Can you give me an M? And an O? And an I-R-A-I-N-E. Woot! So, as you might guess, Moiraine was the ultimate winner of this year's Suvudu cage match series. It was quite an exciting final match, if I must say so myself. Moiraine was faced with a worthy opponent. Her opponent was Kylar Stern from the Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks.

The Night Angel Trilogy follows the story of a young street-orphan by the name of Azoth/Kylar. Kylar becomes entangled in the schemes of the Sa'kage, the ruling entity of the city's criminal underworld. In an attempt to escape, he apprentices himself to the legendary wetboy Durzo Blint. Now, through his attempts to become a killer aided by magic, Kylar's fate goes along a previously unexplored lane, with the destiny of the world hanging in the balance.

When I heard that I needed to review this book, my initial reaction was: "Yay! Amazing series!" and I fully stand by that opinion. This was one of those series where you couldn't put it down and the pages virtually kept turning themselves. None of the individual books seemed drawn out or lacking, as one often finds in fanasty series; each was as gripping as the one before.

Weeks created extremely three dimensional and real characters. You find yourself captivated by their stories, being carried away in their experiences, and having your emotions influenced by their well-being.

All in all, Moiraine definitely had a worthy opponent, and the Night Angel Trilogy books are definitely worth reading!

This week, I've had the pleasure of interviewing another one of the administrators here on Dragonmount. I think he has something to do with the Wheel of Time forums, but hey, we'll all know soon enough! He's one of those who will make you fear for your fingers if he has an opposing opinion from yours in a discussion, since he's that passionate about it all. Without much further ado, I give to you: Luckers!

Q: Who are you and what do you do on Dragonmount?

A: Well, I'm the Wheel of Time Administrator, so my main task is basically seeing that the Wheel of Time boards are all running smoothly. I usually have my fingers in most things Wheel of Time related that run through the website--I wrote most of the book summaries (and the .pdf we released to bring everyone back up to date for the Towers of Midnight release), and had a hand in developing the Tower Guard program for the signing tour for Towers of Midnight. I worked heavily on the update for the Wheel of Time FAQ when we took it over from Leigh Butler. I've also run interviews with most of the major players in Team Jordan, and I was able to do an official showing of Jason Denzel's amazing Towers of Midnight trailer at WorldCon on behalf of the website last year, which was pretty damn awesome.

But yeah, essentially, if it has the Wheel of Time stamp on it, I've had some part of it (even if occasionally it's just Jason and Jenn Liang giving me a heads up that something is coming when the secrecy goes beyond my paygrade.)

Q: How did you get involved on Dragonmount?

A: Umm. I just got picked up as a staff member on Debates and Discussions. Dunno why they decided to make me an offer (I was very young at the time). Then when I lost some of my interest in Debates and Discussions, I quit and offered to take on WoT modding. From there, one day I just decided to develop my own FAQ, and emailed Jenn and Jason saying that I was going to, and they were fine with it. Much the same with the Big Unnoticed Thing Theory Compilation. Somewhere in all this, Jason must have been impressed because then they made the offer for Wheel of Time Admin.

But yeah, it's mostly just a matter of putting yourself out there. If you have ideas, say them.

Q: When and why did you join Dragonmount?

A: I had just turned fourteen, so it would have been late 2002, early 2003. As I recall, it was the Dragonmount Prologue movie that Jason was developing at the time that attracted me here. I stayed for all the cool, insane people.

Q: What got you to read The Wheel of Time?

A: I was given The Eye of the World and A Game of Thrones for my twelfth birthday (I'd just gotten into fantasy through the Belgariad, which is a great gateway fantasy series for the young). I started A Game of Thrones first and found it too confronting (and to be fair to my Mum she had told the clerk at the bookstore to suggest books for her twelve-year-old, so it was all on him). Anyway, I started EotW, and was hooked by the Manetheren story. I've never looked back.

Q: Who is your favorite character?

A: Look, Brandon will roll his eyes at me if he reads this, but Cadsuane. I mean, she gets a bad rep, but when push comes to shove she has always had Rand's back.

Q: If you could be in the skin of one character for a day, who would it be?

A: Moridin.

Q: How do you earn your crust in Real Life?

A: I'm a writer, though I don't really get much money from that. My day job is at a photolab--and yes, we do see dodgy photos.

Q: Married? Kids?

A: Well, I'm gay, so it's currently illegal where I am to be married. One day, if decency prevails.

Q: Do you think Brandon Sanderson has done the series justice so far?

A: Yes and no. I think he has done a very good job with some things, and a not so good job with other things. I've been very open with him about both sides, and in response, he has been quite open about some of what he perceives to be his successes and failures. A lot, I suspect, will depend on A Memory of Light, but for now...yes and no.

Q: How do you feel about the last book finally coming out?

A: I've no idea. It changes from day to day. "Bittersweet" would probably be the closest word I can think of for how I feel...

Q: Favorite nation? And why?

A: The Aiel. Uncompromising honor guided by keen wisdom--they are the most decent people in the series.

Q: If you could choose between going to Randland and any other fantasy world, which would you choose and why?

A: Randland, easy. In part, this is why I love the Wheel of Time so much, because its world is so immersive, so vast, that you literally feel like you could step into it.

Besides, with my knowledge of the Wheel, I reckon I could make a decent attempt at conquering the world. *evil grin*

Q: Bow, spear, axe, or sword?

A: I actually fenced for about seven years, so definitely the sword.

Q: Your Wheel of Time crush?

A: Mat. I'd love to take him clubbing in the modern world.

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?

A: Long live Cadsuane? *wink*

Ah! It's that time of the year again, when we can all eagerly anticipate the interesting happenings awaiting us at this year's JordanCon. For those of you who do not know what JordanCon is, let me give you a quick introduction. JordanCon is a yearly convention held in Atlanta, GA. It is a fantasy literature convention run in honor of the late Robert Jordan.

As I mentioned before, there's a lot of fun things happening this year. Rather than list all of them for you, I'll make a short list of the events I'd enjoy attending. On Friday night, they're going to be holding their annual Seanchan Texas Hold'Em Poker Tournament. You pay a $20 entry fee and a $10 buy in. Not only do you get to gamble like the Prince of Ravens, but you also get to participate in donating money to a worthy cause. On Saturday, not only are there fun looking art workshops to participate in during the day, but there are two events I'd definitely participate in later. One of those events is the costume contest. Who could resist taking part in that? You could dress up as an Aiel with spears or an Aes Sedai with her Warder...there's so many possibilities! The other event is "Dance the Spears". Wait, what? More Aiel?! Actually, no, this event is not warlike, unless you consider an auction to be so. It is the annual silent auction held by JordanCon for the benefit of the Mayo Clinic, just like the funds of the Poker Tournament, which also go into the clinic's coffers. Various generous people donate things to be auctioned off; in the past, we've seen Jordan's cane or special Wheel of Time notes under the auctioneer's hammer. Last, but not least, I'd end my JordanCon experience by hanging out in the workshops (again), learning all about costuming in fantasy.

Of course, for those of you who are more into discussing theories and possibilities in fantasy, or even those who would rather have a nice Kaffeeklatsch, there's plenty of oportunities to do that too! Have a look at the Program Panel and prepare yourself for a fantastic weekend!

Although it is not a recently released novel, this is one I personally overlooked many times before I bought it, simply because it was in the teen fantasy section in my bookstore. But, once I did buy Sabriel by Garth Nix, I enjoyed it thoroughly.

