Robert Jordan - Wheel of Time - Towers of Midnight [SPOILERS]

Lu Tze

Howdy all

This is due to be released in the next few weeks and i was wondering if there was a good place to get a relatvely thorough synopsis of the previous books?

I remember when the last one was released in the lead up i read all the previous books but thats not an option this time (moved abroad) and anyways i was starting to forget what had happened in earlier books by the time i got to book 11!

Any suggestions?

Zapp Brannigan

Wikipedia?

Lu Tze

Cheers, had already glanced at that, was hoping for something that would be detailed enough to be about a 10 hour read, as opposed to a 10 week read for the books!

It will do in the absence of anything else

fitz

You should be able to find chapter summaries online. I read summaries for the previos books before the last one came out, and it was a brilliant way to refresh. Took about a week...

sushisushi

Some more detailed summaries here, along with handy things like character bios (useful for keeping all those names straight!)

Zapp Brannigan

might do this myself as there's no way I could do an entire re-read. (I've also lost all my books and don't really want to buy them all again )

ArthurG

Encyclopedia link above is really good - you can go trhough the entire series in a few hours (or days depending on how distracted you get with all the info in there!!).

Personally, I think reading the last book (which I did over the last 2 weeks) is more beneficial, but that personal choice.

By the way a few spoiler free reviews have appeared for ToM - seems like some BIG things go down - can't wait for the book....

http://13depository.blogspot.com/2010/10/towers-of-midnight-news.html

Lu Tze

ArthurG wrote: »

Encyclopedia link above is really good - you can go trhough the entire series in a few hours (or days depending on how distracted you get with all the info in there!!).

Personally, I think reading the last book (which I did over the last 2 weeks) is more beneficial, but that personal choice.

By the way a few spoiler free reviews have appeared for ToM - seems like some BIG things go down - can't wait for the book....

http://13depository.blogspot.com/2010/10/towers-of-midnight-news.html

Though i barely remember it at this stage, and it is probably sacrilegious to say so, but i quite liked the more direct style in the last book. The previous books, while good, i just seemed to struggle through them at times as they were so padded out with stuff, to the point where i was getting more and more irritated with Nynaeve (?) yanking on her fecking hair!

Anyways - i might buy the last book out here in paperback if thats out yet before getting the new one...

Thanks for the links guys

invaderjim

Tor have a really detailed re-read section
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/02/wheel-of-time-re-read-index#EOTW

up to book 9 I think.

OwaynOTT

Anyone know where the book might be released early?

Aiel

Is it out next Monday yes?I too preferred Sanderson's more direct style and not waffling on for 2 pages about what someone is wearing:).Jordan was a genius though and all through my teens i spent many a night engrossed(sp) in the books.
Is there a confirmed release date for it yet?

mar-z

Next Tuesday I think. (as long a Tuesday is Nov. 2nd that is)

I preferred the last book to the 3-4 before it, I don't know whether it's the new writing style Sanderson has brought in or just because things are moving towards the climax of the trilogy but as people said it was more direct which I liked.

Lu Tze

mar-z wrote: »

Next Tuesday I think. (as long a Tuesday is Nov. 2nd that is)

I preferred the last book to the 3-4 before it, I don't know whether it's the new writing style Sanderson has brought in or just because things are moving towards the climax of the trilogy but as people said it was more direct which I liked.

I agree, i think the frustration was building up in the last couple of jordans books as story progression got really slow!

Aiel

Hey Lu Tze-i meant to say there's a guidebook available for the W.O.T.It just summarises the characters though(no plot summaries etc) and explains about Aes Sedai's,Channeling etc and other questions about histories of various people's and region's.It's a big hardback book,i cant remember where i got it years ago,possibily on Amazon.

sushisushi

Aiel, that would be http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_of_Robert_Jordan%27s_The_Wheel_of_Time, also known as the Big Book of Bad Art. There are used copies for sale on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Robert-Jordans-Wheel-Time/dp/0312862199, or you might get it in some secondhand bookshops, as well.

