DRAGONMOUNT

Welcome back, everyone!   Someone from our General Wheel of Time Discussion forum posted this humorous gem about Egwene and Rand talking to a therapist. Can you imagine Egwene in Rand in therapy together? I think it would be fun to have them as patients.   If you're looking for some entertainment, check out the Band of the Red Hand Social Group's Jak o' the Shadows thread. There are tons of great verses in there, and you can write some of your own if you're so inclined.   It's time for the Black Tower Social Group's latest edition of the Tainted Times! They've got a lot to talk about, so drop in and see what's been happening in their group this month.   Speaking of newsletters, the Wolfkin Social Group also has their August edition up. See what they have to say in their latest version of Pawprints.   Also, speaking of Wolfkin, our role players just started a new story featuring Wolfkin characters. Head over and follow To Break the Silence to see what unfolds.

You've probably noticed I'm borrowing from Mashiara's book of puns this week.   Why, you ask? Well, this week, I'm bringing you the oddest (and most oddly funny) Wheel of Time fan art I've seen to date. These are the pieces that shocked me into uncontrollable peals of laughter. Maybe I've just got a crazy sense of humor--I'll let you be the judge!     First, we've got Mat Cauthon on a Velociraptor by ~chocowubbles. Mat Cauthon is awesome. Velociraptors are awesome. But the combination is definitely greater than the sum of its parts.       Next, we've got a few unconventional crossovers.   I couldn't believe it when I stumbled across a Wheel of Time/My Little Pony crossover (Ta'veren Ponies Colored by ~UWoodward).       Then I found another one (Wheel of Time Ponies by ~Choedan-Kal).       Then I found another one (My Little Wheel of Time by ~Akabi)!       Continuing the theme of baffling crossovers, here's The Wheel of Time and Rock Band (Rockband Ta'veren by jwillis7).       Finally... Break all the seals! Hahahahaha. Enough said. (Art originally from here.)  

As some of you may already know, this year is the last year that Dragon*Con will have its own Wheel of Time track. David Gordon, the Senior Director of Fan Track Operations, had this to say about the close:     I talked to Jennifer Liang about her thoughts on it since she runs the Wheel of Time track. I will also be mentioning a few events before the Q&A with Jennifer. Dragon*Con this year will be running from August 31-September 3.   A few events that will be good to check out include An Evening at the Winespring Inn, tWoTcast's live show, Robert Jordan's Legacy, and the A Memory of Light Preview. The word from Jennifer is that Brandon Sanderson will be attending the Winespring, Legacy, and A Memory of Light events. There will also be other events to check out, like the costume designing panels. There are two: one for the Westlands and one for the Aiel, Seafolk, and Seanchan. Also, there will be several games: Darkfriend, which is essentially a mafia game; Daes Dae'mar, the great game that tests your Wheel of Time knowledge in a team format; and Illian's 8th Annual Trivia Bee. Also, anyone new to the Wheel of Time track at Dragon*Con should attend The Grave Is No Bar to My Call, which is the opening, introductory panel for the track.   Below is the Q&A with Dragonmount's Jennifer Liang.   How did you get started running the Wheel of Time track at Dragon*Con?   In 2000, I went to my first Dragon*Con with my then fiance, brother, and someone that we knew through the forums here at Dragonmount. We didn't spend a whole lot of time there, just walked around for a day. But we had such a great time. Dragon*Con has single topic programming tracks and Jimmy and I both thought that a Wheel of Time track would be so much fun. We really just wanted it as a place to meet the rest of the folks we knew through Dragonmount. So afterwards, I emailed the convention and suggested it. Somehow that email got passed up the chain to Ed Kramer, who was the chair at the time, and he responded very positively.   This was right about when Kramer's legal troubles started, and as was his habit, apparently, he had neglected to tell anyone at the convention that we had been approved. So there were several months of back and forth of me calling and saying "I'm supposed to run your new track! What do I DO???" and them being confused. But Pat Henry, the new chairman, honored Kramer's commitment to us and we were able to move forward. There was a lot of last minute scrambling and flailing around that first year. It was such a stressful experience, I almost called it quits after that first year. I spent a lot of time throwing up in the bathroom and crying during my first few Dragon*Cons. I'm glad I kept doing it, though. Dragon*Con is where I learned how to run a convention. If I hadn't have stayed with it, I never would have developed the skills needed to create JordanCon.     What were your most memorable events from Dragon*Con in the past years?   In 2005, Robert Jordan was the Guest of Honor for the convention. This was right before the release of Knife of Dreams. Dragon*Con does a very large, annual parade through downtown Atlanta. As far as I know, it's the only sci fi convention to do so. Anyways, I asked Jordan if he'd like to march with us. He declined politely, but said he'd come watch. And he did. I remember walking past the Hyatt in formation with the rest of the Wheel of Time group, and there he was, sitting on one of the planters clapping and cheering as we walked past. How many people can say Robert Jordan clapped and cheered for THEM at a convention?   