Active Users:413 Time:17/06/2025 02:27:12 AM
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 12743 Views
A question for Larry - 19/03/2010 09:40:37 PM 3161 Views
Roberto Bolaño - 19/03/2010 11:09:57 PM 2984 Views
I completely agree with his review. - 19/03/2010 11:11:17 PM 3113 Views
Ouch! Somebody pull that guy off RJ! *NM* - 20/03/2010 03:47:07 AM 1522 Views
Can't say that I really disagree. - 20/03/2010 05:19:26 AM 2432 Views
My problem with the reviews: - 20/03/2010 06:29:08 AM 3095 Views
Hear Hear !!! ....................... = ........................ *NM* - 20/03/2010 06:37:11 AM 1461 Views
I agree - 20/03/2010 11:19:29 AM 2552 Views
You know what else I'm finding annoying? - 07/04/2010 07:29:37 AM 2471 Views
Fully Agree *NM* - 21/06/2010 12:41:05 AM 1342 Views
well I agree and disagree - 20/03/2010 06:51:29 AM 2843 Views
Re: well I agree and disagree - 20/03/2010 02:12:43 PM 2364 Views
I'd say just The Eye of the World - 20/03/2010 05:26:19 PM 2407 Views
Indeed - 21/03/2010 12:34:19 AM 2325 Views
These reviews are pathetic - 20/03/2010 12:52:22 PM 2343 Views
I'm amused by some of the responses - 20/03/2010 07:20:03 PM 2773 Views
+1 *NM* - 20/03/2010 10:48:14 PM 1675 Views
Are you suggesting that we are unqualified to disagree with him ? - 20/03/2010 11:21:44 PM 2508 Views
No, I said rather that it's ridiculous to make such disparaging comments about his takes - 20/03/2010 11:37:56 PM 2514 Views
I considered doing so - 21/03/2010 12:27:27 AM 2372 Views
I will reply to myself: What's the problem McFly , chicken ? - 21/03/2010 12:29:36 AM 2335 Views
My sister called me chicken once - 10/04/2010 01:18:31 AM 2387 Views
what's wrong runt... are you yellah? *NM* - 10/04/2010 10:40:16 AM 1424 Views
NICE! *NM* - 10/04/2010 02:19:44 PM 1284 Views
Re: I'm amused by some of the responses - 23/03/2010 04:50:42 PM 2422 Views
And I'm even more amused by this response - 24/03/2010 01:11:50 AM 2349 Views
Re: And I'm even more amused by this response - 24/03/2010 03:03:28 AM 2217 Views
Nah, TGS was the only serious review of the series I've done - 24/03/2010 04:31:28 AM 2302 Views
On a completely unrelated note... - 24/03/2010 06:15:25 AM 2222 Views
Ha! - 24/03/2010 06:34:48 AM 2258 Views
My congratulations then . *NM* - 24/03/2010 06:36:11 AM 2180 Views
You say it as if I had been condemned to hell! - 24/03/2010 07:13:45 AM 2074 Views
No. Well, maybe. - 24/03/2010 06:52:28 PM 2263 Views
! - 24/03/2010 06:54:34 PM 2263 Views
Re: Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 22/03/2010 02:47:23 PM 2386 Views
Re: Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 23/03/2010 01:53:16 PM 2363 Views
Wow, you guys have completely missed the point of the Wheel of Time series - 22/03/2010 05:28:07 PM 2395 Views
There's a point to it? - 22/03/2010 06:47:12 PM 2378 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 1426 Views
You're not taking me seriously now, are you? - 24/03/2010 02:54:37 AM 2313 Views
I meant the reason why RJ wrote WoT in the first place - 24/03/2010 06:39:47 AM 2295 Views
I thought the point was to write about a bunch of stuff happening? - 09/04/2010 03:42:49 PM 2361 Views
Re: Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 23/03/2010 04:54:38 PM 2323 Views
pfft wth-ever - 26/03/2010 12:35:53 AM 2193 Views
Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was - 26/03/2010 12:28:19 PM 2447 Views
bla bla bla - 29/03/2010 06:17:07 AM 2313 Views
Usually, it's spelled "blah" - 29/03/2010 07:03:51 AM 2284 Views
Wow. That post was more entertaining than Mr. Roberts' review. Thank you *NM* - 29/03/2010 08:23:41 AM 1603 Views
You must have low standards for entertainment - 29/03/2010 08:54:03 AM 2245 Views
Re: You must have low standards for entertainment - 29/03/2010 09:13:44 AM 2373 Views
I know you were, thus the at the least of my comment - 29/03/2010 09:19:30 AM 2196 Views
Unimpressed - 29/03/2010 10:50:07 PM 2644 Views
Thank you - 30/03/2010 12:35:39 AM 2101 Views
*Standing ovation for DomA* - 30/03/2010 07:36:59 AM 2390 Views
Yes. Also, Roberts is a wanker. *NM* - 05/04/2010 09:28:57 PM 1433 Views
Re: Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was - 29/03/2010 04:32:23 PM 2344 Views
Might want to re-read their Wikis again. - 29/03/2010 07:07:11 PM 2226 Views
Awards - 29/03/2010 07:42:03 PM 2191 Views
That link is out of date - 29/03/2010 07:54:56 PM 2178 Views
Re: That link is out of date - 29/03/2010 08:22:03 PM 2301 Views
This is a battle of win/lose? - 29/03/2010 08:47:54 PM 2224 Views
Re: This is a battle of win/lose? - 29/03/2010 09:03:07 PM 2254 Views
*considers employing the Chewbacca defense* - 29/03/2010 09:28:06 PM 2236 Views
Re: *considers employing the Chewbacca defense* - 29/03/2010 09:44:58 PM 2418 Views
The final point explains the "defense" - 30/03/2010 12:24:56 AM 2128 Views
Re: The final point explains the "defense" - 30/03/2010 01:33:04 PM 2112 Views
No, no, no - 30/03/2010 06:38:41 PM 2170 Views
Re: No, no, no - 30/03/2010 07:51:34 PM 2296 Views
Still continuing, huh? - 31/03/2010 02:10:13 AM 2244 Views
Re: Still continuing, huh? - 31/03/2010 03:56:57 PM 2208 Views
Those were polls - 31/03/2010 08:46:07 PM 2220 Views
Re: Those were polls - 05/04/2010 03:22:13 PM 2154 Views
Does it gives him right to insult me? - 13/04/2011 02:10:32 PM 2198 Views
I wouldn't know. Was he speaking directly to you? - 14/04/2011 11:28:16 PM 2302 Views
He's now reviewed the third book - 26/03/2010 12:27:16 PM 2432 Views
Well, this time I must disagree with him . - 29/03/2010 07:31:40 AM 2159 Views
I don't think he was claiming that RJ was alone in doing that - 29/03/2010 07:44:07 AM 2152 Views
Hah! - 29/03/2010 06:07:28 PM 2196 Views
Well... - 29/03/2010 06:52:10 PM 2090 Views
Differing perspectives, I guess. - 29/03/2010 07:58:13 PM 2273 Views
I suppose - 29/03/2010 08:50:43 PM 2186 Views
Re: I suppose - 30/03/2010 12:18:30 AM 2332 Views
True - 30/03/2010 12:23:28 AM 2168 Views
Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue? - 30/03/2010 12:52:01 AM 2138 Views
Re: Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue? - 30/03/2010 07:45:08 AM 2297 Views
But why only them? - 30/03/2010 08:07:00 AM 2231 Views
Re: But why only them? - 30/03/2010 03:56:54 PM 2190 Views
Re: But why only them? - 30/03/2010 08:29:37 PM 2294 Views
I really liked a lot of the minor characters in The Great Hunt. - 30/03/2010 12:49:03 AM 2204 Views
I barely thought twice about those, to be honest - 30/03/2010 06:39:55 PM 2236 Views
I can't wait what he's going to try to do with TFoH and beyond - 28/03/2010 08:18:59 PM 2305 Views
Glad you enjoyed it - 29/03/2010 09:33:43 PM 2140 Views