5starpool

Just about to start re-reading the last one now before the new one arrives, hopefully this week.

Aiel

Got soaked today buying the book but i have it so im happy now:).

5starpool

Mine was dispatched from Amazon yesterday, so I should have it by the time I finish re-reading the previous one.

p1000

Where? Eason's don't have it (same as last year...).

Aiel

Easons's in Galway City had stacks of them today.

Yawns

Longford didn't have it today

The bookshop near Subway has some ordered, the expect them in tomorrow. Only about 4 copies tho I think she said. The guy in Easons hadn't heard of The Wheel of Time or Robert Jordan or Brandon Sanderson ... When he was typing it in it started as "Will of Ti...

He was very optimistic that they would have it tho. Shouldn't take longer than 5 - 6 weeks. But Dublin would have it today and then they'll send them out into the country. I just said ok and went to other bookshop.

ArthurG

Got it in Waterstones in Jervis centre today. Am making myself read slowly. Even the first few chapters there have been some brilliant scenes.

got mine in easons yesterday, they had stacks.
Loving it so far. Think I'm about 5/8 through

ixoy

How does it compare to "The Gathering Storm"? I thought that was the best book in a long time in the series.

ixoy

ixoy wrote: »

How does it compare to "The Gathering Storm"? I thought that was the best book in a long time in the series.

I have to say I prefer it, Sanderson seems to be getting better into it. There seemed to be a few more "speeches" this time - does he do speeches in his own books?
You really get a bigger sense of how epic it all is. It also gets a lot of action in there as well, I mean a lot of stuff happens, and a good few :eek: moments.
The characters are really themselves without being exaggerated, and I like what he's done with mat (though I liked that in the last one as well).
You do find out a lot of what happens. And I had to laugh at the chapter "a good soup", reminded me of the infamous "omg a chapter about a BATH?!" from the earlier book - but it did cover more
The general atmosphere in the books is also bringing you closer to the last battle as well, it's not all these events dragging out and you're wondering "get it over already!"

What happened with Aviendha REALLY draws me in, I won't give anything away on that.

but...

But I have to say I think Mesaana's death seemed a little 'easy'. There was a lot of action and everything, don't get me wrong, but the ending for her was a bit anticlimactic.

Oh and Rand after his dragonmount experience... :eek: :eek:
Wish they'd done a bit more about the black tower though.

I really devoured the book in record time though, I'll have to go back and read it again soon
Dying for the next one now though!!! :(

sushisushi

Better, definitely. It's really gaining momentum for the end of the series and there are several Moments of Awesome in there, including a couple of things we've been waiting for for *years*. It is absolutely *massive*, though, some 900 pages!

Lu Tze

bluewolf wrote: »

I have to say I prefer it, Sanderson seems to be getting better into it. There seemed to be a few more "speeches" this time - does he do speeches in his own books?
You really get a bigger sense of how epic it all is. It also gets a lot of action in there as well, I mean a lot of stuff happens, and a good few :eek: moments.
The characters are really themselves without being exaggerated, and I like what he's done with mat (though I liked that in the last one as well).
You do find out a lot of what happens. And I had to laugh at the chapter "a good soup", reminded me of the infamous "omg a chapter about a BATH?!" from the earlier book - but it did cover more
The general atmosphere in the books is also bringing you closer to the last battle as well, it's not all these events dragging out and you're wondering "get it over already!"

What happened with Aviendha REALLY draws me in, I won't give anything away on that.

but...

But I have to say I think Mesaana's death seemed a little 'easy'. There was a lot of action and everything, don't get me wrong, but the ending for her was a bit anticlimactic.

Oh and Rand after his dragonmount experience... :eek: :eek:
Wish they'd done a bit more about the black tower though.

I really devoured the book in record time though, I'll have to go back and read it again soon
Dying for the next one now though!!! :(

Thanks for that, and especially thanks for using spoilers, i hope everybody else will! Hoping to pick this up tomorrow!

pljudge321

bluewolf wrote: »

Dying for the next one now though!!! :(

Only a year and a half to go!!!:D

Corsendonk

Glad to hear it picked up pace! I am avoiding rereading the rest of the series . It might just be better for my mental health if I wait the couple of years for the completed series and go for it! I started it in 92 so might just wait for the 20th year anniversary read off.

