23 hours ago, Andra said:

A baby Ogier.

Now that's something the books never describe.  Love it.

?

What is the term for baby ogier do you think?   Ogierling? ?   Sprouts?   ?

1 hour ago, Andra said:

From some of the things we see later, there's a strong implication that Darkfriends found at least some of the traps and removed them.  It's almost explicitly stated as such when describing how Shadowspawn got into Caemlyn at the end.

Rand didn't exactly keep what he was doing a secret by yelling for maps and having an animated discussion about it in a public court yard with 3 x Ogier surounded by hundreds of Aiel and palace servants.  Later on, Ishamael certainly knew Rand had placed traps around the waygate at Shadar Logoth when he told Rand  to find Sammael "next to something he (Rand) had marked as his own".  And lastly, the shadow's forces had just as many skilled channellers as the Light side and could Travel just as easily as Rand, so accessing way gates wasn't ever a problem for team darkfriend.

So yep, I'd say Rands traps failed for the most part.

3 hours ago, Andra said:

And it would be consistent with their description as being in some way "alive."

 

Something has to be alive in order to be Healed.

Loial does say "they are a living thing, in some way, the Ways, and all living things have parasites".  And I think its Moiraine  who says she thinks that Machin Shin might be something "born of the corruption itself".   So healed or cleansed, it's hard to say. The majority of the current yellow ajah are a fairly unimaginative lot for the most part, but they do seem to be inspired by Nynaeve and the Ashaman, so maybe they will come up with something.  I'd have thought the Brown and Green Ajahs might have come together to sort out the Ways long since, but maybe we  can chalk that up to 3000 years of Black Ajah stirring white tower dissent.  

It's a nice thought to imagine Loial enjoying the new Age with Erith and a baby ogier exploring the world by travelling through a sunlit Ways,  planting and singing to fruit trees as he goes.  ?

14 hours ago, Andra said:

If it's true that the taint in the Ways is the same as the taint on Saidin, it should be the case that cleansing Saidin also cleansed the Ways.

The taint left residual evil in the form of black thorns on the brains of the ashaman which had to be healed by Nynaeve after the cleansing and Rand said something like "Saidin is clean, but are we?".  I personally don't think the Ways could heal themselves, but maybe without an ongoing connection to the dark one and the taint maybe they can now be cleansed.  Or maybe they will just die, like a zombie with its head cut off.   Personally I like the idea of the Ways dying,  ready to be born again in a new turning of the Wheel. 

I'm a long time WOT fan I've been reading this series since the 90's.   I was appalled at Sanderson's take on the series and I'm completely nonplussed by Sanderson's lowbrow writing style.  

I was so unimpressed by his writing that I barely consider Sanderson's WOT books as canon.  In my mind Sanderson's books are basically just fan fiction.  But it is what it is since, RJ died. 

 I wouldn't stress about what is said in social media about Jordan though. RJ's genius speaks for itself, and any educated reader worth their salt can see that clearly in the books.  

People saying Sanderson saved the WoT books is like saying Peter Jackson saved Tolkien's LOTR.  It's simply untrue and plainly ridiculous. 

But remember that nothing anybody says in a forum can take away from your own experience that you had when reading the books.   You can go back and read Jordan's words for yourself again anytime you like, and appreciate them in your own way.  

I feel privileged that i discovered the Wheel of Time when I did.   I had over a decade of reading, rereading, speculating, theorising and anticipating for each new book as they were published that allowed me to appreciate the series in a way new readers today can't know.  It's truly their loss. 

On 9/22/2021 at 6:32 PM, Cigma said:

I never really got why Mat was so over the moon for Tuon in the first place.

 

If it hadn't been ordained that he would marry the daughter of the 9 moons, realistically from what we knew of Mat and his attractions, Tuon would have held absolutely no appeal at first glance. 

 

I actually don't mind the Seanchan, it's the Tuon romance that seems so manufactured and contrived.

