gained it in the last book.   His army might count as a pride, but I still think it will wind up referring to his wolf pack.   Next, "when the One-Eyed Fool…." Mat has a reputation as the Fool throughout the series. Karede is flabbergasted to find out that "Tylin's Toy" is the one leading the army against him (Knife of Dreams, Chapter 36, "Under an Oak"). He's called "trickster" by the Aelfinn (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 15, "Into the Doorway"). Also, he lost his eye at the Tower of Ghenjei (Towers of Midnight, Chapter 54, "Light of the World"). It seems conclusive this is talking about Mat. But doesn't that seem too easy?   Despothera linked the "halls of mourning" to the Tower of Ghenjei, but I'd counter that with this: Mat lost his eye at the Tower, so he wouldn't be called a One-Eyed Fool yet. Ah, paradoxes. I think it much more likely that the halls of mourning will be either a) the burned city of Caemlyn after the Trolloc attack, or b) the city of Ebou Dar where they still might be mourning the death of the Empress.   Next, let's look at "First Among Vermin" and "Him who will Destroy." The first might be Rand. There is a parallel between Lews Therin being called "first among the Servants" by Elan Morin (The Eye of the World, Prologue), but Rand really doesn't consider himself the First of anything. Plus, I think it's more likely that "Him who will Destroy" is Rand. It's possible that Rand might be bound at some point during the Last Battle. Then, the First Among Vermin will free him, allowing Rand to "Destroy" the Dark One. Looking at it that way, the First Among Vermin could be Fain, as discussed last week, but it could be Galad. Their blood connection should play an important part in the Last Battle, since he is as much a part of the "Royal line of Andor" as Rand is (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 1, "Seeds of Shadow"). Even the Shadow would consider the Children of the Light to be vermin.   On to "the Broken Wolf…whom Death has known…." The Forsaken—if this is the passage they are looking at—take this to mean Perrin. Since Min did see the Broken Crown above him in one of her viewings, a Broken Wolf fits. However, there are many people with connections to wolves, and there are the real wolves too. My first pick would be Ituralde. He is called the Wolf (or Little Wolf) in the prologue of Crossroads of Twilight. He has been broken by his battle in Maradon, and also by the invasion of the Seanchan into his nation. I think Maradon would count as knowing Death, as well. He was left for dead by Rand, completely abandoned.   Another interesting theory is that the Broken Wolf is Hopper. We are led to believe that he died during the Tel'aran'rhiod battle in Tar Valon (Towers of Midnight, Chapter 38, "Wounds"). But it could be his soul was being reborn into the waking world.   The next bit says the Broken Wolf will fall to the Midnight Towers. Even Midnight Towers is an ambiguous term. The Towers of Midnight is the name for the Seanchan prison (The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, Chapter 17, "Seanchan"). It's also referenced in Egwene's Dream, symbolizing the thirteen Forsaken (Towers of Midnight, Chapter 3, "The Amyrlin's Anger").   Ituralde could be killed by one of the Forsaken. The same is true for Hopper. However, if the Broken Wolf is Perrin, the Seanchan explanation seems more likely than the Shadow. Perrin did make a pact with the Seanchan; he could be consumed into their Empire.   "His destruction" refers to the Broken Wolf. I think Despothera had the right idea suggesting it's about the destruction he (whichever it is) causes, not necessarily his death. Again, I think this would point to Ituralde, since more people would be shaken by his destruction; most don't even know Perrin is alive.   Well, hopefully that didn't lead to only more questions. There were a few left to ponder, so let me know what you think. I wanted to get into Mashadar and other things a bit more, but I'm out of time for today. We'll save it for next week. Thanks for reading.

