Were potatoes mentioned in WoT prior to the Sanderson entries?

I know that LOTR fans over the years have debated the merit of having not only potatoes but tomatoes and corn mentioned and consumed in Middle Earth when all three vegetables were discovered in the New World after the 15th century. In other words, if LOTR were truly intended to be a pre-history of England then there would be no po-ta-toes or lovely chips. I know WoT is not a prehistory or set in medieval times but it did seem like RJ took care to include food stuffs that were inherently medieval European - turnips, barley, porridge, etc. and not potatoes or corn.

Quick question - who was the person dressed all in black that confronted Lews Therin in the prologue to EOtW? Was that the dark one in some physical manifestation or one of the forsaken? And if it was, how did they get imprisoned? Lews Therin seemed to perish only moments later.

In terms of actual length of time, I didn't figure Faile was a prisoner more than a month. The events that take place from the Battle of Dumai's Wells to the beginning of Tom (which is where I am now), cover, roughly from my estimate, about five months. I found the whole speed up of events annoying for a number of reasons, the least of which is it made many things seem unrealistic.

But as for Faile - she's one of the few main female characters I like. For one thing, she seems to suffer from the same imperfection that all of the male characters suffer from. I get so sick of Egwene, Elaine, Avienda, and to a lesser extent Nynaeve presented as utterly righteous, completely wise, unbending, heroic figures whose every decision is unquestioningly the right one despite the fact that they are making decisions and moving forward events that would confound even the wisest of men and women. Faile seems to struggle with her position and with her new relationship and doesn't seem above making a brash decision or two.

Only used once that I can recall, but in TGS, when Rand is thinking of the True Power - he uses the phrase "...tapped, used, and enjoyed..."

Now why did that line set me to reminiscing about every girlfriend I had in college, big dumb grin on my face?

Egwene "raised an eyebrow."

Funny, most characters in WoT seem capable of the one-eyed-eyebrow raise made famous by Spock in Star Trek yet in reality, most people aren't capable of raising just one eyebrow.

The more I think about and read the almost constant non-verbal clues to clue us in to how a character feels, thinks, or reacts, I can't help but think that in most of these instances, we can figure out the mood of the character based on the dialogue and not an endless procession of sniffs, snorts, eyebrow raises, arms fold, fists on hips, sensing through the bond, or, if you're a wolf friend, being able to smell everything from simply fear to casual amusement with a hint of apprehension underlying a slight sense of urgency...

Stephen King is and always has been a hack. He's Danielle Steele with an ego and a penchant for taking a 100 page novel and squeezing 850 pages out of it, a pop culture parasite remnant of the lost generation whose moderate talent for spinning a good yarn was long ago done in by an inflated sense of his own worth as a, and I use this word lightly, literary figure. He thinks himself Edgar Allen Poe but he's pure pulp and with possible exception of the film adaptations that Frank Darabont has made, destined to be forgotten and insignificant in 2, possibly 3 generations after his death.

Sorry, a little aside there, totally uncalled for, I admit. I humbly apologize.

I think what irritated me most about CoT and I'm still seeing this pattern on the latter books, KoD and now in TGS - the action is being undercut or shortchanged, often described in a couple of paragraphs or skipped over all together - and yet we get page after page after page after page describing in intricate detail the most trivial of actions, most often focused tightly on the female characters.

Take for instance Matt's escape from Ebo Dour and the Seanchan invasion. Pages and pages of planning and manipulating...and 90% of the escape is completely skipped over! The trolloc attack on the Manor House in KoD - over in less than two pages. Rand losing his hand and capturing Semirhage - over in TWO paragraphs. Even Perrin's rescue of Faile seemed shortchanged to me. I think most would agree the Battle of Carhein, described in such brilliant detail or The Battle of Dumais Wells were high points of the series. I honestly feel like we haven't had a really good battle scene since Lord of Chaos.

I've noticed a lot of geldings are "mouse colored" but have not seen any mice "gelding colored."

During the long summer that lasted from FoH thru PoD there was a lot of "punch" in various forms. When winter hit, the punch was replaced by "spiced or mulled wine."

Empty the content of his/her stomach

or

Sick up

Blood and ashes

Blood and bloody ashes

burn him

by the light

I finished Knife of Dreams around 2:00 this afternoon and this evening dove headlong into The Gathering Storm. I'm less than ten pages in (not counting Sanderson's forward which I admit brought tears to my eyes) and was quite shocked at how the different writing style struck me like a hammer. I've pretty much plowed through Crown of Swords to Knife of Dreams in just shy of a year, reading almost every day for an hour here and there so I've grown quite accustomed to RJ's writing style, particularly the way he focuses on subtleties and nonverbal hints with his characters, often at the expense of more sweeping, hard hitting, albeit typical fantasy prose. The opening pages of TGS are so, well, different. This will mark the first thing from Brandon Sanderson I've read (if it counts) and he reminds me a great deal of writers like R.J. Salvatore and Patrick Rothfuss. I can also tell he's young - and I can't even begin to explain why except to say that there's a certain, how to say it, tone or pacing in his writing that speaks of urgency, of getting at vital information as quickly as possible and moving the story along, the lack of which, at times, has driven me absolutely nuts reading through WoT and yet I've grown to admire the way Jordan can literally describe a room full of characters in ten or more pages and when he's done you can practically read the minds of everyone mentioned.