It was BECAUSE of the Finns prediction that Mat took interest to begin.   But by all accounts Tuon is extremely intelligent, tough as nails, completely unflappable, well educated,  and many other things besides.  All very interesting stuff.   Also Mat may be a wild child, but he has a strong sense of integrity,  he is not the kind of man to cheat on his wife.    So once he knew that he was going to marry Tuon he would be proactively looking for things to admire about her as well.   They are both extremely deadly in their own way, both strategic thinkers capable at playing the long game, both adaptable and pragmatic.     Lots in common. ??

On 8/9/2007 at 1:45 AM, Charlz Guybon said:

 

We are all products of the societies we were raised in. They were raised in a matriarchal society that forbade and stigmatized violence against women. It's only natural that they feel more guilt about this violence done against women, than violence done against men, given this upbringing.

The word everyone is skirting here is "Galantry".   Galantry is by nature sexist, because it involves one sex protecting, the other on principle.  In fairy tales,  Knights are always galant and chivalrous, and are considered noble for being so. 

RJ took this idea and used it as a tool to paint a picture of the men of Manetheren for the reader.  According to Moiriane, it is a quality shared by the borderlanders, and we see this play out in  Shienar during The Great Hunt with all that "swords in the women's quarters"  fiasco. 

Galantry and stubbornness are both  cultural predispositions that have been passed on to the communities of the Two Rivers,  along with a bucket load of stubbornness. 

Add to that Rand's own biological heritage makes him stubborn as a mule.  The Aiel are nothing if not stubborn AND his royal lineage.  

AND Rand is little more than boy, he is 18 in the Eye of the World and barely into his 20's when confronts the dark one. 

So, Rand stays true to what he was  taught, which is to protect women at any cost, and when he can't, he blames himself. 

On some level he probably equates that value to holding onto something of himself in the midst of being the Dragon Reborn.  Deep inside, Rand sees himself as Rand Al'thor, son of Tam and Kari Al'thor from the Two Rivers, and really struggles with being the Dragon Reborn as well.    It's this very battle that literslly tears his mind in two and creates the LTT persona in his head,  which doesn't really get reconciled until AMOL.    

So to say Rand is sexist is a gross over simplification.  Rand has no trouble with women being powerful, or having authority.  He just wants to save them all, and he erroneously thinks it's his fault if he can't.

On 12/23/2009 at 5:08 PM, Luckers said:

 

We don't know. My guess is that he didn't, and that the Finns executed her--the snakes, at least, have a recorded aversion to things relating to the Shadow--but that is just conjecture.

 

 

 

It is highly unlikely that either got wishes, but if you want to discuss that you should create a thread in the General Wheel of Time Board. It's not really a simple question/simple answer scenario.

 

 

 

Cadsuane's extended life is due to her strength in the Power.

 

 

 

She says that she feels her determination extended her life, but thats codswallop. Her strength is what did it.

 

 

Yep  Lanfear is a belt.  Possibly with a matching purse and  moon shaped buckle attached.

Lanfear Vuitton if you will ?

To quote Australian comedic song writer Rolf Harris 

"They Tanned her hide when she died, Clyde,  And that's it hanging on the fence"  ?

On 9/15/2021 at 12:25 AM, Elgee said:

And Marco Pierre White is the daddy of all the Fades? Light knows, he would scare the brown stuff out of me with one look

Marco Pierre White is the original founder of the White Tower.  

The White Tower is White because it was built from bricks of cocaine.  

Gitara Meroso, or "Get Her a Mamosa!" as her friends liked to call her, was just a coked out old bitty who liked to get spacey at royal parties and pretend to tell the future. 

There was no Trolloc attack on winter night.   Mat spiked the punch with LSD then got so high that he forgot.   Everyone freaked out and accidentally burnt down half the village. 

Rand isn't really the Dragon Reborn, so there was no need to leave the two Rivers after all.  After conqueroring the world Rand eventually rocks up to Shayol Ghul and the Dark One and the forsaken are having retro 70's themed costume party.  No one has any idea who Rand is.  The Dark One mistakes Rand for a stripper, turns to the forsaken and says "Dammit I told Granny no red heads!!"