If I were to summarize this book and the others of the trilogy in one sentence, I could go with this: It is about a fledgling necromancer saving the world. At this point, I had to take a moment to digest this information. You know, because of the common misconception that necromancers are generally evil with all that raising of the dead.

Sabriel is the daughter of the Abhorsen, a necromancer who guards the Old Kingdom from any dead wishing to rise beyond their bounds. She has not grown up within the Old Kingdom, though, and is sent to boarding school in Ancelstierre, where we have all kinds of modern things like etiquette, electricity, and cars. In most fantasy novels where the Real World and magic meet, we have the one generally being unaware of the latter. Ancelstierre is more than aware of the Free magic on the loose beyond its borders while they are teaching Charter magic to the girls in the school and having specially trained border postings that are not only armed with guns, but swords and chainmail too.

After the disappearance of her father, Sabriel has to cross the wall and attempt to find him, for she believes he is in trouble. She walks in his footsteps as the Abhorsen and uses his sword and eight bells to practice magic and wade the waters of death. A cat by the name of Moggy becomes one of her companions, along with a Charter Mage named Touchstone. The speaking cat seems a bit boring, but fitting for simple teen fantasy. Nix manages to create a less boring side to it later in the story, though, and the overall ending to the book was quite a surprise to me.

Overall, this book is an easy and enjoyable read. Sabriel creates an interesting balance between reality and a magical world, with them bordering each other and tourists even visiting the border of the two. It is a great world of free magic that is really simple, yet seems very natural. Finally, all the characters are easy to understand, and readers can imagine themselves in their positions and emotional states quite easily.

Regular observers of our boards probably have been aware of all the fun happening with our Wheel of Time cage matches. Well, we learned from the best: Suvudu. "For the past few years, Suvudu has been the home of Cage Match, where we pit fantasy and science fiction characters against each other in a March Madness-style bracket."

March Madness? Wait a moment--is that not precisely the month we are in? Yes it is, so it is once again time for the epic Suvudu cage matches. For a list of which characters have been chosen to participate, you can have a look at the Character list. To see who will be competing against whom, you would be best served by looking at the Bracket.

Since it's far into March already, the competition has advanced to the 3rd Round, which will determine who makes it into the Round of 8.

Current combatants are Saphira vs Zaphod Beeblebrox, who are standing in a very close lockdown in regards to votes, and Anomander Rake vs Bast, with Anomander taking the lead. The winning combatants of those two battles will in turn be fighting against each other in the next round. Moiraine Damodred vs Jardir is one to fuel our Wheel of Time pride, seeing as Moiraine is taking the lead and the other battle in that bracket is Kelsier vs Ray Lilly, with Kelsier taking the lead. On the other side, we have Revan vs Mr. Wednesday, with their votes being but 1 or 2% apart, and Granny Weatherwax vs Napoleon (on a dragon), with Granny taking the lead. In our last bracket we have Julia Wicker vs Kylar Stern, with Kylar taking the lead by far, and the last match is between Erevis Cale vs Rachel Morgan, with Erevis narrowly taking the lead by 1%.

The voting for the Round 3 cage matches closes ON THURSDAY, MARCH 22nd, 2012, AT 5 PM, EST. That's later today, so if you're not liking one of the current winners, you'd better rally your voters and see if you can change the outcome.

Now, we all know that the original knock-out stages are never as fun as the more important battles. As such, I think reading the next set of battles, with the voting due to start on the 26th of March, will be quite the fun activity. So, be there or miss out!

So, seeing as doomsday is ticking closer day by day, I thought it would be fun to have a look at the other books written by Robert Jordan.

There are quite a few other works out there. Personally, I always thought that all he ever created was The Wheel of Time since it seemed more than enough of a legacy, but there is more. In addition to the main sequence of Wheel of Time books, there are a few additional ones. I would say the most well known is New Spring, in which we follow Moiraine's journey as Accepted during the time of the Aiel War and birth of the Dragon. I would have to say that it is definitely a book you should read. Moiraine and Lan meeting is priceless. One also gets more of a glimpse into the life of Lan and comes a little closer to understanding him. The other book that gets mentioned a lot is The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, also known as the Big White Book. This is essentially a reference book with all you need to know about the world that our characters inhabit. Also included in this book is a short story by Robert Jordan called "The Strike at Shayol Ghul". Both the Big White Book and New Spring are books that are a definite must have for your Wheel of Time collection.

Have you ever wanted to let your younger children read The Wheel of Time? Apparently, it is possible, at least for the first two books. Both The Eye of the World and The Great Hunt were repackaged into four books suitable for a younger market. There are also the three graphic novels that have been published so far, which are definitely worth a look.

The other series by Robert Jordan I was surprised to discover are Fallon (which was written under the pen name Reagan O'Neal), Conan the Barbarian, and a last novel called The Cheyenne Raiders (under the pseudonym Jackson O'Reilly). Fallon is a historical romance series set in the American Revolutionary War era that revolves around a central character Michael Fallon who becomes an indentured servant, begins his fight against poverty, and falls in love with a woman who will never be his. Conan the Barbarian returns Robert Jordan to the world of fantasy, where he essentially revives the classic legendary sword and sorcery of Conan. The last book, The Cheyenne Raiders, is kind of a western story. It's about a normal, urban man who gets involved with the mysteries of the Indian tribes and gets dragged into their world.

While I will definitely read the Wheel of Time based novels and those about Conan, I'm not really into romance or westerns, so I'll give them a pass. Nevertheless, one thing that this expedition has taught me is that Robert Jordan was definitely a man of very many talents.

Happy reading, folks!

So, today I poked about in the personal business of one of our Admins. I am fairly sure that most of you at least know of her, especially if you read all the articles on the front page. With pleasure, I bring you a short interview with our very own Dwynwen, Front Page Admin!

Q: When did you start reading The Wheel of Time?

A: I started reading the series in the summer of 2003, right after I graduated from college. One of my friends from school recommended the series to me, and since I finally had time to read for fun again, I took advantage of that opportunity.

Q: Why did you join Dragonmount? How did you get involved as an Admin?

A: I joined Dragonmount in October 2004. I wanted to find a place where I could talk to other fans about the books. When I discovered that I could go through the raising process and become an Aes Sedai in the White Tower Social Group, I immediately joined the site and that group. I've spent most of my Dragonmount membership in just the White Tower, although I also had a brief stint in our currently defunct Seanchan Social Group.

I'm the sort of person who enjoys leading, organizing, and helping out, so I worked my way into various leadership positions around the site. I have served the White Tower as a White Ajah Sitter, the White Ajah Head, the Keeper of the Chronicles, and Temporary Amyrlin right after Jennifer Liang retired from her reign as Amyrlin. I recently was appointed as a White Ajah Sitter again, so I am doing that alongside my Admin duties.

I was first appointed as the Social Groups Assistant Admin in March 2011. Shortly after that, I transitioned out of that role and into my current role as the Front Page Admin. I'm enjoying my time as an Admin.

Q: Is there any truth to the rumors that you are secretly a Forsaken?

A: Maybe so, maybe not. I like to keep everyone guessing.

Q: What do you do in Real Life (e.g. work, family, and the like)?

A: I am a 30-year-old single female. I have lived here in California for most of my life, although I have had lengthy sojourns elsewhere. My current household consists of myself, my parents, my younger brother, and my three cats.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of California. I see patients, supervise doctoral students, and teach on the side. I teach a few different courses at my doctoral alma mater, but my favorite is our sex therapy course.

I enjoy reading (especially fantasy series), sleeping, hanging out online, singing, dancing, writing, and music. My intellectual interests include psychology, philosophy, world religions, mythology, astronomy, and art history.

