Rite of Passage

[Drashika]

I suppose I can’t officially call myself a member until I introduce myself here. My name is Drashika (Andrew). I’m a 25 year old male and I live in NY USA. I’m a huge fan of the Wheel of Time series, I’m an avid role-player (WOD, D&D, Star Wars, and anything else you throw in front of me I’ll run/play), and love video games. I’m an amateur writer, though I have had a few things published. So far I am having a lot of fun with this game (I joined AG after a day of playing, lol) and everyone has been great so far! Thanks everyone!

[Elrond]

Welcome to Sryth and the forum, Drashika! It is great that you've joined the AG fold; and it is wonderful that we have another writer who is active in the forum. Hopefully you'll have time to be active in the forum. And it would be nice to see you and Badstench, our other writer, go at it with your keyboards ;)

[Oldschool]

Welcome Drashika and as Elrond mentions we have a nice roleplay/fiction section.

[Drashika]

Thanks all!

[Tetracapillactomist]

Oh... I'm confused now... :D

Didn't I welcome you already?... :)

Oh, well, it does no harm repeating: hello and welcome to the forum. (WoT, eh?... Hmm. :))

[Elrond]

I suppose I can’t officially call myself a member until I introduce myself here. My name is Drashika (Andrew). I’m a 25 year old male and I live in NY USA. I’m a huge fan of the Wheel of Time series, I’m an avid role-player (WOD, D&D, Star Wars, and anything else you throw in front of me I’ll run/play), and love video games. I’m an amateur writer, though I have had a few things published. So far I am having a lot of fun with this game (I joined AG after a day of playing, lol) and everyone has been great so far! Thanks everyone!

Reading Tetra's post above, it reminded me about WoT. A tragic fantasy series whose author died before completing it. It is an epic tale of 14 books. I read the first 10 books and then fell off the bandwagon waiting for the next book. But it is a very good read.

RIP, Robert Jordan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Jordan)!

[Drashika]

I guess he left such detailed notes for the next author, he pretty much finished the series. It will end as the mastermind envisioned.

[Elrond]

I guess he left such detailed notes for the next author, he pretty much finished the series. It will end as the mastermind envisioned.

The ending was already clear in Jordan's head, and presumably notes. I remember reading interviews where he stated as such.

[Oldschool]

Yep he left detailed notes/outlines etc... maybe even portions of future books including the series' final scene as Elrond mentions. Brandon Sanderson took up the series to finish it. Initially iirc it was supposed to be one book which because of the volume of stuff Jordan left turned into three with the last one due out early next year. Btw, Jordan penned a prequel somewhere between some of the last few books he authored.

Not only did he envision it but apparently Jordan wrote the final scene sometime before his passing and it's supposed to be the one in the book as Jordan intended.

I haven't watched the attached vid in the link as it may be spoilerish. The page itself isn't spoilerish, at least imo, but I'm not sure of the links either as I'm staying away from them.

http://www.dragonmount.com/Books/Memory_of_Light

I'm waiting till it gets closer to being finished (maybe even finished) then I'm starting all over again from scratch.

[Drashika]

I'm waiting till it gets closer to being finished (maybe even finished) then I'm starting all over again from scratch.

I am on the second book on my second readthrough. I havn't read any since I was in highschool, and figured by the time I catch up the last one should be out shortly thereafter. Stupid life, getting in the way of my leisure time...lol

[Elrond]

Yep he left detailed notes/outlines etc... maybe even portions of future books including the series' final scene as Elrond mentions. Brandon Sanderson took up the series to finish it. Initially iirc it was supposed to be one book which because of the volume of stuff Jordan left turned into three with the last one due out early next year. Btw, Jordan penned a prequel somewhere between some of the last few books he authored.

Not only did he envision it but apparently Jordan wrote the final scene sometime before his passing and it's supposed to be the one in the book as Jordan intended.

I haven't watched the attached vid in the link as it may be spoilerish. The page itself isn't spoilerish, at least imo, but I'm not sure of the links either as I'm staying away from them.

http://www.dragonmount.com/Books/Memory_of_Light

I'm waiting till it gets closer to being finished (maybe even finished) then I'm starting all over again from scratch.
My impression is that the ending was determined/written/envisioned right from the start in the late 1980's, not as recent as 2003.

