IQInvestigations.net - Medical, Fire, Crime, Forensics, Paranormal, Laboratory.... |
|
|
| | Location: Home » Fire » Epic » The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1) | January 9, 2009 |
|
 | | | |
| The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1) | 
 enlarge | Author: Robert Jordan
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
Buy New: $0.01
You Save: $6.98 (100%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $0.01
Avg. Customer Rating:  (1704 reviews)
Sales Rank: 29393
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 832
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.5
ISBN: 0812511816
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780812511819
ASIN: 0812511816
Publication Date: November 15, 1990
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 1699 more reviews...
 An In-Depth Negative Review January 6, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I did not like this book. And, seeing as that is not a very popular opinion to have, I feel I must go to great lengths to support my own position.
*************************
SPOILER WARNING
*************************
THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW THIS LINE
*************************
Reason #1: LENGTH
At 300,000+ words, this is the length of 4 or 5 `standard' novels. Thus, it requires a significant investment of time just to finish a novel which is the _introduction_ to a series.
It took me three weeks to finish reading EotW (I am sure others out there took longer, or shorter). With that kind of investment of time, I would expect an utterly spectacular novel. EotW was not that novel.
Reason #2: LACK OF ORIGINALITY
Over the past year or so, I have become convinced that `original' books do not sell. I try to not subtract points, then, for a lack of originality. If an author is trying to increase his own readership by adhering to well-established tropes, who am I to tell him he is doing something wrong?
EotW, however, did push me to my limits. We have a hero who starts out as a farm boy, but is in reality the `chosen one'. Our hero and a band of friends travel across the country, spending an inordinate amount of time riding horses and camping in the wilderness. Our band splits up, resulting in multiple viewpoints for several chapters, before they join together again. Huge armies of soul-less non-humans (trollocs) march across the world, hunting our heroes and killing whoever gets in the way. An evil Dark Lord is imprisoned deep in inhospitable territory, but is breaking free. Etc. Etc.
Reason #3: BORING STRETCHES
I like to divide EotW into three parts. The first ends when the group of heroes leaves Shadar Logoth (about page 250: hardcover edition). The second section starts when they split up and ends when they leave Caemlyn (about page 550). And the third section stretches from their entrance of the Ways to the end of the book (page 658).
To me, the first part was good, and the third part was easily the best in the book. The second part (the longest) was about three times as long as it should have been, and very boring to boot. For example, what was the point of Rand and Mat traveling on the `Spray' (aside from their obvious need to get to Whitebridge)? And what was the point of Perrin and Egwene meeting the Traveling People and spending a couple chapters with them? And lastly, why did Rand meet Elayne (and spend 21 pages talking to her), aside from the necessity to establish her character for the sequel? In my opinion, none of these things advanced the story at all; instead, they made it boring and incredibly tedious at points.
Reason #4: WRITER'S CONVENIENCES
I can forgive some conveniences that push the bounds of plausibility, but EotW simply goes to far. By the fourth chapter, we have the following people arrive in Emond's Field: an Aes Sedai and her Warder, a Gleeman, and a Peddler. Emond's Field hasn't seen a Gleeman or Peddler for years, and hasn't seen an Aes Sedai for centuries, yet all of them conveniently arrive ON THE SAME DAY--the day before this little town's springtime festival. And wouldn't you know it, every single one of them is going to play some major part in the story before the end. How Convenient!
Later on, Lan (the Warder) saves Perrin from a sadistic religious fanatic about a half-second before Perrin has his head cut off, even though he has been a prisoner for several days (maybe even a week, Jordan is not specific). Yet Lan chooses that exact second to break into the camp. How Convenient!
When our heroes rejoin at Caemlyn, they add an Ogier (an odd race, if you've read the book, you know what I mean) to their group. After a little discussion, Moirainne, the Aes Sedai, realizes that three different sources claim to have information that the Dark One is planning to `blind the Eye of the World'. Going off these seemingly random and unreliable reports, Moirainne decides that they have to get to the Eye of the World as quickly as possible --even though one of these sources is several years old! Well, wouldn't you know it, the Ogier that was just made a part of their band has a method to transport them halfway across the world in just two days. How Convenient!
On a side-note, I found it weird that we (the readers) don't even know what the Eye of the World is until we are 25 pages away from the end of the book. And the description is so brief that I still can't tell you its purpose.
Reason #5: THE CLIMAX
I just didn't like it. As I read it, I felt that Jordan had a dozen different ideas for what he wanted the final battle to look like. But when it came to actually writing it, he couldn't decide, so he threw all of them in together in a confused jumble. Hard to follow.
And why in the world was Rand's mother there?
Reason #6: THE PROSE
For most of the book, Jordan's prose is quite good. There are typos, however (utterly inexcusable when you are reading the eighteenth edition of a book) and several cases of prose that is so poor or convoluted that it could be entered in a bad-writing contest.
