A Memory of Light - Chapters 1-4

In this section, Rand returns as a point of view character while dire events transpire at the Black Tower.

The familiar opening shows a world failing, withering, dying, awaiting the end. Rand’s appearance disrupts that imagery with happiness: Laughter broke the air.

While Moridin’s forces feel assured of victory, Rand is more hesitant, concocting a plan he isn’t sure can work, revealing that he wishes to kill the Dark One himself. The key element of the plan involves breaking the seals on the Dark One’s prison, which drives a wedge between him and Egwene. Egwene has a clue left by a Dreamer, a well known and oft studied clue: Wait upon the Light.

Rand pays attention to Roedran, inciting the reader to do the same, yet it seems unlikely or undesirable to the reader that such a minor character can suddenly play a meaningful role. It turns out that this is a feint; Roedran is being mildly played up to attract attention while keeping the reader guessing about Demandred’s whereabouts a little while longer.

Rand correctly surmises the Shadow wants to prevent the heroes from unifying, and the bold attack on Caemlyn threatens to do just that. More importantly to the story, Caemlyn is the central city, the gleaming jewel on the hill, the heart of the civilization that emerged after Hawkwing’s death. Its fall symbolizes the last cutting of ties to the old, the end of all that was good. It symbolizes that all the people of the world have left is each other now, even though most of their nations and cities still stand.

Talmanes’ overly heroic death is averted by Nynaeve’s healing.  This doesn’t sit well, as it indicates an unwillingness to let even a secondary character die, and cheapens the stakes. On a reread, it may instead have been intended to deliberately mislead, so that when well-established heroes die later, it will be even more shocking. If an author goes to such great lengths to keep this character alive, a payoff is expected. Does Talmanes have a critical role to play which no one else can do? Is there some clue in the way he embraced death which he can teach a main hero? Or is this just one of many death and resurrection parallels throughout the story?

Perrin and Elayne urge Rand and Egwene to talk, not argue, when they meet on the morrow.

At the Black Tower, Androl commits to a course of action, abducting and questioning one of Taim’s men. While the characters at Merrilor debate what to do and talk about events at a distance, it is Androl’s sections which provide the excitement. No matter that Androl is a new character and Pevara is a Red Sister, and that readers generally identify with Rand and Egwene closely, having followed their adventures for thirteen books. All it takes is a lack of action on their part to thrust Androl’s plotline to the forefront. It helps that readers are mildly unsure whether Androl’s events take place precisely on the eve of the meeting at Merrilor, and that they expect Taim’s men to play some role in disrupting those proceedings. Readers expect that the Black Tower storyline will play directly into events surrounding Rand. The fact that this turns out to be false doesn’t lessen the excitement immediately felt as Androl’s plan comes apart and he and his followers are overwhelmed as they rescue Logain. Logain’s own role and foretold destiny also help lift this plotline above the main storyline.

Aviendha comes to Rand, and for the last time he makes a halfhearted attempt to try spare a woman any pain. As always, the woman points out that she is truly an equal, and must therefore be allowed to choose on her own what pain and risks she will accept. Rand finally accepts this, and immediately reaps the rewards.

The dreamshard scene reminds readers that Moridin and Rand are linked somehow. The possibility that many of their early interactions took place in a dreamshard is raised, and offers an explanation for many small mysteries from the early books.

However brief the Moridin-Rand scene is, it contains emotive power in the cool verbal parrying between them. In just four pages it covers Lanfear’s relationship with Lews Therin, Moridin’s self-loathing, Rand’s desire to protect his loved ones, dreamshard physics, discussions on fate and destiny, Rand’s ultimate plan revealed to his enemies, and a surprise ability that sends Moridin scurrying. Any interaction between the principal hero and antagonist is bound to excite the reader, and this short section hits with everything it can. Hammering at the raw nerves of either character and addressing their worst fears is wonderfully effective here.

On the back of the hope raised by Rand’s small victory over Moridin, everything runs smoothly for Androl up until the last second, when hope is dashed. This too is a great example of stringing disparate sections together based on the mood the author wants to convey. Rand’s victory leads to Androl’s early success which reinforces expectation of Androl’s ongoing success, right up to the last second.

Writing Lessons:

Readers will perceive importance with the things the author treats with importance.

Towers of Midnight - Chapters 51-53

In this section, Mat learns the rules while other heroes unite nations.

