I will note that Jordan as always been a very "Southern" writer to me, at least in terms of the style of stories told by a few of the characters within the narrative, not to mention certain character types. It bemused me when I saw the reactions to Cadsuane, for example, as she sounded and acted just like many older aunts/great-aunts that I knew when I was growing up in the 1980s-early 1990s in Tennessee. There are some social elements within that which also reminded me of my native region, not always in a good way.

Agreed on the shallowness of the mythological appropriations. It's something that I suppose can occupy those who try to piece such things together, but it's too "whole cloth" for me, even when he tries to reverse them.

How far have you gotten in your Malazan read? I'm discovering that Erikson/Esslemont's foreshadowing is much, much deeper and subtler than I expected as I'm re-reading their novels after finishing last month the just-released Forge of Darkness. I think that series is an interesting counterpoint to the anticipatory-style approach to reading WoT. I couldn't imagine "theories" about Malazan. Instead, it seems to be something that you read first through a fog, then second to discover what first had appeared to be odd asides and weird little character interactions have now taken on new dimensions. I think this is something that WoT has lacked, that sense of "re-readability" for me.

Agreed on the knowledge theme being butchered.