Join our Patreon here!

The new Patreon now includes access to:

• Exclusive WoT content and Maria "RAFO" Simons Q&A.
• Dragonmount-hosted game servers for community play.
• Live guest chats, behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes, and more.
• Special Legacy supporter tags for anyone who supported us before the relaunch!
• More Discord perks, live game nights, and even a say in future Dragonmount content.

Check it out, join us, and become part of a more involved Wheel of Time community with  the rest of us die-hard fans!

The Wheel of Time flows through my veins as much as it does yours! That being said, there is a TON of wide-ranging crossover in many fandoms with us WoT nerds. Whether it's Star Trek, Star Wars, Marvel, DC Comics, or even cooking (love them honeycakes)! But another franchise that is near and dear to my heart is Avatar: The Last Airbender. The themes and many story elements deeply cross over into Wheel of Time.I will be exploring all of this in this blog series as I watch the live-action series. You can also catch some AtLAB content by tuning in to the current season of our Monday Night #reWoTch where we are watching the Animated series of AtLAB Book 2.

Don't forget to join us Mondays at 9pm Eastern on the Youtubes ;-)

Welcome to the Fire Nation capital, a place where beauty is shadowed with ominous foreboding. As the curtain rises on the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, we are treated to a visual feast. The set design? Stunning. The costumes and makeup? On point. The opening sequence? Kyoshi, you absolute legend! She graces the screen looking fiercer than ever. The visualization of the avatars, lined up like a council of gods, with Roku's entrance at the end? Perfection. And we can’t forget the delightful addition of rat-chickens, which immediately shows the quirky touch that runs through the world of Avatar.

But it's not just the aesthetics that I thoroughly enjoyed. The bending, oh the bending! Earth and fire collide in a spectacular display of power. The earthbender's use of stones to create a Gatling gun? Pure genius. And those rat-chickens? They steal the show with their hilarious antics.

As the action unfolds, we witness the earthbender seamlessly blending defense and attack, surfing on rocks like a boss. And those 'chocobos' lurking in the background? A nod to gaming, perhaps, with Square Enix vibes that make you do a double-take.

And then there's Firelord Sozen and crew, delivering performances that harken back to classic Kung Fu films. It's a nostalgic nod that many fans probably appreciate. I certainly did!

But let's talk about the fire. The burning effects are chillingly realistic, a stark reminder of the showrunners' aim to appeal to “Game of Thrones" fans. The violence and gore is in service of a darker, grittier narrative.

Side Note:

I want to dive into a theory I have been seeing people passionately discuss. Is the Avatar truly one soul? I'm not entirely convinced. The Avatar communicates with past/dead Avatars, suggesting a shared consciousness rather than a simple cycle of rebirth. It's a thought-provoking concept that adds depth to the story.

And then there's Aang, soaring through the skies without his trusty staff. A bold choice, considering its significance later on. Why the change? It's a departure from the original, but perhaps it sets the stage for new developments.

Speaking of developments, the announcement of Aang as the Avatar and subsequent event at the Southern Air Temple adds a layer of tension. It makes the Fire Nation's decimation of the airbenders more plausible, concentrating some of the strongest/most influential airbenders in one vulnerable location. And can we talk about the air temples? Majestic doesn't even begin to describe them.

Now, let's address the elephant-bison in the room: accents. Or rather, the lack thereof. Aang sounds... off. Like a robot trying to blend in with humans. It's a curious choice that has me scratching my head.He almost sounds like someone narrating Aang’s story/thoughts instead of a character living in the world.

But enough about Aang, let's talk about everyone's favorite sky bison, Appa. He looks and sounds as magnificent as ever, a CGI masterpiece that brings joy to this diehard fans' heart.

Aang emerges from his icy slumber and leaves behind his beloved Appa, a choice I’m not thrilled about him just HAVING the Air bison whistle already. Because I fear its the Netflix is giving us a subtle hint that certain filler episodes may be left out, but also a lesson in responsibility and sacrifice for the viewers >.<.

And then there's the budding bond between Aang and Katara, a sweet moment that feels a tad forced but still manages to warm our hearts 😉

The showdown between Zuko and Sokka is a highlight, showcasing Sokka's clever tactics and Zuko's simmering frustration. Aang's intervention, effortlessly taking out firebenders, is a testament to his raw power. But it's Zuko's disappointment upon meeting Aang that strikes a chord. The gap between expectation and reality is palpable, setting the stage for a complex relationship. They've really got Zuko's obsession (or admiration?) of the Avatar down pat. It's like he worships the Avatar. I’ve always seen it like a kid idolizing a pro wrestler. 

The way he rambles on about past Avatars and their abilities, creating a collection of pictures and even little Avatar dolls, predicting what this new one will be like. It's all there, and was something wasn’t fleshed out until much later in the animated series.

Now, let's address the Avatar state. His reaction to finding Monk Gyatso feels a bit underwhelming compared to the animated series, missing how it lands with an emotional gut punch. In the cartoon, Katara's role in helping Aang come out of the state was a pivotal moment that seems to be missing here.

In summary, this live-action adaptation scores a solid 4 out of 10 from me. The visuals? A strong 7 to 10. The story? A middling 5. The bending, though? Top-notch, with the airbending presenting a unique challenge in a live action medium versus an animated one that the team tackles admirably.

In the end, Avatar: The live-action show is a mixed bag of nostalgia, stunning visuals, and a few missed opportunities. But hey, it's a... ride.. that's just getting started. Here's hoping they continue to surprise us and capture more of the magic of the original series.

