Active Users:688 Time:13/08/2026 11:38:41 PM
So very little was resolved and much was set into motion, then? Larry Send a noteboard - 12/04/2010 06:55:45 PM
I think even a first time reader of the WoT should realize that "the damn point of all this" is basically that Rand & his friends unite the Westlands and prepare humankind (and themselves) for the Last Battle against the plottings of the Shadow or other factions.


I seem to recall (and again, my memory may be faulty after a decade of not reading the books in question) that this narrative thrust starts to become quite blunted around this point, with thousands of pages devoted to less plot advancement than was the case for the first 3-4 books.

In TFoH Rand leads his new army out of the Waste, defeats most of the Shaido, wins two of the main countries, namely Cairhien and Caemlyn (by killing a major villian Rahvin). Personally Rand becomes a more capable channeler through Asmo's teachings, starts to regularily hear LTT's voice (madness?) and learns the ways of the Aiel, especially through Aviendha (they also fall in love in this book with each other).


Oh, the zombie Shaido? How long before they were truly dispersed? Six books? And the main character just "leveled up" and that's the main 'development,' outside of the madman? Sounds more like execrable development than anything truly momentous.

Besides that on top of my head, most notably: Moiraine and Lanfear "kill" each other. Bashere joins Rand's side. Egwene learns to become an Aiel Dreamwalker and falls in love with Gawyn. Rand announces to create an army of male channelers. Asmo is killed. Mat becomes more and more a general and builds the Band of the Red Hand. The Wondergirls, hunted by Elaida, are responsible for a war between the Prophet Masema and the Whitecloaks (Galad is with them), capture Moghedien, ally with Birgitte and find the Rebel AS. Siuan, Min, Logain, Bryne, etc. join with the Rebel AS as well. Fain gets his dagger back and corrupts Elaida a bit. Morgase & Co. flee from Caemlyn.


All stuff with implications for later. What was resolved?

Sure, not everything is resolved, because this isn't the last book in the series, but a book in the middle of the series. There are new things and characters introduced. However, IMO there is definitely a lot of progress - besides the circus episode - regarding the development of the characters and the overall plot.


Very little was resolved, nor were the things you mention have much in the way of resolution for several more books. Is it any wonder that around this point that these 5-7 "middle volumes" read like Chs. 45-56 in a Dickens-length novel? Lots of verbiage and slowing progression, it seems.
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie

