The Fires of Heaven - The Shadow Rising

A world-filling story about the eternal struggle of good versus evil. The main characters all have a clear personality, with their own thoughts and visions about their world, and they each develop separately. A beautiful display of storytelling quality.
I found the books to tell a story well-blanced between characters and general storyline, where the views and notions of each character give the reader a good overview of the direction of the series as a whole.
On the downside: although characters and storyline do develop, they do not really progress. For instance, after six books, Nynaeve still jerks her braid to stop herself from pouting, and Rand finds himself in the same predicament, only on a larger scale. It is stretched out too far. Further, the world in which the book plays seems almost too conveniently limited by the Spine and the Blight. That could also have been done a bit more elaborate.
It also surprised me that since the breaking of the world, 3000 years ago, basic culture has not developed. What was lost in the breaking is only now starting to be rediscovered, and slowly at that.
As to the comparison with The Lord of the Rings, It definitively has similarities, as, I think, any fantasy work of this magnitude will have. However, Jordan has a very distinct style that nowhere gives me the feeling that I'm reading a Tolkien book. The Wheel of Time deserves a place of its own.
All considering, it is definitively one of the best series I've read. It was every bit worth my time. When I started, I read almost full-time for two weeks, finishing the first three books, ca. 2000 pages. I just couldn't stop!

I heard of the Wheel from a friend in Australia. They said I had to get it so I bought all their paperbacks at one time, up to book 7 and sat all through summer vacation reading. Turned off the TV, resented sleeping because it took me away from a world I was absorbed with. I have read the Lord of the Rings triology and Hobbit. But this is different as its mostly a mankind thing with magic and evil, winning and losing. Even the wheel has its own beginnings that are found out slowly through the books and fits into this jigsaw puzzle here and there to finally form a solid picture that is still going on. After I read the first seven, I waited til two more books came out and bought them at the same time because I didnt think I could wait like before. I savored them and still I became so curious it was distracting. The characters have real lives, you watch them grow, evolve and suffer and love as they learn who and how they fit into the Wheel of Time. The magic powers, the bravery, the confrontations and wars, the many kinds of social groups who all contain their own reasons for what they do are totally amazing. If you want an extraordinary series to get lost in, this is it!!! You wont regret it if your a fantasy fiction reader.

GM

Best series ever!
Robert Jordan proved his genius when creating the world and the characters in these books. Even though the length of the series is scary (14 volumes), the complexity of the story and characters keep you enthralled with the reading - when you get to the end, a part of you wishes the story to continue...
For those of you who like fantasy stories, I would say this series is the Bible of this genre.

This series of books by Robert Jordan has won millions of fans the world over. His character depth and developement is astounding. If you are looking for a good read try this entire series. Watch how the story unfolds and starts to contract into the series of events now unfolding in A CROWN OF SWORDS. Will Mat marry the daughter of the nine moons? Will Nynaeve and Elayne be able to use the Bowl of the Winds? Is Mazrim Taim really the Forsaken Demandred? I guess we'll just have to wait for the next book huh?

What can I say? This series has ruined me for all other Fantasy. Jordan takes what Tolkien started and magnifies it until it explodes into near reality. While it may have its occasional dull moment, this is by far, the richest, most expansive, and most undeniably consistent world of magic and intrigue that one could read. You won't put it down, and you'll regret not picking it up.

I love the books. Exept for a few minor things the books are very good. It is a lot like Tokien. There is, however, one fault that cannot be ignored. When does it end? Rand and company have not fufilled half of the Prophecies mentioned in Books 1,2, and 3. He has yet to defeat the Senchan and the Sharans. Those will take at least a book if Jordan crams it all. After that he has to kill all the Forsaken which is no easy chore. Then, finnaly, he has to wage a campien in the Blight. Totally there will be two more books if we are lucky. After that though the books lack only a few minor things.

I have had all of these books before and lost them. It was well worth it to me to re-purchase them after approximately 6 years. I am re-reading the books for the 4th time and I still like them. The complexity of the story allows me to find new insights every time. I will admit though that it might be difficult to follow all of the different threads of the story when reading it for the first time around.

I have read this wonderful series more times that I can count. I've got one copy to read, and one just to admire. Robert Jordan's books bring the reader all of the way into his world, making the reader feel what the character feels. It is so very frustrating having to wait for the next book. I do think, though, that #9 will be the end. Here's hoping!!!!!!

I have read every volume of this apparently unending tome and loved every moment of it. The only series I have read that is comparable is Stephen Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Donaldson, however, knows how to finish what he starts.
Jordan owes it to his readers to reach closure. One book every two years is way too long for a saga to go on. Will I have to reread prior books to maintain the continuity? However, his story and characters are so compelling that each book, with a brief synopsis of the prior one, can stand on its own well. So in short, it needs to end because I can't take the wait anymore! Will the Dragon ultimately go mad and break the world and become the fantasy genre's greatest anti-hero, supplanting Thomas Covenant? Or will I go senile before Robert Jordan ends this series???