So grab your gliders, wrangle your rat-chickens, and get ready for an adventure unlike any other (lets hope >.<). The elements are calling, is Avatar ready to answer?

This past weekend, the Wheel of Time community came together for Malkier Talks’ annual WoT-A-Holiday event, a 24-hour celebration filled with games, stories, and a united effort to make a difference via donations to the Lightweaver Foundation. Dragonmount had the honor of kicking off this fantastical journey, and what an incredible start it was!

Our segment began at 8 PM Eastern with the fun filled "WoT A Quote" game show featuring the Wheel of Tones. Hosted by our very own Michael, and featuring contestants Thom, Crystal, and Kevin, the event was a wonderful start to the night. It was filled with a lot of laughter as our contestants read famous Wheel of Time quotes in a variety of tones – from overwhelmingly bored to absolutely furious to celebrity impersonations! 

The audience participation was strong. Viewers were guessing who said each quote and added as much detail as possible to set the scene- who was the character talking to, what were they doing, what book did this take place in, etc. We also had the pleasure of giving away $25 gift certificates to the Dragonmount store and some Wheel of Time bumper stickers. Congrats to LightBlindedFool and GnomeandGarden for being quick on the draw with their vast WoT knowledge and taking home our gift certificates!

Rob, the runner of Malkier Talks and our event host, set an ambitious goal of £10K to support the Lightweaver Foundation, a charity established by Brandon and Emily Sanderson to provide basic needs to those who need them.  Thanks to the generosity of our amazing community, the event raised over $10,000 (or £8103) which is the standard they shoot for each year. Not quite the stretch goal set this year, but an incredible achievement for 24 hours of fundraising and it will make a difference! 

Following our segment, the baton was passed to Talk’aran’rhiod, followed by The Wheel Reads, the Way of the Leaf and so many more content creators. Each brought their unique flair to the event, with activities like trivia, WoTionary, drinking games and collaborative drawing. The diversity of our community's creativity was truly on display. The Way of the Leaf hosted WoTionary, which included some blindfolded drawing and of course, puppets. Joe from tWoTcast and Skeeter drew a lovely holiday scene which included trollocs pulling a sleigh and a Christmas tree decked out with Foresaken themed ornaments. Shout out to DanaLou_Who who actively participated in all 24 hours of the event with NO SLEEP. 

A special highlight of the event was the unveiling of the art for the 2024 Snacc Warder Calendar. For every 1k raised, they unveiled another picture. It’s a year filled with photos of everyone’s favorite Snacc Warder, Taylor Napier, with re-created poses by various WoT content creators!

There were prizes won throughout various segments, but what charity event would be complete without some big fancy prizes?  These were won by raffle, based on donation amount.

1. All four Secret Project books donated by Dragonsteel- Jerri Williams

2. A Full Leatherbound collection of Dragonsteel books, donated by Dragonsteel- Jamie Borbon

3. Recording donated by Kate Redding & Michael Kramer- Jay 123. 

4. The Eye of the World signed by the cast- Charlotte Edmonds

5. There was a special prize for the person who donated the most money- Roofmistress Leigh-a. £470. She wins a giant canvas print of Rob Christianson’s Wheel of Time map, signed by a plethora of content creators who attended WoTCon. 

Congratulations to all!

"The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills", and this weekend it wove a beautiful story of camaraderie and charity. Until next year, may you always find water and shade.

Dragonmount's 2023: A Year of Epic Journeys and Celebrations

As the new year dawns, it's time to reflect on the fun times we had at Dragonmount in 2023. From landmark anniversaries to exclusive interviews, 2023 has been a year of unforgettable moments.

Celebrations & Events

• 25 Years of Dragonmount This year marked the silver jubilee of Dragonmount, and the end of an era as founder Jason Denzel passed the torch to our new CEO Kathy Campbell!

• 10 Years of A Memory of Light The year also marked a decade since the release of A Memory of Light. We celebrated this milestone with joy and nostalgia, honoring Robert Jordan's enduring legacy.

• Twitch Affiliate You all helped us reach Affiliate status with Twitch, which gives us access to more tools to bring even more content to you. 

• Welcoming the New Social Media Team Dragonmount's online presence was invigorated with the addition of our fabulous new social media team, bringing fresh energy and creativity.

• JordanCon 2023 At the 15th annual JordanCon, we hosted the Feuding Families gameshow, a highlight that brought our community together for fun and camaraderie.

Industry News

• Navigating Through Strikes This year, the Entertainment Industry experienced strikes with the Writers & Screen Actors Guilds. Though it dampened the launch of Season 2, we were happy to stand in solidarity with the writers and actors fighting for fair deals.

• Rosamund Pike's Triumph at the Audies Rosamund Pike, the voice that brought The Eye of the World to life, won the 2023 Audie Award for Best Female Narrator. Her captivating narration has been an integral part of our experience and we’re so excited to have The Great Hunt and The Shadow Rising in her voice as well.

• Year of Sanderson ICYMI Brandon Sanderson blew Kickstarter out of the water in 2022 with his "Year of Sanderson" campaign. It promised monthly boxes of pure awesome and I have to say, we got so much joy from opening our Kickstarter boxes each month. They were filled with goodies and of course, books! Unfortunately, the end of 2023 also means saying goodbye to the Year of Sanderson- but not without one last special surprise from Brandon! He has released a free ebook download of a previously unpublished short story called "Long Chills and Case Dough."

Adventures & Exclusives

• Prague Set Visit CEO Kathy Campbell's visit to the Prague sets offered us an insider's view of the show's production, bringing us closer to the magic behind the camera. An incredible experience to BE in Two Rivers! Stay tuned for some releases from the trip!