Q: Are you involved in the Wheel of Time community in any other manner?

A: Yes, I'm pretty addicted to the fandom. In addition to my membership here, I am a member of the Blue Ajah at TarValon.net. I have attended five Dragon*Cons and am looking forward to attending my second JordanCon this April. I served as a Storm Leader at Brandon Sanderson's San Diego book signing when The Gathering Storm came out. I've also done copyediting on part of the WOTFAQ.

Q: What would you say is the greatest impact that the Wheel of Time has had on your life?

A: It has had a tremendous impact on my life. I have made some of my closest friends through this fandom. I even dated a former member of this website several years ago. I have been given opportunities to spend time with Brandon Sanderson and the members of Team Jordan. I have grown as a person and have become more comfortable in my own, geeky skin as a result of my time in the fandom.

Q: Favorite and least favorite character?

A: My favorite character is Egwene. Her growth from a quiet, unsure girl to a strong leader mirrors a lot of the growth I've done in my life. My least favorite character is Elaida. She's so rude and incompetent.

Q: What nation would you say you're from?

A: The USA.

Q: Male character crush (or female, if you're inclined that way)?

A: Mat would make a great Friend with Benefits, but Perrin is more my type in terms of husband material.

Q: If you could choose between being a Maiden, Wise One, Aes Sedai, Seanchan, or any other group that is found within the books, which would it be?

A: Definitely Aes Sedai. I would love to channel, and I like the concept of being in an Ajah.

Q: Favorite scene within the books? (Please include a spoiler warning if necessary.)

A: It's so hard to pick just one! I guess that if I had to pick, I'd choose the scene with Egwene and Verin in Towers of Midnight. I'm being vague so I don't spoil anything, but I hope my answer is enough of a teaser to inspire people to read that far in the series.

For those of you who utilize the commercialistic ways of modern society to embrace a little romance once in awhile, I'm sure you made the best of your Valentine's Day. And for those who felt more lonely on this Singles Awareness Day than on the other days of the year, remember this: "You may not mean anything to the world, but you mean the world to someone."

In this week's wonderfully romantic spirit, I bring to you my personal favorite and least favorite couples in the Wheel of Time. (Please be wary of spoilers; I can definitely think of one that's from Towers of Midnight.)

Some of the couples, or shall I say ex-couples, I actually liked quite a bit. The romance between Rand and Egwene just had that marvelous and beautiful innocence of youth. It felt like the type of endearing scenario where childhood friends are destined to marry. That was one relationship that was dashed rather early in the series. Another bygone relationship that we were never part of, but I'd have loved to see happen again, is that between Thom and Morgase. But that also proved not to happen.

I'm personally not a fan of the whole Rand, Min, Elayne, and Aviendha relationship, but of those three I must say that Rand and Min's romance seems to come the most naturally despite the fact that she knows they will end up together.

A matrimony that doesn't get much spotlight, but is definitely one that just seems so organic and perfect for me, is the one that sister-wives Lian and Amys have with each other and with their husband, Rhuarc.

Before I get distracted by just discussing all the couples, I shall come to those on the top of my list. Heading the list are Tallanvor and Morgase tied with Nynaeve and Lan.

I simply cannot dislike Lan and Nynaeve. Despite their relationship being a strange one, I think it's extremely charming simply because I adore Lan being so in love. To me it makes an impact because Lan seems so emotionally distant and seems to fill any void he has with his oath to battle the Shadow. His marriage with Nynaeve brings something much more positive to his life. I, for one, hope that they survive Tarmon Gai'don and make lots of babies to repopulate Malkier.

What I love about Morgase and Tallanvor is just the pure romance of it--their difference in ranks, their passionate love, and the stubbornness they originally displayed in regards to it. It's so cliche, but so cute too.

Last, but not least, I shall mention my least favorite couple. This is where the Towers of Midnight spoiler comes in. Thom and Moiraine...I mean, really? Many say they can see how it was coming, but it seems so forced to me. The scene and how it happened just seemed so unnatural. I have to admit, after the first shock of it, the idea doesn't sound that bad anymore. It's quite adorable and touching. In the end, I guess it is my least favorite simply because it was so unexpected.

Which is your favorite couple? Who would you like to see together? Comment and let me know.

Sorry for the absence, guys, but we're back! Hopefully.

One thing I have always wondered about but never really did much research on was Wheel of Time games. So, this week, I snooped around the Internet (as per usual) and found quite a few interesting things.

There is of course the first-person shooter video game, which was released in 1999 by Legend Entertainment. In this game, you play an Aes Sedai by the name of Elayna who is also the Keeper of the Chronicles. As I mentioned before, it is a first-person shooter, but rather than having weapons like guns and swords, the character is armed with ter'angreal that have different abilities such as an offensive action or healing. The storyline is not like the books at all, but rather Elayna Sedai chases after Darkfriends and protects the seals on the prison of the Dark One.

A site that caught my eye was the Wheel of Time MUD (Multi User Dungeon). It seems to me that joining in on this MUD game could involve a lot of fun in a Wheel of Time themed virtual world. It is possible to create your very own character and choose where they are from, what sex they are, and whether they're a Hunter, Rogue, Channeler, or Noble. I've only just started finding my way in the game, but it shows promise. There are various other MUD games that you could also try, including Age of Chaos and The Great Hunt.

Red Eagle and Obsidian are said to be working on a new adaptation of a Wheel of Time game, although the only information that I could find on a release date is said to be at the end of this year, at the earliest estimate.

Other than those games, there's always the Role-playing forums that can enable you to dive into the world Robert Jordan created. Our very own Role-playing groups come highly recommended. Have a look and see if any games catch your fancy!

Amazing, isn't it? We have already arrived in 2012. Soon the world shall end, be it by that whole Mayan calendar theory or the fact that The Wheel of Time is finally coming to a close. Personally, I often live under a rock when it comes to Wheel of Time news, so I have compiled a list of major Wheel of Time occurrences from 2011 for you.

January 18th: New Spring: The Graphic Novel was released.

March 15th: We announce that Ta'veren Tees is open for business.

April 15th-17th: The third annual JordanCon was held.

September 13th: The first volume of The Eye of the World: The Graphic Novel was released.

September 15th: L.E. Modesitt, Jr. came by for a visit.

September 19th: Dragonmount.com turned 13! Oh dear, it's the teenage years.

October 2nd: JordanCon hosted a fundraiser by holding a drawing and auctioning off the opportunity to have your name in A Memory of Light.

October 11th: Orbit launched their A Memory of Light video!

November 8th: Brandon Sanderson hosted another Great Hunt to reveal clues of what's going to be happening in A Memory of Light.

December 7th: We were hit with the sad passing of Darrell K. Sweet. He will be missed.

December 21st: The first A Memory of Light draft was completed!! We're nearly there, guys!

It seems 2011 has been quite the year for Dragonmount.com and The Wheel of Time, although the single most important event probably was that of the first draft of the final book being completed. People must be jumping out of their skins in excitement!

May 2012 prove just as exciting for all of us.

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon

There are never enough books, so I have another you could have a look at. I read the omnibus, so the review is on the entire trilogy.

The story follows a young woman by the name of Paksenarrion, who leaves home to escape an arranged marriage and joins a mercenary army. She seems to be just another soldier, if more focused and intent on becoming a good warrior. But stranger and stranger things continue to happen, and the eye of evil is drawn to Paks. It does take quite a few unexpected turns and the story takes quite the road of development.