Brandon Sanderson doesn’t mind using a modern term if it succinctly conveys the imagery he wants. Quite possibly the only in-world characters who would use the word ‘research’ are Brown Ajah, since the very concept of research for its own sake hardly exists. A quick check reveals only Siuan and Graendal ever used the word before Brandon took the reins, and Verin and Forsaken account for most of the uses of the word in these two most recent books. So when Min talks about ‘her research’, it stands out a bit, but it still conveys intelligence, certitude, and competence. Simply talking about her research, especially after continual reminders through half the series that she has taken up this task, implies that when Min tells readers what she has found, it will be factual and trustworthy.

Rand has tried to travel to the Black Tower, but the second dreamspike has prevented him from doing it. Perrin or Egwene are the best suited to help him assault it and depose Mazrim Taim, since one of them would have to use Tel’aran’rhiod to destroy it. What kind of defenses could Moridin have placed in Tel’aran’rhiod to stop them? Before Elaida’s Foretelling about the Black Tower’s fall can take place and it is rent in fire and blood, there has to be some way for the remaining Aes Sedai to Travel there. It would be ironic if Elaida, or Suffa as she is now called, led the Seanchan portion of an assault on the Black Tower, assuming they can see eye to eye with the other nations.

The Borderlanders relied on a Foretelling of their own, one that predicted that Rand would have all of Lews Therin’s memories, and if he did not, then he was to be killed. Rand names this reckless and foolhardy, but it implies that in all the delicate weaving of the Pattern, the only path to victory for the Light is once Rand has integrated Lews Therin’s life into his own. If he had not yet done so, perhaps his death would cause the needed integration, though the matter of his resurrection would then likely be more difficult, since it too is a delicate affair relying on certain other events. The Borderlander prophecy is a failsafe, allowing the Pattern an extra more farfetched chance to set up events as needed.

Rand unites the Borderlanders behind him, thanks to Lews Therin’s memories, while Elayne gains the throne of Cairhien thanks to her ancestry and deft political maneuvers.

Two fantastic comparisons make use of other characters to not only make the comparison but provide humour and describe other parts of the world.

People knew about his scar, but there was no need to show it off like one of Luca’s bloody wagons.

Her dress was after the Ebou Dar style, with the side pinned up to reveal petticoats colorful enough to scare away a Tinker.

In the Black Tower, Pevara learns that Tarna has been turned to Taim’s side. Pevara is not yet sure, but readers feel confident this is as a result of being forcefully turned to the shadow by a circle of channelers and Myrddraal. The result is that Tarna speaks and moves normally, but her smile is all wrong, the only visible sign of being coerced to serve the Dark One. I recall that Javindhra is Black Ajah, which would be obvious in any case since both she and Tarna now share the same opinions.

Perrin reveals he will side with Rand, which unnerves Faile. But his men, now humbly apologetic about the rumours they started, will follow him anywhere, unquestioning.

Mat’s discussion of boots with Setalle Anan fits much better on a reread than when I first read it. It is the author’s humour about metaphor which throws it off, because it feels like Anan’s comments on the topic are for the reader, not Mat. Mat still makes his point, it’s not about anything but boots. Mat is simple and straightforward, and saves his best for himself, setting his own rules. The rules and expectations around nobles, Aes Sedai, and lords make it too hard to know how to behave properly and certainly prevent one from acting the way they want to. The intent of the discussion is to show Mat’s attitude towards rules just before he enters a realm where the rules make no sense, and are as anarchic to him as he is to the people around him.

Another fantastic description sets the mood before entering the Tower: A trickling, musical stream gurgled behind them.  ‘Trickling’ sounds like tricking, the musical quality speaks to the rules inside the Tower, and of course the stream is not before them or beside them, but behind them, the best place to do trickery without being seen.  

The always necessary foreshadowing has Mat remembering what he will need to remember, just not quite in the right way yet: The Eelfinn had given him the weapon. Well if they dared stand between him and Moiraine, then they would see what he could do with their gift. By providing a particular context, it is less likely the reader will think of a second context until the author reveals it dramatically later. Any hint of an incomplete thought here might leave such an opening. A second later example: “Mat had asked for a way out. They had given it to him, but he could not remember what it was. Everything had gone black, and he had awakened hanging from the ashandarei.”

Mat discovers that even in this chaotic realm, there are rules. Openings can be made to enter the tower, but there’s a trick regarding their size. The openings work in both directions, but they close once you exit the Tower. For each surprise, Mat and his companions logically think their way through, seeming capable of overcoming the obstacles placed in their path. The reader is lulled into a sense of confidence and short-lived complacency.

Despite the surroundings looking different than in past visits, Mat proceeds down two passages before doubling back to check that the map is accurate. It is not, so Mat relies on his luck to set their path. Doubling back established that reversing direction doesn’t take you where you came from, so Mat’s continued doubling back has a proven basis for working before the author shows its success.