• Connecting with the Cast Our interviews with Daniel Henney, Madeleine Madden, Marcus Rutherford, Ceara Coveney, Dónal Finn, Kate Fleetwood, and Ayoola Smart provided unique insights and allowed for a fun connection with some of our favorite actors.

• Artist Spotlight: Marcio Abreu We also had the pleasure of interviewing Marcio Abreu, the talented artist behind the graphic novel of The Great Hunt.

Epic Community Engagement

• Charity Livestream  During our summertime charity livestream event, we re-watched all of Season One in an epic marathon #reWoTch where we had contests, gave our prizes and were joined by many WoT content creators as well as Harriet McDougal and Maria Simons. Thanks to your support, we hit our goal of $2000 for the American Red Cross to aid those affected by the Maui Wildfires.

• Monday Night #reWoTch We love hanging out with you all on Monday nights, watching TV together. #reWoTch this year included Season 1 and 2 of The Wheel of Time (of course) as well as The Last of Us, Rings of Power, Good Omens, and Season One of The Mandalorian. Join us Monday nights at 9pm Eastern for more #reWoTch goodness!

• Gaming with Thom Thom DeSimone took us on livestream adventures via games like Baldur's Gate and the fan-made Third Age Wheel of Time Board Game.

• TikToking with Kitty #WoTober was a blast with Kitty, who brought incredible characters to life on TikTok.

• The Wheel of Time Season 2 We delved into the second season of The Wheel of Time on Prime, engaging in thorough discussions and analyses of every episode via our livestreams and podcasts. We're WoT fans - it's what we live for! 

• WoTaHoliday We ended the year by participating in another successful WoTaHoliday hosted by Malkier Talks, and raising more money for charity.

If you missed out on any of the fun we had, read through our blog posts for recaps and look through our YouTube videos to re-live the fun. As we bid farewell to 2023, we thank each and every one of you for being part of our journey.

Dovie'andi se tovya sagain! Here's to more adventures and shared stories in 2024!

A message from the CEO:  

When I took over Dragonmount earlier this year, I knew I was in for a challenge. I had been helping founder Jason Denzel for years, but there is something different about being completely in charge!

 One of the bigger things I wanted to concentrate on after I got a handle on the day-to-day was to expand and enhance our coverage. Social Media is a huge part of the Wheel of Time community, and I knew we needed to get better at it, but I also wanted to put additional thought and energy into our longer-lasting information. Our news blogs and email newsletters have become very reactionary, and I wanted to get some more opportunities for fuller forms of text that will have a lasting legacy on our history.

 In order to do that, I knew I would need some additional help. We have a fantastic team at Dragonmount, full of passionate people, but I knew we would need some people who were concentrating on the writing aspect and knew their stuff when it came to social media as well.

 So I started a search. At first, I was worried that no one would be interested. Concerned that if no one applied, we’d be forced to keep going with the team we had and try to make it work. Quickly, the opposite problem began to occur. As each day passed, more and more people applied, and I started realizing that we would have a difficult time picking the right person.

 The long, drawn-out process felt like overkill for what is ultimately a passion project, volunteering with a small payment as a cherry on top, but as time went on, I realized how incredible this option was. I had a plethora of absolutely incredible humans to talk to and find the right individuals. Because as I got deeper into the process, I realized I couldn’t pick just one.

 And so it is with supreme joy and pride that I announce our new Social Media Team for Dragonmount. Thank you to Erin, Grace, Humberto, Kevin, Michael, and Rita for accepting the offer to come and play with us on the Slopes of Dragonmount. We’re so happy you’ve joined us!

Kathy Campbell

Erin

 A dedicated consumer of knowledge, Erin DeSimone wears many hats in her life. She holds MBA and PMP credentials, and serves as a Program Manager in her day job, putting her organizational skills (and spreadsheet wizardry) to use. After discovering the Wheel of Time in her college years, Erin became a member of the fandom and has become increasingly involved over time. When she's not immersed in something Wheel of Time related (or at Disney World), she's a Dungeon Master, crafting narratives that might even intrigue Verin Sedai herself.

Grace

 Grace is a licensed mental health counselor who believes in the healing power of found family in fantasy novels and IRL. Also known as Bain & Chiad, Grace has been reading The Wheel of Time since 1998, when she and her high school sweetheart dressed up as Elayne and Rand for Halloween. She fell in love with present-day WoT fandom and was inducted into the Far Dareis Mai in 2019. She is the writer of Maidens’ List and a co-host of The Light’s Work and Three Fold Talk.

Kevin

Kevin is a business analyst with a passion for comedy, analyzing patterns, and The Wheel of Time. Kevin started The Wheel of Time in 2015 on a whim after an unrelated podcast mentioned it a few times, but didn’t find his way fully into the fandom until April 2022. Since then, Kevin has become infamous for his creations using trollocs, looney theories, and probably not being the Tweeter of Chaos. Kevin is also known as KEVIN, when providing comedic relief/discomfort on Twitter (@GradeKangusBeef), chatting with friends on The Kevin Podcast, and more recently, causing trouble as a cohost on Tar Valon After Dark. 

Rita

Rita is a 20-year-old university student from Portugal passionate about fantasy, social sciences, and The Wheel of Time. Her sister introduced Rita to the Wheel of Time books when she was 16. After finishing the last book, Rita joined the fandom in July 2021 with the creation of her Twitter/X account. Currently, Rita, also known as Maiden of the Spear (@maiden_of_spear), shares her passion for the TV show, the books, and her love for Mat Cauthon (The last being what she's most known for in the fandom) with the community on a daily basis.