I have decided that this is a book that I have to reread to figure out my opinion. The novel is less like a magic inspired fantasy book, despite the magical elements within it, but more like war fiction. What I found strange about Elizabeth Moon's style of writing is that she seems to describe a lot and explain things in depth. And then suddenly before you know it, you have a few action packed pages and it goes back to normal. Another thing that really grabbed me was that extremely emotional passages (well, they definitely were for me) would sneak up on you, and before you knew what was happening, you'd be bawling your eyes out. The war and fighting scenes are written very well and pull you right in, and I must honestly admit that I rarely had to make myself read the less interesting parts. In a world like Tolkien's Middle-Earth, with Orcs, Elves, and the like roaming the land, Elizabeth Moon takes her character from a naive young girl to such a likable and, in her own ways, wise character. I don't think you could easily find someone who dislikes the character of Paksenarrion. She is driven, kind, honest, and despite all the things she achieves and all the fame she gains, she never rests on her laurels and stays as down to earth as she always was.

The next bit contains a slight spoiler. One thing that moved me so immensely and simply made me love Paks was the fact that she realized how much her suffering meant and how much it shaped her. She had the wisdom to see the positive things about her scars as opposed to only remembering the pain. As such, when the Lady of the Forest offered to heal them for her, she declined.

Paksenarrion becomes a real character to any reader. Elizabeth Moon managed to balance her triumphs in equal measure as her wounds. Paks makes mistakes like any of us would and faces choices that are so easy to relate to. She's definitely a great character.

I think that this is definitely a must read. You can even read the first book for free (and legally!) online at Baen Books.

It's that time of the year again, and you are probably rushing to the store to try and find the perfect gift for that special someone. Well, does that special someone like the Wheel of Time? If so, then I suggest your search stops here. In some of my previous articles, I have discussed Wheel of Time jewelry, clothing, and weaponry. Those would be a good place to start.

Other than getting a Great Serpent Ring, an Asha'man's Dragon Pin, or a Wheel of Time shirt, you can buy an adorable Barbie-sized Accepted dress for your daughter or a stuffed animal version of a Corlm or Torm. All of those are available at Arafel's Dreams. A classic present for an aspiring Aes Sedai is naturally a shawl in the color of her Ajah. I suggest Elishafaerie's Workbasket, or you can head to your nearest tailor and have them make one for you! Last but not least, a great gift idea for those who have not yet read or not completed the Wheel of Time series would be buying the actual books or audiobooks.

At most of the places I listed, you can get awesome specials or discounts on shipping, seeing as we are in the holiday season. So, I suggest that this year, don't be boring and get normal jewelry or a box of chocolates. Think out of the box and buy something fantasy themed and unique for your loved ones.

So, I finally got myself a victim to interview again. To be honest, Jason Denzel turned out to be quite different from what I imagined. I thought he'd be aloof and cold, but he is so friendly and open with a great sense of humor. Other than sharing that experience, I say, read the interview and make up your own mind about him.

Q: What do you do in Real Life to earn your crust?

A: I have a full-time job with Cisco Systems located in San Jose, CA. I work in escalation support for one of their enterprise server products. This basically means I work with broken web servers every day...something I'm very familiar with due to Dragonmount's notorious server history. (sigh) I've been doing this job for about 10 years now, and enjoy it a lot. What's nice about it is that I've learned to find a very healthy balance with that work which allows me to do things like filmmaking and Dragonmount in the evenings and weekends.

Q: You have a wife and two children, right? Why did your wife not let you call one Rand?

A: Heh. Yes, I have two little boys, Aidan and Andrew, ages 6 and 3, respectively. They both have red hair from their mother's side. My wife Jennifer (not Jennifer Liang, as others have wondered before) told me outright that I could not name our kids Rand, Perrin, Egwene, Nynaeve, Luke, Leia, etc. And she wouldn't allow the name "Mat" with only one "t". I don't know why she didn't like those names. They're awesome. She hasn't read the books, so that must be why. ;-)

I was, however, allowed to name our dog after a character....but only if it was the dog's middle name. So, our dog's full name is Lucy Min Denzel.

Q: Have you started your children on the Wheel of Time, or if they are too young still, will you once they are old enough?

A: They're still too young. When they get older I don't want to force it down their throats. But I suspect that they'll have an interest. Before he died, Robert Jordan even signed one of his advanced reading copies to Aidan, my older son.

Q: What inspired you to start Dragonmount, and what can you tell us about its beginnings?

A: The original idea for Dragonmount came about in 1998 when I was looking to talk to somebody about the books. I was away at college and really wanted to discuss theories and other aspects of the story with somebody. I looked around online but was unable to find a community that was very welcoming to newbies. So instead of giving up or forcing my way in, I decided to create my own. The original DM was pretty ugly, but I tried to create a warm atmosphere for people to enjoy.

Another fun tidbit about the early site was that I used to play in a lot of online gaming clans. So, the idea for the "Organizations" (now called Social Groups) came from the concept of clans. I hoped that the Orgs would compete and have fun in different sorts of friendly competitions. That exists today, but they really took on a life of their own.

Q: In what other ways have you been/are you involved in the Wheel of Time fan community?

A: You mean other than LAUNCHING the largest fan community? Heh.

In truth, I am involved in just about anything that has to do with the Wheel of Time. I've been to all the big conventions which feature the Wheel of Time. I was the Toastmaster for the 1st JordanCon in 2009, and I've been to Dragon*Con twice. I'm actively working and advising the film producers for the Eye of the World movie adaptation. There's SO MUCH going on there but I simply cannot talk about it....yet. The producers are very interested in what the fans think and want, and they largely look to me for that input and expertise.

I talk to Brandon Sanderson on a regular basis about his progress on A Memory of Light, and sometimes look up obscure facts for him if Team Jordan is currently unavailable. (For instance, if he's writing at 2 AM, he knows he can send me a text message and ask for a page reference regarding Jak of the Shadows and I usually get back to him pretty quickly). Again, I can't say much about some of my contributions, but I'm proud of the fact that some small slivers of the Wheel of Time saga came in part from me.

I give advice to Tor's art department on all the book covers, including the ebooks that came out last year. I've also worked with their editors and executives on discussing the book and how to market certain aspects of it.

Along with Jenn Liang, we came up with the idea for the Storm Leaders and Tower Guards, and run those programs in conjunction with Tor. From what I understand, no other publisher has given fans an opportunity like that before.

Q: How has the Wheel of Time influenced your life?

A: That's a big question. Not a day goes by when I'm not working on the website, managing relationships with Tor, or Audible, or Amazon, or the Podcast team, taking orders from our online store, or just answering emails from fans. The Wheel of Time has challenged me to learn new skills, and improve my existing ones. Because of the Wheel of Time, I don't simply have a day job at a tech company. I have a side "hobby" which has allowed me to travel the country, make presentations to influential New York executives, create compelling films, and sit next to well-known authors at book signings.

And, of course, I've met a ton of amazing people, including some of my dearest friends.

Picking up that old copy of The Eye of the World was one of the smartest things I ever did.

Q: Do you have any Wheel of Time related fan articles that you are proud to have, be it a tattoo or a special something from the Man himself?

A: I own a ridiculous amount of WoT-related collectibles. I own signed 1st edition hardcovers for every book, all personalized by Robert Jordan, Harriet, and/or Brandon. I have an original manuscript page from The Eye of the World with Harriet's hand-written editorial notes on it. This page is framed and kept next to an original manuscript page from The Gathering Storm that Harriet also made comments on. The page from The Eye of the World shows Rand meeting Ba'alzamon for the first time in the dark palace with the fireplace. The page from The Gathering Storm shows Rand meeting Moridin in the same location. The tone of the scenes is the same, and most interestingly, the editorial comments from Harriet are the same! Both Robert Jordan and Brandon used the same language, and Harriet corrected them both in the same way. You can read more about this framed piece on my personal website.