An Eelfinn appears and tries to charm them, but is put to sleep by Thom’s song and Mat’s singing. So far, Mat thinks he has the rules all figured out.

Writing Lessons:

Foreshadow your dramatic revelation by discussing the relevant clues in a complete context so that the reader’s mind doesn’t wander down the paths you want to keep it away from.

Knife of Dreams - Chapters 17-19

In this section, Rand and Elayne lose control of something.

Birgitte confirms that Elayne didn’t get lost; it was the Palace that changed. Since she can’t do anything about the danger or problems that come with locales changing suddenly, instead, she stoically goes on with the things she can do something about. The mutable geography is not necessarily the same as bubbles of evil, which have a more sinister and violent effect, but they are just as random.

Young Perival correctly deduces that a third of the High Seats of Andor are keeping their distance because of the nearby Borderlander army. Elayne’s earlier meeting with the Borderlanders in Winter’s Heart is still bearing fruit, yet it also gives the impression that not much has changed since then. That will come to an abrupt end with Arymilla’s apparent bribery of the mercenary companies guarding Caemlyn. Arymilla expects to have the city within a week. As with the Perrin storyline, establishing a firm countdown to disaster ramps up the tension and dispels any sense of drudgery or lack of progress. One way or the other, with Arymilla’s scheme unfolding, the plotline will be resolved.

A discussion of House Mantear, the House that Rand is descended from, added to Elayne’s unswerving confidence her babies will be born safely, linked a few ideas in my mind. Elaida’s Foretelling was that the Royal Line of Andor is the key to winning the Last Battle. She thinks it means Elayne, but readers know it probably means Rand, and there is a slight possibility it means Morgase, or Luc, or some other secondary character. However, I’m surely not the first to see that Rand and Elayne’s children are descended from the two most recent Royal Families of Andor. Could all of Moridin’s schemes be aimed at Rand’s children, to prod him in ways he couldn’t be prodded before? Could Rand’s children or his attitude towards them be the key to winning the Last Battle? To fit the themes in the story so far, the Last Battle will have to be about Rand affirming his identity for once and for all. In what ways could his children factor into that? Will they represent the humanity he is trying to save, or will they represent a sacrifice on his part?

Reanne’s death and the discovery of a doll that should have been taken by a fleeing Kinswoman rule out Merilille as the Black Ajah. Sadly, it means Elayne can add a number of probable murders to the bill, since it implies that most of the vanished Kinswomen were killed, and did not run away.

Loial interviews Rand for his book, and is told almost nothing really useful, something Theorylanders are familiar with from RAFO-filled author interviews. The boys from Manetheren have rubbed off on Loial, for he is ready to address the Stump with his views that the Ogier should stand against the Dark One rather than flee to another Dimension using their Book of Translation. Loial acquiesces to his Mother’s demand for a wedding, which takes place minutes after her arrival, the only hasty thing Ogier ever do. For all of his fear that his life would be dominated by a wife, she asks him what he would do, and then supports him in that decision.

I once asked Robert Jordan why Rand had never thought again about the mysterious stranger who saved his life in Shadar Logoth. At last, Rand does so now, recognizing his face as the one that has been appearing in his head shortly after he thinks of Mat and Perrin. It’s likely this was the point of the story in which this information was bound to appear, and not the direct result of a fan’s question. Rand also concludes that the stranger used the Forsaken’s so-called True Power. He stops short of realizing that the stranger may be a reincarnated Forsaken, failing to recognize that the Lord of the Grave is more than a name, it describes one of his abilities. The ability to parse out information slowly is often difficult, as authors are eager to show off the wonderful world they have created. The trick is in supplying just enough new information to keep the reader happy without going beyond the minimum that the reader needs. The Wheel of Time’s length, multiple plotlines, numerous characters and publication schedule have demonstrated that it is possible to dole out clues very slowly, over two decades, and still maintain an air of mystery and wonder with each revelation.

Rand’s madness isn’t getting worse, but he is at the point where he and Lews Therin seem evenly balanced, as represented by Lews Therin’s several comments that he doesn’t understand why he has voice in his head. Establishing how even they are, mirror images of each other,  is key to the surprise when Lews Therin grasps the One Power from Rand during a monumental Trolloc attack. Lews Therin wails that he can’t move his hands, as though it is his body and Rand has grasped physical control of the body from him. A Trolloc attack, even in numbers of hundreds of thousands, is no longer enough to threaten the heroes. Unless a monkey wrench is thrown into the works. As has often been the case, this obstacle is not a physical one but one of identity. Who is Rand? Is he really Lews Therin? Rand’s immediate need is to strike some agreement with the madman in his head or he will die. When the metaphysical argument has physical consequences that can put Rand and his allies in harm’s way, the stakes are raised far more effectively than if the attack had simply been overwhelming numbers of Shadowspawn.