I also have lots of good memories associated with Brandon Sanderson attending. We had him for the first time in 2008. It was the first Dragon*Con since Jordan had passed and Sanderson had just started working on what would become The Gathering Storm. He tells me now that he was terrified of being eaten alive by us that weekend, but we were just as worried about him. After the first Q&A session with him, I think we all felt better. Not only did he have a lot of confidence in his ability to do the job, but he also expressed so much respect for the series and for Jordan. It was very reassuring to have that. It was also the only time he's been able to be just some guy around Wheel of Time fans. The first time I saw him, actually, he was standing in the back of the track room watching us play trivia games and nobody knew who he was. If he tried that now, everyone would be all "Mr. Sanderson! Let me tell you my theories!" I'll always be glad we had that experience.     Do you have anything big planned for the grand finale of the Dragon*Con Wheel of Time track? How do you feel about the track ending at Dragon*Con? Any future plans now that the track is ending?   Our focus this year is the A Memory of Light release. We will do some retrospective on the track itself, but with the final book coming out, we really have too much to look forward to to spend that much time navel gazing. We do have Brandon coming back, so we'll do one last "Tell your secrets!" panel with him and a reading. This is my twelfth and final year as a Director at Dragon*Con, so obviously there is some sadness. There's also some relief. It's not easy to run two major Wheel of Time events every year, so I'll be glad to have some downtime during the year. I am still on very good terms with all of the Senior Directors at Dragon*Con and Pat Henry. Several of them have started attending JordanCon, just to continue supporting us. They've been very clear throughout this that if they had unlimited resources, they would be happy to keep us forever. But this feels like a good time to end it. The series is ending. JordanCon exists now as a gathering place for Wheel of Time fans. Sanderson is moving on to the projects he set aside to work on the Wheel of Time. I'd rather end it now when we are strong than watch it peter out.   I'll be taking my first break from Dragon*Con next year and will attend WorldCon in San Antonio. WorldCon and Dragon*Con are usually on the same dates, so my opportunities to go to that one have been few. Brandon Sanderson is planning to be at that one as well, so it should be lots of fun. I kinda want to see what Dragon*Con is like when I'm just there to hang out like everyone else, but I'd really like to see Jordan nominated for a posthumous Hugo Award, and the Hugos are awarded by WorldCon. So I need to go there and talk Jordan up to the voters. So probably 2014 is the next time you'll see me at Dragon*Con.

Scenes from the cutting room floor: (possible spoilers)   Matrim: So that's one of the Dragons? It's rather small. Aludra: We could make one large enough to throw a boulder the size of a man over a mile, if we needed to. (Matrim gets "That Look" on his face) Matrim: The size of a man? Elayne: Matrim Bloody Cauthon, I don't know what you're thinking but I don't like it. Matrim: It'll be fun! I'll go first!   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Mat: Which one is your girlfriend? Rand: Er, those three. Perrin: Wait, three? Really? Rand: Yeah. (all three pause for thought) Mat: And you did this willingly?   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Silviana: So, Mother, now that you're in charge... (hesitates, unsure how to say something) Egwene: Yes? Silviana: What're we going to do with that huge construction going on next door? (silence) Egwene: (wearily) Oh, Blood and Ashes.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to "WoT If?". This will be the start of a two part look at the events that happened in the conclusion of The Eye of the World. There are a few things that are a little fuzzy and unexplained at the end, plus a lot of things that might come full circle in A Memory of Light.   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.   First off, what is the Eye of the World? We get a description of what it actually is near the end of the first book. Moiraine says:     From this description, it seems as if the Aes Sedai during the Age of Legends cleansed just this little bit of the Source, the same way Rand cleansed all of it in Winter's Heart. They worked together, and through the taint, to make this pool of pure saidin. But, pay attention to that last sentence. Moiraine believes that the Eye can seal the Bore, or it can break it open. In fact, she says multiple times that the Eye might be able to seal in/break free the Dark One.     Here, Moiraine suggests that the Eye can undo the Dark One's prison. We know that the One Power can't break cuendillar, but Moiraine is saying it can. Rand also has plans to break the remaining seals. But how is this possible? The seals have weakened, yes, but can the Power in the Eye really break cuendillar, no matter how old? Maybe so. Moiraine makes a comment that "four men with hammers" can break the remaining seals and free the Dark One (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 2, "Rhuidean"). However, they don't know this information during The Eye of the World, so she shouldn't be assuming the Eye, and saidin, can break the Dark One free.   