Humberto

 Humberto Tramujas is a narrative concept developer with a creative vision and storytelling focus. He centers his work on creative writing, narrative, and direction across multiple media. Humberto has been working with a narrative for tabletop RPGs and social media work involving Social Cause Awareness themes and Geek subjects. Humberto started reading Wheel of Time in 2014 when the first books were released in Brazil.

Michael

Michael is a geologist and science communicator living in Colorado. He enjoys finding connecting narratives that bring relatively niche subjects to the public interest, whether that is geology or multi-volume fantasy series. Michael first read Wheel of Time in 2002 when the YA targeted From The Two Rivers and To The Blight releases of Eye of the World came out. He found Dragonmount shortly after, via a dial-up Internet connection, when searching for information about the upcoming Crossroads of Twilight. 

Dragonmount.com started twenty five years ago on September 19th, 1998 by founder Jason Denzel.

So began the gathering place for the Wheel of Time fans around the world. Dragonmount has been a place for fans of The Wheel of Time to theorize, debate, and discuss our favorite book series.

Screenshot of Dragonmount in 2005

Folks have been posting in the forums, watching our Youtube Show, and listening to our TV show podcast.

Over the years Dragonmount has also hosted Robert Jordan’s blog.

To celebrate Dragonmount’s anniversary, Jason Denzel is hosting an “Ask Me Anything” on social media, including an AMA over on Reddit.

He’s also answering questions on Twitter:

And thank you, Jason, for creating this wonderful community that has been the place for The Wheel of Time news and connections for so many of us fans.

We’d love to hear when or how you found Dragonmount and The Wheel of Time community! Let us know in the comments below.

Over the past 25 years, Dragonmount has grown and changed so much. The purpose and goals of the community have adjusted to move with the times, and now, with the changing of the guard, it’s time to ramp up even more.

In order to make sure the community receives the best access, we are looking for someone to manage our social media and other external communications. This role will receive monetary compensation! 

We strongly welcome applications from members of minority groups, and we do not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, religion, disabilities, etc.

What will this entail?

Social Media - providing news/updates/engagement across all of our social media platforms: Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Discord, etc

Patreon - sending updates for Patreons with information collected from our different branches, other goodies, and plans just for our Patreon members.

Newsletter - sending at least monthly newsletters to our list with updates across the company, including featuring merch, social media campaigns, videos, etc

Extras - You’ll be a part of the team, and that means you’ll get to be involved in some of the great things we’re lucky enough to participate in (in-person screenings, red carpet, interviews, etc.) This means we’ll want to use your help to make Dragonmount amazing! 

Time Expected - Will be different depending on the news cycle and your engagement plans, but less than 5 hours a week if efficient.

Who are we looking for?

• You are passionate about The Wheel of Time and the community as a whole.

• You want to contribute to one of the oldest Wheel of Time communities.

• Knowledge of social media platforms, ideas on how to leverage it to grow the community and engagement, and a desire to make Dragonmount become even more amazing!

• You have the time in your day to be able to quickly prep and share new information when Prime Video sends out announcements (sometimes last minute…sometimes we get advanced notice).

• We are looking for someone behind the scenes to spearhead our ever-growing social media presence.

• You will not be required to be in front of the camera.

Is this you?

To apply, please fill out this Google Form

If you have any questions, feel free to send an email to kathy@dragonmount.com.

Image credit: “Verin in Emond’s Field” by Benjamin Roque

Dragonmount Live is back!  Join Thom DeSimone and guest host Maureen Carr as they talk about the latest Wheel of Time news.  Topics will include Verin—book Verin and potential show Verin—and the breakings news of Season 2’s wrap.

Watch Dragonmount Live on our Instagram feed, Saturday, May 21^st, at 2pm ET!

We're implementing some changes to the way that you log into Dragonmount.  

Apple ID Login

Secure login to Dragonmount with your Apple ID is now available. Any visitor to the website may create a new account or associate their existing account with their Apple ID address. Simply select "Sign In With Apple" using the login page. This joins the other available options of using Facebook, Twitter, Google as secure methods of validation. You may also login directly using a Dragonmount account. As always, all communication with our site is entirely secure and encrypted. 

Upcoming Login Changes 

How It Currently Works

Currently Dragonmount allows you to login using your username. That’s how it’s been done since we opened in 1998. But usernames are always public-facing, which means that people or groups with ill-intent could easily target s specific account and try to to that account using brute force.  For example, they could take the name “Jason Denzel” and try lots of popular password combinations, hoping to break in. Now, we have plenty of ways to detect these brute force attacks and block them.  But still, it’s a modern best practice to not use a username for a login anymore. 

What's Changing

Beginning Thursday, June 24 July 8 all users will log onto Dragonmount using an email address instead of a username. Your existing password will continue to work like normal.  In addition, users will also be able to login using their Facebook, Twitter, or Google accounts.  (We have plans to implement AppleID login at a future date and to offer optional Two-Factor authentication.). We've extended the date to give people more time to validate their email. We'll make the change after we send out July newsletter.

From 2006 - 2013, Dragonmount hosted a Wheel of Time podcast called The 4th Age.  Our intrepid podcasters covered a wide variety of topics across 112 hour-long episodes. 

After a long technical hiatus, all 112 of those episodes are now available for you to download and enjoy. 

We plan to launch a new podcast with new hosts to cover the upcoming Wheel of Time TV show. We have our crew, but are still planning our approach, which will include patterning with an established podcast network to create and deliver top-notch WoT TV commentary. We'll have more info about that in the future. 

