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So how much of AMOL was real - i.e. RJ's intention, as opposed to Branfiction? Shannow Send a noteboard - 01/02/2013 01:48:16 PM
This is a question of great significance to me.

After reaching the end of the series on which years of theories have been based, many people have been waiting eagerly to get their theories either confirmed or proven wrong.

So at the end of it all, what bugs me is how much of what Brandon wrote in AMOL was "real" canon - i.e. RJ's thoughts on any particular matter - and how much did he make up?

For example:

Did Brandon change Demandred's identity from Roedran to some random Sharan savior after seeing the internet speculation on the matter?

Did RJ state that Lan would kill Demandred or did he merely outline that Demandred would die after a long battle involving the bulk of the Light's forces?

Did RJ prescribe that Demandred would engage in three swordfighting duels with lightside blademasters - despite all indications up to now being that Demandred was more of a statesman than a sportsman like Sammael - or did Brandon do that solely to get a reason for Lan to be the one that got to kill Demandred in the end?

Personally, I was surprised that Demandred even owned a sword, after the disdain he displayed toward the primitive customs of this time, and the fact that nothing in his write up thus far referred to any hint of sword skills.

Brandon even inserted a random line to seemingly cover this discrepancy, when Gawyn or Galad mentioned that he hadn't heard before that Demandred was a renowned swordsman and was therefore surprised at Demandred's skill.

This is a very stupid line, given that we are told earlier in the series that even the White Tower's knowledge of the Forsaken was based on scraps of information, and that Moiraine's limited knowledge in the early series was pretty much the extent of what even the Tower libraries knew about the Forsaken.

Therefore no one like Gawyn or Galad would even expect to know which of the Forsaken were renowned swordsmen or anything else for that matter. Gawyn should not have thought Demandred's skill to be something unexpected, as he should have been totally unaware of anything related to Demandred whatsoever in the first place. Gawyn should not know as much about Demandred as we do, who have had access to the deepest levels of information available, unlike Gawyn.

This would make it seem as if Brandon completely invented Demandred's whole swordfighting plot arc in AMOL, and threw in that random line just to try and soften the impact a bit.

The questions are endless, but what I am trying to determine is how much of AMOL answers longstanding questions on for example the comparative strength of channelers based on RJ's own views, and how much of it is simply interpretation and adaption from Brandons' imagination?

Can a normal Aes Sedai really split her flows three ways and simultaneously shield two full Ashaman?

In Brandon's view she can, but this is not at all the impression that RJ has conveyed up to now.

Was Egwene's death clearly described by RJ, or did Brandon make up the manner of her death, being told simply that she dies heroically in the Last Battle?

I guess the question is, can we take ANYTHING in AMOL as canon according to RJ, or is everything suspect due to Brandon's faulty understanding of RJ's views?

This message last edited by Shannow on 01/02/2013 at 01:57:20 PM
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So how much of AMOL was real - i.e. RJ's intention, as opposed to Branfiction? - 01/02/2013 01:48:16 PM 2399 Views
Swordsmanship is not a primitive game - 01/02/2013 02:16:27 PM 1132 Views
The sword thing is just one of many..and no, there is no hint that Asmodean was a swordsman either.. - 01/02/2013 02:26:04 PM 1799 Views
Yes there is - 01/02/2013 02:31:28 PM 1177 Views
That's part of the Branfiction. - 01/02/2013 02:39:01 PM 1122 Views
Re: Yes there is - 01/02/2013 04:20:37 PM 1085 Views
*double post* *NM* - 02/02/2013 02:22:04 AM 496 Views
Re: It's rather the opposite.... - 02/02/2013 02:23:34 AM 1469 Views
Really? - 02/02/2013 09:45:38 AM 1298 Views
I just wonder how Harriet could fail to choose you over Brandon *NM* - 02/02/2013 02:29:00 PM 648 Views
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Re: Swordsmanship is not a primitive game - 01/02/2013 02:36:18 PM 974 Views
Re: Swordsmanship is not a primitive game - 01/02/2013 05:07:39 PM 1253 Views
There are legitimate complaints out there, but most of these don't qualify. - 01/02/2013 03:13:18 PM 1172 Views
A few things - 02/02/2013 07:21:19 AM 1288 Views
Re: A few things - 02/02/2013 01:38:34 PM 1012 Views
I wasn't taking sides - 03/02/2013 06:29:59 AM 930 Views
Re: I wasn't taking sides - 18/02/2013 08:59:24 PM 845 Views
The things that primarily irked me. - 10/02/2013 11:08:29 AM 935 Views

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