The Shadow Rising review - 02/04/2010 09:42:53 AM 2413 Views
I wonder if this borders on trolling - 02/04/2010 02:29:58 PM 10975 Views
You want complaining? You got it... - 02/04/2010 06:38:09 PM 2298 Views
That would be a mistake - 02/04/2010 09:16:25 PM 2427 Views
Re: That would be a mistake - 02/04/2010 10:28:56 PM 2185 Views
I agree, Roberts is more and more coming across to me as just bitter - 10/04/2010 01:24:52 AM 2303 Views
Little late to this one as well - 10/04/2010 11:12:04 AM 2320 Views
Perhaps you should have led with this bit - 10/04/2010 02:52:23 PM 2394 Views
Re: I wonder if this borders on trolling - 04/04/2010 09:16:22 AM 2286 Views
What review? I couldn't find one... - 02/04/2010 08:00:45 PM 2388 Views
Re: What review? I couldn't find one... - 02/04/2010 09:22:13 PM 2393 Views
See my comment below - 02/04/2010 09:32:54 PM 2460 Views
Re: See my comment below - 03/04/2010 09:31:22 AM 2796 Views
Sorry I'm late in responding, but I've been quite busy this week - 07/04/2010 09:45:48 PM 2641 Views
Yes, I can probably agree with what you say here. - 08/04/2010 12:29:16 AM 2094 Views
- 08/04/2010 12:32:53 AM 2239 Views
I agree completely. *NM* - 02/04/2010 09:53:44 PM 1325 Views
Speaking of irritation - 02/04/2010 10:50:04 PM 2349 Views
Commentary, then? - 02/04/2010 09:27:18 PM 2224 Views
Here's the thing... - 02/04/2010 10:11:18 PM 2172 Views
Re: Here's the thing... - 02/04/2010 10:31:56 PM 2011 Views
Re: Here's the thing... - 03/04/2010 01:34:05 AM 2083 Views
I somehow overlooked this last week, it seems - 10/04/2010 11:01:17 AM 2386 Views
Indeed - 02/04/2010 10:34:00 PM 2075 Views
Re: Commentary, then? - 05/04/2010 03:44:07 PM 2150 Views
for a man that bitterly complains about an author who is padding his work - 08/04/2010 09:41:07 PM 2351 Views
1400 words is long-winded? - 09/04/2010 10:07:41 AM 2398 Views
since you can sum up those 1400 words in about 25 yes that's longwinded - 09/04/2010 01:36:16 PM 2262 Views
Except I didn't really sum it up, as I left out quite a bit - 10/04/2010 11:15:42 AM 2306 Views
You are very defensive over this - 10/04/2010 01:54:15 PM 2121 Views
Nah, more of a devil's advocate than anything else - 12/04/2010 03:57:12 AM 2156 Views
Re: Nah, more of a devil's advocate than anything else - 12/04/2010 05:30:53 PM 2085 Views
You sound like a Goodkind webmaster from a couple of years ago - 12/04/2010 06:58:42 PM 2190 Views
You don't come across as a devil's advocate - 30/03/2011 03:07:32 PM 2157 Views
Well Larry I have started reading Gradsil by Adam Roberts - 07/04/2010 08:59:28 PM 2348 Views
I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes! - 07/04/2010 09:50:39 PM 2206 Views
Re: I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes! - 08/04/2010 01:06:20 PM 2054 Views
Which Invisible Man? - 09/04/2010 09:58:44 AM 2298 Views
Re: Which Invisible Man? - 09/04/2010 01:26:42 PM 2262 Views
I have a very different take on that book - 10/04/2010 11:17:13 AM 2138 Views
Re: I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes! - 09/04/2010 01:45:44 PM 2197 Views
Hrmm... - 10/04/2010 11:19:01 AM 2047 Views
Re: Well Larry I have started reading Gradsil by Adam Roberts - 12/04/2010 05:37:36 PM 2278 Views
He brings up some interesting points, if in an unnecessarily rude manner - 08/04/2010 12:42:25 PM 2230 Views