I am on the second book on my second readthrough. I havn't read any since I was in highschool, and figured by the time I catch up the last one should be out shortly thereafter. Stupid life, getting in the way of my leisure time...lol



Lol ... Yeah, life has a way of getting in the way of nice things such as rest, leisure, and relaxation!

[Oldschool]

First a question to any/all before I get sidetracked. On reread (once all of the WoT "proper" (this terminology will be clear later if it's not now) is finished) I'm pondering over starting with the prequel or the first book in the series. Any ideas?

Oh and another question related to the above. The prequel novel was initially shorter and contained in an anthology, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legends_%28book%29

Jordan then expanded it into it's WoT "version". And actually it was supposed to be the first in a series of three trilogy prequels. Sanderson may finish the prequel series out but as far as I know that decision won't be made until the series proper is complete. Does anyone know anything more definitive?

And re: other WoT stuff.... It used to be available online from Tor's website but it isn't anymore but there's the short,The Strike at Shayol Ghul which is included in the reference book that's already (and been out - can't recall the title atm).

Anyhoo back to Elrond's initial question/reply.....

That's my understanding as well. From the link,

Robert Jordan frequently said that the final scene of the series was one of the first that he imagined at the very beginning of his story development process in the 1980's.

According to Brandon Sanderson, this final scene was written personally by Robert Jordan before he died and will be in the book exactly as he intended it.

I'm assuming one of the links or the vid in my link mentions 2003 as I don't recall seeing any date. Considering the volume of stuff, including "instructions" if I recall correctly, he left behind it's not a stretch to think that he fleshed that final vision out.

Btw, there's a documentary on Jordan due out sometime this fall,

http://vimeo.com/978954

http://wots.spiralent.com/The_Film.html

[Drashika]

The 'prequel‘, if you haven’t read it, takes place about twenty years before the first book of the series. It covers the search of a young Aes Sedi (Moraine sp?) who is following up on leads for finding the dragon reborn. I would personally just read the original series, but that’s just me.

Oh, and as far as finishing the prequel series, I don't know. I know Jordan didn't because his fans didn't want to wait so long between series books for him to make prequels. Other than that I don't know.

[Tetracapillactomist]

(Moraine sp?)

Pretty much. Moiraine.

[Oldschool]

Thanks and that's what I've been leaning towards. I'll probably do the sequel later since I read it after it came out and I was current (or close to current) with the series at that time. Wouldn't be the same as someone just starting the series even if I did read it first since I've read everything up to when Sanderson started. Nothing against him but after Jordan passed I decided to reread everything from scratch once it's finished.

Did a little googling re: the prequels after my post and while there may be a more definitive answer (as this link is over a year old) it seems the prequels may indeed be up in the air till the series is finished.

From, http://13depository.blogspot.com/2010/04/jordancon-report.html

Future Books: The main series and the Encyclopedia will be completed and then Harriet will decide if she wants the prequel novels written - one about Tam’s experiences as a soldier and finding Rand, and one about Moiraine’s hunt for the Dragon Reborn and how she arrived in the nick of time in the Two Rivers - with Tam's adventures just before finding Rand and one with Moraine and Lan just before they arrive in the Two Rivers in the nick of time – or the later novel about Mat and Tuon in Seanchan. If the novels are written, Brandon will be the writer to keep the voice consistent.

I even found some references to a planned series taking place after events in the WoT but nothing even semi official so I'm not putting much into it. However, it seems one issue re: finishing the prequels or not may be how much stuff (notes, outlines, etc...) Jordan left behind or didn't leave behind regarding the prequels.

[Drashika]

Just to add to that, there was talks of a TV show a while ago (2003 I think) but Jordan and the network couldn't finalize anything. However, there are rumors of possible movies starting with "The Eye of the World" and an MMORPG. I don't know if It'll come to anything, but I hope so.