It's kind of exciting to be this close to the end, with the final novel due in what, just over a year now...and sad too. This afternoon I read along the final 30 pages of so of KoD with the audiobook playing in my ear buds. The book concluded with a short interview with Robert Jordan. I felt so...sad. He talked about his inspiration for the series and the writing process. How tragic he never got to finish it.

Good stout Two Rivers Woolens

Stout shoes

Great idea from another post. The top 100 most used words or phrases from WoT. And BTW, I'm not bashing Robert Jordan - every writer is guilty of over using certain words or phrases but few have been prolific enough to be noticed. After 11 books, a couple of million words, yeah, we start to notice.

Here's my contributions:

"Fists on hips"

sensed "through the bond"

"smoothed her skirts"

mirrored stand lamps

sea folk porcelain

And BTW - I've noticed that in the real world most women cross their arms over their breasts, not below them. I think that the nonverbal message that is meant to be conveyed by the oft used phrase "Crossed her arms underneath her breasts" (meaning seriousness and/or steadfastness) would be better conveyed by describing these women crossing their arms over their breasts. A below the breast arm crossing seems, at least to me, to convey more relaxed, maybe slightly bored.

 

Not sure about this. Actually try crossing your arms over your chest. Its a pretty ackward (sp?) position. Plus, if a women crosses them under their chest, it pushes them up a bit which is a much sexier pose.

I actually had my wife do both (she's about average size and that's all I will say), and when she had her arms crossed over or really on her breasts, to me this did a better job of conveying the kind of attitude that RJ is getting. The under the breast arms crossing to me seems more casual and laid back. I know it's a goofy think to lock onto but my goodness, he described his particular non-verbal expression literally hundreds of times across the 11 books.

3/4 of the way through KoD - honestly, it's starting to read a lot like CoT - a lot of scheming and talking and meeting and tea drinking but not much else. I can't believe that RJ was planning to wrap up this series in one more book when so little seems to be happening in KoD. That chapters that involve some kind of action (like the Trolloc attack) are over too quickly while the chapters that focus on Elaine and Egewene's scheming seem to go on and on and on.

Has it also every been pointed out (I'm sure it has), that, well, RJ seems to have a real spanking fetish. Seriously. How old is Egwene, 20? And reading about Sylvania putting her over her knee and smacking her bare ass...okay, yeah, that's damn sexy. But seriously, is this the most appropriate punishment for a grown woman? Can't help but notice the male characters don't turn each other over their knees like that, nor to do they sit around naked with each other, and certainly there have been no male pillow friends mentioned.

And BTW - I've noticed that in the real world most women cross their arms over their breasts, not below them. I think that the nonverbal message that is meant to be conveyed by the oft used phrase "Crossed her arms underneath her breasts" (meaning seriousness and/or steadfastness) would be better conveyed by describing these women crossing their arms over their breasts. A below the breast arm crossing seems, at least to me, to convey more relaxed, maybe slightly bored.

A big-picture-thing? Speak for yourself. Some of us enjoyed those chapters.

If I implied that I was speaking for anyone other than myself, I humbly apologize. That said, I will say this - I cannot stand Elaine and think she is a total waste of page space. I hope Arymilla wins and takes the Lion Throne. As the mother of the twin offspring of the Dragon Reborn I suppose she can't die. You think they'll name them Luke and Leia?

KoD has proven to be a better read IMHO but frankly the whole Elaine story arc grates on my very last nerve. This entire "I'm pregnant and moody while trying to fend off a siege and win the Lion throne completely on my own" thing is about to do me in. Thankfully I just powered through her chapters. I know this is big picture stuff but I really fail to see how the fortunes or misfortunes of one of many monarchies has any impact on Toman Gaidan and/or the last battle. The White Tower and the Aes Sedai must be present to fight with the Dragon Reborn so Egewene's story line is of utmost importance. Matt and Perrin are Taverin and must be with Rand when he faces the dark one - The Seanchan even seem to be factoring into the last battle now and possibly the Whitecloaks though we so precious little of them. But frankly I've yet to see how the Lion Throne or the eating and drinking habits (and tender breasts) of an immature, pregnant, whiny girl have any real meaning in the bigger story.

Maybe the connection is coming, maybe not.

Next question - define "ample bosom." C cup, D, DD?

Has it been pointed out the RJ spends a great deal of time describing women's chests and their bathing habits? Every section from Elain'e POV involves at lest one bath with bare bosom's, often with several naked women lounging around. And now, halfway through KoD, I have to read about Elain's "tender" bosom and possible swelling. I just want trollocs and Mydraal and Ashaman kicking ass and Matt leading his Band in battle...

