Wheel of Time Books - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elemmakil · 01-06-2011, 10:54 PM

At the insistence of a friend, I gave WoT a try. I really did. I read the first five books but finally gave up. While the basic plot was fine, the writing was utterly tedious.

Some folks (my friend, for one) insist that Tolkien is too long winded, etc. Really? The entire LoTR story (possibly even including the appendices, but I'm too lazy to do a page count) only adds up to ONE of Jordan's ponderous tomes. I really cannot comprehend such thinking.

I found myself skimming entire chapters in the WoT series, it was so painful to read. What Jordan really needed was a sharp and ruthless editor to stand up to his diarrhea of the word processor and cut out all of the useless drivel. Seriously. I do not care one whit how many ribbons are in Egwene's dress, nor do I need a travel guide to all the taverns between Two Rivers and Caemlyn. And all the incessant babbling about the "taint of Saidin" blah blah blah.... One could very easily told the entire essential elements of WoT in a couple of books, three at most, and had an excellent series. Instead, we got what we got...

At least the Good Professor had the excellent sense to stuff all of the detail stuff in appendices. Perhaps such would have aided Jordan's work as well. Couldn't have hurt....

Nor did I find Jordan's attempts at Conan to be any better.

I have found Terry Goodkind's books much more enjoyable to read that Jordan and the character's much more pleasant, even if I think the plot of the latter's may have been somewhat better. And I have found George R. R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" to be far and away better than both. That *is* a top notch series, though I still prefer Tolkien a great deal more. (Parenthetically it would be nice if Martin would get around to finishing just the latest book - I do not hold out much hope of him finishing the series)

Jordan's books remind me of a great line from Commander Ivanova of Babylon 5: "If you get anywhere near a point, MAKE IT."

Blind Guardian · 01-06-2011, 11:07 PM

Right now I am reading The Great Hunt. Blind Guardian got me into them. Well sorta (Blind Guardian got me into the Lord Of The Rings though!). I was reading Sword of Truth by Goodkind, but then I got WoT and started to read that. I'll go back to SoT soon though, went I'm finished with The Dragon Reborn.
I have to say the books, so far, are quite good. There could be less but if the books to come drag on for ever I might stop. SoT Pillars of Creation is boring at the beginning. What the heck does Jennson have to do with anything...?
Anyways, does anyone know if Logain comes in to WoT again?

Pitchwife · 01-07-2011, 01:15 PM

Elemmakil, I couldn't agree more, and I can assure you it gets much, much worse after the books you've read.

BG, the first three or four WoT books are the best and fastest-paced ones; Eye of the World and Great Hunt were good enough to draw me in, and Dragon Reborn and Shadow Rising still not too bad, but after that, the flaws in Jordan's writing start to outweigh the merits IMO.
But yes, Logain comes back, and he gets a lot more to do in the later books.

Blind Guardian · 01-07-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

But yes, Logain comes back, and he gets a lot more to do in the later books.

Oh thank God, i got the feeling he did.

Does anyone see the similarities between WoT and SoT? i.e. And invading force comes in on the second book?

01-06-2011, 10:54 PM	#1
Elemmakil Pile O'Bones Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 19	WoT... ugh... At the insistence of a friend, I gave WoT a try. I really did. I read the first five books but finally gave up. While the basic plot was fine, the writing was utterly tedious. Some folks (my friend, for one) insist that Tolkien is too long winded, etc. Really? The entire LoTR story (possibly even including the appendices, but I'm too lazy to do a page count) only adds up to ONE of Jordan's ponderous tomes. I really cannot comprehend such thinking. I found myself skimming entire chapters in the WoT series, it was so painful to read. What Jordan really needed was a sharp and ruthless editor to stand up to his diarrhea of the word processor and cut out all of the useless drivel. Seriously. I do not care one whit how many ribbons are in Egwene's dress, nor do I need a travel guide to all the taverns between Two Rivers and Caemlyn. And all the incessant babbling about the "taint of Saidin" blah blah blah.... One could very easily told the entire essential elements of WoT in a couple of books, three at most, and had an excellent series. Instead, we got what we got... At least the Good Professor had the excellent sense to stuff all of the detail stuff in appendices. Perhaps such would have aided Jordan's work as well. Couldn't have hurt.... Nor did I find Jordan's attempts at Conan to be any better. I have found Terry Goodkind's books much more enjoyable to read that Jordan and the character's much more pleasant, even if I think the plot of the latter's may have been somewhat better. And I have found George R. R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" to be far and away better than both. That is a top notch series, though I still prefer Tolkien a great deal more. (Parenthetically it would be nice if Martin would get around to finishing just the latest book - I do not hold out much hope of him finishing the series) Jordan's books remind me of a great line from Commander Ivanova of Babylon 5: "If you get anywhere near a point, MAKE IT."

01-07-2011, 01:15 PM	#3
Pitchwife Wight of the Old Forest Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Unattended on the railway station, in the litter at the dancehall Posts: 3,329	Elemmakil, I couldn't agree more, and I can assure you it gets much, much worse after the books you've read. BG, the first three or four WoT books are the best and fastest-paced ones; Eye of the World and Great Hunt were good enough to draw me in, and Dragon Reborn and Shadow Rising still not too bad, but after that, the flaws in Jordan's writing start to outweigh the merits IMO. But yes, Logain comes back, and he gets a lot more to do in the later books. __________________ Und aus dem Erebos kamen viele seelen herauf der abgeschiedenen toten.- Homer, Odyssey, Canto XI