ArthurG

Just finished the

Mesanna

chapter, thought it was brilliant - action wise as good as the Seanchan attach on the Tower. I'm still making myself read really slowly as I'm enjoying it so much.....

fitz

Enjoyed it.
Shocking editing though...

StewartJ

fitz wrote: »

Enjoyed it.
Shocking editing though...

Agree totally

Only 100 pages left im really enjoying it dont want it to finish to be honest

pljudge321

Was pretty good, only a year and a half till we can finally finish this series.

Also

Does anyone else feel that the book would have been better if Gawyn had died before Egwene bonded him, or even just after she did. There's no sense of danger in the series anymore, the one main character who was kind of killed off is now back, you'd think that with the last battle so close people would be dropping like flies.

drogdub

Having read the first 4 books is it me or would Perrins story make a good book on its own? The best part of the story?

5starpool

Another really good book thankfully. I enjoyed book 12 more I think, but part of that may have been down to not knowing it was going to be as good as it was. I expected it a bit more this time.

I thought that having a lot of the Perrin story arc happen on the same timeline as a lot of the last book was a bit weird, but that's what will happen when you need to turn it from 1 book into 3 I guess.

I assume

that whitecloak that tried to kill perrin during the battle against the trollocs the person that she had well placed? I expected it to turn out to be Berelain or Alliandre, although that would have been too convenient I guess, since one of them could have killed him at any time

ArthurG

OK - so I finished the book yesterday, same day the Irish Times reports it at top of fiction Bestseller list

There were so many things about the story I loved, I don't know where to begin, but I've listed a few of them below. Most people know this is very much Perrin's story, which worried me a bit as tbh I used to find him a bit dull. Suffice to say my opinion has changed, and Perrin is at the centre of some Epic action. Loved it.

There were also so many poignant moments there too, and I can't believe I'm thinking this, but now that the story is unerringly pointed towards conclusion in 12 months time, I want it to slow down again (almost). I've been reading this series for nearly 20 years, and the thought of these characters stories (I feel that I know them intimately at this stage) ending isn't something I like to consider. Then again, there are neither beginnings nor endings.....

So, some of my best bits in no particular order.... spoiler weave on:

Graendal's escape
Perrin throughout
Perrin stopping balefire - and Egwene's reaction
Mesaana's fall
Finding out who killed Asmo (finally)
Slayer / White Tower Matrix style battle
Nynaeve was BRILLIANT throughout, not least healing the madness and her kick-ass testing
Power forged weapon - a new one!
Moiraine......
Rand's visit to the WT
"You could call me Rand Sedai".....
Aviendha's scary visions of the future
Rand destroying the army of trollocs in Borderlands
Lanfear's reappearance - bad bad feeling about this, particualrly after what SH said to Graendal about 'another being chosen'.....
Finding out wo Boundless is.....
And lastly Lan's final charge, very emotional scene

Well done Robert & Brandon, a fantastic penultimate novel.

xxshebeexx

I stayed up all night last night to finish it - less than 24 hours, a new record for me with WOT

I didn't catch many of these spelling/editing mistakes. Maybe I was reading too fast! In a way, that was good, it didn't spoil anything for me

Towers of Midnight was infinitely better than The Gathering Storm .. although I'm still trying hard to get used to Sanderson. He's good, but I really enjoyed Jordan's slow, rambling style. I guess I'm one of the few people who loved all his flowery, slow additions

Anyone else wonder how Tam al'Thor managed to be a few places at the same time? With Rand, then with Perrin, then somewhere else, supposedly? Maybe we were supposed to guess there were gateways involved but it's never stated, so it comes across as odd.

Perrin's storyline is wonderful.