To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much - 09/04/2010 10:05:49 AM 2226 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much - 09/04/2010 01:28:17 PM 2764 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much - 10/04/2010 11:40:22 AM 2240 Views
why are you so bothered by people being unimpressed with Roberts? - 10/04/2010 02:19:08 PM 2257 Views
I don't understand it either - 11/04/2010 12:44:25 PM 2221 Views
right? - 11/04/2010 02:13:00 PM 2259 Views
Nah - 12/04/2010 04:13:44 AM 2047 Views
And in vol. 5, Roberts discovers the horrors of the circus - 09/04/2010 09:57:03 AM 2221 Views
5 reviews without saying more than "I hate the series" - 09/04/2010 01:31:13 PM 2074 Views
Basically he just states the "nothing happens"-argument... - 09/04/2010 03:26:02 PM 2110 Views
Well, what was really resolved here? - 10/04/2010 11:25:25 AM 2192 Views
Well... - 12/04/2010 05:05:20 PM 2289 Views
well exactly - 12/04/2010 05:33:11 PM 2345 Views
So very little was resolved and much was set into motion, then? - 12/04/2010 06:55:45 PM 2281 Views
Yes... - 12/04/2010 10:51:08 PM 2028 Views
Ever read Umberto Eco's How To Travel with a Salmon? - 12/04/2010 11:07:19 PM 2344 Views
I guess... - 13/04/2010 10:03:03 AM 2336 Views
Sounds like you value prolixity for the sake of prolixity, to be honest - 13/04/2010 04:41:07 PM 3452 Views
Nah... - 13/04/2010 05:29:34 PM 2027 Views
He's read and enjoyed Proust, among others - 13/04/2010 07:37:39 PM 2117 Views
Ah, well... - 13/04/2010 09:45:45 PM 2047 Views
Dismissive, much? - 13/04/2010 10:52:30 PM 2239 Views
About that bifurcation... - 14/04/2010 02:02:15 AM 2193 Views
I'm rather moderate - 14/04/2010 10:11:30 AM 2101 Views
I'm just a liberation theologist at heart - 15/04/2010 01:51:16 PM 3030 Views
So, if you don't mind... - 13/04/2010 05:51:06 AM 2222 Views
That's fine with me - 13/04/2010 06:31:41 AM 2191 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 2233 Views
I didn't find it quite that bad, but... - 11/04/2010 08:27:52 AM 2226 Views
LoC represented a sharp drop in quality!!? - 19/05/2010 03:27:21 PM 2215 Views
And ignores everything else... - 09/04/2010 05:10:00 PM 2264 Views
Inchoatus went offline a couple of years ago - 10/04/2010 11:42:26 AM 3158 Views
This guy is going to get what he deserves... - 09/04/2010 10:26:14 PM 2198 Views
I'm waiting with bated breath for his CoT review *NM* - 10/04/2010 01:00:59 PM 1400 Views
Just wanted to point out that he is not reviewing the series. - 16/04/2010 04:04:49 PM 2137 Views
Lord of Chaos commentary - 16/04/2010 03:39:39 PM 2213 Views
He has reached - The Hump. - 16/04/2010 03:55:51 PM 2154 Views
Re: He has reached - The Hump. - 18/04/2010 08:08:59 AM 2594 Views
No no. It was Lord of Heaven! - 16/04/2010 05:51:11 PM 2103 Views
Yeah, I noticed that - 16/04/2010 11:16:26 PM 2015 Views
I would love the see him review Goodkind... - 16/04/2010 11:51:07 PM 2242 Views
Finally re-read that post - 20/04/2010 09:35:45 PM 2216 Views
The magic items are mostly irrelevant... - 21/04/2010 03:37:36 AM 2190 Views
A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn? - 23/04/2010 08:36:17 AM 2294 Views
Re: A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn? - 29/04/2010 06:02:28 PM 2225 Views
I disagree - 29/04/2010 09:34:49 PM 2054 Views
I agree. - 29/04/2010 09:45:29 PM 2260 Views