Q: What would you tell a new (or even slightly older) member who finds you up beyond their reach? I mean, you seem like a very down to earth person, and I can imagine how having people who look up to you all the time and might even find you a bit scary could prove to be strenuous.

A: Just email me. I'm really not a scary guy. Actually, I'm probably "too nice". I love hearing from people. Even if you don't have a question but just want to say hi, feel free to drop me a line: Jason@dragonmount.com. I'm also on Facebook and Twitter (@jasondenzel).

Q: Favorite nation?

A: Malkier.

Q: Favorite character?

A: Rand.

Q: Favorite Darkfriend?

A: Demandred.

Q: Ale or wine?

A: Beer. Stout.

Q: Egwene, Min, Aviendha, or Elayne?

A: Ugh. Like I could decide! But that said...Min.

Q: If you were a Warder in the Tower, which Aes Sedai would you bond?

A: I'd weave a bond around the Amyrlin.

Q: Anything else you would like to tell the visitors on Dragonmount?

A: THANK YOU! Every single person who visits Dragonmount demonstrates how my efforts are worth it. I've put so many hours of my life into this website, and to the franchise in general, that it's impossible to track. Just knowing that people enjoy it and benefit from it makes a huge difference to me. It's why I keep doing it.

I'd also like to encourage people to check out my personal site, JasonDenzel.com, along with my Facebook or Twitter (@jasondenzel) accounts. As WoT winds down, I'm finding myself more and more involved in developing my own fictional worlds and stories. I'm hoping to maybe one day publish a novel, and I certainly plan to release more fantasy-themed films.

Hey there!

So, the last time that I told you a little about our boards here on Dragonmount, it was all about the Social Groups. Now we're going to have a look at the Role Playing Groups.

The first stop you should make if you wish to join a Role Playing Group or if you're looking for more information is the Welcome Inn. It contains stickied threads with information that is vital to your possible journey as a Role Player.

If you want to RP without the need to write up a whole biography for your character, you can use the Turnings of the Wheel: Revolution One board for that.

Your other option is to join a group and write a biography, which then has to be approved. You can begin writing after jumping through all the necessary hoops.

The different groups that you can join include the Band of the Red Hand, where you can join Mat's legendary fighting force and live the raucous life of a soldier. Then there's the Black Tower, where the Taint shall sing through the blood in your veins, or its opposite, the White Tower, at which you can fulfill your calling as an Aes Sedai. If you have ever wanted to live in the twisted mind of a Darkfriend, then the Congress of the Shadow is the perfect place for you. If you'd like to join those fighting the Shadow, there's always the Children of the Light or the Warders. Have you ever admired the senses of a wolf? Well, head over to the Wolfkin and give being one of them a go. Last, but not least, we have the Freelanders. Here you can be whatever you wish, be it Ogier, Aiel, Noble, or just some pickpocket finding their way.

Yes, there are some boards I haven't gotten to yet, but we're there now. The last lot of boards are the places where you actually role play. The board you play on is determined by where your plot happens. We have from the North to the South, and major places like the Farm for the Kin and the Citadel for the Children of the Light.

Now that NaNoWriMo is over, you need an outlet for your creative juices. So, why don't you give role playing a chance?

Also, if you don't want to miss the chance for your name to appear in A Memory of Light, get hopping and have a look at the JordanCon website. The competition ends today!

After a particularly boring episode of Come Dine with Me, I started giving the whole idea of dinner parties some thought and came to a conclusion that I thought might interest all of you out there. I decided any Wheel of Time fan would be a spectacular host. Just look at it this way: How often do you encounter an Oriental or Exotic theme? I personally have never heard of anyone having a Wheel of Time or Lord of the Rings inspired meal. It would be quite the experience to geek out in all parts of your life.

To enable such an experience, I spent some time trying to find places on the Internet that seemed to have respectable Wheel of Time inspired recipes. For some general recipes written by the members of the site, I suggest you check out TarValon.net's Library. If you would prefer to cook something up on the dark side of life, have a look at tWoTcast's old-fashioned Trolloc recipe and their recipe for Muradin's eyes. And for those of you needing a laugh today, here's a recipe to brew up your very own Forsaken.

Sadly, there weren't many places I could find recipes, but a great idea would be to simply let yourself be inspired by the Wheel of Time as others have been. Find something in the books that you think sounds superb and just create your very own version of it. I, for one, am definitely going to try my hand at making some honey rolls. If you manage to make your special Wheel of Time treat, let us know about your story of success.

So, I started out thinking that I would hate November. It might be attractive to others, but I had decided that Movember (Moustache November--meaning that a great part of the male population has decided that November would be a great month for them to grow a moustache) definitely wasn't going to do it for me. I had forgotten about one great thing that does happen in November, though: NaNoWriMo.

NaNo-what-oh? This month has been selected as the National Novel Writing Month. As the name implies, the initiative is about writing your very own novel in a month. For more information and many other fun things like pep talks and the chance to swap plot-lines with other writers, you can check out the NaNoWriMo website. It might sound quite ludicrous to write a whole novel in a month, but fear not, the word count that is to be achieved stands at 50,000. If you divide that by 30 days, then you get an average of 1,666.67 words per day. Of course, if you only decide to start now, you have quite a bit to catch up on.

For those of you who are thinking things along the lines of, "I don't have time for this!" or, "Me? Write? Hah! Might as well ask a 6-year-old," I challenge you to give it a try. Don't give up before you've even started. Besides, if you don't achieve the goal this year, you can try again next year since NaNoWriMo is an annual event.

So, all of you out there, be you young or old, busy or not, are you prepared for the challenge? Are you willing to set yourself a goal and push to achieve that? Are you taking part in NaNoWriMo?

I am.

As you all should know, the last book of the Wheel of Time, A Memory of Light, is in the process of being written by Brandon Sanderson. Seeing as this is the last book, I really think you all should give this a go.

The Robert Jordan estate, Brandon Sanderson, and JordanCon, Inc. have decided to launch a fundraiser in order to raise funds for JordanCon and the Mayo Clinic. You have two options to support the fundraiser. For the first option, you can take part in a highest-bidder auction, with the winner getting a character named (within guidelines) after them, including a physical description! This auction will take place from November 1-10. The second option is donating $10 and entering a raffle, out of which Brandon Sanderson will choose as many names as he wishes and then will use them in A Memory of Light. You can enter into this drawing as often as you wish.

In my opinion, this is really something you should do. Not only do you get the chance for your name to be in A Memory of Light, but you also will be supporting JordanCon. Before I read this blog post by Jennifer Liang, I didn't quite realize what JordanCon meant. Reading the blog post actually gave me goosebumps:

JordanCon is such a special' date=' special thing to so many people. Did you know only three authors have conventions dedicated to them? JordanCon puts Robert Jordan in the same company as [b']Terry Pratchett[/b] and JRR Tolkien. We're an important part of his legacy. This fundraiser ensures that we will be able to continue JordanCon after the series is completed and continue to be the place for old and new fans of the series to meet and mingle every year.

So, grab that wallet, skip your extra frosting donut at work for a week, and donate to a good cause, even if it is just $10. They have raised just over $17,000 so far! For more information on the fundraiser, JordanCon, or the Mayo Clinic, you can check out the JordanCon website.

In our last Wheel of Time merchandise blogs, we had a look at Wheel of Time inspired jewelry and clothing. Now, we shall be focusing our attention on something you can't really wear. Well, you can't wear it easily in today's day and age, but it's something I am sure any aspiring Warder, Band of the Red Hand member, or Algai'd'siswai would love to have.