It's so lovely to finally see him coming into his own. Out of all the central characters, it was beginning to feel like he was being left behind. They all embraced their paths and their destinies (even Mat, despite his reluctance and complaints) but Perrin was doing his utmost to fight it. I wish he would finally defeat Slayer and unmask him. His control of the Wolf Dream and surprising Egwene was just impressive.

He's definitely coming into his own!

Lanfear. Just go away already. Die or whatever.

Mat's story was a little predictable in some ways. We knew what he had to do and

off he went to go and do it. Jain Farstrider's reveal was a little bit of a let down .. because it had already been hinted at, it didn't really have an impact, like it could have. Although, finally, we got to find out more about the original prophecies of the Eelfinn and Aelfinn.. half the light to save the world.. I would never have guessed the meaning of that! And the inscription on the spear.. I love moments when it all becomes clear and so obvious that you kick yourself for not having guessed before - I mean, why did Mat get the spear, if he had not asked for a weapon? Oh, that was delicious!

I don't really understand why it was called The Towers of Midnight. We hardly see the Seanchan enough in the book to warrant it being named after what is in one of their cities. The throwaway snippet of Fortuona was uncomfortable.. I'd started liking her and that's rather gone now.

And ooh, Elaida, you're after messing up big time. Travelling Seanchan is not a good thing, nope.

Aviendha's sections were good, but inappropriately placed. They should have been developed more, or placed in an epilogue, as a haunting prophecy of the future (maybe there won't be a happy ending and so on and so forth).

Badly judged, in my opinion.

Gawyn and Egwene. Finally. Thom and Moiraine? Not so cool. I'm usually all for characters getting together (oh, squee, I'm still a shipper, harking back to my young fandom days!) but this didn't do it for me. Moiraine, I want to know what happened to you, what questions you asked and what you're going to do, not how you want to marry Thom. Thank you. Galad and Berelain .. what beautiful kiddies they'll have!

Overall, fantastic book though! The fast pace was exciting, the characters true and the story just nail biting! Another year for the next one.. argh.

Trojan

I noticed a couple of editing issues at the start of the book, first 100-150 pages or so, but after that either they weren't there or the action was so good I didn't notice.

Super read from start to finish. Loved both Perrin and Matt's story lines.

The more I read later WOT books, the more respect I have for Jordan, the guy must have had an encylopedia for a brain.

ArthurG

ArthurG wrote: »

Perrin stopping balefire - and Egwene's reaction

Finding out who killed Asmo (finally)

#1 - definitely agree, that was brilliant!

#2 - what?! did I miss or forget that?? :eek:

xxshebeexx wrote: »

Aviendha's sections were good, but inappropriately placed. They should have been developed more, or placed in an epilogue, as a haunting prophecy of the future (maybe there won't be a happy ending and so on and so forth).

Badly judged, in my opinion.
.

I don't know, I think it's going to be built on. It's enough of a teaser to make you want more, but we'll know all about it in the next one. So I think anyway.

Trojan

bluewolf wrote: »

#1 - definitely agree, that was brilliant!

#2 - what?! did I miss or forget that?? :eek:




I don't know, I think it's going to be built on. It's enough of a teaser to make you want more, but we'll know all about it in the next one. So I think anyway.

#2 was apparently released in the Glossaryat the back of TGS, which is a bit of a sh!tty way to release it. It was

Graendal

.

xxshebeexx

bluewolf wrote: »

I don't know, I think it's going to be built on. It's enough of a teaser to make you want more, but we'll know all about it in the next one. So I think anyway.

Oh, it was definitely a great teaser and it was really great but I just found the placing off!

matrim

Picked this up yesterday. I'm only on Chapter 3 so far but even this early it seems to be moving at a good pace and going towards to something big happening.

OwaynOTT

Finished it in two days and I liked it more than tGS. What I enjoyed was Perrin's arc and the bits and bobs of some other chapters like Rand and the apples and what was going on in one of the channelers hang outs. Mat was better but the thing been waiting for ages felt a bit rough. The major problem I had with Mat's arc was Noal, bit of a let down.