Here are my ten favorites (page numbers are for the hardcover edition in my hands at the moment):
1. Perrin winced at the gleeman's words, and Mat whistled soundlessly, as if both had had the same thought as he had. (40)
2. ...A mountain as black as the loss of all hope. (101)
3. Slowly his breathing slowed. (104)
4. A sharp "Hsst!" from Lan, as sharp as the fog. (133)
5. Struggling for breath, he struggled at the same time for his sword. (240)
6. ...driving thin clouds across a thin sliver of moon. (248)
7. The 'Spray' made haste slowly down the river. (296)
8. He only wished the wolves would tell them what was behind them, if anything was, whatever it was. (360)
9. ...whatever was following them could be another creature of the Dark One. Or more than one. (573)
10. The Green Man sighed, the wind sighing through thick-leafed branches. (622)
All of these are pathetic for a new writer, even worse for someone who has written numerous books prior to this one. (Didn't he have an editor to check these over?) Again, these are phrases I took from the eighteenth edition of the book. I cannot imagine what the first edition reads like!
SUMMARY
I haven't read any of Jordan's books after this one, but according to the amazon.com reviews, this book is easily the best of the series. My 2-star rating is based on this book by itself, so I think it is safe to say I will not be reading the rest of this over-hyped collection of novels.
Good for its time, a good laugh now December 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Reviewing a classic, it's good to remember how relevant the book was for its time. What seems a cliche now, could very well be a new/uncommon idea back in the days (1990, I believe?). With this in mind, Eye of the World undoubtedly is a good introductory book with some merit for younger readers.
Reading it in 2008, however, will reward a more mature reader no more than a smile. Every character is overexaggerated and the dialogue will either make you vomit or tip over with laughter (thankfully, the second for me). The overall level of writing is below average. Even the contemporary "gems" like The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss will stand tall in comparison to Jordan's use of language.
If you are a new reader looking for an idea of what to expect in this book/series, let me warn you - don't even start. As many had mentioned previously, the series collapse past book 4-5. Save your time and money, pick up GRRM instead.
Awesome plot, characters, and writing, but is a trifle boring. December 18, 2008
As a fantasy author myself, I love to read other fantasy novels. I saw this one, and the cover looked cool, and the claim on the front that this guy was better than Tolkien got me interested.
The plot itself is a standard fantasy formula about an evil rising again, which my novel is kind of about, also. However, Jordan releases so much detail and events in the plot that it almost seems original. In fact, he even put a glossary in the back to help you out if you get confused. The novel also has a great cast of characters and brilliant writing, with an expanded vocabulary with many metaphors and similies.
However, it doesn't get the full five stars for two reasons. One is that the novel itself gets boring. Even though it's 800 pages long, I usually skim through books rather fast. However, it took me months to finish this one. Maybe it's the font size, or the fact that the chapters are very long, or the point that this series has many books longer than this installment, the last one not even written by Jordan because he died, but whatever the reason, it's not for those who have reading ADD.
Also, like Anne pointed out, the paperback version falls apart easily. When I was done with it, it looked like it had been in the arms of a hellish toddler for quite a while.
But if you like epic fantasy, pick up this book at your library or bookstore, especially if you like Tolkien.
 The first in what has been a very engaging series! December 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is yet another take on "The Dark Lord is rising again" But unlike the delightful Hobbit and subsequent Tolkien trilogy, this one develops surprising depth in its characters and as the series unfolds becomes ever more engrossing. It is also a very complex tale with at least a dozen characters to keep in mind. Also different from the Tolkien series, this one assigns enormous importance to its female characters, who carry at least as much weight in the story as the men.
For the record, I do not like fantasy novels. December 12, 2008
I recently moved home after graduating from grad-school and was excited to once again find time to read books for enjoyment.
After searching for something that I haven't read, I found a beat up--falling apart--copy of The Eye of the World. I have tried in the past to read some fantasy novels but the stories and worlds that were conjured up just never sat right with me. Alas, what is someone to do if they need a reading "fix"? Thus, I started the book I felt ashamed to be seen reading.
What a fool I was! While this book is far from perfect, the story--which I won't rehash--is engrossing. The characters actually make me yearn to turn the pages to see what they will face next. And wouldn't ya' know it, there are 10 more books in the series.
The Good:
1) The story keeps you engrossed. While I think the 4th and 5th books in the series are my favorites, the story only gets better (for the record I am only on book 6).
2) Jordan's writing style will take a little time to get used to. When I started reading his novels I felt that he was spending too much time describing the mundane and skimping out on the more focal plot points. Now I realize I couldn't be farther from the truth...just give it a chance.
3) Originality. I enjoy Jordan's universe. The magic system seems believable in the story arc, and the enemies truly evil.
The Bad:
1) I really only have one major dislike. It seems that every 2 or 3 pages one gender is either thinking/stating that the opposite gender is foolish or hard headed. I get it already!
Anyway, if anyone happens to be reading this review who has never really dipped your toe into the fantasy reading pool except for things like Tolkien...trust me, grab this series and prepare for an excellent story.
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| | |
|