 Writing Lessons:

Time pressure not only increases tension, but can dispel any concerns that the plot isn’t moving.

A Crown of Swords - Prologue

In this section, secondary characters with minimal involvement in the book set the tone and theme

Why have a prologue in a novel? In the early books, the prologues served to show the villain and establish the stakes, since there was no convenient place to do this from the perspective of the heroes. They also showed events that took place earlier than the story’s beginning, so that the effects of those events could initiate the story proper. In the most recent books, the prologues expanded in scope, catching the reader up on a multitude of details and establishing some of the thematic elements.

In A Crown of Swords, there are six perspectives: five villains, and one who hasn’t committed yet. Each of the sections takes place in the day since Rand escaped from his captivity at the end of Lord of Chaos. The ones in Tar Valon and Amadicia did not need to be set on that day, but Sevanna’s and Gawyn’s did. The best reason to set those events on the same day, and cram them into the same prologue, is simply to lessen the number of interludes in the main story. As in earlier books, the author uses the technique of showing several scenarios which are linked thematically.

Elaida is portrayed as a stubborn, entitled and myopic woman with no people skills, but she does have power, both from being Amyrlin and from the Talent of Foretelling.  She finds her Keeper of the Chronicles Alviarin to be difficult and insubordinate. Alviarin is biding her time, waiting for the orders that will place her second only to the Forsaken. She is competent, intelligent, and ruthless. With Alviarin and Mesaana pulling strings, and their new ability to weave Gateways, Elaida has little hope of getting her way.

Pedron Niall is portrayed as cautious, thorough and subtle, with a nearly perfect record of victory. Niall has finally discovered the Seanchan threat near his doorstep, but he is struck down before he can do anything about them. The mastermind behind the assassination is Valda, a competent, strong, and ruthless man.  

Sevanna is portrayed as overbearing, greedy, and selfish. Although she corralled her Wise Ones into battle against all custom, they and the Shaido warriors turn and flee before the Asha’man. Sevanna is angered by their weakness but is already making plans to capture Rand. She still has a cube given to her by Sammael, an apparent reversal of her and the author’s decision to throw it away at the end of Lord of Chaos.

Gawyn is an underling who has gotten underfoot enough to trouble Elaida. He has avoided attempts to put him in harm’s way and now has some decisions to make. His situation is meant to be contrasted with the other underlings in the prologue. Will he strike down those he serves as Valda did? Let himself be led around like the Shaido Wise Ones? Serve obediently as Alviarin does? His rationalization that he doesn’t have to help Rand just because he promised not to hurt him places him in balance between good and evil. He represents the everyman, having to choose a course of action that will topple whoever he stands against.

We’ll see how much insubordination and pivotal choices turn up as thematic elements in the rest of A Crown of Swords.

Writing Lessons:

Place scenes outside of the main action together in a chapter to lessen the drag on the main storyline.

Lord of Chaos - Chapters 11-14

In this section, the underlings strive to have more control.   

Taim seeks Rand’s permission to let him go recruiting. The familiar issue of trust comes up again, but time pressures Rand to accept Taim’s proposal. The risk of an encounter between Taim’s recruiters and an Aes Sedai leading to bad blood between them is not enough; the Aes Sedai may already be against Rand in any case.

Alanna doesn’t seek permission; she just does what she knows needs to be done, even if it goes against centuries of custom. Bonding Rand is logical if the goal is to bind the ta’veren to the Tower. While she gets that part right, she is left uncertain as to which Tower she is part of now that the Rebels have splintered away. Verin will provide the necessary guidance. It turns out she is a skilled manipulator, but hides it even from her supposed allies.

Moghedien takes a stab at pushing Nynaeve to leave the rebels before they decide to beg for Elaida’s mercy. She is surprisingly aggressive about it since Nynaeve is not wearing the a’dam to keep her cowed. The women have been speaking too freely, and Moghedien knows more about them from close observation than the Forsaken ever could have learned through spies. The fact that they had Moghedien well and truly obedient and under their thumb made them forget the threat she could become if ever freed. Still, there is no way for her to be freed that they can figure out.

Seconds after receiving advice, Nynaeve already gets it wrong: Write fast for Delana. Write slow for Janya. Yet another bad day is about to get worse! Birgitte stands up to Nynaeve. Nicola does exactly what she is told, leaving out as much as possible so as to ensure Nynaeve gets in trouble.

