I would agree with the majority of people who have commented on this subject, I have always intended for him to read Eye of the World first. I guess as a part of the minority who enjoyed the background story behind Moraine and her search for the Dragon Reborn. So, my problem was as a person who enjoyed the book, assuming my friend probably might never re-read the series like a majority of us have done a multitude of times already. And with A Memory of Light being published by the time he gets that far in the series (he's a slow reader), I was trying to figure out a good place to interject that short story upon him. Going by what others have stated/done...I think I'll recommend around books 7 or 8 for him to read New Spring, I feel once he gets to Winter's Heart there should be no more interruptions in the journey to Tarmon Gai'don.

I would suggest after book 5 or 6. Then most of the info regarding the world has been gradually revealed, and you aren't spoiling that. Also, the minor characters in NS (mostly namedroppings but a few notable exceptions) will then be known to you from the main series. I also think that its a good time to flesh out the characters of Moiraine, Siuan, and Lan, since major stuff has happened to them at this point in the main series. Some suggest waiting until publication order (after book 10) but to be honest, I don't see much point in that, in fact I almost think you miss out a bit by not knowing until then (especially about the three characters mentioned).

That's an excellent point as well. It's a toss up, but I suppose somewhere around 5-7 would be a good spot to insert it in. I've just become so ingrained on reading the series as a whole, that my brain has melded the story as one.

That's a good idea 2RiversFan, that's pretty similar to what I told my friend. But I guess for me, after it came out, after the third re-read, I usually just read it first.

I might just end up having him read them in chronological (by publication) order this time.

I have a friend that will shortly be reading the Wheel of Time series for the first time. As a person who's re-read the series five times, I'm having a hard time deciding when's a good time for him to read New Spring, as a first timer.

Should he: a). Read it before Eye of the World? b). Wait until he's read the entire series (he won't be finished with the books until well after A Memory of Light comes out)? Or c). read the first 6-7 books, read New Spring, then finish the series?

[i'm having a hard time deciding when he should read it considering, to me anyways, reading the series all the way through and then the last book he reads after Tarmon Gai'don is New Spring, just seems a little awkward]. What would you suggest would be the best place to interject New Spring for a person new to the series?