Took me a moment to realize with whom you were agreeing - 29/04/2010 10:19:05 PM 2170 Views
Well, I did mention the necklines get overdone... - 06/05/2010 06:17:46 PM 2457 Views
Well, there's now also the tea to comment about - 07/05/2010 11:29:03 AM 2291 Views
A bit of a stumble this week - 30/04/2010 01:53:31 PM 2312 Views
The Path of Daggers commentary - 07/05/2010 10:39:03 AM 2360 Views
You'd think a Brit would like the tea... *NM* - 11/05/2010 04:05:42 PM 1266 Views
Maybe he's just a contrarian? - 11/05/2010 07:55:43 PM 2113 Views
Winter's Heart - 21/05/2010 12:46:14 PM 2340 Views
To be fair - 21/05/2010 01:56:49 PM 2448 Views
I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read - 21/05/2010 04:49:31 PM 2194 Views
Re: I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read - 25/05/2010 05:05:09 PM 2338 Views
WH was my least favorite novel in the series, and that is saying a lot. - 28/05/2010 03:15:13 PM 2200 Views
I completely agree with his KoD post. Here is my favorite quote: - 28/05/2010 03:08:31 PM 2521 Views
CoT, you mean (link to actual post included) - 28/05/2010 04:56:10 PM 2350 Views
Yep, I meant COT. *NM* - 28/05/2010 07:02:48 PM 1274 Views
Knife of Dreams - 18/06/2010 09:07:27 AM 2224 Views
Re: Knife of Dreams - 19/06/2010 05:49:38 AM 2302 Views
Agree... - 19/06/2010 05:08:44 PM 2241 Views
Roberts reflects back on WoT 1-11, with answers to questions asked of him - 25/06/2010 12:51:29 PM 2301 Views
This guy should be burned at the stake - 25/06/2010 03:22:34 PM 9753 Views
Are you done making a fool out of yourself, Mark? - 26/06/2010 06:53:37 PM 2221 Views
Oh come on... - 26/06/2010 09:06:01 PM 2319 Views
Well, the burning at the stake was a bit much... - 26/06/2010 10:19:40 PM 2303 Views
Well, really! You brought the comment to his notice... - 26/06/2010 11:34:08 PM 2319 Views
And your point is...? - 27/06/2010 12:37:00 AM 2323 Views
Well... - 27/06/2010 05:38:12 AM 2293 Views
Indeed... I think it's rather clear that Larry's goal has been to cause trouble - 27/06/2010 10:57:36 AM 2457 Views
There is no "borderline" about it. - 28/03/2011 05:17:15 PM 2143 Views
Ridiculous - 27/06/2010 06:38:46 AM 2220 Views
I like his FAQ and his overall musings on its' popularity. - 29/06/2010 06:35:10 PM 2223 Views
One year later... - 27/03/2011 03:40:29 AM 2152 Views
Re: One year later... - 28/03/2011 05:03:32 PM 2394 Views
I see you subconsciously support critical takes. - 28/03/2011 11:41:48 PM 2398 Views
No I conciously support telling you and him that you are pathetic, arrogent, & jelous. *NM* - 30/03/2011 01:40:36 PM 1336 Views
Jealous? - 30/03/2011 05:20:32 PM 2157 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 1251 Views
Seconded. - 30/03/2011 04:04:36 PM 2096 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 1377 Views
Yep! - 30/03/2011 05:16:38 PM 2098 Views
Jeez Larry, you're starting to sound like a GRRM detractor. - 31/03/2011 03:01:38 PM 2283 Views
Nah, no detractor - 01/04/2011 03:00:41 PM 2273 Views
Could a thread be locked? - 31/03/2011 07:48:26 PM 2135 Views
Re: One year later... - 01/04/2011 02:55:02 AM 2516 Views
Yep - 01/04/2011 02:57:52 PM 2281 Views
He's not an "author", he's just a stupid troll, do not feed him *NM* - 30/03/2011 02:39:19 PM 1261 Views

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