Post by barabbas on Dec 5, 2021 17:03:35 GMT -6
Having read the whole series, including the prequel, I definitely have thoughts. But I'll keep them to myself if you'd rather not have them affect your reading experience.
Pros: The worldbuilding is incredible; I don't know of any other series that has such a well-fleshed out world apart from Lord of the Rings. In a similar vein, the plotting is very strong for a 14-book series. There are threads introduced in the first book that continue throughout the entire series. Jordan manages to juggle hundreds of named characters who are part of different cultures and factions. The writing is pretty good on a sentence-by-sentence level. There are also a lot of satisfying moments in the books.
Cons: >Jordan really needed an editor. Just about every book in the series could have 100-200 pages worth of material cut out. Sometimes this takes the form of entire chapters that consist of little development, other times this takes the form of:
>pointless descriptions of minor details (let's list every ingredient of this soup that a character eats) or:
>internal monologues that re-hash character details that have already been made clear in earlier chapters. Most often these monologues relate to:
>an ongoing "boys vs. girls" theme that gets tiresome. Every female character spends at least 50% of her time complaining about men and every male character who isn't evil spends at least 50% of his time thinking about how confusing and frustrating women are. This is probably because:
>every female character in the books, with the exception(s) of Moiraine and maybe Min Farshaw, is just a variation on Nynaeve, who is basically a temperamental b*** on a power trip. I like Nynaeve; she's one of my favorite characters in the books and she has a great arc that involves her overcoming her flaws. But EVERY OTHER FEMALE CHARACTER is basically some variation on Nynaeve--an obnoxious, b----y, meninist caricature of what a "strong woman" is. Siuan Sanche is Nynaeve, but with a little more self-control; Avhienda is Nynaeve, but sulky and passive-aggressive; Elayne is Nynaeve, but boy-crazy; Faile is Nynaeve, but as a female action hero/beta male wish fulfillment fantasy. Speaking of beta-male wish fulfillment fantasy:
>the books have this weird sexual tension element. Unlike, say, The Witcher or A Song of Ice and Fire, there's nothing explicit here. Instead, after about book II or so, Jordan seems intent on making sure that every chapter has something sexual in it that isn't actually a sex scene. "'Here's this arcane magic ritual, and you have to do it naked.' Egwene was shocked. *5 paragraphs of inner monologue.*"
The whole thing feels like a book adaptation of a really fanservicey anime--complete with a harem element. This really stuck out to me on the re-reading.
>Also, the pace slows to a crawl at some points--most notably books 10-11, but also the beginning of book IV, which is a snoozefest. The last three books are faster, but you have to deal with the Brandon Sanderson cheesiness.
Cons: >Jordan really needed an editor. Just about every book in the series could have 100-200 pages worth of material cut out. Sometimes this takes the form of entire chapters that consist of little development, other times this takes the form of:
>pointless descriptions of minor details (let's list every ingredient of this soup that a character eats) or:
>internal monologues that re-hash character details that have already been made clear in earlier chapters. Most often these monologues relate to:
>an ongoing "boys vs. girls" theme that gets tiresome. Every female character spends at least 50% of her time complaining about men and every male character who isn't evil spends at least 50% of his time thinking about how confusing and frustrating women are. This is probably because:
>every female character in the books, with the exception(s) of Moiraine and maybe Min Farshaw, is just a variation on Nynaeve, who is basically a temperamental b*** on a power trip. I like Nynaeve; she's one of my favorite characters in the books and she has a great arc that involves her overcoming her flaws. But EVERY OTHER FEMALE CHARACTER is basically some variation on Nynaeve--an obnoxious, b----y, meninist caricature of what a "strong woman" is. Siuan Sanche is Nynaeve, but with a little more self-control; Avhienda is Nynaeve, but sulky and passive-aggressive; Elayne is Nynaeve, but boy-crazy; Faile is Nynaeve, but as a female action hero/beta male wish fulfillment fantasy. Speaking of beta-male wish fulfillment fantasy:
>the books have this weird sexual tension element. Unlike, say, The Witcher or A Song of Ice and Fire, there's nothing explicit here. Instead, after about book II or so, Jordan seems intent on making sure that every chapter has something sexual in it that isn't actually a sex scene. "'Here's this arcane magic ritual, and you have to do it naked.' Egwene was shocked. *5 paragraphs of inner monologue.*"
The whole thing feels like a book adaptation of a really fanservicey anime--complete with a harem element. This really stuck out to me on the re-reading.
>Also, the pace slows to a crawl at some points--most notably books 10-11, but also the beginning of book IV, which is a snoozefest. The last three books are faster, but you have to deal with the Brandon Sanderson cheesiness.
In addition to your thoughts, I also find Jordan's approach to women and the relationship between the sexes annoying. I'd rather hear far less about women's bosoms, etc. I thought the last three books were so, so much better. Looking back, I'm not completely sure that it was worth it to get there. I'm not sure I'll be able to bring myself to read them again.
I'm currently on Song of Ice and Fire #3. I very nearly gave up early in the first book. I probably won't read past book #3 because a friend told me not to. We'll see.