Have you ever wanted to be a blademaster, but couldn't find a panel to judge you? Well, give the panel a pass and just go buy yourself a heron-mark sword! You can find these swords both on Swords of Honor and Museum Replicas. The swords seem to have really good craftsmanship. The only downside is the price. I personally thought it was a very steep price until I compared it to what you pay for modern hunting bows here in South Africa. After comparing the prices, it seems quite reasonable. So, if a heron-mark sword is something you have always wanted and you're willing to pay the price, go for it!

If you're not a fan of our goldenboy Rand and would prefer to have an axe like Perrin, check this out. They have one that you can buy. If you're a supporter of Mat or Birgitte instead, then you can have a look at the selection of staves and bows that the three sites I linked you to have.

My last word of advice is that you should please be careful with the weapons and consider taking a beginners' course to perfect your handling of them. You should especially do this if you're considering getting a crossbow, sword, axe, or the like.

Welcome back, folks!

It’s that time of the month again, when I have fun bringing Dragonmount a little bit closer to you. Last week, I introduced the Discussion forums to you and this week, we’ll be heading over to the Social Community of Dragonmount, as it is called. There are nine places where you can become a member.

First, we have the Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild. Here you will find anything that a creative mind can desire. The name sums it up pretty well, really. If you like to draw, play around in Photoshop, write poetry or epic stories, or even if you’re one of those people who are killers with knitting needles, you’ll be sure to find some kindred spirits on this board.

Before I introduce the other eight boards to you, I will tell you what they’re about in a nutshell. These boards are referred to as “Social Groups”. So, as the name implies, they’re all about being social. Each one is built around the ideas of a different organization or society within the Wheel of Time. But, you don’t only get the chance to interact with fellow Wheel of Time lovers--I mean, that’d get pretty boring after a while, don’t you think? By joining any one of these Social Groups, you start off as an Initiate, Gai’shan, Civilian, Pup, or whichever rank is applicable for the group. After that, you have the opportunity to gain rank by doing various things within the group. Just as every group is based around a different theme, every group has its own ranks and raising procedures.

First off, we have the Aiel. They’re one of the pretty close-knit groups and have a very friendly and stimulating environment. You can strive to become an Algai'd'siswai or choose the path of a Wise One. For our music loving travelers, we have The Band of the Red Hand, by whose fireplaces you can find a seat and enjoy good company. Then there’s the Black Tower. If you enjoy spamming and would like to be rewarded for doing it, join the Black Tower and start posting to your heart's content. You’ll be a full-ranked member in no time. A very open, friendly, and cozy group is that of the Kin, where they focus on friendship, sharing, exchanges, and just having a good time together. For those who live for the stories in books or thrive on history, old battles, and military tactics (simply a few topics among many), the Ogier would be a perfect fit. Every group of people needs some bad kids; well, we’ve got them, and they reside in Shayol Ghul. Jokes aside, though, if you’re into random mayhem and a wicked sense of humor, this is one Social Group that you cannot pass by. Ever wished you could become an Aes Sedai or a Warder? Well, then sign up for the White Tower & Warders, where you can strive to become just that. Last but not least, we have the wonderful Wolfkin. This group focuses on all things related to nature and its members have a very playful side to them, so if you like the outdoors and are up for some fun, go check them out.

Phew, that was quite a bit to tell you guys. Can’t decide which Social Group you like the most? Well, check them all out! There is no limit on the number of groups that you can join, so knock yourself out. I hope you all take the time to pop into the Social Groups, as they are really quite fun. If you would prefer to get a feel for the group before joining, then feel welcome to post on their public boards and interact with the members. So, until next time!

David Farland - The Sum of All Men

This is one of those books that I randomly bought, not because the cover art was great - although I do quite like it - nor because the summary seemed particularly interesting, but simply because it's part of a series of books and not a stand alone novel.

I found that it had been a good buy, since I enjoyed the book immensely. At first, it seemed like the typical plotline. A prince goes to woo his princess and then disaster strikes. Well, that is how it started, but then there were no great battle scenes. It turned out that the antagonist, Raj Ahten, had a voice and face to sway even the toughest of warriors. This resulted in an invasion of a country with blood hardly being spilled.

How is it possible that a master of war would be such a pretty boy? David Farland built a world in which it is possible for one person to receive endowments from others. They could be major endowments such as metabolism, stamina, brawn, or wit, as well as minor endowments such as sight, smell, or hearing. Raj Ahten strives to be the Sum of All Men, which he hopes to achieve by receiving so many endowments from others that he becomes ageless and invincible.

Our prince, Gaborn Val Orden, is the main protagonist. With a sharp wit and common sense, he manages to scare away Raj Ahten in the final battle of the book.

He seems to be the one character that will be Raj Ahten's good counterpart. The great thing is that the story doesn't turn out like a fairy tale; instead, the good side also takes hard blows. Characters die and prove to be weak when you thought they'd be steadfast and eternally good.

The book is written in an excellent style that keeps you guessing about the political intrigue and which side really is the good side. Gaborn might be fighting for the people of his country selflessly, but is he seeing the whole picture? Could Raj Ahten be the sensible entity who will save the world? Since the characters seem so incredibly powerful, the reader always expects some twist in the story. Believe me, there are plenty of those twists and none of them play out the way you would have expected.

The Sum of All Men is definitely a good read if you're wanting an exciting book, but please, stay away from it if you're planning on only reading a chapter or two. Believe me, you won't be putting this one down.

This week I decided I would put the spotlight on a matter very close to my heart. Anyone who has had any interaction on these boards must have taken note of the fact that there is such a great variety of ages among the members. We have young teenagers and then the more mature, older variety that are still so young at heart.

One of my worries when I first became a member of Dragonmount, or applied for any staff positions, was that my age would work against me. I worried that people would judge me by that rather than what they have seen me give the community. However, Dragonmount is filled with such amazing people that this was never the case. I interviewed three of our younger members on this experience and I'd love to share their original expectations, their experiences, and what Dragonmount has come to mean in their lives.

When joining the site, what was your first reaction when you noticed the age difference between you and many of the members?

Heh, well, I joined at 13, (the minimum age limit) so I knew that I would probably be the youngest or one of the youngest people on the site, but honestly, I didn't really think much about it. (Maybe because I couldn't think beyond my need for WoT addiction to be sated.) Mostly, I was actually kind of looking forward to talking to non-teenagers since I wasn't a huge fan of my age group at school.

(Locke - joined at age 13)

I was extremely intimidated. Honestly. When I joined I also forgot I had because I had just started reading the series so I didn't join anything. Last year, I found my way back and joined everything because I had loved the series that much. Well, not everything, but mostly everything. The older members were totally awesome though with helping me find my way around.

(Lessa Nikia - joined at age 15)

I thought it was great. I love the diversity, not only in age but also location. You pick up on all kinds of things about the world and different generations. You also learn to think from a wider range of perspectives.

(Naked~Frog - joined at age 16)

Did you ever find that people judged you by your age rather than your behavior?

I never really noticed that kind of thing. But I do find it a bit weird that I have authority over people who are way older than me. It's only at one place but I still find it weird. Not as weird as when I found out Locke is younger than me. That's insanely creepy! Totally kidding.

(Lessa Nikia, Age 17 - Storm Leader of the Light in the Black Tower Social Group)

I think perhaps a bit when having serious discussions with the inexperience factor, but other than that, people mostly got to know me based on my posts before knowing my age and thus judged me mostly by that.

