I think Perrin’s wolfiness started about the time of his ta’vereniness, so the wolves beginning to be bolder in their raids could well be a sign of this, or a sign of the weakening of the seals and the coming of another age. I’ve wondered whether each age has different characteristics. Maybe in the first age, these Talents were more common and their reappearance is a sign of the turning of the Wheel reaching a new age?

I’m not sure Rand thinks Perrin’s eyesight was ‘weak’, just not as good as his, which being an outdoorsy shepherd is probably going to be better than a blacksmith. Also, while I think Perrin’s abilities do come on quickly, there’s still a gradual nature to it, and bear in mind that few others with this ability would actually sit around a campfire with wolves, so that must help bring it on more strongly. When I read it the first time I really enjoyed the Perrin/Egwene chapters. They helped bring me back into the story after the shock of the group's separation.

I've often wondered what would have happened if the party hadn't been separated. Such a small wisp of Mashadar and yet it propels the story in a completely new direction. Such is the way of the pattern I guess! I'm of the mind that it was a good thing that they never went to Tar Valon given the events later in the series and its infestation with Black Ajah, but I think you might be reading a bit too much into Moiraine's comment about the Amyrlin. I read that as just a figure of speech to emphasise that she expects not everyone will always see things her way, 'even the Amyrlin'. Still, perhaps she did anticipate that their time apart could have made a gulf in how they saw things.

I meant to say that with regards to Rand drinking from the goblet, whatever the exact nature of the dream, unless you're trapped within someone else's, the strength of your will is important in the ability of the other to control you and your surroundings. Perhaps Rand's refusal to drink made him less 'believing' of the dream and therefore strengthened his will…or the other way around!

Personally I think all the dream sequences in tEotW are dreamshards as I don’t think it would be possible to pull the three Two Rivers boys into Tel’aran’rhiod at will. I’d love to know if dreamshards were in RJ’s notes, because I don’t think they appear until ToM at the earliest (I might be wrong)? Re-reading these sequences I’ve wondered if originally RJ had a slightly different idea of the World of Dreams when he started out. Perhaps not different per se, but maybe less developed. After all, he did originally plan a shorter series. Sure he could have cut out a few folding arms across bosoms and describing spots of colour appearing on cheeks, but he clearly expanded quite a few story arcs and plot details. It makes me wonder whether BS sort of incorporated dreamshards so that these early exchanges between Ishamael and Rand made sense. There might be some stuff out there to explain this, but it kind of seems out of kilter with what we later learn about dreaming and the rules regarding it.

Strangely, it wasn’t until tDR that I realised Ishamael was Ba’alzamon. I knew he wasn’t the DO, at lease not in a physical sense, but I completely forgot the prologue of tEotW – in truth I don’t think I really paid much attention to it first time round. I suppose I’d just opened the book and didn’t know whether I would end up reading it! Odd what we miss, but if anything it probably made me enjoy the first books more.

I agree that Min’s viewings are one of the most interesting in the story, but again I wonder if maybe originally something else was intended. Some of the stuff (Lan’s and Thom’s) seem retrospective. And the white hot iron is similar to the red hot iron and an axe which she sees with Elayne in tGH (I still don’t know what that means, unless I’m being stupid). I do think that the bloody hand is the one he loses to Semirhage though; and I love the three women around a funeral pyre, which we have to wait until the very end to learn the truth of.

Also, I agree that Nynaeve is one of the most important characters. After Rand she probably does more than any other single person. Of course all have their place in the pattern but she ends up sorting out a lot of world’s problems!!

Firstly, thank you for writing this theory blog. It must take you some time to do each post, but I’d like you to know that from me at least it’s definitely appreciated. When I finished AMOL I felt as if I might not read the series again. Part of the enjoyment was not knowing how the story would end, so I didn’t know if I could pick up the books again and go through that journey another time. Your obvious passion for the story and characters really comes through and it made me pick up EOTW once more and I’m currently on what I’m calling my 4.5 read through (I count the skim read I did between GS and TOM as only half!) – although in practice I’ve read some of my favourite scenes many times.
 
Anyway, sorry for the rather gushing praise; it’s my way of saying ‘please keep up the good work’! Now, onto some thoughts I had on your post.
 
I think the male characters reaction to the One Power is perhaps a result of saidin’s taint and it’s association in the male brain. By this I don’t mean that they are tainted by it, rather the horror and fear that tainted saidin creates in men’s psyche within the series. Imagine growing up knowing that there was a chance, no matter how remote, that because of your gender you could go mad and destroy everything and everyone you loved, even the world itself. I think you might fear it more than if it was something that could only happen to other people. That’s my thought.
 
On Moiriane’s ruthlessness and potentially going against the Pattern by killing Rand if necessary, that isn’t how I read it. I see this as her clear-as-crystal mission to fight the Dark One. She will do anything to prevent him from obtaining the tool to destroy the Pattern. Remember, she can’t lie, so she must believe it. Maybe even without the Dragon there’s still hope – hope is a major theme in the series – but if the Dark One has him then he wins. Absolutely. It’s the first reference that hints at the sheer significance of their struggle. Personally I think it’s an exhilarating exchange between two of the books strongest wills.

Those are my observations. Thanks again. 

I much prefer the book covers here in the UK, which are usually much plainer. It seems a bit odd to have a pictorial representation of characters and events on a book cover in my view; plus I don't like it to look like I'm reading teen fiction when I'm on the train (even when I was a teenager I didn't want this!). This one from Orbit is perfect in my view.