Also, Moiraine and Lord Agelmar have a discussion that hints at the Eye's power.     According to this, Moiraine thinks that Rand using the Eye will seal the Dark One again, solving all their problems. Okay, okay. She does use the word "perhaps," which is Aes Sedai doublespeak. However, she seems to have a lot of confidence that the Eye's power will be glorious. When Rand does use the Eye, he doesn't do anything even close to sealing in the Dark One—he does believe he killed Shai'tan, but Moiraine and others don't believe it. If there was so much potential in the Eye, did Rand waste it? Was it used for a purpose other than for what it was initially intended? We'll speculate on that a bit later.   So, we know the Eye is a pool of saidin, made clean by the sacrifice of male and female Aes Sedai. We know a bit of its presumed power. But that doesn't tell us a thing.   There are several theories about what the Eye actually is, or rather, what it does to Rand. Here's three that might work.   First: the Eye of the World, with its pure Power, is the Creator. That is, the Creator is the One Power.   This seems plausible on the surface. We typically think of channeling and channelers as doing the Creator's work. The True Source is, after all, the power that drives the Wheel of Time and weaves the Pattern. The Creator made the Pattern, so it seems logical that the Creator is the One Power. However, in an interview, a fan asks Robert Jordan something that might say the opposite:     There are two pieces of information here, but let's focus on the Dark One not being purely True Power. If the Dark One isn't the True Power, then I don't think the Creator can be the One Power. It's likely that the One Power comes from the Creator—like True Power comes from the Dark One—but they are two separate forces/energies/beings.   The second part of that answer talks about the ALL CAPS voice Rand hears in his head after he accidently Travels to Tarwin's Gap. We'll get to that in next week's post, so just put it on hold for now.   Second: the Eye of the World is just a pool of saidin intended to hide the Dragon Banner and the Horn of Valere.   Those artifacts are indeed important to the next book. Without both of them, Rand could not have beaten Ishamael in the sky above Falme. Also, the Heroes of the Horn wouldn't have helped Rand unless he had the Dragon Banner too. Artur Hawkwing says:     Hawkwing implies that this was the way the Pattern wanted it. Since the Heroes seem to have quite a bit of knowledge about certain things while they wait in Tel'aran'rhiod, we can be pretty sure he knows what he's talking about. It's also interesting to note that Hawkwing says they will only follow the banner and the Dragon. We had other sources earlier in The Great Hunt say that the Heroes will fight for whichever side blows the Horn. Is this another thing Aes Sedai don't really know the truth about, or is this particular moment in the Pattern something that needs to be specifically set?   So, the Banner and the Horn are terribly important for the forward movement of the characters and the world. But would so many Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends sacrifice themselves for this? Possibly. Rand needed those items, and the world would have died if he didn't have them. Could the Eye be just an elaborate hidey-hole?   If that were true, and the Eye is just an insignificant pool of saidin, why is Aginor so keen on using it? Robert Jordan was asked that very question in an interview:     This quote seems to imply that Aginor only wanted the Eye for the extra bit of Power, and a way to channel unobserved. Makes it sound kind of pointless, huh?   Third: the Eye of the World is a link to Rand's past lives and memories.   Drekka Mort posted on the Dragonmount forums:     This is an interesting theory. One of the main reasons I would believe this is because it takes absolutely no outside source for Rand to remember all his past lives in "Veins of Gold" (The Gathering Storm, Chapter 50). The memories were inside him the whole time; it only took Rand's acceptance to open them all up.   From this, I would say that the Eye stayed with Rand even after all its Power was used up. It's something that went into his skin, into his bones, into his soul. Some evidence that this might be correct comes from an interview with Brandon Sanderson:     From this, we can gather that Rand still has access to the Power of the Eye, since he can still channel Light and Power. In Towers of Midnight, Naeff is the one who notes Rand's incredible abilities:     After accepting his memories in "Veins of Gold," Rand's madness seems to leave him completely. When Nynaeve Delves into Rand's mind she sees something odd:     A liquid Power. Like the Eye? Most likely, I'd say. How did it get there? Probably from when Rand first used the Eye. It could have stayed with him, flowing in him, without him knowing. It laid dormant until he was able to reconcile his present life with his past lives. So, if there's a link still there between himself and the Eye, can the Eye's Power be refilled?   Well, that's a good place to stop for today. Next week we'll delve (no pun intended) a little deeper into who that ALL CAPS voice might be.

