The Wheel of Time is a series of high fantasy novels by American author Robert Jordan, with Brandon Sanderson as a co-author for the final three novels. The series consists of 14 volumes, a prequel novel and two companion books. The series is set in a world where magic exists, but only some people can access it. The story follows the lives of a group of young people who are destined to play a key role in the battle against the Dark One, a malevolent entity that wants to destroy the world.
The series is notable for its length, detailed imaginary world, magic system, and its large cast of characters. The series has sold over 90 million copies worldwide and has been nominated for a Hugo Award. The series has also inspired a collectible card game, a video game, a roleplaying game, a soundtrack album and a TV series adaptation.
Some of the reasons why the series is considered a good one are:
- It has a rich and complex mythology that draws on various sources of inspiration, such as European and Asian cultures, religions and philosophies.
- It has a well-developed magic system that is based on the concept of balance and duality between the male and female halves of the One Power, the source of magic in the world.
- It has a diverse and memorable cast of characters, each with their own personality, background, motivations and arcs. Some of the main characters are Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn; Egwene al'Vere, the Amyrlin Seat; Matrim Cauthon, the Prince of Ravens; Perrin Aybara, the Wolf King; Nynaeve al'Meara, the Queen of Malkier; Elayne Trakand, the Queen of Andor; Aviendha, the Wise One; Min Farshaw, the Seer; and many others.
- It has an epic and engaging plot that spans multiple continents, cultures and factions, and involves political intrigue, warfare, prophecy, romance and adventure.
- It has a satisfying and emotional conclusion that wraps up the main storylines and character arcs.
Some of the reasons why some people may find the series not as good are:
- It is very long and sometimes slow-paced, with some books having more filler than others.
- It has some repetitive elements, such as descriptions of clothing, gestures, phrases and scenery.
- It has some issues with gender representation and portrayal, such as stereotypical or sexist attitudes, behaviors and roles of some characters.
- It has some inconsistencies or contradictions in the plot, character development or worldbuilding, especially in the later books that were completed by another author after Jordan's death.
The author of the series, Robert Jordan (real name James Oliver Rigney Jr.), was born in 1948 in Charleston, South Carolina. He served two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter gunner with the U.S. Army. He worked as a nuclear engineer before becoming a full-time writer. He started writing The Wheel of Time in 1984 and published the first book in 1990. He died in 2007 from cardiac amyloidosis at the age of 58. He left extensive notes and outlines for the final book in the series, which was split into three volumes and completed by Brandon Sanderson.
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