I was pleasantly surprised the other day when I walked into a high street book store to see the new Wheel of Time novel, complete in shiny hardback, sitting on the shelf by the door; The Gathering Storm.
The fact that the next installation to this epic series had completely slipped my mind, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it to discover the first part of the conclusion to this series. I have a little way to go before that, though, since I only recently finished the 8th book in the series, The Path of Daggers. (On checking my bookshelf for which book I’d finished, I realise that I don’t have it with me. It must be in America…)
I’m a reasonable newcomer to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. About four years ago I was browsing the shelves in the shop for a new series to start, and the numerous, thick books in a line caught my eye. My first attempt at reading The Eye of the World only led me to read half of the novel, but I soon started it again, and devoured it. I’ve since digested another seven, and my cravings for the next are starting to resurface.
Whilst the series is criticised for its lengthy prose and multitude of characters and plots, I can’t help but love it. It calls out to the part of me that has always loved the fantasy genre, and I find it truly inspirational. Needless to say that I was shocked and upset when I heard that Robert Jordan had died in 2005.
Recently, however, I found news that his series would be continued and completed posthumously by Brandon Sanderson. I hadn’t heard of him before, but since Jordan’s wife had a large say in who would continue her husband’s work, then he must be a worthy candidate to complete the series. After all, she had edited Jordan’s work herself.
So, I will eventually go and buy the 9th book of the series, and work my way through them once again. Perhaps I can catch up with the series before it’s completed, but I won’t rush. The Wheel of Time is a series that must be thoroughly chewed and not gulped down.
The Ninth Word 