Any time during the series you see the words "pillow friend" it refers to a relationship that is often sexual in nature. It is usually used in reference to lesbian relationships.

 

Here's a link to a good article that discusses the subject.

Great article, many thinks.

One particular passage stood out in my mind:

He might have enjoyed the meal more if she had not lectured him on everything. Not sister-wives. That was left to Amys and Lian, lying on either side of Rhuarc and smiling at each other almost as much as at their husband.

 

- The Shadow Rising, Cold Rocks Hold

Clearly the relationship between Rand and Min/Elaine/Avhineda has its roots in Aiel custom, with Elaine and Avhienda becoming first sisters and accepting their having to share Rand with each other and Min. On it's surface and so far, when talking about the physical aspects of this rather strange relationship, it seems that Rand's sexual relationship with each of them is separate, in a physical sense, though certainly the sensations seem to be shared through their bond with him. But, does it seem likely at some point that all three will engage in physical intimacy with Rand at the same time? What is the endgame in this relationship - some kind of Mormon marriage where they all live together and enjoy Rand on their assigned nights or more of an Aiel anything goes situation where, in a sense, they are all married to each other, not just to Rand?

Sort of hanging with the topic of Love in WoT - are homosexuals ever mentioned or talked about? It's seems like some of the Foresaken like to play fast and loose with gender and Graendal certainly seems like she could go either way but other then that, I don't recall any mention or description of any homosexual characters in WoT.

About halfway through Kod and FINALLY we find out what was in the letter Moiraine wrote for Thom way, Way back in what, FoH? Is it just me or does it seem like Moiraine has a thing for Thom - My Dearest Thom..., etc? He seems kind of old for her. Plus, I kind of thought Thom would eventually re-hook back up Morgaise at some point and she would tell him that Elaine is really his daughter.

It did seem kind of unfair that all of the main characters have now hooked up and made love connections of some sort or another except Moiraine.

Rand with Elaine/Min/Avhienda

Perrin with Faile

Matt with Tuon

Nynaeve with Lan

Egwene with Galad

Loial with Erith

-and now-

Moiraine and Thom Merrilin?

BTW - was I the only one who knew she wasn't really dead? Fell into a Ter'Angreal? Seriously? What kind of Star Trek dead-but-not-really-dead death is that?

Don't want to look it up and can't remember - when and where did Matt get the foxhead medallion?

It is supposed to be Perrin on the KoD cover, IIRC. Not that you can really tell with Sweet's covers...

Just read the scene that is supposed to have inspired the cover art. Is he serious with his representation of Gaul? He looks like some meek, seven foot tall, medieval sheep herder. Perrin looks like a middle aged Kenny Rogers and Fager like some hearty Spaniard caricature (like something I'd see in a painting at a Mexican restaurant. And Gaul has a sword! An Aiel with a sword? Surely that violates some kind of WoT law, right?

If they rereleased the entire series with the e-book covers I would repurchase all the books.

 

Loial on the cover of The Great Hunt is just awful.

I agree, some of the ebook covers literally made me gasp when I first saw them - or, as RJ would put it, "I laid eyes upon the ebook covers and my draw dropped, with fists planted firmly on hips I sniffed and broke into a broad smile that touched my eyes which hinted of satisfaction..."

The first time I saw the ebook cover for KoD I said, out loud mind you, "OMG, there is Rand Al'Thor! Finally someone has captured the Rand Al'Thor in my head! Finally!"

So yeah, I finished COT last Friday. The fact that it ended on a cliffhanger only added insult to injury for me. I can't imagine having eagerly awaited this entry into the series for a year or more, reading it, and then having the prospect of waiting another year or two for something else. Ugh.

Not be deterred I jumped in KOD yesterday afternoon and yes, the first 20 pages already seem to have more action then the last four books. The trail between Galad and Valda was almost...refreshing. Finally swords are drawn, blood is spilled. It also hit me how RJ seems to have shortchanged the most interesting Children of the Light for most of the series so far. Should it bother me that the Children are so quick to abandon three thousand years of hatred of the Witches of Tar Valon because of a single defeat at the hands of the Seanchan? Then again, we are talking about religious zealots, right?

I take it they over published the hardback version of KOD. I've read the entire series thus far in paperback and purchased a paperback copy of KOD a while back. But, I was in my local discount store and saw hardback copies of KOD on sale for $2. How could I not buy one? I'm really more of a paperback reader. I hate bother with dust jackets and like something I can carry around to work, to the park, something I can have in my computer back to pop out at break time, restroom break, etc. So I put the hard cover version on my bookshelf and am reading from the paperback. My only problem, now I fee compelled to have the entire series in hardcover to go with my one hardcover KOD.

And BTW, the cover art for KOD is the worst since The Great Hunt. Is that supposed to be Rand on the cover? He looks like a truck driver circa 1977.

There is an inn (I forget where) named The Ball and Hoop. Is this a reference to basketball? Did they play basketball in the Age of Legends?