I've been reading Fantasy for over 20 years and I found that this series is the best so far. It is fasinating and the characters are all very strong. You will be brought into a world of wonder where at least one of the characters will take hold of you and change you into him or her.
A must read

I find the Wheel of Time series a super read. I just wish I did'nt have to wait so long for the next book to come out. I find I have to reread my previous copies over again, so I can remember all the details. I'm waiting in suspense, please hurry.

I enjoyed all his books, I have read all published books to date (Books 1-11) I say keep reading, even though sometimes Jordan rambles on, and such, even what some say is a Average/Poor book from his. It still is head and shoulders about all written Series save a hand full on equal par. HOWEVER, I DO HAVE VERY BAD NEWS, BUT ALSO GREAT NEW FOR WHEEL OF TIME READERS, AT LEAST WITH REGARDS TO HIS FINAL BOOK #12. Please read the following passage all readers need to know both bits of information.

Robert Jordan (this is his publishing name, not his real)....his real name is JAMES OLIVER RIGNEY, JR. Here is a link so you can read it all([...]). James Rigney (aka Robert Jordan) passed away in September of 2007 (last fall)....however there is still good news for all the readers. The whole staff and editors have the notes and spoken ideas Jordan left while in the hospital the last few days before he passed on. The Book will be named A Memory of Light! The family and editors have hired a Fantasy writer to finish the Series and last book. This Writer (Brandon Sanderson) was a personal friend, and was mentored by Jordan too over the years. He will also have Robert Jordan's wife... Harriet.. helping (she edited and helped on all the books with him). They say on their web-site that they are shooting for Late Fall or Early winter (Sept-Nov) in 2009 to have the last book in the Wheel of Time Series on the shelf. This will be called as I said Memory of Light and will be book 12 and will finish the Wheel of Time. This is what they our saying at least, and they know the book might be BIG, and very hard to get all plots and everything in place...... so the Last Battle can be fought....but they will do it, so they say. I really enjoyed all the books, and I know with all the help from his wife (who knows a man better then his wife) this will be worthy of Robert Jordan's Memory and Life.

Ross Hill (who is just a simple man that RJ helped change with getting me to read a lot and that helped me Graduate with a Bachelors of Science in Management)

This might be one of my fav books of all time! This is a amazing story. Robert Jordan is a master at creating a world that comes alive in this series. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading.

I picked up the first three books in a set at a Books a Million, and after I started reading in December I haven't been able to stop. I'm about 1/2 way done with book 7 after about 2 months of reading in the series. It's a very engaging series and has merits for readers across multiple ages and preferences. I recommend this series to everyone except people who don't have at least 2 to 4 hours a day set aside to read, because you won't be able to stop yourself.

The Wheel of Time series has lasted to 11 books so far. The reason being Robert Jordan is an excellent writer, and has made a great read with many complex plots twinning together. If you like fantasy books, you'll love this series. Have fun reading these.

The first three books were entertaining fantasy. In the second three books in this series, the author abandons his principles and decides that making money is much more important than telling a good story. There are still brief sections with rousing action and interesting plot developments, but the direction of the plot is no longer towards resolution. The series has rather entered a holding patterns with new characters and new sub-plots introduced with the aim of dragging the series out. And boy, does it start to drag. The Wheel of Time series enters a downward spiral in books three through six from which it never recovers.

Haven't had a decent night's sleep since I started the series due to not being able to put the thing down....

The Wheel of Time Series is truly remarkable. From the simple things such as "seeing" the characters grow, to the subtle hints on future events, to the way the pieces of the puzzle seem to "click".

Robert Jordan has indeed surpassed the Lord of the Rings series. It's just more fun as Jordan takes you along on an extroidinary adventure with his charaters. The box sets are nice especially for those of us in Iraq where book stores are not available. When starting the third book in the set an order for the next box set usually arrives just in time.

I couldn't put the books down.I read all the hardcover version and it was hard to do anything other than read them.These three books are written well with good plot developments.Definitely for all Fantasy lovers.

Buy the entire series. This is an epic fantasy series that introduces a new way for "magic" to work and has all the best high adventure. It is very very in depth and has the best character development around. My fav series to date, even over LOTR.

Best series ever!
Robert Jordan proved his genius when creating the world and the characters in these books. Even though the length of the series is scary (14 volumes), the complexity of the story and characters keep you enthralled with the reading - when you get to the end, a part of you wishes the story to continue...
For those of you who like fantasy stories, I would say this series is the Bible of this genre.