In the meantime, enjoy these 112 legacy episodes! 

The Dragonmount staff have re-opened our Discord chat server and invite you to come and join live discussions about the Wheel of Time books, TV show, and community. 

If you're not familiar with it, Discord is a popular text and voice chat application. You can use it for free in your browser, in a desktop app, or on a mobile device.  

We'll especially be publicizing the Discord chat during live events or on popular news days, such as #WoTWednesday when the WoT TV show producers share exciting information about the upcoming show. 

Also, if you're a Patreon subscriber, we'll be using Discord for our bi-monthly chats with notable members of the Wheel of Time franchise and community.  

Come join this awesome part of the WoT and DM community!

For 21 years Dragonmount has provided what I think is top-notch WoT content. (That's more than half my life!) The vast majority of it has been self-funded, or done with the assistance of ad revenue, online store sales, or (on occasion), member donations. 

In addition, a large portion of my earnings from my own book sales have also gone to fund this grand enterprise. (I'm happy to do it!)

But with the Wheel of Time TV show coming soon, along with a major boom of new fans, my volunteer staff and I have stepped up our game in order to be ready for the challenge. Here's a run-down of some of the things we've already done recently so far:

• Upgraded hardware.
• Invested in cloud-based redundancy & backups.
• Integrated w/ bleeding-edge content & security systems.
• Revamped the entire website.
• Improved the mobile experience.
• Overhauled our forums. 
• Launched online Clubs.
• Countless other small things....

And most notably, you've probably already noticed but we've drastically improved our social media presence. 

So the volunteer staff and I are ready to take DM, and the WoT community, to the next level. But to do that, we need your help. That's where this Patreon comes in.

We're seeking people to help us fund our efforts by donating as little as $5 per month. In return, you'll get some notable incentives including:

• Additional WoT history, insight, content.
• Extra 4th Age podcast episodes.
• Access to live online chats w/ cool people like Team Jordan & Brandon Sanderson.
• Instant access to download "Finding Robert Jordan", a short story written by me.

If you love what we're doing, and want to see us take it to the next level, I hope you'll consider supporting us. Take a look at our Patreon page to read the details. Spread the word. Tell people how much you love getting exclusive stuff that provides insight to the series.

We all know how special the Wheel of Time is. Our community is about to be Reborn into a new Age of fandom. This is an exciting time for the franchise, and it's my goal to have Dragonmount continue to be a top-notch location for all things WoT.

Thanks for reading this thread, and I hope you'll consider backing us!

(PS: Backers will also get occasional special content for my sci-fi & fantasy books as well! So it you enjoyed the Mystic Trilogy, or want to learn more, or want to be the first to hear about my next writing projects, you can get that through the Patreon!)

Patreon Link

https://www.patreon.com/dragonmount

As part of our on-going effort to prepare the website for the forthcoming Wheel of Time TV show, we've added a "new" (really older, but improved) website feature called Clubs. 

A Club is a group you can join at Dragonmount where you can meet people with shared interests. We have 3 basic types of clubs:  Specific Interest Clubs, Wheel of Time themed clubs, and a role-playing club. 

• Specific-Interest Clubs: such as the Bela Fan Club, Brandon Sanderson Cosmere Club, or the DM Writers Club, are mostly unstructured and intended to foster discussion around those topics. 
• Themed Clubs:  these clubs are based on Wheel of Time organizations such as the White Tower, Band of the Red Hand, or Ogier. Each club will have some sort of structure to it and is a great way to meet fans with similar interests.
• Role Playing Club: Our Wheel of Time roleplaying Club allows you to participate in forum-based role-playing, a feature we've had since 1998!

All Clubs are 100% free to join. Just had over to https://dragonmount.com/clubs and join as many as you like. You can even inquire with the Club leader about being a moderator or co-leader, or start your own club. (New Club requirements)

In addition to adding Clubs, we've archived many of our older forums in order to better focus them on 3 areas:  the books, the TV show, and "Off Topic."  For long-time members, don't worry, all of the older social groups, role-playing, and forum games have been shifted over to the Clubs. If you are looking for something specific, just ask!

If you'd like to participate, just register for a free account and get started! 

• Visit our Clubs now
• More info on our forums
• Requirements to start your own Club

Dragonmount is delighted to announce that we've (finally) launched our own Instagram account, @dragonmount_ 

Like our other social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter, we hope to provide frequent, unique, and enjoyable Wheel of Time content.  We hope you'll join us on each of these accounts and become part of our growing community. 

That’s right, twenty years ago, today, Jason Denzel started up the website Dragonmount.  For those unfamiliar with its humble beginnings, Jason wanted a place to converse with other Wheel of Time fans, as well as have a hosting site for his "Dragonmount" animated fan-film he was working on.

It’s evolved greatly from its origins, and here are screen shots of Dragonmount’s main page for the past twenty years!

1998:

1999:

2000:

2001:

2002:

2003:

2004:

2005:

2006:

2007:

2008:

2009:

2010:

2011:

2012:

2013:

2014:

2015:

2016:

2017:

And 2018:

Happy birthday, Dragonmount!  And congratulations, Jason, for making this a site we all love and enjoy.  We've all been through a lot together, and you've lead us to a great milestone.  There’s only more to come!

Are you interested in writing about The Wheel of Time?  Dragonmount is currently looking for contributors to discuss all aspects of The Wheel of Time and its fandom.  Do you know a lot about Wheel of Time trivia?  Do you frequent websites that display the latest fanart?  Do you spend a lot of time conversing with other fans at conventions?  Let us know by emailing FrontPage@dragonmount.com.