 END BOOK 1 

BOOK 2 

When translating the old tongue to the common tongue H and C are reversed.  So book two is really called "The Great Cu.... *cough* *cough*   Ahem.  Ah,  anyway Book 2 is about Graendal's exploits at the after party.   

EPILOGUE

All of the Aes Sedai's greatest secrets are hidden in Verin's 13th Suppository.  Her last words were "Now let that sink in."  ?

4 hours ago, thehumantrashcan said:

Never!  When I first heard Rosamund Pike was cast I was ecstatic.  I think she's one of the best actresses out there too!  I really think she's the best person to introduce the EF5 to this world and set them on their paths.  And besides, she's a Bond girl!

I understand your enthusiasm... but which of these two looks more like Moiraine?    

I can only speak for myself of course, but Claire Foy, at 5ft 3inches with a trilling musical voice, a beautiful, mature yet youngish face and naturally brown hair  wins hands down for me.   Also her experience with the Crown shows us that Claire has a cold hard stare that speaks volumes without twitching a muscle.    

Once upon a time ... In an age long past and an Age yet to come, Robert Jordan blew a lot of wind that made it sound like Demandred and Mazrim Taim were secretly the same person.  

Then all the fan theories sprouted and Jordan seemed to change his mind.  

Since the series is set to streamline the WOT character line up,  what are the odds this little chestnut will be a thing? 

I'd be ok with it, and it would make sense for the story and would be a nice way to pay homage to the long term WOT fanbase too imo

What do you think? ?

On 9/18/2021 at 7:49 AM, swollymammoth said:

3. The trailer shows a lot of Aes Sedai when they're really not in the first book at all

Sort of.   Aes Sedai works, their role in the world, peoples attitudes towards them,  the fact that they are still just women even though they can channel, good and bad, kind and cruel IS all described the eye of the word.  I suppose Rafe could have had Moiraine sit down and explain it all like in the books, but it's much more exciting to actually show it.    

And I agree with other peoples comments, showing Logain's capture on screen is (potentially)  genius, and also entertaining as hell.   Especially if his character is going to play a larger role in the series later on.

On 9/12/2021 at 10:23 AM, Guire said:

That is always exactly how I pictured Someshta.  Must be dance he does while singing plants to bloom.

Wouldn't it be BOSS if "the song" to make plants grow etc etc was actually Hip Hop or something  like DJ Easy Rock? ?.

All the Aiel singing

"It takes two to make the plants grow Riight! It makes bugs fly out o'sight"  

And The Ogier back up vocals

"keep it deep, keep it low"  

?

5 minutes ago, Elder_Haman said:

Rand experiencing "pure" saidin is the seed of his idea for the Cleansing.

I think it was the alternating throbbing of the two evil wounds in his side that gave him the idea of how to cleanse Saidin.  I also think the "have to clear rubble before you can build" line might have nudged him in the right direction as well.  And before you say it, yes, I know this is attributed to the breaking of the seals before the last battle, but Herid Fel was a genius so he could have meant both.  I like to think so any way. 

(As a side note, if Fain hadn't kept trying to kill him, would Rand have still figured out how to cleanse Saidin?  ?) 

(As another side note, I hope the series gives Padan Fain a more meaningful death than what's in the books).

(As a final side note...  is Fain even in the TV series? ???)  

On 9/9/2021 at 2:49 AM, Agitel said:

I have to wonder if the EotW will.be present at all. I know that's heresy, but Jordan never really explains its implications in any way, a first time reader might come away thinking it's just a macguffin.

 

Then again, they could offer more exposition in the show than they did in the books.

  Reveal hidden contents

It being a place of pure saidin specifically to train and prepare the Dragon Reborn so he doesn't go mad. The fact that it was lost hurting the Light's chance of having a sane DR make it to the LB (and part of the DO's plot to turn the Dragon). The fact that it is possible to purify saidin, even in a finite supply sense.