Je suis méchant.
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Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 19/03/2010 09:30:25 PM 13633 Views
A question for Larry - 19/03/2010 09:40:37 PM 3551 Views
Roberto Bolaño - 19/03/2010 11:09:57 PM 3516 Views
I completely agree with his review. - 19/03/2010 11:11:17 PM 3521 Views
Ouch! Somebody pull that guy off RJ! *NM* - 20/03/2010 03:47:07 AM 1754 Views
Can't say that I really disagree. - 20/03/2010 05:19:26 AM 2825 Views
My problem with the reviews: - 20/03/2010 06:29:08 AM 3546 Views
Hear Hear !!! ....................... = ........................ *NM* - 20/03/2010 06:37:11 AM 1680 Views
I agree - 20/03/2010 11:19:29 AM 2934 Views
You know what else I'm finding annoying? - 07/04/2010 07:29:37 AM 2815 Views
Fully Agree *NM* - 21/06/2010 12:41:05 AM 1544 Views
well I agree and disagree - 20/03/2010 06:51:29 AM 3170 Views
Re: well I agree and disagree - 20/03/2010 02:12:43 PM 2728 Views
I'd say just The Eye of the World - 20/03/2010 05:26:19 PM 2859 Views
Indeed - 21/03/2010 12:34:19 AM 2709 Views
These reviews are pathetic - 20/03/2010 12:52:22 PM 2719 Views
I'm amused by some of the responses - 20/03/2010 07:20:03 PM 3175 Views
+1 *NM* - 20/03/2010 10:48:14 PM 1877 Views
Are you suggesting that we are unqualified to disagree with him ? - 20/03/2010 11:21:44 PM 2883 Views
No, I said rather that it's ridiculous to make such disparaging comments about his takes - 20/03/2010 11:37:56 PM 2899 Views
I considered doing so - 21/03/2010 12:27:27 AM 2719 Views
I will reply to myself: What's the problem McFly , chicken ? - 21/03/2010 12:29:36 AM 2744 Views
My sister called me chicken once - 10/04/2010 01:18:31 AM 2777 Views
what's wrong runt... are you yellah? *NM* - 10/04/2010 10:40:16 AM 1612 Views
NICE! *NM* - 10/04/2010 02:19:44 PM 1470 Views
Re: I'm amused by some of the responses - 23/03/2010 04:50:42 PM 2785 Views
And I'm even more amused by this response - 24/03/2010 01:11:50 AM 2732 Views
Re: And I'm even more amused by this response - 24/03/2010 03:03:28 AM 2613 Views
Nah, TGS was the only serious review of the series I've done - 24/03/2010 04:31:28 AM 2680 Views
On a completely unrelated note... - 24/03/2010 06:15:25 AM 2643 Views
Ha! - 24/03/2010 06:34:48 AM 2613 Views
My congratulations then . *NM* - 24/03/2010 06:36:11 AM 2547 Views
You say it as if I had been condemned to hell! - 24/03/2010 07:13:45 AM 2472 Views
No. Well, maybe. - 24/03/2010 06:52:28 PM 2629 Views
! - 24/03/2010 06:54:34 PM 2662 Views
Re: Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 22/03/2010 02:47:23 PM 2813 Views
Re: Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 23/03/2010 01:53:16 PM 2710 Views
Wow, you guys have completely missed the point of the Wheel of Time series - 22/03/2010 05:28:07 PM 2766 Views
There's a point to it? - 22/03/2010 06:47:12 PM 2745 Views
Yes, RJ has explained it at least a few times and the main sequence of each book invokes his message *NM* - 24/03/2010 02:09:01 AM 1625 Views
You're not taking me seriously now, are you? - 24/03/2010 02:54:37 AM 2672 Views
I meant the reason why RJ wrote WoT in the first place - 24/03/2010 06:39:47 AM 2659 Views
I thought the point was to write about a bunch of stuff happening? - 09/04/2010 03:42:49 PM 2750 Views
Re: Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 23/03/2010 04:54:38 PM 2716 Views
pfft wth-ever - 26/03/2010 12:35:53 AM 2547 Views
Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was - 26/03/2010 12:28:19 PM 2791 Views
bla bla bla - 29/03/2010 06:17:07 AM 2694 Views
Usually, it's spelled "blah" - 29/03/2010 07:03:51 AM 2642 Views
Wow. That post was more entertaining than Mr. Roberts' review. Thank you *NM* - 29/03/2010 08:23:41 AM 1794 Views
You must have low standards for entertainment - 29/03/2010 08:54:03 AM 2645 Views
Re: You must have low standards for entertainment - 29/03/2010 09:13:44 AM 2731 Views
I know you were, thus the at the least of my comment - 29/03/2010 09:19:30 AM 2556 Views
Unimpressed - 29/03/2010 10:50:07 PM 3047 Views
Thank you - 30/03/2010 12:35:39 AM 2481 Views
*Standing ovation for DomA* - 30/03/2010 07:36:59 AM 2756 Views
Yes. Also, Roberts is a wanker. *NM* - 05/04/2010 09:28:57 PM 1634 Views
