The Wheel Of Time ... goes ever on and on ... and on ...

The Wheel Of Time series ... by Robert Jordan

When I first started this series of books sometime back in another age (that became legend and then became myth etc. etc.) I really enjoyed them. It's hard for me to believe that now. I have just finished book 7 (at least 4 more to go - argh!!) and it was the most tedious so far. The only way I could get through it was by literally skimming the pages (sometimes *skipping* the pages), stopping at the very rare bit that looked like it might catch my attention. (Usually I was wrong though and it was not worth stopping and I could get back to skimming.) My wife doesn't know why I persist and at this stage I'm not sure myself - just stubbornness I suppose. And at the heart of it I like the story - I still want to know what will happen in the end. If only he had made a trilogy instead of a 12(or so)-ology of it.

I think the reasons I'm writing this (besides the fact that it's sometimes good to rant a little) are as a warning to anyone yet to start this series, and to make you feel better about just skimming through it like I do :) ! So if you have not started this series yet - consider yourself forewarned! But if you are already ensnared in the series (and there's a good chance you'll feel obliged like myself to try and finish it), don't feel like you're missing much if you read it like I did - skimming over 90% of it :)

Maybe someone sometime will make a single summary novel out of it and it may become an enjoyable read again :)

Anyways, just my bit of a rant for today ... :) !
Slán go fóil, Jim.

Update 05 June 2009: Well I've just finished book 9 and we actually have a slight improvement - finally something good happens! I won't say any more to spoil it, but it is definitely easier to read a book when it is *not* all impending doom and gloom. That said, the book could probably have been shortened to about 200 pages without losing anything. Onwards to book 10, nearly there :) !!

Update 06 July 2009: Book 10 is finished - and nothing happened. Or at least, nothing happened plot wise. Loads of characters did loads of unimportant things. Worst book so far. Could've been summarised in one chapter, and that would've been pushing it. Anyways - at last, book 11 ...

Update 23 July 2009: Book 11 done ... and it wasn't half bad! The plot actually moved on a little. The talk of Tarmon Gaidon approaching is finally giving the impression of an end on the horizon.

BUT ... I just heard that what is to be the final book ... is to be split into three volumes!!! Argh - it just never f*&king ends!