Dear Robert Jordan, Today I read your final book. The end of The Wheel of Time came to my hands nearly twenty years after I first picked up its beginning. It was a story well told, a story whose ending lived up to the promises made so very long ago. I’m writing in order to tell you a little about it. What I’ve loved most about your grand story throughout the years is how true it is. Those who cherish the fantasy genre understand this. Within a story about fictitious people, in fictitious worlds, with conflicts that never actually happened, we have the opportunity to explore what makes us real. The Wheel of Time has, for me, and I suspect for thousands of others, done that better than any of its peers. One of its most fundamental lessons is that time is a wheel, and that endings are simply new beginnings if you have the courage to turn and look the other way. When you died, I had the privilege to visit your home--your Charleston, your Two Rivers. I sat in your chair and looked at your beloved books. I breathed the air you breathed, and I understood a part of you. I met your friends and family, and saw how they defined yet another part. And so today, as I read the ending of your magnum opus, I yet again found a piece of you. In those final, beautiful moments, with tears in my eyes, I understood. I saw why you wanted to write the story. I see the point you were trying to make. And I laughed. It may not have been what people expected, but, to quote Stephen King, it was the right ending. And a glorious one. The Wheel of Time books have ended for me. I cannot deny the bittersweet emotions that brings. But a strong ending gives more meaning to the journey that came before it. Sure, I can pick apart small nuances of this final book that weren’t perfect. Some little parts may not have rung as true as they could have. But by and large, it delivered in a big way. If only you could have seen the specific way in which it turned out. I loved each character’s ending, even if it made me cry. I celebrated victories and gasped at the raw, visceral failures. Rand and Egwene shined the brightest, as I could have only hoped and expected. And there’s that one chapter. Holy smokes, RJ. 50,000 words? Really? Wow. You never met Brandon Sanderson; most likely never heard his name in your lifetime. But I can tell you, RJ, he did an amazing job. He was your steward, and carried your banner proudly into the maw of Shayol Ghul in order to ensure oblivion did not consume the series’ ending. You would’ve be so proud of him. I sure am. A lot of fans are. If you ever meet him, in an unknown place, time, or life, give him a hearty handshake of thanks, and buy him a beer some Magic cards. You should also know that Maria and Alan, your assistants, remained faithful every step of the way. For five years they’ve painstakingly studied, analyzed, corrected, and loved this final book. As I read it, I could clearly see their influence, and I’m so thankful we had them. It wouldn’t have been this good without them. If it would have even been at all. The fans, too, did their part. A small few helped with continuity, and a larger group honors your work every day through their service to the community and franchise. And yet another group, the largest, which spans the whole world, are fans who live and breathe your work. They share it with their friends. They strive to live up to the positive ideals you wrote about. They toast to your memory, and read your books to their children. They prove that a work of fantasy literature can inspire people of any nationality, religion, or political leaning to agree upon something they hold dear to their hearts. Your various publishers have honored your memory by printing your books, and continually putting fresh paint (literally, in the case of the covers) on this series. They’ve sometimes faced criticism, but in the end did you proud. Tom Doherty and his team have led that charge. I spoke to Tom recently and he reminded me that he does it because he’s a fan and a friend of yours. Finally, and most significantly of all, I want you to know that Harriet has been nothing short of amazing. You already know this in a way that I don’t need to describe, but her love for you is inspiring. She’s worked tirelessly since your passing to finish this book. She’s been your captain, and sailed the ship home. Next time I see her, I’ll give her a hug for you. I think a lot of other fans will, too. The most extraordinary thing about all these people, from Harriet to the worldwide fans, is that collectively they underscore the very heart of this book. They prove that life truly imitates art, and vice versa. The Wheel of Time began with you. Its pages began with a single man walking down a ruined hallway. But in the end, the series proved bigger than you, and bigger than that man and his successor. Yours is a story for the Ages. Some may criticize or belittle it, but its sheer scope and influence can’t be argued. The final pages may have been written, but it will live on in memory, community, and (let’s face it) franchise tie-ins. There are neither beginnings nor endings, right? So, RJ, as I finish this letter that you’ll never read, I’m left only with final thanks. Thank you for sharing your vision with me. With all of us. For all the worldwide success and attention this book will bring, it still spoke to me on an intimate, personal level. Thank you for expressing the beauty of your life in these pages. Thank you for giving us what is quite simply the most epic ending to the grandest saga of our time. Thank you for taking us upon a ride on the winds of time. With sincerity, I remain, Your Friend, Jason Denzel Jason@dragonmount.com About A Memory of Light Dragonmount features complete coverage of AMOL. Check back regularly for updates as well as exclusives such as our early review of the book. In the meantime, there's plenty for you to enjoy: Purchase the prologue and support our website Read the opening portion of the AMOL prologue for free. Read the opening portion of Chapter 1 for free. Read the opening portion of Chapter 11 for free. Visit our complete AMOL info page. Discuss A Memory of Light on our forums. Follow us on Twitter or "Like" us on Facebook. Please consider pre-ordering the full book through one of our international Amazon affiliates, and help support our website.       