Nynaeve the Accepted is a fickle underling herself. Delana and Janya get Nynaeve to tell them how best to control Rand, and she complies. When Tarna asks her the same question shortly after, she tells her the exact opposite, hoping Elaida will bungle her approach to Rand.  Nynaeve eavesdrops on private conversations as well as continually failing to perform any of the exercises Theodrin assigns to help break her block. She cannot surrender control for even a moment, so it is no surprise every attempt fails.

Elayne’s classes go poorly, as no student will follow her directives. Too many independent or incompetent women. She then refuses to take Tarna’s offer to return to Tar Valon, too independent to do as she is told. Egwene is similarly unable to obey the restrictions put on her by the Wise Ones.

Once again, the power of Need is used to find something that will get the rebels to support Rand. Need is a strange power, which I think can best be likened to a guided Foretelling. A Dream, or a Viewing, or a Foretelling tells you something about the future that will, or must, or may come true. Need tells you something you need that must, or may lead to the desired outcome. Using Need to find the Bowl of the Winds is not much different from Min seeing that Bowl in a Viewing, or Egwene having a dream of them finding the Bowl in a dusty House, or Nicola spouting a quatrain about the Bowl in Ebou Dar. They all are able to use foreknowledge of the events the Pattern is weaving, and are in fact part of that weaving themselves.

Egwene introduces a new part of Tel’aran’rhiod, which in some discussions is called the Gap of Infinity. In this place, she can see the dreams of people in the real world, mirror worlds, and even stranger worlds, probably the cross-hatched hard to reach worlds from Verin’s explanation back in The Dragon Reborn. The Gap of Infinity is so named because it is ‘the infinity between Tel’aran’rhiod and the waking world, the narrow gap between dream and reality’. I am drawing a cosmological map of the Wheel of Time for a theory, and had to restart because of this area I had forgotten. It is coming soon.

A bubble of evil surfaces, and Anaiya is annoyed that it was only that and not a Forsaken. It gives the rebels a chance to try out the strategies they have been devising to combat the Forsaken. Bubbles of Evil are as random and dangerous as nightmares in Tel’aran’rhiod.

Writing Lessons:

Your minor characters, the underlings, are not obedient automatons. Give them life!

Lord of Chaos - Chapters 8-10

In this section, trickery abounds, and Rand is the victim!

Nynaeve’s weather sense is playing tricks on her. She thinks the weather should be one thing, but it just stays hot. Is she sensing the weather that the Pattern is calling for but can’t deliver due to the Dark One’s touch? There has been little detailed discussion of her weather sense in the series up until now, though in my post on The Eye of the World – chapters 35-39 I pondered whether this ability was related to Foretelling in some way. Note that what she is sensing is still not yet her ability to sense storms of a different type related to conflict.

Moghedien is giving up secrets grudgingly, and offering no more aid than she absolutely has to, correctly sensing that Nynaeve and Elayne are held hostage by the secret of her captivity as much as she is. She tricks Nynaeve into trying a weave that will give her blinding headaches, accepting the pain that the a’dam reflects back upon her as a worthwhile cost to see her captor brought down a peg. She even tells Nynaeve that the ability to not feel the heat or cold comes from years of using the Power, even as Rand learned it has nothing to do with the Power.

Sightings in Tel’aran’rhiod of Rand, or Lan begin. Slayer is back.

Myrelle is pushing hard for Nynaeve’s block to be broken. She wants Nynaeve to be ready to accept Lan’s bond, as per Moiraine’s instructions. Nynaeve has no idea that the wringer she will be put through will bring her closer to gaining Lan’s bond. A fine joke. It took a trick to break Theodrin’s block.

Logain has prepared his lies well, and Lelaine has gobbled it up as eagerly as the nobles she trots before him. If she were to suddenly have doubts as to whether Siuan was no longer held by the three Oaths, would she still be able to say that it was told to her by one who cannot lie? Would she need proof before she could utter the words, or would those doubts prevent her from ever saying them again?

The rebel Aes Sedai have not yet publicly committed to backing Rand or opposing Elaida, though Sheriam’s council is privately committed, having already made plans for… we won’t be told what just yet. The arrival of Elaida’s envoy is a catalyst, but everyone will have different ideas about what it will bring about.

Pedron Niall is a sly one, with a false spymaster working for him while the true spymaster is hidden under everyone’s nose. Are there any parallels with other hidden spies with Rand, or in Salidar? Or is this a false trail? Readers’ heads should be spinning with questions and suspicions by now.

