You're right about the fact that I have mostly contempt for Jordan.
Tom Send a noteboard - 04/06/2010 05:42:49 PM
The reason that I come here is largely by inertia. At wotmania I had stopped going to the WoT board altogether - once I clicked just for fun and it said something like 12,752 new messages since you last viewed this message board.
However, I do want to at least know how it ends. After all, I found the books an interesting diversion through Lord of Chaos. After that it was a boring, fifth-rate diversion. Now, Sanderson has recaptured the spark of the original books and gotten me excited about finding out how it ends.
Defining "serious" literature isn't that hard. It's literature that cuts across genre lines and raises relevant issues about what it means to be human in a way people find aesthetically pleasing.
If you can get people who don't read fantasy to pick up a fantasy book and they uniformly found it meaningful, the book is serious literature. Jordan obviously doesn't qualify.
However, I do want to at least know how it ends. After all, I found the books an interesting diversion through Lord of Chaos. After that it was a boring, fifth-rate diversion. Now, Sanderson has recaptured the spark of the original books and gotten me excited about finding out how it ends.
Defining "serious" literature isn't that hard. It's literature that cuts across genre lines and raises relevant issues about what it means to be human in a way people find aesthetically pleasing.
If you can get people who don't read fantasy to pick up a fantasy book and they uniformly found it meaningful, the book is serious literature. Jordan obviously doesn't qualify.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
Seanchan girls. Do they live in terror until 25?
- 02/06/2010 12:32:14 AM
1785 Views
It's a huge honor to be a sul'dam, and they test for that on the same day
- 02/06/2010 01:06:32 AM
1107 Views
Re: It's a huge honor to be a sul'dam, and they test for that on the same day
- 02/06/2010 01:50:49 AM
1164 Views
Re: It's a huge honor to be a sul'dam, and they test for that on the same day
- 02/06/2010 05:53:14 AM
1133 Views
Re: It's a huge honor to be a sul'dam, and they test for that on the same day
- 04/06/2010 07:19:36 PM
983 Views
A few details to consider
- 02/06/2010 01:11:12 AM
1142 Views
Re: A few details to consider
- 02/06/2010 02:31:08 AM
1152 Views
Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
- 02/06/2010 08:57:43 PM
999 Views
Re: Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
- 03/06/2010 03:38:25 AM
819 Views
Re: Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
- 04/06/2010 07:46:08 PM
886 Views
Nobody knows about Sul'dam because it takes them extra long to learn.
- 03/06/2010 07:58:41 AM
1311 Views
I think they retest only the sul'dam
- 02/06/2010 04:13:55 AM
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I'll have to check my EotW, but I think Eg did have some fevers before Winternight. *NM*
- 02/06/2010 06:34:35 PM
497 Views
Re: I think they retest only the sul'dam
- 04/06/2010 07:55:56 PM
986 Views
Point on the testing
- 08/06/2010 02:15:26 AM
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Re: Point on the testing
- 08/06/2010 02:46:06 PM
1000 Views
I'd think that would be a tiny chance given how diligent the Seanchan are in this regard
- 08/06/2010 02:58:15 PM
1138 Views
Remember, Seancean have no idea channeling can be "learned"
- 02/06/2010 07:04:11 AM
1098 Views
This is how Damane and Sul'Dam are determined, straight from tGH
- 03/06/2010 08:14:03 AM
1963 Views
That doesn't make sense. Are you sure they don't put the BRACELET on the girls, not the collar?
- 04/06/2010 01:35:08 AM
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I am absolutely sure. Quote from book.
- 04/06/2010 03:09:08 AM
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*NM*
Toun, though too young can be collared
- 06/06/2010 03:29:29 AM
891 Views
I don't think Tuon will ever Channel
- 06/06/2010 03:39:16 AM
1042 Views
Re: I don't think Tuon will ever Channel
- 06/06/2010 05:07:40 AM
901 Views
I just see all of that as potential plot lines for the planned follow-up Mat/Tuon in Seanchan novels
- 08/06/2010 02:09:26 AM
1114 Views
Not at all
- 02/06/2010 03:52:31 PM
910 Views
As with most things in Jordan's universe, I don't think it was thought through very seriously.
- 03/06/2010 08:05:04 PM
928 Views
Huh?
- 03/06/2010 08:44:35 PM
1029 Views
Sure
- 03/06/2010 09:00:40 PM
1070 Views
Bah...
- 03/06/2010 09:51:09 PM
969 Views
Jordan definitely made mistakes with the Ajahs. In particular, the Black Ajah ones who fled.
- 03/06/2010 10:56:39 PM
980 Views
Re: Sure
- 04/06/2010 04:55:23 AM
1078 Views
I don't know if that's totally true
- 04/06/2010 12:09:29 PM
928 Views
Maybe you don't read that much serious literature? I just don't see why you are arguing this.
- 04/06/2010 03:47:50 PM
915 Views
I actually don't read much fiction at all to be honest
- 04/06/2010 04:00:03 PM
950 Views
You're right about the fact that I have mostly contempt for Jordan.
- 04/06/2010 05:42:49 PM
926 Views
Meh
- 04/06/2010 05:03:41 PM
970 Views
I love that: "I'm convinced Rand al'Thor is the most monotonous man in the world."
- 04/06/2010 05:47:01 PM
878 Views
I think the number of characters directly contributes to the situation.
- 04/06/2010 03:51:42 PM
875 Views
Re: I think the number of characters directly contributes to the situation.
- 04/06/2010 05:04:52 PM
823 Views
Brandon brings out supporting chars. better, it's true.
- 04/06/2010 03:17:52 AM
971 Views
You're absolutely right. Sanderson gets "inside" the characters a bit more. *NM*
- 04/06/2010 03:52:29 PM
397 Views