Last week was quite busy for us. If you haven't looked at the other front page articles recently, make sure you do. We don't want you to miss out on all the goodies we've been offering!   If you're looking for a place to discuss the A Memory of Light Prologue you just downloaded, please head to this thread in our A Memory of Light Spoiler Discussion forum. Be sure to read the rules before posting, and do not put spoilers in non-spoiler areas of the site.   The Band of the Red Hand Social Group has posted their next regimental book discussion. This time, they are analyzing the growth of Mat's character in the first two Wheel of Time books. Stop by and see what everyone's saying.   The Shayol Ghul Social Group has graced us with quite the amusing picture for their September Caption Faction Contest. It's easy to participate--just vote for the caption that you think best represents the featured picture.   There's still time to take part in the Wolfkin Social Group's Nature Scene Competition. All you have to do is create a scene from nature, using such methods as writing, drawing, photography, digital art, or other forms of creativity. The winner will be revealed in October.   Finally, as always, you can visit our Twitter or Facebook accounts to follow more of our shenanigans. Have a great week!

It's time for another audiobook giveaway!  Yes, you're probably wondering why I didn't post this on Wednesday as originally planned.  Since we posted both the A Memory of Light Prologue and our birthday giveaway that day, I wanted to wait so our front page wouldn't explode.  Now, without further ado, here are the rules again for those who aren't familiar with our giveaways:     This time, we will be giving away a copy of The Path of Daggers. Macmillan hasn't sent me the clip for it yet, but I will add it as soon as I get it.   This giveaway's question is: Which Wheel of Time character is the most similar to you? You have until Wednesday, September 26th to answer in the comments section. Good luck!  

Although many Wheel of Time fan artists are dedicated solely to the Wheel of Time fandom, many more either don't have the time or don't have the inclination to dedicate countless unpaid hours to the continued production of Wheel of Time art. For this three week series, the Fan Art Friday spotlight is on those lesser-known Wheel of Time fan artists who nonetheless demonstrated such impressive talent that I was compelled to hunt down their galleries and dig through their non-Wheel of Time works.   Just a quick note: This week, most of the Wheel of Time fan art I'm featuring falls more on the "inspired by" side of things. I apologize to all you hardcore fans of canon. The art next week will be truer to the series, and then we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming.     1. ~aphostol Above (In memory of Robert Jordan): The Wheel of Time Below (original photomanipulation): True Romance       2. *medders Above (Wheel of Time): Moiraine Below (original work for Cyberpunk Co-op Action RPG Project Lodus by Leviathan Interactive): Project Lodus Underground City 3       3. Miles Collins (~NMEZero) Above (Wheel of Time): Some Wheel of Time Character Below (original work for the comic Mortifera): Mortifera       4. Krista A. Leemhuis (*krazykrista) Above (inspired by The Path of Daggers): The Rider Below (original work): The Wisdom of the Forest       5. ~leilasedai Above (I've featured this one before, but it's her only Wheel of Time art and I really like it!): Red Ajah Below (original work for The Pantheon Project, written by Erik Taylor): Pantheon Project Issue 01 Cover  

My reread was postponed until after A Memory of Light was released, so I was kind of stumped about what to do for this week. I've been enjoying some time off from work lately playing Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy XIV, Dragon Ball Online (Taiwan version), and Tera Online. I've played a few others as well, but those are my preferred choices. After checking in on Dragonmount, I decided to go back to one of the games and it hit me--I like MMOs, so why not write an article about them?! I'm not going to get too deep into individual game specifics, but I will touch a little bit on the neat things that make the games stand apart. First, as you can tell, I'm really heavy into gaming. I run multiple accounts in several games so that I have a pocket healer or a place to stash extra stuff. Aside from that, I generally play a legit system, where I'm not running third party applications like the majority of the gaming community that goes endgame.   MMOs need the following things to really hold my attention: an in-depth storyline, better than average graphics, challenging endgame content, intense battle systems, and unique class systems. All of the games I listed above have at least one of those things except Dragon Ball Online (only due to the fact that I can't read it.) Below, I'll go into a little detail about each game.   