Problem with The Wheel of Time

Mark of Cenla · 03-14-2003, 10:21 PM

The other Wheel of Time thread is very long, so I decided to put this issue in a new one.

I have been an avid reader for over thirty years. I have read all the Lord of the Rings many times, all the Shannara books, all the Eddings books (some of them twice), and the first three Thomas Covenant books. So I began reading the Wheel of Time series. I am now reading The Lord of Chaos (book six).

THERE ARE TOO MANY FRIGGIN CHARACTERS!!!!!!!!!

I found a site that has all the characters listed with short bios up through book four. The are 484 of them!

I am a pretty smart guy, but I simply cannot remember who all of these characters are. The indexes in the books themselves are a joke. So sometimes I just keep reading, having no idea what is going on.

Does anyone else have a problem with this?

The site with the character lists is http://www.themenagerie.net

Mark of Cenla · 03-19-2003, 07:27 PM

I have a very hard time believing that I am the only one with an opinion with this issue.

Agree or disagree?

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-19-2003, 07:43 PM

More characters is more realistic.

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-19-2003, 07:44 PM

Seriously, as I don't read those books, I don't really have much of an opinion.

***IronParrot*** · 03-20-2003, 06:46 PM

I made it all the way to the end of The Crown of Swords about a year ago, before I decided to quit - or rather, postpone reading the series.

The deal with loads and loads of characters wouldn't be such a problem if it weren't for a few simple problems:

- The less important characters - "named extras", I'll call them - have so little personality that they are difficult to distinguish.

- Jordan's naming system is not particularly systematic, and names tend to be similar here and there, and difficult to remember due to the fact that they are neither Anglicized or placed into some sort of consistent model.

This is why authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and William Horwood succeeded in weaving stories with ridiculously large casts, while Jordan seems to overstep the limits of the reader's tolerance.

Mind you, I admire Jordan's handling of all the different political relations between all the territories and such, and weaving a really grand story overall - but I have less praise for his actual mastery of English prose.

Mark of Cenla · 03-20-2003, 07:26 PM

Thanks for the reponses; keep 'em coming!

03-14-2003, 10:21 PM	#1
Mark of Cenla Elven Warrior Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: central Louisiana Posts: 105	Problem with The Wheel of Time The other Wheel of Time thread is very long, so I decided to put this issue in a new one. I have been an avid reader for over thirty years. I have read all the Lord of the Rings many times, all the Shannara books, all the Eddings books (some of them twice), and the first three Thomas Covenant books. So I began reading the Wheel of Time series. I am now reading The Lord of Chaos (book six). THERE ARE TOO MANY FRIGGIN CHARACTERS!!!!!!!!! I found a site that has all the characters listed with short bios up through book four. The are 484 of them! I am a pretty smart guy, but I simply cannot remember who all of these characters are. The indexes in the books themselves are a joke. So sometimes I just keep reading, having no idea what is going on. Does anyone else have a problem with this? The site with the character lists is http://www.themenagerie.net __________________ Mark Wellman ><>

03-19-2003, 07:27 PM	#2
Mark of Cenla Elven Warrior Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: central Louisiana Posts: 105	I have a very hard time believing that I am the only one with an opinion with this issue. Agree or disagree? __________________ Mark Wellman ><>

03-19-2003, 07:43 PM	#3
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	More characters is more realistic. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

03-19-2003, 07:44 PM	#4
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	Seriously, as I don't read those books, I don't really have much of an opinion. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

03-20-2003, 06:46 PM	#5
*IronParrot* Fowl Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Calgary or Edmonton, Canada Posts: 53,420	I made it all the way to the end of The Crown of Swords about a year ago, before I decided to quit - or rather, postpone reading the series. The deal with loads and loads of characters wouldn't be such a problem if it weren't for a few simple problems: - The less important characters - "named extras", I'll call them - have so little personality that they are difficult to distinguish. - Jordan's naming system is not particularly systematic, and names tend to be similar here and there, and difficult to remember due to the fact that they are neither Anglicized or placed into some sort of consistent model. This is why authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and William Horwood succeeded in weaving stories with ridiculously large casts, while Jordan seems to overstep the limits of the reader's tolerance. Mind you, I admire Jordan's handling of all the different political relations between all the territories and such, and weaving a really grand story overall - but I have less praise for his actual mastery of English prose. __________________ All of IronParrot's posts are guaranteed to be 100% intelligent and/or sarcastic, comprising no genetically modified content and tested on no cute furry little animals unless the SPCA is looking elsewhere. If you observe a failure to uphold this warranty, please contact a forum administrator immediately to receive a full refund on your Entmoot registration. Blog: Nick's Café Canadien

03-20-2003, 07:26 PM	#6
Mark of Cenla Elven Warrior Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: central Louisiana Posts: 105	Thanks for the reponses; keep 'em coming! __________________ Mark Wellman ><>

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