Now that we've rung in the month of August--or should I say wrung, which is what I did to my shirt after sweating outside today--let's take a look at the new forum events.   If you love playing mafia games on our Mafia Games forum, you'll probably love the upcoming Operation Domination game. Players can pretend to be various Admins and Staff members from Dragonmount, and the goal is to take over the site. (Fortunately for us, the winners don't really get to take over. I'm sure it's fun pretending, though.) Hurry and sign up while you still can. Make sure to read the rules in the sign-up thread and the forum rules before playing.   The Aiel Social Group is discussing the elderly for the month of August. What is the place of the elderly in your culture?   The Black Tower Social Group will soon begin hosting their own Summer Olympics. All factions from the group will battle against each other in several entertaining contests. More information can be found in this thread.   Speaking of the Olympics, the Wolfkin Social Group has decided to tackle the topic of sports for August. What sports do you like and dislike? Would you rather play them or watch them? These questions and more are addressed in the thread.   Stay tuned for more updates next week!

Saladin Ahmed, the author of Throne of the Crescent Moon, recently visited Dragonmount for a Q&A session. The following is a compilation of all the questions and answers from his visit. This session was hosted by Mashiara Sedai of the Dragonmount Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild.   Host: Dragonmount is pleased to welcome Saladin Ahmed for a week long author Q&A session. Mr. Ahmed's short fiction has been nominated for the Nebula and Campbell awards, and his debut fantasy novel, Throne of the Crescent Moon, has received rave reviews from outlets ranging from Kirkus to NPR to io9. Mr. Ahmed has also been a guest on Brandon Sanderson's "Writing Excuses" podcast.   And now, he's here to answer your questions! Please post your questions below, and remember to be respectful and follow Dragonmount's Code of Conduct. Help me give Mr. Ahmed a warm welcome!       Mr. Ahmed, thank you for joining us for this event!   QUICK EDIT:   Mr. Ahmed might not be able to start answering questions until Tuesday (the 24th), but please feel free to post your questions now. He will answer all of them!   Ahmed: Hi there, folks! I'm THRILLED to be a guest here at Dragonmount. The early Wheel of Time books (embarrassingly, I'm WAY behind on the series) are some of my all-time favorite fantasy novels, and they've been a profound influence on my own work. (To give an example, Aviendha was one of the inspirations for Zamia Banu Laith Badawi, one of the main characters in my first novel.) So to be given a chance to talk a bit about my writing to this community means a lot to me.   As Mashiara Sedai indicated, I'm on the road right now, so I may be a bit slow with responses. Also, please bear with me as I figure out how the forum works, as I'm a bit of a techno-klutz. (I hope my Thom avatar shows up properly!)   With all of that out of the way, here we go!     Q: I'll start off with the first question. In Throne of the Crescent Moon, how much of the story, characters, myth, and magic are based on actual Middle Eastern culture and traditions? How much is pure imagination? How did you find a balance between the two?   A: Balancing real-world historical and cultural influences with Just Plain Made Up Stuff was one of the big challenges I faced in writing Throne of the Crescent Moon. For example, while the main in-world religion of Throne is very clearly influenced by medieval Islam, there are massive departures as well. Same with the monsters, which are lifted as much from Ray Harryhausen movies as they are from the actual mythology of the Islamic world. Ultimately, this is the reason I wrote a secondary-world fantasy instead of a historical one. You just plain have more freedom in writing the former. So what ended up on the pages of Throne is basically 1/3 genuine Islamic history/culture, 1/3 conventions and tropes from western fantasy novels (incl. WoT!), and 1/3 stuff from my own imagination. It's a Frankenstein's monster of a novel in some ways, but hopefully the stitches don't show.     Q: How difficult is it to juggle professional writing and your personal life? How much writing do you accomplish each day? Do you have a strict word count you have to keep to?   