(Locke, Age 15 - Leader of the Light in the Black Tower Social Group)

No. Very few members seem to pay attention to anyone else's age. In fact, I'm pretty sure you have to actually go to other people's profiles just to see their ages and it's easier to just reply to whatever the person said. I've been offered virtual alcohol on a number of threads and when I say that in real life I am below the legal limit some people are shocked by how young I am...and others say I am older than they thought.

(Naked~Frog, Age 18 - Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild Game Project Leader)

Has Dragonmount had an impact on your life at all? Would you be a different person if not for it?

In some ways. I have made a lot of friends on this website and a number of Dragonmount members are also my friends on Facebook. I guess it helps to know that there is a bigger world out there, and that even if the people around me are mean to me at times I will still have other people to talk to. I'm not sure if I would be different without it so much. I'm sure I would have found another dorky thing to do without it. I do like this site though and I have probably spent an unhealthily large amount of time on it in the past.

(Naked~Frog)

I would be making a statement that isn't true if I said that Dragonmount hasn't impacted my life. Dragonmount has been a rather large part of my life since I joined 2 years ago. This is mostly because it became a social outlet for me. This was really the only place that I could just comfortably enjoy talking to people. Because there are just so many wonderful people that are a part of this community. (I have sometimes wondered if there was a secret requirement of being awesome to join Dragonmount since almost everyone was just that.) I have had the privilege of getting to know some of the members here, and they have become some of my most favorite people. Truly a blessing.

(Locke)

I can honestly say that yes, Dragonmount has had a huge impact on my life. I met my Warder and current boyfriend here and although we're far apart, we're happy. I would be a totally different person if I didn't have him and all the friends I've met here. It's great that I'm able to be part of this amazing group.

(Lessa Nikia)

And that's it for now from our younger members! I hope you've all gained insight into the amazing, accepting nature of Dragonmount's members. Until next week, folks!

The last time I brought you information on Wheel of Time fan paraphernalia, it was all about jewelry and accessories. Well, this week, I'm going to bring some Wheel of Time clothing retailers closer to your home.

Despite my intense Internet searches, I only found two places other than Amazon which sell Wheel of Time themed t-shirts. The first and only officially licensed retailer is Ta'veren Tees, which you might recognize from other blog articles on the Dragonmount front page. They are a fledgling retailer, but are steadily increasing the amount of designs that they have for their shirts. There are seven female and six male ones. Whether you're a steadfast supporter of the Band of the Red Hand or Loyal to Loial, I'm sure you'll find a suitable shirt at Ta'veren Tees. If there isn't one to your liking, just keep an eye on their site and you might find new designs that get released or some specials to spice up the designs currently available.

Another place that has some Wheel of Time themed clothing is the TarValon.Net CafePress store. Their products are not aimed at the general Wheel of Time fans, though, but rather members of TarValon.Net. I'd say still give it a look and see if there isn't possibly something to your liking.

So, get out there, buy a shirt, and flaunt your love for the Wheel of Time on a shirt for all to see.

Hello again, everyone!

So, I've been having a great time telling you about various odds and ends in the Wheel of Time fandom. This week, I'm turning back to our home base, Dragonmount. I will be guiding you to a new place on Dragonmount every other week.

There is a lot more to this board than just information about The Wheel of Time. It's a fantastic platform through which fans can meet their fellow fandom members. Dragonmount offers a variety of features with which fans can interact on our forums. There are discussion boards, boards for creative-minded artists, writers, and crafters, and even game boards. Besides those, a large part of the forums is dedicated to Social and Role Playing Groups. Both base their structure on the various organizations that are found in the Wheel of Time books, but the Social Groups--as the name implies--are for social interaction of members. The Role Playing Groups concentrate on exactly that, role playing characters as though they were present in Randland.

This week, I'll bring closer to you a place that is a frequent first stop for new members. The discussion boards are a great place for people to voice their opinions--in a peaceful, non-flaming way, of course. There is a great variety of discussion topics available. We have entire boards for the discussion of individual topics, be it to discuss theories about our favorite series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson or to discuss other literary works in our General Discussion forum. For those needing a break from book-related matters, we have a Debates and Discussions board on which you do exactly that--debate. We also have Entertainment boards in which you can discuss games, tv shows, movies and sports.

So, next time you have some time on your hands and nothing to do, why don't you pop over and add your voice to the fray?

So, we Wheel of Time fans might start searching for a new epic once the Wheel of Time has finally come to a conclusion. Well, we need not go very far. Our very own Brandon Sanderson has recently published a novel by the name of The Way of Kings. The good news doesn’t end there, though, since it’s not a stand-alone novel or even a trilogy. It’s planned that it will be a 10-book series. I, for one, am very excited.

From the back cover of the novel:

Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

 

It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars are fought for them, and won by them. One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by overpowering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.

 

Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under the eminent scholar and notorious heretic Jasnah Kholin, Dalinar's niece. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war. The result of more than ten years of planning, writing, and worldbuilding, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making.

I have found that there is nothing more disappointing than reading a book which was surrounded by great hype and excitement, then finding that you painted it to be so much more in your mind. AnyWheel of Time fan who thinks Brandon Sanderson has done a good job of finishing the last few books will agree that they expect a lot from the poor man.

Luckily, I can say that this was not the case with The Way Of Kings. I was immediately ensnared into the world that Brandon Sanderson created despite at first having a bit of a hard time imagining all the animals to be some adaptation of the crabs we commonly know. The world creation was so well-rounded and deep, and that's not all. We get to know the world through the eyes of the characters, its history, and the thoughts and beliefs that the people hold.

The leading protagonists are flawed characters. In this case, it makes it easier for us to relate to them. You howl and cry in frustration for their mistakes and rejoice in their victories.

The plot of the story could have been better, in my opinion. I found it slightly predictable at times, and then it caught me completely by surprise at other times. It was still great and a definite attention-gripping narrative.

All in all, it is a book that I recommend you definitely should read. You will come to love the world and the people in it.

Hello, all! With pleasure, I welcome you back to my blog this Thursday. I've had the luck of getting to interview a very impressive woman. Some of you may know her personally, yet others may not. Nevertheless, you surely have heard of her. So, without further ado, I present to you--Jennifer Liang!

Q: Where are you from? What do you do?

A: I'm originally from Salt Lake City. When I was fifteen, my dad accepted a job transfer to Atlanta, Georgia, where I've been ever since. Currently, I teach language arts at a private school for teenagers with autism spectrum disorders.

Q: Are you married with a little horde of Trollocs to call your own?

A: I'm married to James Liang (Segurant on the forums) and we don't have any children yet.

Q: What do you like doing in your time off from your duties at Dragonmount?

A: Teaching takes up most of my time. I'm also working on my Master's in Special Education via distance learning at Western Governors University.  I also chair JordanCon, run the Robert Jordan track at Dragon*Con, and I'm the host of Tor.com's official Wheel of Time Facebook and Twitter portals. I also have a food blog where I post about what I'm cooking and places I like to eat: Northside Food.

Q: How were you introduced to The Wheel of Time? What about it has made you such a fan?

A: My mom bought me the first three (that's all there was) when I was in the sixth grade. What's grabbed me the most over the years was the characters.

They feel like real people to me, warts and all. I spent a lot of time in high school worrying about Rand and Egwene instead of paying attention in class.  I like the role of fate and prophecy and the puzzles that Jordan created for his readers. I'm not nearly the theorist that others are, but I still enjoy noodling around with ideas and reading others' thoughts.

Q: How far back do you and Dragonmount go? How did you find it and why did you join it?