Can't wait for more of Fain.

Also reading the book again at a much slowing pace. Skipped Perrin's bits again even though I liked. Have to keep up the tradition.

Roll on 2012.

matrim

Finished it now and really enjoyed it. It's the first time I've enjoyed a Perrin storyline since they left the Two Rivers (for the second time).

Moiraine coming back was good, but a bit of an anti-climax after all this time.

I'm not sure about Sanderson's Mat. While I still liked the storyline, I felt that his portrayal of Mat is a little bit off.

Although, It was funny how Oliver's POV was so similar to Mat's

matrim

matrim wrote: »

I'm not sure about Sanderson's Mat. While I still liked the storyline, I felt that his portrayal of Mat is a little bit off.

Although, It was funny how Oliver's POV was so similar to Mat's

It hit me this morning - and I know this is going to put me into the 'get a life' category - that Mat's note to elayne&nynaeve in ebou dar - what was that, book 6 or 7? - had perfect spelling but the Sanderson one was comically bad.

I duno, it was kinda funny and not a big deal... but I think I would have preferred the ok spelling but not very polite approach

Trojan

bluewolf wrote: »

It hit me this morning - and I know this is going to put me into the 'get a life' category - that Mat's note to elayne&nynaeve in ebou dar - what was that, book 6 or 7? - had perfect spelling but the Sanderson one was comically bad.

I duno, it was kinda funny and not a big deal... but I think I would have preferred the ok spelling but not very polite approach

I really didn't like that note, the spelling felt like Sanderson was taking the p!ss out of him.

I thought it was a really great book building up suspense for the Last Book.

phill106

Liked it, but the

tower rescue

seemed a little rushed compared to the whole

long dreamspike bit

Lu Tze

Seeing as i started this thread i think i should comment!

Enjoyed overall - cant remember exactly what it was but remember a feeling of dissatisfaction in the middle of reading the book. Otherwise i think the most striking thing was

the future visions of the aiel, i was in shock i must say, it was a master stroke, especially as it was induced by their own decisions

Aiel

I've about 80 pages left in the book.Its so different to RJ in so many ways.You get the feeling he is really rushing the story now and not really doing it justice.I have to say there was an amazing series of events and scene's in the middle of the book but i wont give away anything.
I liked the fast pace of the book at the start but theres something unsatisfying about it now.Still cant wait to finish this book this weekend and for the last book next year:).

mar-z

Aiel wrote: »

I've about 80 pages left in the book.Its so different to RJ in so many ways.You get the feeling he is really rushing the story now and not really doing it justice.I have to say there was an amazing series of events and scene's in the middle of the book but i wont give away anything.
I liked the fast pace of the book at the start but theres something unsatisfying about it now.Still cant wait to finish this book this weekend and for the last book next year:).

A major complaint/criticism of Jordan's later books in the series is the length of time it took for things to happen, he kind of seemed to get bogged down in the detail and wouldn't let the story progress (as far as I know the series was orignally supposed to be 6/7 books iirc).

There was an awful lot for Sanderson to resolve in what was originally one book. The fact that they extended it to 3 books shows (imo) that it was anything but rushed (unless it was to be say 5 books)

I like the way that things are moving more quickly now as the story is coming to a head, it kind of ties up with the chaos that the 'Dark One' is trying to instill on the world

I think a command from one of the forsaken was "Let the Lord of Chaos rule" or something to that effect

. Thats why I'm unsure whether the new faster pace is something Sanderson is bringing to the series or if it was something planned by Jordan and had he lived (RIP) the books may have been seen as a return to form from people who were critical of the last book or two before. Judging by the amount of events that needed to be tied up/progressed before the end I think it was planned to be more fast paced and urgent as everyone focusses on the last battle.

This wasn't really meant to be quite so long or jumping all over your opinion like it might have ended up (:o) but I feel the pacing is right as things are gearing up to one final confrontation.

What I didn't like about the book were some of the details as mentioned in this thread like Mat's letter and the placement of finding out

who killed Asmodean