Hello again!  I'm back to report the goings on at Dragonmount.  Currently I'm enjoying "fall" in California. My air conditioner is on. 

The Wolfkin are hosting an event exploring the use of herbs in cooking and health, and even offering a "Herbal Tea Reading."

You can explore your "guilty pleasures" in Shayol Ghul.

The White Tower and Warders have been attending the Fair, exploring Middle Earth, and are having fun with Halloween and Samhain.

The Black Tower has been reviewing "The Way of Kings" and "Tainted Minds."

The Band of the Red Hand are conversing about "bands" they have heard and a great fall topic: "Cider."

The Aiel are exploring "Rereads vs New Reads."

Last month, I mentioned a group in the White Tower and Warders are participating in rereading The Wheel of Time. I get stuck in some places; not many, but a few. To get myself unstuck, I move from the characters to the setting. I imagine what the setting must look like. I'm currently imagining Rhuidean. There are all sorts of buildings, many unfinished. The center is filled with objects of the Power. A fog permeates the city. Nothing like I've ever even considered, prior to Robert Jordan.

Robert Jordan's world is a very vast one. I'm convinced he was a genius, to create The Wheel of Time. While reading, I am transported to his world and often wish I could enter there. I think that is the epitome of being a fantasy author, to take your readers where you want them to go.

See you next month.

Welcome everyone to the lastest issue of the monthly Roundup!

Currently, there are members participating in a re-read of The Wheel of Time. Really, I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I am. Fortunately, I've found the ability to stay in the present with each chapter, rather than "foretelling" each character's ending thread in the Pattern. There are difficulties that pop up, reading a complex arc of a character as they gradually transform into a different person, due to the developments of the story. The need for paying close attention to the words becomes necessary. At times, I put the books down and integrate what I've just read. 

I'm aware that there are those that have re-read the entire series multiple times.

Why re-read The Wheel of Time?

Is it because we wish to mentally "inhabit" the created world of Robert Jordan? Is it because this world is so far reaching and developed? Do we enjoy searching for the "foreshadowing" which Robert Jordan so magnificently integrates into each book? Is it the layers upon layers of stories/hints that can be easily missed? Do we see through the eyes of different characters with each re-read?

As I re-read, I ponder these questions. I love the detail with which Robert Jordan created both his world and his characters. There was such depth; I didn't think I could take it all in with one read. I was astounded that in many aspects of this world, women dominate, not only with abilities but in other areas as well. The first read, my focus was centered on the White Tower and Aes Sedai. Reading along now, I'm more centered on Mat, Perrin, and the Aiel, along with some of the other characters and how they evolve. 

In conclusion, I've found The Wheel of Time is re-discovered with each reading. There never will be a time like the first, but don't let that hinder you from picking up the books again. New discoveries await you.

Today, September 19, 2017 marks 19 years of Dragonmount being online. Every year, Jenn and I debate what the exact launch day was, but she’s adamant that Sept 19 is the correct one. I believe her, because, well, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the last 19 years is that I should listen to what Jenn says.  So today it is.

So what’s happening with DM these days? Well, judging from the slow-moving news on the front page, not a whole lot.  But don’t let that fool you. We’re currently working on a major website upgrade: everything from the forums to the news page to the ebook store will be modernized and polished.  Yes, that also means we’ll finally have a mobile-friendly version of the site because it’s 2017 now, and not, say, 1998.

While the books are complete, I still adamantly maintain that the Wheel of Time franchise is alive and thriving. Not only is JordanCon getting bigger every year, but there are still millions of fans out there who love this saga, and those numbers will only continue to grow as the books are passed onto new readers. Sony’s upcoming TV show will breathe new life into the series, and with it will come a flood of new friends to our community.

Administering DM for the past 19 years has been a remarkable experience in my life. Not only did it lead me to this wonderful community of fans, but it helped me launch my own writing career.

There’s so much that needs to be said, but I’m going to save it for next year. We have some big events planned for our 20th anniversary. Not only will we have a fresh-looking website, but we’re planning to have at least one, but maybe two real-life parties that you can attend. We’re still trying to figure it all out, but if all goes well, we’ll have a party at JordanCon in Atlanta this coming April (Jenn runs the convention and I’m this year’s Author Guest of Honor), and possibly a second event in California near where I live. Details to come, but please, keep us in mind for next year.

This week also marks the 10 year anniversary of Robert Jordan’s passing. He died on September 16th, 2007. I’ve always found it interesting that the calendar dates of DM’s birth and RJ’s death are so close. Time is a wheel, right? Endings and beginnings, round and round they go.

Brandon Sanderson wrote a lovely tribute on the anniversary of RJ’s passing. I’m glad he did because he’s the right person to do that.  But I was silent on the day for a few reasons. I wanted to sort my thoughts. To illustrate, let me tell you a story.

That morning, Saturday, I went hiking in Point Reyes, just north of San Francisco with my girlfriend and some of her co-workers. On the drive up there, we listened to the ending of the Winter’s Heart audiobook, because that’s currently where she is in her first read-through of the books. When we finished, she gave me all her theories and asked a million questions about what had just happened. We talked about everything from resurrected Forsaken to the differences between saidin and saidar for nearly an hour.

Later at the hike, during a casual get-to-know-you conversation, I learned another member of our group had just started reading The Eye of the World for the first time. She loved what she’d read so far and was excited to see where the series would go. This young lady and her boyfriend were huge fans of Brandon’s books, so she’d recently decided to give Robert Jordan a try.