[Oldschool]

Yep I remember talks of the movie and found the online game but haven't taken time to delve into it. Plus I don't need another computer game/site on my plate so to speak. And from what I've read it seems to focus on PvP but I could be wrong. I've played D&D Online and enjoyed it but for time reasons I've not played it for quite some time. I liked it because you can play solo - at least up to the point I stopped (around level 5 or 6) and then even if solo play is unrealistic at high(er) levels it's more of a co-op thing than PvP from my recollection.

From the WoTMUD wiki, One feature that distinguishes the Wheel of Time MUD from others, aside from its theme, is the unrestricted player-killing, known on the MUD as "PK" (what some other MMORPGs call "PvP"). Beginners are not given any special protection, nor is player-killing restricted to certain areas or level ranges. The Wheel of Time MUD argues that this feature moves the game beyond a pure roleplay game (where you can pretend to be dangerous) to a more realistic form of roleplay (where in order to pretend to be dangerous, you actually have to be competent).

http://wot.wikia.com/wiki/WotMUD

Anyhoo here's the site I'm referring to, http://www.wotmud.org/

[Drashika]

I've actually played the mud before...meh, it's there...lol. I would like to see a Bioware, or Bethesda WoT game though.

[thingirl]

The Light illuminate you, Drashika!

And welcome to the forum :). Myself, I only just found WoT like this summer. And I'm only on book 4 reading the series the first time :).

[Drashika]

Well, thank you thingirl. How do you like the series so far? I forget what all you know at this point in the books, so I won't say anything to spoil it for you...lol

[thingirl]

:)

I wish I could go to the White Tower... :) I know I'd be either Blue or Green :D. Although I'd probably also fit well as Brown :). But not Red. Never Red.

Yeah, umm... Can you tell I love it? I usually bond with the Female characters (Heh... Bond to the Aes Sedai :)), and this is no exception :). Oh, yeah, and Rand is cool too. :) And Perrin would be cooler if he wasn't being such a wool-brained fool about this whole Wolfbrother thing....

And thanks for the no spoilers :). (I just read about Egwene's first meeting with Amys. Also, Rand just did that lightning thingy to kill all the Shadowspawn inside the Stone.) And it's intersting that Egwene Stilled someone in Tel'aran'rhiod...

[Drashika]

If you think that's interresting, just you wait, sister! Lol, I started reading the books when I was in high school, and I could have picked the cast of that book out of the people I knew (with myself being Rand, of course). I think my favorite character is probably Matt...he has such an interresting personality along with his...abilities. I have always liked the whole, 'Con Man' idea, though.

[thingirl]

Shouldn't that be Sister? I just said I wanted to be Aes Sedai.... LOL :)

Why does he need to be a full-out con man with his luck? Although it'll be interesting what will come of his speaking in the Old Tongue. :)

[Drashika]

Well, he was before the luck thing set in. I do like what happens to him after that test...that's all I'll say, because if you havn't been there yet it would ruin it...lol, and yes, I did mean Sister.;)

[thingirl]

I wouldn't quite say Con Man so much as constant troublemaker. Huh? What test? Related to the Dagger? Or the Old Tongue? Ha. Good thing I read fast :).

[Elrond]

Make sure you stay away from those Wise Ones. They can be cruel :) . And those Aiel. They're my favorite race in the books (up till 10 as I haven't read past that).

[Drashika]

They are super cool. I would have liked to read more on the war...

[spencer]

Sorry that I am so late in posting here, but my welcome is sincere all the same!! Having read through the thread, I now want to restart my reading on the WoT series. I think that I read the first five, but it has been many years since I have picked one up.

[Drashika]

Thanks, Spencer! And yes, you should re-read all the books. Just my humble opinion...lol:)

[thingirl]

Make sure you stay away from those Wise Ones. They can be cruel :) . And those Aiel. They're my favorite race in the books (up till 10 as I haven't read past that).

But I love Egwene! (at least, I assume that Moraine lets her go to the Waste...)

And I agree on the Aeil. I love the Maidens of the Spear. Actually, a combination of a Maiden and a Wise One (actually closer to Aes Sedai) is what I usually envision my characters as.