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The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time, Book 12) by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan Edition: Hardcover Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2009-10-27 ISBN: 0765302306 Number of pages: 784 Publisher: Tor Books
Book Reviews of The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time, Book 12)Book Review: As Robert Jordan would have said, "RAFO!" Summary: 5 Stars
I think I first picked up "The Eye of the World" back in the summer of 1992 during the summer after my first year of college. I enjoyed it immensely and continued reading the series, although as a student my progress was a bit slow in the early years. I remember the time in January 1994 when I was home on winter break and I stayed up all night reading "The Shadow Rising"; I eventually got hungry, went downstairs to eat something, and found my mother making herself breakfast before going to work. She said, "Why are you up so early?" I grinned and said, "I could ask you why you stayed up so late." Over the ensuing years, while I've read every Wheel of Time book shortly after each was published (I caught up to the publication schedule after "The Fires of Heaven"), I've felt, as have so many others, that the series slowed too much and became too sprawling with the disparate plotlines, and since that night in 1994 I've never been able to, nor wanted to, stay up all night out of pure fascination for what would happen next. Back in 2005 I think it took me at least a month to read "Knife of Dreams."
That's all changed with "The Gathering Storm." I bought it on the day it was released in October but didn't get to start reading it until the day after Christmas. I finished it at 3:15 this morning, January 7, and it was one of several late nights reading. Were it not for the need to work and make money I might have read it straight through in two days, but such is how the real world changes your life. I rate this as by far the best Wheel of Time book since the early days. The action MOVED. After almost every chapter I would find myself not even wanting to pause to hit the loo or go throw in a load of laundry or anything like that--I just wanted to know what would come next. Sanderson did an excellent job of leaving you hanging after some key chapters, such that you'd groan when the story would move from, say, Egwene to Rand simply because you wanted to know what would happen with Egwene. On the other hand, he didn't OVERDO this device. I resent it when the focus changes with every chapter because it makes the action slower (since it doesn't build as much) and harder to follow (because you have to refocus so often). I think part of what made this book move along is that Sanderson stuck with plot lines for reasonable chunks at a time.
Regarding writing styles, I did not re-read the other Wheel of Time books before reading this one, mainly because I didn't have time but also because I was reading a few other things. I did skim back through "The Dragon Reborn" at one point this past fall, and I looked back at the scenes in "The Great Hunt" that were set in Falme (was that a Foretelling on my part?), but that was more just because it had been some 16 or 17 years since I had read those books. Thus, I don't think I'm in as good a position as others to comment on Sanderson versus Jordan. What I CAN comment upon is Sanderson versus Sanderson. Earlier in 2009, when I learned that "The Gathering Storm" had been given a publication date, I decided to pick up some of Brandon Sanderson's earlier work just to get a feel for his writing. I read "Elantris" first and then the Mistborn trilogy. (Finishing "The Hero of Ages" was part of what delayed me in starting to read "The Gathering Storm.") I think Sanderson's writing in "The Gathering Storm" is notably different from his writing in his own works. I'm reluctant to say it's "better" or that "I felt like he adapted his style to fit Jordan's world." But it's definitely different and I think it's fair to say that the WAY he wrote "The Gathering Storm" suits the book better than the style he used in the four books of his own that I've read. After reading Mistborn I wondered if Sanderson might shy away from some of the more sexual references Jordan sometimes includes, such as the many references to an Aes Sedai's "ample bosom" or things like that. I only recall one very passing reference to sex in the Mistborn trilogy (very indirect reference to sleeping without clothes) and one reference to Vin being stabbed in the breast. Let's just say Brandon Sanderson is NOT Terry Goodkind, if you know what I mean! Anyway, all the usual "ample bosom" references and the like were still there. The MOST notable difference for me is that Sanderson has admitted, on his website, that books he writes tend to be slow-starting and that it will often be 150 pages or so before the story gets moving. That wasn't the case in "The Gathering Storm." One of the major conflict threads that runs throughout the book got started within the first three chapters. I'm glad Sanderson adapted in that respect, because I think a lot of readers who had been frustrated by the slow pace of events in the last few books might have become exasperated (such that they'd then not give Sanderson a fair chance) had this book been slow to start. Thus, while others might say "I see the difference between Jordan and Sanderson," my reaction is that I knew I was reading a Robert Jordan novel, even if someone else had finished it for him. No disrespect intended for Mr. Sanderson, but I did not feel that I was reading a Brandon Sanderson novel. I mean that as praise. If anything, my respect for Sanderson as a writer increased because of this very opinion.