A: I joined in 1998 about three weeks after Jason put the forums online. I found it because some guy kept spamming the Wheel of Time forums that existed back then with links to his super cool new Wheel of Time discussion site. A bunch of posters I knew from wheeloftime.com joined it and I followed them over.

Q: What is the best thing about Dragonmount, in your opinion?

A: Being able to interact with other fans. I'm old enough to remember the pre-Internet days when you usually knew absolutely no one else who shared your geeky interests. Being able to share my love for something with fans all over the world is not something I take for granted. 

Q: Have you always enjoyed reading books, even as a young child, or

were you a late bloomer?

A: Oh, I've always been a bookworm. My fifth grade teacher told my parents at a conference once, "In twenty years of teaching, I've never had to say this. Take the books away from your daughter and make her go outside!" 

Q: Are you proud to be a geeky person?

A: Absolutely. It's a lot of fun. 

Q: Have you ever dressed up as a character from the Wheel of Time or do

you have any Wheel of Time inspired tattoos?

A: Yes, I dress up as the Amyrlin Seat every year for the Dragon*Con parade. No tattoos, alas. Every time I start thinking about one, my husband talks me out of it. 

Q: Spear or Dagger?

A: Spear. Less chance of cooties. 

Q: What Ajah would you be in if you had to choose one and why?

A: Brown. I love history and I love books. 

Q: Who are your favorite and least favorite characters of the series?

A: My favorite is Egwene. My least favorite is Gawyn. She could do so much better. 

Q: What profession did you want to have when you were a kid?

A: I've always wanted to be a teacher. 

Q: Randland or our world?

A: As fun as it would be to channel, I'm awfully attached to indoor plumbing. 

Q: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

A: Too many places! I still haven't been to Europe. Perhaps in a few years. 

Q: What exactly is the position you hold on Dragonmount and how did you come by it?

A: My official title is "Project Manager". Originally at Dragonmount, I was an Org Leader, which is what we called Social Group Leaders back in the day. I eventually worked my way up to being Community Admin on top of that, which meant that I was ultimately responsible for everything on the forums except the RP. I did both these jobs for a number of years, until I founded JordanCon. The time demand of running a small business and chairing a convention didn't leave me with very much time to be active on the forums every day. So Jason and I agreed it was time to phase me out. We both still wanted me to be involved in Dragonmount somehow and Jason had gotten used to having an Admin who knew Team Jordan, knew the publishers, knew all the other Big Name Fans, etc. So we sort of created this idea that my job was now to work on all the weird odds and ends that kept cropping up, but didn't fit neatly into someone else's job description.

The first project I undertook was updating the Wheel of Time FAQ. That ended up taking more time than we initially expected, but we did finally get it out and updated in time for the release of Towers of Midnight. I also did much of the organizing of the Storm Leader and Tower Guard volunteer

programs. I help with other odds and ends around the site too, like keeping our Twitter and Facebook accounts updated.

Q: Wow, you do a mighty amount of work for the Wheel of Time fandom! How is it that you were involved in the WOTFAQ, and what exactly does your work for Tor.com entail?

A: When I took over the WOTFAQ, Leigh Butler had not been able to update it since Crossroads of Twilight was released. This meant that it hadn't been updated for either Knife of Dreams or New Spring. So my job was to go through the entire FAQ, find the articles that were now out of date, and revise them. I also had to identify which topics were now currently under discussion and what the most commonly accepted answers were. It sounds simple, but the FAQ has something like 80 unique articles, ranging from just a few sentences in length to the 30-page monstrosity that is the Asmodean murder mystery. You have the added challenge of the FAQ changing home communities as well. It went from being based primarily from the old rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan newsgroup to being based off discussion from the Dragonmount forums. So I wanted to update, but keep as much of the original document in place as I could. It was a balancing act. I had lots of help from Linda Taglieri, Matt Hatch, and of course Luckers, among others. I think we got it right, overall.

We intended to release the updated FAQ in time for The Gathering Storm, but by the time I could start working on the FAQ, I'd already read the book and was worried that I'd inadvertently spoil something. It also took Jason and me longer than we expected to get the WOTFAQ's database set up. So we ended up shelving it until the Towers of Midnight release. It gave us more work to do for that update, but it was the right decision. I would not have been comfortable releasing the pre-TGS FAQ.

As for Tor.com, Jason let me know back in February that Irene Gallo had approached him about starting up a Tor.com branded Facebook and Twitter portal. They'd been starting up other portals like Tor.com Art Department, Tor.com Fantasy, Tor.com Steampunk, etc. and they wanted one for JUST Wheel of Time links. Jason didn't have time to take on another project, but he knew I was unemployed and I do the lion's share of keeping the Dragonmount Facebook and Twitter accounts updated anyways. So he recommended me for it. Irene called me that week and we talked for a bit about the time commitment and how I'd be compensated. And that was it. My job is to spend about ten hours a week looking for interesting Wheel of Time related links around the Internet to post on Twitter or Facebook. It's a fun job and the extra money was quite helpful when I was unemployed.

Q: Was the beta version of the book very different from the final print that all other fans read? Were you excited about being able to read it before everyone else?

A: Oh, of course I was excited. I got a binder with the manuscript copy of The Gathering Storm at the first JordanCon. I was really glad I'd taken the day off from work after the con, because I spent all day reading it. I didn't need to take time off from work to read Towers of Midnight, because I was unemployed at the time, but I still spent all day reading it. The other beta readers who received it that day and I kept each other posted on what chapter we were on via email.

The Gathering Storm was much more polished. Brandon had been working on it for awhile at that point and had spent time revising already. There were some minor revisions, like "that's not a Wheel of Time word", but otherwise, I don't think there were any substantial changes.

Towers of Midnight was much rougher when we got it and Brandon made several changes at our suggestion, including adding a new scene that wasn't in the draft we saw. There were other changes we suggested, but Brandon said, basically "That's word for word what Robert Jordan wrote. I'm not touching it."

Q: What are Dragon*Con and JordanCon, and what is the difference between them (i.e. How would you describe them in a nutshell for people that have never attended either; Do you find the same amount of people going or is one more prominent than the other, etc.)? Also, how is it that Robert Jordan has his very own conference?

A: Dragon*Con is a very, very massive multi-fandom event. It has 30+ tracks of programming, around 400 guests, and tens of thousands of fans. Wheel of Time is just one of many things celebrated at Dragon*Con. Dragon*Con is also a much more media-centered event. There's lots of actors on the Walk of Fame and lots of folks standing in line for autographs.

JordanCon is obviously a much smaller event. We're focused mostly on the Wheel of Time series, but we do feature other authors.  We do not have media guests, which means that all autographs are free. All of Team Jordan attends, along with members of Robert Jordan's extended family. In some ways, it feels like a family reunion. Everyone sort of knows each other, and we all have similar interests.

There's been commentary in other places saying that the small, literature-focused con is dying off, crushed beneath the weight of behemoths like Dragon*Con or Comic-Con. Those people haven't been to a JordanCon. We're a very lively bunch and the convention gets bigger every year.

I think it really boils down to what you are looking for. Dragon*Con has far more choices for entertainment, but JordanCon is more intimate.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to tell the visitors of Dragonmount?

A: Click on the ads and buy things in our store. The money goes to pay for necessary software and equipment upgrades.  We have more traffic than any other WoT fansite (only Theoryland comes close to us in traffic, I think) and that's as much as a small commercial site. And we do it without anything even close to the resources that a commercial site might have. So supporting us like that means we can afford upgrades like the big one we did just before Towers of Midnight came out last year.