A: As to your second question...I won't jinx myself by talking about word count per se, but I will say that the personal/professional balance is hard, hard, hard. Did I mention it's hard? I'm a father to twin two-year-olds, which makes the already EXTREMELY difficult life of a non-bestselling author that much tougher. Full disclosure: I had a public semibreakdown on the internet a month or so back. One of the most remarkable things that emerged from that post was the flood of email I received from other writers--ranging from unpublished folks to NY Times Bestselling authors--who basically said "I don't admit it in public, but I'm going through/have gone through something very similar." Going kind of crazy trying to strike a balance seems almost to be a sort of occupational hazard. But I keep at it in part because of the inspiration provided by writers like Robert Jordan. The chance to bring the sort of pleasure to other readers that he brought to me...that's a powerful, powerful motivator.     Q: Do you have any tips for kick-starting inspiration? For example, is there a movie you watch, a book you read, or a song you listen to in order to get in a creative mood?   A: I almost never write to music because I find it distracting. One of the things I've had to reconcile myself to as I've gone pro is that I no longer have the luxury to wait on the muses, or even to coax them out of hiding. Once you sell a trilogy, you're on a deadline and need to produce words come hell or high water. So mostly it's all about massive amounts of coffee for me.   Thanks for the questions, guys! Looking forward to more!     Q: How valuable do you find meeting fans in person at either signings or conventions? Is it necessary for a new author to hit the road and meet potential fans, or does the work speak for itself?   A: Meeting fans at cons is extremely gratifying, and the networking with other professionals at cons can be great. More than that, the camaraderie and just-plain-fun is something I'd be miserable without.   But.   Cons cost time and money. I'd never describe them as *necessary*--more like a wonderful indulgence that can *sometimes* yield professional benefits. The best way to approach them is as a sort of working vacation with fellow nerds.     Q: Okay, I have a bit of a complex question...In your writing, how do you get from point A to point B (let's say point A is the beginning and point B is the end)? For example, I have a work, I know how I want it to begin and I know how I want it to end, but everything in between is blank space. How do you fill the blank spaces in your work? Do you have any tricks that help you in this area?   A: Actually *writing* chunks of the last chapter--before the middle of the book has been written--helps me to build a "bridge" between it and the first few chapters. I'm forced to think in detail about everything that needs to be mentioned in a final chapter. Which plot questions are answered, which characters are still there, *where* the last scene takes place, and how the characters got there, etc. By the time I've figured out what exactly I'm going to say in the last chapter, I've done a great deal of thinking about the couple of hundred pages preceding it.     Q: I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I LOVED the Falcon Prince as a character. Is he going to be prominent in the next book?   A: I'm glad you liked him! Yes, the Falcon Prince will be a VERY major character in Book II. The events at the end of Throne will have huge repercussions across the Crescent Moon Kingdoms (and beyond), and Pharaad Az Hammaz will be at the center of the maelstrom.     Q: Hi, Mr. Ahmed! I LOVED the novel! Can't wait to read your next one!   I think the thing that struck me most, trying not to do too many spoilers, was how true to themselves Zamia and Raseed stayed. Was it hard to leave loose ends and kind of forgo the more typical ending?   I also really liked that we joined the story near the end of Adoulla's career. Do you think we will ever see any prequels that tell more of his beginnings?   A: Thanks for reading! Trying to avoid spoilers here, but as far as Z & R go, I'll just say that the nice thing about writing the first book in a series is that it leaves a fair amount of room for loose ends. Zamia and Raseed each have some pretty intense challenges facing them in Book II. I'll give this much away: Zamia will learn more than she ever wanted to know about the djenn (who are mentioned but not seen in Book I), and Raseed will cross swords with a rogue dervish of the Order.   As to your second point: The Crescent Moon Kingdoms was conceived (and sold) as a trilogy. But if I do ever write a fourth book, there's a pretty good chance it would be a prequel.     Q: Do you ever find yourself in a place where you personally want things to go one way but know that the reader would want something else? If so, what do you do in such situations?   