Wheel of Time is a fantasy series written by a chap called Robert Jordan. I’m certain it has to be about the biggest fantasy series written, weighing in at 12 books at the time of Robert Jordan’s death in 2007.

I recently had a pining to re-read this series as on my first attempt in my teens, I only made it as far as the 8th book. I loved the series, but being that young, I couldn’t help my infidelity and I turned to more instantly gratifying, Gemmel-esque books for my fantasy fix. I chose to overlook the fact that Jordan had died before he could finish the final book(s) because I’m a strong believer in the journey being more important than the end and I have hugely fond memories of reading it some years ago.

The first book in the series is The Eye of The World

It’s great when a plan comes together

Whilst snooping around Waterstones looking for a copy of John Grindrod’s first book Shouting at the Telly (review to come as soon as I’ve finished it – lovely so far) I spotted this little puppy.

It turns out Jordan’s widow and editor has long since earmarked somebody of worth to do it justice, based on a template laid down by Jordan himself bravely facing his own mortality. The Wheel of Time is now to be finished and I plan on reviewing each one in tandem!

I love the idea of the book being taken up by somebody new as a different slant on the story will really refresh it, especially at a point where some readers will be sneaking away from their copies to spend a night in a motel room with a bit of Gemmel (again with the Gemmel!). Jordan writes with a lot of flourish and its quite hard to read to excess. His characters are deep and unique in a myriad of ways, all with carefully thought out and wonderfully rendered mannerisms. The politics of a world wracked by shadow, drought, fear, civil war and ancient racism is rich and explicit but at times the level of description is exaccerbating.

I had a conversation once about how this would all translate to film in an interesting way. Obviously you can’t have a tonne of actors and a director give up ten years of their lives to film it all, so the conclusion would be to have a different director and a different cast for each film. Imagine how disjointed but entertaining it would be, a clash of styles and character transformations that keeps the entire series rejuvenated.

“I’d know her by face”

What is simultaneous brilliant and weak about the series is its depth. By book 3, you understand why Jordan has included a glossary of characters at the end, because the constant name dropping and (re)introduction of characters has you wondering “Is this guy good or bad?” or “Do I like her, am I supposed to?”.

Don’t mention the war!

Each book requires a great deal of thought and attention but happily, its all worth it. Its innevitable to draw a comparison to Lord of The Rings, but the difference in scale between them is Sun and Earth. The action is offered up sparingly but always well as Jordan’s focus is on the characters and the politics of a world torn apart by war but facing the threat of extinction from “The Dark One”. Other incarnations include “Shai’tan” or “Ba’alzamon”.

The similarity with LOTR ends here as Sauron seems like a wet lettuce compared to Jordan’s; dream haunting, soul stealing antagonist. Rather than Ringwraiths as minions, the Dark One’s cronies are an immensely powerful bunch of men and women, all lovingly crafted as cunning and conniving merciless sycophants who are all vying for power. The fact that they were human and mortal before helps place them in the real world and makes their evils all the more prevalent to read. Luckily, as the story opens, they are all bound up together in a dwindling inter-dimensional prison.

If Women ruled the world

Que the Aes Sedai, the Dragon Reborn and farmboys; Rand, Mat and Perrin. The Aes Sedai are the roof of authority in the world, being peopled exclusively by Women and able to wield the female half of the “True Source”. The magical portent in the series. Certain men can also channel the male half which is tainted by the Dark One, so although they are hard as nails, they have a tendency to go mad and kill those around them. Which is why Aes Sedai have the long job of hunting down these unfortunates and cutting them off from the source, leaving the men more depressed and woe-is-me than a young Elizabeth Wurtzel.

Not a fate you want the Dragon Reborn to suffer however! Seeing as his ability to channel is what prophecy requires to send the Dark One and his Forsaken packing. Book 1 opens with the search for him and that starts at Emonds Field with Rand, Mat & Perrin and spooky goings on in their quaint little village.

Pack plenty of clean underwear

With the arrival a strange lady (Moiraine) and her handy looking, sword wielding companion (Lan) the story is plunged into violence and intrigue, with the village suffering an attack from the Dark One’s beasties and Moiraine revealing herself as an Aes Sedai. Zapping Trollocs (I picture them as a cross between Orcs and Minotaurs) with lightning bolts while everybody else is running does tend to out you.

What you soon learn is that Moiraine senses something in the three boys and clearly has one of them in mind for the whole “save the world” job-vacancy. So – with love interest Egwene and prim and proper, tongue like a file Village Wisdom Nynaeve in tow – the group set off toward the White Tower, seat of the Aes Sedai.

From this point on the book really doesn’t take a step wrong. In fact thinking about it there is so much that happens. The early stages of the first few books, when the boys are still growing up and up to mischief and Nynaeve and Egwene haven’t outgrown village life are really intimate and rewarding to read.

I’ll take the low road

The characters are separated early on in the book, leaving them in three groups, all making their way to the same point but following different a different chain of events.

Mat is revealed to have the memories of another life embedded in his mind, whilst struggling with a viral suspicion caused by an artifact he takes away from a dead city; Shadar Logoth before the group’s split. Rand keeps him company along the road and they are stalked pillar to post by Darkfriends (people pledged to the Dark One) and Myrrdraal (black clad, tall, pasty skinned eyeless men).

Perrin meets a stranger while separated who sees in him a latent ability to talk to Wolves and goes a bit mad in the process. Egwene keeps him grounded and takes the time to explore her own ability to channel the True Source, before getting caught by Whitecloaks.

Nynaeve who ends up with Lan and Moiraine opens up the stirrings of a love affair with Lan, an immeasurably complicated man who sets her off Sniffing, Tutting, Harrumphing and snorting; “Men!” to anyone who’ll listen.

The characters are brought together along the road, and other favourites are introduced. Including moustache puffing, knife throwing hedonistic gleeman; Thom. Elayne and Gawyn, daughter heir to the throne of Andor and her brother, who are both off to the White Tower to become huge parts in the next book and onwards. As well as Loial, a hugely gentle, book reading Ogier who stands a couple of feet taller than anyone and is generally pleasant to be around when people aren’t running in the other direction from him. He’s hilarious.

Despite all this and more happening within the confines of a single book, it never feels rushed or tangled. Jordan has a habit of spending exactly as much time as he requires on each character in a chapter before switching to the next one, leaving you desperate to read on and get back to the storyline that caught your attention. The trouble is you get sucked into each characters story quickly and absolutely, so although the books are mammoth it’s easy to gallop through them.

The finale of this book is a great one, with the Dragon Reborn being named and happily, not ending on a cliffhanger, which is the wont of most authors of the genre. Jordan makes every effort to wrap up each book comfortably but with enough intrigue to motivate people to pick the next book up immediately.

If anyone else has read LOTR, any Terry Books, J.V. Jones, Raymond E. Feist or w/e other popular Fantasy and are keen to get their teeth into something epic, this would be my advice.

Or try out some Dan Simmons

I should point out, I don’t have a problem with Gemmel, I enjoy it a lot but the formula is easy to spot:

1: Insert larger than life Hero (plus an optional sidekick with questionable morals or a cowardly streak)

2: Give him a sword, axe or crossbow

3: Watch him kick ass

4: Add a Sorceror to mix things up a bit

5: Watch the Hero struggle to use more than his ham-fists to sort the baddie out

6: Wrap the book up with atleast one happy storyline

As far as guilty pleasures go, Gemmel is the fantasy equivalent of Marian Keyes