Niall’s rumours will help maintain the rift in the Tower, just as the rumours of Logain’s Red Ajah benefactors spurred him to create them in the first place. Who is misleading who? What Niall thinks he is making up is so close to the truth, for all that it went through two cycles of the rumour mill.

Balwer himself has no apparent interest in the Children of the Light, he is simply employed by Niall because… he likes the job? He is eager to press Morgase, is that because he has an axe to grind, an old score to settle?

Following The Fires of Heaven, Rand is maintaining his decision to avoid the women he loves, and not to trust any others.

Rand finds Verin and Alanna in an inn with several Two Rivers girls on their way to become Aes Sedai. He lets his guard down, enjoys being Rand al’Thor for a few minutes, hears about his friends, and then stupidly lets Alanna bond him. This is about as big a surprise as can be, for Elayne was foreshadowed to be the one who bonds Rand, and Alanna is hardly even a second-tier character in the series so far. How was this surprise carried out?

First, both Rand’s and the readers’ guard is down. There are two pages of reminiscing, trading stories, and good times. There is no threat at all. Verin and Alanna helped Perrin after all, they are good guys. There is a strong element of humour as well, with Verin and Alanna acting as though they are in control while Rand wryly plans how to overturn their expectations. There is no doubt in the reader’s mind that Rand has the upper hand. His men can handle the warders, while he handles the Aes Sedai. When he says he wants to be alone with them, Sulin cracks a maiden joke that is surely about what men and women do when they are alone. Rand chortles as he wonders whether they notice his lack of sweat, matching theirs. Up until they discuss the rebels, Rand is presented as thoroughly in charge, unfazed, unmenaced.

Their lack of willingness to help reminds him of Moraine’s advice about trusting Aes Sedai. This is a last nagging thought before his guard is well and truly down. Alanna asks about Mat, Rand mirrors their response, refusing to tell, full of himself for having scored a point against the mighty Aes Sedai.

To pull off the surprise, it must be carried out rather quickly. Alanna immediately responds by implying they are not enemies, and makes a peace offering as she glides over to perhaps delve or heal him. Since she says straight out she will not harm him, he accepts her offer. She delves him, as expected.

Then, she bonds him. The choice of words implies the speed: flash of heat, for a heartbeat. The surprise is augmented by the next action, which is attempting to shield him. Creating suspense, Rand twice asks what they did to him before they tell him.

Writing Lessons:

Create surprise by reversing expectations in the mood you have built up.

The Shadow Rising - Chapters 1-2

In this section, three major characters are attacked by magical menaces, while several secondary characters skulk in the wings waiting for their chance to strike.

The Shadow Rising is my favorite book ever, but I haven’t read it in a decade or so. Right off the bat, a sense of danger and impending doom is evoked, as Min Views a variety of horrific fates for a random sample of Aes Sedai she crosses. Incredibly effectively, a logical progression shows the reader that the stakes have been raised dramatically since the last book.

First, the city of Tar Valon is described as the greatest city in the world. It is filled with wondrous towers. Greatest of the Towers is the White Tower. The Wheel of Time turns around Tar Valon, and Tar Valon turns around the White Tower. The White Tower is the heart of Aes Sedai power. The Amyrlin Seat rules the city as she rules the Aes Sedai. We are reminded of how small and insignificant everyone is next to Aes Sedai. And then, four pages into the story, Min begins to see portents of future doom. She sees example after example, ending with the Keeper and Amyrlin themselves. She concludes disaster will strike at the White Tower itself. The Amyrlin herself is partly disbelieving, partly too pragmatic to worry about it. Min knows her Viewings always come true. Always. The heart of goodly power in the world is not only threatened, but fated to fall. This scene is a powerful tool in building reader interest, and an excellent starting point for the adventure.

It is followed with a familiar antagonist, Elaida, setting in motion the events that Min has seen. Elaida has made the life of every heroine who passed through the White Tower miserable. Whatever she is involved in, the reader should have misgivings about. Her background reveals enough to conclude that she is likely not Black Ajah. Like Siuan and Moiraine, she is on a secret mission to save the world, following her own Foretelling that the Andoran Royal line plays a key role in staving off disaster for the world. Although there have been two earlier references to Rand’s resemblance to the long-vanished Tigraine, it may not yet be obvious that Rand is the one she should have been interested in. Had Siuan and Moiraine not set off on their own quest, it is likely that the Pattern would have had more Foretellings for Elaida. She is the failsafe, and would have been forced to take up the quest for the Dragon Reborn had the others failed. A Red helping a man who could channel, that would have been interesting. As it is, she is free to act on her own, though perhaps seeing the ta’veren that one time has already set her off on a path that the Pattern requires.

