hahahahaha, I missed this on the first so when I saw it today I didn't really notice the date. I felt despair like no other! Well played DM. Well played. 

I LOVE your pic. I really just....I don't even know what to say. It's amazing. Truly amazing. Thank you for sharing.

I could have cried with that one Jason. lol WTH?!! I couldn't have put it any better. This bloody series has been such a part of my life in the last 20 years. It's hard to imagine NOT having this to look forward to. The friendships and memories created just because of this series have been such an influence on my life that I cannot thank RJ enough. The world was a brighter place because of him and darker than ever without him. It is a tragedy beyond measure that he cannot be here to see the fruition of his work and experience with us the joy and sorrow the end will bring.

RJ, say hi to the g-man for me. A million times thank you for helping me be who I am today.

Finally! Some one who agrees with me, It IS the end. The wheel is going to be broken.

I have a question though and the whole 'new to this age' and an 'evil older than time' (sung in the voice of a singing tea pot) made me think of it. You have completely skipped over his encounter with the as yet unexplained Black Wind along the ways. Is the black wind under the same category as ancient evil? No one seems to know what, where or how it started. A lot of theories but nothing solid. So, is Fain three parts in a whole, DO, Mashadar and Machin'shin, or only half and half?

I have a separate theory. I believe it IS the creator. The Creator needs Rand to destroy the wheel because he can't. The only way to end the cycle. The Wheel can't be destroyed there and it can't be destroyed by the creator. The Chosen one is the only one that can make that choice. End the cycle and the DO and Possibly the Creator. Free man kind from it's enslavement to the cycle of events. Creator can't destroy itself so Rand has to make that choice.

I love the Saga of Recluce series.

Mashi, I agree. I never thought the prophecies from Seanchan to be true but that they were corrupted. Altered by time if not deliberately changed by the Shadow. I mean, come on! Think about it. It was the HAWKWING EMPIRE. There arrogance would demand that the Dragon kneel to the Empress.

My theory about the rulers of Seanchan know that Sul'dam can channel. I believe the Crystal thrown is a ter'angreal that subdues people when it is used by channeling. Also, that some Empress' themselves were able to Channel. One such is Tuon's own mother. That's why she favored Tuon for the succession against her other kin.

For the future visions of people in "magical" conveyances, those could easily be a form of modern technology and not magic at all. We see the steam engine being created at one of the collages Rand finds. That could be seen as forshadowing.

With the rise of the canon, organized armies on huge scales, and the rise of technology that we see in the books I believe, and I hate that I believe this, is that magic is going to die and the wheel broken. The end of the series there.

I think they all look great except for the flashing on the Aiel buckler. Aside from that everything is great! thanks for this

Never seen Rand's in-box before!! Must find it NOW! Fantastic as usual. Thanks Peregrin!

I like it! We all already have our scary images. I think it is really cool to see someone having fun with these. Instead of picking the serious ones apart with "oh, it should look like this..."etc. Awesome pics.

Thank the Creator it's not the first cover art I saw. Uber excited!

I frickin LOVE how all the women have the exact same face except for Min in the first one hahahahahah. Great collection!

Yup, this synches it for me. I forgot about the whole Padan Fain being outside the Pattern thing. This just enforces my idea from before. Fain shows it's possible to exist outside of the pattern and that the Wheel is not completely confining all the fates of the world. Rand will destroy the wheel like the DO foreshadowed in the eye of the world. If this series is about completely ending things then the cycle has to end or it's all an act of futility. Thanks for another excellent read sir! Well done! Again!

Your blog is awesome. I just have to say that first. Second though, I think you are way off on Min. I have had her pinged to die for a while and for one main reason. The LACK of foretelling about her. We know she can see visions of herself and she only saw one. That she would fall in love and share Rand. One vision. Where as you have prophecy nearly popping up ALL OVER the place for nearly every other supporting character. I believe the absence of prophecy is her death knell. Everyone else pretty spot on. I don't know who it's goin to be but I am bettin at the least 3 are offed.

Wow. I have nothing to compare to how I feel about this. 20 years I have been reading this series. So many memories and so many of my dearest friends (not just on DM) were found because of this series. I could laugh and cry at the same time. How can you be sad and happy at the same time?! lol OH! And thanks for linkin that song to! As if things were heart breaking enough hahaha. Mr. Sanderson, you are a beast sir and have an epic amount of courage to take on something so huge. I have loved everything you have done so far and am very happy you were able to finish it. Though that shadow will always be there of 'is this how it would have REALLY been?' I am comforted that someone who is a true fan is finishing this. I can trust things will go as closely as they possibly could be. A million times thank you. God Bless and happy holidays.

I love this one. Great great job. I am definitely in favor of the re-born theory of those listed. I caught the bit about his reaction to Semi's revelation of voices when I read it and it had me thinking but not like this. I thought he was just crazy lol. This makes a lot of sense. Thank you so much!

I am soooort of in agreement with Cindee. The place looks great but I am not that patient nor computer sauve to feal comfortable... just yet lol. I really liked the old DM. It was very easy to figure out and navigate around. I most especially miss the 'read new replies to your posts' option but that's because I am lazy lol. I am sure I will become used to it the more familiar I get. Tremendous effort and well done on all parts. It's bright but it looks great. Thanks! :D