 

Edit: Hmmm... When Rand made saidin pure he had to put the taint somewhere. Where did the Aes Sedai who made the Eye put the taint they filtered it off? Did that expand/create the beginning of the Blight? Sorry, random speculation there.

 

If I think about what purpose did the Eye of the World actually serve in the story?  It provided destination, a reason for adventuring, a vehicle for exposition and a way to identify Rand as "the one" if not yet as "the Dragon". And it allowed Rand to start Channelling without having to explain about the experience of fighting through the taint so early on.     That's about it.   

Another mysterious destination could also provide these things so yep,  the Eye could be cut.    I'd hate it if they do, but I could see it happening.  

My first thought when I heard this news was  "GREAT!  Maybe they'll recast Moiraine next!" 

*cough* Claire Foy as Moiraine *cough* 

On 9/4/2021 at 4:50 AM, Beidomon said:

Pros:

- Could have been so much worse.

When the number one Pro is "could have been worse"  I'm not sure that it bodes well for the series ?  

My first Con

- my first pro is "it could have been worse"   

?

On 9/10/2021 at 9:58 PM, SinisterDeath said:

What? That's some silly speculation.

Perrin, going into a rage and killing his wife? I'd highly doubt that.

FAR more likely, if she is his Wife... she gets taken by Trollocs, never to be seen in one piece again.
THIS would give Perrin some wonderful motivation to be so obsessed with saving Faile.

I really hope you are right.  Perrin killing his wife would condemn us all into endless flashbacks to that scene and a PTSD Perrin.   Also that kind of thing really ages a person emotionally and would probably lend a dark aspect to Perrins personality.    

And for what?!  *sigh*

Every time I think of the TV series I pray  to myself  "please don't let them f#ck it up, please don't let them f#ck it up"  ?  

On 6/26/2013 at 8:52 AM, EmperorAllspice said:

 

 

 I don't care. I think that's a great line. And why wouldn't someone like Mat say that?

 

Saidar should totally become a verb.

 

I kinda feel stupid reading these books. Because with all the forshadowing and stuff it feels like I'm not allowed to read these books for fun or leisure, else I'll miss all the HIDDEN meanings.

Just read it for fun, enjoy the ride.  All the foreshadowing, and subtle events etc are what make re-reads so much fun.     

Honestly it's best to read the books and avoid all these forums altos until after you have finished.   That's how you make the series your own.  Don't worry about missing stuff,  the books are always there and it's fun to be wrong!!  Go. Enjoy. ?

On 7/11/2008 at 3:46 AM, Kaznen said:

I'm more curious if Rand, Mat, and Perrin would go through the ritual.

This is made redundant by their linked Taveren nature's.   

Fun thought,  between the warder bond and the Taveren link Rand has ZERO privacy.    I mean imagine all the raised eyebrows he would face the day he discovered his prostate ? 

On 1/21/2021 at 11:36 AM, Harldin said:

But don’t forget as all true WOT fans believe,

Bella was the Creator in Disguise ??

I'm sorry but you are wrong.  ?

BELA is the horse faced creator who magically appears in the most unlikely of places and saves all of Randland.

BELLA  is the horse faced emo girl who shags a shiny corpse then marries him right out of high school.  ???

2 hours ago, SinisterDeath said:

 

Until you find a source that backs up your claim, everyone will dismiss your claim as either a faulty memory or just plain wrong.

 

How gracious of you to take it upon yourself to speak for "Everyone".   ? 

However, you may be right in that RJ himself planned more books in the beginning or maybe his plans for more books solidified after the success of the first, or maybe the publisher only signed on for the 1st book and then later agreed to more, tbh I can't recall exactly.  We're talking about an article that I read nearly 30 years ago. There are a number of other commenters in this group older than I who used to post content on theoryland and wotmafia in the early 2000's who might still have a linked reference on this topic.

Book 4 The Shadow Rising.  

12 hours ago, JJLXL said:

When I try to look it up, nothing supports that.  You seem to be mistaken. 

I'm not.