An immediate threat to the Two Rivers and a long-term threat from the Seanchan are introduced as well. The story is spreading in scope.

The three male heroes, Mat, Perrin and Rand, each get attacked by unusual opponents. A bloodthirsty animated axe lets readers learn everything important about Perrin in a few pages. Mat’s card game with the delinquent young lords shows off his personality and abilities. Having a drunken, self-serving, aristocrat spout offensive drivel sets the reader against him, and Mat’s opposition to that lordling invokes instant admiration for Mat, even if the reader knew not a thing more about him. Rand fends off the advances of a beautiful young woman, the first of many attempts to curry favour with the new ruler of Tear. Now that other people are recognizing him as an important person, he is being thrust into situations with which he has no familiarity, and no way of navigating. If only he could go back to being a shepherd. Each of the three young men deals with a tricky social situation in a way that inspires admiration, and fends off danger, demonstrating their competence. They are portrayed as classic heroes.

As with each of the other books, a concise explanation of the world and the important myths in it is provided early. I’ll look at the order and speed in which this information is conveyed. After the relevant paragraph number of Chapter 1, I’ll list the critical mythic element presented, and a short comment on well the introduction of that element works.

2: The Dragon died and will be born again. Directly related to the sight of Dragonmount, a logical and natural way to introduce the Dragon.

4: Aes Sedai are powerful. A logical point to make when talking about their home city.

6: Aes Sedai can help with special or unusual problems. This is given as introduction before describing the most important special problem they deal with.

10: it seemed nearly as awful as the Dark One’s prison at Shayol Ghul. An exaggeration and a clumsy way of introducing the villain.

13: Most men were nervous around Aes Sedai. It was male Aes Sedai who broke the world. An awkward segue way. The two are seemingly unrelated. It is unlikely men actually worry about this unless they can channel, or see the Aes Sedai as secret police who will grab you on suspicion of channeling ability.

13: The Dragon was the worst male Aes Sedai. He will be reborn to fight the Dark One. The Red Ajah hunt male channelers. Once you start talking about male channelers for the first time, it is logical and natural to finish with all the other related information.

14: Some men become Warders. After making a point about mistrust between men and Aes Sedai, it is logical to speak of the exceptions, but it serves to undermine the original point about mistrust as well.

16: Rand got Min into this uncomfortable situation. Thinking about her circumstance and how she got there is natural.

73: There are troubles in the world. False Dragons. In an epic fantasy, someone has to talk about the big events in the world. Gawyn happens to be the first that could be introduced if Min is to succeed in passing unnoticed.

115: The troubles in Almoth Plain caused by the Dragon Reborn are inconsequential. Rand himself is the focus of everything. The link is made between Min’s boy problems and the other mythic elements. When the most powerful person in the world calls Rand the focus of everything in the same paragraph that the other mythic most important person who will ever exist is discussed, the two ideas are merged in a memorable way.

120: First plain statement that Rand is the Dragon Reborn. And the reader already understands what he has to do as the Dragon, and the forces arrayed against him.

Writing Lessons:

Link two ideas together in the reader’s mind through a common element.

The Eye of the World - Chapters 35-39

In this section, the heroes score some victories, and things are finally looking up!

The reader can't help but feel relief when the boys finally reach Caemlyn. The Queen's Blessing provides more than just shelter and refuge, the innkeeper and Ogier allow Rand to finally trust someone again. Rand needed some way to bolster himself, as Mat has become a fun-sucking paranoid. The paranoia has helped them get this far by avoiding pursuers through caution. Could they have made it this far without Mat's mistrust? It can't get them much further, as Mat has confined himself to his bed. Mat's bleak outlook helps drive Rand to confide in the Ogier. Mat’s grim readiness to quit serves as a means to show Rand's ability to be patient and caring, and to reaffirm his determination not to give in. I can't help but feel this ability is key to the Last Battle. With the burden of his plight shared, Rand seems to find enough emotional support to gather his strength and maintain hope that Moiraine is still coming, and has the others safe with her.

Adding to the reader's feeling that things are looking up, we learn that Thom may not be dead after all, and are led to believe that Andor's Queen Morgase is a good ruler, and that Caemlyn will provide refuge from the dangers they’ve encountered on the road. The Ogier provides some comic relief, which has been in short supply since Baerlon. We certainly haven’t had so much of it in such a short time.

The rescue of Perrin and Egwene provides more uplifting action. Instead of a grim race to survive a Trolloc attack, we see some deserving comeuppance laid upon on the Whitecloaks. Justice, and a happy reunion make for a pleasant counterpoint to the grimness of the long flight across Andor.  