Re: Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was - 29/03/2010 04:32:23 PM 2764 Views
Might want to re-read their Wikis again. - 29/03/2010 07:07:11 PM 2574 Views
Awards - 29/03/2010 07:42:03 PM 2543 Views
That link is out of date - 29/03/2010 07:54:56 PM 2524 Views
Re: That link is out of date - 29/03/2010 08:22:03 PM 2715 Views
This is a battle of win/lose? - 29/03/2010 08:47:54 PM 2564 Views
Re: This is a battle of win/lose? - 29/03/2010 09:03:07 PM 2590 Views
*considers employing the Chewbacca defense* - 29/03/2010 09:28:06 PM 2619 Views
Re: *considers employing the Chewbacca defense* - 29/03/2010 09:44:58 PM 2783 Views
The final point explains the "defense" - 30/03/2010 12:24:56 AM 2534 Views
Re: The final point explains the "defense" - 30/03/2010 01:33:04 PM 2465 Views
No, no, no - 30/03/2010 06:38:41 PM 2516 Views
Re: No, no, no - 30/03/2010 07:51:34 PM 2622 Views
Still continuing, huh? - 31/03/2010 02:10:13 AM 2584 Views
Re: Still continuing, huh? - 31/03/2010 03:56:57 PM 2577 Views
Those were polls - 31/03/2010 08:46:07 PM 2573 Views
Re: Those were polls - 05/04/2010 03:22:13 PM 2483 Views
Does it gives him right to insult me? - 13/04/2011 02:10:32 PM 2552 Views
I wouldn't know. Was he speaking directly to you? - 14/04/2011 11:28:16 PM 2655 Views
He's now reviewed the third book - 26/03/2010 12:27:16 PM 2794 Views
Well, this time I must disagree with him . - 29/03/2010 07:31:40 AM 2507 Views
I don't think he was claiming that RJ was alone in doing that - 29/03/2010 07:44:07 AM 2521 Views
Hah! - 29/03/2010 06:07:28 PM 2508 Views
Well... - 29/03/2010 06:52:10 PM 2434 Views
Differing perspectives, I guess. - 29/03/2010 07:58:13 PM 2607 Views
I suppose - 29/03/2010 08:50:43 PM 2523 Views
Re: I suppose - 30/03/2010 12:18:30 AM 2693 Views
True - 30/03/2010 12:23:28 AM 2525 Views
Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue? - 30/03/2010 12:52:01 AM 2516 Views
Re: Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue? - 30/03/2010 07:45:08 AM 2713 Views
But why only them? - 30/03/2010 08:07:00 AM 2595 Views
Re: But why only them? - 30/03/2010 03:56:54 PM 2597 Views
Re: But why only them? - 30/03/2010 08:29:37 PM 2684 Views
I really liked a lot of the minor characters in The Great Hunt. - 30/03/2010 12:49:03 AM 2533 Views
I barely thought twice about those, to be honest - 30/03/2010 06:39:55 PM 2576 Views
I can't wait what he's going to try to do with TFoH and beyond - 28/03/2010 08:18:59 PM 2663 Views
Glad you enjoyed it - 29/03/2010 09:33:43 PM 2497 Views
The Shadow Rising review - 02/04/2010 09:42:53 AM 2826 Views
I wonder if this borders on trolling - 02/04/2010 02:29:58 PM 11335 Views
You want complaining? You got it... - 02/04/2010 06:38:09 PM 2650 Views
That would be a mistake - 02/04/2010 09:16:25 PM 2805 Views
Re: That would be a mistake - 02/04/2010 10:28:56 PM 2546 Views
I agree, Roberts is more and more coming across to me as just bitter - 10/04/2010 01:24:52 AM 2651 Views
Little late to this one as well - 10/04/2010 11:12:04 AM 2699 Views
Perhaps you should have led with this bit - 10/04/2010 02:52:23 PM 2775 Views
Re: I wonder if this borders on trolling - 04/04/2010 09:16:22 AM 2656 Views
What review? I couldn't find one... - 02/04/2010 08:00:45 PM 2753 Views
Re: What review? I couldn't find one... - 02/04/2010 09:22:13 PM 2762 Views
See my comment below - 02/04/2010 09:32:54 PM 2830 Views
Re: See my comment below - 03/04/2010 09:31:22 AM 3157 Views
Sorry I'm late in responding, but I've been quite busy this week - 07/04/2010 09:45:48 PM 3010 Views
Yes, I can probably agree with what you say here. - 08/04/2010 12:29:16 AM 2465 Views
- 08/04/2010 12:32:53 AM 2604 Views
I agree completely. *NM* - 02/04/2010 09:53:44 PM 1515 Views
Speaking of irritation - 02/04/2010 10:50:04 PM 2708 Views
Commentary, then? - 02/04/2010 09:27:18 PM 2609 Views
Here's the thing... - 02/04/2010 10:11:18 PM 2541 Views
Re: Here's the thing... - 02/04/2010 10:31:56 PM 2413 Views
Re: Here's the thing... - 03/04/2010 01:34:05 AM 2437 Views
I somehow overlooked this last week, it seems - 10/04/2010 11:01:17 AM 2775 Views
Indeed - 02/04/2010 10:34:00 PM 2431 Views
Re: Commentary, then? - 05/04/2010 03:44:07 PM 2490 Views
