From the Two Rivers

After reading through the reviews I picked up this book. I was confused as to which book was the actual beginning of this series. Now I realize that From the Two Rivers and To the Blight are two halves of the book the Eye of the World with some illustrations to interest younger readers. I'm not in the age group this was marketed for but I really liked some of the illustrations, not that there are many, especially the Trollocs, Myrddraal, Thom Merrilin, and Loial the Ogier (part 2). I read this book, as well as part 2, and can't wait to read the next one. There are similarities to the Lord of the Rings but so are a lot of books. This one done better than a lot of the others. There is the noble quest to save the world from the Dark One with countless evil beings after them. Young, innocent characters who wish to see the world beyond Emond's Field. They are sought out by Moiraine, an Aes Sedai, and the Warder Lan just in time to help their village from being destroyed by Trollocs and Fades. Rand, Mat, and Perrin are joined by Egwene and later Nynaeve to follow Moiranine and Lan to help fight the Dark One. They do not realize the important part they play in the weaving of the Pattern of the Wheel of Time or why they, simple sheepherders, were chosen. Each in turn learn what their strengths are and how they fit into the larger picture. Wide-eyed, action-packed journeys to unknown places all the while being hunted by Fades, Darkfriends, and haunted by nightmares from the Dark One. Legends becoming reality. I was pleased that there are strong female characters in these books. If this sounds like something you would enjoy then pick up this book and To the Blight OR the Eye of the World you won't be able to put it down and it's just the beginning.

The Wheel of Time series has been compared to the earlier works of J.R.R. Tolkien (writings that would later become the Silmarillion and The Books of Lost Tales, as well as The Lays of Beleriand and the other books that Chris has "scraped" together). Robert Jordan's works have also been compared to an "adult Harry Potter." Now, it's natural to make comparisons between different fantasy series, and I support the spirit behind most of them, but many people that make this comparison miss many key factors in the Wheel of Time series that would attract people that didn't like The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, and that would also drive away some that did. I'm going to analyze these factors here.(1) The political environment in the Wheel of Time is the most fully developed I've seen in fantasy, ever. There are twenty-odd countries in his world, all of which have expanded to their full power potential. Jordan uses political subversion and intrigues in his novels, where it's impossible to do as much with the three Wizard Schools of Rowling or Tolkien's 4 nations: Gondor, Mordor, Harad, and Rhun. (2) Jordan writes much more in depth than any of the other authors. Where Tolkien skims over the journey south from Rivendell to Moria, saying that it was "some 40 days," Jordan follows Rand and Mat through the most dull portions of their journey to Caemlyn, and Elayne and Nynaeve through the sometimes tedious politicking at Salidar. He paints a real world, with lulls and periods of excitement that make you truly believe in the ta'veren.(3) The hopelessness that Rand faces is far beyond that which Frodo or Harry faces. Let's analyze Frodo Baggins, Hobbit of the Shire, first. He's a simple creature, taking an item of extreme power into the realm of a lesser god, in order to destroy it. The Maia Sauron opposes him, the Maia Olorin (Gandalf) moves with him much of the way. Harry's a human... facing a human. Oh jeez, I don't know if he can handle it (that's not to say there's no hint of hopelessness, but, as a children's novel, Harry Potter is much simpler and much less dark than the other two). Rand, on the other hand, is facing the single greatest force in the world, the Father of Lies, Master of the Grave. Even with the Choedan Kal at his disposal, a ter'angreal that could lay waste to a continent in a single stroke... and his own massive strength as the Dragon Reborn... he still doesn't have more than a hope of defeating this irresistable force. Now, there's other differences, but I'm sure as you read, that you'll pick them up. Where the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter seem intended for the more casual fantasy readers, the Wheel of Time bears no competition for it's depth and sheer beauty of storytelling. It's at times obvious how much Jordan planned the future of his world (I'd get into Min's foretellings, and how well Jordan uses foreshadowing in EotW to tell us about future books, even up to Winters Heart, but that's for a different essay), far beyond w

This is a new edition of "THE EYE OF THE WORLD" by Robert Jordan. This is NOT a new book, so don't expect it to be. What it is though, is a way to introduce younger readers to one of the most popular and well-written Fantasy series' of our time. This edition is only half of the original edition (but it's still a good couple hundred pages!). There are illustrations throughout the books, and even a new chapter not found in the original.Some people may complain about various things, but the bottom line is that this is the same incredible saga. It's the same moving tale of young people discovering a larger world, and of a boy learning he is fated to both save and destroy the world.The Wheel of Time is a saga that has captivated millions. At times it is controversial, and sometimes even a bit slow. But for the most part: nothing is like it. Try this book. If you don't like it: oh well. If you do though...you'll want them all.

All of his life Rand al'Thor had been a farmer and a sheepherder, always believing that the stories of the Dark One and his minions were merely stories meant to frighten children to sleep. Then she arrived. An Aes Sedai. A sorceress. And after her came the Trollocs, horrific monsters bent on destruction and death... The Eye of the World, a fantasy novel that begins a series entitled The Wheel of Time, is thus begun. Rand, and two of his friends, Mat and Perrin, are taken from their quiet village by Moraine, an Aes Sedai, in order that their families might not be killed by subsequent Trolloc raids. Together they travel across a fantasy world created by Robert Jordan. The three young men soon find that real adventures are nothing like those of glory told in the gleemen's tales. With tremendously deep and intriguing characters, who all live in a world so realistic you feel as though you've been there yourself, The Eye of the World is an excellently written novel, with humor, action, adventure, fantasy, comedy, and even love. Though the length may scare away some perspective readers (782 pages), it goes by all too quickly, and I recommend it to anyone, especially those who enjoy fantasy, and I have added it to my list of personal favorites.