Guild Wars 2: I actually had no intention of buying this game. I stumbled across the last collector's edition box at the store the day it was released, and since I was slightly miffed that I did not get the CE of Diablo 3, I bought it on a whim. A good selling point on this game is that it is free to play (or F2P for the gamers out there), so you can play it when you want for however long you want and your pockets aren't getting any lighter unless you are buying Gems from the online store. Some of the big things I enjoy in Guild Wars 2 are the crafting system and music. I'm a bit picky when it comes to crafting systems. Most games get it wrong or make it too hard to get materials; however, Guild Wars 2 makes it easy because each craft other than cooking only has one primary material for each tier. It also allows you to level up your profession as you level your craft. My main character right now is level 40, and about half of those levels came from just capping Jewel crafting to 400. The music is epic, but I won't get too far into that because I plan on doing a video game music article soon.   Final Fantasy XI: This was the first true MMO I played, and this game is by far my favorite. I have been playing it for six years now, and I still try squeeze in a few hours a week. I bought this game because of the franchise name; I've always been a fan of the Final Fantasy series, so this game was a no brainer for me.The plotline is unique. It's not the same "go here, kill this" type of MMO that some of these newer games are. There are a lot of side quests like that, but the main storylines are something more. The Chains of Promathia and Treasures of Aht Urhgan storylines were two of the greatest storylines I have ever seen, even beating out some of the regular RPGs out there. The music was really good, and so was the job system. There are twenty unique jobs to choose from, and you can go to town and change jobs at any given point so you aren't stuck on the same job throughout the entire game. Seekers of Adoulin will be coming out in 2013. If you don't count the three scenarios and the three Abyssea sets as expansions, this will be the fifth expansion of the game. Although I love this game, I don't recommend picking it up as a new player. Due to the age of the game, it has become not very beginner friendly, and all that's left are the hardcore endgame players. The endgame in this game is rather intricate as well, requiring a diverse set of jobs to successfully clear events.   Final Fantasy XIV: Like XI, this game was a must have whether it was top notch or a flop. The original release flopped, but Square Enix has made huge improvements since then. Final Fantasy XIV has improved on the job system of XI, and there are several battle mage jobs or attacker jobs with a two tier system. The base class allows for major cross-class customization for solo play versatility. Tier two is more structured for group play; however, you cannot unlock tier two until the base class is 30 with a second class being 15 (based on the base class). Again, like other Final Fantasy games, the music is top notch. The big thing that's new to XIV that XI didn't have is amazing visual graphics. The cutscenes still lack the voiceovers of later MMOs, but sometimes games are better without voiceovers. I recommend getting this game after the big revamp in December if you're going to get it, since it sounds like SE is releasing a lot of new stuff with it.   Dragon Ball Online: This game was more of just a fanboy type situation. I grew up watching Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, so I had to at least try it. Currently, there is no English release for this game. The last I heard was this game will be released in English sometime in 2013. I play the Taiwan version of the game. It's difficult to play a game you can't read, but not impossible. The Taiwan version at least is free to download and play if you can manage to set up an account on the website. Overall, it's your standard "go kill this and come back" storyline with a few twists, since it allows you to play through some of the iconic scenes from the anime even though your character is technically fiddling with time. The class system is subpar; you get three races to choose from--Human, Namekian, and Majin. From those three races, you get two classes to choose from that have two paths later on in the game (though I'm not that far in the game). Honestly, this game is more suited for the anime fanbase and not the MMO community, which is not a bad thing, but it makes it a different kind of atmosphere in my opinion.   Tera Online: Tera is another game I played a foreign version of before its English release. Tera is now out in English, but I started on the Korean version. The big thing about Tera is the combat system--it's not a tab target auto-attack system. In Tera, it's hack-and-slash realistic combat. If you stand still in front of a creature, it's going to hit you, and there is no accuracy rating. You need to either block or evade depending on your class. The visual graphics in the game are insane; to play it on max settings, you need a decked out computer. The crafting system is simple but expensive. You have to buy certain materials and buy most recipes. Overall, even though it's your standard "go here and kill this" type of MMO, the combat system makes up for it most of the time. There is also a unique prologue function when you create new characters. You can try them out at level twenty before you really start at level one and it gives a bit of back story to why you're in the starting area.