for a man that bitterly complains about an author who is padding his work - 08/04/2010 09:41:07 PM 2729 Views
1400 words is long-winded? - 09/04/2010 10:07:41 AM 2770 Views
since you can sum up those 1400 words in about 25 yes that's longwinded - 09/04/2010 01:36:16 PM 2643 Views
Except I didn't really sum it up, as I left out quite a bit - 10/04/2010 11:15:42 AM 2674 Views
You are very defensive over this - 10/04/2010 01:54:15 PM 2465 Views
Nah, more of a devil's advocate than anything else - 12/04/2010 03:57:12 AM 2533 Views
Re: Nah, more of a devil's advocate than anything else - 12/04/2010 05:30:53 PM 2461 Views
You sound like a Goodkind webmaster from a couple of years ago - 12/04/2010 06:58:42 PM 2545 Views
You don't come across as a devil's advocate - 30/03/2011 03:07:32 PM 2571 Views
Well Larry I have started reading Gradsil by Adam Roberts - 07/04/2010 08:59:28 PM 2699 Views
I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes! - 07/04/2010 09:50:39 PM 2578 Views
Re: I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes! - 08/04/2010 01:06:20 PM 2474 Views
Which Invisible Man? - 09/04/2010 09:58:44 AM 2645 Views
Re: Which Invisible Man? - 09/04/2010 01:26:42 PM 2683 Views
I have a very different take on that book - 10/04/2010 11:17:13 AM 2528 Views
Re: I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes! - 09/04/2010 01:45:44 PM 2591 Views
Hrmm... - 10/04/2010 11:19:01 AM 2411 Views
Re: Well Larry I have started reading Gradsil by Adam Roberts - 12/04/2010 05:37:36 PM 2644 Views
He brings up some interesting points, if in an unnecessarily rude manner - 08/04/2010 12:42:25 PM 2576 Views
To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much - 09/04/2010 10:05:49 AM 2596 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much - 09/04/2010 01:28:17 PM 3137 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much - 10/04/2010 11:40:22 AM 2612 Views
why are you so bothered by people being unimpressed with Roberts? - 10/04/2010 02:19:08 PM 2613 Views
I don't understand it either - 11/04/2010 12:44:25 PM 2591 Views
right? - 11/04/2010 02:13:00 PM 2616 Views
Nah - 12/04/2010 04:13:44 AM 2428 Views
And in vol. 5, Roberts discovers the horrors of the circus - 09/04/2010 09:57:03 AM 2590 Views
5 reviews without saying more than "I hate the series" - 09/04/2010 01:31:13 PM 2462 Views
Basically he just states the "nothing happens"-argument... - 09/04/2010 03:26:02 PM 2490 Views
Well, what was really resolved here? - 10/04/2010 11:25:25 AM 2565 Views
Well... - 12/04/2010 05:05:20 PM 2673 Views
well exactly - 12/04/2010 05:33:11 PM 2674 Views
So very little was resolved and much was set into motion, then? - 12/04/2010 06:55:45 PM 2633 Views
Yes... - 12/04/2010 10:51:08 PM 2382 Views
Ever read Umberto Eco's How To Travel with a Salmon? - 12/04/2010 11:07:19 PM 2729 Views
I guess... - 13/04/2010 10:03:03 AM 2716 Views
Sounds like you value prolixity for the sake of prolixity, to be honest - 13/04/2010 04:41:07 PM 3829 Views
Nah... - 13/04/2010 05:29:34 PM 2376 Views
He's read and enjoyed Proust, among others - 13/04/2010 07:37:39 PM 2530 Views
Ah, well... - 13/04/2010 09:45:45 PM 2433 Views
Dismissive, much? - 13/04/2010 10:52:30 PM 2625 Views
About that bifurcation... - 14/04/2010 02:02:15 AM 2598 Views
I'm rather moderate - 14/04/2010 10:11:30 AM 2545 Views
I'm just a liberation theologist at heart - 15/04/2010 01:51:16 PM 3393 Views
So, if you don't mind... - 13/04/2010 05:51:06 AM 2620 Views
That's fine with me - 13/04/2010 06:31:41 AM 2564 Views
I'm sorry, but he's totally right. "The Circus" made me put down this series for 5 YEARS. - 09/04/2010 03:38:16 PM 2584 Views
I didn't find it quite that bad, but... - 11/04/2010 08:27:52 AM 2589 Views
LoC represented a sharp drop in quality!!? - 19/05/2010 03:27:21 PM 2556 Views
And ignores everything else... - 09/04/2010 05:10:00 PM 2685 Views
Inchoatus went offline a couple of years ago - 10/04/2010 11:42:26 AM 3522 Views
This guy is going to get what he deserves... - 09/04/2010 10:26:14 PM 2550 Views
I'm waiting with bated breath for his CoT review *NM* - 10/04/2010 01:00:59 PM 1601 Views
Just wanted to point out that he is not reviewing the series. - 16/04/2010 04:04:49 PM 2475 Views
Lord of Chaos commentary - 16/04/2010 03:39:39 PM 2565 Views