A: That's a really interesting question. I think while I'm writing I want things to go pleasantly for my characters, and I want my characters to be completely likable. But as a reader I love biting my nails or getting choked up over a character's tribulations, and I love characters' imperfections. So I try to give those things to my readers.     Q: How do you go about setting up a scene in your head and then transferring it to written word? The same goes for people. I can see the images in my head but I can never find the right words to describe them. Do you ever have these issues?   Have you ever initially created a character that you intended to kill very early on (like chapter 1) and turn around and keep them as a supporting character?   A: Perhaps because I spent many years writing and publishing poetry, I don't tend to have trouble finding the right *words*--cooking up plots is more where I have to work my hardest. Writer's block is less of a problem for me than finding *time* and *energy* to write.   As to question 2: I almost experience the opposite as far as killing characters goes--I *like* my characters, and if left to my own devices I'd probably not do them harm. But sometimes the story calls for what the story calls for, and I have to push myself into it.     Q: Have you ever experienced that a character "takes control" and starts doing things that you hadn't intended him/her to do?   A: Heh. Hearing writers talk about that--and I have many dear friends who experience "characters taking control"--always makes me angry and jealous. Why? Because *I've* never experienced it, and I wish I could, because it seems like it could be very helpful.     Q: Honored to meet you.   What drew you to writing?   A: My father, who--against certain socioeconomic odds--surrounded me with fun books, and encouraged my literary creativity from a young age.     Q: Okay, next question: did you study writing academically, or just start pursuing it as a hobby at first?   A: I've always been an "amateur" writer of some sort, since I was a kid. I did do formal training in creative writing--I have an MFA in Poetry--but being a member of various SF/F workshops & writers' groups has been more directly relevant to my current work.     Q: Have you ever had a thought or a dream that you just had to write down right that minute no matter what?   A: Yes, lots! Don't get to do it as often now that I have kids, though--I need to guard sleep-time more jealously, since it's so rare...     Q: Hey Saladin, I was curious, is there anything that you see writers doing that annoys the hell out of you? For instance Stephen King's comments about overuse of "he said blandly," "she said hotly."   What are the things you think new writers need to avoid?   A: Honestly, I think most "rules" (DON'T USE ADVERBS! DON'T BREAK POV! MAKE YOUR CHARACTER WANT SOMETHING!) are useless in the abstract. Any given work can violate them if it does so well.     Q: What do you look for in a good story?   A: A good story for me TENDS to offer some triangulation of entertainment value, writing skill, and ethos. Have something to say, say it well, and make it enjoyable (or rewarding) to read. YMMV, of course.     Q: Who is your favorite Wheel of Time character and why? Which scene in the series is your favorite?   After you finish the Crescent Moon Kingdoms series, do you have plans for another story/series already in mind?   A: That's tough. Of the "big three" guys, it's probably Perrin. But some of my very favorites are second-string characters. Thom Merrillin, Bayle Domon, Aviendha, Rhuarc, Min. And of course Lan. Lan is like the Wolverine of WoT--who *doesn't* like him?   I think almost all of The Eye of the World and The Great Hunt is just jaw-dropping stuff, honestly. But as far as a single scene, it's hard to top the Die Hard-type ending of Dragon Reborn. I mean, to have transplanted the style of the action thriller into an epic fantasy novel so powerfully--I don't think anyone did it before RJ did, and I don't think anyone's done it better since.   Finally, yes, I have several back-burner projects, some of which may end up getting written simultaneously as the Crescent Moon Kingdoms books.     Q: Do you ever include scenes with references or jokes purely for your own enjoyment? As in that the readers might not get the joke or understand the reference.   A: Yes, I do that a fair amount. But usually by the time I've revised and edited they become unrecognizable as in-jokes.     Q: What books would you for recommend someone to read?   A: That's pretty broad, so here are two random favorite writers I think people should read: Naguib Mahfouz and Fritz Leiber.   THANKS A TON FOR HAVING ME HERE, ALL!     Host: Thank you, Mr. Ahmed, for joining us. We really appreciate you making yourself available for your fans. And as Ireond said, please come back again!