These conversations underscored to me just how loved these books are. I can’t think of a better legacy for Robert Jordan’s writing career. On the anniversary of his passing, I found myself having two completely unrelated conversations about his books. My hunch is that in another 10 years (or another 20!), people will still be discussing and debating it.  

Later that day, after my hike, I called Wilson, RJ’s cousin/brother. Wilson was, as many of you know, the liaison between RJ’s family and our community of fans during those hard days 10 years ago.  He was the one who called me that day and said, “We lost him, Jason.”  He was the one who invited me to Charleston where I met the family and attended the funeral. I called him because it was the anniversary of the death of his cousin, whom he called a brother. I called him because while fans remember Robert Jordan, Wilson and the rest of the family were remembering their loved one, Jim. The world lost more than just a fabulous writer that day. It lost a great guy who liked to fish and sing Elvis songs.

I heard him sing Elivis once.  But once again, I’ll save some of that story for next year.

Because as awesome as it is to be online for 19 years, 20 is the milestone we’re going to celebrate like crazy.

See you then. Thanks for sticking around.

Jason Denzel

(aka the skinny, beardless kid with hair in that photo)

<p>Welcome back to the <em>Dragonmount </em>"Forum Roundup!"<img src="http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/uploads/gallery/album_412/gallery_21251_412_5941.png" alt="gallery_21251_412_5941.png">As school begins and as we say goodbye to summer, my hopes are that all of your wishes and plans were fulfilled.I went to the coast recently and I was able to pick up the 2016 edition of <em><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.dragonmount.com/Books/Eye_of_the_World/index.php' class="bbc_url" title="">Eye of the World!</a></em> It is beautiful!<img src="http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/uploads/gallery/album_412/gallery_21251_412_21293.jpg" alt="gallery_21251_412_21293.jpg"><img src="http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/uploads/gallery/album_412/gallery_21251_412_33571.png" alt="gallery_21251_412_33571.png">The edge of the pages are gold and there is an attached blue ribbon bookmark. Do you suppose that the whole<em> Wheel of Time</em> series will be republished in this style? I sure hope so. Finding this book on my mini vacation made the whole summer worthwhile.I've also started a re-read of the <em>Wheel of Time. </em>The Brown Ajah of the<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/forum/33-the-white-tower-warders-social-group/' class="bbc_url" title=""> White Tower and Warders</a> are hosting. I came upon the series in 2010 (rather late) and have re-read my favorite books and parts of the series. This will be the first time ever that I'm re-reading in order. I found <em><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.dragonmount.com/Books/New_Spring/index.php' class="bbc_url" title="">A New Spring</a></em> best read after <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.dragonmount.com/Books/Dragon_Reborn/index.php' class="bbc_url" title=""><em>The Dragon Reborn.</em></a> I've just started that book. Yes, it seems as if the characters are old friends. However, the world of <em>The Wheel of Time</em> is so complex, there is something new every page.It's amazing how these books have brought us all together. We've celebrated the writing of <strong>Robert Jordan, </strong>mourned his passing, and waited for the completion of the series by <strong>Brandon Sanderson.</strong>Now, our excitement is directed towards a television series. The series can't come fast enough for me.In the time being, we can all meet up here, continue with our love of the <em>Wheel of Time</em> world and honor Robert Jordan's memory by keeping his creation alive.</p>

Welcome back!  Many of us are moving into a scorching summer. I hope that wherever you are, you manage to stay on an even keel, temperature wise. What I wouldn't give for an ice cold lake at this moment!

Robert Jordan once said, "I live in the Two Rivers. Check a map." His hometown, Charleston, South Carolina, nestles in the fork of the Cooper and and Ashley Rivers. Did you ever feel like you lived there? Robert Jordan's words were so descriptive, I felt as if I could just move into the picture he created by his words. I live close to Three Rivers, California. Three Rivers is near the entrance to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Dragonmount in June!

We continue to gain both new readers and old members. Welcome to all!!

I really need to mention that we have some fantastic Dragonmount signature artists. Ask and you shall receive. Recently, I was gifted with a very beautiful signature by one of our members. We continue to receive updates on our "Realistic Wheel of Time Collages -A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words."  If you like to create the AWC Tuathan'an Camp is for you.  

The Dragon Reborn Role Play has added additional writers/characters and story lines. Come join if you would like to create your own character within a Wheel of Time setting.

The Black Tower is busy with Mafia!

Shayol Ghul is on an assignment to spread as much evil as they can. They also entertain themselves with mafia and other games.

The Aiel are discussing summer plans, and the perception of beauty. There are some fun games to join.

The Kin are hosting a monthly discussion on animals and the various way we interact with them. A quiz is available to see which pet is right for you!

The White Tower and Warders have Aspiriants on both paths, "The Way of the Warder" and The Way of the Aes Sedai." 

The Band of the Red Hand is active with multiple "pool parties" and have a new "Hornsounder" Edition.

See you next month!

Welcome back to the "Forum Roundup." I'll briefly cover the big news!!! The Wheel of Time television show is moving forward, slowly, but surely. Sony will serve as the production studio! The news was released right before JordanCon 9.

Robert Jordan left us with many thought provoking quotes. "In war, boys, fools kill other fools for foolish causes." I'm curious if this view originated from his own experience in Viet Nam. I previously covered Robert Jordan's military service and decorations. I'd rather picture him in his "carriage house" writing his books. Our own Jason Denzel described the carriage house as having "at least several hundred bladed weapons. Swords, axes, spears, and knives of all shapes and sizes line the walls and shelves of his office." Jason shared a picture with us.