He has reached - The Hump. - 16/04/2010 03:55:51 PM 2501 Views
Re: He has reached - The Hump. - 18/04/2010 08:08:59 AM 2934 Views
No no. It was Lord of Heaven! - 16/04/2010 05:51:11 PM 2454 Views
Yeah, I noticed that - 16/04/2010 11:16:26 PM 2373 Views
I would love the see him review Goodkind... - 16/04/2010 11:51:07 PM 2590 Views
Finally re-read that post - 20/04/2010 09:35:45 PM 2569 Views
The magic items are mostly irrelevant... - 21/04/2010 03:37:36 AM 2535 Views
A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn? - 23/04/2010 08:36:17 AM 2635 Views
Re: A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn? - 29/04/2010 06:02:28 PM 2561 Views
I disagree - 29/04/2010 09:34:49 PM 2388 Views
I agree. - 29/04/2010 09:45:29 PM 2594 Views
Took me a moment to realize with whom you were agreeing - 29/04/2010 10:19:05 PM 2530 Views
Well, I did mention the necklines get overdone... - 06/05/2010 06:17:46 PM 2845 Views
Well, there's now also the tea to comment about - 07/05/2010 11:29:03 AM 2638 Views
A bit of a stumble this week - 30/04/2010 01:53:31 PM 2645 Views
The Path of Daggers commentary - 07/05/2010 10:39:03 AM 2707 Views
You'd think a Brit would like the tea... *NM* - 11/05/2010 04:05:42 PM 1452 Views
Maybe he's just a contrarian? - 11/05/2010 07:55:43 PM 2453 Views
Winter's Heart - 21/05/2010 12:46:14 PM 2717 Views
To be fair - 21/05/2010 01:56:49 PM 2812 Views
I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read - 21/05/2010 04:49:31 PM 2556 Views
Re: I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read - 25/05/2010 05:05:09 PM 2707 Views
WH was my least favorite novel in the series, and that is saying a lot. - 28/05/2010 03:15:13 PM 2532 Views
I completely agree with his KoD post. Here is my favorite quote: - 28/05/2010 03:08:31 PM 2860 Views
CoT, you mean (link to actual post included) - 28/05/2010 04:56:10 PM 2692 Views
Yep, I meant COT. *NM* - 28/05/2010 07:02:48 PM 1444 Views
Knife of Dreams - 18/06/2010 09:07:27 AM 2585 Views
Re: Knife of Dreams - 19/06/2010 05:49:38 AM 2669 Views
Agree... - 19/06/2010 05:08:44 PM 2585 Views
Roberts reflects back on WoT 1-11, with answers to questions asked of him - 25/06/2010 12:51:29 PM 2684 Views
This guy should be burned at the stake - 25/06/2010 03:22:34 PM 10170 Views
Are you done making a fool out of yourself, Mark? - 26/06/2010 06:53:37 PM 2624 Views
Oh come on... - 26/06/2010 09:06:01 PM 2656 Views
Well, the burning at the stake was a bit much... - 26/06/2010 10:19:40 PM 2666 Views
Well, really! You brought the comment to his notice... - 26/06/2010 11:34:08 PM 2681 Views
And your point is...? - 27/06/2010 12:37:00 AM 2695 Views
Well... - 27/06/2010 05:38:12 AM 2626 Views
Indeed... I think it's rather clear that Larry's goal has been to cause trouble - 27/06/2010 10:57:36 AM 2804 Views
There is no "borderline" about it. - 28/03/2011 05:17:15 PM 2475 Views
Ridiculous - 27/06/2010 06:38:46 AM 2532 Views
I like his FAQ and his overall musings on its' popularity. - 29/06/2010 06:35:10 PM 2548 Views
One year later... - 27/03/2011 03:40:29 AM 2489 Views
Re: One year later... - 28/03/2011 05:03:32 PM 2764 Views
I see you subconsciously support critical takes. - 28/03/2011 11:41:48 PM 2721 Views
No I conciously support telling you and him that you are pathetic, arrogent, & jelous. *NM* - 30/03/2011 01:40:36 PM 1525 Views
Jealous? - 30/03/2011 05:20:32 PM 2527 Views
I agree, I didn't even notice it was an old post, definitely did not deserve to be revived. *NM* - 30/03/2011 02:41:12 PM 1435 Views
Seconded. - 30/03/2011 04:04:36 PM 2465 Views
Now I notice as well that this is a year old. You're very silly, Larry, very silly. *NM* - 30/03/2011 04:13:38 PM 1558 Views
Yep! - 30/03/2011 05:16:38 PM 2439 Views
Jeez Larry, you're starting to sound like a GRRM detractor. - 31/03/2011 03:01:38 PM 2635 Views
Nah, no detractor - 01/04/2011 03:00:41 PM 2631 Views
Could a thread be locked? - 31/03/2011 07:48:26 PM 2522 Views
Re: One year later... - 01/04/2011 02:55:02 AM 2941 Views
Yep - 01/04/2011 02:57:52 PM 2652 Views
He's not an "author", he's just a stupid troll, do not feed him *NM* - 30/03/2011 02:39:19 PM 1451 Views

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