Wheel of Time Books

Why are the Wheel of Time books worth reading? There are many reasons. Mr. Robert Jordan created a fantasy series that speaks to many people. His books have been on the Bestseller lists. The series has depth, strong characterization, a well-developed world, interesting plot, and varied thematic content.

Each book has depth. The author has used a lot of research to make the story real. When you read the books, you feel that you are there. None of the books are less than seven hundred pages long. This can be daunting, but makes for a better story. Few writers take time to make a story compelling. Mr. Jordan's writing is clean and quick with few over written sentences.

The depth of each book brings strong characterization to the series. Many of the characters are three-dimensional. Rand, the main character, walks a fine line between good and madness. Mat Kauthan is a character troubled by darkness. Women characters vary from gentle, loving, heroic women to vicious, evil ones. Few books have characters that walk a line in shades of gray.

A well-developed world allows the characters to come alive. Mr. Jordan has used a lot of research and imagination to create a world with varied cultures. His world has a history reaching back into the distant past. The world passes through different ages that come again in endless cycles. Many different nations with histories and cultures liven the journies of the characters to make them stronger or destroy them.

Plots for books of these lengths can get out of control, but the Wheel of Time has a tight plot. All the characters have motives for what they do. There is political intrigue, romance, adventure, etc. None of the plot threads seem frivolous. The author has created a tightly woven tapestry that leads to a strong thematic content.

Mythology, anthropology and imagination give the books there greatest strength. Readers are subjected to heroism, love and many other themes. Beliefs of reincarnation, afterlifes and a dream world like the Australian Aborigines plays a strong part in the books. Few writers can use so many different ideas in a coherent whole.

In conclusion, I recommend the Wheel of Time books for any reader who is looking for a good read with great depth. Like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, these books are going to cross over into the classics of fantasy fiction. Of course the books have minor flaws, but these are outweighed by the experience a reader gets from these books. Give them a try.

Eye of the World

The Great Hunt

The Dragon Reborn

The Shadow Rising

The Fires of Heaven

Crown of Swords

Path of Daggers