Sure, I could dedicate several weeks to the landscapes and scenery of the world of The Wheel of Time, carefully interspersing weeks dedicated to character studies and action shots so that Fan Art Friday wouldn't lack for variety. But where would be the fun in that? Instead, I'm going to go a little crazy this week and feature all my favorite Wheel of Time landscapes and scenery (allowing for the fact that I haven't seen all the Wheel of Time art ever made and have probably forgotten or missed some really great stuff).   We've got a lot to cover, so I'll skip the flowery expositions this week and just get down to it.   (Note: A few of these break with canon in small ways, or are merely inspired by The Wheel of Time. Feel free to nitpick about canon in the comments, but please do it nicely!)       Dragonmount and Tar Valon   1. Dragonmount by John Irving (~NuttyMonk)   2. Tar Valon by Mike S. Miller and Andrea Di Vito (from the third volume in the comic book adaptation of New Spring)   3. Tar Valon by Henrik Lehtinen (I believe this is official Wheel of Time art, but I can't determine if this is from the computer game, the card game, or what...does anybody know?)       The Aiel Waste   1. Aiel Waste by Medo Farstrider   2. Three Fold Lands by Tyler Nixon (~Gypson)   3. The Threefold Land by ~TheNonSequitur   4. Craptastic Rhuidean by Tanya Wagemann (*fee-absinthe) (The title makes me laugh--sure, it's sketchy, but I love the colors!)   5. Jangai Pass by *Lupus-deus-est (Myfwnwy on Dragonmount)       Tear   1. Heart of the Stone II by Jared Magneson (~lordstormdragon)   2. Stone of Tear storeroom painting 2 by archedtin       Andor   1. Caemlyn from Tar Valon gate by Joe Trimarchi (*artguyjoe)   2. Winternight in the Westwood by *Lupus-deus-est (She also did the rendering of the Jangai Pass above!)   3. WoT-Westwood by Chase Conley (*saintchase)   4. Tower of Ghenjei by Drew

We're all fantasy fans here, or at least I assume we are since we're here on a forum devoted to a fantasy series. So, what is fantasy? I'm not talking about the definition, but about what fantasy is to us. Why do we like fantasy? As my opening article, I figured I'd put my opinion out there.   Fantasy is a world in which we can lose ourselves and escape from our day to day lives. It's a world full of adventures that keeps us wanting more and prepares us for our next adventure. A fantasy world is a place for mythical creatures and powerful magic, where the unexpected happens constantly. It's a world that we can see through someone else's eyes, and maybe add to it with our own imaginations if so inclined. Basically, it's whatever we want it to be, whether it's sparkly vampires, tainted Power, the struggle of good against evil, or just an epic quest.   We are always looking for that next adventure, that new fix for our addiction of reading. As I post new articles, I'll occasionally post a list of current or future books on my reading list. This list may include books you've already heard of or are already reading, but don't let it discourage your chances of finding new books. I'm always stumbling across new books. I have over 200 books in my dorm room and about as many back home in storage, so my list will constantly be updated.   My current reading list:   The Way of Kings Mistborn series The Saga of Recluce The Wheel of Time (reread) A Game of Thrones

Brandon Sanderson has completed A Memory of Light, the fourteenth and final Wheel of Time novel. He posted a touching blog entry on his website describing his feelings on the subject, as well as his plans for the future.   "I've reached the end of the journey and set down my burdens. It's wonderful, relaxing, and solemn all at once. I love the Wheel of Time. It's also great to be done."   Brandon has completed and turned in the final major revision of the book to Harriet, Robert Jordan's widow and editor. She and her staff will complete final revisions and copyediting.   The hardcover and audiobook editions are scheduled to be released on January 8, 2013. The eBook will be released on April 9th.   I remember speaking to Brandon almost five years ago by phone. The first time we talked, he sounded excited and a little shell-shocked. He had yet to fly out to Charleston to meet Harriet, so he had no idea what was in store. He'd not read Robert Jordan's ending or other notes. I remember how nervous he was about whether or not Wheel of Time fans would accept him, or support him.   I talked to him again yesterday by phone, and I could hear the relief in his voice. The passion for the final book was still there. He's eager for people to read it, and seemed even more eager to finally be able to share Robert Jordan's final scenes with all of us.   There's no doubt in my mind that all Wheel of Time fans owe an enormous debt of gratidue to Brandon for his hard work in completing the series. Like you, I look forward to reading the book, and look forward to having him be a part of our community for years to come.   Thanks, Brandon.   About A Memory of Light Dragonmount will feature 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 the opening portion of the AMOL prologue. Read the opening portion of Chapter 1. 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 book through one of our international Amazon affiliates, and help support our website.