As you can imagine, the news of the television series has set off excitement and speculation at Dragonmount's Social Groups.

The White Tower has multiple threads on suggestions for The Wheel of Time casting. It's loads of fun sharing our thoughts on who should play various characters in the books.

The Dragon Reborn Role Play has seen a surge in activity and characters.

The Band of the Red Hand has been focusing on music.

The General Wheel of Time Discussion has been visited by members who are in the midst of reading the series for the first time! Can you remember when you picked up Eye of the World?


JordanCon 9 took place April 21st to April 23rd 2017 in Atlanta Georgia. It was held at the Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center. The author guest of honor was Charles E. Gannon and the artist guest of honor was Stephen Hickman.

A recap of JordanCon 9 along with details and pictures can be found at the blog of Chez Lannis here.

JordanCon 10 will be held April 20th to April 22nd in Atlanta, Georgia. Our very own Jason Denzel will be the author guest of honor and the artist guest of honor will be Stephanie Law.

You can find information on JordanCon 10 at their Facebook group here.

See you next month!

Welcome, everyone, to the latest edition of the Forum Roundup where I cover the monthly events at Dragonmount.

First, I'd like to provide you with a bit of information about Robert Jordan, of which many of you might be unaware. Robert Jordan served two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter gunner. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with "V" and bronze oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm.

It has been said that he always had a great deal of appreciation and respect for those men and women willing to serve.

On to Dragonmount.

The Warders have welcomed home those who have been away for a while. It was a very pleasant surprise to see them arrive.

The General Discussion has been bustling with conversation from new members of Dragonmount, some of whom have just finished the series and others are in the process of reading.

There have been staff changes in the White Tower with members stepping up to new leadership positions. We thank those who have served and will continue to enjoy their company within their Ajahs and the Tower as a whole.

The Black Tower has been hosting many active threads including a place for Star Wars fans!

The Band of the Red Hand has been busy with a carnival.

The Ogier are placing memories on their "Memory Tree" and sharing what they would love to have in their dream homes.

Shayol Ghul (as usual) is busy with evil, this time a "something" or "someone" evil game.

See you next month!

For those of you that participate, I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day! I'm out here in California hoping we don't float away. It's either drought or floods!
 
Before I cover the monthly goings on at Dragonmount, I'd like to start with Robert Jordan. 
 
He is a graduate of The Citadel, a military college in South Carolina and he earned a degree in physics. For those of you who feel trapped by your field of study, this demonstrates that we don't always end up from whence we came. The Citadel even has its very own tribute to Robert Jordan. It contains one of his hats, his cane, a heron marked sword, Wheel of Time books, and other things donated by Harriet McDougal, his wife.
 

 
 
Let's take a look at the Black Tower. They are discussing their favorite fantasy merchandise. I'd have to say that mine is the Green Aes Sedai Shawl I purchased but this topic is not limited to the Wheel of Time.
 
Shayol Ghul is working on their very own horror story. That is not surprising when we consider its point of origin!
 
The Dragon Reborn Role Play has welcomed some new characters and looks forward to their development.
 
The Ogier is considering what belongs in your very own dream home.
 
The White Tower and Warders has a new character collage by M'Lady La Fleur and it is one to chill your heart!  This character is also up for discussion on which actress should play her in the television series. The White Tower also hosted "Chocolate Week" and the Aspirant Common Room is hosting some new members. The Kin is on the lookout for new movies in 2017. I've already seen some good ones!
 
See you next month!

I hope everyone at Dragonmount celebrated the holidays and welcomed in the New Year with hopes and dreams. Nevermind resolutions!

Many of us have holidays that are rooted in religious traditions. I found something I thought quite interesting about Robert Jordan. This comes from an overview written by our own Jason Denzel about his time spent with Mr. Jordan during the San Diego ComiCon in 2004.

Jason Denzel:

One unique subject discussed over dinner was the metaphysical basis for the underlying spiritual topography of the Wheel of Time. Specifically, one member of the dinner party asked Robert Jordan whether he had intentionally woven core elements of the world's various spiritual/mystical traditions into his work, or whether those ideas were in fact manifesting THROUGH him as pure art.

 

Robert Jordan:

His answer was a description of his bookshelf at home, which begins at the left side with the Christian Bible, continues into more Judeo-Christian texts, then picks up with the Quran, with books on Hinduism (I got the sense he was referring to the Bhagavad-Gita, but would need to check with him to be sure), Buddhist texts, and then what he called various "discourses" on world religion and spiritual philosophy.

 

Jason Denzel:

In short—Robert Jordan is a student of world religion, which explains much of the religious diversity of his work, not just in terms of the many cultures of his world but in terms of the underlying metaphysical structure of his universe.

Members have been busy at Dragonmount's Social Groups engaging in a multitude of activities.

The White Tower and Warders have been occupied with the White Ajah's Wheel of Time Winter's Carnival! The Warders are discussing New Year's resolutions and playing games. Plus there was a raising! The Kin are critiquing movies and discussing our weekends.

The Ogier are busy adding to their "Memory Tree."

The Wolfkin are having "Healer's" discussions and games.

The Band of the Red Hand has discussed "Christmas Markets" throughout the world and have put up their "Matrims Nominations for 2017."

The Black Tower has hosted a discussion on 2016 and "Goals."

The Aiel had both light-hearted and serious activities: "The Book Game, Weird Cultural Oddities, and Prison Systems."

Wishing a prosperous and busy New Year for Dragonmount and all of its members.