Others have described this book as one that gave us some resolutions, and I think that's one of its great strengths. Whoever said that Sanderson wisely avoided Jordan's habit of answering one question while opening 15 more questions said it quite well. With that said, after I finished the book, I began ruminating on various theories it caused me to develop about where the story may go next. In particular, I came up with some fairly definite ideas, based on this book and prior events, about what the prophecy Min discusses near the end of the book may mean. I started discussing the book with a friend who has also been reading it for years; he finished the book this past weekend (New Year's 2010) and we had avoided discussing it at all to avoid spoilers. He had come up with some completely different theories that are also very plausible.
But one thing we both agreed upon is that Sanderson and Jordan both like to go back and pick up on details from the early books that were seemingly trivial, or that the reader is likely to have forgotten. I think this aspect is part of the challenge of the Wheel of Time--there are so many details buried all over the place that it's virtually impossible to keep track of them all, even if you look at the many fine Wheel of Time-related websites out there. I'm trying to avoid spoilers in this review, so I will say that "The Gathering Storm" caused me to go back and refresh my recollection of certain things that were said in "The Path of Daggers" that I had forgotten until I read this book. The comment in "The Path of Daggers" was in turn a major basis for some of the theorizing I mention in the paragraph above. It's great that we finally have not only a resolution to some of the plotlines, but also a reasonable basis for possibly having a sense for where some of the plot elements may be leading. After, say, "Crossroads of Twilight" I never would have been able to take a reasonable guess at where things were heading.
"The Gathering Storm" thus presents a great conundrum for the reader, while also presenting a reward to those of us who have read the series for so many years. The conundrum can be summed up in one of Robert Jordan's favorite phrases when readers used to ask him questions about details that hadn't yet been revealed, such as the theories I mention above. Jordan used to smile and respond with the admonition, "Read and find out!!!" He used that phrase so often that he started referring to it as "RAFO." For about the past 15 years, I've felt to some degree that we were in a pattern of "RADFO"--"Read and DON'T find out." But I kept reading because I simply HAD to see how he could POSSIBLY tie up the sprawling plot. For those of us who have waited many years, this book is finally the point where we begin to "Find Out."
Highly recommended for anyone who has read the other 11 books.
Summary of The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time, Book 12)Tarmon Gai?don, the Last Battle, looms. And mankind is not ready.
The final volume of the Wheel of Time, A Memory of Light, was partially written by Robert Jordan before his untimely passing in 2007. Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of the Mistborn books, was chosen by Jordan?s editor---his wife, Harriet McDougal---to complete the final book. The scope and size of the volume was such that it could not be contained in a single book, and so Tor proudly presents The Gathering Storm as the first of three novels that will make up A Memory of Light. This short sequence will complete the struggle against the Shadow, bringing to a close a journey begun almost twenty years ago and marking the conclusion of the Wheel of Time, the preeminent fantasy epic of our era.
In this epic novel, Robert Jordan?s international bestselling series begins its dramatic conclusion. Rand al?Thor, the Dragon Reborn, struggles to unite a fractured network of kingdoms and alliances in preparation for the Last Battle. As he attempts to halt the Seanchan encroachment northward---wishing he could form at least a temporary truce with the invaders---his allies watch in terror the shadow that seems to be growing within the heart of the Dragon Reborn himself.
Egwene al?Vere, the Amyrlin Seat of the rebel Aes Sedai, is a captive of the White Tower and subject to the whims of their tyrannical leader. As days tick toward the Seanchan attack she knows is imminent, Egwene works to hold together the disparate factions of Aes Sedai while providing leadership in the face of increasing uncertainty and despair. Her fight will prove the mettle of the Aes Sedai, and her conflict will decide the future of the White Tower---and possibly the world itself.
The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.
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