When we are first told about Queen Morgase, all expectations are that she is good, and may even be a source of aid, even indirectly though her fairness towards her subjects. Later, we learn that her links to Aes Sedai are undermining her rule, and she’s been unfair to Thom, choosing the side of the Aes Sedai over her rumoured lover. Which of these expectations is the reader most likely to believe? Is she a good ruler with some bad influences, or is she an Aes Sedai apologist with some good attributes? I think first impressions will usually stick with the reader, and being presented as a wonderful Queen before revealing her potential entanglements will significantly affect the reader’s feelings towards her.

Similarly, presenting Elaida as a source of discord in the city heavily influences perceptions of her, even if you haven’t read New Spring yet. She could hand Rand the solution to all his problems on a silver platter, and the reader would still have misgivings about her.

Another oblique reference from New Spring, Rand has read the ancient book Essays of Willim of Maneches, which Moiraine has also studied in New Spring (though spelled slightly differently). Moiraine has a formal education, Rand’s is self-made. For a country bumpkin, Rand has made good use of the limited tools at his disposal, and as result, he may be better equipped for some of the tasks ahead of him that others would consider above his station. The idea that merit and ability, not station of birth, should be the determinants in who is empowered to take action or to make decisions will come back frequently.

In Caemlyn, Ba’alzamon is down to his most subtle and weak servants, mere rats, as the last tools at his disposal to find the boys. He must be angry.

The Ways are introduced briefly, as a matter of making Loial’s later reference to them more believable. He’s talked about his knowledge of them twice already. When he hands the group a solution to their later problem, it’ll be easier to accept.

Did Moiraine use the One Power as a weapon when rescuing Egwene and Perrin? Even if Lan was in danger, wouldn’t she have to believe she needed to act to save his life in order to start saturating the area with lightning strikes? Is it even possible for her to believe there’s a situation he can’t handle? Imagine an Aes Sedai who chooses buffoons as warders so she can send them into danger and be free to protect them with the One Power! By the bond, she can even force them into menacing situations and then blast his opponents! I suppose the restriction on using the One Power as a weapon wouldn’t prevent her frying the horses with lightning. If you extended the Oath to every living thing, you’d soon be boxed in. Could she stretch it enough to include Egwene as a sister and be free to toast the Whitecloaks? Can she intend to miss the Whitecloaks with lightning but just be a really bad aim? There is some question over whether she hit a few tents or not.

With the relieving of a lot of the tension, some new threatening ideas are proposed. Ta’veren have fewer choices than most men, but the Pattern allows free will to dictate the course of your life unless it needs to use you otherwise. For the ta’veren, it seems like their choices are largely dictated, and the more ta’veren you are, the less freedom you have. Even though events conspire to lead the Dragon to the Last Battle, in the end he will have to choose to save the world. We’ll get back to this at the end of this novel.

Rand is surprised that Loial ‘believes’ in the Pattern. I had previously discussed in the Big White Book the oddity that the entire population takes reincarnation, the Dark One, and the Pattern as truth, despite a complete lack of evidence and apprehension at the best sources (Ba’alzamon and Aes Sedai) that could support these ideas. At the least, I’d expect competing ideas to have emerged, but the best we get is that you can join the Dark One if you don’t find the Pattern compelling enough. This discussion with Loial seems to imply that there are Pattern atheists who regard the whole thing as superstition.

Despite overcoming some obstacles, we are reminded by the beggar and the False Dragon that there are other obstacles yet to overcome. Is Ba’alzamon linked to the False Dragon? We’re being shown that he’s the most dangerous person yet encountered, he’d make a formidable opponent by book’s end. Rand is going to Tar Valon, and so is Logain. I can almost see how the rest of the book is going to go down: anticipation rising! We’ll wait to see how it gets dashed.

Most surprising to me is that Nynaeve has an ability which is similar to Foretelling, if not Foretelling itself. Foretelling has always been expressed as speaking of future events, and the manner of it differs from woman to woman. You don’t know why you know, and you don’t know how you know, but you know and you give it voice. Nynaeve’s ability is often referred to as Listening to the Wind, because she gives eerily accurate predictions of the future, usually weather related, though we’ll later see her talk of storms that are not weather related. In this instance (end of chapter 37), Nynaeve knows that if they leave riding double, they will be caught and killed. She compares it to Listening to the Wind, and is disturbed by the certainty of her foreknowledge. Aside from speaking aloud, this is exactly what a Foretelling is. I’ll remember to examine her later ‘feelings’ and see if they could be called Foretellings.

Writing Lessons:

First impressions stick. What first impression are your characters giving? Is it the one you want?