yeah, the solution would be for characters you think are weak to kill everyone you do not like. That makes them strong and "cool". We all know how that works out in real life. Why don't you read Goodkind instead of Jordan? If you want types instead of characters, he will probably satisfy you.

Ah, tsk tsk tsk. Temper? Mmmm?

It's not that I want RJ to kill everyone I don't like. I also hate the Seanchan and their ways of collaring women who can channel and treating them like dogs.

But I don't feel the animosity toward them that I do toward Aes Sedai from the White Tower.

As for Rand being weak, well, if RJ continues to make him lick the Aes Sedai's boots, I would consider him to be weak yes. I have said it before and I will say it again...it seems to me that RJ may have been reading some bondage porn and the whole "Female Supremacy" crap that usually goes along with male fantasies seems to inundate Rand land.

Cadsuane and her counting! Pah!

Corporal punishment anyone?

Has nothing to do with Jordan vs. Goodkind. I have never read Mr. Goodkind that I can remember in point of fact.

What I would consider "strong" and "cool" would be for Rand to act as a man, not a boy. Listen to Logain, put Mazrim Taim in his place, take the White Tower seriously, and instead of trying to make peace, crush it. He is the Dragon Reborn, the White Tower is an obstacle. It would not have to be that way...but the White Tower and its witches have made themselves thus.

Elayne's chapters don't bother me as much as they used to. I dig em when there's some focus on Birgitte, Dyelin, or Charlz. the intrigue with the Rose Throne interested me as well. I'm somewhat sympathetic to her manner because, well, she's trying to be a queen. she's more of a symbol than a person, so I don't expect her to act down-to-earth. her petulance does get annoying, of course.

Yeah, I used to like Birgitte too. Back when she was actually a hero of legend. since she became Elayne's warder B*^%H I can't stand her. There's way too much foot tapping, feeling anger down the bond, faces getting flushed, arms getting folded beneath her breasts and just a touch of lesbianism in there for me.

Perrin is sort of the same way. I like his character fine, but I also really like reading about Tam and the Gaul-Bain-Chiad triangle. same with Mat, only with Noal, Thom, Tuon/Selucia, Aludra, hell pretty much all of his secondary characters. the chapter with Furyk Karede, think it's called "A Cup of Kaf," is one of my favorites in KoD.

Hmph. Perrin used to be cool. Back BEFORE he met Faile. Ever since he met her he's been one huge messy whipped puppy dog perpetually confused by her desire for him to yell at her. Not only this, but the uber repetitious descriptions of Perrin at the close of a Perrin chapter...."He had to do anything and everything in his power to find his heart, his love, his Faile! He must find her! He must!" just completely and utterly don't phase me any longer or cause me to care about him as a person. ok, so we get it already, he's gonna pine away and die if Faile is not re-united with him in body and spirit. *yawn....* Let's move on already.

Lets get to the cool stuff...like the Seanchan prophecies about Perrin in Tarmon'Gaidin. (sp?)Let's see him crush that crazy prophet's skull with his blacksmith hammer. And let's not have him agonize over it. Maybe, he could fall into his "wolf" mode and just rip out the man's throat with his teeth. That would make an interesting scene no?

Egwene's spirit during her imprisonment impressed me. she faced a pretty horrible situation yet was able to turn it around. I'm not sure it's fair to compare her with the way Siuan dealt with her captivity but it still shows a lot of strength and fortitude. plus some of the scenes were hilarious.

Hmph again. I would not call anything Egwene al'Vere does or any scenes she is in, hilarious. Of course, I thought it was great that she was getting the snot beat out of her by the Mistress of Novices. But then, I hate Egwene...but not any more than I hate other Aes Sedai. It would not bother me in the least to see them all strapped until they bled, and then all of them stilled to boot. At least, I feel that way of all those "so-called Aes Sedai" of the White Tower.

Egwene's pitiful, yet seemingly heroic efforts to lead a rebellion (I am sure RJ will make her victorious in the end...*sigh...so very predictable....)do make one slightly admire her. But then, one remembers her take on Rand...which is the same as all other Aes Sedai witches, and it makes you want to see her head on a spike once more.

So she faced a horrible situation? So what? She could leave anytime she wants. The rebels would have come and rescued her. Or she could have visited Elaida or any number of other "sisters" in the dream world and slit their throats and killed them then and there in their sleep. Ruthless perhaps, but it would have been effective and would have ended the White Tower's petty war within itself.

No, Egwene should have long ago thrown in her full support behind Rand whom she grew up with. If there is any truth to a prophecy of the Dragon Reborn facing the wrath of the Amyrlin (sp?) then let that wrath be merely like that of a buzzing fly that Rand just happens to swat away. Or if not, then let Rand's anger burn the Amyrlin to ash.

Better yet, maybe Rand can get Lews Therin to warp the marble floors and hallways and columns of the White Tower the way he did once before (WAYYYYY back in the prologue of EOTW) and maybe Egwene can end up like Ilyena. (Sp?)

Now THAT'S a fitting end to the White Tower and the condescending, "all-knowing", sexist B(*&h's that call themselves Aes Sedai in the Third Age.

It doesn't have to be as extreme examples. But simply examples of strength to your enemies. And Rand seems awfully reluctant to set examples to his enemies and instead gives off signs of extreme weakness.

I doubt Elaida would have done much more plotting with over 50 sisters either dead or stilled as a result of her actions. She would have to face too much flak on her homefront to even think of dealing with anything else.

Same with nobles who rebel. Colavaere is the best example. He exiles her instead of giving the proper punishment for the crimes of murder and high treason. The best example is again to set a sign of power, he should have just had one of his ashaman, channel a noose to form in the roof as all the assembled nobles observed and hanged Colavaere right there. The present nobles would be scared into obedience by the act of the male one power on top of a newly crowned regent just being disposed of as if she were nothing of a challenge to his power.

Again it doesn't have to be such an extreme example, however the matter is one of setting an example. Something which Rand is too weak to do often.

Oh! would that RJ might read this posting and take heed!

Rand is an excellent character, tied down and shamed too often for my taste by whining, disgusting Aes Sedai characters...*cough*...Egwene....*cough*...Cadsuane...*cough*...Nynaeve....

Yes, yes...Lews Therin Telamon stilled those women at Dumais Wells. Rand should take a lesson and do the same to EVERY Aes Sedai that stands in his way or that tries to "humble him" as though he were a dangerous puppy that could be tamed and put on the White Tower's leash.

RJ has made Rand just a little too forgiving, a little too cowed to the Aes Sedai in general, and a little too worried about the opinions of others for my taste.

And yes! the Rand chapters WOULD be much more interesting than anything at any time about Elayne and Aviendha. I cannot say how bored the chapters in these last few books concerning these whiny females has made me. Can anyone say..."Skip to the end?"

Sadly, or maybe not so sadly, it is because of the way RJ has written Rand's character...much too ready to listen to and abide by, Aes Sedai murmurings, and the WAaaaaaaayyyyyy too long accounts of Elayne and Aviendha and Perrin's constant "How many more days must I tie another knot whilst dying inside because of my intense and everlasting love for Faile which is thwarted at every turn during my search!?" that I find the sections dealing with Mat Cauthon so very refreshing.

In fact, I have come to wish that the entire series were more about Mat than anyone else. He's about the only one I can stomach.